Romans Archives - Bethesda Baptist Church

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of Bethesda Baptist Church
June 16, 2014

NEW MEMBERS!

Welcome to our newest members, Georgia and Glenda! Here is the information for your church directory:

Glenda Averett
   1248 Shirley Ridge Dr.
   St. Charles, MO 63304
   636-441-2476

Georgia Baggett
   1284 Shirley Ridge Dr.
   St. Charles, MO 63304
   636-441-2118

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
3. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training (“The Attributes of God”), Sunday, 5 p.m.

Coming Sunday…

Yesterday we looked at “Prayer and the Gospel”. Next Sunday we examine Romans 1:11-15, “Preaching the Gospel”.

“Those things for which you are thankful tells you and others what you believe is really important in life.”

Spurgeon Speaks

“God has beloved ones in the darkest parts of the earth! There is all the more reason for them to be saints because they are surrounded by sinners. They must have had true faith, or they could not have confessed Christ between the jaws of a lion, for they lived in Rome, with Nero hunting after Christians as if they had been wild beasts! And yet they were not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”

5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship

Plan on joining us for our next 5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship. Bring a snack, a drink, and any questions you may have on June 29 and we will meet at 6 p.m. Even better, come at 5 p.m. for Discipleship Training and remain for our Fellowship!

New Additions to Our Church Library

* Another sermon by John MacArthur on CD entitled: “The Truth About False Disciplies”

“God, by His providence, regulates all that takes place. There is nothing with which Christians should be more habitually impressed than that God is the disposer of all events.”
Robert Haldane

* Cynthia has requested special prayer. She is struggling with her fluid levels.

Sermon Seconds
Verse 10 of yesterday’s text has an interesting phrase. The ESV renders it “… somehow by God’s will I may now at last …”. In the original Paul uses 4 simple words to convey his emotions on his desire to travel to Rome. The King James captures these words very well: “…if by any means now at length…” You can almost sense Paul’s yearning and hope that God will permit him to finally travel to Rome.

Those of you who know early church history know that Paul DOES finally make it to Rome: as a PRISONER! He travels there in chains by ship which is shipwrecked. Once there he is kept in prison for 2 years. A few years later he will return to Rome once again arrested and, finally, executed for his witness for Christ!

Pastor’s Postscript
To all who planned, organized, and brought to pass our church picnic, THANK YOU! It was a wonderful time on a wonderful day with wonderful people!

We welcome Georgia and Glenda to our church family! In the past 2 months three new members have joined Bethesda and they all live on the same street! (Perhaps we should rename Bethesda to Shirley Ridge Baptist!).

The Academy will restart tonight (Monday) with a close examination of the book of Revelation. This will not be a brief excursion so bring your Bible, your notebook, and your pen and prepare for an exciting journey.

I also encourage those members who do not normally attend our Wednesday evening service to make every effort to do so. We spend 15 minutes in Bible study and then commit the remaining 30-45 minutes for prayer. Presently our Bible study has been focusing on various Bible characters who are not mentioned very often in the Scriptures. Come out and look with us at the characteristics of these individuals. Perhaps you’ll find a character quality which might benefit your spiritual growth.

We are, once again, revising our deacon family ministry list given our new members. The list should be ready following our July Deacons’ meeting. Also, our church directory is being revised with a target publication date of August 1. If you have directory updates, please let the pastor know as soon as possible.

Lastly, anybody interested in learning Greek? It’s been a couple of years since our last class and I am open to doing another one. Or, if you are very brave, we could try and learn some Hebrew!

Praise our Lord for all the blessings He has poured out on each of us. And praise the Lord for the blessing of Bethesda Baptist Church!

May your life bring glory and honor and praise to Christ throughout this coming week.

Pastor Bruce

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
Weekly Publication of Bethesda Baptist Church
May 5, 2014

LADIES Book Study

Ladies, you have two more sessions in your book study. Plan on being there this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
4. Deacons’ Meeting, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.
5. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
6. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
7. NO Discipleship Training this Sunday.

Julie’s Mission Trip

Julie is about to leave on her 10 week mission trip to San Diego. If you wish to contribute, please write your check to Bethesda Baptist and note that it is for “Julie’s Trip”.

The Bethesda Academy

This evening at 6:30 p.m. we begin our final three nights of our study of “future events” in the Academy. We start a very high overview of the prophecy recorded by the Apostle John in the book of Revelation and compare it with our observations concerning the future we have made from other books. Join us tonight (Monday) and be a part of our group.

Recent Prayer Requests

* Cynthia Wordlaw and her family in the death of her mother. Also Cynthia’s need for a kidney.
* Elijah Mueller
* Alicia’s mother
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* 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

Congratulations to…
Jon and Kate Bounds celebrating a wedding anniversary on Sunday, May 11. Happy Anniversary!

“When peace like a river attendeth my way.
When sorrows like sea billows roll.
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”
Horatio G. Spafford

Coming Sunday…

“The Preacher of the Gospel” from Romans 1:1 is our text for this coming Sunday as we begin a new
adventure in the Scriptures. This journey will last for some time, nevertheless, we will see many interesting (and important) truths along the way.

Sermon Seconds

One interesting thought on yesterday’s text is Paul’s use of the word “all”. Remember, in the context of this 3rd chapter of 2 Thessalonians, Paul has dealt firmly with those who have ceased working and, instead, are “sponging” off the church. In chapter 2 he had to correct some false teaching on the 2nd coming. In other words, there were some “problem children” among the members of the Thessalonian church.Yet, in his closing prayer, Paul omits no one from his request, not even those with whom he has corrected in this letter.

* Verse 16 teaches the Lord gives us peace at ALL times.
* Also, He gives us peace in EVERY (the word “all” in the Greek) way.
* Then, Paul requests the Lord be with you ALL (yes, even the disobedient members).
* Even in verse 17, Paul notes that his signature (sign) is the same in EVERY (again the word “all”) letter.
* Finally, in verse 18, Paul requests grace be with you ALL

Five “alls” in 3 verses: I think Paul has made his point! I don’t know about you, but I am glad that he uses “all” and that “all” includes me! Does “all” include you? Do you know Jesus Christ? Have you professed Him as Lord?

Spurgeon Speaks

Charles Haddon Spurgeon is considered the greatest English speaking Baptist pastor in history. He pastured the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London for almost 4 decades in the 19th century. The building would hold 7000 folks every Sunday to hear him preach the Gospel. Here are two quotes from Spurgeon I read this week while preparing to preach on 2 Thessalonians 3. I didn’t use them in my sermon but thought you might enjoy them.

“Numbers of professors are very fretful, excitable, agitated, hasty and fickle. It should not be so, Brothers and Sisters—you ought to have more weight about you, more Grace, more solidity. Your soul’s affairs are all right, are they not? All is right forever—everything is signed, sealed, and delivered—the Covenant is ordered in all things and sure, and everything is in Divine hands for our good. Well, then, why not let us be as happy as the angels are?”

“So whenever a Providence puzzles you, take it as a sign that the Lord does not mean you to understand it—and be content to take it upon faith. When curiosity and other restless things are gone, peace is enjoyed.”

Pastor’s Postscript

Since this edition is almost full, let me say I will pray for you this week that the Lord of peace may give you peace at all times and in every way! May you truly be blessed this week!