05.30.07

HEADED SOUTH OF THE BORDER…

Posted in Church Events, All at 2:54 pm by Pastor Bill

We are going on a mission trip to Mexico! This July 7-14 a group from our church will be joining a group from Bethel Baptist Church in Parkersburg WV to assist missionaries and a local pastor in Guadalajara Mexico. We are excited about this since it is our first missions trip for our church family.

Our primary focus will be to assist the local church in Guadalajara to contact local residents of outlying villages. We will have a ministry for children and families, to introduce them to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to inform them of their need for a savior. Many of these people have their own religion, but one which does not lead to eternal life since it is based on human works for acceptance with God.

Many people would fault followers of Christ for attempting to sway people who have their own religion and are satisfied with it. This comes from the mistaken belief that all religions are equally valid, and that all roads will eventually lead to God. This teaching is directly in opposition to what God has said in His word. Jesus himself told us in John 14:6 that “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, nobody comes to the Father, except thorough me.” We read in Acts 4:12 that Peter confessed…”there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given to men, by which we must be saved” as he preached about Jesus and His death and resurrection. The apostle Paul reminds us that “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men…” who is Jesus Christ. (1 Tim.2:5)

If what the Bible says is true, all who have ‘their own religion’ that does not confess Jesus as Lord and rely upon His atoning death and resurrection for salvation are ’still in their sins’ and are doomed to an eternity in hell. How compassionate is it to have the ‘way, truth and life’ and to not share it with those who need it? This is our calling as believers, to be God’s ambassadors, bringing the message of reconciliation and peace with God. (1 Cor.5:18-21, Rom.5:1, 8:1)

Please pray for us as we prepare for this mission, that we would go in the power and leading of God’s Holy Spirit. This is not our mission, it is God’s, and we must be prepared to go and speak as He leads us. Pray that we would be faithful, and that God will provide for our needs. Pray that God will open our eyes and hearts to the needs of the people that we meet, and that we would truly be His hands and feet, and witnesses of His grace and mercy. Pray that God’s word will be powerful and effective!  Thank you! We will keep you updated on this site as the trip commences.

God bless you!

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05.16.07

Confused about gender roles?

Posted in Biblical Reflections, All, Theology, Controversy, In The News... at 2:18 pm by Pastor Bill

So many people in our world are confused about gender and the ‘proper’ roles and responsibilities of men and women.  Some see great differences between the sexes, but the trend in our day is to deny any distinctions or differences of roles, labeling them as a product of society or culture.

What does God say about this?  Does the Bible indicate that God has established various responsibilities and roles to male and female?  He certainly does, from Genesis to Revelation, but unfortunately many well-meaning but “issue driven” religious people have ignored or distorted the scriptures to develop an egalitarian perspective on the sexes.

Fortunately, there is a great website dedicated to clearly explaining what the scriptures truly express on our God given roles and responsibilities.   You can access them by clicking here or from the links section on the right of this page.  They are the ‘Council on Biblical manhood and womanhood”.  These godly men and women have waded through the issues and rightly apply scripture to the society in which we live today.

Make no mistake, these are not simple issues.  We are constantly bombarded by the media and our culture to accept any and all forms of sexual expression.  Our children are taught in school that there are no proper roles for men and women, and that there are no ’standard’ forms of families or relationships.  We are told by sociologists and psychiatrists that our gender is not determined by our physical makeup, but by what we choose to be.

I encourage you to check out this excellent website that lovingly presents the Biblical model that God has established.  I also encourage you to carefully examine the Bible passages that are used to present various view on these issues, and pray that God, by His Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and insight to comprehend how He has formed us and how He desires us to live in the relationships and roles that please Him.

God bless you in your journey!

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05.01.07

Don’t confuse us with the ‘HYDE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH’…

Posted in Church Events, All at 6:44 pm by Pastor Bill

…of Austin Texas. (Here is their website if you were trying to find them…www.hpbc.org) To those of you who are familiar with our church, the HYDE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH of Cincinnati Ohio, this may sound like an invented dilemma. Those who are most likely to confuse us with the aforementioned church in Austin Texas are internet users. It’s odd how even if you google Hyde Park Baptist in either Cincinnati or Austin, you will still get some hits for the other church. Idiosyncrasies of the internet!

A church you probably will never confuse us with is perhaps the largest church in our area, Crossroads community church. (Here’s their site…www.crossroadscommunity.net ) We are vastly different in size, ministry and treatment of the scriptures. Our sermons are available on our website, as are theirs, and it only takes a cursory listen to gain a perspective on our varying beliefs about the Word of God, and our treatment of God himself in respect to reverence and exaltation.

Whether you live in Austin Texas, Cincinnati Ohio or Nome Alaska, have you committed yourself to being a dedicated member of a local body of Christian believers? God’s word makes it clear that we are saved to serve, and Christ has given His church as a gift to every believer. Your spiritual gift(s) are given to you to use in serving others. I trust that you will earnestly search out a local church where you can be fed and led, and also glorify God by serving others with you time, talents and finances. (Oh yeah, we had to include money in there somewhere!)

If you are part of a true community of believers where you can serve and be ministered to by the Word of God and the Love of Christians, take a minute to thank God for His incredible gift to you. Many people are not blessed with a true family of believers. Pray for them also!

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