Stirrings at Bethesday - June 3, 2013

Good Morning, Bethesda!

We are thankful God protected our facilities on Friday night as the tornado passed nearby.  Also, we praise the Lord there were no fatalities or serious injuries from the storm.

As of this writing, we are aware of only one church member who suffered loss and that’s brother Tom.  His house was significantly damaged and it will take some time before he and his children are able to return to it as their home.  Please keep him in your prayers and, if there is any way you may be able to help him out, please do so.  Thank you to those men who have already been to the house to help him out.

Urgent Prayer Requests

* Tom, significant storm damage
* Pete & Brenda, their health
* Brenda’s father who is very ill
* Brazel family
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Marilynn Norvell
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home.
* Anne Overton’s family
* Our church and need for revival


 
“For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.  Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.”
Psalm 135:5-6

 
Outreach Effort

The Outreach Committee has provided church members with bags containing energy and/or granola bars.  Each bar contains a Bible verse plus the church’s address and phone number.  Please take one or more bags and pass out individual bars to those you meet who have a need.  For example, if you pull up to a light and a person is asking for money, hand him a bar.

The bags are located on the table in the foyer.


Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study (Brief Books) and Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Deacons’ Meeting, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.
3. Bethesda Men Breakfast & Book Study, Saturday, 8 a.m.
4.  Church Council Meeting, Saturday, 9 a.m.
5.  Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
6. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
7. NO Discipleship Training


“God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When you don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart.”

Babbie Mason


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 article on Salvation.

IV. Salvation

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.

1. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.

2. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.

3. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.


Saturday, June 8

Men, bring your breakfast and join us for some fellowship and study this Saturday beginning at 8 a.m.  We’ll fellowship for 15-20 minutes and then continue our study of Dr. Whitney’s book.  Even if you have been unable to attend in the past, join us this Saturday.

Our church council will meet at 9 a.m. this Saturday to discuss and schedule upcoming activities.  If you are on the council and cannot attend, please ask someone to take your place.


Pastor’s Postscripts

To those who attended Sunday, thank you for your attentiveness during the message.  For a variety of reasons, I had great difficulty in delivering this Sunday’s sermon.  But God is good and His Word powerful!

This Sunday we begin a new series.  We’ll take a look at the Thessalonian church by working our way through Paul’s letters to them.  We’ll begin this series, however, not in 1 Thessalonians but in the book of Acts.  This Sunday we examine “The Beginnings of a Local Church.”

I look forward to seeing you there!  God bless!