January 20, 2014

 STIRRINGS at BETHESDA, the weekly newsletter of Bethesda Baptist Church

January 20, 2014

THANK YOU!

Thank you to brother Carl Schaefer for preaching in my absence yesterday.  And thank you to all who helped out!  I do appreciate everyone’s efforts.

Recent Prayer Requests

* Pam and her family in the death of her father; also safe travel to Texas
* Brenda Koelling
* Meghan Bartner
* Sali Standley, ill for several weeks
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie Walker, pending foot surgery
* Steve Brook and meeting with ordination council
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1.  Bible Study (Brief Books) & Prayer  Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2.  Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. including the Lord’s Supper
4. Discipleship Training, January Bible Study, Sunday, 5 p.m.

January Bible Study

You are still not to late to join in our January Bible Study on the book of Colossians.  We begin week 3 and Colossians chapter 2 next Sunday.

Sermon Extras

Not having preached yesterday, I don’t have any “extras” to add to my non-existent sermon.  And, since I did not hear brother Carl’s message, I wouldn’t dare provide any extras to it.  But I do know he shared with you from Isaiah 6.  So, here is my contribution from that text (and I hope I am not sharing something he mentioned yesterday!).

The chapter begins “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne”.  Here are two brief observations from this verse.

1.  King Uzziah died.  Uzziah actually reigned in Judah 52 years and, according to the Word, “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”  In other words, Uzziah was one of the “good kings” of Judah.  Yet, he died.  2 Chronicles 26:16 reads “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction.  For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God”.

Each of us is unfaithful to God at various times of our life.  Instead of doing what is right in God’s eyes, we do what is right in ours.  That is sin in a nutshell and the penalty for sin is death.  So, King Uzziah died.

2.  The Lord reigns.  The King of Judah is dead.  His great reign and rule over Judah has ended.  But the King of all Creation continues to rule from His throne in glory.  Even now He is seated on the throne.

No matter what tragedy may occur in our lives, even the loss of a good ruler or loved one, God still reigns.  The Lord of justice, peace, mercy and grace still sits upon His throne, as Isaiah says, “high and lifted up”!
“The Christian view of history, therefore, is linear, and neither circular nor cyclical.  We believe that it will come to a planned end, a grand finale, consisting of the Parousia, the Resurrection, the Judgment and the Kingdom.  That these are history’s goal is plain in both Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. … In particular, the vivid descriptions in the second letter of the coming of Christ … and of the previous appearance of Antichrist … justify the sub-title … A Christian perspective on history.”
John R. W. Stott

This coming Sunday we begin our journey through Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians!

Pastor’s Postscripts

I look forward to being back with my church family this coming week.  On Wednesday evening we’ll continue our look at the book of Jude and then join together for prayer.  Next Sunday we’ll begin the exposition of 2 Thessalonians as well as celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  In the evening, we continue our look at the book of Colossians as part of our January Bible Study.  Plan on being there!

May the Lord watch over you and grant you a very good week.

 

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