STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Monthly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church

October 27, 2015

HAPPY … !

We wish a very Happy Birthday this month to the following Bethesda Baptist family members:

* Noah on the 6th
* Sandy on the 17th

BACK to Standard Time…

Daylight Savings Time ends this Saturday evening/Sunday morning. Please remember to turn your clocks BACK one hour before you go to bed on Saturday.

November Fellowship

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. As is our tradition, we, as a church, will gather together on Sunday, November 22 after morning worship for our annual Thanksgiving fellowship dinner.

More information will follow in future church bulletins.

BUSINESS MEETING
Wednesday,
November 11
7 p.m.

Men’s Book Study

Brother Dennis is leading the men in a weekly book study over the next couple of months. The study, entitled, “Living the Life” begins this Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. at the church. If you wish to attend but did not sign the sheet at the church, please contact Dennis as soon as possible so he can make certain he has enough books for those coming.

Reminder: CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING THIS SATURDAY MORNING AT 9 a. m.

The Luther Monthly

Saturday marks the 498th anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses to the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany. That act is considered by most historians as the spark that lit the flame of the Protestant Reformation. Below is the opening paragraph of that document, announcing Luther’s desire to debate. That “debate” lasted for the rest of his life!

“Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Pastor’s Postscript

October 31st has been called Protestant Reformation Day for many, many years. For some time Martin Luther, a German monk, had been greatly convicted by his own personal sins as well as by the abuse he read and saw among many Roman Catholic church leaders. On of these abuses was the sale of indulgences. The Church proclaimed that by contributing to the building of St. Peter’s in Rome, you could buy complete forgiveness for you or a loved one presently in purgatory.

Luther did not believe in indulgences and that all the church was doing was stealing the money of the German people. November 1, a Sunday in 1517, was a holy church day still known as “All Saints’ Day”. In his town of Wittenberg, many church relics would be on display. The Church promised a reduced sentence in purgatory for those who viewed them. Therefore, there was a large crowd in town by “All Hallow’s Eve”, October 31 (“Halloween”).

The door of the local church served as a bulletin board. With a good crowd in town, Luther decided to announce he wanted to debate his thoughts and beliefs on indulgences, so he posted his notice and his theses for debate on that church door 498 years ago this Saturday.

Luther never intended to split the Roman church. A year before his death, he even admitted that, in 1517, he would have killed anyone who fought with the pope! His remark was probably a bit of hyperbole but nevertheless it reveals that, at the time, Luther was a Roman Catholic and intended to remain one.

The original theses, written in Latin, were taken from the door, translated into German, and, with the help of the recently invented printing press, distributed throughout Europe. The fire storm which ensued almost cost Luther his life and ultimately resulted in a seismic split within the church. In less than 5 years, Luther had been excommunicated from the church and was deemed an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.

The 95 theses Luther posted were 95 matters he wished to debate. Some of them have little to offer in terms of debate. Some of them are mired in the teachings of the church of that day and require knowledge of church doctrine in order to understand what he was debating. But some of them are priceless! How about #86?

86. Again, “Why does not the pope, whose wealth is today greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build this one basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?”

You can be certain that was political incorrectness of the first order back in 1517! I wonder how deeply the Pope gasped when he read it?

Or, read this one:

82. Such as: “Why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy love and the dire need of the souls that are there if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a church?” The former reason would be most just; the latter is most trivial.

I suspect the Pope AND those preaching indulgences were quite upset with #82!

And, for a final sample, here is #53.

53. They are the enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of God in some churches in order that indulgences may be preached in others. We see in that thesis the importance Luther placed in the preaching of the Word. Preaching the Word would become a hallmark of Protestant Christianity, a clear, distinguishing mark of separation with the Roman church.

So, maybe on this Saturday we should set aside our candy for a moment and have a sausage for our supper in honor of the beginning of the Reformation!

May Christ richly bless you this coming month!

November 24, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church

November 24, 2014

Upcoming Activities

1. NO Bible Study & Prayer Meeting this week.
2. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday,5 p.m.

Operation Christmas Child

As Pam reported yesterday, we packed 54 boxes and had extra items we could not pack since we ran out of boxes. Nevertheless, those items were sent as well and will be used to fill boxes. Thank you again for your generosity.

“Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, ‘Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this.’ Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, ‘We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this.’
Daily Bread, August 26, 1989.
Christmas Party

Yes, it’s that time of year again! Our annual Christmas Party will be held on Saturday evening, December 13, beginning at 5 p.m. Mark the event on your calendar and keep an eye on future newsletters and bulletins for specific information on the party. Everyone who attended last year had a great time and this year’s event should be as much fun! You don’t want to miss it!

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Southern Baptists have designated the Christmas season as the time when we collect funds to support our international missions endeavors. This offering, named the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, goes entirely to the missionaries and their work.

So as Bethesda Baptist begins our emphasis on this offering, I exhort you to seek the Lord as to what He would have you contribute this year to support international missions.

May God once again bless your generosity!

“Thanks to this Great, Sovereign Ruler for the eternal mercy He has. Despite the rebellion of many of His subjects to His Lordship, He continues to offer His mercy to them even today. Salvation is possible and available for He is a merciful God.”

Nominating Committee

The Lord has given each of His children spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. How does Christ want you to utilize your gifts through our church in 2015? Please contact Sandy, Debbie, or David, our Nominating Committee, and share your thoughts with them.
Pastir’s Postscript

Our national annual celebration of Thanksgiving was a result of President Lincoln’s proclamation in 1863 which established the last Thursday of November as the date (later changed to the 4th Thursday). Here is the proclamation in its entirety.

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widow, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and direct your thanks to our blessed God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

May He watch over you this week.

Pastor Bruce

November 16, 2014

November 17, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church

Pastor: Bruce D. Walker
Worship Leader: Steve Brook

Upcoming Activities

1. Operation Christmas Child Packing Party, 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. Thanksgiving Dinner Fellowship, Sunday, 12:15 p.m.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Operation Christmas Child

Tonight (Monday) is our Operation Christmas Child Packing Party beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring some soup or salad to share and join us for dinner and then help us pack our boxes.

CONGRATULATIONS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to SANDY BRANDEL who turns another year old today, Monday, November 17.

An heir doesn’t work for his inheritance; an heir simply believes in the promise of the one leaving the inheritance.

Church Phone Directory

If you have not picked up your new church directory, there is a copy for you on the table in the church foyer.

Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner

Our annual Thanksgiving fellowship is scheduled for next Sunday, November 23 following the morning worship service. We really encourage every member to be present for a great time of fellowship.

The church is providing the meat for the dinner. Each family should bring 2 side dishes, a dessert, and a drink to share. Then plan on spending some time eating some delicious food and enjoying wonderful fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.

The covenant promise was for the ‘seed of Abraham’, which seed we, believing Gentiles, are, through faith in Christ (Gal. 3:26-29).
Sam Storms

Canaan was but an emblem of the heavenly country, of which last only Abraham could have an everlasting possession; for he was a stranger on the earth, and Canaan was to him ‘a strange country’.
Robert Haldane

Pastor’s Postscript

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, my columns over the next two weeks will share some information on this great holiday.

The first Thanksgiving in our land occurred in the fall of 1621. The colonists of Plymouth Plantation celebrated their first harvest with feed and feasting. The Indian chiefs Massassoit, Samoset, and Squanto all joined the celebration along with ninety of their men. The party lasted three days.

The first recorded Thanksgiving was held on June 29, 1671 at Charlestown, Massachusetts. The town’s governing council issued a proclamation in conjunction with the celebration.

Such observances occurred in various states at different times during the ensuing years. The first national proclamation of Thanksgiving for our nation was issued by George Washington on October 3, 1789. Take some time to read it!

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and
Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplication to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, AD 1789 George Washington
Next week we share some more on this important holiday. Meanwhile, as Thanksgiving Day 2014 approaches, let us make certain we turn our thoughts to our great God who has provided all we have and blessed us infinitely more than we will ever deserve!

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless each of you this week in ways you never imagined!

November 10, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church

November 10, 2014

Upcoming Activities

1. Bethesda Academy, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. BUSINESS 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, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Operation Christmas Child

Next Sunday is your last opportunity to contribute gifts for Operation Christmas Child. A week from today, November 17, we will meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. for our packing party. There is a sign up sheet in the foyer so you can specify what type of food you would like to bring to that fellowship (soup, salad, or dessert).

Business Meeting

Our monthly business meeting is this Wednesday at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited and encourage to attend. Please join us and help us discern God’s will concerning the business matters facing our church.

Whatever parallel exists between baptism and circumcision as here stated by Paul argues for faith before baptism and for baptism as the sign and seal of the faith already had before baptism.
A. T. Robertson (on Romans 4:9-12)

Church Phone Directory

The revised church directory was distributed yesterday. More copies are available if you did not pick one up.

And, yes, we already have a correction! Bobby’s home telephone number was incorrect. This was my error. Sorry, Bobby!

Please update your copy with the correct number:

Bobby Henson – 636-486-2160 (H)

The Bethesda Academy

Tonight (Monday) is our final Academy meeting for the fall. We will conclude our study of the book of Revelation and look forward to a new study next spring.

So baptism is unmeaning without a prior and real remission of sin. Being really saved, we may picture symbolically that salvation in a memorial. Otherwise it would be like Bunker Hill Monument without a previous battle to commemorate.
B. H. Carroll

Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner

Our annual Thanksgiving fellowship is scheduled for Sunday, November 23 following the morning worship service. If you have not added this date to your calendar, please do so. These times of fellowship are very precious to believers!

The church will provide the meat for the dinner. We are asking each family to bring a couple of side dishes, a dessert, and a drink to share.

Pastor’s Postscript

A few days ago, I was sitting in a McDonald’s drinking a soda and doing some Bible translation work in preparation for an upcoming sermon. A gentleman whom I did not know saw my Greek Bible opened and asked me if I was studying the Bible. When I said yes, he then went into a 5 minute diatribe to which I could merely listen. He congratulated me for studying my Bible because he said most people don’t. He then said that he has really studied the Bible over the years and, in doing so, his study convinced him to leave The Baptist Church. He told me he became a Pentecostal until further study taught him they were wrong too. So, he switched again and is now a member of the only TRUE church of Christ. Yep, he is a member of the Church of Christ! Not being able to get a word in edge-wise, I continued to listen as he claimed they are the only true church because they are the Church of Christ. In other words, his studying the Bible has proven to him that the only true church is the church which is named the Church of Christ! He finally excused himself saying he had a friend to meet and, with that, our conversation ended.

I wanted to ask him for the reasons he left the Baptists (by the way, there is no The Baptist Church) but never had the opportunity. He did mention predestination and, for a brief moment, I thought that was the issue. Surprisingly, though, he said he believes in predestination so I assume whatever Baptist church he had been in did not or he simply didn’t get the message there. So I will never know for certain why he left Baptists.

It is a true shame, though, that an individual hooks up with a denomination (or church) simply because they call themselves the Church of Christ. I wonder if we changed our name to The Bethesda Baptist Church of Christ if that would draw more people?

Of course, I am not serious. Joining a church is an important decision and should be a careful matter of prayer. One should examine the beliefs of the congregation to see if they are consistent with your understanding of the Bible. Forget the name of the group. In God’s kingdom, the name of any local church or even a denomination (e.g., Southern Baptist Convention) is non-consequential.

Looking for a church? Do your homework and pray to the Lord. But by all means, a believer should always be a member of a local church.

May God bless you this week!

February 3, 2014

Stirrings at Bethesda

The Weekly Newsletter of Bethesda Baptist Church

February 3, 2014

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller, that the present treatment will be successful
* Alicia as she is nearing her due date
* Alicia’s mother
* Brenda Koelling
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie Walker, recovering from foot surgery
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study (Brief Books) & Prayer
Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Deacons’ Meeting, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.
3. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training, January Bible Study,
Sunday, 5 p.m.

January Bible Study

We are halfway through our January Bible Study of the book of Colossians. It’s not too late to join us this Sunday evening at 5 p.m. Not only do we study the Word but we also have a good time of fellowship!

“Thanksgiving is our recognition of, appreciation for, and gratitude to God for who He is and what He has done and is doing for us.”

Making Valentines

Our ladies will join together at the Walker’s home on Monday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. to make some valentines. These will be given to residents of a local retirement center. Debbie will have salad available. Please give her a call to see what you might bring.

“Hey, Men…”

“When you come home from work exhausted and just want to crash in front of the TV, you lay your life down to engage with your wife in a meaningful way. When you’re eager to get back into a book you’ve been reading but see that your wife is troubled, you lay your life down to stop and help here process whatever is weighing her down. When your wife is sick, you lay your life down to adjust your plans, give her the care she needs and pick up any house and family responsibilities she’s not able to cover. This is the kind of sacrifice that lovingly serves your wife, but also brings glory to God as it steadily chips away at your self-centeredness and remakes you into His image.”
Randy Stinson & Dan Dumas

This Sunday’s Message…
“The Righteous Judgment of God” from
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

Valentine’s Day Fondue Party

Let’s gather together in fellowship hall on Saturday, February 15 at 5 p.m. to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a fondue party! Christians may celebrate this “day of love” since we recognize the love we have for our partners, family, and one another is because of the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ towards us.

There is a sign up sheet in the foyer. Please sign up to contribute to our party. If you would like to bring something other than what is on the list, simply contact Debbie or Karla and talk with them.

Mark this date on your calendar!

Upcoming Bible Conferences

* Southern Baptist Founders Conference Midwest 2014: Necessary, Sufficient, Effective, & Irresistible
February 25th & 26th, beginning at 1pm on the 25th at First Baptist Church St. Peters.
Featured speakers: Chad Brand, Tony Mattia, Terry Chrisope, Slade Johnson
For more info: http://www.founders.org/conferences/2014fcmwbs.pdf

* Together for the Gospel: Unashamed – Considering the Task of Evangelism
April 8 – 10 at the KFC YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky
Featured speakers: Ligon Duncan, Al Mohler, Mark Dever, John MacArthur, David Platt, John Piper
For more info: http://www.t4g.org

Pastor’s Postscript

In my reading this past week, I ran across a list of the symptoms of our generation’s wrong thinking on the local church. Let me share them with you:

* Christians can think it’s fine to attend a church indefinitely without joining;
* Christians think of getting baptized apart from joining;
* Christians take the Lord’s Supper without joining;
* Christians view the Lord’s Supper as their own private, mystical experience for Christians and not as an activity for church members who are incorporated into body life together;
* Christians don’t integrate their Monday-to-Saturday lives with the lives of other saints;
* Christians assume they can make a perpetual habit of being absent from the church’s gathering a few Sundays a month or more;
* Christians make major life decisions (moving, accepting a promotion, choosing a spouse, etc.) without considering the effects of those decisions on the family of relationships in the church or without consulting the wisdom of the church’s pastors and other members;
* Christians buy homes or rent apartments with scant regard for how factors such as distance and cost will affect their abilities to serve their church;
* Christians don’t realize that they are partly responsible for both the spiritual welfare and the physical livelihood of the other members of their church, even members they have not met. When one mourns, one mourns by himself. When one rejoices, one rejoices by herself.

What do you think on the subject?

May Christ answer all your needs this week.

November 25, 2013

Prayer Requests

* 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
* Our church and need for revival

“Every new act of mercy calls forth a new song of gratitude and praise.”
William Mounce

Upcoming Activities

1. NO Prayer Meeting this Wednesday
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. .
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m..

Ministry to Soldiers

The women’s ministry is doing a project involving sending items to American soldiers in Afghanistan. The ladies will meet on Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. to pack the boxes. If you would like to contribute in some way (e.g., bake cookies, letters, cards, financial gift), please contact Debbie Walker.

New Instruments

THANK YOU to Midwest Music and to Harry and Audrey Crosby for their generous gift to the church of an organ and piano! Also, thank you to the men who helped in getting them here and removing the older instruments!

Bethesda Church Directory

Although it has no family pictures, we do have a new church directory containing names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses (plus birthdays and anniversaries). Copies are located on the table in the foyer.

If you see any mistakes or some information changes, please contact the pastor. We’ll send out a temporary update to everyone via the newsletter and then, from time to time, print updated directories.
Christmas Eve Service

Beginning at 6pm on Tuesday, December 24, we’ll join together for 30-45 minutes and reflect on Christmas Day with a time of worship. Please plan on attending this brief but inspiring service.

Nominating Committee

Our Nominating Committee will bring their list of nominations to our church business meeting on December 11. If you believe the Lord would have you serve Him through our church in 2014 through a specific position, please contact Sandy Brandel or Debbie Walker and let them know.

Christmas Party

Saturday, December 21 is our Christmas Party this year. We’ll meet at 5 p.m., enjoy some snacks, play some games, and fellowship with one another. We’ll round out the evening with some Christmas Caroling. So, mark your calendars.

Harps and songs forever sounding,
Worthy the Lamb;
Mighty grace o’er sin abounding,
Worthy the Lamb.
By His blood He dearly bought us;
Wand’ring from the fold He sought us,
And to glory safely brought us;
Worthy the Lamb.

Sermon Extras

Spurgeon, examining verse 6, said “To have Christ standing between God and man is the joy of every believing heart.” What a beautiful observation from this great preacher!

As I noted in the message, these two chapters have always grabbed me when I read them. There is so much here that is hard to understand. Yet there is also much for us to gain.

Verse 8 refers to the 24 elders holding a harp and a golden bowl. The text explains the bowls full of incense represent the prayers of the saints. This maintains the understanding we receive from the Old Testament on the subject of the priests burning incense (think of the Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle). But what of the harp?

Actually, the Old Testament does have certain references to harps which are interesting. “David and the chief of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Juduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1). Elisha, one of the great prophets in Israel, said, “But now bring me a musician. And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him” (2 Kings 3:15). So, the ministry of prophecy, preaching the word of God, was connected to music, including the harp. Therefore, perhaps the vision of John reveals that believers are priests offering up the prayers of the saints as well as those who proclaim the very Word of God.

“If you spurn the atoning blood of Jesus Christ in this life, you will never sing about it over there.”

Pastor’s Postscripts

Praise the Lord for all of our visitors yesterday. It was a joy having them as well as a blessing to our heart!

By the way, as you leave the auditorium following a worship service, please look around and make certain you have all of your belongings. This includes any containers, scrap paper, bulletins, etc. By taking these items with you, it makes the cleaning of the auditorium an easier task as well as demonstrates good stewardship on our part.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed week! See you Sunday.

November 18, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Pete Koelling, health concerns
* Brida’s daughter-in-law, Dawn
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Health of Cynthia’s mother and mother-in-law
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather)
* Julie at Mizzou plus problems with ex-boyfriend.
* Dan, health concerns
* Marilynn Norvell
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study (Brief Books) and Prayer
Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
including the Lord’s Supper.
4. NO Discipleship Training this Sunday.

Concerning the sanctification and preservation of believers, John Owen wrote the following:

“If He (God) doth it not, none other can do it. … He doth it of Himself, from His own grace; by Himself, of His own power; for Himself, of His own glory.”

Ministry to Afghan Soldiers

The women’s ministry is doing a project involving sending items to Afghan soldiers. Since there will be more than one box, we expect the postage to be costly. We wanted to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the mailing of these boxes. If you wish to contribute, please write “postage” on your check or envelope and drop it into the offering during the next two Sundays. Thank you for helping us bless these soldiers.

Also, we will be including homemade cookies. If you would like to bake some cookies (any kind) to include in these boxes, give them to Debbie by December 1st. We will also be including letters, cards, and pictures drawn by the children to thank them for their service!

Upcoming Facility Changes

In case you did not notice, our church sign is gone! Several of our members spent their Sunday afternoon a week ago removing the sign in preparation for our new sign scheduled to arrive at the end of the month. We thank those who took the time to remove the old sign.

Also, Harry and Audrey are donating an organ and piano to the church. Some of the men are working on moving these new instruments from their present home in Chesterfield to our auditorium. Thank you, Harry and Audrey, for your gift. And thank you to all the men involved in moving these instruments!
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification. … For God has not called us for impurity but in holiness.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3,7

Sermon Extras

“… may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

For centuries this verse has played a significant role in the discussion of man’s being. Is man a two part being composed of a body and soul (or spirit)? Is man a three part being composed of a body, soul, and spirit? The theological term for stating man is a two part being is “dichotomy”. Similarly, “trichotomy” views man as a three part being. Obviously, verse 23 appears to teach a trichotomous nature for man.

Without getting into a lengthy debate in our newsletter, there are other possible interpretations of Paul’s words in this verse. Here are three of the more popular ones.

1. Man is, indeed, a trichotomy.
2. Paul is describing the nature of a believer in v. 23, men who have a body & soul (like all men). But believers also have the spirit of God.
3. Paul is making a general statement to refer to the entire nature of man. It would be like you and me describing something about ourselves by saying “from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet”. Hopefully we are more than head and feet!

In the context of 1 Thessalonians, I believe view 3 above is the more reasonable understanding of the phrase. Paul is telling us that his request is for those believers, in every part of their being, be sanctified and preserved by God.

Ultimately, whether you are a dichotomous or trichotomous supporter on the nature of man, we can agree man has a material part and an immaterial part. When God sanctifies and preserves us, he preserves both parts completely!

Hallelujah!

Nominating Committee

Let each of us use the gifts and abilities the Lord has given us to serve Him through our church next year! How would the Lord have you serve Him? Contact the Nominating Committee (Sandy Brandel and Debbie Walker) and let them know.

Thanksgiving Fellowship

Join us this Sunday morning after worship for our Thanksgiving Fellowship potluck dinner! The church is providing all the meat so, bring a side and dessert (and yourself) and enjoy a time of giving thanks to our God for all of His man blessings!

Pastor’s Postscripts

We’ve completed 1 Thessalonians and will begin 2 Thessalonians in January. In the meantime, Sunday will find us in the book of Revelation. Please pray for me as I prepare for a message I have entitled “Worthy are You!” God is indeed worthy of all our praise and thanksgiving!

May Christ be glorified in your life and ministry this week!

November 11, 2013

November 11, 2014

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Pete Koelling, health concerns
* Brida’s daughter-in-law, Dawn
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Health of Cynthia’s mother and mother-in-law
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather)
* Julie at Mizzou plus problems with ex-boyfriend.
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, illness plus Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* 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. Business Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
3. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training (Elisha), Sunday,
5 p.m.

Operation Christmas Child

Thank you everyone who participated in this year’s Operation Christmas Child. Our final tally is 39 boxes! May the Lord be praised and the children receiving these boxes blessed!

Sermon Extras

1. As I mentioned in yesterday’s message, the seven verses of the sermon’s text contain 8 commands. Each of these commands is what is known as a present tense verb. This implies these commands are not one time actions but on-going, continuous commands. “Keep on rejoicing always”, “Constantly pray without ceasing”, and “Continuously give thanks in everything” are examples of what Paul was communicating.

2. To “rejoice always” is certainly not an easy task if you think rejoicing is smiling, laughing, and being “upbeat”. There are days in the life of every Christian where such behavior is not only inappropriate but also impossible. Nevertheless, one may truly rejoice spiritually even in such days. As Spurgeon once said, “There was a day when Job lost his cattle and his children and yet blessed the name of the Lord. All days are not wedding days.”

Nominating Committee

How would the Lord have you serve Him through our church in 2014? Contact the Nominating Committee (Sandy Brandel and Debbie Walker) and let them know.

“Ours is an undisciplined age. … Above all, the discipline of divine grace is derided as legalism or is entirely unknown to a generation that is largely illiterate in the Scriptures. We need the rugged strength of Christian character that can come only from discipline.
V. Raymond Edman

Thanksgiving Fellowship

A reminder that our Thanksgiving Fellowship this year will be a potluck dinner following the morning worship service on Sunday, November 24. The church is providing all the meat. So, bring a side and dessert (and yourself) and enjoy a time of thanksgiving, fellowship, and food.

“If Jesus is yours and you are his, have you not cause for rejoicing and praise and thanksgiving and love?”
John A. Broadus

Pastor’s Postscripts

Now that we are nearing the end of our exposition of 1 Thessalonians, a couple of members have asked me “What’s next?”. The Lord is certainly free to change my direction at any time but, for now, here is how I believe He is leading us in terms of His Word.

* This Sunday we will complete 1 Thessalonians.
* On November 24, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, I will bring a message of thanksgiving based on a text from Revelation chapter 4.
* The remainder of 2013 (5 Sundays) will be messages on the birth of Christ as well as the exposition of some Psalms.
* We will begin 2014 by opening the Word to Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians. That should take us through the first quarter of 2014.

Please keep me in your prayers as I seek the Lord for the word He wishes us to have each Sunday morning.

Also, we are planning a Christmas Eve service for December 24. It will be less than an hour in length but hopefully a time of inspiration and worship in light of our Lord’s birth. Please plan on attending this special service.

Finally, on a personal note, most of our church family is aware that I am no longer fully employed. This past July my previous employer, IBM, decided my position was no longer needed. So I was part of a large work force reduction (i.e., layoff). Since then I have continued to serve as your pastor, continued teaching at Missouri Baptist University, and began collecting my pension. Also I have spent much time looking for another full time job and have applied for many with no success to date.

Well, some anonymous individual(s) blessed Debbie and me Sunday with a significant monetary gift. From the bottom of our hearts we thank whoever this was! The gift was quite a surprise and we are very, very grateful. May the Lord pour out blessings upon you!

I continue to ask church members to pray that the Lord will lead me to the position He has for me. May He be praised for all the blessings we have.

Have a wonderful week!

November 4, 2013

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Pete Koelling, health concerns and special request for prayer.
* Test results for Jimmy’s knee.
* Brida’s daughter-in-law, Dawn
* Glenda Averett, stress test
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Health of Cynthia’s mother and mother-in-law
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather)
* Julie at Mizzou plus problems with ex-boyfriend.
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, illness plus Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Operation Christmas Child Packing Party,
Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Walkers
2. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
3. Bible Study (Brief Books) and 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. Discipleship Training (Elisha), Sunday,
5 p.m.

“… happy is the church family in which pastors and people recognize that God calls different believers to different ministries, exercise their own ministries with diligence and humility, and give to others the respect and love which their God appointed labour demands! They will live in peace with each other.”
John R. W. Stott

Operation Christmas Child

The Packing Party is this evening (Monday) beginning at 6:30 p.m. The party will be at the Walkers (233 Cole Blvd.; St. Charles).

Call the pastor if you need directions (636-233-0645).

Sermon Extras

1. It is interesting how the various translators render the second description of the leader in verse 12. Here are just a few:

ESV: “and are over you in the Lord”
KJV: “and are over you in the Lord”
NAS: “and have charge over you in the
Lord”
NIV: “who care for you in the Lord”
HCSB: “and lead you in the Lord”
AMP: “your leaders who are over you in
the Lord”

In the message yesterday, I mentioned the original word behind these translations meant (1) “rule over” as a government office (church government does include the office of pastor) and (2) to care for, have sincere interest in the welfare of those who are ruled.

When you look at these 6 translations, the NAS clearly emphasizes the government perspective. However, the NIV emphasizes the watch care element. The other translations are not as precise, leaving the door open for either definition.

In reality, there is always an element of “ruling” (authority) when it comes to leadership. I believe Paul is teaching us that the pastor is the God-ordained authoritative leader of a local congregation and that he is to lead in a sincere, caring way.

2. Notice also that Paul strictly limits the domain of the pastor’s “rule”. He writes, “and are over YOU IN THE LORD”. First, “you” implies the pastor’s rule is applicable only to “brothers”, fellow Christians and, I believe, Christians of a specific local flock. Second, “in the Lord” clearly specifies the extent of the pastor’s rule. His authority is valid only within the sphere of the Lord, in other words, in matters taught in God’s Word.

“Such ruling (that of a pastor) is not with an iron hand but with a humble heart.”

Nominating Committee

The function of our church Nominating Committee is to seek out the Lord’s will for the coming year in terms of the various offices we have in our church and who should fill these positions. The function of the church membership (that’s you and me) is to seek the Lord’s will as to which positions we could best serve the Lord in through our church next year.

Therefore, if you believe you know the specific ministry (or ministries) in which the Lord would have you serve in 2014, contact the Nominating Committee (Sandy Brandel and Debbie Walker) and let them know. If you are uncertain as to your 2014 role in our church then consider the position mentioned to you by the Committee if they contact you.

The New Testament knows nothing of an inactive Christian/church member except to correct them concerning their idleness. Join with the other members of Bethesda in preparing to step in and serve the Lord through our church in 2014!

“Those who have weak faith need to know there are brothers who will cleave to them during spiritually tough times.”

Pastor’s Postscripts

The holiday season is, once again, knocking at our door. Thanksgiving is only 3+ weeks away. In fact, our Thanksgiving potluck fellowship is 2 weeks from next Sunday (November 24)!

This year Christmas is separated from Thanksgiving by the fewest number of days possible (27, I believe). About the time you manage to digest your turkey it will be time to celebrate the birth of our Lord! So, just a couple of “heads up” concerning December this year.

We will have a Christmas party (not program) on Saturday, December 21. Please update your calendar and reserve the date. Specifics, including time, will follow. We do plan on caroling as part of this fellowship.

We will also have a Christmas Eve service again this year on December 24 (a good date for one since it is Christmas Eve!). Again, mark your calendar and plan on attending. It will be a brief service but hopefully an uplifting one.

I do pray our gracious God gives each of you a wonderful week!