Posted on

February 24, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

A weekly publication of Bethesda Baptist Church

February 24, 2014

 

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller
* Alicia as she is nearing her due date
* Alicia’s mother
* Brida, recovering from a fall
* Brenda Koelling, relative’s funeral
* 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

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

If you wish to help Julie Brandel’s financial needs associated with her summer mission trip to San Diego, you may do so by writing a check to Bethesda and designating it towards her trip.

This Sunday’s Message…

“Delay, Deception, Delusion” from
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

Deacon Ordination

Brother Steve Brook will be ordained to the deacon ministry on Sunday, March 16 in the morning worship service.  Please plan on attending this special service.

Bowling Fellowship

This is your last week to sign up for the Bethesda Baptist Bowling fellowship on Sunday, March 9 at 12:30 p.m.  We need an accurate head count no later than next Sunday so we can be sure we have enough lanes reserved at the Harvest Lanes Bowling Alley for Sunday, March 9.  If you wish to go, please sign the sheet in the foyer during the week.

Science Center Trip

This Saturday is our outing to the St. Louis Science Center and a viewing of “Jerusalem” in the OmniMax Theater.  If you are interested, please contact Karla as soon as possible and she will provide all the details.

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Steve Brook – Friday

“… none can be termed apostates, but … such as have previously made a profession of Christ and the gospel.”
John Calvin

Men’s Breakfast

Men, bring your breakfast and join us this Saturday, March 1 at 8 a.m. for our monthly fellowship.  We’ll begin a new book, one of my favorites and one which greatly influenced my Christian walk many years ago.  The work is by a 19th century believer named J. C. Ryle and is entitled “Holiness”.

If you are coming and have not notified the pastor, please do so.  This will enable him to make certain we have enough books for everyone.

See you Saturday at 8 a.m.

The Bethesda Academy

The Academy is returning!  Our first session will be on Monday, March 17 (wear your green!) beginning at 6:30 p.m.  We’ll meet in Fellowship Hall for an hour to an hour and a half.  More details in next week’s newsletter.

This will be a very informal study so bring your Bible and enjoy our time together.

Sermon Extras

Verse 1 of our text yesterday described the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  The New Testament utilizes multiple Greek words to describe the second coming.  In verse 1 (as in 1 Thessalonians 4), the word “coming” is parousia (“being alongside”) and describes the Lord’s coming as his presence with his people.

Verse 8 of this chapter is an interesting one from this perspective.  Three of the words frequently used to refer to Christ’s second coming are used in that one verse.

“And then the lawless one will be revealed (apokalupto), whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance (epiphaneia) of his coming (parousia).”

While used in this verse to describe the revelation of the Antichrist, apokalupto is used to describe Christ’s coming elsewhere (Luke 17:30).  This word views the coming as a revelation, a revealing of God’s purpose and plan.

The word epiphaneia is sometimes translated manifestation and is used for the second coming more than once (e.g., Titus 2:13).  Epiphany views the 2nd coming as a manifestation of the power and love of God.

Pastor’s Postscript

We have several upcoming events which consume much of our newsletter this week.  So, I will be brief (if you can believe that!).

I am grateful to be the pastor of such a group of saints that make up Bethesda Baptist!  March 15 makes 5 years since my first sermon from this pulpit.  It is a humbling and challenging responsibility to be a pastor.  But, church members such as you have made these 5 years a true blessing.  May the Lord continue to bless each of you and our church as we strive to serve Him in all we do.

May the Lord protect you this week and permit us to worship together once more next Sunday.

 

Posted on

September 3, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, has Lymphoma
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Pete & Brenda, grieving over loss of her father; their health
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy & Jeff’s need for work
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Dennis and Pam on their trip to Texas & return home
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Julie away at school at Mizzou
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study (Brief Books) & Prayer
Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Deacon Elections

Nominations for deacon are now closed.  Over the next few weeks, the pastor and deacons will be talking with those who were nominated.  The election will be held on the first Sunday of October at the conclusion of the morning worship service.

Please be much in prayer over this upcoming election.

Sermon Extras

1.  For those of you with a keen interest in the second coming of our Lord and the various theories surrounding that event, take a moment and consider verse 13:

“… at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

Throughout the New Testament, “saints” refers to those who have been redeemed by Christ:  the saved, the born again, the true believers.  Paul is obviously teaching the Lord’s second coming will be accompanied by saints.

But Paul makes it clear the coming will be with ALL his saints, not just some.  It will include those from the Old Testament era as well as the 1st century.  It will include the believers who have died since the time of Christ.  It will include those who are alive at the time of his coming.

So, this coming (“parousia”) can NOT be a coming prior to the tribulation for those who hold such a position teach there will be people saved during the tribulation.

Furthermore, this coming must close the door on salvation for how could people be saved after the coming (e.g., during the Millennium) and yet “all the saints” be at Christ’s coming?

Stand by!  There is more to coming in this epistle.

2.  Verse 11 is quite fascinating on its teaching concerning the nature of God.  Remember, Paul is NOT writing a theology or a discourse on God’s nature.  He is merely expressing his heart in a blessing upon the Thessalonians.  Yet, Paul is so firmly entrenched in the Bible that he cannot prevent the Biblical teaching of the nature of God from being expressed.

a.  God is more than one person.  This is clearly shown by:

(1) the word “the” appearing before both “God and Father” and “our Lord Jesus”.
(2) the “and” connecting these two persons.

God is, therefore, a being who is at least 2 distinct persons:  God the Father and the Lord Jesus.  Of course, the Bible teaches us He is actually 3 persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

b.  God is one united being, each person having the same mission and purpose.  He declares this truth by:

(1) the “himself” appearing at the beginning of the verse before both names.
(2) the singular verb (“direct”) following this compound subject (“God and Father… and our Lord Jesus”).

God is one being consisting of 3 co-equal, co-eternal persons who are united in their mission and purpose in all things.

“Unless love prevails, selfish motives inhibit ethical development by turning us toward ourselves and away from God and blameless living.  The holiness that belongs to God is the ideals we must seek.”
Robert L. Thomas

Statement of Faith

Bethesda’s statement of faith is “The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message” and may be read at http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfmcomparison.asp.
Here is the final article of that confession.

XVII. Religious Liberty

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.

Pastor’s Postscripts

We have a full newsletter so I will simply say “See you Sunday with my Bible at my side.”