May 26, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA – A Weekly Publication of Bethesda Baptist Church – May 26. 2014

Julie’s Mission Trip

Julie will be leaving tomorrow (Tuesday) for 10 weeks in San Diego.  Keep her and the team in your prayers.  After services yesterday I was told some of the team were driving to San Diego and had their cars break down in route.  So especially pray for them as they try to get the necessary repairs made and to San Diego in time.

You may still contribute to help with the cost of Julie’s trip if the Lord so leads.

Upcoming Activities

1.  Bible Study & Prayer Meeting,  Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2.  Wedding at Bethesda, Friday & Saturday.
3.  Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4.  Worship Servicer, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5.  Discipleship Training (“The Attributes of God”), Sunday, 5 p.m.

Congratulations to…

Bruce Walker celebrating ANOTHER birthday on Tuesday.

Coming Sunday

We continue our look at the salutation to the Epistle to the Romans as we examine “The Provision of the Gospel” from Romans 1:5-6.

Church Picnic!

If you check the June calendar you will see our church picnic is two weeks from this coming Saturday on June 14 (Flag Day) at 4 p.m.

More information to follow in upcoming newsletters and bulletins.  Mark your calendars!

Spurgeon Speaks

“He (Jesus) was a Man, therefore He died, but He rose again for He was more than Man—‘declared to be the son of God in power’.”

Amendment to the Bylaws

We will vote on an amendment to our church bylaws at the June 11 business meeting.  This amendment is fairly lengthy (3 pages) and completely replaces section 6 of the bylaws on Deacons.  Copies of this amendment are available on the table in the foyer of the church.  Of, if you would like an electronic copy, just let the pastor know.  If you have questions, please direct them to Pastor Bruce.

5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship

COMING IN JUNE:  our second “5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship” on June 29.  Submit your questions early and mark your calendars!

Sermon Seconds

Paul penned verses 3 and 4 in Romans 1 using symmetry.  Let me show you:

v. 3 – “was descended” is a participle meaning “the one having become”; v. 4 – “was declared” is a participle meaning “the one having been marked out

v. 3 – “from David” is a prepositional (ek) phrase meaning “out of seed of David”; v. 4 – “by the resurrection of the dead” is a prepositional (ek) phrase meaning “out of resurrection of dead ones”

v. 3 – “according to the flesh” is a prepositional (kata) phrase meaning exactly what it says. ; v. 4 – “according to the Spirit of holiness” is also a prepositional (kata) phrase with that meaning.

Paul intended for the structure of these two verses to be extremely similar.  In doing so, he has communicated some of the greatest Christological (“about Christ”) truth in the Scripture!  Yes, His Son is a human (verse 3).  Yes, His Son is God (verse 4).

That’s wonderful and awesome at the same time!

WHO is JESUS?

The following is from an article by A. W. Pink

The Lord Jesus was completely God, but he was also completely man. This is something to be believed and not for proud reason to speculate upon. The personhood of Jesus is not a fit object for intellectual diagnosis; rather must we bow before Him in worship. … While then there is much about the person of Christ which we cannot fathom with our own understanding, yet there is everything about Him to admire and love: foremost are His deity and humanity and the perfect union of these two in one person. The Lord Jesus was not a divine man, nor a humanized God; He was the God-man. Forever God, and now forever man. …

The One born at Bethlehem was the divine Word. The Incarnation does not mean that God manifested himself as a man. The Word became flesh; he became what He was not before, though He never ceased to be all He was previously. He who was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). The babe of Bethlehem was Immanuel – God with us – He was more than a manifestation of God. He was God manifest in the flesh. He was both Son of God and Son of Man. Not two separate personalities, but one person possessing two natures – the divine and the human.

 “The resurrection only declared him to be what he truly was.”
James Denney

Pastor’s Postscript

Since our newsletter is usually only 2 pages, I have little space remaining this week.  I will be brief (yes, it is possible for me to be brief).  Bethesda Baptist, you, the good people who comprise this church, are a blessing to me!

Have a wonderful week and may God grant some of your desires along with all of your needs!

Pastor Bruce

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