Blog: January 2020

In the world of major league sports, two stories have been vying for our attention lately:  1) The Super Bowl, of course—that annual extravaganza of NFL greatness, along with the crazy-creative TV commercial competition, plus countless game-watching parties (like the one at Goshen); and 2) The shocking and sorrowful passing of 41-year-old NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash last Sunday along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people. This juxtaposition creates an odd feeling.  On the one hand, many of us are excited ...

Come join us at Goshen Baptist Church for Super Bowl Sunday! This activity is sponsored by the Men’s Ministry Group all are welcome (this is a coed event). The activity is on Sunday, February 2nd, 2020 and consists of two parts. - First Half, 5:00 p.m. We will kick things off with a time of refreshments and fellowship during which we will show a video of professional football players sharing their relationship with Jesus, followed by a discussion of the video. - Second Half, 6:00 p.m. You are welcome to stay for the “second ...

Last Sunday we commissioned Darrel Tedrow to serve as an Elder.  Take time to review the vows he made—and consider both what it means to be an Elder and how a congregation relates to their Elders: Do you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord & Savior? Do you accept all Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and do you affirm the Goshen Baptist Church Statement of Faith as a fitting summary of Bible doctrine? Do you promise to serve in mutual submission alongside your ...

History casts a dark shadow over this day:  It was on January 22, 1973, that the U. S. Supreme Court pointed our nation down a path that has resulted, so far, in 61 million abortions.  It is hard to grasp the magnitude of our national loss in the post-Roe-v-Wade era.  Consider some numbers:  three thousand people died on 9/11, and it would take over 20,000 repetitions of that dreadful day to equal the casualties from abortion in the USA since 1973.  That translates into a new 9/11 every day for 55 years.  Lord, have mercy. A few pressing ...

At last! God’s people returned to Jerusalem, the home of their ancestors. God had given them another opportunity to live as His special people. They got to work right away, completing the foundation of the Lord’s temple. Many of God’s people had been born in Babylon, but they had likely heard the stories of their parents and grandparents, stories of a life in the land God had given them. They probably heard of their families’ mistakes: ignoring God, worshiping idols, and mistreating the poor. But the Lord had been gracious! He kept His ...

This Sunday we’re beginning a sermon series from the Old Testament—from the Prophecy of Daniel. Now the term “prophecy” has a two-fold sense:  forth-telling as well as foretelling.  The prophets spent much (maybe most) of their time speaking “forth” the Word of the Lord by confronting corruption among God’s people and calling for the practical out­working of faith through deeds of love, mercy, and justice.  So when you hear the word “prophecy,” don’t just think of predictions.  In Daniel, then, the stories in the first half of the book ...

BIBLE MEMORY CHALLENGE The Prophecy of Daniel Winter-Spring 2020 * Goshen Baptist Church “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) Jan. 19, “As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Daniel 1:17). Jan. 26, “The king answered and said to Daniel, ‘Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery’” (Daniel ...

God’s people had been living in Babylon for 70 years. Some of God’s people had died in Babylon. Some of their children and grandchildren were born in Babylon and grew up there. But Babylon was not their home. Before the people of Judah were exiled, God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. These are the words of the Lord: “These nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years” (Jer. 25:11). Then the Lord said, “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore ...

As we continue our 31 Days of Prayer, I’ve become conscious again of my own tendency to gravitate toward prayers of petition—as if asking were everything.  But the Bible teaches and shows that prayer is so much more than making requests to the Father. Not that there’s anything wrong with making an appeal to God—Jesus teaches us to “ask, seek, knock” (Matthew 7:7), and Paul urges the Philippians to “let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).  So crying out to the Father and pleading for help and comfort and guidance and peace and ...

Planning for the future is hard when you’re still paying for the past! We have all made mistakes with finances and taking responsibility with a biblical plan frees you. Listen—there’s a better way! Join our Financial Peace University class, and we’ll learn how to beat debt and make a plan for the future . . . together! No more money fights! With Financial Peace University, you and your spouse will learn how to create (and stick to) a budget, save for emergencies, and make a plan for the future. Doesn’t that sound peaceful?Interested? Join me ...

The conflict between Edom and Israel originates in the story of Jacob and Esau. The twins struggled in the womb, and their mother, Rebekah, asked God why. God explained that from her womb would come two nations, and the older would serve the younger. (Gen. 25:23) The nation of Israel descended from Jacob (the younger), and the nation of Edom descended from Esau (the older). God promised to Jacob the same promises He made to Abraham (Gen. 28:15), but Esau was a godless man who despised God’s promises. (Heb. 12:16) For centuries, the two ...

Since God is God and not our peer, and since God has spoken (i.e., revealed himself and his purposes in human language through his holy, inspired Word, the Bible), it would follow that we’d want to pray to God about matters he has already brought up.  How foolish it would be for us to sit down in God’s presence and talk (i.e., pray), prattling on and on about our agenda without regard for what he has to say.  What kind of conversation is that?  We need to “pray the Word,” taking what God says and turning it around in the form of prayers to ...