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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!

October 21, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Petra Lau and her family, friends of Karla – her father was murdered
* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, Lymphoma
* Pete Koelling, health concerns and special request for prayer.
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather) & Julie at Mizzou
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Bible Study (Brief Books) and Prayer
Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
3. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
including the observance of the Lord’s
Supper
5. Discipleship Training (Elisha), Sunday,
5 p.m.

“We who are not of the world should not conform our conduct to theirs. Sleep is natural enough for the sons of night, but it is entirely out of place in the sons of light.”
F. F. Bruce

Sermon Extras

John Bunyan, the author of “Pilgrim’s Progress”, talked about the sleeping Christian in his analogy penned centuries ago. A man named “Christian” is making the journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Along the way he has met Christ and lost the burden he was carrying on his back. He has made it past the Slough of Despond, Doubting Castle, and other dangers. Nearing the end of the journey, he is traveling with “Hopeful” as they come upon a part of the road called the Enchanted Ground. Note Bunyan’s words at this point:

I saw then in my dream, that they went till they came into a certain country whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy if he came a stranger into it. And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of sleep; wherefore he said unto Christian, “I do now begin to grow so drowsy that I can scarcely hold up mine eyes; let us lie down here and take a nap.”

Christian: “By no means,” said the other, “lest sleeping, we never awake more.”

Hopeful: “Why, my brother? Sleep is sweet to the laboring man; we may be refreshed if we take a nap.”

Christian: “Do you not remember that one of the shepherds bid us beware of the Enchanted Ground? He meant by that, that we should beware of sleeping: ‘Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober.’”

Operation Christmas Child

Our collection for Operation Christmas Child is nearing completion. If you would like to fill your own box, please take one of the empty ones from the platform, get a tag from Pam, fill the box with goodies, and return it to the church no later than Sunday, November 3. Or, simply bring your gifts to the church and place them in the large box. You may also help by joining with other church members at our annual packing party. This year the party will be at 6:30 p.m., Monday, November 4th at the Walkers.

You may also help by contributing financially to offset the cost of shipping the boxes. Samaritan’s Purse suggests $7 per box for a donation. If you wish to give by check, make your check out to Bethesda Baptist Church and note that your gift is for Operation Christmas Child.

Get involved and help some child receive a gift for Christmas, a gift which includes the Gospel of Christ!

“This is the common condition of all worldly men. However wide awake they fancy themselves to be, however knowing and sagacious, they are really, as to all highest things—things of the soul, of eternity, of God—in a state of slumber; of habitual, deep, lethargic sleep”
John Lillie

Elisha

The study on the prophet Elijah has finished and now the Discipleship Training hour is looking at the life of Elijah’s successor, the prophet Elisha.

Join us on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. as we pursue the Word of God and its insights into the life of this great prophet.

Brief Books

We continue our study of 2 John this Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Come join us for our 15 minute look at this book and then pray with us in our weekly prayer meeting.

Pastor’s Postscripts

This Sunday we, once again, celebrate the Lord’s Supper during our morning worship service. Some of you have been ill and others on vacation the past couple of weeks. But I hope and pray to see everyone this Sunday so we may share the Lord’s table as a church family.

IF the Lord wills, we will finish our exposition of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 this Sunday. Our focus will be on verses 9-11.

See you Sunday with your Bible in hand and a smile on your face!

October 14, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Petra Lau and her family, friends of Karla – her father was murdered
* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, Lymphoma
* Brady Bounds, neck injury
* Brenda & Pete, health concerns.
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather) & Julie at Mizzou
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Wednesday’s business meeting as we consider a proposal for a new sign
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

Ladies’ Book Study

The 3rd night of the Ladies’ Book Study is tomorrow (October 15) at 6:30 p.m.!

Sermon Extras

Often those who teach on the Second Coming paint a picture that everyone will be surprised and caught off guard when our Lord returns. They repeatedly quote 1 Thessalonians 5:2 where Paul says the Lord will come as “a thief in the night”.

However, often overlooked are verses 4 & 5. Paul reminds the Thessalonians (and EVERY believer) that we are “sons of light” and “sons of the day”. We are not in darkness and do not live in the domain of the night. No thief is catching us off guard. Translating verse 4 and adding appropriate emphasis, Paul says,

“BUT YOU, brothers, are NOT in darkness, so that THE day might take you down as a thief.”

As born again followers, we have spiritual light. We have light in the daylight of God’s written Word and His indwelling presence. We know what He has said about “THE Day” (i.e., “The Day of the Lord”, the moment of our Lord’s return). Therefore, when Christ does return, we are not caught off guard, we are not surprised, rather, we are expecting his return and prepared for it.

The moment of the Lord’s return will not bring “shock” to our system. Rather, it will be a great moment of joy! Not only will we be reunited with all followers of Jesus but we will receive our glorified, resurrected bodies, no longer subject to sin! We will find ourselves with out Lord and will be with Him forever and ever (see 1 Thessalonians 4:17)!

Praise the Lord, He WILL return soon!
Deacons

Our deacon election was a week ago and it was a “first” from what I know of Bethesda deacon elections! Both Dan and Steve received exactly the same number of votes from fellow members to serve as a deacon beginning in 2014.

Since our Constitution and Bylaws provide no direction when the election is a tie, the deacons and I discussed the matter and came to the conclusion the Lord must want both men to serve as deacons. So, we will begin 2014 with 4 deacons: Rich, Dennis, Dan, and Steve!

Of the four, only Steve has not been formally ordained by the local church. Therefore, an ordaining council will be formed to interview Steve and be convinced that he has the necessary qualifications to serve as a deacon. Once that council has met with Steve, we will schedule an ordination service (much like the one we had for Dan in 2012) and then officially set Steve aside for the office of deacon.

Thank you to everyone who sought the Lord’s direction and cast a vote for deacon and congratulations to both Dan and Steve on being selected to serve! 2014 promises to be an exciting year for Bethesda!

“They who are watching do not require to be told when the hour is to be, for they are ready at all times.”
Johann Albrecht Bengel

“They (the lost)” will be rejoicing in a fancied security right up to the very moment of the disaster.”
F. F. Bruce

Pastor’s Postscripts

I confess that I did little singing during our morning worship yesterday. Since my voice had been so weak for several days, I decided to save what voice I had for the sermon. The Lord was gracious and my voice remained strong enough to preach the entire message.

But, since I did not sing, I did listen and it was a wonderful sound! Sometimes just listening to the people of God singing praises to our Heavenly Father is a blessing to the heart. Such singing enabled me to worship the Lord without singing a word!

It was also a blessing to see several of our members back with us. The Brandels were there as well as the Brooks after being gone the weekend before. And our sister Marilynn Norvell was able to return to church for the first time in several weeks. Praise God! It was a good morning of worshiping our Lord and Savior.

Today marks the 4th anniversary of being called as your pastor. I am so grateful to God for allowing me to serve as your shepherd. May He continue to bless our church as we continue to serve and worship Him!

I look forward to seeing you again on Sunday. Bring your Bibles!

October 7, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Petra Lau and her family, friends of Karla – her father was murdered
* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, Lymphoma
* Brenda & Pete, health concerns.
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather) & Julie at Mizzou
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Wednesday’s business meeting as we consider a proposal for a new sign
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
2. BUSINESS MEETING, Wednesday,
7 p.m.
3. Autumn Bonfire, Saturday, 6 p.m.
4. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Discipleship Training (Elijah), Sunday,
5 p.m.

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”
1 Corinthians 15:52

Ladies’ Book Study

TOMORROW (October 8) evening at 6:30 p.m. BE THERE!!!

Business Meeting

Our monthly business meeting is this Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. One item on the agenda is a proposal from the Trustees for a new church sign. I encourage ever member to attend the meeting and have a voice in this selection.

Autumn Bonfire

Our annual bonfire will take place this Saturday evening beginning at 6 p.m. behind the church. Please bring some firewood (if you have any), some goodies to eat (hot dogs, chips, marshmallows, etc.), something to drink, and your lawn chair!

Sermon Extras

The main thrust of my message yesterday was to convey some certainties concerning the future of Christians like you and me. These certainties, as Paul notes in verse 18, are to bring encouragement. I shared with you 5 certain future events outlined in these paragraphs: the Lord returns, the dead are raised, the living are raptured, a reunion occurs, and eternity begins.

Concerning the rapture, the common teaching of our day is that the Lord will return prior to 7 years of great tribulation on the earth and remove his followers via the rapture. Following the tribulation, Christ will come to earth in His second coming to essentially end history and deal with the lost.

In this view the rapture is seen as a quiet affair. Jesus comes, raises his dead followers, and takes his living followers with him back into the air. The lost world “awakens” to find many missing people but no good explanation for their disappearance.

I once held this position. However, the more I have examined the 1 Thessalonians passage as well as others, I do not see the “rapture” text as a quiet affair. As I said yesterday, you must read INTO the text this quietness. The Lord descends with a cry of command, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God.

Speaking of trumpets, notice the following verses:

1 Thess. 4:16 – the Lord returns with the trumpet of God and raptures the living.

1 Cor. 15:51-52 – “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

There is no doubt Paul is referring to the same event in these two letters. It is the event we call the rapture. So the trumpet call is the “last” trumpet call.

Now read Matthew 24:29-31 and note the presence of the trumpet call. As I understand Scripture, the rapture of the living believer takes place at the Lord’s second coming, not some 7 years before it.

While we may disagree on this, two things we may agree on are these: Jesus is coming back and ALL his followers will be forever with Him!

Pastor’s Postscripts

I am grateful for everyone who attended our service yesterday morning. We are not a large congregation and, when two or more families are out of town on the same Sunday, their absence is keenly felt! Furthermore, I appreciate the band leading us in singing despite missing 40% of their members! And it was also a blessing to have Audrey back with us and even singing a special song as part of our worship service. Thanks to each of you for utilizing your gifts in the service of Christ!

I’m certain many of you are sharing Christ with those who are lost and I encourage you to continue to do so. But, if you seem to be making little progress, at least extend them and invitation to attend church with you on Sunday. The Lord uses multiple methods for bringing His sheep into the Kingdom. As Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” Perhaps your testimony to your family, friends, and acquaintances is the planting. And perhaps their attendance at church will be their watering. Perhaps then God will be pleased to provide their growth into a child of God!

Autumn is now here and the holidays are rapidly approaching. Please join us this Saturday for our annual bonfire, somewhat a mark of the approaching end of the year. It’s always a good time of fellowship.

See you then or, at least, on Sunday!

September 30, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, Lymphoma
* Brenda & Pete, health concerns.
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather) & Julie at Mizzou
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Bible Study (Brief Books) and Prayer
Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
3. Deacons’ Meeting, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.
4. Bethesda Men’s Breakfast & Book Study,
Saturday, 8 a.m.
5. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
6. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. &
Deacon election
7. Discipleship Training (Elijah), Sunday,
5 p.m.

“The more a Christian knows of his religion, the better for his peace and for his happiness.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

As Pam noted yesterday, we exceeded our $500 goal for the Missouri Missions Offering. We thank the Lord for the generous people of Bethesda Baptist Church! Your giving will help spread the Word of the Lord throughout the state!

Deacon Election

I call your attention to the choosing of the first deacons in Acts 6. Here is how Luke recorded this event:

Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty … And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose…

1. The “brothers” (members of the church in Jerusalem) did the choosing.
2. The men they chose were to be of good repute, full of the spirit, and full of wisdom.
3. They chose men from among the congregation.
4. By implication, some men were not chosen.

Given the size of the church in Jerusalem (thousands) there were surely more than 7 men who possessed the stated qualifications. Just because a man was not chosen did not mean he was not qualified to serve at that time.

This Sunday we will do likewise. Our membership will choose one man (not seven) to fill our open deacon position. That man should be one of good repute, full of the spirit, and full of wisdom from our congregation. Two such men have been nominated by our congregation for this position: Dan Repperger and Steve Brook. Our task is to seek the Lord’s will to discern which of these two men should be our 3rd deacon at this time. As was the case in Jerusalem, whichever man is not chosen does not mean that man fails to meet the qualifications. It simply means our church believes the Lord does not intend for him to serve as deacon at this time.

So I call on each member to pray about their vote this coming Sunday. We are not engaged in a popularity contest. Rather, we are seeking the Lord’s will for our church. Both men are Biblically qualified to serve. Both are willing to serve. Choose the man you believe the Lord would have serve at this time in the life of our church.

Ladies’ Book Study

The next ladies book study begins TOMORROW (October 1) evening at 6:30 p.m.!

If you have an interest in being a part of this study and have not yet registered, call Pam DePriest and let her know. If you forget to call Pam, just show up for the study!

“If Jesus wept at the graveside of his beloved friend Lazarus, his disciples are surely at liberty to do the same.”
John R. W. Stott

Pastor’s Postscripts

First, I have been asked why I did not deal with verses 15-18 yesterday. Simply put, there’s just too much material in the paragraph for one message. If the Lord wills, I’ll address those verses this coming Sunday morning.

Second, please make certain you read the article on our deacon election this coming Sunday. This is an important day for our church and I want everyone “prayed up”!

Third, I am skipping the “Sermon Extra” section this week given the lack of space. Since I am dealing with the same text next Sunday, we’ll share some extras on the passage in next week’s newsletter.

Fourth, Praise the Lord, we reached our church’s goal for the South Mission offering! I am so grateful to the Lord for your willingness to give. Thank you and may He bless your generosity!

Fifth, Ladies, your book study begins tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. I’m certain Pam is ready to go and I hope you are. Meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. and have a great study and a great time of fellowship!

Sixth, thank you, also, to those who attended our 5th Sunday Q & A session last night. I enjoyed the time together and I hope I provided some reasonable answers to the questions which were asked.

Lastly, men, bring your breakfast on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and join us for fellowship and study!

May the Lord grant you a great week!

September 16, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, Lymphoma
* Brenda, having a card cath on Tuesday. Also pray for Pete’s health.
* Zachary recovering from gall bladder surgery
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather)
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Julie away at school at Mizzou; pray she remains in good health
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Trustee Meeting, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
2. Bible Study (Brief Books) and 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 (Elijah), Sunday,
5 p.m.

“Sanctification is that life-long process in which God works within a true believer to conform him to the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus. The believer is daily separated from sin unto holiness in all avenues of his life until that day he is finally and forever with his Lord.”

Ladies’ Book Study

A new ladies book study begins on Tuesday, October 1st. Ladies will meet at the church each Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. for 7 weeks. The book being studied is “Duty or Delight? Knowing where you stand with God” by Tammie Head.

Our sister Pam DePriest has once again agreed to lead the study. If you have an interest in joining the study and the fellowship, please sign the sheet in the foyer so Pam will know how many books to purchase.

This will be a great study as well as a good time to get to know one another. There are 9 ladies already registered!

CHURCH WORK DAY!

This Saturday morning (September 21) beginning at 8 a.m. Come and help out.

“A Christian engaging in sexual immorality is telling the lost world God’s Word has no authority.”

Sermon Extras

Verse 4 has challenged Bible scholars for centuries. The two most viable translations of the verse are as follows:

(1) that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor…

(2) that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor…

In the message yesterday I briefly discussed the two words which make this verse somewhat difficult.

“control/take” – has more of the idea of acquire or get

“body/wife” – is actually the word vessel

If the latter word refers to one’s own body then “acquiring or getting one’s own body” really makes little sense. And since “vessel” is used elsewhere in the New Testament to refer to wife, I prefer the 2nd translation.

In defense of the first translation, though, “acquire” could be viewed in the sense of “possessing”. And if you possess something, you “control” it. If you translate that word “control” then surely the second word should be rendered “body”. Otherwise our translation would be “that each one of you know how to control his own wife…”

Oh, my, that would really get me into trouble!

“Marriage is for Promoting the Honor of your Partner and the Holiness of God, not your Personal Happiness.”

We have 2 Sundays remaining for you to contribute to the Missouri Missions Offering for 2013. Our church goal is $500 and our church will match up to that amount.

Please pray and give as the Lord directs.

Pastor’s Postscripts

A big thank you to all who helped make yesterday’s fellowship such a success. I include those who prepared and brought the food, those who set up the tables, and those who helped clean the facilities afterwards.

Sunday evening, September 29 at 6 p.m. will be our next “5th Sunday Q & A”. This is an hour of informal fellowship where the pastor attempts to respond to questions from our members. You may submit questions early by writing them out and placing them in the container on the table in the foyer (no name required). So, if anything is on your mind, get your questions ready and I will do my best to answer them. However, I reserve the right to say “I don’t know!”

Also, please pray for our Trustees as they close in on a proposal for a new church sign. The committee’s goal is to bring a recommendation to the church in our October business meeting. This is a major investment for our church and we certainly want to do the Lord’s will in this.

See you Sunday, Bible in hand!