Good Morning, Bethesda!
It was good to be back after missing last Sunday. Many in our fellowship are fighting a variety of illnesses but I was grateful to see so many there yesterday. Debbie and I have now passed the 3 week mark on our battles with whatever bug we have. After preaching yesterday, I came home, ate lunch, sat down in a recliner and was out for quite a while.
Yet we know our Lord is in control and will not permit us to bear more than we are able. To those of our congregation who are also battling sickness, we share your pain and pray for your speedy recovery. For those who have not had the privilege of being ill, we pray that the Lord would be gracious and spare you from it!
Urgent Prayer Requests
- Pete & Brenda Koelling & her father
- Nolan Brook, illness
- Walkers, fighting illness
- Jeff Mueller, illness
- Brazel family
- Bunch family, especially Sandy’s mom and dad
- Rachelle Brandel in Japan.
- Marilynn Norvell
- Cynthia Wordlaw
- Gene & Lois Schulze at home.
- Caroline, Anne Overton’s sister-in-law, fight with cancer.
- Elise Walker, on mission trip in Guatemala
- Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. Bible Study (James) and Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7p.m.
2. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. JANUARY BIBLE STUDY, Sunday, 5p.m.
Just a little snow to remind us it is Winter!
Future Fellowships
* LADIES ONLY: Meet at the Walkers on Thursday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m.
* CHILI COOK-OFF, Sunday, January 27 following the morning worship service
January Bible Study
“The Greatest Week in History”, every Sunday evening at 5 p.m.
Some Changes…
Just a slight “teaser”: some changes are coming to our morning worship services.
Some Thoughts…
Here are some thoughts gathered from “here and there” on the matter of the “Questionable Christian”.
1. The “Questionable Christian” might attend morning worship services but not consistently. You see, public worship is not that important to them. Their time is more important than the Lord’s time. Their true interests lie somewhere other than in worship. Therefore, some sleep in, others participate in sports. The “Questionable Christian” always has a “good” excuse for missing a church worship service.
2. The “Questionable Christian” never attends the local church prayer meeting. They are too tired after a long’s day work or they find some other excuse to avoid church prayer time. In truth they do not consider corporate prayer as important and they do not care if they miss opportunities to share joys and burdens with fellow believers. “Prayer meeting” is low on their priority list.
3. The “Questionable Christian” gives little, if anything, financially to the Lord through the church. Their list of “needs and wants” far outweighs the needs of the church. Advancing the Kingdom of God is not all that important to them, especially if contributing to the Lord’s work through the church might deprive them of some personal want.
Simply “doing” these 3 duties commanded in Scripture does not make one a true Christian. But a true Christian, born from above by God’s Spirit, now has a new nature which desires to worship together with brothers and sisters in Christ, which longs to join together and pray, and delights in contributing materially to advance the Kingdom of the Lord through the church. Such actions are not the cause of salvation; rather, they are the proof of salvation.
So, to those of you who habitually fail to “show your fruits”, consider yourself a “Questionable Christian.” Do you truly know Christ or are you deceiving yourself?
Pastor’s Postscripts
The Lord is great and greatly to be praised! May He bless your work and bring us together on Sunday to worship Him again in Spirit and in Truth!
Pastor Bruce
636-233-0645
TheSaxonHus@hotmail.com
Church phone: 636-447-2121
Church web site: www.bethesdabc.org