Pulling Weeds (June 16, 2019) – Elder Bryce Lowrance preaches about the how the church doesn’t have problems that need to be fixed but rather is a garden to be tended, focusing on a how weeds affect a garden. He notes that the weeds in between the rows of a garden are a problem, to be sure, but that those weeds are not nearly as dangerous and difficult to deal with as the weeds closest to and in between the good plants. He begins by considering 2nd Chronicles 7:14 to remind us our problems are largely are our own creation. As for how to identify the weeds and sin around us, he explains proper judgment in the context of Matthew 7 and how we should not make judgment to condemnation as to who is going to hell. Brother Bryce then turns to Jude to establish how the “beloved” are exhorted to be compassionate and to help their brothers and sisters deal with the weeds in their lives. He also considers how we should recognize and deal with the weeds in our own lives so that we “can run with patience the race that is set before us,” noting that we are running that race already and should run the race as a marathon, together, knowing our Savior was victorious.
Mount Paran Primitive Baptist Church 