Good Morning, Bethesda!
Yesterday was a glorious one! The weather was outstanding as was the spirit during our worship. God, once again, sent visitors our way for which we are thankful. Pete and Brenda, who have been out ill for some time, were able to return for the first part of the service before Brenda’s back began troubling her again. We are glad they could join us for part of the service.
Urgent Prayer Requests
* Pete & Brenda, their health, especially Brenda’s back
* Brenda’s father who is very ill
* Brida Lovett and a job
* Brazel family
* Marilynn Norvell
* Cynthia Wordlaw, 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. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Breakfast Fellowship and Church Work Day, Saturday, 8 a.m.
3. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service including the Lord’s Supper, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
Breakfast Fellowship and Church Work Day!
Join us for a breakfast fellowship and church work day on Saturday, April 27 at 8:00 a.m.! Bethesda members will work collectively to spring clean (and repair) our church following a hearty breakfast potluck. Members should bring a breakfast dish, drink and side to share.
Please contact Karla Repperger if you have any questions.
Sermon Extras
1. At the very end of verse 25, Thomas says without the proofs he demands, “I will never believe.” While the use of double negatives in English is a “no no”, it was commonly used in the language of the New Testament to convey a very strong negative. Thomas uses the double negative here. Literally, you could translate the clause “Not not I will believe”. He is making it clear that, in his mind, believing in the risen Lord is an impossibility apart from his demands being met. What audacity!
2. In verse 27, Jesus tells Thomas “do not disbelieve but believe”. The construction in the original indicates Thomas was already becoming unbelieving and he needed to stop that trend. Instead (the “but” is very strong) he should be believing. “stop becoming unbelieving instead (start becoming) believing.”
Martin Luther on the Story of Doubting Thomas
It is now the power of the resurrection of Christ that St. Thomas, who was so deep and obdurate in unbelief, even more than any other disciple, was so suddenly changed, becomes an entirely different man, who publicly and freely confesses that he not only believes that Christ is risen but is also enlightened by the power of Christ's resurrection so that he firmly believes and confesses that he, his Lord, is true God and man, through whom, as he is now resurrected from unbelief, the fountain of all sin; so he will also arise from the dead at the judgment day and live forever with him in indescribable glory and blessedness. And not only he, but all who believe thus, as Christ himself further says to him: "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
From a sermon preached by Luther the Sunday after Easter, 1540.
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“Give up everything you have, carry a cross, and hate your family. This sounds a lot different than ‘Admit, believe, confess, and pray a prayer after me.’”
David Platt on Jesus’ call to those wanting to follow him.
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Wednesday Evenings
We meet together on Wednesday evenings beginning at 7 p.m. for a brief Bible study (about 15 minutes) followed by prayer time. Beginning on May 1, we are going to begin an exposition (verse by verse study) of those books in the Bible having only one chapter (there are 5 of them; do you know which ones they are?). We’ll begin one of those books on May 1 and spend 15 minutes a week going through the book until we have completed it. Then we will move on to the next one. Those of us who read the Bible through every year only spend one day reading through each of these books during our journey. This study will give you an opportunity to go more in-depth on each book.
Please join us for our study and for our prayer time on Wednesday evenings!
Pastor’s Postscripts
Spring is upon us! I hope to see many of you on Saturday at our breakfast fellowship and church work day!
Our weekly prayer meeting is Wednesday at 7pm. As noted above, starting next Wednesday, May 1, we will begin a new Bible study. This is a great opportunity to (1) study God’s Word, (2) spend time with fellow believers in prayer, and (3) engage in some fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ! Why not join us?
May the blessings of the Lord be upon you this week. See you Sunday if not sooner.
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