Posted on

October 20, 2014

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 doesn’t come from this `faith,’ either.

Instead, faith is God’s 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 doesn’t 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 God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s 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 they’re 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.

Posted on

October 13, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church

October 13, 2014

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
3. Church Bonfire, Saturday, 6 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.

Wednesday Evening

This Wednesday evening at the beginning of our prayer meeting time, we will give those present an opportunity to share a testimony of how God is presently working in their life.  We don’t do this enough so we are going to incorporate it into our Wednesday program, probably once a month.

So, if the Lord is at work in your life (and, if you are a Christian, He must be), come out this Wednesday evening and share what He is doing with your brothers and sisters.  Your testimony does not have to be lengthy, just recent.

“It is Christ’s death which saves us from the wrath to come.”

Operation Christmas Child

We begin our annual Operation Christmas Child collection in just 2 weeks.  If you find some bargains which may be included in the boxes, go ahead and bring them to church now.

“It is not that God cancels those sins; He liquidates them.  It is not that He sweeps those sins under the carpet; He visits the penalty and the condemnation of that sin on the person of Jesus Christ so that the penalty and condemnation has been swallowed up in Christ.  It doesn’t exist any more for us.”
J. Ligon Duncan

Did you know that there is an election in 3 weeks?  Find out the issues and people on the ballot.  Get all the information you can on what you will be voting on.  Do your research now and be ready to vote according to your conscience on election day!

Vote but vote conscience, not party.

Theological Words

King Kong and the “propitiatory” sacrifice.

“Propitiation” is one of the words covered in yesterday’s text and message.  It means “to appease” or “to placate”.  Often used to describe the attempt to appease an offended deity and turn aside the deity’s wrath.

Scripture uses the word in this way as well.  God’s wrath rests upon sinners (John 3:36) and, at some point, will be poured out on them.  This is the result when sin is confronted by God.

For us to stand righteous in God’s presence, we need His wrath averted.  Something must appease Him, must placate Him, so, instead of releasing His wrath upon us, He welcomes us into His presence.

Well, we have no such propitiation to offer.  So, as Paul notes in Romans 3:25, God provided His own:  His only Son Jesus Christ.  The death of Christ is a propitiation, an appeasement of the wrath of Almighty God.  As a result on behalf of His own people, God’s wrath against them has been satisfied.  Those for whom He died no longer need fear the wrath of God for it has been turned aside by Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

Outreach Day

The Deacons have suggested we have an outreach day in one of the neighborhoods near the church.  So, on Saturday morning, October 25 join the deacons and me as we walk through one of the neighborhoods handing out the Gospel and information on our church.

If you plan on participating please let the pastor know so he can make certain we have enough material for everyone to distribute.

Pastor’s Postscript

While yesterday saw us down a little on attendance and a gloomy sky outside the building, the Spirit was present and the worship time together was refreshing!  I encourage you to invite those you meet to come and join us for next Sunday’s service.

May Christ be with you this week and give you comfort, courage, strength, and blessing!