Blog: January 2020 — December 2020

Today’s major news stories include:  U. S. election; worldwide pan­demic; Supreme Court; race-related tensions; social unrest; terrorism in France; global economy; Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict; ideological polarization; oppression of Uighurs in China; refugee migrations; religious persecution; opioid crisis; Syrian civil war; unemployment… All of these, and many more, greatly affect human lives:  safety, health, and basic well-being rise and fall with these developments.  But beware of viewing life through such glasses.  While all of the ...

David Platt, Lead Pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D. C., just came out with a new book:  Before You Vote:  Seven Questions Every Christian Should Ask. I just read (and re-read) this short book, and Platt’s questions are well worth the careful consideration of American Christians—and especially in this current cultural moment.  Let me mention a few highlights and key claims. To put things in the right perspective, we’re reminded, “This world is not a democracy.  This world is a monarchy, and God is the King” (p. 16).  We are ...

If Goshen is your church but you’re not a member, here’s a question:  What keeps you from becoming a church member? Let me speculate.  You’ve heard that the term “membership” isn’t in the New Testament.  Plus, the word has some not-so-nice connota­tions (sounds elitist; seems like a way to exclude people, or a way to get those who commit to do more work).  Or maybe you just haven’t gotten around to pursuing membership.  Some may even wonder, “Who needs membership, why can’t we all just be who we are and enjoy gathering as God’s people and ...

As the Passover celebration drew near, Jerusalem hummed with excitement. Everyone wondered if Jesus—teacher, miracle-worker, and prophet—would come for Passover. (John 11:56-57) The Passover meal was a permanent statute God intended for every Israelite family to observe each year. (See Ex. 12:1-28; Lev. 23:5-8.) But it was no secret the religious leaders were determined to kill Jesus. Jesus had warned His disciples what would happen this Passover. (Mark 10:33-34; Luke 18:31) As they ate the Passover meal, Jesus broke bread and gave it to ...

The religious leaders despised Jesus. He was a threat to their power, and they didn’t believe He was the Messiah. The Jews decided to confront Jesus with questions. Perhaps He would misspeak, and they could trap Him with His words. The Pharisees’ disciples asked Him, “Teacher, is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” As far as these men were concerned, Jesus could not give a satisfactory answer to this question. If Jesus said God’s law required them to pay taxes to Caesar, they could get the Jewish people—who hated paying taxes to the ...

Mark tells the story of a man whose life is under destruction—a poor soul, out of his mind, frantic, hopeless.  But Jesus intervenes and sets him free from demonic oppression.  The newly liberated man then begs Jesus to let him join the band of disciples, but he’s denied:  “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (5:19). There’s a time to get face to face with Jesus—whether back in the day when he walked the hills of Galilee, or even now through daily prayer and Bible ...

Neighborhood Prayer Walk, Saturday, October 10, Anytime between 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. ----------- Friends, On behalf of the Outreach Team, we're encouraging everyone at Goshen to pray for their neighbors during these tumultuous times.  Below is the Prayer Guide for our Neighborhood Prayer Walk this Saturday. Please find a time that works for you to walk your neighborhood and pray (you could do this on your own, as a couple, as a family, or however you see fit).  We're suggesting between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. You might want to carry a candle ...

Leading into the last week of Jesus’ ministry before His death and resurrection, Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King of kings. Many of God’s people traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem as well. Near Bethphage (BETH fayj) and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead into a village. Jesus told them, “You will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Jesus ...

In times of widespread cultural chaos and angst, it’s important for Jesus’ people to focus on founda­tions. So, what’s bedrock for the church?  What’s our foundational reality?  Not any political party, or candi­date, or poll data, or debate perform­ance, or election outcome.  Bedrock for us is God—the Creator and Sustainer of all that is!  Our foundation is the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  And belonging to Jesus’ international, multi-ethnic, world-wide family of believers—his church.  And gathering for worship.  And scatter­ing each ...

Jesus received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. They lived in the town of Bethany, which was about two miles away from Jerusalem. Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus, likely expecting Him to come right away. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; yet He stayed where He was, and Lazarus died. Why would Jesus do such a thing? Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness was “for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). He said that He was glad He wasn’t there ...

As we venture on together in Mark’s Gospel on Sundays (this week we’ll be in ch. 6), I’m noticing more and more how much teaching is at the heart of Jesus’ mission.  To be sure, he also heals the sick and casts out demons; the Kingdom of God comes in power.  But nothing is more foundational to God’s Reign than the conveying of a message:  speaking truth and instructing people about who God is and how he operates and how we can be in a right relationship with him. Twelve times Mark records Jesus being referred to as “the Teacher.”  And this ...

Every fall members of Goshen Baptist Church may nominate individuals to serve in various church leadership roles during the following year(s).  Here is a timeline for the process this year, along with a few guidelines: Nomination forms will be available as of Sunday, Sept. 27. Completed forms must be returned by Sunday, Oct. 11. Nomination forms can be picked up at the Welcome Table or downloaded (click HERE); forms should be returned to the collection box at the Welcome Table or emailed to the church office (click HERE). Those who ...

Each day in the month of October, the Goshen Missions Team is encouraging our whole church family to pray for missionaries we support!  These wonderfully dedicated followers of Jesus are on the front lines of kingdom service around the world.  Please make time daily to lift them up before the Lord.  Their prayer requests are listed below--one for each day of October.  Thank you for partnering in gospel ministry in this way. Sam & Becky Trommler, Mission Doors, Campus Ministry – Pray students will sign up to be involved with our group (The ...

On the heels of His miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus encountered crowds who erroneously concluded He was worth following because He could use His power to fill their empty stomachs. But Jesus recognized their motives and challenged them to go after something greater—not to work for food, which does not last long, but to receive eternal life by believing in Him. Over and over again, people misunderstood Jesus’ words. They asked what they could do to get the food that lasts forever. Eternal life is a gift that God gives—not to ...

Last Sunday in our exploration of all the nature imagery in Mark 4, we didn’t take time to delve into 4:11-12.  In between Jesus’ Parable of the Four Soils and his explanation of it, he says to the disciples: To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside every­thing is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” Pastor Sam Storms gives helpful input here:  Jesus taught in parables for three reasons depending on his ...

Our 2020 Fall Focus on Missions will take place on Sundays, October 18 and 25.  This year's theme is:  "God is not quarantined."  Even in today's pandemic moment, the Lord is at work through his church to accomplish his Great Commission! We look forward to having two special guest speakers to challenge and encourage us in our response to God's Great Commission: Jack Nelson, President of Worldlink, will be preaching, and he will also speak in a combined adult Sunday School session, on October 18.  Sermon:  "Unstoppable God" (Matthew ...

Last Sunday it was a delight to gather together and worship the Lord outdoors on the field behind our church buildings.  So we thought that, weather permitting, let's continue to meet outside for the coming weeks. Join us this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. under the open sky for worship!  Please bring your own chairs/blankets (extra chairs will be available). Children's Church (for ages 3 thru Pre-K) begins this Sunday with drop off at 10:30 in Room 108 on the upper level.  Kids Time Celebration for grades K-4 will continue--dismissal before the ...

In Luke 19, Jesus went after Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was not well liked, but his interaction with Jesus led him to repent of his wrongdoing. Jesus said to him, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Who is “the lost”? What does it mean to be lost? In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables to the crowd of tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and scribes. Jesus’ teaching brought gospel truth to the tax collectors and sinners—those whose unrighteousness separated them from God—and to the Pharisees ...

It’s always good to try and look at life the way God sees it, but especially during uncertain times.  And today’s global pandemic com­bined with a political climate of hate-fear-spin-rage-polarization (etc.) puts our society in a place of high anxiety and uncertainty. In the flurry of such a moment, it’s easy to get dragged down into discouragement and forget to wear the glasses of God’s Word in order to get a right perspective on all that’s happening.  We all need to be reminded to look through the lenses of Scripture. Financial advisors ...

The Gospels record dozens of Jesus’ parables. A parable is a simple story Jesus told to help people understand the kingdom of God. Each parable taught a lesson and revealed deep and often mysterious truths about God’s kingdom for those who would understand. (See Matt. 13:10-15.) In Matthew 13:31-33, Jesus tells two stories about the kingdom of God. In the first, He compares God’s kingdom to a mustard seed. In those days, the mustard seed was the smallest seed planted in the region. Despite its size, the seed yielded a tall, tree-like bush ...