Sermon Recap: Feb 2nd 2025

Galatians: No Other Gospel

Have you ever known anyone that seems to be two different people?
Depending on where they are? Or maybe the people that they are around?

We all know those kinds of people.
Critically, we would call them hypocrites.

My favorite people are those who are always the same.Their principles and standards do not change. How they treat others does not change. No matter the pressure to the contrary!

The true Gospel is what Jesus did on the cross…. revealed by the Scriptures / proven by the resurrection.

Paul letter to the church in Galatia
recounts his courageous defense of the TRUE Gospel. Even confronting those who lead the church who seem to be acting hypocritically.

7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised (Gentiles), just as Peter was for the circumcised (Jewish), 8 since the one (God) at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James, Cephas (Peter), and John—those recognized as pillars (of the Jerusalem church) —acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles (with their blessing) and they to the circumcised (Jewish). 10 They asked only (one thing) that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do.
-Galatians 2

Leaders in Jerusalem Support Paul (v. 7-10)

James (the brother of Jesus),Cephas (aka Peter)and John…. accepted Paul and his ministry to the Gentiles. Knowing that Paul would not require the Gentiles to come under Law.

They only made one request…. Remember the poor

11 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned(by his own actions) (he was wrong). 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James (from Jerusalem). However, when they came, he withdrew (from the Gentile believers) and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. - Galatians 2

Yet, All Is Not Well → Hypocrisy is Present (v. 11-12)

Peter was previously in agreement with welcoming the Gentiles without bringing them under the Law of Moses

Yet, when Peter came to Antioch, he changed / refused to associate with Gentile Christians… once certain Jewish believers from Jerusalem came.

“It is perhaps curious that nobody seems to have recalled that Jesus ate ‘with publicans and sinners’, which can scarcely mean that he conformed to strict Jewish practice.” (Morris)

Sadly, others would follow Peter’s lead…
Highlighting one of the biggest dangers of hypocrisy.

“Their withdrawal from table-fellowship with Gentile believers was not prompted by any theological principle, but by craven fear of a small pressure group… He still believed the gospel, but he failed to practise it.” (Stott)

Satan knew that if he could make Peter take the wrong path, then many others would follow him

13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy (even though they know that Christ is the great unifier), so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas (Peter) in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel (force) Gentiles to live like Jews (if they want to eat with you)?” - Galatians 2

The Core of The Issue (v. 13-14)

At the foundation, this wasn’t an issue of seating arrangements at the church potluck…. it wasn’t about table manners …. It wasn’t about being a good host

Paul saw the issue for what it was; it was about the truth of the gospel.

Paul boldly confronts Peter publicly.

15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified (placed in right standing with God) by the works of the law but (only) by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves (as jewish men) have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified (declared free from the penalty of sin). 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter (servant) of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I (or anyone else) rebuild (through word or actions) those things that I tore down (the belief that the law is essential for salvation), I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law (and its demands on me), so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body (flesh), I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through (observing) the law, then Christ died for nothing (His suffering and death would have had no purpose at all). - Galatians 2

To Be Crucified With Christ (v. 15-21)

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me:

Since we died with Christ on the cross, we have a different life. The old life is dead.
Now we are alive to Jesus Christ and Jesus is alive in us (but Christ lives in me)!!!!

The faith Paul lived by was not faith in himself or faith in the law,
or faith in what he could earn before God.

It was faith in Jesus Christ who loves us and gives Himself for us.

May we be just as willing to stand firm against error when we see it

Reference video

Love you all
See you Wednesday,
Pastor John

Understanding ‘Mighty God’ in Isaiah’s Prophecy

Posted by PastorJohn96

6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9

The title “Mighty God” is one of several names or titles given to the promised child in this prophetic passage from the Prophet Isaiah. The prophecy speaks of a child who will bring hope and deliverance to a people living in darkness. The titles assigned to this child emphasize his extraordinary character and divine mission.

The original Hebrew for “Mighty God” is El Gibbor:

El: A common word for God in Hebrew, used to describe the one true God of Israel.
Gibbor: Meaning “mighty,” “strong,” or “heroic.”

When paired, “El Gibbor” is understood as “God the Mighty One” or “God the Warrior,” emphasizing power, authority, and divinity.

The title “Mighty God” underscores His divine nature.The phrase aligns with the New Testament portrayal of Jesus as possessing divine authority and power over creation, sin, and death.

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.  - Matthew 28

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high - Hebrews 1

Even before Jesus was born, there are forces of evil that have tried to subvert, redirect, and outright stop humanity from discovering the amazing truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has never worked, and it never will.

According to the Bible Study plan called Child of God, there are three modern systems that currently in place trying, with no avail, to stop the proliferation of the Gospel:

1) Government

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder…” (Isaiah 9:6a ESV). When Isaiah wrote these words, Israel was governed by Ahaz, a wicked king. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea was ruled by Herod, another wicked king. Despite these broken leaders, Jesus established a new Kingdom for all who place their faith in Him. Today, no matter how dysfunctional the leaders in our lives may be, God’s sovereign plans will always prevail.

2) Culture

“…over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness…” (Isaiah 9:6b ESV). Looking closely at the cultural background of Isaiah and Jesus, it’s amazing to think their message was able to gain any ground. Generally, people were disinterested in God, but this didn’t stop Isaiah from writing boldly and Jesus from living faithfully. Even as our culture grows darker, we can faithfully share the Gospel, the only true message of hope!

3) Time

“…from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6c ESV). Time was created by God, and He exists outside of it. The birth of our Savior was foretold seven centuries before it happened, and words in the Bible written thousands of years ago are still relevant to us today. Understanding this allows us to have deeper patience, recognizing that God is at work, even when it feels like He’s running late

Let’s Talk About It

Question #1:

What is one thing that stood out to you while reading God’s Word?

Question #2:

Which of the three systems (government, culture, and time) stood out the most to you?

How does it give you hope that these systems can’t hinder God’s plans?

Question #3:

What are some creative ways you can share the Gospel in your cultural context?

Join us Wednesday night at 6:30pm (online or in-person) as we discuss this in person.

God bless you all,

Pastor John

Sunday, January 12th Recap

Posted by PastorJohn96

I am really excited that today we began to dive into our new sermon series for 2025 on the book of Galatians. Here is a brief recap of the message:

Missionary Family of the Week

*Please remember to pray for the Kwak family in Paramus, NJ **Photo courtesy of the North American Mission Board

Prayer Request

Please continue to pray for those affected by the California wildfires

Sermon Recap

The book of Galatians is Paul’s Epistle (letter) to the church at Galatia → modern-day Turkey. Galatians addresses a critical issue facing early Christian communities: some people trying to blend the Gospel w/ the Mosaic Law in an attempt to distort the Gospel.

Paul’s Argument rings true today and always: the message of the gospel is what Jesus did on the cross, revealed by the Scriptures, proven by the resurrection.
Salvation is by Faith Alone: Justification (being declared righteous before God) comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the Law (the Law was a temporary guide fulfilled and superseded by Christ’s sacrifice)

If we preach Jesus + “anything” to be saved, we are preaching a false and evil distortion of the Gospel. In the church today, this often looks like legalism.

Paul’s Introduction Steers Us Clear from Legalism (v. 1-5)

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me: To the churches of Galatia. 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. 5 To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. - Galatians 1

“He wanted to tell the Galatians straight out that atonement for sins and perfect righteousness are not to be sought anywhere but in Christ… So glorious is this redemption that it should ravish us with wonder.” (Calvin)

Legalism flies in the face of this truth. Legalism →belief that salvation is achieved through following rules and regulations; rather than through faith in Christ . Always man-made rules, Often personal preferences. When that personal preference is elevated to the level of biblical absolutes… for example: What translation of the Bible to read, what kind of songs to sing, How long your hair can be, what type of clothes to wear, etc.

Paul’s Amazement & Declaration (v. 6-9)

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! - Galatians 1

“Heretics do not advertise their errors. Murderers, adulterers, thieves disguise themselves. So the devil masquerades all these devices and activities. He puts on white to make himself look like an angel of light.” (Martin Luther)

The other gospel was really a perversion or a distortion of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
It used the names and ideas familiar to the Galatian Christians, but it slightly twisted the ideas to make their message all the more deceptive.

Paul’s Desire is to Please God (v. 10)

10 For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1

Paul’s first obligation was to please God and not to please men.
He refused to shape his message just to please his audience.
There are those even today who do so …..It is part of fallen human nature that even those charged with the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel can fall into the trap of trying to be popular rather than faithful.

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold - 2 Timothy 4:3

What does this all mean to us?

If we are to be Intentional “Tellers” and “Senders” of the Gospel in 2025, then this must be the Gospel that we tell, the true Gospel. To be effective and faithful in our role as witnesses of Christ must ensure that we communicate the authentic message of Scripture and not any distortion of it.
The message must be:
*Grounding in Scripture – Devoid of Personal Bias – The Whole Counsel of God – Presented with Humility/Dependence on the Holy Spirit – Communicated with Love and Grace

Heavenly Father,
We come before You today with hearts full of gratitude for the gospel—
the good news of Your love, grace, and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Thank You for entrusting us with the privilege of sharing this life-changing message with the world.
Lord, we confess that we are often weak, distracted, or hesitant in fulfilling this calling.
Forgive us for the times we have distorted or withheld Your truth out of fear, pride, or misunderstanding.
Purify our hearts and align our words with Your Word so that we may proclaim the gospel faithfully and boldly.
Help us to be rooted in Scripture,
that we might know and share the truth in its fullness.
Teach us to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our words, soften hearts, and bring conviction to those who hear.
Let us not lean on our own understanding
but trust in Your power to work through us.
Father, give us courage to speak when the opportunity arises and wisdom to do so with gentleness and respect.
Let our lives reflect the gospel we proclaim, demonstrating the love, grace, and humility of Christ.
Guard us from hypocrisy,
and may the fruit of the Spirit be evident in all that we say and do.
We pray for those who hear the gospel….
Prepare their hearts to receive Your truth
Lord, as we share,
help us to be faithful stewards of Your message,
always pointing others to Jesus and never to ourselves.
May our words and actions glorify You and advance Your kingdom.
We commit to being faithful sharers of the gospel. Empower us, guide us, and use us for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen

To hear the full message from today, check out our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/FirstBethanyBaptist

God bless you all,

Pastor John

Obedience and Intentionality: Lessons from Philip

Posted by PastorJohn96

There is a passage in the book of Acts that has always resonated with me, well…. ever since I came to know the Lord anyway

26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”

30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” - Acts 8

This passage from Acts 8:26-30 offers several rich insights and themes for reflection:

1. Divine Guidance

The angel of the Lord instructs Philip to go to a specific place (v. 26).
- God actively directs His people
  - often calling them to unexpected or unfamiliar paths.
- The road to Gaza was a remote desert area,
  - yet it became the setting for a divine appointment.
God works through His Spirit to orchestrate encounters for His purposes.

2. Obedience and Availability

Philip’s immediate response to God’s instructions is a powerful example of obedience.
- He does not question or delay but rises and goes (v. 27).
- This reflects a heart willing to follow God’s leading,
  - even without knowing the full picture.
His readiness positions him to be part of a pivotal moment in the Ethiopian eunuch’s spiritual journey.

This passage has always made me want to be so much like Phillip. He did not hesitate when the Lord told him what to do. So much so that he charged toward a chariot without any knowledge of what might happen next…. His obedience allowed him to be a part, however small, of an amazing moment.

What happened next changed the Ethiopian man’s life forever, and I am certain it had an affect on Phillip as well….

30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:

He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.

34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.

36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. - Acts 8

As busy people, we always seem to be “running” somewhere ….

Maybe 2025 is the year where we need to start running toward the right things….. I challenged my church last Sunday to be INTENTIONAL in 2025…. INTENTIONAL in telling the Gospel and INTENTIONAL in sending others to do the same.

Will we be Intentional tellers and senders of the Gospel in 2025?

Phillip was able to be witness to the Lord saving this man. His eternity was changed forever. Whatever else we do in this life, NOTHING could be more important than sharing the gospel. The chances of you having to chase down a chariot to do so are slim, but they are not zero 😉

God bless you, get out there and be intentional!

Pastor John

Beautiful Feet: The Call to Share Good News

Posted by PastorJohn96

Recap from today’s message:

8b The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. - Romans 10

1) The Necessity of Preaching the Gospel (v. 14-15)

How can they call on him they have not believed in?
One paraphrase puts it this way.. How can people call for help if they do not know who to trust?
3.23 billion unreached people in the world is way too many people. Plus millions more that have been reached, but do not believe. There are so many people who need Jesus!

Let’s remind ourselves of the severity of the situation:
Without Jesus we are dead – Not dying – But dead in our sins. It is not like we are drowning. No, we have already drowned. Without Him, we are laying in the silt at the bottom of the lake.

How can they believe without hearing about Him?
From the same paraphrase … How can they know who to trust if they have not heard of the One who can be trusted?

How can they hear without a preacher? … how can they preach unless they are sent?
How can they hear if nobody tells them?

How is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?
God could have chosen any means for the message of salvation to come, Nevertheless God’s “normal” way of bringing people to Jesus Christ is through the preaching of the gospel.

Telling (preaching) the Gospel is Necessary!!!

2) The Reward of Preaching the Gospel (v. 15b)

15b As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. - Romans 10

This was first mentioned by the prophet Isaiah:

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald (messenger), who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation (the Gospel) , who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” - Isaiah 52

How beautiful are the feet … Those who preach have beautiful feet, they partner w/ God for the salvation of men.

The Challenge

Will we practice intentionality in 2025? Will we be obedient Tellers and Senders of the Gospel?

Heavenly Father,
As we step into this new year, we humbly come before You, seeking hearts that are fully surrendered to Your will. Teach us to walk in obedience, not out of obligation, but out of love for You and trust in Your perfect plan for our lives.
Lord, we ask for ears that are sensitive to Your voice, hands that are quick to serve, and feet that are ready to follow wherever You lead. Help us to lay aside our own desires and embrace Your higher ways, even when they challenge us or require sacrifice.
Strengthen us in moments of doubt, temptation, or fear. Remind us that obedience brings blessing, peace, and a closer relationship with You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, so we may act with courage, wisdom, and humility in all that we do.
May our lives in 2025 reflect Your light and love, drawing others closer to You. Use our obedience to fulfill Your purposes, both in our own lives and in the world around us.
We commit this year to You, trusting that Your plans for us are good. Be glorified in our faithfulness, Lord, and may Your will be done in us and through us.
In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen

To view the entirety of this message, please visit our Facebook page:

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God Bless you all,

PastorJohn96

State of the Church: Reflecting and Inspiring for 2025

Posted by PastorJohn96

Tomorrow is a big day in churches all across the nation… It is the first Sunday of the new year. Time to reflect back upon last year and look forward to the days to come. I look forward to this every year.

State of the Church address?

You might be more familiar with the SOTU address. The annual speech delivered by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress. The purpose of the State of the Union is to give an overview of the country’s current state, some highlights accomplishments over the past year, maybe set forth goals for the coming year, and to inspire/unite by outlining a vision for the future. In many ways, that is what we will strive to do tomorrow at our church as well.

The theme verse of this year’s State of the Church Address is found in Romans 10:14-15. It reflects our ongoing commitment to grow deeper in our relationship with Christ and to broaden our impact on the world.

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. - Romans 10: 14-15 (CSB)

Paul is speaking here about the necessity of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, what we call the Gospel. Although I really like how the CSB translation of the Bible states it, I also really like a paraphrase version that I found:

How can people call for help if they do not know who to trust? How can they know who to trust if they have not heard of the One who can be trusted? How can they hear if nobody tells them? How is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? - Romans 10:14-15 (MSG)

For All Believers, telling the gospel is not a task but a divine privilege. These verses encourage us to value and support those who do “tell” (preach) the gospel. These include pastors and missionaries, but also include EVERYONE else as well.

I want to encourage you to come join us tomorrow at 11am to hear the rest of this message. And I also want to ask you a question of great consequence;

Will you practice intentionality in telling the Gospel in 2025?

God bless you and I hope to see you online or in-person tomorrow,

PastorJohn96

New Year, New Beginnings: Trusting God in 2025

Posted by PastorJohn96

Hello Friends,

It’s been quite a while—4.5 years, to be exact—since I last updated this blog. Life has been full of twists and turns, and somewhere along the way, this space became very, very quiet. But today, on New Years Day 2025,I’m inspired to try to breathe new life into something that I was once very passionate about… writing. Whether you’re a long-time reader or a newcomer, I’m so glad you’re here as we begin anew. Let’s dive back into sharing our stories, life reflections, meaningful scripture, and a little piece of our journey through this strange thing called life together. Thanks for sticking around—I’ve have really missed this!

Personally, this past year was a banner year for me. Among many other blessings that I could mention… I got married! That’s right, I could not ask for a better story to begin to reintroduce this blog …. On December 16th of 2023, I surprised the love of my life with a proposal in a garden near where we had our first date. You may have guessed at this point that she said yes. And on March 23, 2024, we were married in Monroe, Georgia in front of our families (both biological and church) and friends. We have chosen to reside in my home town, where we are currently living in a renovation project very near to our hearts. We just celebrated our first holiday season as a married couple and are excitedly looking forward to 2025 for many, many reasons. (More on that another time)

Although it has been a banner year, there are still some struggles. Without going into great detail, I will say that these struggles are not unique to our world… I know that many of you have had similar struggles as well this past year. I have made mistakes, I have been the unfortunate recipient of other peoples mistakes, and sometimes, well, this lost and broken world just heaps down a bunch of “stuff” all at once. This reminds us, that no matter how good we are (which is up for debate for every single one of us), we are not in control and we desperately need the Lord… every minute of every day.

With that knowledge clearly in our field of vision, let us consult God’s Word for inspiration, assistance, and maybe even correction:

¹⁸“Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. ¹⁹Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18-19

Wow! What a great passage of Scripture to begin the new year with. Praise the Lord for his wisdom and perfect timing. Let’s dive in a little bit.

Meaning and Context:

Do Not Remember Former Things
God encourages us to not remain stuck in the past—our past failures, challenges, or ironically even our victories. This does not mean we erase our memories or forget the lessons learned…. but to not let our past define or limit what God can do now. This is often (from personal experience) very difficult to do.
I Am Doing Something New
This verse speaks to almighty God’s transformative power. God declares that He is bringing about something fresh and unprecedented in the lives of those who faithfully follow Him. It is a call to embrace change and anticipate the new works God is preparing, even if they are not immediately visible. And I know that it is hard to see this on the very first day of the year, but God will be working in you (for His glory and our good) every minute of every day of 2025… you can count on it!
A Way in the Wilderness
Wilderness and wasteland symbolize desolation and challenges, but God promises provision, guidance, and renewal in such places. This reflects His ability to create hope, life, and direction in the most unlikely circumstances. Regardless of where we start here on the first day of the year, we will need to remember this in the days to come. As much as God’s love is a guarantee, so is brokenness of this world,
Rivers in The Desert
The imagery of streams in barren places emphasizes God’s ability to bring refreshment and abundance to areas that seem lifeless. It symbolizes spiritual renewal and His faithfulness to meet our needs. What an amazing picture to lean on as we begin this new year… not our power nor our strength, but His….. “Streams in barren places”… and amazing promise indeed!

Application:

This passage is a great encouragement to trust in God’s sovereignty and to look forward with faith, knowing that He can bring new opportunities, growth, and blessings even in challenging situations. It reassures believers that God is always working for their good and His glory, no matter the circumstances. With the Lord fighting for us, we are always hopeful…knowing that He will always prevail!

I pray that this Word from the Lord will be an encouragement for you today. Even if you are beginning 2025 with trepidation over difficulties in life…. maybe looking for ways to recover financially after a generous Christmas giving season… or trying to figure out how to share not so good news with our loved ones…. or planning your next move for a live-in-renovation that might not have been your best choice….. may the Lord encourage and strengthen you today… like Rivers in the desert!

God bless you all,

Pastor John

March Is For Missions

Posted by PastorJohn96

I love the month of March. There is a little more sunshine and fewer cold days. There seems to be a spring in everyone’s step as they anticipate the dawning of a new spring. We begin to prepare for Easter and to focus on one of the things that flow out of our deep appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross: Missions

This time last year, we introduced our “Missions Mantra” for 2017: #KnowGrowGo.

: Yes, there is a double meaning to #KnowGrowGo graphic: We do want to know Jesus and God’s Word, we do want to grow in our faith and in our walk with Jesus, and we must go and make disciples, baptize, and teach…. yet, if you look closely at the graphic, the globe is focused on Northern Africa; where our 2017 summer missionary spent his summer !

This mantra has served us well over the last year and we will continue to refer to it often. But today, I would like to introduce to you a new “mantra”, if you will, for 2018:

#ServeMcCormick

Last week, I was able to spend a say at a conference in Columbia, SC with hundreds of other pastors. I was a great day. I enjoyed the fellowship and encouragement greatly. I also loved being challenged by what was preached.

One of the main speakers, J.D. Greear, told a story that really challenged me (I will place a link to the video below). In this story, he tells of a time where he did not understand why he was invited to speak at a certain event……. (please click the link below).

JD Greear Video from Impact (start watching at 26:30 for this story)

What struck me about this story was the following quote:

“Everywhere in the city… where there is something broken, there is somebody there from your church who is trying to fix it.“

I have asked many times since I have been at First Bethany, “What is the biggest problem in McCormick and how do we impact it for Jesus?“. Maybe what I should have been asking is, “Where are the broken things in this city and how can we help love on those in need?“.

You see, if we limit our focus to one or two issues, we miss out on amazing opportunities to serve. Yet, if we will simply lay ourselves out before the Lord and say “use me”, I believe that He will show us numerous opportunities to serve Him by serving those in need in His name. Oh, what a blessing!

34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:34-39

Thus #ServeMcCormick was born….

It seems simple, maybe even too simple, yet I believe that the Lord will not bless us with greater opportunities until we improve in this area. How are we going to do this?:

We have to keep inviting the community to attend events that will contain a Gospel message; like the upcoming Easter Egg Hunt and Easter services.
We have to keep preparing for times where the community might need us; by taking advantage of opportunities like the Disaster Relief Training happening throughout the year.
We must continue to perform acts of radical service to the community, like the annual Back-To-School-Bash; while looking for ways to #ServeMcCormick every day.
Most importantly, we must PRAY for those who know Him not, to be drawn to Him and to respond accordingly.

How will you #ServeMcCormick?

It is not a one-time event… it doesn’t happen just in one place… It is a lifestyle of service born out of a deep appreciation for what Christ has done on the cross.

: First Bethany Baptist Church is currently raising money for two missions efforts: A local mission trip to Edgefield, SC called C.C.C. & a return trip to Dartmouth, Mass. to work with church planting partners. If you would like to order a t-shirt, we are selling them throughout the month of March at the following link:

T-shirt order form

Let’s go out there and be the church… let’s be about our Father’s business… let’s #ServeMcCormick !

I love you all, Pastor John