Elfrida Baptist Church

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Crossing the JordanJoshua 3:1-17March 22, 2026Caution Blowing Dust Area – Do Not Enter When FloodedLiability for emergency responses in flood areasMemory Verse – Joshua 1:9Preparation for the Crossing (vv. 1-4)Joshua 1:8 Mark 1:35 Possible order of events:3rd Nisan - the spies are sent out by JoshuaJoshua 2:16th Nisan - the spies returnJoshua 2:237th Nisan – the command of Joshua 1:11 is issuedJoshua 1:119th Nisan - the camp is moved from Shittim to the Jordan Joshua 3:110th Nisan – they crossed the JordanJoshua 4:19The “sacred chest” was to be a rectangular wooden box made from acacia wood, overlaid “inside and out with pure gold,” Psalm 99:1Numbers 7:891 Peter 1:18-191 Peter 3:181 John 4:10Hebrews 10:3-4Numbers 4:4-6Consecration for the Crossing (vv. 5-13)Consecrate - Sanctify yourselves – set apart – v. 5Exodus 34:10 Joshua 4:14Completion of the Crossing (vv. 14-17)List of miraclesThe event came to pass as predicted (vv. 13, 15)The timing was exact (v. 15)The crossing took place at flood stage (v. 15)The wall of water was held in place for many hours – maybe a full day (v. 16)The wet, muddy, river bottom was dry at once (v. 17)The water returned right after the people had crossed and the priests came up out of the riverbed (4:18)ApplicationCompare Red Sea vs. Jordan crossingsRed SeaSeparation from the pastJordanPictures entrance by faith into our spiritual inheritance in ChristRed SeaEnemy defeated once & for allJordanJews had to win one victory after another in Canaan

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Join us in celebrating Chris!

Joshua 1: 10-18 - Complacency or Conquest

Joshua 1: 1-9

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2 Peter 3, 1-10

I don't want to be ashamed

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2 Peter 1:10-21

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9 Marks of a Healthy ChurchDecember 28, 2025Expositional Preaching The object is to expound, explain its meaning and then apply itNehemiah 8:8Acts 20:27Biblical TheologySound = Reliable, Accurate, Faithful1 Timothy 6:3 2 Timothy 1:132 Timothy 4:3Titus 1:9The GospelThe Gospel is the heart of ChristianityGenesis 1:26-28 Romans 3:23Romans 5:8-9Romans 4:25Justification – the sovereign act of God whereby He declares a believing sinner righteous, while still in his sinning stateJohn 1:12John 3:16-17ConversionA biblical understanding of conversion recognizes that only God can saveThe Bible clearly teaches that we need:Our hearts replacedOur minds transformedOur spirits given lifeEphesians 2:8-9EvangelismBiblically, evangelism is presenting the good news freely and trusting God to convert peopleActs 16:14Jonah 2:9John 1:12-133 things to communicate in evangelismThe decision is costly - it must be carefully consideredLuke 9:62The decision is urgent - it must be madeJohn 3:36The decision is worth it - it should be madeJohn 10:10MembershipA commitment every Christian should make to attend, love, serve and submit to a local churchPhilippians 4:3DisciplineThe area of Biblical discipline is based off the fact that God desires that we lead holy livesBroad SenseChurch discipline is everything the church does to help its members pursue holiness and fight sinNarrow SenseChurch discipline is the act of correcting sin in the life of the bodyFive reasons for corrective church discipline:For the individual disciplinedFor other Christians as they see the danger of sinFor the health of the church as a wholeFor the corporate witness of the churchFor our holiness to reflect the holiness of God (most important)DiscipleshipA healthy church has a concern with church growthA healthy Christian is a growing Christian2 Corinthians 10:15Ephesians 4:15Colossians 1:102 Thessalonians 1:3God is glorified by churches that are growingLeadershipEach local church should be led by a plurality of godly, qualified men called elders

Part 3 of 3; Jesus The,

1 of 3 parts Jesus the Prophet, Jesus the Priest, Jesus the King

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DeaconsNovember 9, 2026Memory Verse: Galatians5:13  For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only donot turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve oneanother through love.·        Acts 17:11 o   Mostimportant for a church is to be: Christ centered, Bible focused, Where the Gospelis clearly explainedo   Elders:Elder – presbúteros, Overseer – epískopoi, Shepherd - poimaínōOfficeRoleFunction      §  Acts20:17  OfficeRoleFunctionElders     §  Acts20:28  OfficeRoleFunctionEldersOverseers    ·        Acts 20:28  OfficeRoleFunctionEldersOverseersShepherd/Pastor   §  Philippians1:1  §  Titus1:5§  1Timothy 3:8-13 (Pew Bible pg. 796)  OfficeRoleFunctionEldersOverseersShepherd/PastorDeacons  ·        Deacons are called diakonoi (plural) in Greek·        Acts 6:1-4·        Acts 21:8  OfficeRoleFunctionEldersOverseersShepherd/PastorDeaconsAssistants  OfficeRoleFunctionEldersOverseersShepherd/PastorDeaconsAssistantsServants ·        5 qualifications of a deacon (vv.8-9)o   Menof dignity (worthy of respect)§ Acts16:2  o   Notinsincereo   Notprone to drink much wine§ Proverbs20:1§ Proverbs23:29-30  o   Notgreedy for money§ Matthew6:24§ 1Timothy 6:10 o   Holdingto the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience§  LawrenceRichards, “The Christian maintains a clear conscience by living in harmony withthe truths unveiled in God’s Word.”·        1 Timothy 3:10  §  1Timothy 3:11  §  Gynē= woman/wife§  Gynaikas= women/wives §  Ephesians4:12  o   5Views of who “women” refers to:§  AllChristian women in general§  Womendeacons (co-equals with male deacons)·        Romans 16:1§  Deaconesses(a 3rd, separate office)§  Womenhelpers or assistants to the deacons§  Thedeacons’ wives ·        4 Qualifications:o   Dignified– worthy of respecto   Notmalicious gossipso   Temperate– self-controlo   Faithfulin all things·        1 Timothy 3:12  § Qualifications 6 & 7:o   Deaconsmust be husbands of one wifeo   Deaconsmust be good managers of their children and their own households§  1Timothy 3:13 §  Thosewho do their servant roles faithfully gain two things:o   Obtainfor themselves a high standingo   Obtainfor themselves a great confidence in the faith that is in Christ JesusConstitution: Article 6,Section B – DeaconsBy-Laws: Article 5:Deacons, Section E: Appointment