Blog: January 2022 — December 2022

The Book of Zephaniah serves as a stern rebuke of God’s people and a warning regarding a failure to return to Him faithfully. It also serves as a reminder of God’s expectation of holiness and a description of what that looks like when faithfully lived out among God’s people. Zephaniah 2:3 offers a call to repentance and a promise of hope for this restoration of the faithful. “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who carry out what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be concealed on the day of the LORD’s ...

Sometime next month the world population will surpass 8 billion. To put this in perspective, consider that the global population first exceeded 1 billion in the early 1800s, 2 billion in the late 1920s, 3 billion around 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999, and 7 billion just 11 years ago in 2011 (per census.gov and worldometers.info).  Picture a bar graph with that kind of growth! Just think:  a billion is a thousand million.  Eight billion people is enough to fill Lincoln Financial Field 118,354 times.  If it ...

The judgment of God can be found all through the Bible among people who turned from God to their own ways and sought to make a name for themselves or, at the very least, to satisfy themselves at the cost of their disobedience. In Isaiah 22, we find a warning from God regarding the selfish ambitions and pursuits of God’s people. Though many strong, knee-shaking statements are made by God in this rebuke, one statement captures the heart of the rebellion of God’s people: “You made a reservoir between the walls for the water of the ancient ...

Our Fall Focus on Missions is just around the corner!  Of course, global outreach is a priority for us all year long.  But it’s good, now and then, to concentrate our attention on the Great Commission, hear from mission leaders, and renew our commitment to God’s global, gospel purpose for our church and each of our lives. On Oct. 30, Pastor Josh Crans from Providence Church Coatesville will be here to preach on “Christ's compassion for the lost and his call for more laborers” (Matthew 9:35-38).  And on Nov. 6, Dr. Michael Oh, Global ...

Judah’s King Joash became king at age 7. He redirected all silver that was given at the temple to the workers rebuilding the temple rather than to the priests, and his servants conspired against him, ultimately killing him while traveling on a road trip. Over his 40-year reign, it seems that both Joash’s experiences and influence were significant. People who do significant things are often remembered for their accomplishments, their victories over powerful enemies, and other prominent moments recorded when people likely stood in awe of ...

Pastor Eugene Park wrote an article that’s posted at The Gospel Coalition:  “The Folly of ‘Looking for Community.’” Seems like a strange title.  Folly?  What could be the problem? When Park asks newcomers what brings them to church, “the most common reply is, ‘I’m looking for community.’”  But this makes him wince.  Why?  Because community “isn’t something to be discovered.  Community is never found, only built.” Community is never found, only built. Surveys abound indicating that, in this social media age when we’re all connected, ...

TRUNK-OR-TREAT 2022 Goshen Baptist Church invites you to join us for our annual Trunk-or-Treat event on Saturday, October 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m.  This is a family friendly, FREE event with food and fun for all ages.  Participants visit decorated car trunks and collect candy and prizes!  So put on your favorite costume, grab your friends and family, and meet us in the Family Life Center parking lot.  We look forward to seeing you at Trunk-or-Treat 2022! Trunk-or-Treat 2016 Trunk-or-Treat 2017 Trunk-or-Treat 2018 Trunk-or-Treat 2021

Many agree that sin is often, if not always, contrived from selfish ambitions. We can see how our actions, thoughts, and words that disregard God’s instructions for our lives develop from our desire for more, better, or different than what we currently have. Our sin is a statement that we believe that our ways are better than God’s and that we ultimately know better than Him. The implications of our selfishness in sin don't stop there. They don’t only disregard God’s instruction, God’s authority, and God’s design for us. They don’t only ...

Last Sunday I mentioned Brett McCracken’s excellent book, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community. McCracken brings a bold challenge against the consumer mindset that’s killing so many Christians and churches. The book “is about the comforting gospel of Jesus Christ that leads us to live uncomfortable lives for him” (p. 25).  “Are you willing to lay aside your ‘dream church’ consumer fantasies and accept the hard-to-stomach truths and awkward requirements of locking arms with weird people in common pursuit ...

In the current sermon series, we've been seeing that the church is a truly extraordinary creation of the Lord:  to think that we are the body of Christ, and the bride of Christ; we're part of the family of God, we're the sheep of his flock!  And to think that God would go to such stunning lengths to demonstrate his love for this people he is forming and gathering, his church (e.g., Romans 5:8).  It is a great wonder to be the cherished fellowship of Jesus--the church that he is "building" (Matthew 16:18). A theme that's been emerging in our ...

Miracles are often found in Scripture as a means of God doing what nature cannot explain to show His own power and authority over all things. This portion of 2 Kings 4–6 is no different. But these miracles don’t just teach us about God; they also demonstrate our human nature—to doubt when circumstances appear to leave us with little to no control. Many of the miracles performed by Elisha in 2 Kings 4–6 come in moments when the human dilemmas of sin, death, fear, worry, and lack are realized and people are overtaken with doubt. Have you ...

It’s sometimes said that every Christian is a missionary.  So, is this true?  Well, yes and no.  Yes, we’re all charged to participate in Jesus’ mission of gathering more disci­ples who trust in him (Matt 28:18-20).  All Christians are to share their hope (1 Pet 3:15); every believer is to declare the word of life (1 Pet 2:9).  God has put you into relational networks where you’re the one with life-saving news to share—you’re on mission, so speak up. But no, most Christians are not missionaries in the technical sense of the term.  In fact, ...

Elisha’s incredible loyalty to the prophet Elijah is recorded in 2 Kings 2. He followed Elijah wherever he went. He committed to Elijah even when others told him that Elijah would soon die. And he stayed by his side to the very end. Elisha saw something in Elijah that he himself wanted: his spirit. In fact, Elisha told Elijah that what he wanted from him most was “two shares of your spirit.” Why on earth would Elisha desire this? Was it because he wanted God’s Spirit to be accessible to him? Was it because he wanted the authority that ...

There has been (and will yet be) a tremendous amount of media coverage of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.  And rightly so—to have served in public life for 70 years, reigned longer than any other monarch in British history, and been a constant advocate in the UK and beyond for peace and freedom … it’s remarkable. But amidst the pomp and ceremony surrounding the Queen’s passing, much attention has focused on the royal family:  how’s it going between William and Harry, and Catherine and Megan? Little attention, however, has been given to ...

I recently read You’re Only Human:  How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News, by Kelly Kapic (Brazos 2022).  Great book—thought-provoking, honest, biblical, hopeful. “Finitude is an unavoidable aspect of our creaturely existence” (p. 6).  But we tend not to be comfortable with our limitations, often feeling a sense of guilt:  have I done enough, should I do more? In fact, “being dependent creatures is a constructive gift, not a deficiency” (p. 10).  It’s good to live with our human limitations—that’s how God intended ...

John Flavel was a pastor in 17th century England, and he wrote a very practical, penetrating book:  Keeping the Heart (1667).  “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov. 4:23).  Keeping the heart is the great work of the Christian. Your heart—that deep inner seat of affection and trust—must be tended if your attachment to Christ is to survive and flourish.  Like a garden, the heart requires cultivation; like a fire in the fireplace, it must be cared for and stoked or the embers will cool and fade....

God is love (1 John 4:8).  How thankful we can be that compassion is the way of God’s heart!  If it weren’t for this fact, all would be lost.  What a wonder that “God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). But when it comes to what God “is,” love isn’t the whole story.  God also “is” light (1 John 1:5), spirit (John 4:24), and a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).  In our me-centered, self-absorbed age, we’re prone to say “God is love” and stop there.  After all, we’re very special and God ought to love us, right? (isn’t that his ‘job’?).  But we ...

Welcome to the new school year! This is a busy time adjusting to new schedules and routines for many – we are praying for you! We look forward to connecting with you in the weeks and months ahead and providing support and encouragement along the way. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if your family has specific needs or concerns – we’d love to help. Starting this Sunday our check-in procedure for families with children age 0 through 5th grade will look a little different. In an effort to tighten both our security measures and attention ...

Join us for lunch on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 11:45 a.m. in the Family Life Center.  We'll supply hamburgers and hot dogs.  If you're able to help out by bringing a side dish or a dessert, please sign up in the church lobby or notify the office (thanks!). Scheduling reminders: On Sept. 11 there will be NO Sunday School--just our worship service at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch together. Then on Sept. 18 we'll return to our regular two-service schedule:  Worship at 8:30 &11:00 a.m., with Sunday School for all ages at 10:00 a.m.

I came across a big mural on the side of a building the other day which said, in colorful, graffiti-style letters:  Live for Today! Of course, there’s a measure of wisdom in this slogan.  If you’re always pining for the past or dreaming of tomorrow, you’ll miss the real people in front of you now.  Healthy relationships involve being emotionally present with the folks God has put along your path—so look them in the eye, and be there, today. Still, “live for today” can be a very harmful motto to follow.  My main gripe is with the way this ...