Monthly Archives: November 2013

Dr. Clifton Black – A Member of God’s Family

111713AM2 from Mountain Grove Church on Vimeo.

Have you ever done something you wish you hadn’t? Have you ever acted in a certain way in front of a family member only to watch them shake their head and say “You are acting just like your…” dad, or uncle, or even your mother?
Have you ever wanted to get out from under some bondage in your life (drugs, alcohol, etc.) but gave up because you thought it was just in your “genes” to act that way?

I am 73 years old and for most of my life I have been trying to figure myself out. I have often wondered why I used to get so mad in certain situations. And even now I ask myself, “Why do I sometimes allow myself to get upset over things that really don’t matter?” Well, the truth is that there is something in me called DNA, a genetic code, and I have inherited a lot of things from my family.

My mother’s family was McNaughtons that came from Ireland. Most of my mom’s family were killed in gunfights, knife fights, automobile accidents, or killed someone else. In fact, my grnadfather had a gunfight with his own father and brother over where my great-grandmother was going to spend the night.

What does any of that have to do with me? You see, I didn’t ask to be hotheaded. It’s all part of my DNA – my natural birthright

But that is not the entire story, because the Bible tells us that God wants a family, and He created you to be a part of it. Being a part of God’s family was one of God’s purposes for your life. It was something He planned before you were born.
In fact, the entire Bible is the story of God building a family who will love Him, honor Him, and reign with Him forever.

Want to hear other exciting messages by Dr. Clifton Black? Listen to more here.

Dr. Clifton Black – Is America Acceptable to God?

111013AM2 from Mountain Grove Church on Vimeo.

Living through the most significant period of revival in Old Testament history, Jeremiah fully shared the spirit of reformation, which emerged during King Josiah’s reign. The reformation under Josiah during the last quarter of the seventh century B.C. called Judah to stand before Sinai once again. There the people were to hear and to reaffirm the covenant demands for contemporary living. To overestimate the impact of the reform movement associated with the book of Deuteronomy on Judah’s faith would be difficult. Jeremiah was a product and an advocate of reformation.

Jeremiah’s heart was broken as he looked throughout the land and saw that God has no place in the lives of the people.

The setting was simple: the people were still going through all of their religious rituals, but their so-called “worship” and their so-called “offerings” were not acceptable to God. What was their problem? Why is it that God refused to accept what they were offering? The answer was simple: they were not willing to allow God to make a difference in their every day activities.

The question that we must ask ourselves today is this: Are we, as Americans, offering to God that which is unacceptable to Him? What does God have to say to us today?

Want to hear other exciting messages by Dr. Clifton Black? Listen to more here.

Dr. Clifton Black – Silly People, Sissy Preachers, & God

110313AM2 from Mountain Grove Church on Vimeo.

I am convinced the world, by in large, has a false picture of God. And because of their false picture, they have been left with the impression that God is some tyrant sitting on some throne up in heaven, waiting to wale the daylights out of everyone who does something wrong!

Therefore, in today’s study I want us to realize that God is more than Law; He is also grace and glory! And our relationship to God is established not by an observance of Law, but by a commitment of life. And our measure of righteousness is not how well we keep the Law, but how right we are in our relationship with God!

To see these truths, look with me as we study “Silly People, Sissy Preachers, and God.”

Want to hear other exciting messages by Dr. Clifton Black? Listen to more here.