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Faith is a common theme throughout the Bible. We may not find the word faith on every page; however, in nearly every description of what God expects of His people, there is at least an indication of faith. Throughout Scripture, we read that faith is the means by which God is pleased with His people as they chose to trust Him. Hebrews 11 emphasizes the significance of faith by unpacking how God has been saving His people through faith from the beginning. From creation to the first family and on and on throughout the lives of individuals, ...

On May 19, Pastor Tim Keller entered into the radiant presence of Jesus.  I’ve often referred to Keller’s writings—he’s been a helpful guide for interpreting both Scripture and culture.  In 2020 he pub­lished a short book entitled, On Death. Here are some key points: Our death-denying, medicine-driven modern culture “is the worst in history at preparing its members for the only inevit­ability—death” (p. 11). While our today’s secular culture gives us little to help us deal with the looming fact of death, “the Christian faith has some ...

The Gospels record dozens of descriptions of the works that Jesus did. We learn about how He served, saved, and showed His power in miraculous ways for the sake of revealing His divine authority to His disciples and others. Yet even with all the astounding works of Jesus that are described through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Gospels still don’t contain the whole of all that Jesus did. In fact, John concludes his Gospel by declaring, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I ...

If you’re a Christian, and if Goshen is your church, God intends for you to be active in the life of our church serving others and being served—building others up and being encouraged in your faith.  It is not his will for any of us to just “attend,” or that we just come and listen and go.  That is not how the body of Christ functions. Having spiritual gifts (as all believers do, 1 Cor 12:7) yet not using them to serve one another is like having muscles but never exer­cising them—you become weak and unwell; failure to thrive.  By con­trast, ...

“I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.” These words from Charles Hutchinson Gabriel’s classic hymn “My Savior’s Love” have been sung and treasured for more than a century. When Gabriel first released this song in a 1905 hymnbook, it served as a reminder to the church of the deep love of God, His work through Christ, His presence in all circumstances, and their cause for celebration and amazement. In all the rich truths of the five stanzas of this great hymn, the ...

My mother left this world and entered Jesus’ presence in 2012.  I’d like to re-share a Mother’s Day tribute to her that I wrote in 2011: Grace Constance (“Connie”) Sjolund was born a “PK”—pastor’s kid.  Her mom was an artist (painter) and home­maker, and her dad pastored First Swedish Baptist Church of Minneapolis (now Bethlehem Baptist) from 1928 to 1948.  Mom came to faith in Christ at a young age and grew up in the church.  She met her future husband in the 1940s in the church’s “young people’s group” (Ken Nelson, a Wisconsin farm boy ...

The GBC Softball Season begins on Tuesday, May 16, at Elam United Methodist Church - 1073 Smithbridge Rd, Glen Mills, PA 19342. Game time is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16th Monday, May 22nd Wednesday, May 24th* Tuesday, May 30th Monday, June 5th Wednesday, June 7th Tuesday, June 20th Monday, June 26th Wednesday, July 5th Questions?  Contact Tom Buddenhagen.   *ELCA, at Clayton Park - 3173 Garnet Mine Rd, Garnet Valley, PA 19060

In Psalm 73:2-3, Asaph, a worship leader of God’s people, tells how he nearly came to ruin:  “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.  For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” We may be tempted to think of envy as a “minor sin,” but it’s perilous.  “Envy makes the bones rot” (Proverbs 14:30), and it undermines reverence for God (23:17).  Jesus lumps envy in with sins like adultery and murder (Mark 7:21).  Those who follow the way of envy “will not inherit the kingdom of ...

Our trek in Matthew’s Gospel recently brought us to a paradoxical saying:  “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (10:39).  What does Jesus mean? The immediate context (v 38) is about following Jesus by bearing a cross: dying to sin and walking in his self-giving steps.  So, working to “find” your life (i.e., define, control and rule over it) is contrary to faith and leads to “loss”—the ultimate loss.  But trust releases the reins of your heart to Jesus:  he’s in charge. God delivers ...

A clear reality that echoes throughout the New Testament is that God sends those He saves. Jesus commanded His disciples to go and tell others about Him. (Matt. 28:18-20) The story of Jesus and a Samaritan woman in John 4 also provides reminders of this idea. Upon the Samaritan woman’s hearing that God Himself was standing before her, she left her water—the very thing she had come to the well for—and returned quickly to her town to tell of this man. Her response was not to run from Jesus but to expend her energy bringing others to Him: ...

In his book, Humility:  The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness, Gavin Ortlund offers “Ten Practices to Kill Pride” (pp. 27-41).  Take note: Work at listening.  Humility actually values the input of the speaker.  You don’t need to control the conversation. Practice gratitude.  This draws attention to the blessings in your life.  Just think:  what a gift to be alive! Learn from criticism.  Assume that there’s something to gain from it.  A good test of humility is whether or not a person is teachable. Cultivate the enjoyment of life.  A humble ...

Goshen Baptist Church invites you to a special Worship Night Sunday, May 21, 7:00-8:15 p.m. What is keeping you from total surrender to God, in this current season of life? Let's acknowledge that, lay it at the cross, and turn our hearts back to Him in worship. This night will allow us all to worship through song, testimony, and spoken word, followed by a time of refreshments and fellowship. We hope to create a space where each person can engage with God in a personal way, coming just as they are and finding true communion with Him....

Light and darkness are contrasted throughout the Scriptures. In John 3, Jesus explained to Nicodemus the hope and grace of God and the means by which He saves. Consider what Jesus was saying as He emphasized this contrast in this conversation. In John 3:19-21, Jesus said, “This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes ...

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “All good things must come to an end.”  And, in fact, it’s almost true. So many good things have a time limit.  The Phillies’ play­off run last fall came to an end.  The Eagles’ postseason ran its course.  From ball games to the college experience, from birthday parties to summer vacation, from family road trips to the years of youthful vigor:  before you know it, time’s up. Can you think of a single good thing that’s not on the clock?  We’ve had some stellar spring days lately—yet “this too shall pass.”  ...

Here in this messy world we’re so very accustomed to seeing life as limited, life within the parameters of growth and aging and the end of our days.  Sickness and injury and violence and decline threaten, and we get used to viewing our existence as fleeting and fragile.  Ever since our first parents plunged humanity into sin and death (Genesis 3), we’ve been scrambling to cope with and fend off all the threats that come against our earthly lives. But Easter Sunday is heaven’s announcement that life constrained by limits is itself limited:  ...

It’s not uncommon, after a tragedy, for people to say that their “thoughts and prayers” are with those who are grieving.  Whether it’s a mass shooting, a hurricane, or a train derailment (etc.), this expression of condolence is often shared.  Let me offer a few comments about “thoughts and prayers”: Pairing “thoughts” with “prayers” can diminish the meaning of prayer.  Calling on God is not a mere mental exercise; thinking about someone is categorically different from appealing to the Lord God for their good.  One action is horizontal, ...

God calls us to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,…” (Philippians 2:14-15).  “All things”—not just when events go your way or life is easy.  Even when you’re wronged, you can pursue the right in a way that expresses calm, humble reliance on God’s sovereign care. We’ve seen this connection before:  as salt and light, disciples of Jesus stand out and make an impact ...

What gives you hope? It seems like a simple question, and most of us who regularly attend church likely know the “right” answer to the question. However, it’s the most important question for every person who has ever lived because your answer will determine your security and eternity. Unlike the hope the world has to offer, we can have a sure and steadfast hope that will never fail. In the Gospel accounts of Jesus' baptism, we see John the Baptist offer words of warning that lead us back to the question, what gives you hope? John warned ...

HOLY WEEK 2023 We gather in thanks and joy as we recall the saving intervention of our God! ***** Palm Sunday Worship Services: Sunday, April 2, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.  Join us as we call out, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38). Palm Sunday Processional: During the11:00 a.m. service.  Children of all ages are encouraged to come to the Fellowship Hall at 10:50 to receive palms and enter the Sanctuary during the first song, "Hosanna!"  After the proces­sional, ...

God doesn’t want us to “cloister” in a social bubble and mix only with each other:  Christians are charged to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) and love neighbor and even enemy (Matt. 5:44; 22:39), but we can’t do these things if we isolate ourselves from the world. And yet, we are called to live in community with fellow believers in such a way that we care and support and serve one another in deep, beautiful ways (John 13:35).  Healthy church life means having rich relationships with fellow disciples of Jesus. One of the fruits of a proper ...