Abounding Grace Baptist Church

Abounding Grace has one purpose - To bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In order to do this we must carry out the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. We are eagerly seeking those who would like to take a meaningful part in the advancement of God's Kingdom work in this world. If you are seeking a church home we ask that you prayerfully consider Abounding Grace. We are located at the corner of 15th and Henney Road in Choctaw, Oklahoma.  You will find a map link at the bottom of this page.

If you are lost or if you are not sure about your salvation go to our salvation page, call me or email your concerns and prayer needs. We have evening prayer and devotionals specifically designed to hold up the spiritual and material needs of those who are in pain or experiencing problems in life.

Our logo to the right represents the Circle of Friends in the Lord that are here for you. God bless you.

Abounding Grace is currently envolved in a study of prophecy on Sunday evening. Brother Troy Corder is teaching the class which is a wonderful study of the fulfillment of prophecy and a look ahead to, as yet, unfulfilled prophecy and end time events.

On Wednesday evening we are studying the Bible in Eight Ages by Dr. L.D. Foreman. This study examines the eight ages in time from eternity past to eternity future. Brother Mitchell is teaching this class. If you would like to attend we welcome visitors and encourage you to bring your Bible so that we might examine the Scriptures together.

We are thankful for God's answered prayers. Brother Watkins has his sight restored and is busy on the field once again. He is also conducting a study on restoration - reclaiming those with addictions. It has been a great study so far. Come join us!

• If you would like to view the latest pictures of church activities go to our Pics pages for a brief slide show. If you would like more information about Abounding Grace please email me at the address listed on this page or cmitchelljr@yahoo.com, we would love to hear from you. If you have a blessing or a burden that you would like to share with us as a matter of prayer know that we are concerned about our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as those who are without Christ as their Savior. If you would like to know more about the plan of salvation as revealed in Scripture please visit our Coming To Jesus page.

Worship and Praise

Sunday School                             10:00

Morning Worship                          11:00

Sunday Evening Bible Study           5:30

Sunday Evening Worship                6:15

Wednesday Worship                       7:00

Members also conduct home Bible Study Classes. If you are interested in hosting a home Bible Study call or email the pastor (870)769-3578 or cmitchelljr@yahoo.com.

NO RETREAT, NO REGRETS

Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Introduction:

A. When asked about his regrets Billy Graham said, "One of my great regrets is that I have not studied enough. I wish I had studied more and preached less. People have pressured me into speaking to groups when I should have been studying and preparing. Donald Barnhouse said that if he knew the Lord was coming in three years, he would spend two of them studying and one preaching. I'm trying to make it up"

B. We all have regrets, big and small.

• 1. Paul had some regrets - those things that hindered the work of God early in his life.
• 2. Moses regretted striking the rock twice thus preventing his entry into the Promised Land.
• 3. Jonah regretted not going to Nineveh when first called to do so.

C. Look at some the other people of the Bible and their regrets may help us avoid the mistakes they made.

I.              King Saul regretted his disobedience.

1 Sam 13:7  And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

1 Sam 13:8  And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

1 Sam 13:9  And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

1 Sam 13:10  And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

1 Sam 13:11  And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

1 Sam 13:12  Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

1 Sam 13:13  And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

1 Sam 13:14  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

A. Gospel preachers are called to deliver the message of God.

• 1. Many preachers have delivered warnings, only to see people reject that advice thinking they know better.
• 2. Many people think they have a good grasp of spiritual matters and preachers are missing the mark.

B. Saul thought he could take the place of Samuel in offering sacrifice to God.

• 1. This happened during the time of Moses.

Lev 10:1  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

Lev 10:2  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD."

C. It also happened to King Uzziah.

2 Chr 26:18   And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.

2 Chr 26:19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.

2 Chr 26:20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

2 Chr 26:21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land."

II.            Esau regretting not being interested in spiritual things.

A. Esau and his brother's story are found in Genesis 25.

• 1. Jacob and Esau were fraternal twins; they did not look or act alike.
• 2. Esau was a sportsman, Jacob was a homebody.
• 3. Esau took life easy, Jacob was trying to get ahead.
• 4. Esau come home one day very hungry, Jacob had a pot of food cooking. Esau wanted some and Jacob agreed in exchange for the birthright. Esau ate.

Genesis 25:29-34

B. There are many of Esau's spiritual descendants in the world today.

• 1. Many are concerned about making a living and the comforts of life.
• 2. They are equally unconcerned about eternal spiritual matters.
• 3. They are as short sighted as Esau.
• 4. Bill Borden was the son of the wealthy Borden family. He went to China as a missionary. Many of his friends thought him foolish.
• 5. A short time later he contracted an oriental disease and died.
• 6. At his bedside he wrote, "No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets."

C. Esau realized his mistake and he regretted it the rest of his life but when he did realize it, it was too late.

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."

D. Do not make Esau's mistake of placing more important on the physical things of this world over the spiritual things, or you may regret it the rest of your life.

• 1. Many parents make this mistake and realize it too late.
• 2. Pastors see it all the time.
• 3. Some pastors see it in there own family.

III.           Judas regrets his rejection of Christ.

A. Jesus chose 12 men to be apostles.

• 1. One was Judas Iscariot.
• 2. He was chosen as treasurer of the group.

B. Judas had a great opportunity.

• 1. He saw and heard Jesus during His ministry on earth
• 2. He worked with other men and women dedicated to Christ's work.

C. What happened to Judas?

• 1. Maybe he was waiting for a better time to believe on Jesus.
• 2. Maybe he wanted more proof Jesus was the Christ.
• 3. Maybe he wanted to think about it more.
• 4. Maybe he thought it was too easy to be saved.
• 5. No one knows for sure, but you can put your excuse in there with his and see what good it does you.

D. Judas realized his mistake.

Matt 27:3  Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Matt 27:4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

Matt 27:5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."

• 1. Judas killed himself regretting his actions.
• 2. It did not have to be that way but many live their life filled with regret.
• 3. Hell will be filled with people who regret their rejection of Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Conclusion:

A. Mistakes made in this life may well bring regrets in the life to come.

B. There is no need to face regrets in the matter of salvation.

• 1. God has done everything to provide a free gift in salvation
• 2. Jesus stands ready to make intercession for us.
• 3. We don't have to life a defeated life hounded by regrets.

Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

C. Know that your "sin will find you out."

D. Judgment is coming.

E. To die without Jesus is to die lost, condemned, and unprepared.

F. That is one regret no one face, because we don't have to.