El Camino Baptist Church

Sunday's Message
March 24, 2019

Rejoice By Being Like Jesus

In Holland in 1418, a Roman Catholic, Thomas a Kempis wrote, The Imitation of Christ.  It became the best selling devotional book outside the Bible.  In London in 1891 a Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, cited the book in a sermon in which he used the phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?”  In 1896 a Congregationalist minister, Charles Sheldon, wrote, In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?  It became a bestseller.  Then, in the 1990s in Holland, Kansas, a Dutch Reformed youth director, Janie Tinklenberg, encouraged her youth to live by the phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?”  It became a huge movement throughout the world featuring bracelets with the initials, “WWJD.”

Sunday my sermon is entitled, “Rejoice by Being Like Christ” from Philippians 2:1-18.  God’s great passion is for us to be like his son.  If we are like Christ, then we’ll be doing the will of our Creator, and that will give us joy.  Jesus said, “These words I’ve spoken to you so my joy may be in you and your joy may be full” (John 15:11).  He doesn’t want us wallowing in the mud of depression and negativity.  He wants us to soar in the heavens on wings of joy.  Come Sunday and find out how to do that.

This Friday we’re having Game Night in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 with pizza, salad and sodas.  Bring your favorite games and play with us!

Meanwhile, don’t forget our Spring Celebration March 31.  Please bring enough food for 10-15 people including main dishes.  Put the food in the kitchen and then go to Sunday School.  After worship we’ll eat and then play games or simply talk.  There will be basketball for kids, youth and adults.  We’ll also have volleyball and board games.  You’re free to bring your favorite games.  Please bring your friends!  Let’s celebrate the beautiful spring and the wonderful church God has given us.  It’s a Christ-like thing to do!

Love,
Jim Meek