May 12, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA, A Weekly Publication of Bethesda Baptist Church

LADIES TEA PARTY!

LADIES, you are invited to a Ladies Tea at the church on Saturday, May 24 beginning at 2 p.m.  Please invite your mothers, daughters, sisters, neighbors, friends to join you at this event.  All ladies are welcome but, for obvious reasons, we need a very accurate head count.  Please sign the signup sheet in the foyer during the coming week and/or contact Debbie Walker and let her know how many will be attending.  This event is for all adult ladies.  No child care will be provided.

Upcoming Activities

1.  Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
2.  BUSINESS MEETING, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
3.  Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4.  Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5.  Discipleship Training (“The Names of God”), Sunday, 5 p.m.

“Not what we must do but what God in Christ has done for us is the most prominent part of the good news.”
William Hendriksen

Julie’s Mission Trip

Julie leaves for her mission trip to San Diego in two weeks.  If you wish to contribute, please write your check to Bethesda Baptist and note that it is for “Julie’s Trip”.  By the way, Julie will personally provide us with information on her upcoming trip during our worship service on May 25.

The Bethesda Academy

The Academy will resume on Monday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. as we begin a study of the book of Revelation.  Mark your calendars and plan on attending.

Recent Prayer Requests

* Cynthia Wordlaw’s need for a kidney.
* The Mueller family
* Alicia’s mother
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Prayer for the conversions of the lost, especially those in our community
* Praise to the Lord for our visitors
* Our church and need for revival

Congratulations to…

Meghan Bartner, celebrating a birthday on Friday, May 16. Happy Birthday, Meghan!

LADIES Book Study

This Ladies will meet for their final session in their current study this Tuesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m.  Don’t miss it, Ladies!

Coming Sunday…

We continue our look at the salutation to the Epistle to the Romans as we examine “The Promise of the Gospel” from Romans 1:2.

Spurgeon Speaks

“I do not think that we are called to have anything to do with party politics, or social problems, or any such questions—we are set apart for this purpose—‘separated unto the Gospel of God.’  There are plenty of people who can attend to those things better than we can.  If we mind our own business, or rather, if we mind our Master’s business, we who are ministers will have quite enough to do.”

Sermon Seconds

Yesterday’s text, Romans 1:1, is only 10 words in the original.  They easily divide into the 4 facets I presented in my message on the preacher of the Gospel.  “Paul” presents the human identity of the preacher who wrote the letter and, with the mention of his name, one immediately reflects on his
reputation both before and after his conversion.  “a servant of Christ Jesus” points to his rank as a preacher.  He is a servant or slave of His master, Jesus Christ.  “called to be an apostle” delineates his responsibility as the preacher.  God has called him to the office of Apostle, the authoritative representative and messenger of Christ.  Finally, “set apart for the gospel of God” reveals his
role as the preacher.  He has been set apart for one specific task:  the good news of God, namely, the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The phrase “set apart” translates one word which means “appointed”.  The word is in what is known as the perfect tense in Greek.  Paul has been set apart; it is a completed action.  Yet this action has results which continue into the future.  I see in this phrase (along with Galatians 1:15) Paul’s
understanding that his appointment is from God’s eternal plan.

The phrase also has what is known in Greek as the passive voice.  Paul was set apart; he did not doing the “setting”.  Rather, it was done to him.  Clearly Paul is referring to God’s actions.  Paul was not seeking God or Christ.  He was not seeking to be an officer in the church of God.  But God had different plans for him.  As a result, we are the benefactors of a great blessing:  the possession of the book of Romans written by this Apostle for Christ!

Pastor’s Postscript

I trust all the mothers had a great Mother’s Day.  You are well deserving of our honor and recognition for all you have done over the years for us and for the children.  May God richly bless you ladies in the years to come for your faithfulness to Him!
And may God bless Bethesda Baptist Church as we continue our mission to magnify and glorify the name of Jesus Christ throughout our community and to wherever the Lord sends us!

Have a wonderful week!

Pastor Bruce
636-233-0645
TheSaxonHus@hotmail.com
Church phone:  636-447-2121
Church web site:  www.bethesdabc.org

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