What Does Prison Ministry Look Like?

15 01 2018

A question I receive a lot is: what does prison ministry look like? I want to answer that as best I can. It may vary from situation to situation but I’ll share my policies and practices.

As for policy I keep it simple. I don’t want men to put me in any questionable positions. This means that while they may offer seemingly harmless gifts as thank you I simply refuse.

Don’t create an opportunity for blackmail. My policy is direct. I give only the Gospel and take only their gratitude.

My rules are simple. I give away only material that I bring in, no bathroom during chapel if there is no officer available for escort and no interruptions. If they are only there to get out of their building for a little while that’s fine with me as long as they don’t interrupt. I stress you respect me and I’ll respect you.

I give away Bibles to anyone who needs one and try to get right into the Word and preach. It’s preaching that saves sinners.

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

I typically preach anywhere from 45 to an hour and then I open it up for questions. Some chaplains recommend against this but I have found it very helpful. I don’t want to give the impression of a performance. I don’t want them to feel like they are just there for me to lecture or yell at.

Many of them have honest Biblical questions especially after an hour long sermon. If someone seeking truth has questions I want to address those as best I can.

I always give a chance to respond to the Gospel whether they are saved or lost. I urge them to apply the message to their own lives. If they need to be saved I urge them to call on the Lord and if they profess salvation I urge them to surrender themselves again and get things right.





Biblical Repentance

10 01 2018

This message was preached at McKee Road Baptist Church in Bakersfield, Ca. during the Sunday evening service.

 





Going on to Maturity

8 01 2018

This was a message I preached at McKee Road Baptist Church on a Wednesday night.

 





One Walks Among Us

5 01 2018

This was a message I preached on a Wednesday night at McKee Road Baptist Church in Bakersfield, Ca.

 





Memorials

2 01 2018

This message was preached by Don Thomason in December of 2017 at McKee Road Baptist Church on our 61st anniversary.

 





The Trial of Your Faith

20 11 2017

This is a message I preached at McKee Road Baptist Church on 11/15/17

 





The Unknown God

9 10 2017

This sermon was preached at the bus station in Downtown Bakersfield.

 





Gerry Preaching

5 06 2017

This is a clip of Gerry Collins preaching the Gospel in Downtown Bakersfield on 6-2-17

 





A Problem for Sabbath Keepers

29 05 2017

I have come into contact with many Seventh Day Adventist folks in my time sharing the Gospel. They seem to be caught up on one particular teaching and that is the keeping of the Sabbath day. Almost all of the sermons on their television broadcasts talk about this and in person they can’t seem to have much conversation beyond boasting in how they are “Sabbath keepers.” They are very proud of this and base their entire standing before God on the fact that they attend church on Saturday.

I have even asked them what gives them confidence in their salvation and they always go back to the fact that they keep the Sabbath. The Bible makes it clear however that our confidence should be of God and not ourselves nor can salvation be earned by our good works in fact no one will boast in the sight of God.

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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31)

I find one other major problems for so called “Sabbath keepers.” The Bible says that God demands perfect obedience to His law.

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10)

While Seventh Day Adventist followers boast in being “Sabbath keepers” they are faced with a problem. The Bible reveals that if you break the law in one point you are guilty of the whole thing.

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)

This tells us that if we break the law in one point we are guilty of the whole law. While you make your boast in keeping the Sabbath day I must ask: do you lie? put other things before God? dishonor your parents? covet? Since no one is perfect I’m sure you know that you have broken God’s law. You can’t say, “well I’ll be okay when I face God because I keep the Sabbath.”

If you break the law in even one other point you are condemned as a lawbreaker. This means that you are under the wrath and condemnation of God. Let me urge you with love and compassion to flee to Christ and put your faith in Him alone for salvation. You can’t trust Christ and your keeping the Sabbath. You must repent of your sin and put your faith entirely upon the work of Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.

If you are trusting in your so called Sabbath keeping I urge you to count that as nothing and embrace Christ. He was the perfect law-keeper and when we trust in Him God credits His law-keeping to our account. Just as your sin was charged to Jesus and He was punished for it so His righteousness can be credited to you.





Gerry Street Preaching

26 05 2017

This is my good friend and ministry partner Gerry Collins of Crossway Baptist Church in Bakersfield preaching at the Downtown Bakersfield bus station on May 26th, 2017.

 








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