Bedford - First Baptist
Church Theme: “Deepening Life Together”
Prayer/Bible Studies Wednesdays, 6:30pm
Children and Youth: “Bible Heroes” .
Adults: Roundtable Bible Conversation groups.
© First Baptist Church of Bedford, MA. 155 Concord Road, Bedford Massachusetts. 01730 PHONE 781-275-8151. Email: bedford.fbc@gmail.com
Pastor Scott’s Blog
Peaceful Pines – May 2019
“Remaining” in a vital and vibrant relationship with God through Jesus Christ is how we come to
experience the life and fruit of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus’ proclamation “I am the True Vine” confirmed that
God’s covenant with Israel involved Him from the beginning and would be completed through His ministry as
God’s Son. There is true, lasting, eternal and abundant life as God’s children through Jesus the Christ. One
could say that Jesus was united with His Heavenly Father in the first covenants with Abraham and Moses,
and now Jesus had come to complete God’s work in a fulfilled covenant that brought together truth and grace,
and this personally through Him, the Son, the heir of the “vineyard”. Jesus was the heir, God’s Son, who He
had spoken about in a parable in Mark 12, this heir would be beaten and killed by the temporary keepers of
the vineyard. In view of His passion, and to prepare the disciples to remain steadfast during His rejection,
beating and brutal crucifixion, He emphasized the importance of “remaining”.
When it comes to faith and our relationship with God, knowing Jesus, trusting Jesus, following Jesus
and bearing fruit, the Lord is calling us personally, intimately and powerfully. Faith in Jesus is matched by the
power He has in our lives, so to remain in Him is to “hold on for dear life.” Faith is to weather the trials, to
believe in the impossible. Faith is to look beyond the circumstances and trust in the power and love of God.
When we are weak, God is strong.
On this early morning that I write this reflection, I was interrupted prior from a dream in which I was
preaching. The kind and assertive person’s voice was warm and familiar, he said “Hold on, Pastor! Think
about the importance of what you’ve just said?” In the dream I was preaching again on the subject of faith in
Jesus and the Lord’s call to “remain” or “abide” in Him the Vine so as to bear fruit as the branches. At first, I
thought the person was one of our faithful members, a man who has been battling cancer and has fought the
good fight of faith. This elder brother has shared a wonderful testimony to the power of prayer and endurance
of courage. He is shining brightly, speaking up to give witness to the bright and life-giving presence of Jesus
while He has faced cancer. Yet somehow, the voice seemed different, broader. I felt in my heart as if there
was a collective tone within it. It could have this brother, but it could also have been the voice of my deceased
grandfather, or father, or my brother Bruce who is in heaven; or even a great host of others speaking. Indeed,
it was as if their collective voices had spoken and Jesus voice was within it as well. This was a collective voice
of “the Vine”. The message of remaining in the Vine is critical and essential, not just for me but for all people,
especially in this time when the Christian faith is under great fire and persecution.
Two days ago, while we worshipped on Easter Sunday in our peaceful and joyful service, there were
faithful Christians in Sri Lanka who were bombed in a coordinated attack by Muslim extremists. Over 300
people were killed, and church buildings decimated. In Louisiana, there were faithful believers worshipping
outside of their burned-out buildings, nine Black churches had been torched by arsonists in racial hatred. All
of these Christians and churches that were attacked had something in common, they were faithful to “abide”
and “remain” in Jesus Christ the True Vine. The words of an unlikely apostle, a man who tried to justify terror
and stoning to stop the voice of the early believers, Paul, was inspired to say after He had converted,
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8).
----------------
April 2019
19
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
20
Our ancestors
worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must
worship is in Jerusalem.”
21
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming
when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
22
You
Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for
salvation is from the Jews.
23
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the
kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24
God is spirit, and his worshipers must
worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25
The woman said, “I know that Messiah”
(called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26
Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” (John 4:19-26 NIV)
Was Jesus historical? The evidence of thousands of
witnesses and historical records indicate so. Was Jesus the
“Christ, the Son of the Living God” as Peter confessed? That is a
question that only faith and the leading of God’s Holy Spirit can
answer. The evidence of Jesus’ miracles, the witness of the
record of His teachings and deeds, His birth, death and
resurrection, all point to a man who was more than what His
appearance could illumine. There was something more to Jesus
than what common sense could conceive of. The prophets spoke
of one whom God would send, one for whom Jews and their
Samaritan cousins longed for. Jesus knew His identity and
revealed His identity, that he was indeed the one whom God had
sent as foretold; He was the Christ (the Messiah). Jesus chose to
reveal His nature and purpose to a lowly and thirsty woman at
Jacob’s well on a dry and dusty afternoon. This may have been
the first time that Jesus spoke so directly, saying: “I, the one
speaking to you – I am he.”
Jesus had just told the woman at the well things about
herself that no one else would have known. She came along on
her daily quest, looking for fresh cold water from Jacob’s well. He
noticed and spoke kindly, saying: “Everyone who drinks this water
will be thirsty again,
14
but whoever drinks the water I give them
will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus could have just
let her go on drinking to satisfy her temporary need, but Jesus
came for all people, even this woman with many imperfections
and social stigmas. Her spiritual thirst and need were just as
important as any other person’s. This was why Jesus had come,
to offer and give the living water of God’s love and grace. Jesus
saw this woman as a child of God His Heavenly Father as much
as any other person; be they Jew, Samaritan or Gentile. The need
of all people is to have a relationship of ultimate worth, that is
“worship”, with God. This involves believing in God’s presence,
Spirit and truth. Jesus was the incarnation, presence, the very
intimate and personal truth of God as the Messiah, the Christ, the
Son of God in human flesh. To have an encounter with Jesus
was to experience God through the eternal beloved Son. To be
moved in faith to believe in Jesus, is to believe in the revelation of
God. Such faith leads a person into worship (giving ultimate
worth) to Jesus as God’s sent Son, who was destined to be our
Messiah and Savior.
The matter of faith for the woman at the well was up to her,
and whether she would believe this cordial, friendly and inviting
Jewish prophet. Jesus did more than simply raise her curiosity,
He showed divine grace and taught truthfully. When Jesus
concluded His teaching about salvation for humanity from God
the Father for all people who worship in Spirit and in truth, the
woman’s mind and heart was moved. Jesus then made the
declaration: “I, the one speaking to you, I am He” (a double
imperative in which Jesus emphatically revealed His identity as
the Christ and His divinity as the Son of God) and the woman
believed. This was when God’s love broke through, it was as if
her heart, eyes and mind were opened. Her life would be forever
changed, transformed by the Spirit, in this moment of faith and
poured out grace. Her thirst was quenched within.
At this key moment the disciples returned from the village.
The woman went joyfully on her way back to the village. She was
so moved and changed that she had to tell the townspeople
about Jesus. The townspeople were curious and interested to
find out more, so they went out to Jesus and after hearing him
urged him to stay there several days. Because they were open to
listen, they believed in Jesus for themselves. “We no longer
believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for
ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the
world.”
How about you? Would you say that Jesus was much more
than a great teacher or prophet? While there are those who have
the same suspicions that the woman at the well had at first, Jesus
has a way of revealing God’s grace and truth to us so that we
may encounter Him and come to believe He is the Messiah, the
Christ, the Son of God. He knows everything about you. Even
with such knowledge about you, Jesus offers you the “living
water” of God’s Spirit which can fill us with grace, love,
forgiveness and new life. For the woman at the well, Jesus didn’t
perform some incredible miracles for her to believe. Instead, He
spoke directly to her soul, knowing her deepest needs, struggles
and challenges. The choice to believe was up to her, but there
was something insanely startling and curiously wonderful about
Jesus that she could not dismiss. This is where we can say that
there was (and is) something “Eternally Existential” about Jesus,
His very nature and persona being one in the Spirit, Word and
character of God the Creator/Heavenly Father. For this reason,
we can learn much about Jesus (and why God sent Him) by
looking at the moments that Jesus spoke the words “I am”. The
name God revealed about Himself to Moses and to His people
was “Yahweh”, which means “I am that I am”. For the woman at
the well, her attention was redirected from a temporal well to an
eternal well, from a shallow need to a deeper need. She
discovered the source of living water for her soul, and it wasn’t
because of a miracle, it was because of an encounter of God’s
Divine love in Jesus. Her soul came alive by faith, her being was
then flooded by the fulness of God’s grace and truth in Jesus.
This thirsting was true in my life when I first earnestly read
the Gospels and listened to the words of Jesus. There was no big
miracle that convinced me to believe, and though I was a good
person in many ways, I knew that there was something missing in
my life. Call it a “God-shaped hole” or a “thirst” or an “existential
crisis”; I knew that I needed something and wanted to discover
the source for meaning and satisfaction in life. I came to the
gospel accounts of Jesus, listened to His Word historically and
philosophically at first. God’s Spirit spoke to my heart to believe in
Jesus as being right before me, speaking to me, understanding
me, calling to my heart and mind to believe, repent and follow
Him. At that time of my 16
th
year of life, I opened my heart to Him.
Living water came in to my thirsting soul and I found love and life.
God’s Spirit has not ceased, since then, from cleansing my heart
repeatedly and refreshing my soul with satisfaction, peace and
joy (no matter the trials and parched deserts I face).
I share all this with hope that you will join me in the months
to come (late March, April, and May) in a journey to recount those
times that Jesus spoke the words “I AM”. This series of sermons
will be called “The Eternal Existential Jesus”. Whether or not you
believe or are suspicious about the claims made or given to
Jesus, one can not dismiss the eloquence and beauty of Jesus’
words or the wonder of His recorded actions. One cannot also
dismiss the millions of people over the centuries that have
experienced Jesus by faith, although they never knew Him
historically. The truth of Jesus is ultimately not confined to the
historic and biblical record alone, for indeed His reality transcends
our perceptions and yet still informs our understanding of God.
The truth and existence of Jesus is not contingent upon faith or
people’s religious aspirations, He simply was, is, and is to come.
One’s faith will be an intertwinement of the physical and the
spiritual, where historic roots and our being made in the image of
God are given life because Jesus was also the Son of God.
Jesus, His message and ministry, crosses the boundaries of time,
culture and race. The evidence of His eternal and historical
existence, while revealed in Scripture, is also revealed in the
depths of inspiration and realization where the natural and
supernatural intersect in faith. One cannot always empirically
prove the substance of the presence and power of God’s Holy
Spirit, and personal encounters that are supernatural. Jesus is,
therefore, still an enigma to many. This does not mean He did not
exist historically, or that the claims of people of faith are
superstitious yearnings or fabrications. For people who have
experienced Jesus, the truth they discover is that He is Lord and
Savior.
God finds us through Jesus,
Pastor Scott Arnold (April 3, 2019)
--------------
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
The message of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is the purest
teaching of God’s blessing and desire for people to be His redeemed and peace-
filled children. Jesus spoke purpose and hope, while also raising the bar of
morality and righteousness. The encouragement and challenge that He taught is
inspiring and indicting at the same time. The light of His message shines a truth
that may either draw or repel. It reminds me of what goes on when the spotlight of
our collective conscience becomes aware of certain problems in our world today.
We have a choice to look away and be unchanged, or we have a choice to look
within and awaken or repent. This may be applied to any number of issues: Gun
violence, political corruption, bullying, nuclear arms escalation, global warming,
sexual abuse, immorality, over consumption, indecency, and a down turn in people
seeking God or joining communities of faith.
One might argue that the crisis of our human race is not new, but one cannot
argue that it has led humanity to a precipice. What shall we do? To the nation of
Israel, God sent a word to the prophet Isaiah of a time to come, the time we are
now living in. “Awake, awake, arm of the Lord, clothe yourself with strength!
Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old.” Isaiah 51:9. The arm of the
Lord is God’s people. The first thing needed is to awaken by faith, the next thing
is to be clothed in the righteousness of God and the purpose is to do the will of
God. The world will see God’s presence through His people.
This is what Jesus had in mind as He preached on the mountainside of Galilee.
Jesus came to reveal God’s presence and inspire faith while challenging sin
(brokenness, immorality and deception). The words “Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8) are fulfilled within any person who
hears Jesus with faith. In the heart of anyone who truly believes in Jesus, and
repents of their sin, there is a work of God’s righteous grace and the impartation of
God’s Holy Spirit for new life. The eyes of one’s heart are opened. There is an
awakening. “I once was blind, but now I see”.
Furthermore, Jesus not only came to reveal God to us (as God’s Son), and not
only to awaken our hearts and give us new life, but also to give us a bright identity
and purpose. The result of God’s work in us involves being “the arm of the Lord”
or the “light of the world”. Jesus spoke this reality and vision to the gathered
disciples and crowd:
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your
light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your
Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
What is Jesus doing in your life? How do you see Him daily? How is the
Lord shining in and through your deeds and words, your actions and attitudes,
your interactions and your devotion? Every day we awake, we are given a new
opportunity to worship God, serve God, grow to know and love God more in
relationship to God’s Son, Jesus our Lord and Savior. The path of discipleship is
not easy, the way is not popular. Still, this is not to be an excuse, but an incentive
to be light and salt. God is calling people in these days to be re-clothed in the
righteousness of Jesus and to shine forth as a witness. (March 2018)
Flying with Faith - July 2017
Peaceful Pines – July / August 2017 (Scott Arnold)
Looking out the window of the jet plane, two snow covered peaks were clearly visible to our
north as we descended toward Portland, Oregon (for the Mission Summit of the American Baptist
Churches that our church is a part of). One of the peaks had a tall spired pointed top, the other
peak had a broken top that had blown off in a volcanic eruption. I speculated that it was Mt. Saint
Helen’s, and this was confirmed later. The other peak was Mt. Adams. Each of these peaks told a
different story as they faced each other. Mt. Adams was majestic, Mt. Saint Helen’s was big and
broken, a relic of a powerful event that involved elements that were cataclysmic, almost
apocalyptic. Of course, the contrast of the peaks was remarkable.
One ponders, is there a story or lesson here? One could envision the metaphor of how human
leaders are exalted, and that they rise and fall. Glory is fleeting and that which seems majestic
can be powerfully destroyed and altered. Now before you think I might refer to the Scripture
passage of Jesus; “those who exalt themselves shall be humbled and those who humble
themselves shall be exalted”, consider another angle to these “Twin Peaks”. Each peak is at a
different place in its life cycle. In this dynamic world, one peak grew and then blew its top before
the other. Eventually, Mt. Adams will have its day of eruption, or at least be weathered and
brought low again. Note that Mt. St. Helen’s did not give much warning, and in an instant its
judgment day arrived. So too, Mt. Adams will experience dynamic change, likely its own eruption.
Underneath the surface, and at times above from space and on the earth with its climate, there
are powerful forces at work. Reference may be made to time and moments in time. In Scripture
we read of “the Day of the Lord”, or a culmination of God’s activity such as a “Judgement day”.
All around, geologic evidence tells of powerful events and forces. Another plac in Oregon, Crater
Lake, was formed 7,700 years ago when a volcanic mountain, Mt. Mazama, erupted and
collapsed. The result is a lake that is 1946 feet deep and 5 miles wide. With all this I ponder the
thought of God’s timing for big events and changes. Jesus knew that big things were yet to come
in the future, and that many of these seismic changes would occur prior to and at the time of His
second coming.
We read in the gospel of Matthew about what Jesus said after he had spoken plainly and
sternly to the exalted religious leaders of Jerusalem. Considering that Jerusalem was often
referred to as the “Holy Mountain” and the “Holy City” of God; one might make the case from the
judgement of Jesus that human glory is like the volcanic mountain, destined for ruin.
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his
attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one
stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1-2
Forty years after Jesus spoke these words, the temple was brought down and destroyed by the
Romans in A.D. 70. The foundation remained, of which we now have the “Wailing Wall”, but
everything above the foundation was broken and burned. When Jesus left the temple, he was
walking away from the trappings of temporary glory and the illusion of permanency in this current
order of things. God has a plan for remaking this earth, people and all things. There will be a
new heaven and a new earth. The old order of things will pass away. Put your trust in Jesus, not
in temporal things, for God the Father has appointed Jesus to be Lord and Savior, the pioneer and
perfecter of our faith.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed
away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down
out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a
loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and
he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their
God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne
said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are
trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:1-5
Surprise the World - March 2017
Peaceful Pines March 2017
3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because
your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is
increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and
faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5
Faith is not a static thing because life involves seasons of change. To grow during life’s
changes and challenges we need to discover the constancy of God as our fulcrum for arching
forward and upward. This does not mean we are without mistake or error, without troubles or
trials, discouragement or disappointment; it means that God is present to work redemptively if
we have faith. Paul is thanking God for the church, for his brothers and sisters whose faith
and actions are evidence of God’s powerful love as they function in support of one another for
growth, and as they function in witness and mission together. Their faith and love had grown
leaps and bounds in Thessalonica, even while enduring persecutions and trials. The key for
their strength and growth as a church family was their perseverance. They were healthy and
strong in their faith because they practiced their Christian discipleship together in support of
one another. The principle of relational discipleship was at work in shared witness. No one
was acting or publicly sharing their faith as detached agents from the fellowship, they were in
touch and in tune through meeting together and in unity of God’s Spirit in prayer. The social
order had its problems, as they were a persecuted minority within a flawed human system of
Roman rule, so no one in the church looked to political solutions. They had discovered hope
in Jesus Christ for the transcendent and coming Kingdom of God. In Christ, they had
discovered that “the Kingdom of God was within them”, they had been born-again of the Holy
Spirit and were now aware of the ultimacy of God’s Sovereignty through the Lordship of Jesus
and His eventual return.
Let’s apply this to today. We need to grow in the context of fellowship and relational
discipleship. This keeps us strong and vibrant in faith, hope and love as we live grow in faith
and love while we bear fruit for Christ’s coming Kingdom. Without growth and support, the
body of Christ is not as strong as it could be. Small groups are often the heartbeat of
relational discipleship in a church that is growing and missional like that of Thessalonica.
Therefore, we are developing and moving forward in our church ministry toward the rhythm of
small group discipleship that provides personal and shared spiritual growth and support. We
will start by using a resource written by Michael Frost (from New Zealand) entitled: “Surprise
the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People”. We will begin the small group
experience the last week of March (from March 26
th
the first Sunday), going until May 14
th
.
The Small Groups will be composed of 3-6 people, and will meet wherever and whenever
works best for them. After this time of focus, the small group experience during the summer
can be determined by the group, but the summer will be a time of fun, informal and supportive
gathering, activity or service project according to the creativity of each group. The rhythm of
small group focus will then come again in the fall from late September to early November.
The idea is that small group focused meetings will have two seasons of study/support each
year. Small groups may grow and multiply, and people may also switch groups for reasons of
timing, availability and getting to know others. The goal is that we will grow in faith and love
for Christ, one another and the world we are called to witness within. To do this, it is critical
that we grow in the missional habits that are essential as the Body of Christ. Michael Frost
identifies these as: (B.E.L.L.S.)
Bless People
Eat with People
Listen to God by Praying
Learn from God by Studying Scripture
Serve God in being sent to serve people
Currently, the deacons of the church and members of the Ministry Team will be
active in small groups and therefore invite you to participate. Youth will also be
encouraged by Frances Paxton, as she will be finding out when teens may meet
for support. There will be couples who meet with one another. Men may meet as
a group and women may also meet with one another. Young adults are
encouraged. If you are curious or interested, why don’t you give this some prayer
and talk with others about it. At the very minimum, you will be blessed by the
theme during worship and our conversations following worship. Yet to have the
full effect of the small group experience, it takes a close bond of prayer and
support.
Copies of the book are available at the church, and on Amazon Kindle. The
formation of small groups is now the critical responsibility of each of us. This is
not a “Top-Down” formation where assignments are made. This is a “Grass-roots”
movement where we talk with one another and seek the leading of God. We
believe that the best movements of God involve people coming together in the
name of Jesus Christ for growth in faith and love. If you need help with making
connections, myself and other church leaders will assist and help you make
connections.
The beauty of this series, as it will be supported also by our discussions following
worship in our “Growing Together” times, is the focus upon “Being the Body of
Christ in the world”. These are small groups that will grapple with real life issues
as they will help us with support and accountability. The Apostle Paul’s continued
words to the Thessalonians lead us to approach our desire to grow as God’s
people with constant and abiding prayer.
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you
worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your
every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We
pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and
you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2
Thessalonians 1:11-12
To surprise the world, we are called to grow together in such a way that it is
evident and attractive. The presence and power of Christian love is what we are
called to embody and express. B.E.L.L.S. is a way to engage in personal growth
and shared evangelism. Prayer and personal devotion supported in small groups
is the key.
Pastor Scott T. Arnold
Listen to the Lord - September 2016
4
Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from
me, and my justice for a light to the peoples.
5
I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my
salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and
for my arm they hope.
6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for
the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who
live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will
never be ended. - Isaiah 51:4-6
God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the people and nation of Israel. Isaiah was not the
most popular prophet of his times. In fact, people avoided him. All the false and popular
prophets gave people the deceitful message that Israel would overcome the Babylonians and
prosper again. Instead of confronting the nation for their disobedience to God, the making and
worshipping of idols, the oppression of the poor and the exploitation of workers; the false
prophets pandered to the wealthy and gained places of influence and prestige. Isaiah, on the
other hand, remained faithful to God and independent from political trappings. By keeping his
integrity as a prophet of God, Isaiah could speak truthfully and objectively about the problems
besetting Israel and the peoples of all nations. God would speak through Isaiah to the greater
need for listening to the Lord amidst many conflicting voices. Israel was so absorbed in its own
pursuits that it wasn’t heeding the gravity of their spiritual disobedience and resulting brokenness
through injustice. The message of the Lord through Isaiah confronted people about the
social/spiritual nature of sin, while still calling people to personally seek God’s salvation in one’s
heart through faith and demonstrated honestly through one’s deeds. The power of God’s light is
genuine when it is evident within people such that it lends the brightness of God’s reign to all
people of every nation. Yet in Isaiah’s time there were so many phonies and such great
corruption that God could not let Israel continue in its deceit and disarray. Babylon would
eventually be God’s tool to disperse and discipline unfaithful Israel. To Babylon they would be
taken captive and made to use their talents and exercise their faith.
In the times we live in today, the faith community is conflicted in the area of religion and
politics. People talk about being liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, left or right.
Fact is, God is not interested in what “party” one belongs to, or what label people wear. God is
interested in the heart and soul, one’s character and actions, faith and works. The Old Testament
prophets were most effective when they did not choose political factions to side with, but instead
focused upon following the word and Spirit of Yahweh their God. This seldom equated to their
popularity, nor was it expedient for personal or political gain. People who claim faith in God
should learn from this and not seek to align themselves in ways that are inconsistent with the
core values of the Judeo/Christian covenant. Jesus called his disciples to be “in the world, but not
of the world”. That’s the tension, the reality of our imperfect world. The noble thing for a
believer to do is not be silent or to let apathy lead to inaction.
Providentially, in the big picture, God’s message endured through Isaiah and Jeremiah,
and the vision God gave them still speaks volumes of truth into our times and for the future of
humankind. At the heart of their message was the call: “Listen to the Lord”. This was how their
calling began and was their invitation to the world they would be ordained to reach. “Listen to
me, my people.. Give heed.. My justice for a light to the peoples.” Without justice, without
applying God’s word to life, the light of God’s truth and grace is hindered. God brings true justice,
not corrupted humanity. God can be trusted to deliver, not the arm of man. Salvation and
judgment is from the maker and redeemer of life. People will find the “arm” of human endeavor
to fail, but when one places their trust in the “arm” of the Lord, there is salvation, justice and
hope. While even the heavens will “vanish like smoke” and the “earth will wear out like a
garment” and “the people will die like gnats”, these are images that humble us so that we may
seek God so as to be liberated for salvation, placing our faith in the loving redeeming arms of God.
We are reminded by the prophet to live for God’s eternal Kingdom, “my salvation will be
forever”.. “my deliverance will never be ended.”
Jesus put it this way :
19
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;
20
but store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break
in and steal.
21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-
21 (NRSV)
Friends, what is your treasure? Where is your heart? How are you living? God
the Heavenly Father has invited us to new life in Jesus Christ, who is the saving arm of the
Lord.
Pastor Scott Arnold
The Fig Tree - July 2016 - Column by Pastor Scott Arnold
Michael Frost is a pastor and missiologist from Sydney, Australia. The church he serves has
developed five habits that are missional, and these practices have brought about seismic impact
upon their community and are influencing the growth of a new mission movement. I had an
opportunity to hear and meet Michael Frost earlier this month at Northern Seminary in Chicago.
The funny thing is that I had bought his book “The Five Habits of Missional People” back in
January, and was reading it on the airplane to Chicago when it dawned on me that he was the one
I was going to hear give a message in just a few days. The essential message of Pastor Michael is
that the church of our time is no longer the Christendom of old, we are basically in a new era of
Post-Christendom. This does not mean that the church is no longer essential and vital, but what it
does mean is that the values and philosophies within our world are not as influenced by the Bible
or the institution of the church. In the Bible, the people of Israel experienced such a time when
they were brought into exile. The values and philosophies they encountered were challenging to
their faith, but in the midst of their challenges God was moving to extend their witness and
mission. Where once they were content to keep the faith to themselves, now they were being led
into another place, to other people, to share their faith. In a similar way, when we engage in
sharing our faith beyond the church and into conversations and connections we make with our
neighbors and within the places we go, we are among a diverse culture that requires faithfulness
and an intentional pursuit to be kind, gracious and Christ-like. Missional practices are essential if
the church is to shine the light of Jesus Christ. We can no longer assume that people will come to
check out our church until they first want to check-out what makes us “different”. The witness of
our time, and of any time really, is that Christians are “different” in being “born-again” through
faith in Jesus Christ. This difference is what the world needs and what makes us “salt” and “light”.
This difference of knowing, loving and serving as Jesus leads us, is the defining element of who we
are personally and as a church. Each week I see our church family growing and moving in this
direction and it is exciting. We are practicing our community life together on Sunday mornings
and in gathering times and small groups. I hope that we can continue to grow and learn from the
Five Habits of Missional People, and they are:
Bless - I will bless three people this week, at least one of whom is not a member of our church.
Eat – I will eat with three people this week, at least one of whom is not a member of our church.
Listen – I will spend at least one period of the week listening for the Spirit’s voice.
Learn – I will spend at least one period of the week learning Christ.
Sent – I will journal throughout the week about all the ways I alerted others to the universal reign
of God through Christ. (Along with this, people met in groups of three for Discipleship, Nurture
and Accountability – D.N.A.)
Let’s continue to discover how God is working in our times, calling us to reach the world through
practical acts of kindness. We may seem to be in “exile” from what is familiar to us, but God is
with us so that we may discern the leading of the Spirit as Missional people.
- Scott
The Fig Tree - June 2016 - Column by Pastor Scott Arnold
“Deeper Ground” - Pastor’s Column (also called the “Fig Tree”)
1
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me
beside quiet waters,
3
he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name's
sake.
4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your
rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6
Surely your goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
A few years ago I was at a conference where one of the workshops explored the 23
rd
Psalm.
Instead of the academic approach the leader gave us this instruction: Go out to a place in the
camp where you can read the Psalm as often as you like. Write down notes. Read only as far as
you will write notes for. Be back here in an hour with your notes.
People found all sorts of interesting places to sit on a bright sunny day next to the lake, in gardens
or in wooded areas. What everyone discovered was that they could not hurry through reading the
Psalm. They began to write about each word in the Psalm that spoke to them. For some, the
word “Lord” caused great consideration about their own faith and trust in Jesus Christ as “Lord”.
“Shepherd” was a common place of meditation and reflection. “My” and “I” made a personal
appeal for others. “He makes me lie down in green pastures” was a great reminder of the
essential need for rest and recovery. “He leads me beside quiet waters” was a call to deeper
reflection. Throughout the Psalm there were many who discovered great treasures of assurance,
truth and wisdom. God worked to reveal His presence and encourage people to deeper faith
through His Spirit speaking into people’s times of quiet and open contemplation.
One word that jumped out to me at the beginning of the Psalm was “Is”, “The Lord is”.. Before
anything was created, God exists as creator and Lord. Starting in June we will embark on a
journey in the Psalms with the title “GOD IS: Experiencing God’s Spirit in the Psalms”. “God
Is” will start on June 12
th
and go into September. Pray that we will grow in the counsel
and filling of God’s Holy Spirit, becoming more deeply responsive to the presence and
working of God. “God Is” will explore the nature of God and the blessings of taking time
to acknowledge and be open to what it means to experience God and be led by God as
our Lord and Good Shepherd. Starting from Psalm 1 and going one Psalm at a time, we
will start a journey that can be repeated in future summers (as the Spirit leads). What we
discover is that God is experienced in the Scriptures. We must take the time to
contemplate, be still, and listen to the voice of God’s Holy Spirit. The still waters and the
green pastures of summer are calling for us to greater knowledge, refreshing and
grounded application.
Pastor Scott Arnold
Tree – April 1 2016 -
by Pastor Scott Arnold
Psalm 40:
1
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
2
He lifted me out
of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to
stand.
3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.Many will see and fear the
Lord and put their trust in him.
4
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,who does not look to
the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
5
Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have
done,the things you planned for us. None can compare with you;were I to speak and tell of your
deeds, they would be too many to declare.
Did God hear the cry of Jesus on the cross? Yes.
Did God hear the cry of Mary for her son? Yes.
Did God hear the cry of disciples who failed their Lord? Yes.
Did God hear the cry of Stephen, the first martyr, when he was stoned for sharing His vision of
seeing Jesus? Yes. Does God hear the cries of people today? Yes.
What is it that you cry out to God for? We are promised in Psalm 40 that our patience in waiting
upon the Lord will be rewarded. First, God hears and understands our concerns, feelings,
situation and trials. Second, God will lift us up and out of dire and sticky situations. God is able to
set us on a firm foundation amidst changes and problems in the world. Furthermore, God renews
our souls with joy and peace, the inspiration of God’s Spirit gives us reason and revelation to
praise the Lord. This song and life of praising God amidst difficulties and trials then becomes our
testimony. “Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him”.
The witness of the faithful leads to those observing being moved by God’s Spirit. Just yesterday,
Marilyn and I went to the musical “The Sound of Music” at the Boston Opera House. The music
and story is uplifting for faith. One key turning point is when the father, Captain Von Trapp, hears
his children sing “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music”. The sweet beauty of his children’s
voices turns his broken heart back to life again. He had been mourning the death of his first wife
and was trying to exert exact discipline for his children without really listening to them or heading
his own unresolved grief. The new song of his children, taught by their new governess, Maria,
broke through to reveal the call of renewing faith, hope and love that he was trying to avoid.
Maria, in the midst of seeking to be faithful to God, learned to wait patiently for the Lord. The
witness of God’s healing power, even in the midst of the family’s having to find escape from the
Nazi’s in Austria, leads them on a journey. The family performs their songs of faith, hope and love
with the backdrop of a curtain full of red Nazi flags. The contrast is so vivid as Captain Von Trapp
and Maria sing “Edelweiss” (a prayer and blessing of peace); the message is like that of Psalm
40:4.
4
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who
turn aside to false gods. In the times we are living in we are to be faithful and loving, trusting in
the Lord. May we be patient, prayerful and persistent in serving God and declaring His greatness.
Indeed, greatness is not found in might but in doing what is right and pleasing to God.
By the way, praise God! We had 91 people (62 last year) in worship on Resurrection Sunday
(Easter). God is moving in and through the people of First Baptist Church of Bedford. Pastor
Scott Arnold
THE FIG TREE (February 29, 2016)
Up until now I have named my article for the First Baptist Church of Bedford’s newsletter
“Peaceful Pines”, but now a prompting from God’s Word and Spirit has led me to a new
name “The Fig Tree”. Why? The Lord brought to my attention an important parable from
Luke 13:6-9.
6
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went
to look for fruit on it but did not find any.
7
So he said to the man who took care of the
vineyard, ‘For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and
haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8
“‘Sir,’ the man replied,
‘leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.
9
If it bears fruit
next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 NIV)
What is the application of this passage? Historically, it was to be applied to Israel and
Jesus interceding for the salvation of God’s covenant with the people of Israel. From this
time on in the Gospels, Jesus worked with intensity as he “dug in” and “fertilized” the
ground of Judea, Galilee and Samaria with the ministry and message of the Gospel of
God’s Kingdom. Jesus urgently worked, and called His disciples to join Him in the work, of
proclaiming and serving for the fruit of saved/redeemed souls for God’s Kingdom. Jesus
intercedes for us between God the Father, the landowner. Jesus ultimately gave himself
for our salvation. The fruit of Jesus’ very ministry and work brought about an increase of
those being saved through the fruit of salvation given from His death and resurrection.
Fast forward several thousand years, and now the Church is being looked at by Jesus.
Christ has hope for the Church, but the Church and its branches are not bearing the fruit
that God expects. We may have green leaves and the semblance of life, but the fruit is
quite lacking in many branches. God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son are calling the
Church to give more effort to grow, dig into our contexts and ground of community, love
our neighbors, spread some “manure” (grace and truth), roll up our sleeves and get
messy in ministry. God is calling us to do more than maintain the nice appearance of the
fig tree (the church), God is calling us to develop and extend the ministries of the church.
Jesus calls us to “Seek First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” and then “all
these things shall be added unto you”. Fruit will come forth, life will be born of the work
of ministry in God’s people and into the places where we are being sent.
In the parable, the gardener appeals for one more year. Here at First Baptist we have to
realize the urgency of our financial limitations, but also recognize the opportunity that
God is giving us. Now is not the time to despair, now is the time to have hope and work
toward new possibilities. Gardening and ministry are similar. It is not rocket science, it is
“down to earth” hard work. The results and rewards, however, are heavenly. We need
not look at our digging and fertilizing as lowly, but see that in everything we do, God may
be glorified.
“The Fig Tree”: that’s what our very church is like. Will we and other churches take the
responsibility to respond to God’s concern and accountability? Will we respond to the
challenge and urgency of bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ? Will we take the extra
effort to reach out and share Jesus with others and invite them to our fellowship, to
worship, to dinner, to a small group in our homes, to an event of the church? Will we see
that wherever we go we are to fertilize the places we are sent with the example and
character of Christ?
How much time do any of us have? How much time did Jesus have? His passion for the
salvation of humanity teaches us not to become passive or complacent. Now is the time
for us to shine, we only have a short time on this earth. There is a window of time yet
before God sends Christ again to the earth for the judgment of humanity.
Jesus calls the Church to a greater hope for the Fruit God will grant as we work together
under His Grace and mercy.
The Life and ministry of Jesus, especially in His last year, teaches us to “pick up our cross”
and follow Him and His example.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. May we follow Jesus in giving of ourselves for
others.
Pastor Scott Arnold
Peaceful Pines (December - Christmas 2015)
Christmas 2015 (Dr. Scott T. Arnold - Pastor FBC Bedford, MA)
Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV) 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ
Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to
his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! _9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“I’m only human, born to make mistakes” were the words of a popular song from the 80’s. There is a deep
longing and desire among humanity for mercy, grace and redemption. With this longing there is also a search
for truth, justice and goodness. Why do we care about grace and truth if there is no God, if life is simply a
matter of one’s experiences or personal definitions? The conscience within us, and the conscience of our
shared human experience, speaks of our nature having greater connections and implications than merely
being human. In Genesis, God said: “Let us create man in our image.” In the complexity of human
redemption, God gave people free will, and set forth a creative and wondrous plan of salvation. In Christ
Jesus the charity and love, grace and truth of God was revealed. People in our modern world may wonder
about the origin of charity and good will that is celebrated among Christians at Christmas and at all times?
The Apostle Paul’s teaching from Philippians 2 leads us to understand that God desires we have the mindset
of Christ Jesus in our relationships with one another. This very mindset of Jesus was revolutionary and
continues to challenge humanity toward peace, kindness, forgiveness, justice, grace and transformation.
The origin of Jesus’ mindset, teaching and deeds are connected to His divine identity and nature. The name
God gives to Joseph for this divinely conceived son is “Jesus”, which means “Savior”. The other name given
is “Emmanuel” which means “God with us”. The mind of God was placed within humanity in a new, pure and
perfect way. While Jesus did not have perfect parents, He did have a direct relationship to His Heavenly
Father and the Holy Spirit, and He spoke about this often. Jesus was born in a simple stable, but was
heralded by angels and a starry host. Jesus was a danger to King Herod’s power regime, yet Wise Men
came from afar to behold Him. Jesus did not set up a political stronghold in his ministry, instead he overcame
spiritual strongholds through His victory over sin and death upon the cross and through His resurrection.
While His mission led to the cross, through His life He revealed the very mind, personality, character and
heart of God His Father. Jesus also revealed His own unique and divine character as God’s Son. One can
truly say that imperfect humanity was confronted, loved and transformed by this encounter with the perfect
Son of God who came into the form and culture of imperfect humanity. We take note, in the midst of our
imperfect lives, culture, relationships and world that Jesus gives us a new way of looking at the world, a new
way of relating to God, a fulfillment of the Judaic Covenant with God.
What is remarkable, according to Paul’s letter to the Philippians and within the gospel accounts, is the
humility of Jesus. In the unique and unselfish mindset of Jesus, He did not consider forcing his own divinely
given authority upon humanity. Instead, Jesus humbled himself in trusting His Heavenly Father to be with Him
as He first took the role of servant/shepherd and physician. His rule as Lord would have to wait. Jesus was
sent into humanity as the servant/king whose mission was both the salvation and redemption of humanity.
Though only a few knees bowed at Jesus’ birth, the historical impact of the ministry of Jesus resurrected has
led to a great host of redeemed witnesses. In the fullness of time “every knee shall bow and every tongue will
confess.” Christ Jesus’ willing obedience to come and serve in His life, death and resurrection leads us to one
of several responses:
(1) Faith and adoration proclaimed in worship and commitment to God’s Heavenly Kingdom; or,
(2) Doubt and denial that will be eventually confronted by the reality of the eventual triumph as Lord and King
at His Second Coming.
The point here is this, God has given a direct and personal revelation in Jesus Christ. Believing and
coming to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is God’s desire for salvation. Christmas is certainly a time of
“Peace on earth, good will to human kind”. It is also a time of proclamation, “For to you a Savior is born who is
Christ the Lord”.
Pastor Scott Arnold
Peaceful Pines (September 2015 article)
How can we redeem time? Many people approach the end of the summer and the beginning of fall
with some sadness and a bit of trepidation. We long for more time of unpressured pace, a little more
time with family or friends outdoors at a beach or barbeque. Then there is the joy of walking on a
beach or forest, or upon the rocky shores of the ocean. We were made to adventure, discover and be
renewed in God’s creation. We were made to enjoy times together and times in solitude. The end of
summer reminds us that our time is limited, we are mortal.
On a practical level, we wish the schedule of September leading into the holidays didn’t have to
become so demanding between all the competing interests and expectations. Time is a precious gift
and so how we use it is very important. Somewhere in the midst of our busy-ness, or our creation of
stress, we might ask God how we can redeem the time we are given. The answer may seem rather
simple, but it comes from the first of the Ten Commandments and the very teaching of Jesus: “Love
the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus was
referencing Deuteronomy 4:29 - “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if
you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Consider also the first commandment: “You
shall have no other gods before me.” Deuteronomy 5:7. The application is this, we often place others
things in sharper focus than the Lord our God. When we allow the worries and pressures of life to
dominate, it can affect our faith and love for God, others and ourselves. Being active and busy is not
the problem alone, the issue is a matter of priorities and perspective. We are called to a balance in life
where God wants us to find fullness beginning with our devotional and relational life. God the Father
communes with us through Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit. This communion has seasons
and changes, but there is a consistency to the eternal love of God.
This August, our Vacation Bible School “Multicultural VBS” messages involved several key points:
1). God is Real 2). God is Love 3). God is Forgiving and 4). God is eternal. When the children came
to the last day, it was explained to them that first we have faith to trust in God’s real presence, then we
trust in God’s love, we go on to trust that Jesus died for our sins on the cross to forgive us, and we
then trust that by faith we can receive Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Spirit by faith to give us new life
and lead us to eternal life. The key response of the children to each of these lessons was “BELIEVE
IT”. When we believe and trust God with all of life, it makes all the difference. This is the secret to
dealing with stress and discovering ways to redeem and enjoy life.
Jesus said: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to
you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day
has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34
Peaceful Pines (August 2015)
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive
the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the
gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who
as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was
appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans
1:1-5
Over and over again, the news is often rife with stories of human brokenness and humanity’s
inhumanity. God our creator is not pleased with the presence and result of sin and suffering. There
are those who would disclaim God as being real or being irrelevant. Nothing could be further from the
truth. God has set into place a work of redeeming lost humanity, which was made in His image. God
is able to take our ruin and brokenness and redeem, restore and transform us through His love and
grace. The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ is the hope and promise of God’s redeeming love. God, in the
fullness of time, revealed love and forgiveness, truth and the way of life through Jesus Christ His Son,
personally.
In the next couple of months we will start a series on Romans 1-4, with the specific theme being
“Growing Together in Grace and Truth”, this is part of a book project that I am working on:
“Redemption Road – Hope Beyond Ruin in an Urban World”. In the weeks ahead I am looking
forward to having you share insights that will help in this project, each discussion group after
worship can write down key points that will help highlight what we learn as we enter God’s word
together.
The redemptive work of Christ and the Body of Believers in the Church is vitally needed. Just as ruin
in our society and for individuals is not simply a personal matter, so too redemption is not simply a
personal matter. We need to rediscover the redeeming ministry of being in community, sharing
support and resources for the sake of healing, forgiveness, transformation and growth.
In the passage from James 1.12 we see that redemptive hope in overcoming trials and tests in part of
God’s grace to help us grow closer to God and one another in believing God’s promises and seeing
the answer to our perseverance.
In the passage from Romans 1:1-5 we note that God calls the most surprising people to do great
things. Paul was not exactly the most likely candidate for sharing the Gospel. He was once pursuing
Christians to stop the spread of Jesus’ teaching. Little did he know that Jesus was pursuing him, and
that the Lord would come to reveal Himself in glory, grace and truth and then change his heart and
mind. Paul experienced a 180 degree turn, a reorientation through an encounter with the living and
resurrected Jesus Christ. From then on, the Scriptures were understood in a new light, and the Spirit
of God was upon him with “good news” of salvation in the message empowered by the atoning death
and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How does this all matter to our times? Why should I care about being involved? This all matters
because redemption is God’s plan over ruin. God wants us to live in redemptive grace and truth, to
be transformed and to make a difference. God wants us to discover how Jesus can make all the
difference both personally and in our interpersonal relationships. God wants us to come to a deeper
walk of faith whereby we are filled and overflowing with His redeeming grace, mercy and peace. God
desires that His people stand firm in faith, hope and love. Let’s grow together and bring others along
in this Redemption Road.
Worship - 10:00 A.M. Sunday
Growing Together - 11:15 A.M. Sundays
2019
SHINE: Spiritual Gifts:
January 6
th
, 2019 “God’s
purpose and plan for Spiritual
Gifts” Series: “Spiritual Gifts:
Serve and SHINE” Part 1
Ephesians 4:1-13 and
Matthew 5:14-16
January 13, 2019 “S.H.I.N.E.”
Spiritual Gifts. Series: “Spiritual
Gifts: Serve and SHINE” Part
2Scripture: Romans 6:8-14 and
Romans 12:1-2
January 27
th
, 2019 “S- Spirit of
God” Your relationship with
God.” Series: “Spiritual Gifts:
Serve and SHINE” Part 3
Scripture: I Corinthians 12:1-7
February 3rd, 2019 “H-Helps”
Your relationship with others.”
Series: “Spiritual Gifts: Serve and
SHINE” Part 4 I Corinthians
12:7-11 and Romans 12:9-21
February 10th, 2019 (ANNUAL
MEETING) “I – Inspire” Change
and Transformation” Series:
“Spiritual Gifts: Serve and
SHINE” part 5 Ephesians 4:15-
16 and Romans 8:5-17
February 17
th
, 2019 “N-
Needed” Readiness and
Commitment. : “Spiritual Gifts:
Serve and SHINE” Part 6
Hebrews 5:1-14
February 24
th
, 2019 “E-
Expression” Learning and
growing by doing.” Spiritual
Gifts: Serve and SHINE” Part 7
Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 5:1-5
March 3rd, 2019 “God’s
Kingdom Work: The Body of
Christ in the world” Spiritual
Gifts: Serve and SHINE” Part 8
I Corinthians 12:12-30 & Romans
8:18-39
March 10
th
, 2019 “C.A.R.E.
(Commitment, Accountability,
Respect, Encouragement)”
“Spiritual Gifts: Serve and
SHINE” Part 9. I Peter 4:7-19
and I Corinthians 14:1-12
March 17th, 2019 “Gratitude,
Appreciation and Humility in
Serving God.” Spiritual Gifts:
Serve and SHINE” Part 10.
Scriptures: Philippians 1:1-11
and I Timothy 4:11-16 (Al
Chisholm preaching)
March 24
th
, 2019 “I am the
Bread of Life” (Part 1) John 6:35
Series: “I AM” : The Eternal
Existential Jesus”
March 31st, 2019 “I am the
Light of the World” (part 2)
Scripture: John 8:12 Series: “I
AM” : The Eternal Existential
Jesus”
April 7
th
, 2019 “I am the
Gate”(Part 3) John 10:9 Series:
“I AM” : The Eternal Existential
Jesus”
April 14 , 2019 PALM SUNDAY
Sermon: “I am the True Vine”
(Part 4) John 15:1 Series: “I
AM”: The Eternal Existential
Jesus”
April 21, 2019 Resurrection
Sunday “I am the Good
Shepherd” (Part 5) Series: “I
AM” : The Eternal Existential
Jesus” John 10:11
April 28, 2019 Sermon: “I am
the Resurrection and the Life”
(Part 6) John 11:25 Series: “I
AM” : The Eternal Existential
Jesus”
May 5, 2019 Sermon: “I am the
way, the truth and the life.”
(Part 7) John 14:6 Series: “I
AM” : The Eternal Existential
Jesus”
May 12, 2019 Mother’s Day.
Kevin Mickel preaching.
May 19, 2019 I am with you
always, to the end of the age.”
(Part 8) Series: “I AM” : The
Eternal Existential Jesus”
Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20
May 26, 2019 Memorial Day
Sunday. Legacy: “An Old Well
with an Eternal Spring”. (Part 9)
Series: “I AM”: The Eternal
Existential Jesus”. John 4:19-26
June 2, 2019 “I am the Alpha
and the Omega” Eternal
Existential Jesus, part 10.
Revelation 22. and Daniel 7
June 9, 2019 Prayer: Deepening
Life Together: “The Priority of
Prayer” Part 1