The greatest question to ask and answer is, "Are you a Christian?" If you answer "yes" to that question there must accompany proofs to your answer. John 15 clarifies those proofs.

Today, churches have fellowship halls, fellowship dinners, and fellowship retreats, but very few have real fellowship. Yet, for a church that seeks to be guided in principle and practice by the New Testament, true fellowship is very important. Biblical fellowship is God's method for the outworking of His will through the church.

"Which would be wiser when faced with walking across a frozen pond: great faith in a very thin sheet of ice or weak faith in a very thick sheet of ice? If the object of your faith is most important, weak faith in a thick sheet of ice would be better and safer" (Dr. David Jeremiah). The fundamental object of our faith is God! As we come into His presence, praying in faith, let us come with the following six guidelines.

The Bible is God's Word. Did you catch that? The Creator of the universe has put into written form His directions to mankind for living life! The Lord never intended for His Word to collect dust on a table in your back bedroom! As we abide (remain) in Christ . . . "He intends for His Word to be at the center of your life. After you have yielded to the call of Christ to enter into a relationship with Him, you must ground yourself in knowledge of Him by spending time with Him and learning His Word" (Master Life, Willis, pp 17-18). Why?

This is the first message of a six-month series on Master Life, a book written by Avery T. Willis Jr. with Sherrie Willis Brown, and based on the best-selling discipleship program. The very heart of the Gospel message is found in Luke 9:23. If you are saved, a believer, redeemed, born again, a Christian, you MUST DESIRE DAILY to do these three things. Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Christ.

The people of Minnetrista Baptist Church are Christ Followers who love, serve and share so our neighbors can come to know Him. That is our purpose statement. Included in this message is an explanation of that purpose, our values, our vision and what immediate initiatives we are taking on our vision. Find out what you can do!

Sometimes people meet God in the strangest places. Raul Reis met God while watching Billy Graham on TV. Ann Nemeth met God on a quiet hill behind our church building. Tina met God through the death of her child. Ron Archer met God when his 4th grade teacher gave him a Gideon Bible. At Christmas time we meet God in the strangest places too.

We were created to live in relationship with God and others. We began a series of messages in September called "The One Anothers" to remind us that, "No man is an island entire to itself; every man is a piece of a continent, a part of the main" (John Donne). When we truly come together, we are to support one another to allow each of us, as individuals and the church as a whole, to thrive. When the Church thrives we are salt and light to our world! As we conclude our series, here are five signs you are growing mature in Christ.

Most of us are familiar with the term "upward mobility." The definition is, "the capacity or facility for rising to a higher social or economic position." It's the American Dream! The "Jeffersons" lived it. Their television show opened with the song, "We're Moving On Up To The East Side." If we are honest, it's what we dream of for our kids. Jesus, however, practiced downward mobility. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a "servant" (Philippians 2:5-8). He climbed down the ladder to us. We should have the same mindset.

On the second page of the paper dated October 28th the headline read, "Fears rise as election draws near." This election season is beyond ugly and to some very frightening! The author of the book of Hebrews says, ". . . but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." For the purpose of this message, "the Day approaching" is Tuesday November 8th. Isaiah 41:10 is an encouraging verse in the midst of all the intense noise on both sides of the aisle.