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Dear EBC Family,
In Isaiah 31:1, the prophet Isaiah warns the nation of Israel: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!"
In times of need, the Lord stands ready to help us. He has all power and might, and His ears are open to our cry. The author of Hebrews encourages us to "draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (4:16).
But in order to benefit from the Lord's help, we must believe that He's willing and able to help us. God will allow us to walk through difficulties so that He might test our faith. Will we trust Him in times of difficulty? Will we depend on Him when the future seems uncertain? Or will we look elsewhere?
If we don't look to the Lord, we'll inevitably look elsewhere for help. This is exactly what God was warning the nation of Israel to not do. He knew that they would want to look to the unbelieving Egyptians for help because of all of their earthly power. The Egyptians' many chariots and very strong horsemen seemed like solid protection against their threatening enemies.
But, the Lord reminds them: "The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together" (Isa. 31:3). What appears to be a safe refuge in the world's eyes will come to nothing if the Lord stretches out His hand against it. Let's look to the Lord who made the heavens and the earth by His outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for Him (Jer. 32:17).
Sunday Worship Guide
Sunday morning worship is a Saturday night decision! One of the best ways to get the most out of our time together in corporate worship is to come prepared, going to bed early on Saturday night, and by reviewing the sermon text, our song list, and our responsive readings. To help you prepare for Sunday worship, I've provided each element of our worship below for your review prior to Sunday.
- Sermon Text – Genesis 3:1-7
- Song List
- Lord's Supper – Prepare your hearts to remember Christ through the ordinance of the Lord's Supper this Sunday.
Announcements
- Associate Pastor Q&A Session – We will be having a Q&A session regarding the proposed associate pastor position immediately after church this Sunday in the fellowship hall. We will be voting on this position in our business meeting next Wednesday. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to think through this important topic together before the vote.
- Men's Breakfast – Our men's ministry will be having a men's breakfast this Saturday at 8 AM in the fellowship hall.
- Service Opportunity – Rick Gallegos and I recently visited one of our homebound church members, Phyllis Esperson. She has great difficulty walking, and she requested help with the ramp that leads to her front door. Rick just had back surgery, so he's limited in how he can help. We are in need of a few volunteers who can help nail down some boards on her ramp. If you are able to assist, please contact Rick at (931) 338-1124.
- Wednesday Nights – Next Wednesday we will have our monthly members meeting and potluck. I hope you will join us!
- Membership Matters – Our membership class is taking place this month on the following dates: November 2, 9, and 16.
- Theology for Breakfast – This is a men's discipleship group that meets on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month at 6:30 AM at The Coffee House South. We spend time sharing our struggles and prayer needs with one another, and then we spend the rest of our time discussing a book that we are reading together. If you are interested in joining, please let me know.
- Trail Life/American Heritage Girls – Trail Life and AHG meet at the church each Thursday night at 6:30 PM. If you are interested in serving as mentor/volunteer, please contact Tom or Michelle Ridley.
- Classical Conversations – The homeschool group, Classical Conversations, meets at our church on Tuesdays from 8:00 AM–3:30 PM.
- Bible Study Fellowship – The women's BSF group meets at our church on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM. If you would like to join the current study, visit bsfinternational.org, click "Find a Group," locate the Excell Baptist Church group, and click "Request to Join."
Upcoming Events
- November 30 – 5th Sunday Fellowship during the Sunday School hour (9:00 AM)
- December 5 – International Missions Meal
- December 14 – Holiday Meal
In Christ,
Hunter Hanson
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