SUBJECT- -~/J~ v~r'-~/ =d~r'-'-1-n--'if--------

TEXT---~H=a~gg~a~i'----ltl.=l.~5~a~n~ct~2~: 3~--9~ ------- - -

TITL1::-E ____ A_L_AR_ G_ER_ HJ_ U_S_E_O_F_ GO_ D _ ________ _

SCRIPTURE READING- - ------ - --- ------

DELIVERIES:

Tabernacle Mi ddl eber g Chap First Baptist Fir st Bapti st

Date

5/ 5/ 57 9/ 24/6) 10/15/ 61 5/ 9/65

Hour Place

a i nesville , Texas Chi ckasha , Okla . Chickasha, Okla , Ponca City, Okl ahoma

BIBLIOGRAPHY _ __________ _

E.F.- --,/'------

~!lb~lf~~T,\",17 -It' /V --EXPOSITORY --BIOGRAPHICAL - - TEXTUAL --- TOPICAL ---DEVOTIONAL

Results and Comments:

+ 1 rededicati on XX:X+++

Scripture:

~ LARGER HOUSE OF GOD

Haggai 1:1-15 & 2:3-9

Intro: I T WAS THE YEAR OF 1903 WHEN A SMALL GROUP OF · PEOPLE GATHERED UNDER AN OLD- FASHION~D T~EflNACLE AND HELD A MEET ING I THE EASTERN PART o'F",i~bOKE COUNTY. SOON AFTER THAT MEETING, REV . R. R. GAINES LED THE GROu--P I N BUILDI NG A HOUSE OF GOD WHICH WOULD MEET THEIR NEEDS ; THIS CHURCH BECAME THE "TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHU RCH. 11

3. Because the hone of the future com2 ells us ~ - -W(''IH!s Svp,1, ,ff,t,<'tej (}A,-...n,.,, / {? - 6Wr- ../2!:o. lf~fnr:t~

II. A Lars;er Hwse of God--1.s Neglecte vss . 2 - 6 &9-1 1. When we listen to the v2iee ru a an

--vs . 2 "The time is not come, the time that the Lord ' s house sho uld be built. 11

2 . When we va lue our houses above God ' s House --vs . 4 (i;./4. - +-.,.;;z_,... - o.--- ,e.,,,,,,,. - ,. P, - l(i'J'.s

3. When we become selfish with our money --v s. 5-6

4. When we are afraid to pr a ctice wha t we reach--FAITH~

:-:.A :~ ~ ~· ?i-112 fhl~-IM, 7iJ

BY THE J930's THE CHURCH HAD BEEN -SO BLESSED BY GOD THAT I T ADDED ON TO THE BUILDI NG TO PROVI DE MORE SPAC --AND A LARGER HOUS OF GOD WAS BU ILT:, AGAIN GOD SMILED UPON THIS GROUP BECAUSE OF THEIR VISION AND I N THE EARLY 1940 1 s BROTHER THOMAS LED THEM I N BUILDING ANOTHER WING TO KEEP UP WITH THE SOUL' S WHOM GOD SENT THIS WAY--AND A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD WAS BUILT .

III. A Larger House of God is Built vss. 7-8 & 12- 15 1. When God commands i t be buf! t

- -vss. 1-e -'~illlll~: GOD HAS VARIOUS WAYS OF COMMAi, DING;

yj/i -· ONE I S TO CREAT THE NEED TO BUILD THE YER OF 1951 WAS OF GREAT I MPORTANCE FOR

IT WAS THEN THAT THlS SAME CHURCH, REALIZING THE BLESSINGS THAT HAD ALREADY CO¥.E AND 'THE MULTITUDE THAT WERE YET ! N STORE , BU ILT A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF WOODROW PHELPS . GOD LIKED

. 7 2. When God ' s pe ople obey Him --vs. 12

IT! SMILED UPON IT, AND MORE SOULS CAME INTO THE · FOLD OF THIS CHURCH.

NOW AGAIN IS THIS CHURCH FACED WITH THE BLESS­I NGS OF GOD IN THE FORM OF MORE SOULS TH IT CAN HOUS . A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD YET NE DS TO BE BUILT ! MAY WE IN T IRIT OF THE YEARS GONE BY, BE BI G ENOUGH TO RISE AND MEET THE NEED . GOD GRANTS HIS BLESSI NGS ONLY TO THAT CHURCH WHICH "".',~rr:!~, ::;:!eeM TO REC IVE THE,'M . f

HAGGAI WAS CONFRONTED WITH THE NEED OF A NEW AND LARGER HOUSE OF GOD . THERE UNFOLDS FROM HIS STORY TRUTHS THAT SHOuLD I NSPI RE US TO RI SE AND MEET THE CHALLl:NGE OF GOD .

I. A Lar5er Hguse of 0;,pa is ~ 4e<L --vs . 4 "and t his house lie in waste . 11

1. Beca use the creams of the :cai=•:t tell qs fl O (1) Visions are lieing in wa ste today (2) We cannot bet ray the dreams of those who

have gone on before us!

IV .

3 . When God's peopl e a r e revived & stirred i nto b uilding 1t

--vs . 14

A Larger House of God is Used vss. 2 :4- 9 1. ,llei;:a11se gf pgqrageo s bui'Iaers

--vss ,2:3- 4 : GOD WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE LABOREfil

ARE RE;,/'ARDED . 2 . ~eca use the Spirit of God is leading_

--vs . 5 3 . Eor the salvati on of lost souls

--vs . a 4. For the glor

- -vss . 7b-9 nor of God_

CON:

2. Bec~_gse the f act § Q! we ~rer,ent convince us /jf 7 sq. ft . per Jr .-Ad ult (L.Jr. G. 15en .-5cp (2 14 sq. ft. per Pri . (22 en .--14 capa city)

, ( ) 16 sq . ft. per Beg . (1)~~7 .. } ,q:_ft,.,,Pe :s_.f ~rse,r;! ~16S .. ·--:-n1_9.· a.J?i'. '.~I? -15..i ot....A,,,

A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD

( )< .xx ) USED: Tab. Gainesville, 5/5/57;

/1,'-lr//e/Je1t'I C~g/ 0~ o/"' 1/ ~ I {W'f ~·

Jerold R. McBride

n. A IARGER HOUSE OF GOD 1'-4><( I - Io

Scripture: Haggai 1 :·1-15 & 2 :}-9

Iptro: ON DECEMBER 18, 1$92 A LeyAL LTITIE BAND OF DEVOI'ED X'NS UNDER ADVERSE ECONOMIC CONDIT IONS ORGANIZED '!CHICKASHA I S FIRST ,. BAPTIST CHURCH & THUS BLAZED THE WAY FOR THE BAPTIST CAUSE IN THIS COMMUNITY . SOON AFTER T?iIS :MEETING THE CHURCH PURCHASED A Lor ON THE CORNER OF FOURTH STREET AND COLORADO AVE . WHERE A SMALL ONE- ROOM FRAME CHURCH BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED A FEW MON-THS IATER. IN THE SPRING OF 1893 BRGrHER T . E. COVINGTON WAS CALLED AS THE CHURCH!S .FIRST PASTOR.

BY 1911 THE CHURCH HAD BEEN SO BIESSED BY GOD THAT THE BASEMEN!' & PART OF THE PRESENT BUILDING WAS ERECTED--& A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD WAS BUI LT . AGAIN GOD SMIIED UPON THIS GROUP $ ­CAUSE OF THEIR VISION & A 3-STORY EDUCATIONAL WING WAS ADDED TO HOUSE THE SOULS WHOM GOD SENr THIS IIA.Y--AND A LARI.GER HOUSE OF GOD WAS BUILT •

THE YEAR OF 1939 WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR IT WAS THEN THAT THIS SAME CHURCH, REALIZING THE BLESSINGS WHICH HAD AL­READY COME & THE MULTITUDES WHICH WERE YET IN STORE, BUILT A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR . 1,[ . A. CRISWELL • . SOME m, THE BRETHREN FEARED THAT THE _YOUNG PASTOR IN HIS ZEAL HAD OVERSTEPPED HIMSELF & THAT THE TAB . WOULD NEVER BE HALF FILLED . BUT GOD LIKED IT ! HE SMILED UPON IT & 1'iORE SOULS WERE SAVED AS 'rHE TAB . WAS FI LIED TO OVERFLOW ING.

IN OCT . OF 1944 THE CHLRCH VOTED TO APPROVE THE RE CO­MMENDAT ION OF THE FUTURE PLANNING COMMITTEE TO PURCHASE THE OLD BLACKSMITH SHOP NORTH OF THE CHURCH & TO REDECORATE THE EN­TIRE PLAN'r . FURTHER SUBSTANT IAL GROWTH IN S ,S , WAS MAD.E_ POSSI­BIE BY THE CONVERSDN OF THE TAB . IlJTO ED . SPACE IN 1949 .

IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGE OF LOST SOULS & BECAUSE OF KEEN SPIR::'.:TUAL INSIGHT THE CHURCH PURSHASED 3 HOUSES· ON 3rd STREET IN MARCH OF 19 56. THREE Y:sARS LATER , ON MARCH 1 , 1959,, GROUND- BREAKING SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED FOR THE 1st OF 3 NE:W UNITS DESIGNED TO REPLACE THE OLD CHURCH PLANT . GOD BIESSED THE A? PLIED FAITH OF HIS FEOPIE BY GRANTING AN INCREASE OF OVER 110 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE IN S .S . DURING THE 1st YEAR I S OCCUPANCY .

NOW AGAIN THIS CHURCH IS FACED WITH THE NEED TO CIDNT INUE TO PROVIDE FOR A BETTER & MORE EFFECIENT HOUSE OF GOD . MAY WE, IN THE SPIRIT OF THE YEARS GONE BY , JE BIG ENOUGH TO RISE & 1£EI THE NEED . GOD GRANTS HIS BLESSINGS ONLY TO THE CHURCH WHICH IBEPARES TO RECEIVE THEM. f. HAGGAI WAS CONFRONTED WITH THE NEED OF A BETTER & LARGER HOUSE OF GOD . THERE UNFOLDS FROM HISSl'ORY TRUTHS WHICH SHOULD I NSPIRE US TO RISE AND :£ET THE CHALLENGE.tOF THE DAY . _J

I . A Lar ger House of God is Needed --vs. 4 "and this house lie 9ir waste 11

1. Because the oreaws of tw ...,:pas.t .tell . .µs ,so (1) Visions are lieing in waste today (2) We cannot betray the dreams of those who have _gone o

~S!!i:~· Not a one wanted ch. to remain just as it wa 2 . Becau..s'? t be_;f.a>1t s of m:e;;ent c0uyjpce ns

~lllilld~· Haggai could see the souls not reached etc . (1) Number of lost exceed past years (2) Drawing power of attractive buildings (3) The testimony of a church building

--T . • Buddhist Shrine - Baptist Church (4) The cost of standing still

,_~.:.="Can't afford not to build!" --"Can we afford to continue to spend $10, 000 each year for maint. & utility loss?11 11Do we have that kind of weal~h? 11

11We will pay for a new building whether we build it or not- In 20 years (allowing for no increas~ in cost) we will have spent $200 , 000 on ma~nt. & util. loss & have only an old bldg. to show for it. 11

3. Because the ho of th c 7 -- LT ;;; · Haggai fiould see that if God were to be aQle to

use Is. in the f uture and to bless her , . Is. 4 eeded to build a house of God worthy of Him.

--ILil : Better ~ more comfortable homes - "No vir tue in hurting in church!" Bell man= 19G§ pop- "beOffl.

- --I · : Wyatt's in G~inesvil le - Bldg . then business .

II. A Larger House of God is Neglected C CAJllj --vss. 2-6 &9-11

1 . W.l.~..lll.l--..w.;....i....,..1A1..,..W.iion1ii,.,...i,,;,i;;_,1,_~~n

--vs . 2 . Wben we value 0J1r bcurne~ all~

--vs. 4 Auto - Tractor - Air Con . - Insur. - T .v. - Tri:r,

3 . Wber we ~ecame sal1 j§b with our money --vss . 5-6

4. --vs. 9a --TI,tt : Earl Miles Mgr . Texize, Industry & new ch . & sch

III. ~ 1@.:eex: LaQJI§§ ,o_f God j § Bp i lt C. CA/15) --v~ 7- 8 & 12-15

1 . When God co ands it be built --vss . 7-8 ~

.,... ..... ~ : God has various wcf1s of CQ'Tl.manding . QD.e:is to create the need . To awaken us to cond . of FW!n.t., :e:J.ant (like he did Haggai--they had a pl ace but~·~t~~ith­hold from us , since we withhold from him vs. 11 (READ) ,

p11 . 8 I &rger House of God ; s Bn iJ.t )

2. Wben Ood ' S- ~eopJe obey Him - - vs . 12

3.

r.r . A Larger tlPJl Be 0£ Qod is ITsAd, ./' CA-/? s) --vss . 2 :3-9 /J,lll'{./J l'I( -- : The house of God was ~ built by Haggai just for

the sake of building nor for his glory--but to be used for God .

1 . Because of cmrage,ml§. bu j J der,s - vss . 3-4

':!!li!III!~ : God will see to it tha t the laborers aTe rewarded 2 . Because the Spirit of God is leading

- -vs . 5 3. :E:0r the saJxeti gp qf Jgst §pµls

--vs . 7a --I : Is ~ ~d done her part, noW God would do his part .

JI~ First vi ea~ being in new bldg . ~ S . S. ,.-..increa se ~ -Z.-. for the glo;cy & bruwr of God e1t1to/. ~ r..J,

- -vss . 7b- 9

~ : OF ALL GENERATIONS IN THIS GRE. T CHURCH'S HISTORY OURS

HAS THE GREATEST OPPORTt.nH TY TO STEP FORTH AND BUILD A

u:ousE OF GOD WHICH WILL WE A MONUMENT TO OUR FAITH EVEN AS ~ ~ ~ ~~ ,-

'~m.,SEN'f HOUSE -#Ar}EEEN A MONUM8NT TO THE FAITH OF OUR

~ OREF ATHERS,-r5fHJVER-5~ -~to-r

THE SA.TvlE VOICE OF GOD l>HJ:ICH PRODS THE CHRISTIAN ON TO

DO BIG THI NGS FOR GOD, PRODS YOU TO ACCEPI' X ASYOUR OWN

SAVIOUR TODAY . THE ONLY REAS ON BR . BLGS. ARE BUILT, SERMONS

AH.E ffiEACHED, SONGS ARE SIBJG IS THAT LOC.T F ITENDS LIKE YOU

1IGHT COMB TO KNOW JESUS X AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD & SAVDUR.

A LA.RGER HOUSE OE GOD

USED: First Chickasha , 10/ 15/61 ( ,1- ) /~ 1 J ~

"

i

Jerold R. McBride

A LARGER HOUSE OF· GOD

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-10

Intro: ON THE FIRST TRAIN THAT CAME TO PONCA CITY WAS :MR. J. K. BROWN, AN OUTSTANDING BAPTIST LAYMAN. ON SEPT , 3, 1899, HE GATHERED 11 OTHER BAPTISTS TOGETHER IN A SCHOOL BUILDING ON 6TH STREET FOR THE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZING A BAPTIST CHURCH IN PONCA CITY.

AFTER DONATIONS HAD BEEN MADE, THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES DID THE LABOR INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTING THE FJRST BUILDING IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. IT WAS OOMPLETED IN 1 02 & EN­LARGED SEVERAL YEARS LATER UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRO. H. M. BENNETT WHO SAW THAT A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD WAS NEEDED.

BY 192h THE CHURCH HAD BEEN SO BLESSED BY GOD THAT THE OLD ENLARGED FACILITIES PROVED TO BE INADEQUATE--AND A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD WAS BUILT. ON JULY 6 1 2l,i, THE FIRST SERVICES WERE HELD IN THE LARGER & FINER BUILDING WITH REV. T. M. HUNTER AS PASTOR.

IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JANUARY 24, 1949 THE 1924 CHURCH PLANT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE, LEAVING THE CHURCH WITH NO FACILITIES WHATSOEVER. BUT m SAME SPJEI'LOE FAITH & SACRIFICE WHICH HAD INSPIRED THE GENERATIONS BEFORE TO BUILD WAS FDUND TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF GOD I S PEOPLE. OUT OF ASHES ROSE EVEN A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD.

GOD BLESSED THE APPLIED FAITH OF HIS PEOPLE BY GRANTING AN INCREASE OF OVER 790 IN S.S. ENROLMENT SINCE THE FIRST SUNDAY THIS PLANT WAS USED.

l'JOW AGAIN THIS CHURCH IS FACED WITH THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD. MAY WE , IN THE SPIRIT OF )THE YEARS GONE BY, BE BIG ENOUGH TO RISE & MEET THE NEED! GOD GRANTS HIS BLESSNGS ONLY TO THE CHURCH WHICH PREPARES TO RECEIVE THEM.

HAGGAI WAS CONFRONTED WITH THE NEED OF A BETTER & LAR­GER HOUSE OF GOD. THERE UNFOLDS FROM HISTORY TRUTHS WHICH SHOULD INSPIRE US TO RISE AND MEET THE CHALLENGE OF THE DAY.

I. A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD IS NEEDED --vs. 4 "and this house lie waste" 1. Because the dreams of the past te11_uu.,Q.

(1) Visions are lying in waste today . --~~ On July 4, 1956 ch. passed the resolution:

"iiwe"w'ill make every effort to start construction on a new ed. bldg. during 1960."

(2) We cannot betray the dreams of those who have gone on --PHI§ : Not one of the charter 11 members of this

church had little enough faith to think that they were building the building that would end all bldgs.

2. Because the fa cts .of t he 2resent convince us - -~ : Haggai could see the soul~-not reached etc.

(I'T'N'umber of lost exceed past years ·=-•ic-· More lost in P.C . today than in 1932 when 377 s were baptized.

Drawing power of attractive buildings -~illll!I.,.. Your finding an eating place 0n trip. i.e. 300 youth & old plant

(J) The testimony of a church building --V:J:IJS: Buddhist Shrine - Baptist Church What kind of a

testimony is born by our pr esent crowded facilities & inadequate annexes? How well do they speak of our faith in God, our concern for the lost, & our willingness to sacrifice? adults in air-conditioned facilities & youth in hot annexes!

(4) The cost of standing still --ILLUS : "can't afford not to build!" The high cost

of souls unreached, etc. The high cost of decline & stagnation i.e. 1957 reached saturation point with 1,023 average in S.S. attd. Decline since then to 928 in 1964. People don't crawl over each other at home & they will not do it long at church! =--~· During the same 8 year period in which our church membership increased 208 our SS attd. decreased 95 (1957-1964)

3. Because the hope of the fut uze compells us =ii-~-= Haggai could see that if God were to be able to use Is. in the future and to bless her, Is. needed to build a house of God worthy of Him. ~-~·= Better & more comfortable homes - "No virtue in hurting in church!" P. C. a town of continued growth.In next 2 years over 200 additional families ••..•• .:=1m~= Wyatt's in Gainesville - Bldg. then business.

II. A LARGER HOUSE oE_OOD_ Is_ NEGLECTED --vss. 2-6 & 9-11 1. When we listen to the voice of Satan

--vs. 2b _E.EAD 2. When we v"aiiie our houses above God's House

:;!i:!11~~=. Auto - Tractor - Air Con. - Insur. - T.V. - Trip 3. When we b!icome sel fi sh with ou.r;pioJl§Y

- - vss. 5-6 4. Whe

- -vs. 9a --JJ:I:V§ : Earl Miles Mgr. Texize, Indus try & new ch. & sch

~I I • ·, ,

III. t. LI!: t~%~ !6~Jf\!~~~ 1 t --vss. 7-8

:!:lmt:!iil:~· God has various ways of commandi ng. One way is to create the need. To awaken us to cond. of present plant (like he did Haggai--they had a place but ..•.• ). Another way is to withhold from us, since we withhold from him vs. 11 (READ).

: 7 years prior & 7 years after present larger bldg. but. 7 years prior · - 27 in S.S. enrol (1943-19~9); 7 years after+ 748 in S.S. enrol (1949-1955). What clearer command does a church need!

2. When God 1 s people obey Him 12

·ved & stirred into buildin it. - -vs.

IV. A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD IS USED 1.· Because of coura eous builders ~~~·= God will see to it that the laborers are rewarde as a capt, vis., div. leader, giver etc. in this present program you are a builder who makes possible a larger

hhouse of God & consequently its use for God. Must be courageous .•.

2. Because t he S;eiri t of God is lead.i_Ilg, --vs-: s --IIJ,US: Sp. of God leading in the past years in this

Church's life. In my life, involved in bldg . program in former church, but now see it was God's Will etc.

3. salvat·on of lost souls

Is. had done her part, now God would do his part. After first full year of being in new bldg. S.S. enrol. increase 353 -=~= Does God use material bldgs for spiritual pur­poses? Let's see. 7 years prior t o construction of this building. the church showed a net gain of only + 10 in ch. membership. 7 years after built showed a net gain of+ 416 -- or a 4,160% increase!

4. For the glory & honor of God --vss ;7b- 9

Con: OF ALL GENERATIONS IN THIS GREAT CHURCH I S HISTORY OURS

HAS GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO STEP FORTH AND BUILD A HOUSE

OF GOD WHJ.C H WILL 'BE A MONUMENT . TO OUR FAITH EVEN AS BUILDING

IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN A MONUMENT TO THE FAITH OF OUR

SPIRITUAL FOREFATHERS •

. THE SAME Jl9IQE OF r,QD, :W.:CGHrrPRODS THE CHRISTIAN ON TO

DO BIG THINGS FOR GOD, PRODS YOU TO ACCEPT X AS YOUR OWN

SAVIOUR TODAY. THE O.fil..Y REASON CH. BLDGS . ARE BUILT, SERMONS

ARE PREACHED, SONGS ARE SUNG IS THAT LOST FRIENDS LIKE YOU

MIGHT COME TO KNOW JESUS X AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD & SAVIOUR.

A LARGER HOUSE OF GOD

~ F. /1-L PC)/f/~"1- Crlj 3/1/ q 5-("Y)C;< f-1 +J_;

Jerold R. McBride

A LARGER HCUSE OF GOD

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15 and 2:3-9

Introduction: It was the year of 1903 when a small

group of peoplG gathered under an old-fashion­ed tabernacle and held a meeting in the eastern part of Central Cooke County. Soon after that mee ting, Rev. R.R. Gaines led the group in building a house of God which would mee t the ir needs; this church b s cams the "I'abs rnacle Baptist Church. 11

By the 1930 1 s ths church h ad been so ble ss ed by Goa that it added on to the build­in g to provide more spac e --and "A Larger House of God" was built! Aga in God s miled upon this group b ecaus e of the ir vision and faith and in the early 1940's Brother Thoma s l e d them in building anothe r wing to ke e ~ up with the souls whom God ssnt this way--and 'A Lar ge r House of God" was built ~

Th e yaa r of 1951 was of great import a nc e for it was then tha t this s ame church, r 0aliz ­ing the ble ssings tha t bad alrs ady come and the multitude that we re ye t in store, built 11 fi Large r House of God" und e r the lead e n,hip of ':food row Ph e lps. GOD LIIIBD IT~ HE SMIIED UPCN IT, and mors souls came into the fold of this church.

- Now again is this church fac ed with the blessings of God in the form of more souls than it can house. "A Larger Houe e of God" _yet ne e ds to be built~ May ws , in the spirit of the years gone by, be big enough to ri se and me e t the need. God grants His bloseings only to that church which makes room to receive the m.

Hag~ai was confronted with the need of a tl' II new and 'Large r Hous e of God . There unfolds

from his story truths that should inspire us to rise and meet this challenge of God .

I. A Large r House of God is Needed --vs. 4 11 and this hous G lie in waste . " 1. Because the dreams of the past t3ll us so

(1) Your own past dreams lie in waste (2) The drGams of our dead loved ones

lie in waste --T,fo cannot b e tray their dreams~

2. Because the facts of the present convince us ( 1 ) It takes 7 sq . feet per Jr . - Adu 1 t

Illus: Lo Jr . Girls' room will s eat 5; yet 15 are enrolled~

(2) It takes 14 sq. feet per Primary Illus: Primaries have room for 14;

yet 22 are enrolled~ (3) It t ake s 17 sq. f ee t per Nursery

Illus: Room for 10; yet 16 enrolled~ 3. Because the hope of the future compells

us

II. A Larger House of God is Neglected --vss. 2-6 and 9-11 1. When we list 2n to the voic e of Satan

--vs. 2 "The tim2 is not come , the time that the Lord's house should be built ."

2. When ws value our own houses above God's House --vs. 4

3. When we bec omG selfish ~ith our money --vss. 5-6

4. Tl'lhen we are afraid to practice what we preach--FAITH~ --vs. 9a

~l L A Larger House of God is Built --vss. 1~s and 12-15 1. When God Commands ·it b e built --vss. 7-8

Illus: GOD HAS VARICUS ·wAYS OF COMM.~NDIKG ;

ONE ~'lAY IS TO QREATE THE NEED TO BUILD

2. When· -God 1 s people · obey -Him . --vs. • .12 3. When .God's pe ople are revived and stirred

into building it --vs. 14

N. A Large r Hous e of God is Used --v ss . 2 :4-9 1. Becaus 2 of courageous build€rs --vss. 3-4

Illus: God will see to it that the labors of His pe cpl e are r ewa rded

2 . Be cau se the Spirit of God is leading -.-vs. 5

·3. For the salvation of lost s ouls vs. 7a 4. For the Glory and honor of God vss. 7b-9

Con clus io·n: Fellow church-member, the dreams of the

past, the f a ct s of the present, and the ho pe s of the future sta nd b e fore us as indisputable evid en ce tha t the needs are a r ea l reality! The ov e r-crowde d condition of our building, the inability of most of our class - rooms to take care of their present enrollment, and the multitude of souls whom wo a r e allowing to f O unreached for Jesus confront s us with the f a ct that even TODAY a l a r ge r house of God is b e ing n 3g l e cted~ ·

But thank God, like the devoted sou ls of Haggai's day so ~e too can join h sa rts and hands and see tha t a larger house of God is built. Once this h a s bo2n done, God will s ee tha t tt is used for His glory. He ha s n sver failed to bless when we ha ve bu ilt i n the past ---HE SrtfiLL NOT FAIL US IN THE FUTURE ~

THE NE2D IS GREAT!--BUT HOW GR.&\.T I S YOUR FAITH?

MEN ARE SINC~F.ELY LCST !--BUI' HO'Jl SI NC£RE IS YOUR CONCERN FOR THEIR ETERNITY?

A L A R G R HOUSE OF GOIDJ

A sermon deliv ered to the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Gainesville, Texas ­on May the fifth of nineteen-hundred

and fifty-seven

by

Jerold R . McBride , Pastor