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Need A Church Home...Look No Further
Greater Ideal is church focused on ministry, i.e., meeting the needs of the people of Midland. As we hold fast to that belief and endeavor to become a blessing to others, God will continue to bless us. So come join us, get involved, and be a part of our blessing. We have a number of ministries where you can grow in the Lord and reach your full potential in the Lord.
To learn more about what we believe, please review our Tenants of Faith.
Learn more about our ministries | Submit a request for prayer or more information
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The High And Holy Calling Of Motherhood
Timothy was a mentee of the apostle Paul. In today's sermon we hear Paul encouraging Timothy and parparing him for hard times ahead. Paul tells him to remember what he learned from his "childhood". We learn from the Bible that the foundation of Timothy's faith was established by his mother and grandmother. The "high and holy calling of motherhood was critcal in preparing Timothy for the work Paul wanted him to continue.
Listen as Pastor Bell develops this concept. The sermon is based on 2 Timothy 3:10 - 17.
There Is A Door Already Open
"There is a door, already opened, that will give you access to all you need for the time that you are living." We were blessed to have Pastor Elias Rodriguez visit GIBC to deliver a special Word from the Lord.
Listen as Pastor Rodriguez develops the concept that through the Open Door, we have all we need to accomplish the will of God for our lives.
Get Ahead Of It
"What the Lord accomplishes in our lives and what He allows us to go through, is to that we can build a library of experiences, so that in the face of our current crisis, you can say, 'If God brought me through that, He is able to bring me through this.'
See how Dr. Bell expounds on this point and relates it to the 12 stones taken from the middle of the Jordan river as Joshua led the people of God to the Promised land.
When Was The Last Time You've Been To The Altar?
We all go throught trials and tribulations in life. Too often we find ourselves immediately looking where to place the blame for our circumstances. We'll look at the one who lied to us, the one who stole from us, the one assassinated our character, the economy. But the one place we fail to look at is ourselves and our God. God sometimes allows difficulties in life to get us back on the right track. If He doesn't use the extreme meansures, we would not "get right" on our own.
Today's sermon focuses around Abraham, with the text coming from Genesis 13:1 - 4. Listen, as Dr. Bell expounds on getting back to the altar.
An Early Word For A Later Situation
Is there anything to hard for God? We know that the answer is "No", but sometimes when we are in the midst of a trial, our faith becomes shaky, and we are not sure of the "right" answer. This week, Dr. Bell encourages us with a word we can keep in our back pocket for our next trial. You can think of it as "an early word for a later situation."
The text for this sermon comes from Jeremiah 32:17, 26 - 27, and Jeremiah 33:1.
Click here to view a sample of the sermon online.
Steps Toward Meeting God In Your Prayer Life
One of the foundations of living a victorious Christian life is prayer. Unfortunately for many Christian, prayer time may seem unfruitful, powerless, and ineffective. The problem isn't with God, but with us and our perceptions of a "prayer life".
Pastor Bell teaches us 1) three common reasons why we don't pray, and 2) how to have a more effective, engaging, and satisfying prayer life. In short, how to meet God in your prayer life. Listen to the sermon and prepare to meet God the next time you get on our knees.
Click here to view a sample of the sermon online.
Understanding The Glory Of God
This week Pastor Bell stresses the need for us to understand the glory of God. God's glory is being revealed, even today. But many times we miss it. Seeing His glory has the benefit of building our intimacy with Him and strengthening our personal relationship. But why do we miss it at times?
To see the glory of God, we need to be a people who pray, praise and worship. How do these aspects of our lives help in seeing God's glory? Click here to view a sample of the sermon online to find out.
I'll Fight You For It
Every Christian will at one time or another face difficult situations and challenges. There may not be an opportunity to "smooth things over". The only alternative may be to fight your way through. For the Christian, our primary stance in preparing to fight is on our knees. Battles are won and lost based on our "battle stance".
Minister Velma Jackson uses the story of David and Goliath to illustrate how prayer can make us bold, strong and unbeatable because it activates the true source of our strength. Listen to the sermon and prepare to "fight".
Click here to view a sample of the sermon online.
Going After His Glory
We live in a very dynamic world. Change is happening all around us. The changes can consume our attention, time and focus. As a result, we can miss what God is doing around us.
This week, Pastor Bell encourages us not to miss what God is doing. We must stay alert and sensitive to His presence in order to be a part in His mighty and great assignment for the Church. Click here to view a sample of the sermon online.
The Power Behind My Worship
The Bible tells us that God is a "jealous" God, i.e., he doesn't want anything or anybody getting more of our heart's affection that He gets. When we have the right affection for God, we worship him. And when we worship God, there is power in our lives.
This week, Pastor Bell expounds on this power behind our worship. View a sample of the sermon online. After viewing, we think you will see that worship should be an integral part of your daily walk with Christ.
What Happens In His Presence
How do we enter into the presence of God? Worship is a key step, but how do we get into worship? What are the benefits of getting into the "zone of worship"?
This week, Pastor Bell answers all these questions and more in the sermon, "What Happens In His Presence". There were multiple scriptures used in this lesson. View a sample of the sermon online see the scriptures and to receive the teaching. After viewing the sermon, see if you can "get into the zone".
Turn It Around
Every Christian needs to take time on occassions to do an "inventory" of their lives. Sometimes you'll find yourself living as if you weren't saved. You wonder, "What happened? I intened to do good, but I 'slipped'." Well God wants us to propser in every area of our lives. This brings the most glory to Him.
This week's scripture comes from 3 John 1:2. Pastor Bell preaches on how to turn our lives around so that we prosper in every area of our lives as our soul prospers from truly receiving the gospel. View a sample of the sermon online
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Worshiping God Alone!
The Ten Commandments have been a foundation of the Christian life ever since Moses wrote those words in a stone tablet more than 3500 years ago. The first major theme of the Commandments focuses on our relationship with God. It is aboundantly clear from today's scripture Exodus 20:1 - 6 that we are to worship God, and God alone.
This week Pastor Bell expounds on the benefits of following this Commandment and the shortfalls of disobedience. View a sample of the sermon online
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Living On A Promise
Have you ever wondered what to do when between the time God gives you a promise and the fulfillment of that promise? Do you wait patiently, or do you fret? How have others handled this time?
This week Pastor Bell focuses on Abraham and Sarah and how they handled a promise from God that took 25 years to manifest. Thinking that's a long time? Well look at the results of waiting on God. The sermon is taken from Genesis 21:1 - 7. View a sample of the sermon online
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I Feel Restless
You may wonder, "What does a picture of a bowl of bean soup have to do with the title of the lesson...about being restless?" Well, this week, Pastor Bell focuses on a passage in the book of Genesis where two brothers, their mother and an aged father set the stage for a story deceit, lost opportunity, and restoration. The sermon is taken specifically from Genesis 27:38 - 40, but we encourage you to read the entire chapter as background.
If you've ever felt like you've missed out on a opportunity in life, take heart, you're not alone. Listen to see how becoming "restless" can lead to restoration. View a sample of the sermon online.
Why Are You Sitting Next To Me?
A necessary part of every Christian's life is growth. Sometimes our spiritual growth Today's sermon comes from Genesis 42:8. In this passage, Joseph, has risen to the position of 2nd in command of Egypt. Twenty two years earlier he had been sold as a slave by his brothers. In this meeting, his brothers did not recognize him; they had left him for dead years earlier. Joseph had an opportunity to punish his brothers for the wrong they had done, but Joseph was a changed man; he had gone through a process to get to his current position.
Is God sending you through a process and all you can see is what's in front of you and not the end goal? View a sample of the sermon online to better understand some processes God sends us through.
How Do You Like Me Now?
Today's sermon comes from Genesis 42:8. In this passage, Joseph, has risen to the position of 2nd in command of Egypt. Twenty two years earlier he had been sold as a slave by his brothers. In this meeting, his brothers did not recognize him; they had left him for dead years earlier. Joseph had an opportunity to punish his brothers for the wrong they had done, but Joseph was a changed man; he had gone through a process to get to his current position.
Is God sending you through a process and all you can see is what's in front of you and not the end goal? View a sample of the sermon online to better understand some processes God sends us through.
Don't Walk Alone
The Scripture passage for this sermon comes from Genesis 2:18 - 25. It is a familiar passage where God states that it is not good man (Adam) to be alone. And he creates Eve. Pastor Bell expands on this concept of "its not good to be alone" and applies it to Community, specifically the Church. What happens when a Christian strays from the Church? What makes the Church unique in that we need to be a part of its Community?
View a sample of the sermon online to find out the answers. See the Tape Ministry to get the entire sermon and discover how Pastor Bell ties
programs like "Wild Kingdom" nature programs on the Discovery Channel into the sermon. This online sample gives you a taste...the entire sermon provides the full meal. 
| Other Online Sermons | |
|---|---|
| You Can Make A Moment | Called To Community |
| Take Nothing For Granted | You Were Made For This Moment |
| Learn How To Give, When Giving Is Not Easy | Don't Bother Me At Offering Time! |
| Would You Please Pay Your Rent? | Don't Steal From God |
| You Need Some Help And I Know Where You Can Get It | You Are Not In This By Yourself |
| Stand | Affirmation, Motivation, Expectation and Celebration |
| It Ain't Over | Finding Morning At Midnight | Click on a title to listen a sermon Click here to view a list of all online sermons |
The 2011 GIBC Church Picnic
We had a great time at the 2011 Annual GIBC Church Picnic. We would like to thank all those who helped make this picnic the best yet.
To view our picnic slideshow, click here. Pictures were taken by our very own Bro. Malcolm McPhearson.
The Power of Prayer in Tuscaloosa
By now you have heard of the devastating tonados that ripped through the southeast on Wednesday. By now you have seen the images of the destruction of homes, businesses, schools and everything in the paths of the tornados. But what you haven't heard much of are the testimonies from people of faith. Listen to the exerience of Reginald Eppes and his family. He, his wife and three children survived the storm, but have no home to which to return. But the most powerful aspects of their story are: 1) the role prayer played during the storm, and 2) their attitudes in the aftermath.
As you listen, pay particular attention to the following:
- The hour in which Mrs. Eppes woke up
- What did she "routinely" do when she got up
- What the couple did as the storm raged around them
- What Mrs. Eppes did as her oldest son was torn away from his father by the tornado
- How the oldest son "landed" back on the ground and found his parents
- Mr. Eppes' statement of faith at the end of the story
This story really poses some deep questions about our faith in the midst of our personal storms:
- How seriously do you take your prayer life?
- What habits have you developed to buld your personal relationship with the Lord?
- Do you know what's really important in life and do you acknowledge them daily?
- How did you respond to the last "storm" you encountered? And why did you respond that way?
- What do you need to do differently?
The interview was given from Mr. Eppes' hospital bed on Thursday, April 28, 2011 to an NPR reporter (National Public Radio). Click here to listen. When you click, another window will open to the NPR site where you can listen to the 4 minute story. Click on Listen to the Story.
Finding Morning At Midnight
The Book of Job is full of biblical principles that can help you in your time of need. You may be familiar with the story, but how well do you know the truths?
Can you apply them in your life to make real difference now...today...tomorrow?
Listen to the teaching of GI's First Lady and learn how you can find "morning" during the "midnight" times of your life. The scripture text for this lesson is found in Job 1:6 - 12.