Sunday, September 20, our 17 year old son, Joshua, announced that he felt led of God to preach the gospel. Our church, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, voted to license him to preach and the following Wednesday he preached his first sermon at Fostoria Oaks MBC and Sunday morning his second at New Hope MBC.
I want to share his first two sermons with you all.
The first sermon we recorded the audio from my husband’s phone. Joshua preached from Proverbs 22:6.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Then this past Sunday Joshua preached from Ephesians 2:8-10.
I should explain the background noises that you will hear during Joshua’s second sermon. Since I was recording the sermon on my phone Elisabeth was a little active. She got out of the pew and about half way through Joshua’s sermon you can hear Scott whispering for her to sit down. Then all those kissing noises. That’s her kissing my arms. I tried to quiet her but well, she likes to give kisses. So you get a taste of what it’s like listening to the preaching with a 3 year old.
(If you are reading this in your email and can’t see the video then click here to view the post on the blog or you can watch Joshua’s sermon on YouTube.)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
And this was a shorter sermon. Imagine what Elisabeth does during one of her daddy’s longer ones. 😉
These are Joshua’s first two sermons and I’m looking forward to watching him grow in the ministry. Scott has already started mentoring him. They get up early every Sunday morning to study together at the Church. Scott wants to pass on to Joshua all the things he needs to know to be a successful servant of God.
I’m very proud of my son. I can only imagine the advantage Joshua will have with Scott pouring as much of his Bible knowledge into him before he goes to seminary.
Scott and I both agree that we want our children to grow up and be better than we are. We want them to raise their children better than we have raised them. Yes, we are setting the bar high. We want them to achieve great things and the only way for them to do that is to set high standards for our children.
Hope you enjoyed Joshua’s sermon.
Would you like to encourage Joshua? Feel free to leave a comment for him or you can email me and I’ll pass the word along.
I also have a post that went live this week over at Ask God Today entitled “Is Jesus Truly God?” I would love it if you would check it out and let me know what you think.
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Is this the young boy I met a year and a half ago?
Joshua, you sound great! Mature and confident…and very wise too.
I am very happy you found your calling. How true “without God you have nothing but with Him all is possible.” May He always be with you, guide and inspire you!
Anastacia, Scott, your Joshua is wonderful and so grown up!
God bless him and all of you!
Katina Vaselopulos recently posted…“The Art of Work: A proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do”
Thank you, Katina.
God has truly been good to us. Thank you for the encouragement.
We need to plan another visit with you and your family sometime.
Love you!
Anastacia Maness recently posted…Our Eldest Son Answers the Call to Preach
This is exciting. I wish i had been there!