academy Archives - Bethesda Baptist Church

November 10, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church

November 10, 2014

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. BUSINESS MEETING, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
3. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Operation Christmas Child

Next Sunday is your last opportunity to contribute gifts for Operation Christmas Child. A week from today, November 17, we will meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. for our packing party. There is a sign up sheet in the foyer so you can specify what type of food you would like to bring to that fellowship (soup, salad, or dessert).

Business Meeting

Our monthly business meeting is this Wednesday at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited and encourage to attend. Please join us and help us discern God’s will concerning the business matters facing our church.

Whatever parallel exists between baptism and circumcision as here stated by Paul argues for faith before baptism and for baptism as the sign and seal of the faith already had before baptism.
A. T. Robertson (on Romans 4:9-12)

Church Phone Directory

The revised church directory was distributed yesterday. More copies are available if you did not pick one up.

And, yes, we already have a correction! Bobby’s home telephone number was incorrect. This was my error. Sorry, Bobby!

Please update your copy with the correct number:

Bobby Henson – 636-486-2160 (H)

The Bethesda Academy

Tonight (Monday) is our final Academy meeting for the fall. We will conclude our study of the book of Revelation and look forward to a new study next spring.

So baptism is unmeaning without a prior and real remission of sin. Being really saved, we may picture symbolically that salvation in a memorial. Otherwise it would be like Bunker Hill Monument without a previous battle to commemorate.
B. H. Carroll

Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner

Our annual Thanksgiving fellowship is scheduled for Sunday, November 23 following the morning worship service. If you have not added this date to your calendar, please do so. These times of fellowship are very precious to believers!

The church will provide the meat for the dinner. We are asking each family to bring a couple of side dishes, a dessert, and a drink to share.

Pastor’s Postscript

A few days ago, I was sitting in a McDonald’s drinking a soda and doing some Bible translation work in preparation for an upcoming sermon. A gentleman whom I did not know saw my Greek Bible opened and asked me if I was studying the Bible. When I said yes, he then went into a 5 minute diatribe to which I could merely listen. He congratulated me for studying my Bible because he said most people don’t. He then said that he has really studied the Bible over the years and, in doing so, his study convinced him to leave The Baptist Church. He told me he became a Pentecostal until further study taught him they were wrong too. So, he switched again and is now a member of the only TRUE church of Christ. Yep, he is a member of the Church of Christ! Not being able to get a word in edge-wise, I continued to listen as he claimed they are the only true church because they are the Church of Christ. In other words, his studying the Bible has proven to him that the only true church is the church which is named the Church of Christ! He finally excused himself saying he had a friend to meet and, with that, our conversation ended.

I wanted to ask him for the reasons he left the Baptists (by the way, there is no The Baptist Church) but never had the opportunity. He did mention predestination and, for a brief moment, I thought that was the issue. Surprisingly, though, he said he believes in predestination so I assume whatever Baptist church he had been in did not or he simply didn’t get the message there. So I will never know for certain why he left Baptists.

It is a true shame, though, that an individual hooks up with a denomination (or church) simply because they call themselves the Church of Christ. I wonder if we changed our name to The Bethesda Baptist Church of Christ if that would draw more people?

Of course, I am not serious. Joining a church is an important decision and should be a careful matter of prayer. One should examine the beliefs of the congregation to see if they are consistent with your understanding of the Bible. Forget the name of the group. In God’s kingdom, the name of any local church or even a denomination (e.g., Southern Baptist Convention) is non-consequential.

Looking for a church? Do your homework and pray to the Lord. But by all means, a believer should always be a member of a local church.

May God bless you this week!

August 18, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church
August 18, 2014

Ladies Book Study …

begins TOMORROW evening (Tuesday, August 19) at 6:30 p.m.! If you have not signed up but wish to come, give Pam a phone call. Even if you forget to do that but would like to be a part of the study, make sure and show up for the first session!

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Bible Study and Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
4. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

The Bethesda Academy

Tonight (Monday) we examine the 144,000 of Revelation chapter 7. Come out and join us at 6:30 p.m.

5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship

Our next Q & A fellowship is on Sunday, August 31 from 6-7 p.m. Bring some snack to share and a drink plus your questions and enjoy the fellowship time.

If you have any questions you would like to submit early, please place them in the container on the table in the foyer of the church.

Discipleship Training

The study of Spiritual Gifts continues during the Discipleship Training hour at 5 p.m. each Sunday evening. It’s not too late to be a part of this study.

Library Additions

Some new sermons on CDs from John MacArthur have been added to our church library.

* The Simple, Surprising Truth About Tongues
* The Invincible Christian

I encourage you to check out our library if you have not visited it for some time. There are several fine Christian books plus CDs available for your use.

Congratulations

* Happy Birthday to Lacey Mueller on Friday, August 22.

Each man thinks every man is mortal but himself. Each man thinks every man is guilty but himself.

You say, “Well, John, what do you do? If I look into my heart and I see in my heart that I’m not right with God and I know the truth and I’m playing the religious game and I may be condemning the sin in others and knowing that it’s all boiling within me and I’ve restrained it for the sake of my self- righteousness, and I know that God knows it all and when God sees it all He’ll send me to hell, what do I do? How do I escape?” There’s only one place and that’s to run to Jesus Christ because the Lord Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty, hasn’t He? He’s already received the judgment of God.
John MacArthur

Men/Boys Camp Out

Friday, September 12 at the church beginning at 7 p.m. Update your calendar and keep your eyes on future bulletins and newsletters for specific information.

Church Work Day

Although the work day is over a month away, this is a good time to update your calendars so you don’t miss the opportunity to help out around our church building. Work days are also a good time of fellowship. Our next work date is Saturday, September 27 so make a note and plan on joining us on that date.

Pastor’s Postscript

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he IS a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Three weeks ago, my trip to the dentist indicated I needed a crown on one of my teeth. After preparing the tooth and making impressions, a temporary crown was put into place. Its purpose is to serve as the new tooth until the real crown is ready.

The preparation work the dentist did on my old tooth was to prepare the way for the new one. Now, with the temporary crown, the new one has come. Although not yet perfect in itself, it is both an example of, the beginning of, and the assurance of the new tooth.

When the Holy Spirit worked his work of regeneration in my life, he took up residence in my life, making me a new creation. My changed spiritual nature is an example of the perfect spiritual nature of Christ. My new life is the beginning of an eternal life. And His presence is an assurance of a fully new life.

Without any disrespect toward the Holy Spirit, my present condition is somewhat like that temporary crown. A new life has begun. An eternal new life is assured. It will come in time.

May the Lord bless you this week!

June 16, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of Bethesda Baptist Church
June 16, 2014

NEW MEMBERS!

Welcome to our newest members, Georgia and Glenda! Here is the information for your church directory:

Glenda Averett
   1248 Shirley Ridge Dr.
   St. Charles, MO 63304
   636-441-2476

Georgia Baggett
   1284 Shirley Ridge Dr.
   St. Charles, MO 63304
   636-441-2118

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
3. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training (“The Attributes of God”), Sunday, 5 p.m.

Coming Sunday…

Yesterday we looked at “Prayer and the Gospel”. Next Sunday we examine Romans 1:11-15, “Preaching the Gospel”.

“Those things for which you are thankful tells you and others what you believe is really important in life.”

Spurgeon Speaks

“God has beloved ones in the darkest parts of the earth! There is all the more reason for them to be saints because they are surrounded by sinners. They must have had true faith, or they could not have confessed Christ between the jaws of a lion, for they lived in Rome, with Nero hunting after Christians as if they had been wild beasts! And yet they were not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”

5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship

Plan on joining us for our next 5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship. Bring a snack, a drink, and any questions you may have on June 29 and we will meet at 6 p.m. Even better, come at 5 p.m. for Discipleship Training and remain for our Fellowship!

New Additions to Our Church Library

* Another sermon by John MacArthur on CD entitled: “The Truth About False Disciplies”

“God, by His providence, regulates all that takes place. There is nothing with which Christians should be more habitually impressed than that God is the disposer of all events.”
Robert Haldane

* Cynthia has requested special prayer. She is struggling with her fluid levels.

Sermon Seconds
Verse 10 of yesterday’s text has an interesting phrase. The ESV renders it “… somehow by God’s will I may now at last …”. In the original Paul uses 4 simple words to convey his emotions on his desire to travel to Rome. The King James captures these words very well: “…if by any means now at length…” You can almost sense Paul’s yearning and hope that God will permit him to finally travel to Rome.

Those of you who know early church history know that Paul DOES finally make it to Rome: as a PRISONER! He travels there in chains by ship which is shipwrecked. Once there he is kept in prison for 2 years. A few years later he will return to Rome once again arrested and, finally, executed for his witness for Christ!

Pastor’s Postscript
To all who planned, organized, and brought to pass our church picnic, THANK YOU! It was a wonderful time on a wonderful day with wonderful people!

We welcome Georgia and Glenda to our church family! In the past 2 months three new members have joined Bethesda and they all live on the same street! (Perhaps we should rename Bethesda to Shirley Ridge Baptist!).

The Academy will restart tonight (Monday) with a close examination of the book of Revelation. This will not be a brief excursion so bring your Bible, your notebook, and your pen and prepare for an exciting journey.

I also encourage those members who do not normally attend our Wednesday evening service to make every effort to do so. We spend 15 minutes in Bible study and then commit the remaining 30-45 minutes for prayer. Presently our Bible study has been focusing on various Bible characters who are not mentioned very often in the Scriptures. Come out and look with us at the characteristics of these individuals. Perhaps you’ll find a character quality which might benefit your spiritual growth.

We are, once again, revising our deacon family ministry list given our new members. The list should be ready following our July Deacons’ meeting. Also, our church directory is being revised with a target publication date of August 1. If you have directory updates, please let the pastor know as soon as possible.

Lastly, anybody interested in learning Greek? It’s been a couple of years since our last class and I am open to doing another one. Or, if you are very brave, we could try and learn some Hebrew!

Praise our Lord for all the blessings He has poured out on each of us. And praise the Lord for the blessing of Bethesda Baptist Church!

May your life bring glory and honor and praise to Christ throughout this coming week.

Pastor Bruce

April 14, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

Weekly Publication of Bethesda Baptist Church

April 14, 2014

Tenebrae Service
Good Friday

Join us this Friday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m for our Good Friday service. Brother Bill Savage, pastor of St. Clair Southern Baptist Church, will bring the message as we reflect on the death of our Lord and His accomplishments on the cross.

LADIES Book Study

The Ladies Book Study resumes tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 6:30 p.m. Even if you missed the first two meetings you are welcome to join in tomorrow night.

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
4. Good Friday service, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
5. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
6. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
7. NO Discipleship Training

The Bethesda Academy

Tonight (Monday) we will meet and resume our study of future events by examining the Gospel of Matthew. Come join us at 6:30 p.m. as we seek to better understand God’s revelation on this subject.

Recent Prayer Requests

* Cynthia Wordlaw and her family in the death of her mother. Also Cynthia’s need for a kidney.
* Elijah Mueller
* 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
* Prayer for those involved in North American missions.
* Praise to the Lord for our visitors
* Our church and need for revival

Julie’s Mission Trip

If you wish to contribute to a local mission activity, our own Julie Brandel will leave on a 10 week mission trip to San Diego in less than 2 months. Pray for her and, if possible, contribute financially towards this trip by writing a check made out to the church with a note that it is for “Julie’s Trip”.

North American Missions

At Discipleship training last night, Pam announced we have reached our Annie Armstrong Offering goal of $1200! Praise the Lord and thank you to all those who have given for your generosity.

We will continue collecting for this offering through the last Sunday of April. If the Lord impresses you to give (or give more), please be obedient to Him and His will.
Congratulations to…

* Bruce & Debbie Walker celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary on April 20.

Pastor’s Postscript

Last year we held our first Good Friday service at Bethesda and it was well received. So we are going to hold another one this coming Friday and I urge you to do all you can to be there. The service will naturally focus on our Lord, His crucifixion and His death plus the work that He accomplished on that Good Friday many centuries ago.

Also as we did last year, there will not be an Easter sunrise service this year. In fact our Easter Sunday schedule is slightly reduced. We will have Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. giving our teachers an opportunity to share on the Lord’s death and resurrection. We will also have our morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. which will focus on the resurrection. If the Lord wills I will preach from 1 Peter chapter 1 on the subject “Raised from the Dead”. Our Sunday evening activities are cancelled this week to permit everyone the opportunity to spend the afternoon and evening with family.

A big “thank you” to everyone who helped with yesterday’s fellowship. The food was great and the time together was even better. It appeared all the children had a good time as well (though, perhaps, with too much sugar!).

It was also great seeing visitors once again in our service. The Lord continues to send visitors to worship with us and we are very grateful He does so. May those who are visiting and looking for a church home find the church in which the Lord wants them to serve.

On a personal note, this Sunday not only marks Easter but also Debbie and my 41st wedding anniversary. We were actually married on Good Friday back in 1973. Debbie has been the greatest blessing the Lord has given me next to my salvation. God has used her in many ways towards my sanctification. Any good you see in me is the result of the Lord’s work and much of that has been through my wife! Any bad you see is the real “me” still under construction. I have never regretted saying ‘I Do” 41 years ago. I would love to have at least another 41 years together!

Back to church matters, let me encourage you to attend our Good Friday and Easter worship services this coming weekend. Our country spends a lot of time and money “honoring” our Lord’s birth at Christmas time. Let’s give at least some time to celebrating His resurrection at Easter time.

May our great God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you this week as you reflect on His death (an atonement for sins) and His resurrection (a victory over death).

March 31, 2014

LADIES Book Study

LADIES: your book study resumes this Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Even if you missed last week’s meeting, you are more than welcome to join the group tomorrow evening.

Recent Prayer Requests

* Michael Mason, Sali’s brother, in Barnes St. Peters
* Joe & Jessey’s newborn son – in NICU
* Elijah Mueller – recovering at home
* Alicia’s mother
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Prayer for the conversions of the lost, especially those in our community
* Prayer for those involved in North American missions.
* Praise to the Lord for our visitors
* Our church and need for revival

The Bethesda Academy

We meet again this evening to discuss future events. Tonight we will begin our closer examination of some of the Scripture which addresses the future. Even if you have missed our first two meetings, you will have no difficulty joining in. Our meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and everyone is welcome.

“The word of the Lord is glorified when it is accepted by true faith, so that it begins to adorn the lives of believers.”
William Hendriksen

North American Missions

Thank you to everyone who has given to date. We will continue to collect towards the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering through the month of April. If you have yet to give, please seek the Lord to see what, if anything, He would have you give to support our missionaries and their work.

Julie’s Mission Trip

About 2 months remain before Julie begins her 10 week mission trip in San Diego. Keep praying for her and give financially as the Lord leads to help her make this trip.

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
4. Deacons’ Meeting, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.
5. Men’s Breakfast & Book Study, Saturday, 8 a.m.
6. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
7. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
8. Discipleship Training (Ruth), Sunday,
5 p.m.

“If Baptists truly believed in the necessity of prayer, our prayer meetings would see a packed house.”
Coming in April…

Sunday, April 13 at 12:15 p.m. – Soup, Salad, and Sandwich Fellowship after the morning service. Bring one or more of the above to share and some plastic Easter eggs for our children to hunt.

Friday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. – Tenebrae Service (Good Friday service). Pastor Bill Savage of St. Clair will bring the message.

Sunday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. – Our Easter morning service as we celebrate our Lord’s resurrection.

Sermon Extras

Paul writes in verse 3, “And we have confidence in the Lord about you”. It is important to note that Paul’s confidence resides in Christ, not in men. He is confident that the Thessalonians will continue to obey the Word of God but that confidence is routed in the fact that God has done a work in them and will continue working in them.

In the text, “have confidence” appears first in the verse meaning Paul is emphasizing it. The word means “to be convinced, to be persuaded”. Paul constructs the word in such a way as to imply his confidence in Christ is something he reached a long time ago and that it is now a settled fact. Paul knows the Lord is faithful and he is fully persuaded Christ will accomplish all He has planned for the Thessalonians.

May you and I always be convinced that Christ will complete the work He has for each of us in this life. Even when we stumble and falter, the Lord is faithful. He has promised to be with us to the end and He will fulfill that promise.
Pastor’s Postscript

Those who missed our “Q & A” fellowship last night missed a good discussion. The question asked of me was, “When does a person become chosen/elected or condemned? (Before conception, at conception, at physical birth or some time later?)”

Any question on the subject of election results in lively discussion since most of us have our own understanding of this doctrine. Essentially I answered this question by saying election is an eternal decree, a choice made by God in eternity. In that sense it was made before those chosen existed.

What I say is unimportant unless supported by the Word. One reference I mentioned is Ephesians chapter 1:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

Clearly it is God, not us, doing the choosing. The object of His choice is “us”, those who believe on the Lord. Election is grounded “in Christ”, in other words, in the person and work of Christ without whom there would be no need for election. This election took place before creation (“the foundation of the world”). And this election had a purpose, namely, “that we should be holy and blameless before him”.

Election has been debated by very good men for centuries. It is still debated today. If God had not intended for the doctrine to be discussed He would have either omitted it from the revealed Word or more specifically declared it. Yet, the doctrine is in the Scripture and I doubt any of our puny minds can ever comprehend all that is involved in the matter.

Since it is in God’s Word, we, as believers, have a responsibility to do our best to understand what God has said about it. Our lives and our ministries should be lived in accordance with that understanding. In other words, as your pastor I must preach and teach the doctrine in accordance to my understanding of it.

I fully recognize other views on election. That’s ok. I formerly held other positions as well. While I believe each of us is responsible to understand election as best we can, what is important to me are your answers to the following questions:

1. Do you agree that man is, by nature, a sinner and will commit acts of sin?

2. Do you agree that the punishment for sin is death, ultimately eternal death in a place called Hell?

3. Do you agree that God sent His Son to earth to live a perfect life and provide an atoning sacrifice for sin?

4. Do you agree that to receive this God-provided salvation, a person must repent of their sins and trust Christ alone for their salvation?

5. Do you agree that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works?

6. Do you agree that once redeemed by Christ and converted by the Spirit you are forever a believer, never losing your salvation?

7. Do you agree it is the responsibility of Christians to take the Gospel message to everyone so they may hear the Good News of Jesus?

If you agree with me on these 7 statements, then let us make certain any differences we have in our understanding of election do not interfere with either our fellowship or our mission!

May our Lord and Savior give you a blessed week!

March 10, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

Weekly Newsletter of the Bethesda Baptist Church

March 10, 2014

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller – in the hospital
* Praise to God for the birth of Olivia Mueller
* Walker’s grandson Bryson having tonsils & adenoids removed today
* Alicia’s mother
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Diamonds on vacation
* Brooks on vacation
* Reppergers leaving later this week on vacation
* 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

Upcoming Activities

1. Business Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service – Ordination of Steve
Brook, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Mission Trip

Don’t forget Julie Brandel’s mission trip this summer to San Diego. If you wish to help with her financial needs, you may do so by writing a check to Bethesda and designating it towards her trip.

Deacon Ordination

Steve Brook will be ordained to the deacon ministry this Sunday morning, March 16, as part of our morning worship service. I encourage you to attend and support Steve and his family at this important event.

LADIES Book Study

The ladies will begin a new books study on Tuesday, March 25 entitled “Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering”. Due to difficulty obtaining books, if you plan on attending the book study, please make certain you sign the sheet in the foyer no later than this Sunday, March 16.

Once again Pam will lead the study which will meet every Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars and sign the sheet!

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Alexis Wildgrube – Monday

“And thus we who have not their knowledge wish and are not able even with pains to understand what the apostle referred to, especially as his meaning is made still more obscure by what he adds. … I frankly confess I do not know what he means.”
Augustine

The Bethesda Academy

The Academy returns next Monday, March 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Since the Thessalonian epistles have focused so much on the Lord’s Return, we’ll spend time discussing future events and investigating what God has said concerning the end times.

Join us on Monday, March 17 for a time of study and fellowship at 6:30 p.m.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Jeff and Alicia Mueller on the birth of their daughter, Olivia Abigail. Olivia entered the world last Wednesday, March 5. Praise God for another gift of life!

North American Missions

Yesterday marked the beginning of our emphasis on North American Missions as we began our week of prayer. It also marked the beginning of your opportunity to contribute to mission work throughout North America by means of the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Every cent you give to Annie Armstrong goes directly to missions in North America.

Bethesda’s goal is $1200. I simply ask you to seek the Lord and understand what He would have you contribute to his valuable effort. If you wish to give by means of a check, simply make your check out to Bethesda Baptist Church and note either on the “Memo” line and/or on the offering envelope that your gift is for the Annie Armstrong Offering (“Missions” will suffice).

Thank you for your donation and may the Lord bless your giving.

“The willful and persistent rejection of the truth God punishes with judicial blindness, so that the power of discernment is blunted, and error comes to be accepted as truth-nay, the perversity becomes sometimes so morbid that men bring on them the woe pronounced against such as ‘call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.’ (Isaiah 5:20)”
John Eadie

Pastor’s Postscript

Next Sunday is a very special day as we ordain brother Steve to the deacon ministry. I really encourage each of you to be there.

In your prayers this week, please continue to pray for the Mueller family, especially Elijah. Also lift up the several church families who are already on vacation or preparing to travel: the Diamonds, the Brooks, and the Reppergers. Also, give praise to God for the visitors who continue to worship with us on Sunday mornings!

I want to publicly thank all those involved with the new church sign. Several folks spent many weeks looking at various options. Then they had to order the sign, coordinate its arrival and temporary storage, and, finally, its installation. The sign is beautiful and looks tremendous! To each one who had a part in this process, thank you very, very much!

May Christ grant you a wonderful week! See you Wednesday evening!

March 3, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA for March 3, 2014

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

This weekend marks the beginning of Daylight Savings Time. So, set your clocks FORWARD one hour (“spring ahead”) before going to be on Saturday evening.

Yes, we “lose” an hour of sleep!

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller
* Alicia as she is nearing her due date
* Alicia’s mother
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Prayer for the conversions of the lost, especially those in our community
* Our church and need for revival

Some updates: Alicia’s mom had a kidney removed today. All went well and she will be in ICU over night. No further cancer was found.

The Muellers are still awaiting the results of Elijah’s tests from last week.

Lastly, Brenda has returned home safely and appreciates all the prayers.

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting,
Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Men’s Breakfast, Saturday, 8 a.m.
3. Science Center Trip, Saturday, Noon
4. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Mission Trip

Julie Brandel has a 10 week mission trip in San Diego this summer. If you wish to help with her financial needs, you may do so by writing a check to Bethesda and designating it towards her trip.

Bowling Fellowship

For those who signed up for our bowling fellowship, meet at Harvest Lanes on highway 94 at 12:30 p.m. We have lanes until 2:30 p.m.

Deacon Ordination

On Sunday, March 16, we will ordain Brother Steve Brook to the deacon ministry. Please plan on attending this special service.

This Sunday’s Message…

“Delay, Deception, Delusion” from
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

LADIES Book Study

The next book study will begin the last week of March (date forthcoming) and will be on the Beatitudes. Pam has agreed to be the study leader. Make plans now to attend.

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Kyle Haag – Monday

Church Directory Correction

Rick Norvell
759 Homerun Drive
O’Fallon, MO 63366

Pastor’s Postscript

The weather “got us” again yesterday. Thankfully we never saw all the snow that was forecasted. But the sleet made the roads far too dangerous to be out and about.

This week was to begin our emphasis on North American Missions. It was also to be the week of prayer for North American missions. Nevertheless, we’ll start our mission emphasis this coming Sunday. We’ll also declare next week to be our week of prayer for North American missions!

The men and I had a good meeting this past Saturday morning. We began our study of J. C. Ryle’s “Holiness”. If you are interested in joining us for this study next month, let me know so I can be certain you have a book. We’ll look at what Ryle has to say about sin in chapter 1.

The Academy will begin again on Monday the 17th (wear your green!). This will be a very informal 60-90 minute study beginning on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

Since I was not able to preach yesterday, I have no “sermon extras” for you today. Plus since I had my eye examination this morning, this edition of “Stirrings” is a bit late leaving the presses. My eyes were dilated much of the day and I couldn’t see well enough to type!

May Christ grant you a wonderful week! See you Wednesday evening!

February 24, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

A weekly publication of Bethesda Baptist Church

February 24, 2014

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller
* Alicia as she is nearing her due date
* Alicia’s mother
* Brida, recovering from a fall
* Brenda Koelling, relative’s funeral
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Prayer for the conversions of the lost, especially those in our community
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Men’s Breakfast, Saturday, 8 a.m.
3. Science Center Trip, Saturday, Noon
4. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Mission Trip

If you wish to help Julie Brandel’s financial needs associated with her summer mission trip to San Diego, you may do so by writing a check to Bethesda and designating it towards her trip.

This Sunday’s Message…

“Delay, Deception, Delusion” from
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

Deacon Ordination

Brother Steve Brook will be ordained to the deacon ministry on Sunday, March 16 in the morning worship service. Please plan on attending this special service.

Bowling Fellowship

This is your last week to sign up for the Bethesda Baptist Bowling fellowship on Sunday, March 9 at 12:30 p.m. We need an accurate head count no later than next Sunday so we can be sure we have enough lanes reserved at the Harvest Lanes Bowling Alley for Sunday, March 9. If you wish to go, please sign the sheet in the foyer during the week.

Science Center Trip

This Saturday is our outing to the St. Louis Science Center and a viewing of “Jerusalem” in the OmniMax Theater. If you are interested, please contact Karla as soon as possible and she will provide all the details.

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Steve Brook – Friday

“… none can be termed apostates, but … such as have previously made a profession of Christ and the gospel.”
John Calvin

Men’s Breakfast

Men, bring your breakfast and join us this Saturday, March 1 at 8 a.m. for our monthly fellowship. We’ll begin a new book, one of my favorites and one which greatly influenced my Christian walk many years ago. The work is by a 19th century believer named J. C. Ryle and is entitled “Holiness”.

If you are coming and have not notified the pastor, please do so. This will enable him to make certain we have enough books for everyone.

See you Saturday at 8 a.m.

The Bethesda Academy

The Academy is returning! Our first session will be on Monday, March 17 (wear your green!) beginning at 6:30 p.m. We’ll meet in Fellowship Hall for an hour to an hour and a half. More details in next week’s newsletter.

This will be a very informal study so bring your Bible and enjoy our time together.

Sermon Extras

Verse 1 of our text yesterday described the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. The New Testament utilizes multiple Greek words to describe the second coming. In verse 1 (as in 1 Thessalonians 4), the word “coming” is parousia (“being alongside”) and describes the Lord’s coming as his presence with his people.

Verse 8 of this chapter is an interesting one from this perspective. Three of the words frequently used to refer to Christ’s second coming are used in that one verse.

“And then the lawless one will be revealed (apokalupto), whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance (epiphaneia) of his coming (parousia).”

While used in this verse to describe the revelation of the Antichrist, apokalupto is used to describe Christ’s coming elsewhere (Luke 17:30). This word views the coming as a revelation, a revealing of God’s purpose and plan.

The word epiphaneia is sometimes translated manifestation and is used for the second coming more than once (e.g., Titus 2:13). Epiphany views the 2nd coming as a manifestation of the power and love of God.

Pastor’s Postscript

We have several upcoming events which consume much of our newsletter this week. So, I will be brief (if you can believe that!).

I am grateful to be the pastor of such a group of saints that make up Bethesda Baptist! March 15 makes 5 years since my first sermon from this pulpit. It is a humbling and challenging responsibility to be a pastor. But, church members such as you have made these 5 years a true blessing. May the Lord continue to bless each of you and our church as we strive to serve Him in all we do.

May the Lord protect you this week and permit us to worship together once more next Sunday.