Good Morning, Bethesda!
Praise the Lord for a great Lord’s Day yesterday! Our worship service was a blessing and our discipleship training class in the evening was quite lively! Mark your calendar and join us next Sunday evening at 5 p.m.!
Urgent Prayer Requests
* Cynthia Wordlaw, recovering at home; also need for a kidney
* Tom, significant storm damage
* Pete & Brenda, their health & personal needs
* Brazel family
* Mueller family
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Anne Overton’s family
* Rachelle in California
* Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. BUSINESS Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Bethesda Men Breakfast & Book Study, Saturday, 8 a.m.
3. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
6. Skating Fellowship, Great Skate Skating Rink in St. Peters, Sunday, 5:15 – 7:15 p.m.
Statement of Faith
Bethesda’s statement of faith is “The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message” and may be read here. This is the 9th article concerning the Kingdom of God.
IX. The Kingdom
The kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the kingdom may come and God's will be done on earth. The full consummation of the kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.
Outreach Effort
Energy bars are still available on the table in the foyer. Please take some and hand them out to those you encounter who have a need for them.
“A witnessing Christian can not do so without sharing the Word and living the Word.”
“The Apostle employs a word never used anywhere else in the New Testament to describe the conspicuous and widespread nature of this testimony of theirs.”
Alexander Maclaren
Roller Skating Fellowship
Sunday, July 14, 5:15 p.m.
Contact Karla if you are planning to attend and let her know if you are planning on skating.
Sermon Extras
1. In verse 8 of 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul says the word has “sounded forth” and the Thessalonians faith in God “has gone forth”. Both of these verbs are written in a form which indicates a completed action with results which continue on. So I might loosely translate this verse something like this to communicate this aspect of the verb form:
“For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you and continues to ring out in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere and continues to impact others even today...”
2. In verse 9 Paul notes that others from around the Empire are talking about what has taken place in Thessalonica. He writes, “For they themselves report”. The word “report” literally means “to proclaim” and Paul says they continue to do so. The reports on the Thessalonians keep coming in and those proclaiming it keep talking about it! What a significant work the Lord accomplished in that city!
3. Here is the quote from William Hendriksen on Paul’s use of the word “turned” in verse 9:
“When God converts a man, he changes the entire person, not only the emotions, so that one regrets his former manner of life (cf. the idea which predominates in the verb metamelomai), but also the mind and will, with respect to which he experiences a complete change-over (cf. the thought that is placed in the foreground by metanoia), and all of this becomes apparent in his outward conduct (this being the main import of the verb used her in 1 Thess. 1:9).”
Pastor’s Postscripts
A brief “thank you” to whoever gave me the picture of the giraffes. I truly appreciate the gift and your thoughtfulness. I apologize for not seeing it sooner but I have found that I am rather focused on the message in the moments before I preach it and often oblivious to things around me!
I intend to hang it in my church study since it was given by a church member plus the fact my “giraffe pen” at home is a bit overcrowded these days (not to mention that my wife has told me to transfer some of my giraffes from my home study to the church study!).
I guess if the picture was NOT intended to be a gift to me, whoever placed it by the pulpit will need to see me and reclaim it. Good luck with that!
See you Sunday with Bible in hand!
Bethesda Baptist Church Logo
Monday, July 8, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Stirrings at Bethesda - July 1, 2013
Monthly Church Calendar
The July church calendar is being sent with this newsletter. As with last month’s edition, the July calendar also has a birthday/anniversary section to it.
If you have a birthday and/or anniversary in July and you do not see it on the calendar that means your pastor has no record of it. Please let me know so we can include it on future calendars.
Urgent Prayer Requests
* Cynthia Wordlaw, recovering in hospital; also need for a kidney
* Tom, significant storm damage
* Pete & Brenda, their health
* Brazel family
* Mueller family
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home.
* Anne Overton’s family
* Rachelle in California
* Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. NO Prayer Meeting, Wednesday.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
5. Business Meeting, Wednesday, July 10, 7
p.m.
“The missionary for Christ must reveal Jesus in his life as well as in his words.”
Outreach Effort
More bags containing energy bars are available on the table in the foyer. Please take some and hand them out to those you encounter who have a need for them.
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 8th article on the Lord’s Day.
VIII. The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, work of necessity and mercy only being excepted.
Roller Skating Fellowship
Sunday, July 14, 5:15 p.m.
More information to follow.
“...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18
Sermon Extras
In verse 6, the ESV reads “And you became imitators”. The King James translates “imitators” as “followers”. The original in the New Testament is from “mimetes” and is the basis for the English word “mimic”. Paul reveals the Thessalonians “mimicked” him.
Also, in verse 7 Paul writes, “so that you became an example”. As I mentioned in my message, while the word “you” is plural (you Thessalonians, you individuals), the word “example” (tupos from where our word “type” originates) is singular. In other words, the multiple imitating Thessalonians AS A GROUP (or body) has become an example, a type, or a model. The church is an example of a growing church in Christ because its believers are growing by imitating others and the Lord.
I find it interesting Paul notes the Thessalonian church “became” an example, they weren’t original created that way. Becoming a mature Christian or a model church takes time and perseverance.
Finally, the Thessalonian church is a model to all the believers in Greece (Macedonian & Achaia). “Believers” is literally “the believing ones”, the ones who persist in their faith, who always believe. Faith in Christ is never a one time, one event faith. One does not merely believe in Jesus to get saved. Rather, one believers to be saved and continues to believe throughout their life. Lastly, the Thessalonian church had become a model church for not just a few of the believers in Greece but ALL of them. While Paul may be using a bit of hyperbole, he has likely received good reports from multiple cities in which churches have started as a result of his ministry. These reports obviously indicate the example of the Thessalonians has made its mark on these other believers.
Deacon Nominations
Please begin praying concerning our deacon nomination process which begins in August. By our constitution, we are permitted to have 3 deacons at this time. These deacons serve for 3 year terms and then rotate off our active deacon list. Presently our deacons are Dennis DePriest, Rich Norvell, and Dan Repperger. Dan completes his term of service at the end of this year. Beginning in August the church may nominate some man (including Dan) to serve another 3 years beginning in 2014.
I encourage you to begin praying for deacons and the man who should serve for the next 3 years. Consult 1 Timothy 3 for the Biblical qualifications of this office.
More on our deacon election process in the coming weeks.
Pastor’s Postscripts
This will be a busy week for many as we celebrate our country’s 237th birthday. Our nation has radically changed since its founding and, regrettably, much of this change has been very negative when weighed against Biblical principles. But our God is still on the throne. He builds nations up and tears nations down as His Sovereign will decides. Those of us who are born again may confidently live our lives in the hope of Christ even in the midst of a decaying society.
Celebrate the freedoms we have as well as those who help procure and secure them over the years. And pray that God will bring repentance and a great revival to our land.
The July church calendar is being sent with this newsletter. As with last month’s edition, the July calendar also has a birthday/anniversary section to it.
If you have a birthday and/or anniversary in July and you do not see it on the calendar that means your pastor has no record of it. Please let me know so we can include it on future calendars.
Urgent Prayer Requests
* Cynthia Wordlaw, recovering in hospital; also need for a kidney
* Tom, significant storm damage
* Pete & Brenda, their health
* Brazel family
* Mueller family
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home.
* Anne Overton’s family
* Rachelle in California
* Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. NO Prayer Meeting, Wednesday.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
5. Business Meeting, Wednesday, July 10, 7
p.m.
“The missionary for Christ must reveal Jesus in his life as well as in his words.”
Outreach Effort
More bags containing energy bars are available on the table in the foyer. Please take some and hand them out to those you encounter who have a need for them.
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 8th article on the Lord’s Day.
VIII. The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, work of necessity and mercy only being excepted.
Roller Skating Fellowship
Sunday, July 14, 5:15 p.m.
More information to follow.
“...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18
Sermon Extras
In verse 6, the ESV reads “And you became imitators”. The King James translates “imitators” as “followers”. The original in the New Testament is from “mimetes” and is the basis for the English word “mimic”. Paul reveals the Thessalonians “mimicked” him.
Also, in verse 7 Paul writes, “so that you became an example”. As I mentioned in my message, while the word “you” is plural (you Thessalonians, you individuals), the word “example” (tupos from where our word “type” originates) is singular. In other words, the multiple imitating Thessalonians AS A GROUP (or body) has become an example, a type, or a model. The church is an example of a growing church in Christ because its believers are growing by imitating others and the Lord.
I find it interesting Paul notes the Thessalonian church “became” an example, they weren’t original created that way. Becoming a mature Christian or a model church takes time and perseverance.
Finally, the Thessalonian church is a model to all the believers in Greece (Macedonian & Achaia). “Believers” is literally “the believing ones”, the ones who persist in their faith, who always believe. Faith in Christ is never a one time, one event faith. One does not merely believe in Jesus to get saved. Rather, one believers to be saved and continues to believe throughout their life. Lastly, the Thessalonian church had become a model church for not just a few of the believers in Greece but ALL of them. While Paul may be using a bit of hyperbole, he has likely received good reports from multiple cities in which churches have started as a result of his ministry. These reports obviously indicate the example of the Thessalonians has made its mark on these other believers.
Deacon Nominations
Please begin praying concerning our deacon nomination process which begins in August. By our constitution, we are permitted to have 3 deacons at this time. These deacons serve for 3 year terms and then rotate off our active deacon list. Presently our deacons are Dennis DePriest, Rich Norvell, and Dan Repperger. Dan completes his term of service at the end of this year. Beginning in August the church may nominate some man (including Dan) to serve another 3 years beginning in 2014.
I encourage you to begin praying for deacons and the man who should serve for the next 3 years. Consult 1 Timothy 3 for the Biblical qualifications of this office.
More on our deacon election process in the coming weeks.
Pastor’s Postscripts
This will be a busy week for many as we celebrate our country’s 237th birthday. Our nation has radically changed since its founding and, regrettably, much of this change has been very negative when weighed against Biblical principles. But our God is still on the throne. He builds nations up and tears nations down as His Sovereign will decides. Those of us who are born again may confidently live our lives in the hope of Christ even in the midst of a decaying society.
Celebrate the freedoms we have as well as those who help procure and secure them over the years. And pray that God will bring repentance and a great revival to our land.
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