Tabernacle Baptist Church

God is still in the business of restoring people’s lives. We can see Him bringing restoration throughout the Bible, and He’s still bringing restoration today. 

God restores our identity as sons and daughters of the King. We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

God restores our calling. Identity should naturally lead to activity because we are God’s ambassadors on earth.

When your “brushwork” is analyzed, do people see the marks of Jesus in you?

What is it going to take for us to cry out to God? We need to realize that even in the depths, God is still in control! When we encounter ourselves in the depths, this can be the result of two things: the reality of living in a broken world or a consequence of our sin. 

In the depths, we realize we are helpless and hopeless without God. Just like Jonah realized that in the past and cried out to God, the same truth is for us today. Without the Lord we are nothing. Sometimes, God allows us to get into hopeless situations so we will realize how much we need Him, and so He will get the credit if we are delivered.

Finally, in the depths, we should realize that salvation belongs to the Lord. Like Jonah, we need to be desperate for God. We need Ebenezers in our lives to remind us of what God has done!

Are you a blessing or a barrier to the people around you? 

Jonah was a barrier to the people on the ship. He almost killed them all, however, God is sovereign. Like the sailors paddling for shore, any effort to save others apart from God falls short. In his providence, God used Jonah’s warped witness to lead these pagan sailors to worship Him. 

We must understand that our most important citizenship is not of this world and that there is always going to be collateral damage when we disobey God, so if you want to be a blessing instead of a barrier, accept responsibility for your actions.

When is the last time you meditated on the fact that the Creator of the universe speaks to us? If our Creator speaks, we should listen to Him.

There are only two responses when God speaks: obedience or rebellion. Jonah rebelled. He was fearful of his enemies and had a difficult time understanding why God cared for the Ninevites.

Just like God has spoken to Jonah, he has spoken to us. Are you going to obey or rebel when He speaks?

It is our job to obey, even when we do not understand all the reasons why God is doing what He is doing. Jonah had a difficult time with the Ninevites, however, the question is: who are your Ninevites? Maybe that person or group of people that you don’t understand the way they live.  

Pray that God will soften your heart towards our perceived enemies, remembering always that the enemy of our souls is not them, but Satan.

In Dr. Zach Crook’s first sermon as Tabernacle Lead Pastor, he talked about Esther’s story in Est 4:11-16.

1. God knows what He’s doing. God is sovereign and doesn’t make mistakes. So, whatever you are walking through, you have to trust that God is allowing it to happen

2. We need to get ready. If you just come to church once a week, you won’t be ready!  It’s daily getting in his Word and praying!

3. Trust God with the results. Esther was saying that being obedient to God, even if it leads to an earthly demise is better than being alive. Do you believe that following Jesus is better than comfort and safety?

Who are you ultimately trying to please? Don’t you long for the Master to say upon His return, “Well done, good and faithful servant? But you might say, “It’s too late.” No, it is not. You can decide that you are going to accept what you’ve been given and quit griping about what you don’t have. You can decide that you are going to invest what you’ve been entrusted, as you discover what God has placed in your hand. 

Understand that one day the Master is coming back, and you will give an account for the life that has been entrusted to you. Don’t be a good-for-nothing. 

You are only truly fulfilled when you are fulfilling the purpose for which you were created. 

You’ve been given a great gift. Now go share it.

Do you think you’re paying good money to watch what goes on up here week after week at church?

Sadly, that’s what many church attendees believe; but that’s not the way God designed the church.

Some Christians consider themselves followers of Christ and even members of Tabernacle, but they feel like they are on the sidelines of what God is doing in the church, and desperately want to be a part of what God is doing.

On the other hand, there are some people that have been sitting on the sidelines just watching everyone else serve with no desire to get in the game, however, they need to awaken to the fact that they are on the team and need to do their part.

Today is an opportunity for us to realize what it takes to get in the game and be a part of what God is doing at Tabernacle and/or in the greater kingdom of heaven on earth.

Paul in this letter is combating heresy in the church and people who have distorted the image of Jesus. Paul loves this church dearly and cares for their spiritual maturity and well-being. Paul’s response doesn’t attack or spend time critiquing the wrong view, rather Paul draws people to worship the risen Savior by showing Jesus in His supremacy, power, and beauty. 

Colossians 1:15-20 will present to us the most essential truth of the Christian faith. Christianity is centered on Christ being God and God making peace by His own blood for the sins of man.

This is the first sermon of now, our Lead Pastor, Dr. Zach Crook preached at Tabernacle.

God has wired us all with a need for other people; for community. But what is biblical community?

Biblical community is a small gathering of people for Bible study, ministry, and accountability.

When it comes to biblical community, just attending a worship service like this doesn’t put you in community. It’s difficult to experience community within a large group like this.

Being in community means that you know others and are known by others. You serve and are being served by others. You love and are being loved by others.

There are three facets of the power of community among followers of Christ.1- Community reflects God’s nature2- Community mature God’s people3- Community extends God’s Kingdom

Community isn’t all about us. It’s about reflecting the glory of God in our lives as we yield to Him and He transforms us by His power as we exercise the spiritual disciplines He gave us.