Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Today’s Nugget: The letter (epistle) to Philemon is an unusual book compared to the other New Testament inclusions. Paul’s personal letter to Philemon, a wealthy man and a laborer for Christ, had church in his own house (Philemon 2). In it, Paul shares his concern to do right and his spirit to reconcile those that have parted ways. Apparently, Onesimus was a runaway slave of Philemon’s. Onesimus ran to Rome, perhaps to hide his identity among the large population. There, the runaway met Paul, who was in prison. How they met in prison is not told. It could be possible that Onesimus was jailed for his running away, and that is how he met Paul. Paul led the man to the Lord (Philemon 10). It was not long until the two became good friends. Onesimus was a blessing to the now elderly, cold, imprisoned preacher. Paul had a great need for Onesimus, but something was more important than the prisoner's comfort; it was doing the right thing. For this reason, Paul wrote the letter to Philemo

In advising Titus what he should preach, Paul defined how a Christian’s new character should be. A Christian should strive to not talk negatively about anyone, not fight with others, be gentle, and be meek (vs. 2). Sometimes people that have been saved for a while agree that the Lord has changed them, but they forget how they were before Jesus made a difference in their lives. In verse three, Paul reminds Titus of what we used to do (vs. 3). Shamefully, we all have to nod our head in agreement that our sin was great before we were saved. We still, after we were saved, are not perfect; but God does change the believer. These changes in our lives are not our doing. It is not we that did the changing without God’s help. For those that think they are a better person after they are saved because of their own doing, they are mistaken (vs. 5). Many feel they have to “clean up” their life first and then get saved. The problem is we cannot change our natural state ourselves. We can clean up

Daily Nugget: In giving pastoral advice to another preacher, Titus, Paul shows us we can often face what the early church had to be careful of. Churches had to be careful of false teachers undermining the work of God Paul’s warnings to Titus can help us identify some of the false preaching and teaching that go on in pulpits today. Some of the tell-tale signs of a “false preacher” include: They are preaching things that should not be preached or taught. Perhaps some of what came from the pulpit was not even biblical, as happens in many pulpits today. Somehow what was said was often motivated by the preacher’s desire just to make more money for himself (Titus 1:11). Much of what was said ruined families. Perhaps unwise preaching brought division rather than unity in families and caused problems (Titus 1:11). It may also have been doctrines that encouraged families to leave their church. The result was that they stopped attending church altogether. Their having their own prophets (Ti

Daily Nugget: In giving pastoral advice to another preacher, Titus, Paul shows us we can often face what the early church had to be careful of. Churches had to be careful of false teachers undermining the work of God Paul’s warnings to Titus can help us identify some of the false preaching and teaching that go on in pulpits today. Some of the tell-tale signs of a “false preacher” include: They are preaching things that should not be preached or taught. Perhaps some of what came from the pulpit was not even biblical, as happens in many pulpits today. Somehow what was said was often motivated by the preacher’s desire just to make more money for himself (Titus 1:11). Much of what was said ruined families. Perhaps unwise preaching brought division rather than unity in families and caused problems (Titus 1:11). It may also have been doctrines that encouraged families to leave their church. The result was that they stopped attending church altogether. Their having their own prophets (Titu

Daily Nugget: The battle for living a godly life does not end when one is saved. It often begins when one trusts Christ as Saviour, especially if one is determined to live an obedient, Christian life. Some succumb to the temptations of this world and lose their love for the things of God. Demas, spoken of in II Timothy 4:10 was one such causality. “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.” II Timothy 4:10 For a while, Demas was a faithful fellow-laborer in Christ (Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24) alongside Paul. Paul relied on Demas to help reach the lost. Like countless millions, however, the allure of this world caught his helper’s eye and lured him away from his main purpose in life. Since I have been saved, I have seen many Demas’. They got saved and started sitting next to us in a pew. They never missed preaching. When the doors of the church were opened, they were there. As the preac

Daily Nugget: Paul warned us that in the last days of the church, sin will be rampant. He lists 19 different sins (II Timothy 3:2-5). These iniquities have always been committed by individuals throughout history. In the last days, however, the commission of these sins will change civilization, and they will be committed without guilt or restraint. Although no man knows when the Lord will return for His church, one must admit that the prominence and rampant involvement of the sins listed in this chapter describe today’s spiritual condition too well. One particular sin has done so much damage to the cause of Christ and Christian living. It may look Christian; it may even use religious and Christian vocabulary. Perhaps this iniquity may involve many doing things that are biblically correct, but it is still deceptive and dangerous. It is watered down, liberal Christianity. It is a “… form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…” (II Timothy 3:5), and it is doing so much damage in the

Daily Nugget: One of the most important responsibilities Christians have is to study the Scriptures for themselves. Church is important, and one can learn quite a lot from the man of God in the pulpit, but it is up to us to study and understand what the Word of God says. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Tim. 2:15 II Timothy 2:15 teaches us five things about studying the Word of God: We get God’s approval when we think it is important enough to study what God has recorded for us in the Bible’s preserved words. Notice that the words God used are “study” and not “read.” We are to delve into it like we want to pass life’s tests and know God’s mind. It is the only source that will help us get through life’s difficulties and learn more about the Father. Reading is a shallower, less urgent, and less purposeful approach to a subject. Studying takes time, rereading, comparing Scripture with Scripture,

 A parent’s influence can be one of the most influential guiding forces in a child’s life. Their habits, instruction, and lifestyle often mold the direction of the young life in their care. Countless numbers of young people have lived a life of ruin because of improper training or lack of guidance. Multitudes, however, have also lived a fruitful, content life because of the proper guidance from their parents. Timothy, the young man to whom Paul was writing, was a product of a godly upbringing. Not much is said about his father other than he was a Greek, but Timothy had a God-obeying heritage. His grandmother, Lois, started the chain of events that would affect several generations (II Timothy 1 5). She was a devout believer and raised her daughter, Eunice, in the ways of the Lord. Eunice raised her son, Timothy, with godly principles and upbringing. The result was a godly young man God used. A child always has a mind of its own and can always choose not to obey and follow the Lord. U

Daily Nugget: Despite the popular opinion, having wealth is not the way to happiness. Also, despite what some “religious” teachers insist, God does not want everyone rich. Wealth brings its own set of problems, many of them being spiritual. The danger of having much is that with it may come many temptations (I Timothy 6:9). It is easy to covet more. Few wealthy people stop after reaching their initial goal of possessions. They often desire “just a little more.” Covetousness becomes a driving force in their life. It is not long after that a “love” for money often develops, and that is where many get lost in what is important in life. Many say, “If I had money, it would not tempt me.” Although that is possible, look around and see what destruction having a lot has caused others: Many put a priority on keeping what they have over spending time with their families and doing what is important in this life. “I have to go to work this weekend to pay the bills for what we have.” Work becomes

Daily Nugget: If you ever sat in the front office of a church for any amount of time, you may find many coming through the door expecting a handout. Perhaps because the government passes out so much of other people’s money to them, they expect the church to do the same thing. Although many churches do help others, there is not a lot of scriptural basis for doing so in the manner many ministries give today. As Paul said earlier in II Thessalonians 3, it is right for all that can to work. In no way did he suggest giving charity to everyone, as is often done today. To get a better idea of the early church’s view on giving, examine the restrictions given to one group of people they tried to help — widows. They did not just hand out their support to anyone that came through the door claiming to be a widow. To help them, the widow had to be: Unsupported because she had no family to help her (I Timothy 5:4, 8, 16). A saved and godly woman (I Timothy 5:5) known for a prayer life of prayin

Daily Nugget: Many of the problems early churches faced are very much a concern today. They had to deal with many that departed from the faith and followed “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1). Being this is the “latter times” Paul spoke of, this problem is very real today. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” I Timothy 4:1 People, then and now claim to be Christians. They may be; they may not be. At first, they make a profession of salvation and start doing something for the Lord. It is not long, and they are nowhere to be found. Why did they wander away from trying to live for the Lord? They may not have been saved and were only going through “religious” motions. If they were truly saved, they are still children of God, but they may have been “seduced” by demonic spirits. Perhaps those spirits caused their feelings to be hurt or offended their

Daily Nugget: I Timothy 3 describes the qualifications of church leaders: bishops and deacons.  The bishop described here is not much like the ceremonial, denominational church heads that we see today. That type of leader is not biblical. Nowhere does the Bible speak of a leader to be over multiple churches. The bishops described here are leaders of a local church.  “Bishop” described here is the spiritual overseer and director of a local assembly of believers. We would call him a pastor or preacher today. Here we read of 16 biblical qualifications to be a pastor. They are: A pastor is to be above reproach with an exceptional Christian testimony. Husband of one wife. The New Testament leader of a church should have only one living wife. This also defines the leader as being male, as only men should (biblically) have a wife. He is to watch his flock to keep them from danger. He should be the warner of false doctrines and of the snares that often destroy Christian testimonies. No

Daily Nugget: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 2:5 What wonderful news it must have been to the Jews, who were familiar with Old Testament-worshiping, when they learned they could go to God themselves in prayer. Before Jesus’ death on the cross, they had priests go to God as middlemen for them. After the sacrificial death of Christ, they could enter the “Holiest of Holies,” the closest place any man could be to God, by themselves through their prayers (I Timothy 2:1). However, then and even today, many believe they cannot go to God themselves. These folks still, if they realize it or not, are attempting to worship the way it was done in Old Testament times. Some go to a “priest” in a confessional and tell him their sins. With his words and doing what he tells them to do, they believe he can order their sins to be forgiven. They trust the “priest” to be their mediator between them and God. Some pray to deceased biblical ch

Daily Nugget: I Timothy was written by Paul to Timothy. The preacher considered Timothy a spiritual son (I Timothy 1:2). Like any father, spiritual or parental, Paul wanted to give the younger man some good advice. His advice included: That the young man stay in Ephesus (I Timothy 1:3). The elder could see the need in that city for a good, strong man of God. Paul knew he could trust Timothy for the task. That Timothy would encourage the Ephesian Christians to stick to the doctrines Paul had taught them earlier (I Timothy 1:3). Often when a good preacher starts a church and teaches proper doctrine, some follow teaching contrary teachings. Apparently, that was a danger the church was facing. Paul knew trustworthy Timothy could help stamp out teachings that were not Scriptural and those that could weaken the growing church. That Timothy would refute some false teachings (“fables”) that were already doing damage in the ministry (I Timothy 1:4). That Timothy would also show the people

Daily Nugget: Today, especially among Christians, there is a desire to feed and meet the needs of those that do not have. That is a considerate and generous goal.  Paul, however, had a different view on such a practice of helping others. He said plainly, “… that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (II Thessalonians 3:10). That philosophy would shut down welfare and other government handouts very quickly! Our modern idea of helping others is not biblical and healthy for any person or society. We have so many today that can but will not work. Hands go out for someone to help them when, in too many instances, they will not do for themselves what they could. Many quickly take someone else’s money to meet their needs rather than work to provide their own. Immediately, there are angry voices justifying others’ refusal to work. “Well, there are many that can’t find work now!” I agree; it can be rough. I know the feeling. I have had a hard time finding work in the past, but it was

Today’s Nugget: In the previous letter to the Thessalonians, Paul discussed the rapture (I Thessalonians 4:16-16). He also wrote about the Day of the Lord (I Thessalonians 5:2), which encompasses the time after the real church is removed from the Earth. In this chapter, the preacher reiterates what he has already written. He tells them again about the rapture: “… our gathering together unto him” (II Thessalonians 2:1). He continues to teach about other things that will happen after the church is gone. The preacher tells them about the coming of the son of perdition. He also calls this man the “man of sin” (II Thessalonians 2:3) and the “Wicked”(II Thessalonians 2:8). John identified this man who is being spoken of, Satan’s world dictator, as the Antichrist. Before the Antichrist comes, there must be a “falling away first” (II Thessalonians 2:3). This “falling away” is the departure from the truths of the Word of God. While that has and is happening even today, there is still a remnan

Daily Nugget: From time to time, one will say, “I cannot believe a loving God would send anyone to a burning Hell!”   Throughout the Word of God, the horrible place of torment is described.  Here it declares that some will go there no matter what man thinks (II Thessalonians 1:8-9). These scriptures tell us six horrifying facts about Hell. Hell is: A place of “flaming fire” (II Thessalonians 1:8). With many trying to sanitize and be polite in describing it, it is a place that no one should ever want to go.  It is a place with pain and torment from flames. A punishment that is God’s “vengeance” (II Thessalonians 1:8). There are many that mock and laugh at the things of God — now. Some even curse the Creator’s name. No matter how others treat God, there is a payday someday for their behavior: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7 A place for “… them that know not God…” (II Thessalonians 1:8). Many also say, “I c