10.05.06
Posted in Church Events, All, Book Reviews at 3:08 pm by Pastor Bill
Our church family is getting ready to begin a process of intensive self-examination by going through a Bible study entitled ‘Changed into His Image”. My wife and I took this course a few years ago at our last church and it was the single best series we have ever participated in, as far as making real change in our daily living for Jesus. Here at Hyde Park Baptist Church, we just finished up our Autumn Spiritual Retreat with the theme of “Jesus and His true disciples” based on Luke 9:23. Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”.
This new series, ‘Changed into his image’ is written by Jim Berg and will be a great follow up to our retreat theme. If you live in the Cincinnati area I encourage you to join us for this journey. We will be starting on Wednesday, October 18th. Please contact the church if you would like to order materials for the course, which include the textbook and a workbook.
The face and impact of Christianity in America would be radically changed for the better if each one of us devoted ourselves to being changed into the image of our savior, Jesus Christ. I encourage you to follow Him closely, and to go where He is leading.
Our church address is…Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3460 Michigan avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
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03.21.06
Posted in All, Book Reviews at 5:57 pm by Pastor Bill
This is the title of a great book and also a description of our Church and our approach to ministry. The book is written by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander. It addresses the shortcomings of the various ‘models’ of ministry, including the purpose driven, postmodern, emergent, and house-church fads. The premise of the book is that God will build His church His way, on His Word, the gospel. Our focus in ministry must be God-ward, not man-ward. If our focus is truly God-ward, we will of couse be involved in ministry to men and women, but we will not allow their opinions or ‘felt-needs’ to determine our approach to ministry. Only God knows the ‘true-needs’ of mankind, and He addresses all of them in His word, and by His Spirit, often using believers to share in those needs. We must treat people with compassion and respect, while giving God His rightful place as Master and King.
The measure of our success as a church is not our size, our finances, our programs or our acceptance by the community, but our success is gauged by our faithfulness to preaching and living God’s word.
What is the focus of your church? How do you measure success? Where does your power come from?
Romans 1:16… “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation, for everyone who believes”.
For more information or books by Mark Dever, check out www.9marks.org
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