STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Monthly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church

February 28, 2015

In fact, anyone who claims to be a Christian yet is not an active member of a church may not actually be a follower of Christ.
David Platt
President, SBC International Mission Board

Upcoming Activities

* Easter Egg Hunt and Soup/Salad Fellowship. Yes, Easter is almost here! Following our worship service on Sunday, March 29, the children will hunt for some Easter Eggs and everyone will join together for soup & salad and a time of fellowship. Please mark your calendars and watch upcoming bulletins for specific information.

* Our monthly business meeting is Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Every member is encouraged to attend as we look to the practical matters of the church. Join us as we seek the Lords leadership in deciding the various issues which confront our church family!

Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25

Wednesday Evening

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1

We have made some changes to our Wednesday evening prayer service. First, we are no longer meeting in the auditorium, rather, we are gathering in the Fellowship Hall. I believe it helps us feel more like the church family we are as we pray. Second, we have dropped the use of the two sided prayer request sheet that has been part of our prayer meeting since before I came as your pastor. Instead, we are praying over requests made at the beginning of our prayer time and as the Holy Spirit leads. Furthermore, we are selecting different Bethesda families each week, gathering their specific requests, and lifting those requests to the Lord.

Our new approach is only two weeks old but I have been blessed by our time together. We all know the Bethesda membership is not very large (only 37) BUT there are NOT 37 members attending our prayer meetings! Those of you not joining us are missing out on one of the most important elements of Christian service: prayer.

Before our prayer time this past Wednesday, I read and shared briefly on the text above, 2 Peter 1:1. The various translations brought out different aspects of this text and we had a brief discussion on it. I enjoyed the discussion enough that I decided to engage in just a little personal study and seek some clarification as well as illumination from this passage.

1. The ESV uses Simeon for Peters name while other translations use Simon. Both forms of his name are used interchangeably in the NT. The difference in this verse lies with different manuscripts. Some of the ancient texts use Simon while others use Simeon. I think you will agree it really makes no difference relative to the content. Peter is doing the writing!

2. The phrase have obtained in the ESV is rendered have received in other versions. Obtain almost sounds like the faith they received is something they reached for and got. But the word translated obtained actually means to obtain by lot. In todays speech we might say I got lucky! You received something you werent striving for, it just came. Surely that is true of our faith. God alone must provide the faith we require.

3. A faith of equal standing with ours is another phrase we spent some time discussing. The NAS renders this phrase as the same kind of faith as ours. The King James reads like precious faith with us. The NIV is similar with a faith as precious as ours.

The differences come from the word Peter used: isotimon, a word only used here in the New Testament You may recognize the iso prefix from English words such as isotope (from the Greek equal place), used to describe two forms of the same element. This prefix means equal. The last part of the word means honor or price. So Peter is describing our faith as equal honor or equal value. That is why the various translations read slightly differently. The translators either take the equal honor aspect (hence, equal standing) or the equal value aspect (giving us like precious).

The great Southern Baptist Greek scholar A. T. Robertson wrote, The faith which they have obtained is like in honor and privilege with that of Peter or any of the apostles. WOW! The faith we have in Christ is just like the faith Peter had, a man who was with the Lord, saw the Lord, heard the Lord, walked on water with the Lord, etc.!

That thought alone blows my mind!

Come join us this Wednesday evening as we share some Scripture and then lift our requests to the throne of our heavenly Father.

The Luther Monthly

Since your pastor is fond of Luther, I thought I would invoke some personal privilege and include a Luther quote each month. Much of what the good doctor says stirs ones mind as well as stirs the pot of discussion!

Apart from the church, salvation is impossible.
Martin Luther

Good Friday Service

Easter is the first Sunday of April this year, only a month away. For the past two years, Bethesda has held a Good Friday evening service and that will be the case once again this year. Please watch the bulletins over the coming Sundays for announcements relative to our Good Friday service on April 3, make plans to attend, and bring family and friends.

If you call yourself a Christian but you are not a member of the church you regularly attend, I worry that you might be going to hell.
Mark Dever
Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

Some special prayer requests have been shared this week and I want us to keep lifting them to the Lord.

First, former pastor Randy Curless lost his mother this week. Randy is well known not only by our church but also throughout the St. Louis community. Please keep him and the family in your prayers.

Second, our brother Nolan Brook is still fighting a high fever which comes and goes. In diagnosing the problem, doctors have found that three of his lymph nodes are very swollen. As of this writing, doctors are pursuing the possibility it is the result of a fungal infection actually common in our area. Please continue to pray for Nolan, those treating him, and his parents.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8

Special Ministry Opportunity

On Saturday, March 28, Bethesda members may take a tour of our local fire station from 11 a.m. to noon. Cottleville Station #1 is at the corner of N and Motherhead. This opportunity is led by our Outreach Committee which is also organizing a meal to take to the station. We are showing our appreciation for all that the firefighters do.

There will be sign-up sheets in the foyer of the church for those who wish to take the tour and/or donate food.

Ladies Book Study

Ladies, Pam is leading you in a spring book study beginning this month!

The introductory session will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. The study will then meet on Tuesdays from April 14 through May 19. You will be studying the book He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear from God by Priscilla Shirer.

This is a great opportunity not only to study a book but also a time to study Scripture and fellowship with one another. Mark your calendars and watch future bulletins for more information.

Pastors Postscript

A public thank you to brother Gary Robnett for stepping in at the very last minute and preaching for me last Sunday morning. I truly appreciate his willingness to do so.

Furthermore, I appreciate the prayers of everyone at Bethesda on my behalf. I am feeling much better and more like myself (I dont know, is that good?). If the Lord wills I will be back in the pulpit this Sunday.

Debbie mentioned to me last evening how quickly February has gone. We are already two months through 2015. Spring will be here before we know it! I know the Trustees will be having a work day within the next two months, somewhat like our spring cleaning day for our church.

As February ends and March begins, I pray the Lord would pour out His blessings on each of you. I also pray that He gives us both the wisdom and the desire to serve Him in our community.

May all we say and do bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Pastor Bruce

April 20, 2014

April 21, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

A Weekly Publication of Bethesda Baptist Church

April 21, 2014

Julie’s Mission Trip

Julie’s 10 week mission trip to San Diego is just about a month away. Please keep her and the team in prayer. If you wish to contribute financially towards this trip, simply write a check made out to the church with a note that indicates it is for “Julie’s Trip”.

North American Missions

This Sunday will be your last opportunity to give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. We have met our goal of $1200 but you may still give if the Lord so impresses you to do so.

LADIES Book Study

The Ladies will meet again tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 6:30 p.m. Come out and join the fellowship and study time!

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. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. including the Lord’s Supper.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

“He is not here. He has Risen!”

The Bethesda Academy

The Academy has 5 more Monday meetings including this evening. Come out and join us as we consider what the Bible says on future events. We begin at 6:30 p.m.

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

Congratulations to…

* Karla Repperger celebrating a birthday on Wednesday, April 23. Happy Birthday!

Coming Sunday…

“Final Exhortations” from 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 plus we will observe the Lord’s Supper.

“He (Ben-Hur) persisted, as men do yet today in measuring the Christ by himself. How much better if we measured ourselves by the Christ.”
Lew Wallace

Good Friday and Easter Services

Thank you to everyone who participated in our weekend services. Both our Good Friday and Easter services were well attended.

I want to publically thank several individuals for their service:

* Bill Savage for his wonderful message on Friday.
* Audrey for playing and for her special music in both services.
* Dennis for leading our singing in both services.
* Jeff for his work in the sound room both days and to Alicia for her help in the morning service.
* Steve, Jon, Christy, Debbie, and Dennis for reading the Scripture on Friday night.
* Our band for leading us in worship with song during the Easter service.
* Sandy for volunteering to read even though she then could not attend on Friday.
* And to those who worked the nursery yesterday morning. I’m not 100% certain who was in there (though I think Tom was one of them!).

How wonderful it is to see God’s people willing to serve Him!

A new Discipleship Training class begins this Sunday at 5 p.m. Why don’t you plan on coming out and joining us for study and fellowship?

Pastor’s Postscript

We praise God for leading Bobby Henson to our church. On Friday evening, Bobby asked to join our church! He is reading through our Constitution and Statement of Faith and then I will sit down and chat with him. He professes knowing Christ as His Lord and has been baptized. If you haven’t already done so, make sure you welcome him to our church.

I have two more messages from 2 Thessalonians to share with you over the next couple of weeks. Then we will prepare for a longer study of another book. Since coming to Bethesda first as an interim pastor and then as your pastor, we have traveled together through 5 of the 66 books of the Bible (Colossians, Ruth, John, 1 & 2 Thessalonians). I am so grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to preach through His Word and intend to continue doing so until I am no longer physically able to do so (and that includes being called home to glory!). I truly believe preaching through books is the best method for proclaiming the Gospel. Such a procedure forces me to address matters I might ignore with another approach. Furthermore, this form of expository preaching keeps us in the context of the author’s writing. We can’t simply pull a verse out of the Word and then say what we want. May our Lord continue to bless our Scriptural journey!

And may Christ overwhelm you with blessings this week! He and He alone is worthy of our praise!

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

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).

April 7, 2014

Stirrings at Bethesda

Weekly Newsletter of Bethesda Baptist Church

April 7, 2014

LADIES Book Study

NO meeting this Tuesday of the Ladies Book Study. Our church serves as a polling place and, since Tuesday is Election Day, there will officials and voters occupying our fellowship hall all day.

The book study resumes on Tuesday, April 15.

Recent Prayer Requests

* 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

North American Missions

As of Sunday morning, our gifts towards the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering stood at $975. That is only $225 short of our church goal! Thanks to everyone who has given and may the Lord richly bless you for having done so.

We will continue to accept gifts towards this offering through the month of April.

Julie’s Mission Trip

Time is growing shorter before Julie leaves for a 10 week mission trip. Continue to prayer for her and consider giving to support her financially.

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. NO Ladies Book Study, Tuesday
3. BUSINESS Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
4. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Soup, Salad, and Sandwich Fellowship, Sunday, 12:15 p.m.
7. Discipleship Training (Ruth), Sunday, 5 p.m.

The Bethesda Academy

Each Monday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. we are searching the Scripture to better understand future events as revealed by God. Come out and join us tonight!

Soup, Salad, and Sandwich Fellowship

THIS Sunday, April 13 at 12:15 p.m. – Soup, Salad, and Sandwich Fellowship after the morning service. Bring at least two of the above to share and some plastic Easter eggs (with candy inside!) for our children to hunt.

Tenebrae Service
Good Friday

Friday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. – Join us for our Good Friday service. Brother Bill Savage, pastor of St. Clair Southern Baptist Church, will bring the message.

Pastor’s Postscript

I was quite lengthy in last week’s newsletter so I will be much briefer this week.

Thanks to everyone who helped with yesterday’s worship service. I am delighted to report that Dennis and Pam have safely returned. It will be good having them in worship next week!

The Lord continues to bless our church in many ways, most of them not visible to the physical eye. Let us give Him all the thanks and praise for His continual watch care over our congregation.

This Tuesday is an election day and our church serves as a polling place. I recommend to each of you that, if you are not voting at our building, that you simply stay away on Tuesday (did you ever think a pastor would tell you to stay away from the church?!). While I doubt the turnout for this election will be very great, I still suggest leaving the use of the facilities to the election officials and the voters on that date and just staying out of the way.

Wednesday is our monthly business meeting and there is some business to discuss. I encourage our members to come out and participate in the decision making process.

I will take a brief break from 2 Thessalonians. I have two additional sermons from chapter 3 before we complete this book. But Easter Sunday is two weeks away and I intend to preach from 1 Peter that morning. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Last year we were snowed out on Palm Sunday though I don’t anticipate that happening again this year. So, unless the Lord convinces me otherwise, I will return to the Gospel of John and preach the message next week that I intended to preach last year. This message covers the only verses in John that I never covered during our journey through the book.

In the meantime, I do pray for each of you and ask the Lord to give you a great week!

May our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, protect you and richly bless you!

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 24, 2014

LADIES Book Study

The Ladies Book Study begins tomorrow evening, Tuesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the church’s Fellowship Hall. If you did not sign up but would like to attend, contact Pam DePriest and let her know.

Recent Prayer Requests

The Bethesda Academy

The Academy continues its look at future events this evening (Monday) at 6:30 p.m. Come and join us for some study as well as fellowship.

“As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.”
Martin Luther

Julie’s Mission Trip

Another reminder that Julie is preparing for a 10 week mission trip this summer. Your prayers for her trip are appreciated as is any financial help you may be able to provide. You may give with a check by making the check out to Bethesda Baptist and noting it is for “Julie’s 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. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Discipleship Training (Ruth), Sunday, 5 p.m.
7. 5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship, Sunday, 6 p.m.

“I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love.”
Charles Spurgeon

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Luke Bounds – Tuesday

“You must understand that your faith and salvation rest entirely on God’s election (cf. Acts 13:48). And yet the day you came to Jesus Christ, you did so because of an internal desire — you did nothing against your will. But even that desire is God-given — He supplies the necessary faith so we can believe (Eph. 2:8).”
John MacArthur

Sermon Extras

Part of my preparation for yesterday’s sermon took me to a message preached by the former pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, W. A. Criswell. I did not quote from this passage yesterday but I do want to share it with you this morning. Dr. Criswell was an excellent preacher as you will see in how he closes the message.

“To that little flock in Thessalonica—just a little band of feeble Christians in a Roman world of brutality and godlessness and darkness and heathenism—Paul saying to them, “God hath elected you, little flock. It is His good pleasure to give you the kingdom, little flock. Weak lambs, God hath chosen you. Be of good courage. Comfort your heart. Lift up your faces. God hath chosen you.” Oh, what it is to be in the elective will and purpose of the Lord. However the day, whatever the fortune, we are in Him and He is in God and the whole world shall turn for His elect into victory and triumph and glory, both now and for ever. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly, that love and trust Him. The world is yours. And in the fortunes of life, if He takes it from the earth before He comes—to face that future in glory and in triumph, to live like a Christian, and to die like a child of Jesus—unafraid, in the glory of the hope and the presence of the Lord.”

North American Missions

We are getting closer to our goal of $1200 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. is $1200. All the monies received towards this offering goes to support North American missions. We will continue collecting to support North American missions through the month of April. Please contribute as the Lord leads you to do..

Pastor’s Postscript

Easter is only a month away. I want you to be aware that we will hold another Good Friday service this year on Friday, April 18. Pastor Bill Savage of St. Clair Southern Baptist Church in St. Clair, MO will deliver the message. I encourage you to add the date to your calendar.

Thanks to all who prayed for me over this past weekend and yesterday morning. I spent most of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in bed feeling miserable. But the Lord was gracious and enabled me to attend worship and preach the Gospel. I am feeling somewhat better this morning but extremely exhausted. I do appreciate your prayers.

I am also very grateful for the visitors the Lord continues to send our way. Furthermore, yesterday was probably the first Sunday in 2014 where most of our members were able to join together for worship at the same time! Praise the Lord!

May He richly bless your week!

March 17, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

Weekly Newsletter of the Bethesda Baptist Church

March 17, 2014

LADIES Book Study

Ladies, your new book study begins next Tuesday, March 25. Pam will lead you as you look at the Sermon on the Mount in a study entitled “Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering”.

If you would like to join the study but failed to add your name to the sign up sheet at church, contact Pam TODAY and let her know!

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller – recovering at home
* Praise to God for the birth of Olivia Mueller
* Alicia’s mother
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Reppergers 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

“A Christian whose inconsistent, hypocritical life belies biblical truth can’t be a deacon.”
Alexander Straech

The Bethesda Academy

TONIGHT is the return of the Bethesda Academy! We meet at 6:30 p.m. for an informal study on the subject of future events.

Come join us tonight for an hour of fellowship and study!

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
3. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training (Ruth), Sunday,
5 p.m.

Mission Trip

Julie is preparing for her 10 week mission trip this summer and needs our help. Please keep her in your prayers. And, if you are able, please help her with the financial cost of the trip. You may with a check by making the check out to Bethesda Baptist and noting it is for “Julie’s Trip”.

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Sali Standley – Sunday

Sermon Extras

Verse 11 of yesterday’s text has been debated for some time. Paul is obviously addressing women (the first word in the verse may be translated “women” or “wives”) but who are these women? There are many good commentaries presently varied interpretations of this verse but, briefly, here are the top 3 views:

1. Paul is talking about a church office in addition to pastor & deacon, namely, deaconess, a woman deacon. I do not accept this view for a couple of reasons. First, it makes little sense for Paul to insert one verse to describe this office sandwiched between verses referring to the office of deacons. Verses 8-10 clearly are speaking to men who serve as deacons as does verse 12. If Paul intended to introduce an office of deaconess, why not wait until you complete verse 12 to do so? Second, a deaconess would represent a leader in the church and that would raise issue with Paul’s own words in 1 Timothy 2:11-15.

2. Paul is talking about women in the church assisting the deacons. Certainly the male deacons would run into situations where it would be very helpful to involve a woman. This interpretation renders the first word of the verse as “women” in stead of “wives” and views other women in the church who assist the deacons in their work. The same to reasons I gave to answer (1) above apply here. Furthermore, it would be an extremely uncomfortable position (unheard of in the first century) for Christian men to work alongside Christian women who are not their wives.

3. Paul is describing the wife of a deacon, assuming he is married. Given the context of the passage, this interpretation makes the most sense. It also answers the need for a woman to assist in certain situations yet removes the obvious difficulty of that woman not being the deacon’s wife. I see the context as firmly supporting this understanding of the verse.

Think About It

“Seeker friendly” churches are those churches that try to make the lost visitor comfortable in their surroundings. They use worldly attractions to draw them in and keep them there. They have “give aways”, frequent promotions, and entertainers in place of true worship. Such churches believe the best way to evangelize the lost is to make yourself more like the world. The great British pastor David Martyn Lloyd-Jones disagreed.

“The glory of the gospel is that when the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariable attracts it.”

North American Missions

Our church’s goal for this year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is $1200. In two weeks you have graciously given $700 towards our goal! Praise the Lord!

All the monies received towards this offering goes to support North American missions. You have through the month of April to give. Please seek the Lord and discern what He would have you contribute.

Pastor’s Postscript

Praise the Lord for our visitors! Praise the Lord for our new deacon! May God give each of you a terrific 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!