Posted on

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!

Posted on

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!

Posted on

December 2, 2013

Prayer Requests

* Jon Bounds, illness
* Pete Koelling, health concerns
* Brida’s daughter-in-law, Dawn
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Health of Cynthia’s father, mother, and mother-in-law
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours
* Dan, health concerns
* Marilynn Norvell
* Gene Schulze
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1.  Women’s Ministry Packing Soldiers’ Boxes, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. AT THE WALKERS.
2.  Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
3.  Deacons’ Meeting, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.
4.  Men’s Breakfast and Book Study, Saturday, 8 a.m.
5.  Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
6. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
7. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

“Repentance is to leave
The Sins we loved before,
And show that we in earnest grieve,
By doing so no more.”

Ministry to Soldiers

Ladies, you will meet this Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Walkers home to pack the boxes for the American soldiers in Afghanistan.  There will be Taco Soup for any who are hungry.  If you would like to bring anything else to share, feel free to do so.

If you need directions, please call the pastor or Debbie.

Bethesda Church Directory

REMINDER:  Church directories are available on the table near the door in the foyer.  Please take one for your home.  If you see any mistakes, please contact the pastor and let him know what needs to be changed.

Sermon Extras

In verse 19, Peter calls on his audience to repent and turn back (or away) “that your sins may be blotted out”.  The word translated “blotted out” means to “wipe off or out of”.  It was common in the 1st century for one’s debts to be tracked by making a notation on a wax tablet.  When your debt was paid, the blunt end of the stylus was use to flatten out (blot out, wipe away) your debt on the tablet.

When we truly repent of our sins and turn from our sins to Christ and holiness, God blots our debt off the divine ledger.  Praise God, your debt is gone!

Questions from the Sermon:  I’ve decided to add this section to the “Sermon Extras” article each week.  Here are a couple of questions relative to Sunday’s message.

1.  What is the primary role of a prophet?
2.  How does Jesus Christ fill the role of a prophet?
3.  What is unique about Christ’s role as prophet compared to all the Old Testament prophets?

Christmas Party

The Bethesda Christmas Party will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 21.  Please plan on joining us for snacks, games, fellowship, and caroling.

Men’s Breakfast

The men will meet this Saturday morning at 8 a.m. for breakfast and our book study.  We will cover chapter 11 in Whitney’s book on “Journaling”.  Even if you have not been reading Whitney’s book, bring your breakfast and join us this Saturday!

Christmas Eve Service

Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year so our Christmas Eve service is scheduled for Tuesday, December 24 at 6 p.m.  Please join us for this brief but inspiring time of worship as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

“I once heard it told
Of a prophet who foretold
Many words which were bold
Yet did not live to be old.

You see, the words that he said
Failed and filled him with dread.
So folks threw stones on his head
And now ‘the prophet’ lies very dead!”

Pastor’s Postscripts

Christmas carols are back!  Hallelujah!  I love singing Christmas hymns since they are so filled with Jesus and the message of the Gospel.

I trust you are using your Week of Prayer guide from yesterday’s bulletin and praying for the missionaries mentioned in that handout.  Each of us is a missionary, commanded by God to take the Gospel to all nations.  Some are led by God to remote lands to fulfill that commandment such as those listed in the prayer guide.  Surely those of us who are brothers in Christ yet remain in their homeland can pray for those called to minister in foreign lands.

Furthermore, we can assist the efforts of these fellow missionaries not only by our prayers but also by our giving.  I am not begging or demanding anyone to contribute to financially supporting these missionaries.  But I do exhort you to seek the Lord and His wisdom when it comes to this offering.  If He leads you to give financially then be obedient.  All the money given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goes directly to supporting the work of international missions.

And, while we are discussing missions, I encourage each of you to ask the Lord how you might minister in His behalf through our church next year.  If you sense the Lord leading you into service in a particular area, please contact the Nominating Committee (Sandy and Debbie) and/or me and let us know.

May the Lord bless your endeavors this week in spreading His Gospel!