May 30, 2021

There is an awesome truth recorded in Philippians 4:17 that many very easily pass right by it.  Paul uses commercial language to describe “giving and receiving” (credit and debit) between the Philippians and himself.  During Paul’s second missionary journey, the Philippians Christians contributed to his ministry with gifts, in fact, Paul says they were the only contributors.  For a period of time, the Philippians had not contributed, not because they were lacking in concern, but they lacked opportunity. 

At the time of this writing (the book of Philippians), Paul is in prison and has received a gift from the Philippian Christians.  Paul is genuinely appreciative for the gifts but is not ultimately dependent on them.  Their gifts involves them (the Philippians) in Paul’s troubles.  (A person’s gift to the Lord involves them in Kingdom work).  Paul says to the Philippians Christians; “You gave and gave.”  Please watch this:  The investment value” of the Philippians gift is not primarily what Paul received, but the “spiritual dividends” they received.  To the Corinthian Christians, Paul says, “God loveth a cheerful giver.”

What an awesome word! To care for the needs of the poor is to make a deposit in heaven’s savings bank. The interest from His savings bank is more than generous, it is astounding; it can be a hundred percent, sixty percent or thirty percent. Only God can continually give that kind of return on your investment, be it your time, your efforts, and/or your money. Let me share with you a word that the Lord gave to me and that word has blessed me tremendously: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1). Need and opportunity brought together becomes responsibility (yours and mine).

Be Blessed in Him

Pastor J. Amos Jones

May 23. 2021

Dear Ones, how would you answer this question concerning Sunday School attendance if posed to you personally? How often do you attend Sunday School? I attend Sunday School regularly, sometimes; not at all.  It is the “sometimes” and “not at all” segments of our Church family that I address this appeal.

Let me begin with a startling statistic.  Here at Friendship, only eleven percent of our members attend Sunday School on a regular basis.  That we may know Him!  That is the very essence of the Sunday School:

1. That we have the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
2. That we know the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward the believers when He raised Christ from the dead.
3. We need to know that if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with Him.

The Sunday School is an important component of the overall worship experience.  If you are not attending Sunday School on a regular basis, there is a void in your spiritual growth.  God’s eternal, unfailing purpose for each of us is that we be conformed to the image of His dear Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.

The Sunday School helps us to achieve God’s purpose for our lives, thereby, allowing us to fulfill our purpose in life.  “But“, Brother Pastor, “how do I move from “sometimes” or “not at all”, to a Sunday School disciple?” you ask.  It is a matter of your will.  If you really want to come to Sunday School, it requires an act of your will.  To make it happen, you have to will it to happen.  My question to the eighty-nine percent of the membership that do not attend Sunday School on a regular basis “Wilt thou come to Sunday School?”

Pastor J. Amos Jones

To our graduates, CONGRATULATIONS!  You have achieved a significant milestone in your life.  How proud we at FMBC are of you.  This, of course, is the first step in the marvelous, yet challenging, journey called life.  You have demonstrated the overcoming spirit necessary to accomplish whatever you choose to do or to be.  With that in mind, I need not remind you of the importance of making good choices and wise decisions.  Early on you were taught the necessity of making wise choices in life, knowing that there are consequence for your actions.    As you prepare for the next phase in life, set your sights high.  For you know that you can do all things through Christ who gives you overcoming power.   Remember, you are blessed.   

And to the Retirees.  Our Heavenly Father has been gracious to you.  And here you are, RETIRED!  You’ve waited a long time and the Lord has brought you to this time in your life.  There are those who would say, “this season of life”.  Personally, I prefer “this segment of life”.  As an illustration, there were three “segments” in the life of Moses, servant of the Most High God.  Segment one, forty years prince of Egypt; segment two, forty years shepherd and Nomad; and segment three, forty years prophet and lawgiver.  It was during the last segment of his life that we see the greatness of Moses.  It can be, retirees (recent and /or longtime), that during this segment of life you can be, like Moses, the most effective for the Lord.  Be blessed as you serve Him in your retirement.

Pastor J. Amos Jones   

May 2, 2021

There are times when words seem so inadequate, so incapable of conveying the heart’s message.  Even the most learned etymologist would experience difficulty in articulating appreciation and gratitude for the acts and deeds of the loving people of Friendship.  On today we share with the Greeters their Annual Day.  What a great group of people, who contribute significantly to the expansion of the Kingdom of God.  On this day we recognize the Greeters, and as such, we all share with them their core ministry.  Today, we are all Greeters.  In a much larger sense, the Greeters are part of the whole, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:  so also is Christ” (1^st Cor. 12:12).  How thankful we are to God for the Greeters, and we appreciate their faithfulness to the Kingdom.  The same can be said concerning the choir, the Missionary Society, the Brotherhood, the deacon’s and trustees, the ushers and each and every member of the Friendship family.  To simply say “thank you” for all the awesome work and deeds that Friendship members do for the Kingdom, and for this Pastor and his family seems totally inadequate, however, it does convey the hearts message.  To the Greeters and to all of Friendship:  THANK YOU! and “The Lord bless you, and keep you:  The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Pastor J. Amos Jones

August 25, 2021

“Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry” (Amos 5:24 NLT).  For many the recent guilty verdict in the case of the state of Minnesota vs. Derek Chauvin has been a source of great jubilation and a time of celebration.  For this Pastor it is a time of reflection and prayer.  We live in a time of superficial religion, and complacency, where there is the oppressing of the poor and a failure to acknowledge God.  This Pastor can remember the murder case of Emmett Till and the Rodney King assault case. When we as a people fail to honor and value human life, irrespective of race, (ethnicity), there has to be the realization that everyone answers to God.  All people, every person will have to account for their sin.  Derek Chauvin will have to account for his sin, his inhumanity to George Floyd.  While this one case is a step in the right direction, our heavenly Father has said He wants to see a “mighty flood of justice”.  Dear ones, to have that kind of justice we must turn to the “Just One.”  Let’s start here:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). For there to be a “just” judicial system there must be a “river of righteous living that will never run dry”. Let me close with this:  (1 John3:7) “Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as He is righteous.”

Pastor J. Amos Jones