Pastor Larry Writes:

Special Meetings
Camden Baptist Church
March 30, 2012

Our fifth straight night of special services saw 134 in attendance. More important than the number of people each night is the spirit that is present during our gatherings. There is an air of expectancy that God is doing something in our midst and wants to do even more. That was evident when the invitation was given and 17 people responded to rededicate themselves to a greater concern for lost souls.
The men’s quartet led the worship time prior to the message. It is hard to tell if the singing sounds so full because we find ourselves in a room with a low ceiling or because people are singing out. Either way it is encouraging to hear these timeless hymns of our faith reverberating off the walls. We sang: “What A Day That Will Be”, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, “I’ve Got A Mansion” and “Room At The Cross For You”. The quartet also sang for special music a song that was new to most of us. It was about having Jesus as our friend.
Nathan Nocella shared the gospel message using the wordless bracelet. He held up a multi-colored circle about the size of a frisbee and shared God’s plan of salvation with it. He then offered any children present a bracelet of their own so they could share the gospel with others. He will be doing the same thing in a little over a week when he travels to India on a mission trip with his dad and another man from the church (Dave Lake).
Dan Dark preached another stirring message, one that every church needs to hear. Below are notes from his sermon.

“The Lost Commitment” – Luke 15
Introduction: The last three great revivals in America began with the youth. The other commonality was the strong emphasis on evangelism.
· Question: When was the last time you shared Christ with someone? Think about one or two people you know that don’t know Christ.

1. The Lost Sheep – Divine Concern
· Our community is going to be reached one person at a time. The concern for the one.
· What are we doing to reach the one?
· Illustration: Dan went on a mission trip to the Philippines 22 years ago along with a number of other pastors. The main goal of the trip was evangelism. During one sermon that Dan preached a Philippino man named Philip came to one of the services, responded to the message and professed Christ as Savior. He had been the most feared man in the community.

2. The Lost Coin – Divine Commitment
· “She seeks diligently for the coin”
· Illustration: If you lost $1,000.00 cash in your home you would seek diligently for it.
· Illustration: When his wife used to lose her contact in the house they would seek diligently for it.
· “Commitment” means making something a top priority.
· Illustration: Muslims selling everything they have to afford a pilgrimage to Mecca to pay homage to a dead man. Jehovah Witnesses committed going door to door in all kinds of weather. The total commitment of the 9/11 terrorists.
· Question: Where is our commitment?
· We have the truth. We have what the world needs!
· Illustration: His grandpa (mother’s father) was not saved. He and his parents prayed for his salvation for many years. Three days before he died a pastor shared Christ with him in his hospital room and led him to Christ.

3. The Lost Son – Divine Compassion
· This story is more about the Father than it is the son.
· Sometimes we independent, fundamental Baptists have lacked compassion and been too quick to condemn.
· Illustration: Brother-in-law dying of AIDS. He has cut off ties with the family. They are praying that someone in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area will reach out to him in love and compassion and share Christ with him before he dies.
· Woman caught in adultery – Jesus was the only one qualified to throw a stone at her because he alone was without sin. Yet He did not do so because He had compassion on her.
· We won’t reach our community for Christ if we don’t have compassion.
· Question: When was the last time you wept over a lost soul?
· Illustration: Song by Kathy Troccoli entitled, “Go Light Your World”. The lyrics tell us to “run to the darkness” not from it.
· Camden Baptist Church is God’s work. He placed us here for a reason, not just to be a country club. We are a lighthouse.