Blog: June 2017

If ever there was a tidbit of pop-psychology that twenty-first century Americans embraced, it’s this:  Follow your heart. Be true to yourself.  Pursue your own dream.  Perish the thought that you should feel obliged to act in any way to fulfill someone else’s wishes for you!  You want to sing along with Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way!” “Follow your heart” is an unassailable creed of contemporary culture; it’s beyond the reach of any question, much less critique.  In today’s world, it’s simply “right.”  And if you challenge this popular ...

On Sunday, July 16, at 6:00 p.m., we’ll be gathering by the water’s edge at Marsh Creek State Park for our summer Baptism and Church Picnic.  It will be a great time!  Mark your calendar and plan to come—bring a friend, bring the family. I want to challenge anyone in the Goshen family who’s following Jesus but hasn’t been baptized by immersion to take a stand through this public plunge (i.e., older children, teens, or adults).  The next step would be to attend our baptism class this Sunday, June 25 (9:00 a.m., Library) or on July 9 (9:00 ...

The Psalms contain so much more than just wise words from antiquity.  These Old Testament worship songs are rich, expansive, timeless—looking beyond the historical setting to a grand, ultimate fulfillment. We saw this last Sunday in Psalm 2.  I mentioned that 6 out of 12 verses in Psalm 2 are alluded to in 18 New Testament passages, link­ing God’s Anointed-King-Son with Jesus Christ.  For example, Psalm 2:7 (You are my Son; today I have begotten you) is echoed several times: Luke 3:22, at Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit announced, You ...

Jesus had been teaching His disciples when Peter asked Jesus, “How many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Peter suggested seven times. Jews considered it standard to show forgiveness three times (see Job 33:29­30), so Peter probably thought he was going above and beyond. Jesus answered Peter’s question by telling a story about an unmerciful servant. In the parable, a servant owed his master ten thousand talents. A talent was equal to about 20 years of wages. Ten thousand talents represented a debt that could never ...

In “Screwtape” fashion (if you don’t know what I mean, check out C. S. Lewis’s book by that title), Tim Challies notes “Five Great Reasons to Skip Reading Your Bible This Summer” (challies.com). They include:  “You’re on vacation.  Vacations are for doing fun stuff.”  And “You’re out of routine”—so all good habits go down the drain.  Also, “The kids are under your feet all day.”  Plus, “No one will notice”—small group has disbanded for the season, missing church is no big deal, nobody’s in your face to say anything.  And “It’s too hot”—how ...

We’re excited to continue our Goshen Baptist Church staff interviews with our Youth Director, DJ Cronrath as he shares with us his journey of becoming a youth director, his future outlook of youth ministry and some very exciting news! Goshen Baptist Church (GBC): Hey DJ. I believe you have some very important news to share with us?? DJ: Yes, Danielle and I are expecting our 3rd child! GBC: That’s wonderful! Congratulations! DJ: Thanks GBC: Well, welcome to West Chester!  What do you think so far? DJ: I think it’s great.  ...

  The Gospels record dozens of Jesus’ parables. A parable is a story Jesus told to help people understand the kingdom of God. Each parable taught a lesson and revealed secrets of God’s kingdom for those who would understand. (See Matt. 13:10­13.) The parable of the sower would have resonated with those listening because they would have been familiar with the practice of sowing or planting seeds. But the parable had a deeper meaning. It contained a lesson about God’s Word and the responses of those who hear it. In the parable, a ...

Do you love God’s Word?  I don’t mean the pages or the grammar or even the information conveyed.  I mean do you love hearing from the One who made you, and pursued you (as a shepherd does a stray sheep), and rescued you from eternal misery, and embraced you as his own dear child?  Do you love hearing God’s voice in Scripture?  Delight in God’s Word is a pervasive theme in Psalm 119: 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. 20 My soul is consumed ...