The evening service was filled with a sweet spirit of gratitude as we lifted our voices to the old-time songs of Zion. We sang “I Never Shall Forget the Day” and “He Set Me Free,” celebrating the liberty found only in Christ. Sister The Good Shepherd Choir blessed our hearts with “Look What God Has Done,” and Bro Isaac Upchurch sang a soul-stirring hymn “Stand By Me.”
Pastor Arville Duncan then turned our attention to 1 Peter 5, delivering a message titled “A Good Example.” It was a timely reminder that the way we live speaks louder than anything we could ever say.
Sermon Highlights
1. The Mirror of the Home
Pastor Arville spoke directly to the hearts of parents, using Ezekiel 16:44: “As is the mother, so is her daughter.” He reminded us that children are constant observers of their parents’ lives.
- Reaping and Sowing: If children don’t see a life of respect and holiness at home, they won’t grow up to respect the things of God.
- The Cycle of Habit: Whether it’s the language we use or the habits we keep, our children often follow in our footsteps.
- The Remedy: Start early. Get them on your knee, read the Word, and have a family altar. Let them grow up embedded in the knowledge that Christ loves them.
2. Being an “Insample” to the Flock
Looking at 1 Peter 5:3, the message focused on being an “insample”—a living pattern—to those around us.
- Humility Over Pride: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. To be a good example, we must “clothe ourselves in humility.”
- Faithfulness Counts: Pastor Arville reflected on his 52 years of preaching and nearly 45 years pastoring this church, noting that staying the course is what proves the work of God in a man’s life.
3. The Neighbor’s Bible
A powerful point of the message was that you might be the only Bible your neighbor ever reads.
- A Quiet Testimony: Pastor recalled how, before he was saved, seeing his grandparents get dressed up for church every Sunday made him realize there was something different about their lives.
- God Goes With You: When you live a clean, godly life, the Holy Spirit uses your lifestyle to speak to the hearts of those you encounter at work or in the neighborhood.
If the devil can’t get you one way, he’ll get you another. Be very careful of the entertainment you have in your home. Set a good example for your children—one day, they’ll set a good example for you.
I want the Lord to be proud of me. I want Him to pat me on the back every once in a while and say, ‘Just keep on keeping on, son. You’re doing all right.
Closing Encouragement
The sermon concluded with an appeal to let the world see what the Lord has done for us. We were left here to make a difference in eternity by being faithful to the cause of Christ. Let us strive to live so that our lives point others directly to the Savior.