Discipleship Training Resumes Sunday, January 2

The adult Discipleship Training class resumes this Sunday, January 2, at 5pm.  Rick Bunch will lead our January Bible Study with the first lesson this Sunday evening.  The Bible Study is on "Grace from Galatians".

I encourage folks to join us for this study time.

"The Birth of Jesus and the Works of God": A Sermon Outline for Sunday, December 26, 2010

“The Birth of Jesus & the Works of God”

Galatians 4:5

Proposition:  God the Son did not leave Heaven and take on human form simply to be a baby for our nativity scenes.  God’s purpose is seen in the work accomplished through the birth of Christ.

Transition:  Today we will focus on 2 aspects of the work of God in the birth of Christ.

I.  Christ’s Birth was for the Redemption of His People.

            A.  Redemption implies bondage from which to be saved.

            B.  Redemption implies a price which must be paid.

            C.  Redemption implies a substitution which must be made.

II.  Christ’s Birth was for the Adoption of His People.

                A.  Adoption is an Act of Grace.

           B.  Adoption is an Act of Love.

NO CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Due to weather forecasts, there will be no Christmas Eve service at Bethesda Baptist.

Tell anyone you may know who was planning on attending our service.

"The Birth of Jesus and the Incarnation of God": Sermon Outline For December 19, 2010

“The Birth of Jesus & the Incarnation of God”

Galatians 4:4

Proposition:  With the celebration of the birth of our Lord this coming Saturday, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the incarnation of God’s Son.

Transition:  From out text, we view the incarnation from 2 perspectives.

I.  See the Person of the Incarnated One.

§  “born of woman”

            A.  He is the DIVINE Son of God.

              1.  His Deity is Evident in His Titles.

     2.  His Deity is Evident in His Character.

              3.  His Deity is Evident in His Actions.

            B.  He is the HUMAN son of woman.

              1.  See His Humanity in His Birth.

              2.  See His Humanity in His Life.

              3.  See His Humanity in His Death.

            C.  He is the God-Man.

              1.  He is one person.

              2.  He has 2 natures; divine & human.

     3.  These 2 natures are united in 1 person.

              4.  These 2 natures cannot be divided.

              5.  Each nature remains unchanged.

              6.  Each nature is distinct.

II.  See the Position of the Incarnated One.

§   “born under the law”

     A.  It is a Natural Position.

B.  It is a Subservient Position.

C.  It is an Obedient Position.

D.  It is a Necessary Position.

Galatians 4:3 and the word "enslaved"

I placed some thoughts on comments I made Sunday relative to the word "enslaved" in Galatians 4:3 on my personal blog here.

Goodbye to the Overton Family

As part of our Christmas Program last night, we said a final goodbye to the Overton family who are moving to southern Indiana this week.  As I said before I prayed for them, they are leaving our church but they are not leaving the Lord!

Kerry has taken a different position within his company and this has necessitated the move.  As much as I hate seeing them leave our church family, I am delighted God, in His infinite wisdom and providence, has opened this door and guided them to this decision.  He has a plan for them and, for now, it involves southern Indiana.

May our Lord graciously bless Kerry, Anne, Isabelle, and Simon as they serve Him in their new mission field!

"The Birth of Jesus and the Mediation of God": A Sermon Outline for December 12, 2010

“The Birth of Jesus & the Mediation of God”

Galatians 4:3-5

Proposition:  The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ provides testimony of the mediating work of God in our lives.

Transition:  Today we consider one phrase of this text and note 4 elements of the mediation of God.

I.  Note the Adversity Requiring Mediation (v. 3).

            A.  This Adversity is Slavery.

            B.  This Adversity is the Result of Sin.

            C.  This Adversity is Hostility.

II.  Note the Author of Mediation (v. 4).

§   “God sent forth His Son”

            A.  The Author is God.

            B.  The Author is the Father.

            C.  The Author is Active.

            D.  The Author Initiates the Mediation.

III.  Note the Act of Mediation (v. 4).

            A.  Mediation is a Purposeful Act.

            B.  Mediation is a Singular Act.

            C.  Mediation is a Sacrificial Act.

            D.  Mediation is a Commissioning Act.

IV.  Note the Arbiter of Mediation (v. 4).

            A.  The Arbiter is God’s Son.

            B.  The Arbiter is Just.

            C.  The Arbiter is Supreme.

Bethesda Christmas Program and Christmas Party

OUR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM IS THIS SUNDAY EVENING at 5 p.m.

Are you participating?  If so, brother Steve would like you to attend a practice at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Would you like to participate?  Contact brother Steve as soon as possible.


OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY FOLLOWS AT 6 p.m.

Bring a finger food, a dessert, and a drink and join us for the fun following the Christmas program.

"The Birth of Jesus and the Providence of God": Sermon Outline for Sunday, December 5, 2010

“The Birth of Jesus & the Providence of God”

Galatians 4:1-7

Proposition:  In the birth of our Lord Jesus we see evidence of the great and awesome Providence of God.

Transition:  This morning we will examine the topic of God’s Providence by presenting 3 considerations of this great Biblical truth.

I.  Consider the Nature of Divine Providence

            A.  God Preserves His Creation to Fulfill His Purposes.

            B.  God is Active in All That Occurs to Fulfill His Purposes.

            C.  God Governs His Creation to Fulfill His Purposes.

II.  Consider the Nativity and Divine Providence (v. 4)

§   “when the fullness of time had come”

            A.  The Time was Fulfilled Culturally.

            B.  The Time was Fulfilled Religiously.

            C.  The Time was Fulfilled Politically.

            D.  The Time was Fulfilled Prophetically.

     E.  The Time was Fulfilled Divinely

III.  Consider Our Need for Divine Providence

            A.  God’s Providence Explains Your Existence.

            B.  God’s Providence Extends Throughout Your Life

December Messages

Last week we completed John 4. If the Lord permits, that will be my final 2010 message from the Gospel of John. We will resume with chapter 5 in January.

For the next 4 weeks I intend to focus on the birth of our Lord. Recently I saw this posting from another pastor:

"A new sermon series begins on Dec. 5th ... called "Christmas at the Movies." I'm going to use movie clips from popular Christmas movies to help us undertand who we are as Christ followers. First up in the series is 'The Santa Clause.'"

Well, I will NOT be using movie clips but instead will use the Word of God found in Galatians 4:1-7. I challenge you to bring your Bible and examine God's Word with me during this holiday season.