Updated July 8 2025
For by grace you are saved... not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you are saved... not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9
This past Wednesday, as a part of his B.O.O.K (Beliefs of other kinds) series, Brother Steve explored the religion of Islam. I think many of us have questions and some general misunderstanding of Islam. Below are a few points from that discussion:
Islam is the 2nd most populous religious group in the world (1.6 billion). Christianity is 1st at approximately 2.1 billion. They are the fastest growing non-Christian group in America.
Islam is dedicated to rituals and acts of obedience even though they have no assurance of paradise just because they are obedient.
Islam is driven by a drive for world domination. The end of the world is signaled by all countries being ruled by Islam. From their book of Surah 9:5 “When the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them, in every stratagem of war (Jihad – Holy War). There may well be peaceful Muslims but Islam is not a region of peace; never has been, never will be.
There are two holy books, the Qur’an and Hadith (which are the sayings of Mohammed).
Mohammad was born in 570 and founded the Muslim religion 40 years later. He was an illiterate merchant who claimed to have a vision from God in which God tells him that Islam is the one true faith and he, Mohammad is to be his final messenger.
Muslims believe that God (Allah) is beyond our understanding. The two most important words to describe Allah are One and Fear. Allah is absolute, the only God. The Trinity is absolutely denied. Jesus is revered as a great prophet but is in no way the Son of God. The Hold Spirit is actually the angel Gibrael. When Muslims say they fear God, they mean real fear, not reverence. Christians believe our relationship with God is grounded, not in fear, but in love.
They believe that sin does not grieve God, it only hurts the sinner and sin does not automatically lead to punishment. Allah decides who will be punished and to what extent. You sin only because of weakness and ignorance.
Muslims believe that when a person becomes a Muslim, they are simply reverting back to what they were originally because all people are born Muslim anyway. Even today, in Muslim countries, Christians cannot forbid their children from becoming Muslim but Muslims can forbid their children from becoming Christian. To become Muslim, one must first confess that there is no god but Allah and that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah.
There are five pillars of the Islam faith:
Confession (Katima)
Prayer five times daily facing east (Mecca – where Mohammad was born and where God appeared to him)
Alms (roughly 1/40 of annual income)
Fasting during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan (Mid May to mid June)
You must pilgrimage at least once in your life to Mecca.
Like many other religions, the Muslims Qur’an includes Torah (the first five books in our Bible) but they twist the meaning of the words to their own ends.
Jesus Christ was crucified... he shed His blood and died on a Roman cross in Jerusalem witnessed by hundreds, perhaps thousands. BUT THREE DAYS LATER, HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE AND WALKED ON THE EARTH FOR FORTY DAYS BEING SEEN BY HUNDREDS. He was the Sacrificial Lamb, making a way for us to be right with God by paying the debt for our sins on that old wooden cross.
Jesus promised that one day he's coming back! He will come back for you if you will believe in your heart that Jesus Christ came to earth as God in the flesh... taking on the form of a man... that He died a sacrificial, substitute death on the cross for your sins and mine, was raised from the dead. If you will confess with your mouth that you accept him as Lord of your life; then on the authority of the Word of God, the Holy Bible, you can avoid the punishment of sin, you can inherit eternal life, and you can begin a new life with God... a life that will never end. You can do that today right where you are. If you truly mean it - and He will know if you are serious about Him - then He will come into your life and give you a new life, a new hope, a new purpose, and a new commitment to live a selfless life, surrendered only to Him.
My dear friend, all my sins are forgiven because I have put my faith and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is preparing a place for me in heaven and for all those who will receive Him as Savior and Lord.
Praise God... Jesus took our place on the cross so we could have a place in heaven!
His grace is sufficient for you. He still saves all those who will come to him. Romans 10:13... "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Revelation 3:10... "Behold I(Jesus) stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him." You must open the door from the inside. Jesus will not force himself into your life.
"A Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passes knowledge." A.W. Tozer
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
SUNDAY
BIBLE STUDY CLASSES - 10:00 AM
The Ladies Sunday School class is meeting in the Fellowship Hall.
Del Slone's Class is meeting in the old chapel.
The Men’s class is meeting downstairs in the (formerly)conference room near the church office.
WORSHIP - 11:00 AM
WEDNESDAY
PRAYER MEETING - 11:AM
(Wednesday morning prayer meeting, 11:00 am)
Blessed is the man who gives and remembers not and receives and forgets not.
July Mission Emphasis - Children's Hospital of Mississippi
Brother Steve's Upcoming Sermon Topic
Sermon Series- Questions Jesus Asked
July 13 - Do you believe that I can do this? Matthew 9:28
July 20 - Why are you crying? John 20:13
July 27 - Do you believe? John 11:26
August 3 - Why do you worry? Matthew 6:28
August 10 - Why don't you notice the log in your own eye? Mattew 7:3
August 17 - What do you want me to do for you? Mark 10:51
August 24 - Pastor Out ; Rex McRaney to preach
August 31 - Why were you searching for me? Luke 2:49
Church Business Meeting April 30, 2025.
Annual financial report was good, we spent less than we took in. It was reported that the church van was sold to the Pontotoc Baptist Association for $32,000. The largest portion of these funds were deposited to the Virginia Stampley foundation fund.
MAY - DECEMBER 2025 CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES FOR ALTA WOODS BAPTIST CHURCH
JULY - Mission Project: Children's Hospital
16 VBS Joint Worship
23 Business Meeting
30 Bible Study Lab
AUGUST - Mission Project: Gateway Mission
6 Lunch (Begin Study of Revelation)
9 L.A.W: 9:30
24 Pastor Out: Rex Yancy to Preach
SEPTEMBER - Mission Project: State Missions Offering
3 Lunch
21 Teacher Appreciation Sunday (Lunch)
27 Mug and Muffin (9:30-Noon)
29 Metro BA Meeting 6:30pm
OCTOBER - Mission Project: Samaritan's Purse
1 Lunch (Begin Doctrine of Prayer Study)
5 Pastor Out (Rex Yancy to Preach)
22 Business Meeting
28-29 MBCB State Convention
NOVEMBER- Mission Project- Seaman's Ministry
2 DST ends
5 Lunch
9 Veteran;s Sunday, Shoebox Ministry
26 No Wednesday Services
DECEMBER- Internation Missions
3 Lunch - Week of Prayer Emphasis
10 Carols of World Service
24 4pm Vespers - David Watts
29 Final Day of Office Open for year
31 No Wednesday Services
Our Mission emphasis for July 2025 was Mercy House in Georgetown. Billy and Peggy Roberts delivered a van full of supplies this past week,
As always, Alta Woods members were very generous in their giving and Mercy House was very appreciative.