“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6

If I say Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven most people would disagree. They would accuse me being unkind, cruel, and a liar. Yet that is exactly what both Jesus and the Bible says. The following story from Senior Living serves as a good illustration as to what is happening today.

A story is told about two men who lived in a small village and got into a terrible dispute that neither of them could resolve. So one night, the first man went to the town sage and told him his version of the story. When he was finished, the sage said, “You’re absolutely right.”

The next night, the second man went to the sage and told his side of the story. After he’d said his piece, the sage told him, “You’re absolutely right.”

When the second man left, the sage’s wife scolded her husband. “These two men told you different stories, and you told them both they were right. They can’t both be absolutely right!” The sage turned to his wife and said, “You’re absolutely right.”

In this day and age, more and more people are choosing consensus over truth. Even many spiritual leaders today validate every system of belief as separate paths to God. But the reality is if two people say very opposite things about God, they can’t both be right!

So what gives us confidence that Christianity is the right path? Quite simply, it’s because all other religions teach man how to reach God, but the Bible teaches that God reached down to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is so different than any other spiritual leader. He didn’t come to show the way; He came to be the Way. Trust in Him alone.

Ask God to confirm in your heart that Jesus is the only way to the Father and thank Him for providing a way.

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

OUR PURPOSE

“Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages…”– Ephesians 3:21
As we celebrate out 49th anniversary as a church today, I can’t think of a better verse of scripture than this one to center our thoughts on. Here we find the very reason for being on earth. I found the following comments in an article in my drafts and I’m sharing it with you as a reminder of why we exist.
“The goal of the church is the glory of God. Although our attention and efforts are so easily distracted toward building programs, political games, or personal relationships, none of these can substitute as a foundation or motivation for the church. The church exists to glorify God in the world.
   But we cannot do this in our own strength. That is why Paul prays that this glory will come by Christ Jesus. The more we rely on our own ingenuity, business savvy, or personality for the success of the church, the less God is glorified in the church.
   Any organization can thrive through careful business models or market research. But Christ’s church dies without Christ. God is glorified in the church only as Christ as looked to as the sole source of strength and motivation and direction for the church.
   Thank God, though, He has not left the church merely to the inventions and power of any person or earthly organization. He has purposed that glory will be given Him, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages.
   What about you? Are you part of God’s plan for glorifying Himself? If you are not actively involved in a local church then you cannot take part in this great purpose.”
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)

 There is a subtle deception that attending meetings, conferences and seminars is doing the work of God. We listen to messages and talk about what we know we should be doing, and the delusion creeps over us that we are accomplishing His will. What we are actually doing is increasing our responsibility and deceiving ourselves. We deceive ourselves that we are spiritual when actually we might be quite carnal. We deceive ourselves that we are growing when the truth is that we are stagnant. We deceive ourselves that we are wise when we are pathetically foolish.

 Jesus said that the wise man is the one who hears His words and does them. The foolish man also hears His words but does nothing about them.

 It is not enough to listen to a sermon and walk away saying “What a marvelous message.” The true test is when we go away saying, “I will do something about what I heard.” Someone has said that a good sermon not only stretches the mind, warms the heart, and tans the hide but it also provokes the will to action.

 In the middle of his message, a preacher once asked his audience the name of the first hymn they had sung. No one knew. He asked the text of Scripture that had been read. No one knew. He asked what announcements had been made. No one could remember. The people were playing church.

 Before every meeting, we might well ask ourselves the following questions. Why did I come? Am I willing to have God speak to me personally? Will I obey Him if He does?

 The Dead Sea justly earned its name by constant input without corresponding outflow. In our lives, information without application leads to stagnation. The Savior’s persistent question comes home to us, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say?”– William MacDonald

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346