Good Morning, Bethesda!
What a beautiful day the Lord gave us yesterday not only with the weather but also with the spirit of our service! Those who were absent missed a blessing from the Brandels when Rachelle and Julie presented special music via their flutes! May the Lord continue to bless our church as we share the Gospel with those we meet.
Urgent Prayer Requests
* Pete & Brenda, their health, especially Brenda’s back
* Brenda’s father who is very ill
* Brazel family and especially baby Willow
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Marilynn Norvell
* Cynthia Wordlaw, recovering from low blood pressue in the hospital; need for a kidney
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* 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. Bible Study (Brief Books) and Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7pm.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5:00 p.m.
Ladies Fellowship!
All ladies are invited to a special ladies fellowship at the church on Tuesday, May 21. Activities will begin at 6:30 p.m. are you are invited.
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 2nd part of the article on God.
2. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of God and of man, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.
Mothers!
The following are the comments on mothers from Martin Luther (1483-1546) which the pastor shared with those at worship yesterday.
Our natural reason looks at marriage and turns up its nose and says, "Alas! Must I rock the baby? Wash its diapers? Make its bed? Smell its stench? Stay at nights with it? Take care of it when it cries? Heal its rashes and sores? And on top of that care for my spouse, provide labor at my trade, take care of this and take care of that? Do this and do that? And endure this and endure that? Why should I make such a prisoner of myself?"
What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful and despised duties in the spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels.
It says, "O God, I confess I am not worthy to rock that little babe or wash its diapers, to be entrusted with the care of a child … How is it that I without any merit have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? Oh, how godly will I do so. Though the duty should be even more insignificant and despised, neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor will distress me for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight."
Sermon Extras
The message yesterday hinged so much on the original Greek words I thought it may be of value to share the ESV text and note the various words I referenced in yesterday’s message. Here is John 21:15-17:
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know (oida) that I love (phileo) you.” He said to him, “Feed (bosko) my lambs. (arnion)” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know (oida) that I love (phileo) you.” He said to him, “Tend (poimaino) my sheep.(probaton)” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love (phileo) me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know (oida) everything; you know (ginosko) that I love (phileo) you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed (bosko) my sheep. probaton)
agapao – sacrificial love; cross-like love
phileo – friendship love
oida – perceived, intellectual knowledge
ginosko – knowledge gained via experience
bosko – feed
poimaino – shepherd (care, counsel, guide)
arnion – lamb (infant sheep)
probaton – sheep (mature sheep)
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