Thank you for joining us today. Listen in as Pastor ~Elder Thomas E. Johnson Sr. preaches and teaches on a semon entitled, "The World's Greatest Dad."

Join us this Wednesday at 630pm for our MidWeek Refuel. Join us in service at 3002 Chelsea Avenue Memphis TN 38108, you will be glad you did!

Pastor Johnson teaches on a series of Should Christians Drink Alcohol ?

Listen in and study Eph. 5:18, Romans 14:21, Gal. 5:19, Prov. 20:1, Prov. 23:29-35, Num. 6:1-4, Lev. 10:8-11, Isiah 28:7-8, and Prov. 31:3-6.

Tune in for Pt.2 in our next Mid Week Refuel.

Join us on Sunday Morning at 3002 Chelsea Avenue Memphis TN 38108 at 11am

Pastor Johnson teaches on Who May Dwell With The Lord.

Study Psalm 15:1-5

2 Timothy 2:15

I John 1:5-10

Join us on Sunday Morning at 3002 Chelsea Avenue Memphis TN 38108 at 11am

Pastor Johnson breaks down this sermon into 5 points.

1. Trust, Preservation, and God as the Ultimate Source

• Psalm 16:1–3 — Trust and Preservation: Pastor Johnson expounds on "Preserve me, O God" (Psalm 16:1), emphasizing God's protection in an unpredictable world. This preservation is likened to salting hams or canning to prevent spoilage—God keeps believers from "going bad." Trusting God as a refuge alleviates worry and provides safety.
• Recognition of God as Giver: Based on Psalm 16:2, Pastor Johnson asserts that all blessings—houses, cars, children—are gifts from God. This echoes Job's declaration, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away," promoting gratitude in both abundance and loss.
• National Heritage of Faith: "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency reflects America's religious foundations, built by pioneers who trusted God for their sustenance and future.

2. Personal Testimony and Gratitude

• "If It Had Not Been for the Lord": Pastor Johnson recounts growing up in a rural shack with minimal clothing and worn-out shoes, contrasting this with current blessings to underscore God's provision—and the conviction that life would be "messed up" without Jesus.
• The Tommy Johnson Story: Pastor Johnson was repeatedly misidentified as "Tommy Johnson" in high school, who received accolades meant for him. Though Tommy was voted "most likely to succeed," he later died from drug addiction—a reminder that earthly predictions are fallible and life outcomes depend on following God's plan.
• Gratitude as a Pathway to Blessing: Pastor Johnson teaches that God loves grateful people and that an appreciative attitude leads to continued favor. Cultivating gratitude positively affects one's outlook and outcomes.

3. Commitment and Identity in Christ

• Living by Faith (Galatians 2:20): Pastor Johnson cites Galatians 2:20 ("I am crucified with Christ... yet not I, but Christ liveth in me") to explain that the Christian life is Christ living through the believer—rooted in His love and sacrifice.
• Being "Hooked on Jesus": Devotion to Christ is described as being "stuck on Jesus"—a lifelong commitment that makes returning to a life without God unthinkable after having "tasted" His goodness.
• Trials as Formative Experiences: God allows hardships—like a child learning to walk—as necessary for growth. He may permit struggles but will not leave believers down. "I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread."

4. Being on God's Winning Team

• The Sports Analogy: Life is compared to a competition with winners and losers. God never loses—like a doctor who never loses a patient or a lawyer who never loses a case. Believers should want to be on "the Lord's team."
• Staying on the Team: Just as teams trade underperforming players, God may remove the uncommitted. Staying on His team requires "playing hard" through prayer, fasting, and seeking God's help with personal struggles. The responsibility lies with the individual.
• God's Validation (Psalm 56): Psalm 56:9 ("When I cry unto you, then shall my enemy turn back") confirms God is for us. His response—financial blessing, improved health, or removal of negative influences—is proof of His support.

5. Practical Spiritual Counsel

• Prayer for Daily Preservation: Pastor Johnson advises praying "Lord, keep me" before work, school, or travel, acknowledging life's unpredictability.
• Dealing with Negative Influences: Believers should call on God when facing opposition and create healthy boundaries—following Jesus' example of telling negativity, "Get behind me." Surround yourself with people who bring joy, not strife.
• The Blessing of Gathering: Citing Peter's statement, "It is good for us to be here," Pastor Johnson highlights the value of worship in helping believers avoid conflict and receive God's word.

We hope you enjoyed this sermon.

Join us this Wednesday at 630pm for our MidWeek Refuel. Join us in service at 3002 Chelsea Avenue Memphis TN 38108, you will be glad you did!

The Times We're Living InWe are in a season of growing spiritual coldness. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:12 — "Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Pastor Johnson urges the church not to be caught off guard, but to discern the times like the sons of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32).

The Unholy Trinity — Revelation 13Satan cannot create — he can only counterfeit. He mimics the Holy Trinity through three figures:

• The Dragon (Satan) — the power source (Rev. 13:2)
• The First Beast (Antichrist) — given authority for 42 months to blaspheme God and make war with the saints (Rev. 13:5-7)
• The Second Beast (False Prophet) — performs signs and wonders to deceive the world into worshipping the Antichrist (Rev. 13:13-14)

The Core Battle: WorshipThis is not primarily about economics or politics — it is about worship. The mark of the beast (Rev. 13:16-18) is ultimately a declaration of allegiance. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will not be deceived (Rev. 13:8). Jesus himself modeled the response when Satan offered him power in exchange for worship — "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve" (Matthew 4:10).

The Call to Endure"Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." (Rev. 13:10)Faithfulness may cost everything — but the promise is eternal. Stay rooted in God alone.

Join us on Sunday Morning at 3002 Chelsea Avenue Memphis TN 38108 at 11am

Pastor Johnson delivered a powerful sermon on "Jesus is my portion," emphasizing that God is the source of all strength, hope, and contentment. The sermon urges believers to never give up, even when their physical strength fails, highlighting the difference between "giving out" physically and "giving up" spiritually.

Drawing from Psalms and Lamentations, he teaches that God's mercies are new every morning and that God remains our constant strength. The sermon identifies four declarations of faith when one claims Jesus as their portion: contentment, trust, devotion, and hope. It also contrasts the blessed portion of the righteous with the "portion" of the wicked—described as snares, fire, and brimstone. He strongly advises serving the Lord from a young age to build a lasting foundation for life.

The sermon concludes by reaffirming that Jesus is our "everything" and the ultimate source of blessing and salvation.

• God as the Ultimate Motivator and Encourager
• "Jesus is My Portion" as a Declaration of Faith
• God's Strength in Human Weakness

• "Give Out, Don't Give Up"
• The Importance of Having a "Push"
• Serving the Lord from a Young Age
• God's Renewed Mercy

• The Portion of the Righteous
• The Portion of the Wicked

• 1. Reflect on the difference between "giving out" and "giving up" in your own life, and maintain a will to persevere spiritually.

• 
  

• 2. Identify who in your life "pushes" you to grow and be a better person—and be that person for someone else.

• 
  

• 3. Read and meditate on the scripture passages mentioned: Psalm 73:26; Lamentations 3:22-27; Psalm 11:6.

• 
  

• 4. If you are young, commit to serving the Lord now to build a strong spiritual foundation for the future.

• 
  

• 5. Practice waiting quietly and hopefully on the Lord for His salvation and deliverance in times of trouble.

• 
  

  
  

  Join us next Sunday at the Upper Room Church 3002 Chelsea Avenue Memphis , Tn 38108 at 11am. You'll be glad you did !

Listen in as Pastor Thomas E. Johnson Sr. preaches and teaches a sermon entitled, " Now Faith" Hebrews 11:1

Join us on Sunday mornings at 11am and you will be glad you did.

Join us as Pastor Johnson teaches the midweek refuel on the subject of The Model Prayer

Study these scriptures and make notes throughout the study.

Luke 11 and St. Matthew 6:6-15

Join us at 11am for our services on Sunday morning. You wil be glad you did!