Resurrection Sunday...a warning and our hope!

 Greetings in the name of the risen Lord!

As we look forward to Easter, I want you to see something God has revealed in the act of Resurrection.  

The resurrection of Jesus was the most important event in Christianity for without an empty tomb, sinners have no hope.  A Savior that has no power over our biggest threat wouldn't be much solace to mankind but Praise God, He raised His Son from that borrowed tomb so that we can be assured that He has power over death and the grave.

Friends, this Easter Sunday is a celebration of that reality.  It is a time of reflecting on the terrible cost our sins demand and the gracious sacrifice Jesus paid on our behalf.  If you have not made a decision to put your faith in Jesus, you need to consider the cost of your sins.  You can't pay enough to get you eternal life.  God knew this in advance and sent Jesus to die in your place.  You MUST believe in Him before He returns to claim His spotless Bride.  If you think you're a spotless bride without Jesus, you're telling God that you are more righteous than His Son.  Don't be that foolish friend, God will not be mocked.  Turn to Jesus today and be saved from the punishment for denying Him.

May God richly bless you and your family this season and always!

Brad

 Greetings Dear Readers!

Happy New Year to you all.  I apologize that I've not been writing as often as I'd like.  Been busy learning new skills to help my church move on from the pandemic and get the Gospel past the 4 walls.

As you look forward to the months ahead in 2021, what do you expect?  What way do you think God will bless you?  Or do you even feel like He is blessing at all?   Politics aside, God has blessed us at DBC and He continues to do so despite all the tricks of the devil and the division the world is experiencing.

How has He blessed us you ask?  We are about to regather for regular services this coming weekend.  All our small groups will be meeting, distanced and masked where possible, and our regular service will begin anew with evening services and bible study groups meeting midweek as well.  We have not been financially strapped as some have, we have even had a few visitors to our modified worship services recently and our technology ministry is growing.

We are introducing the Dahlgren Baptist Church App in the Apple iTunes store as well as the Google Play Store.  It's a free download that keeps you connected to our fellowship here, allows you to give as the Lord calls you to and you can follow this BLOG right there from the App as well as in the future, get links to see our messages and lessons on video.  We are growing slowly but surely and it's all because of God's blessings and the generosity of folks like you who want to hear more, be involved and see God at work in a small church for His Glory.  

I want to show you in scripture where we find a key to God's blessings and it comes from Isaiah 56:2 "Happy is the man who does this, anyone who maintains this, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing evil."  

If you're struggling right now or unhappy in life, may I encourage you?  Your struggle isn't unknown to God.  He is using the struggles and hurts to draw you closer to Him.  Get in service somewhere that preaches God's Word, proclaims Christ risen and returning and you'll discover the blessings.  It won't make you a millionaire overnight or kill depression quickly but it is the right road to take on this journey we call life.  Establish a relationship with Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, surrender to His Lordship and find your way to everlasting life in His sacrifice for you.  He paid your debt friend.  Accept it, believe on Him and you will be blessed!

Happy New Year!

Yours in God's grace,

Brad   

Christmas to Me.

 Greetings blog fans, 

I am sitting here at my desk after my prayer and devotional time thinking about the upcoming Christmas celebration.  Things are so much more different than I anticipated and yet, December 25th is still on the calendar despite what else is happening.

As I ponder what this Christmas is going to look like, I also look back to what it was like on the night it became reality.  There in Bethlehem, a young couple seeking refuge from the elements after an arduous journey to fulfill the demands of a census, cannot find shelter.  Everyplace was booked, no friends to call on despite family being from there.  Just two young people with a baby on the way in the night.

Could we put ourselves in Joseph's sandals for a moment.  He is worried about his bride and their child.  Yes, their child.  God sent an angel to make it clear to Joseph that he would have a role to play in rearing up this Christ-child.  Being a man of integrity(he DID take Mary as bride despite her situation), I feel like Joseph has the weight of the world on his shoulders.  Imagine what's going on in his head:  What will I do if the baby dies in birth?  How will I care for the both of them(Mary & Jesus) if I can't even put a roof over their heads?  

These are all thoughts I would be thinking.  Self doubt is a terrible sickness friends.  But I have good news for any of you who struggle with it!  God already has a plan in place for you.  Despite your weaknesses, failures or faults, God knows who He asked to do something and He empowers you to accomplish it.

Do you realize God has NEVER failed?  Ever!   He's not about to start when He calls you to do something for Him.  Please take hold of this valuable truth and enjoy Christmas!  In fact, apply it daily and 2021 may be the year of great breakthrough and victory for you!

Merry Christmas!

 What is and is to come...

Greetings blog enthusiasts and truth seekers alike.

My name is Brad Sloan and I am the pastor of Dahlgren Baptist Church in the lovely little village of Dahlgren Illinois. I'm certain unless you are local, you've probably never heard of Dahlgren but I hope you will discover that in this little village, there is an old historic Baptist church that is striving to preach and teach the Gospel to all ages in a society that needs to know God's truth before the return of His Son to redeem His bride.

This blog will be my attempt to encourage and challenge you from time to time with the thoughts, experiences and ideas God gives me.  I'm no theologian but I am a child of God, saved by grace through faith.  I'm not perfect and I'm not your judge.  I am a signpost, trying to point people in the Way of truth, the Only Way.  You may have heard the argument "all roads lead to God" but if you want God's word on it, you better re-read John 14:6 where Jesus declares that He is the Way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the father except by Him.  

I believe the Bible, I take every word in context and attempt to apply it's precepts to my own life and the lives of my church members.  There is a tendency to try and "warp" the Gospel to make it more appealing but that's like covering liver with mustard to make it taste good.  It just doesn't work!  It's time these new generations turn back to trusting God's Word and that means not watering it down but serving it up hot and fresh every week.  We do this at DBC online now due to Covid restrictions so if you'd like to sample a sermon, check us out on FB and coming soon, YouTube.

Thank you for checking out this introductory blog, I will do my best to keep your readership and gain your trust.

For His Glory Alone,

Brad