Lloyd Pulley's Blog, page 42

Men’s Football Fellowship – September 15th

Sunday, September 15th at 3:30pm: NY Giants vs. Denver Broncos – Watch the big game on the big screen with your brothers in Christ! Bring your own food or order in at halftime.

It will be a great time to get together, hang out, and watch football together! Don’t miss the opportunity to meet new people while you are there!

Video – Welcome to Calvary Chapel Old Bridge

 

 

VTR – Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14

 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction,

 and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way

 which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

 

The Narrow Gate

 

“The narrow gate,” sounds very exclusive.  But, consider that the beginning of any path in life is narrow; to choose one path, you must reject all others.  Narrowness implies a particular choice.  You cannot hold the belief that all paths and all choices are the same.  Isn’t this exclusivity necessary for success in music, sports, business, or any other discipline?

When confronted with a decision, you must realize that you are an individual and that you have a choice.  You don’t need to go along with a crowd to do evil.  By nature we are slaves of convention, traditions, habits, customs, and social mores.  For example, in the hippie movement, people who were trying to be independent ended up all looking alike.  The pressure to conform to the non-conformists was immense.  They didn’t want to be “squares.”  There are exceptions, eccentrics, who delight in being different.

Have you ever noticed the pressure children put on parents not to be different?  They hate it when their parents are different and unusual.  (I confess the delight I had in acting a bit odd in a crowd with my teenaged daughter some years ago.)

We tend to conform to the group we are accustomed to.  But, one of the first things that happens when you become a Christian is that you care less about what the crowd thinks because you realize that you are a unique child of God and have found a higher purpose.  It is still difficult to extricate yourself from the crowd, but you do it for the safety of your soul.  You are desperate to have someone come with you; but in the end, if no one does, you will take that narrow road anyway.

 

 

A Difficult Way

Not only is the gate narrow, but also the way is difficult.  Our old selves cannot endure it.  It is not an easy way because we must break from our old nature, which is accustomed to certain habits and ways.  It also involves:

Sorrow
Suffering
Persecution
A different kind of loneliness

Remember, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you” (Matthew 5:11).  We must be ready to be misunderstood and maligned.  Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34b).  We must fight the good fight of faith!

 Those who want to follow Christ must count the cost.  Consider this passage:

 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  (Matthew 8:19-20)

 Jesus was warning this scribe of the cost of being His disciple. Receiving forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ is just the beginning of a life of following Jesus, learning from Him, and being conformed to His character.

 But before you decide that the Christian life is not for you, please consider the end of the road!  The end of the broad way is destruction, but the end of the narrow way is life!

Few Find It

The gospel is honest; it doesn’t promise the absence of problems, or that all problems will be easy to deal with.  Jesus lets you see how hard it is beforehand.  Ultimately, it is a commitment.  You decide, and then act upon the decision.  You must constantly remind yourself of who you are, where you are going, and whom you are trusting!

 “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death” (Romans 6:21).  This is a great question, especially for anyone considering going back to his old life.

Consider those who have made it in this world.  Celebrities, with their good looks, figures, clothes, and money rolling in – does it truly help them?  Those who pursue pleasure get bored with daily activities and empty conversation.

 But then you come to the words of Jesus!  Wow!  There is nothing like the Bible.  This sermon of Jesus cuts to the heart of real life, the real secret of living.  It engages your heart, your mind, your whole soul.  This is something all the idols in the world cannot do!  Yes, narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, but as Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68b).

CCOB App – Gen. to Rev. for FREE

My entire library of Bible teaching – from Genesis through Revelation – is now available on the CCOB App!!

If you haven’t downloaded it yet, don’t miss this free, simple way to stream messages, watch video, and more! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/calvary-chapel-old-bridge/id536235779?mt=8

Download the app, then click on Through the Bible to study any passage from any book in the Bible! Pass it on people!!!

Video – How to Know God

 

 

Guest Speaker GERRY BROWN

Join us for all the weekend services on 8/24-25 as Gerry Brown, the founder of U-Turn for Christ comes to teach the Word of God.

For more information about Gerry Brown and or U-Turn for Christ, then click here!

Harvest America Simulcast & BBQ!

Sunday, September 29th at 5:00pm – CCOB will join churches across the nation in hosting a SIMULCAST of the 2nd night of the Harvest America Crusade from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

The evening begins with a BBQ and will feature special music by top Christian artists.

For more information about Harvest America with Greg Laurie, visit philly.harvestamerica.com.

Video – What Does the Bible Say About Dinosaurs?

Keep Missions in Your Prayers!

As i’m sure you have heard us pray over recently at CCOB, many of our missions teams have either gone out already, about to leave, or have just come back! Be sure to keep them in your prayers, even those who have come back.

Mexico Summer of Service Team – Comes back soon!

Impact England Missions Trip – Came back a few days ago

Ignite Dominican Republic Missions Trip – Currently ministering in the D.R

Medical Missions Trip to Jericho, Israel – Leaves tomorrow, August 9th!

 

Pray that those going out will have safe travels, open doors to effectively minister, and be able to reach people for Christ. For those that have already come back, pray that the work they have done in their respective areas will continue!

England Missions Trip Update

If you haven’t heard already, our High School Youth Group has gone to England for a missions trip! They have met up with Joey Rozek, a missionary sent out from our congregation a handful of years ago. Below you will see the update from there first day!

 

We have arrived safely at York, England!!

Many of us are tired, with little sleep and a lot of traveling, but it has been great so far. Most of the time we spent on the plane, or on the train, with some opportunities here and there. We were able to successfully meet with Pastor Joey, and his assistants: Andrew, Shawn, and Heather. We got to tour around York, hear Pastor Joey’s heart for the week, as well as meet up with one of Alan’s old friends from a previous missions trip back in 2006. At night, we had an awesome time of fellowship and worship at the Bible college in York, and got to hear Joey’s testimony of how he got called out to England through a man named Andre Silas (who came out to meet and speak with us.

Tomorrow we head back to Cambridge. Pray for God to do a work here, we see it already!

Facebook photos: HERE