Blog: March 2024

Being a Christian is not about what we deserve.  If it were, it would be terrifying.  The Bible and experience teach us that we’ve all shaken our fists at the Lord in stubborn rebellion (e.g., 1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 143:2; Romans 3:10-20, 23; 1 John 1:8, 10).  Defiance of the Holy God is an infinitely heinous crime deserving of an infinitely intense punishment.  And that is terrifying! In our culture we’re used to operating on the basis of deserving:  the grades we get, trying out for the team, getting a pro­motion, qualifying for a loan, ...

In 1863, Charitie Bancroft wrote the hymn, “Before the Throne of God Above.”  I love the way this song conveys assurance to the downcast believer—especially the call to “look up”: When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free. For God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me. “Upward I look”!  When?  When the Enemy whispers in my ear that I’m a no-good, guilty enemy of God whose ...

The Christian life is a journey, and we’re still “on the way.”  We’re still in the process of being conformed to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29)—and that will be true all the way home to heaven.  The Lord is shaping us—like a potter working the clay, squeezing and pushing and pulling and forming it into a beautiful work of art.  And all of that takes time—a lifetime. So, then, in the meantime, it’s good to rest in our Savior’s strong arms while we’re “under construction.”  In 1630, Richard Sibbes wrote A Bruised Reed, focusing on the ...

In our Prayer Gathering this week, we prayed through Psalm 103.  It’s such a hope-giving song!  I thank the Lord for inspiring his servant King David to pen this exquisite praise poem.  Psalm 103 puts a major emphasis on the mercy and goodness of God: “Forget not all his [i.e., God’s] benefits”—how he forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies his people (vv 2-5).  He’s “merciful and gracious, slow to anger & abounding in steadfast love” (v 8). To be sure, God has a righteous anger against our sin, and yet “He will not always chide, ...

"Christ the Lord is risen today.  Alleluia!" Join us as we worship Christ the King, risen from the dead, on Easter Sunday, March 31, at 10:00 a.m., in our Family Life Center (gym). Come early for fellowship and refreshments--9:15 to 9:45 a.m. Parents, there will be an Egg Hunt for the children--also from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.!

Join us for worship at the foot of the cross on Good Friday, March 29, at 7:00 p.m., including sharing together in the Lord's Supper (childcare available for ages 3 and younger).

Last Sunday we commissioned David Nichols to serve as an Elder of Goshen Baptist Church.  Here are the questions we asked him, and to which he responded in the affirmative: Do you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and 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 fellow Elders?  •  Do ...