Good Morning, Bethesda!
The Lord blessed us with good attendance yesterday! Though we had members absent due to various reasons, we had several visitors and, for that, we are extremely grateful. May our Lord Jesus be glorified!
Urgent Prayer Requests
- Tom and his family
- Pete & Brenda Koelling & her father
- Brida Lovett and a job
- Brazel family
- Rachelle Brandel in Japan
- Sandy Brandel, soon heading to Japan
- Marilynn Norvell
- Cynthia Wordlaw
- Gene & Lois Schulze at home.
- Caroline, Anne Overton’s sister-in-law, fight with cancer.
- The Hauk family
- Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. BUSINESS MEETING, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. VALENTINE’S FELLOWSHIP, Sunday, 12:15 p.m.
5. JANUARY BIBLE STUDY, Sunday, 5p.m.
“Expect no better treatment than your Master. Remember that the disciple is not above his Lord.”
– C. H. Spurgeon
January Bible Study
This Sunday evening during our January Bible Study, “The Greatest Week in History”, brother Dennis will lead us in examining Resurrection Sunday. Come join us at 5 p.m.
Valentine’s Fellowship
Following our Sunday worship service, join us in the fellowship hall for our Valentine’s Fellowship. The dinner will be an Italian potluck so please bring an Italian themed dish. Also, we ask if each family might bring a side dish and/or a dessert.
In addition, we’ll be taking pictures of couples or anyone interested in a picture. Furthermore, we spend some time playing some games and just enjoying one another’s company.
Business Meeting
Our monthly business meeting is this Wednesday at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend and participate in the church’s decision making process. If you are unable to attend, please pray the Lord would guide those present to make choices pleasing to Him.
Sermon Extras
1. In John 18:38 when Pilate announces to the crowd, “I find no guilt in him”, he did so emphatically. In the original language, Pilate emphasizes the pronoun “I” in his remark. “I, I find no cause/guilt/reason in him.”
2. In giving the crowd a choice of which prisoner to release, Pilate refers to a “custom” the Jews had. The word translated “custom” also means habit or something accustomed to. It is a word created by combining “nature” and “together” or, in other words, “friendship” and “fellowship”. It seems, then, this “custom” was begun with the idea of demonstrating friendship between two parties.
3. The crowd chooses to release Barabbas over Jesus. They consider Jesus more dangerous and a greater sinner than Barabbas, a robber, murderer, and rebel! But, if you consider the work of Jesus on the cross, He is reckoned by God while on the cross to be a greater sinner than any man for He takes upon Himself the sins of ALL His people!
“His honor and His breath,
were taken both away,
joined with the wicked in his death,
and made as vile as they.”
Isaac Watts
Pastor’s Postscripts
After almost 3 years in the Gospel of John, we have now reached chapter 19. As we approach Easter on our calendar (March 31), we will also approach the Easter story in John’s Gospel.
If the Lord wills, we will complete the exposition of John in late May. I am pondering a couple of ideas and am seeking the Lord’s direction on where He would have us go next. In the meantime, I do pray He blesses each of us with the word He has for us in John.
On a personal note, thank you to the Bounds for the copy of “Pilgrim’s Progress” which they gave me. The book is old without a publication date. I have done some checking and found the specific publishing company began in Chicago after the fire of 1871 and moved to Hammond, Indiana about 30 years later. Since the book indicates it was published in Chicago, I am assuming it is from the 19th century. I did find a digital copy of the book published by this company in the Library of Congress dated 1900, however, that specific publication appears to be somewhat later than my copy. So, not only did they give me a copy of one of my favorite books, they gave me an OLD copy. I do appreciate the gift!
May the Lord grant you a great week!
Pastor Bruce
636-233-0645
TheSaxonHus@hotmail.com
Church phone: 636-447-2121
Church web site: www.bethesdabc.org