STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church
Upcoming Activities
1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
3. Outreach Day, Saturday, 9 a.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.
Outreach Day
Our first Outreach Day is this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. We’ll meet at the church and organize into teams. Then we’ll move into the neighborhood off Highway N and leave packets at the door of every home, if possible.
There will be a lot of walking but, the more we have the less walking it will be! If you intend to go, please let the pastor know as soon as possible.
If the weather is bad on Saturday morning, we will postpone the event until another day.
See you at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Dress appropriately for walking and visiting.
The Gospel of the grace of God is the best vindication of His Law.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Operation Christmas Child
Next Sunday marks the beginning of our collection for Operation Christmas Child. We will have shoe boxes for you take home and pack. Or, you may bring some items and place them in the big box. We will have a packing party next month and put all of those into boxes. Or, you may do both!
Sinner, you think that because of your sins and your infirmities that I cannot save your soul. But behold, My Son is by Me and upon Him I look, not upon you, and I will deal with you as I am pleased with Him.
John Bunyan
Martin Luther’s Definition of Faith
Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. Faith is not enough, they say, You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved. They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working, creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, I believe. That is what they think true faith is. But, because this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything from it, so it does nothing and reform doesnt come from this `faith, either.
Instead, faith is Gods work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13. It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesnt stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words.
Faith is a living, bold trust in Gods grace, so certain of Gods favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of Gods grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think theyre smart enough to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools. Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.
Pastor’s Postscript
I encourage those who are able to do so to join us this Saturday as we distribute the Gospel as well as information on our church to our neighbors. It has been some time since we engaged in such an effort and I am excited about doing so. I realize there are some members who are not healthy enough to participate in all the walking and I am sorry you will be left out of that part of the effort. HOWEVER, even if you can’t walk and hand out the material, we would REALLY appreciate your prayers! See, you will be helping us after all!
Again, if you plan on going Saturday, please let me know as soon as you can. I hope I see many of you there!
May Christ bless you in all you do this week.