Good Morning, Bethesda!
It was good seeing those of you who were with us in worship yesterday morning. Every time God’s children gather together gives us a small glimpse of what awaits us in glory!
Urgent Prayer Requests
* Pete & Brenda, their health
* Brida Lovett and a job
* Brazel family
* Marilynn Norvell
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Aaron Wordlaw having medical tests this week
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home.
* Caroline, Anne Overton’s sister-in-law, and family – terminal brain cancer
* Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. Ladies Book Study, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 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.
Ladies’ Book Study
The final session of the current Ladies’ Bible Study will be held this Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Come and enjoy the fellowship.
Sermon Extras
1. In verse 20 of yesterday’s text, Christ “showed” his hands and side to the disciples. The word translated “showed” means “to make known, to point out, to explain, to prove”. Christ’s actions, therefore, was an explanation and proof of His identity and His resurrection.
2. Verse 23 is one of those “difficult” texts in Scripture. A simple reading of the verse may lead someone to conclude that men have been given the power to forgive sin. But, as I noted yesterday, such power is in the hands of God alone. John Calvin, the Genevan reformer, explained the verse this way:
“When Christ enjoins the apostles to forgive sins, He does not convey to them what is peculiar to Himself. It belongs to Him to forgive sins—He only enjoins them, in His name, to proclaim the forgiveness of sins.”
FELLOWSHIP!
Saturday, April 27 at 8 a.m.
This will be a fellowship and work day at our church. First, we will have a “potluck” breakfast at the church. Then, we’ll pitch in and help with various work tasks needed on our facilities. Finally, if we have enough people still on site around lunch time we’ll end the day with a pizza lunch!
Pastor’s Postscripts
I want to share with you this week from my heart out of concern for the spiritual welfare of some of those in our congregation. It is possible some of you who are reading this article are members of our church yet have never come to Christ. If so may God use His Word to convict you of your sins. Some of you who are reading this article are members of our church who are in the process of “falling away.” May God convict you of your need to return to Him.
I begin with the Word:
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Bethesda “meets together” at various times during the week, primarily on Sunday mornings, evenings, and Wednesday evenings. The only scheduled worship service of our church is Sunday mornings at 10:30. Without question, it is the largest gathering of our membership at any time of the week (as well it should be!). It is quite difficult for us to “stir one another to love and good works” as well as “encourage one another” when some of you do not attend Sunday morning.
Some of our members have not attended any morning worship services in the 4 years I have been at our church. I truly hope you are attending somewhere else. If not then I fear for your salvation because the true child of God would be prompted by the Holy Spirit within him to meet together with brothers and sisters for worship. If you are attending elsewhere then God bless you. Let us know and we will simply remove you from our membership roll.
Some of our members attend once or twice a year (e.g., Christmas and/or Easter). Where are you the remainder of the year? Do you make excuses for not attending worship regularly (e.g., “It’s too early in the morning.”)? Then I am also concerned for your soul. A true saint of God longs to worship the Lord Jesus with others as often as possible, certainly more than twice a year.
Some of our members attended worship fairly consistently but now have dropped “out of sight”. What has happened? Have you begun to make excuses for your absences? Have you found yourself uninterested in the public worship of God? Heed the warning of the Hebrews text and do NOT neglect public worship? Cry out to God for a renewed desire to worship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. And if there is no such desire then search your soul and make certain you are a true child of God.
I realize this article is not going to be well received by some in our congregation who read it. Nevertheless, it needs to be said. If you are a member and not faithfully attending on Sunday mornings you need to ask yourself “why”. If you are attending a church somewhere else then why do you remain a member of our church? Join the church you are attending and serve God through it. Otherwise, you need to be in public worship with your fellow members on Sunday morning. PERIOD.
The true believer in Christ does not simply relax on his profession of faith made years ago. The true believer in Christ perseveres in the faith, taking up his cross daily, and following His Lord. Such obedience is evidence of a saving faith. Such obedience includes joining together in public worship. If that evidence is lacking in your life then, membership or not, be very concern for the eternal destiny of your soul!
This word comes from a pastor’s love and concern for his flock. I ask you receive it as such.
May Christ bless His Word and His people!
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