Problem, solved (announcements for April 24)
Hi everyone,
This week at prayer meeting, we looked at Romans 3:9-20. These are grim verses that show the problem of human sin in stark reality. We learn that:
1. Sin is a universal problem.
Sin affects everyone. The Jews sinned against God’s law written in the Bible. The Greeks have sinned against God’s law written on their hearts. “None is righteous, no not one.”
2. Sin is a comprehensive problem.
Sin fills every nook and cranny of our live: our mind, our desires, our relationships, our speech, our actions, our lifestyle, and our fundamental principles.
3. Sin is a final problem.
There is no excuse, no explanation, no mitigating factor, no exterminating circumstance. You are a sinner, you deserve eternal hell. God tells us this so that our “mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.”
4. Sin is a solved problem.
This passage shows that the solution is not in us. Happily, the very next verse (Romans 3:21) begins with “But…” Paul is about to tell us that Christ is God’s solution to an otherwise unsolvable problem.
Sincerely,
Pastor Goligher
The Lord’s Day
Sunday school is at 9:45am. This week, in adult Sunday school class, we will keep learning about the life of Herman Bavinck, a Reformed theologian from the Netherlands.
The morning service is at 11:00am. The sermon will be “Gentle Giants,” from Galatians 5:23.
The evening service is at 5:00pm. The sermon will be “Deacons” from Acts 6:1-7
Through the Week
Prayer Meeting is on Wednesday evening at 7:15pm, at church and on Zoom.
Ladies’ Bible Study meets Thursday at 7pm, on Zoom. The study is based on Nancy Guthrie, The Lamb of God. This week’s study is “Plagues and Passover” (Exodus 5-12). Complete the Personal Bible Study (pages 65-70).
Men’s Bible Study meets Thursday at 8:15pm, on Zoom. The study is based on Kevin Deyoung, Crazy Busy.
New Mercy Team Members
Two new ladies have been added to the Mercy Ministry Team, Lydia Bergman and Sofiya Joseph. They join Suzy Anvar and Debbie Hernandez on the team. Naomi Vallis is stepping down from the team. We are thankful for Naomi’s service to our congregation over the past several years.
Camping in May
On Friday, May 13, we have a group campsite reserved at Joseph D. Grant County Park. We will aim to arrive at dinner-time on Friday, and then enjoy spending Saturday together, and then head home after sharing a late afternoon meal. If you are planning to come, please RSVP to Scott Porter.
Fellowship Lunches for May and June
For just these two months, we will hold fellowship lunches on the fourth Sunday of the month, one week later than usual.
Book Review
It’s Good to Be a Man by Michael Foster and Bnonn Tennant (Canon Press, 2021). Reviewed by Brian Mark.
Besides discussing various aspects of manhood applicable to all times, this book discusses sociological matters discussed currently, specifically patriarchy and toxic masculinity. The authors approach manhood from a biblical perspective, thus the various components of manhood addressed are discussed from a broader perspective than is commonly viewed in the current secular, and perhaps Christian, environment.
The authors’ intent was to write this book for men of all ages to describe a genuine Godly man, but also to help those living with deficiencies to correct them. Marriage was the last topic discussed and the authors justified this arrangement. They state there is much a man needs to know or develop within his own life before he considers marriage.
While the masculine characteristics discussed here should be taught to adolescents, I don’t think an adolescent reading this book would fully comprehend the authors’ arguments. Probably due to my age, I can better understand these arguments partially due to personal experience or due to observation of society during these past decades.
In my opinion, people who might benefit from reading this book include:
- Fathers
- Grandfathers, uncles, or other family males who have influence in children existing within their family.
- Fatherless young adult men - single or married
- Men (like me) who have never learned some, or all, of these principles or who have never learned about manhood from these authors’ broader perspective
- Women who may want to understand manhood from a perspective I think is not well known today.