Berkshire Hills Baptist Church - Grow

10.18.2023 - Name above all names whereby we can be Saved!

10/18/2023

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Phil 2:9-11

Jesus has been given a name by God, and He has made the Father known to us when he came down to earth to live among us. When you're given a name by God, then you go out to show others who God is. That was one of the purposes for Jesus coming to earth. He came to earth for our salvation, but he also came to earth so we could see His Father as our personal God. He made a name for himself. That name is God. That name is Jesus. That name is excellent. That name is majestic. So when you think of God and you think of his name, it's not just God or the Lord, it's all that he is and all that he does in the world and in your life.

Never forget what he's done in your life. Hopefully, there was a time when you came to him and confessed you were a sinner and received the forgiveness of sins that he offers. When Jesus hung on the cross and said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do", he was forgiving not just a few soldiers, but the whole world of all of their sins. But it's only complete when you accept it.

In our scriptural meditation today, we learn that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But you don’t have to wait until judgment day to unwillingly make this confession. You can accept Christ’s forgiveness today and begin your journey of following Him!

He's willing to forgive you of your sins. You just have to say, Lord, I accept your forgiveness. I accept what you did for me. Salvation is open to everyone.

This devotional has been adapted from the message, A Proper Perspective, preached by Pastor Dr. Doug Mann from Psalm 8.

Click here for the complete message.

Click here to learn if you’re a good person, good enough for heaven!

Click here if we can pray for you.

10.16.2023 - The Lord's Excellence on Display

10/16/2023

Ps 8:1 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

The psalmist says the Lord is excellent which means powerful, greater than all else, and worthy of all worship. So, when we talk about the Lord, we say his name is excellent. But why would his name be excellent? When we look at Scripture and talk about names, we often think - why does He have a name above all names? (Philippians 2:9)

Sometimes a young man or a young woman will want to go out and make their mark in the world. They might say, “I’m going to make a name for myself”. What does that mean? It means they want to make such a difference in the world that when their name is mentioned, people won’t just think of their name. They'll think of all that they have accomplished.

You know, we've probably all heard of the man JC Penney. Sometimes, all we think about are all the stores that Penney has. What some people don't know is that early in his life he was a Christian. He gave to the church a normal tithe of 10%. But as the Lord prospered him, he gave more and more. Do you know at the end of his life, he was giving 90% of his money to church projects? He made a name for himself, not just with the people around him but with God. He was honoring God in all that he did.

When we think about 'how excellent is thy name', we have to think of the very nature of God. God is powerful. God is ever-present, God is all-knowing. God is love. God is a spirit. We have to think of who he is not just in the world but in our lives. His power is evidenced in our lives, in the world around us, and in the testimony of those who follow Him. There is no one else like him in all the universe.

Click here for the complete message.

Click to hear a clip from the preacher SM Lockridge exactly how great Jesus is. That's My King!

Click here if we can pray for you.

09.29.2023 - Proclaiming the Message Clearly in the End Times

9/29/2023

2 Tim 4: 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Friend, the time has already come. The last days are upon us. So why do we have to keep proclaiming the gospel? Why do we have to keep preaching the word of God, proclaiming what God says? Because people want to satisfy themselves, they'll find somebody that will agree with them. They might say, 'Well, so and so said what I'm doing is okay.' But God says, it's a sin "and they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." They'll find people who will agree with them so they can all live in sin together. That's why we need to present the word of God. Why don't people want to listen to the Word of God?

Because it will tell them that what they're doing is wrong. What they're doing is a sin against almighty God. And that's why it's up to those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Savior. We have been entrusted to share the word of the Lord with the lost so that they'll see the truth. And hopefully, they'll accept it. Unfortunately, we know these are the last days because if you look at other denominations and other churches, we can see those that have invited sin within their doors.

No church should be against anybody as a person; we as Christians have been called to speak the truth in love. While caring for people with Christ’s love, we can warn them that homosexuality is a sin, that abortion is wrong, that believing in the “health and wealth” gospel is incorrect, or that failing to take care of the poor and needy among us is displeasing to God. Instead, in these last days, people are saying "Well, I'm living in sin. I'm going to go to a church that is approving of that sin." They are heaping to themselves teachers after their own liking. This does not foster an environment of seeking after God for either believers or unbelievers; rather, it is the predicament of the last days.

However, God has a remnant of believers who will follow Him no matter what happens or which way the culture goes. Are you part of his holy remnant? Repent and believe the gospel today!

This devotional has been adapted from the message, Yes, You Have a Ministry, preached by Pastor Dr. Doug Mann from 2 Timothy 4:1-8.

Click here for the complete message.

Complete Blog Series:

1. Telling others what God thinks

2. What do we tell others about God?

3. Proclaiming the Message Clearly in the End Times

09.27.2023 - What do we tell others about God

9/25/2023

2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Part of the work of ministry and of preaching the word of God ‘in season, out of season’ (or when it’s convenient and when it’s not convenient) is reproving, rebuking, and exhortation. Remember, all ‘preaching’ means is to proclaim or tell others what God says in the Bible. Part of our job is to tell others what God thinks of their works so they can learn to live in obedience to Him. Most likely born again, blood bought children of God will have a deeper appreciation for this then the world. Nonetheless, the Bible will be the measuring ruler that is used on the last day. Therefore, we must be about the Father’s business of winning souls and discipling them.

It's hard to rebuke a sinner of their sin because they don't really care. But we can still do it. When they say "Well, I'm just living my life the way I want to." We can say - no. God wants you to live a better life. Some people say, "Well, that's all right. When I die. I'm going to hell. That's where all my friends are anyway." Yet we learn in the true account of the rich man and Lazarus that the rich man in hell did not want his brothers to go there (Luke 16:27-28); that’s how hot and devoid of life hell was. He wanted to warn his brothers what happens to those who ultimately turn their back on the Lord; the word he used about hell was torment. That’s an example of reproving and rebuking.

Yet, there are other times when we can exhort which simply means to help, encourage, or comfort believers. We can use the word of God as part of our ministry to comfort other Christians. But how are we supposed to do that?

With all long-suffering and doctrine. How many times have you been witnessing to somebody and they say, no. And you try again? And they say no. Or you are trying to help a believer who's fallen into sin and you're trying to convince them that's not how God wants you to live. And yet, what do they? They keep rejecting what you're saying. Long suffering means have patience. Be patient with people.

Sooner or later, hopefully, the Lord will grab hold on them. Not always. If they don’t listen, that's their problem, not yours. Our job is to proclaim the Word with long-suffering, be patient, and make sure you encourage or admonish with sound doctrine. That means get your message from the teachings of the word of God. It's not your opinion. It's not your political thoughts. Don't mix politics with religion. It's not the opinion of others you're trying to share. It's the word of God we must share because only God can bring the needed healing salve of the Cross to a dying world.

This devotional has been adapted from the message, Yes, You Have a Ministry, preached by Pastor Dr. Doug Mann from 2 Timothy 4:1-8.

Click here for the complete message.

Click here if we can pray for you.

Complete Blog Series:

1. Telling others what God thinks

2. What do we tell others about God?

3. Proclaiming the Message Clearly in the End Times

09.25.2023 - Telling others what God thinks

9/25/2023

2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Building on previous weeks in which we discussed that soul-winning is a major objective of the Christian life, there is more for all believers to accomplish. Part of our being in the world, but not of the world, is for ministry. We know that one day, the Lord is returning physically. One day, every person will stand before the judgment seat of God. Believers will stand before God to give an account of their lives; unbelievers will also stand before God and if they haven’t accepted Christ, they will go to hell for all eternity. That’s where we come in; our ministry in this world is to help the lost find Jesus!

The ministry that belongs to every believer is 'preach the word'. You say, "Wait a minute. I'm not a preacher.” No. Preach simply means ‘to proclaim’. The Bible is the word of God. Our job is to proclaim the Bible. Are you proclaiming the word of God? Are you sharing God's word? Now, specifically, it means the gospel. That's the first thing. We should be presenting, proclaiming, and preaching the word of the Gospel to everyone. Sometimes we miss opportunities prompted by the Holy Spirit and we might say "Oh man I should have witnessed to this person. I should have witnessed to that person." But something came up.

That's why the next verse says, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season ..." That means preaching the word when it's convenient and when it's not so convenient. Now remember this is written by the apostle Paul. When he wrote this letter, he was in prison. You know what Paul did when he was in jail? He proclaimed the gospel to his captors, to the soldier standing next to him. He had a captive audience. They thought they had him captive, but he was the one who had a captive audience.

This week when you get the opportunity, whether it's a good opportunity or bad opportunity, proclaim the Word of God. Tell people about his saving grace and what Jesus has done in your life. Show his love to others. Don’t fall into the trap of only doing good works; make sure you tell them what to do to avoid hell and live with God in heaven for all eternity.

This devotional has been adapted from the message, Yes, You Have a Ministry, preached by Pastor Dr. Doug Mann from 2 Timothy 4:1-8.

Click here for the complete message.

Click here if we can pray for you.

Complete Blog Series:

1. Telling others what God thinks

2. What do we tell others about God?

3. Proclaiming the Message Clearly in the End Times

09.22.2023 What God's Word Does In You Part 2

9/22/2023

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness …

We need the Bible in our world today to help combat all the ‘isms’ of society. That is why the Bible is profitable for doctrine, correction, and reproof. It may stand alone as the one book the world hates, as the one ignored or twisted by false prophets, or the one book that totalitarian governments hate their citizens to read. But it is the one book by which all of our life will be judged by the King of the whole earth!

First, we need good doctrine. Doctrines are teachings of the word of God on the major areas of life that matter. It's the things that help us to understand our world and understand God such as - why am I here, what am I supposed to believe about God and sin, or what will the future be like after death? The scriptures are profitable to rightly establish our belief system. That's why doctrines exist. A preacher named Chuck Smith said, 'I can base my beliefs upon what God has said because God said it.’

Second, we need both correction and reproof. God can stand against our fleshly desires when we need help the most. ‘Reproof’ means to refute, convict, or rebuke. If you start going astray, the word of God will help get you back on the right path. The word of God will tell you both what you're doing wrong (reprove) and how to make it right (correct). To ‘correct’ gives the idea of setting things up in a straight line or in order again.

Think of bowling. All the pins of your life are standing up straight, neatly, and in order. Sin is the big bowling ball; it rolls down the lane, hits a few pins, and knocks them over and your life goes really haywire. Your pins are no longer in order, they are not nice and straight. In our analogy, God’s word makes ‘corrections’ and tells us what we need to do about the bowling ball of ‘sin’ that came our way. It then instructs us on how to turn around (repent) and set everything in order again. Then your pins can stand right back up and be put in a beautiful line again. Stay in God’s word to prevent the large bowling balls from wreaking havoc on your spiritual life.

What is the simplest, easiest way to get started? Read God’s word every single day. If you’re having trouble beginning, get started with reading Proverbs every day. Whatever today’s date is (for instance September 22), read Proverbs 22. Tomorrow read Proverbs 23, and so forth. It helps keep track of where you are as you read. In the New Testament, consider reading 1 John which helps to summarize everything needed for the Christian life. Another thing to consider: follow the reading plan at The Sword of the Lord; prizes are given for successfully completing all the readings every month.

Whatever you do, stick with God’s word and know that it is a refuge from the world, the flesh, and the devil in these troublesome times.

This devotional has been adapted from the message, Not Just Another Book, preached by Pastor Dr. Doug Mann from 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Click here for the complete message.

Complete Blog Series

1. The Greatest Book for Our Family to Read
2. What God's Word Does in you, part 1
3. What God's Word Does in you, part 2

09.20.2023 What God's Word Does in You ... Part 1

9/20/2023

It’s true, we have heard of atheists who know the Bible better than Christians. However, because the atheist does not see the Bible as nourishing to her soul, she will continue to disbelieve it no matter how much she reads.

But for Christians, we are sanctified by God’s Holy Word. At first, the purpose of learning the Scriptures was to make us wise unto salvation. On the road to Emmaus as Jesus was speaking to two individuals …

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

You can learn about Christ even in the Old Testament. It takes a little bit of searching. But it's there. Just read Isaiah 53, for example. It talks all about Jesus Christ, but it says it makes you wise unto salvation. You can learn from the Bible that it is by faith in Christ that one receives eternal life; no works can be added to what Christ has done. His cross is completely sufficient in and of itself to save us.

Remember that the Bible comes from God. 2 Timothy 3:16 says the Bible is “God-breathed” or inspired by God. 2 Peter 1:21 says “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” God authored the Bible the same way a secretary might write letters for his boss. The boss might not always dictate every single word, but the secretary knows the thoughts to write down. So too, the authors of the Bible were informed by God to write down scriptures even if they were not told every single word. They knew what God wanted and God brought about His Book.

God’s word can do something deep inside of you. It can change your life radically if you allow Him to speak to you. Since it's all written by God, it all can affect you if you read it and study it. There's something for you no matter what you're going through. No matter the problems, the perils, the tribulations, or the trials - there's something in here that can help you get through it. Continue to read and study and have faith that you can walk this journey of life with Jesus by your side.

This devotional has been adapted from the message, Not Just Another Book, preached by Pastor Dr. Doug Mann from 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Click here for the complete message.

Click here if we can pray for you.

Complete Series

1. The Greatest Book for Our Family to Read
2. What God's Word Does in you, part 1
3. What God's Word Does in you, part 2

09.18.2023 - The Greatest Book for Our Family to Read

9/18/2023

2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

The best book to read is the Bible because it has different genres for different people. One cannot open the Word of God without seeing the depth of its character and its challenges for all the ages. Charles Spurgeon said "Nobody ever outgrows scripture. The book widens and deepens with our years."

John Quincy Adams says "So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hopes that they'll be useful citizens to their country and respectable members of society." My favorite quote comes from Mark Twain. "Most people are bothered by those passages of scripture they do not understand. But the passages that really bother me are those that I do understand."

It's actually a library of 66 books, written by 40 different authors over 1,500 years in three different languages all brought together so that now when we read it as one cohesive thought. It all centers around Jesus Christ. (Click here to read a good article on why we do not believe there are 73 books in the Bible.)

It's such an important book that we should be teaching it to our children. We should be teaching them the Bible, young. Ancient Jewish parents would start teaching the Old Testament to their children when they were about 5 years old. By the time they were 13, they knew it by heart. Even the Puritans of old in the United States would teach their kids how to read by using primers.

How sad is it that the Bible has become a forgotten relic; fancy to show on the coffee table, but hardly read or touched by those who desperately need it. Now, instead of teaching or even reading the Bible in our classroom, they’ve kicked it out of schools and people wonder why we have so many problems. From a child, Timothy (Paul’s son in the faith) had learned the Scriptures. It doesn’t matter how old or young , no one is ever too late to read the Bible for themselves and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to see Jesus as your Savior!

This devotional has been adapted from the message, Not Just Another Book, preached by Pastor Dr. Doug Mann from 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Click here for the complete message.

Click here if we can pray for you.

Complete Series

1. The Greatest Book for Our Family to Read
2. What God's Word Does in you, part 1
3. What God's Word Does in you, part 2

09.15.2023 - What If I'm a Pretend Christian?

9/15/2023

2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God …

Sometimes when we hear difficult sermons and warnings on what it will be like in the end times, we might start to believe that maybe we’re not true believers. Sometimes we will see a list like we’ve been studying in 2 Timothy 3 and we will think to ourselves, “Maybe I am not a true Christian?”

Pretend Christians are unthankful and unholy. One of the signs of the unsaved is that they're not grateful to the Lord. They’re not just ungrateful to each other, they are not grateful to God. That's why 'unthankful' and 'unholy' go together. Do we realize that as a believer, everything we have comes from God? Some might say, 'No, I work hard for it.' Well, we have jobs because God allowed us to have them and to work hard. We should be thankful to God for it. When we sit down to a meal, we should thank God for that meal. Are you unthankful, could you care less about the blessings God has bestowed on you?

Pretend Christians are also false accusers; they lie about each other. Just look at our political realm today and we see false accusers. Not just Democrats or Republicans. The whole political system. They'll do anything they can to get the other person to look bad. This is what false accusers do: Whatever is necessary to make the other person look worse than they really are. Do you try to deliberately make other people look bad or put them in the worst possible light?

If you said yes to some of these questions, there might be cause for you to pause and ask yourself if you have truly trusted Christ as your personal Savior. But we suspect that most believers will realize that they may have bad qualities, but they are seeking to overcome their bad tendencies with God’s help. Or you may feel guilty or even receive chastisement from God when you fail. These are good signs that you belong to the Lord, even if you’re not perfect and even if you’re struggling with strongholds in your life.

Remember this scripture: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

You may have been an angry person in the past; you may have been hurtful in the past; you may have been unthankful or unholy in the past. But for born-again children of God, that is your past. Jesus Christ has now washed you, justified you, sanctified you, and made you whole. God is now working deeply within you, though painful as it may be, to conform you to be like Jesus. Pretenders don’t care about any of this; you are a real believer who is trusting totally on Christ’s cross to carry you through!

Click here for the complete message.

Complete blog series:
1. Pretenders vs True Believers
2. Pretenders who Blaspheme
3. What if I’m a Pretend Christian?

09.13.2023 Pretenders who Blaspheme

9/13/2023

2 Tim 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy

The word covetous basically means lovers of silver. So in the last days, people who say they're believers are really selfish. They care only about themselves and they care about how much money they have. There's nothing wrong with having money if that's what God wants you to have. But if money becomes your god, that's when it becomes covetousness. That's why covetousness is also called idolatry. Think of a TV preacher who is a lover of themselves and a lover of money. We could all come up with names. But it's more than just them. It's people within churches.

Pretend Christians are also “boasters, proud”. Boasters are just people who brag about everything. They boast because they think they're the best. Have you ever met somebody who tells you something about Christianity and you know they're wrong? But they'll insist that they're right and you're wrong because God spoke to them? But here's the truth. If it doesn't match what's in the word of God, God didn't speak to them because this is how he speaks to us today: through His Word. So be careful of those who are boastful, those who are proud, who think that they are better than anybody else.

Pretend Christians are blasphemers, disobedient to parents. The word blasphemer actually has the idea of abusers and what it means is, people who abuse others and abuse their parents. Scripture tells children to ‘obey your parents in the Lord for that is right. Honor thy mother and father for this is the first commandment with promise. But some children are against their parents and don’t want to obey them. Are parents always right? No. But they have been given to us by the Lord for our protection.

Usually, pretenders know they are pretending and most reading this will be appalled by the sin in our current culture. Nevertheless, stick close to the Lord, read the Bible daily, pray always, and do good to others because as Christians - the deeper we fall in love with Jesus, the more we will love others!

Click here for the complete message.

Click here if we can pray for you.

Complete blog series:
1. Pretenders vs True Believers
2. Pretenders who Blaspheme
3. What if I’m a Pretend Christian?

Pastor Doug Mann

A graduate from Baptist Bible College East in Boston, MA, Pastor Doug Mann also received his Doctorate in ministry from Bethany Divinity School in Dothan, Alabama.

Peter Markavage

Also a graduate from Baptist Bible College East in Boston, MA, Dcn Peter Markavage takes the weekly messages and transforms them into semi daily blog posts.

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