Blog: September 2020

Jesus received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. They lived in the town of Bethany, which was about two miles away from Jerusalem. Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus, likely expecting Him to come right away. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; yet He stayed where He was, and Lazarus died. Why would Jesus do such a thing? Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness was “for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). He said that He was glad He wasn’t there ...

As we venture on together in Mark’s Gospel on Sundays (this week we’ll be in ch. 6), I’m noticing more and more how much teaching is at the heart of Jesus’ mission.  To be sure, he also heals the sick and casts out demons; the Kingdom of God comes in power.  But nothing is more foundational to God’s Reign than the conveying of a message:  speaking truth and instructing people about who God is and how he operates and how we can be in a right relationship with him. Twelve times Mark records Jesus being referred to as “the Teacher.”  And this ...

Every fall members of Goshen Baptist Church may nominate individuals to serve in various church leadership roles during the following year(s).  Here is a timeline for the process this year, along with a few guidelines: Nomination forms will be available as of Sunday, Sept. 27. Completed forms must be returned by Sunday, Oct. 11. Nomination forms can be picked up at the Welcome Table or downloaded (click HERE); forms should be returned to the collection box at the Welcome Table or emailed to the church office (click HERE). Those who ...

Each day in the month of October, the Goshen Missions Team is encouraging our whole church family to pray for missionaries we support!  These wonderfully dedicated followers of Jesus are on the front lines of kingdom service around the world.  Please make time daily to lift them up before the Lord.  Their prayer requests are listed below--one for each day of October.  Thank you for partnering in gospel ministry in this way. Sam & Becky Trommler, Mission Doors, Campus Ministry – Pray students will sign up to be involved with our group (The ...

On the heels of His miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus encountered crowds who erroneously concluded He was worth following because He could use His power to fill their empty stomachs. But Jesus recognized their motives and challenged them to go after something greater—not to work for food, which does not last long, but to receive eternal life by believing in Him. Over and over again, people misunderstood Jesus’ words. They asked what they could do to get the food that lasts forever. Eternal life is a gift that God gives—not to ...

Last Sunday in our exploration of all the nature imagery in Mark 4, we didn’t take time to delve into 4:11-12.  In between Jesus’ Parable of the Four Soils and his explanation of it, he says to the disciples: To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside every­thing is in parables, so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” Pastor Sam Storms gives helpful input here:  Jesus taught in parables for three reasons depending on his ...

Our 2020 Fall Focus on Missions will take place on Sundays, October 18 and 25.  This year's theme is:  "God is not quarantined."  Even in today's pandemic moment, the Lord is at work through his church to accomplish his Great Commission! We look forward to having two special guest speakers to challenge and encourage us in our response to God's Great Commission: Jack Nelson, President of Worldlink, will be preaching, and he will also speak in a combined adult Sunday School session, on October 18.  Sermon:  "Unstoppable God" (Matthew ...

Last Sunday it was a delight to gather together and worship the Lord outdoors on the field behind our church buildings.  So we thought that, weather permitting, let's continue to meet outside for the coming weeks. Join us this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. under the open sky for worship!  Please bring your own chairs/blankets (extra chairs will be available). Children's Church (for ages 3 thru Pre-K) begins this Sunday with drop off at 10:30 in Room 108 on the upper level.  Kids Time Celebration for grades K-4 will continue--dismissal before the ...

In Luke 19, Jesus went after Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was not well liked, but his interaction with Jesus led him to repent of his wrongdoing. Jesus said to him, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Who is “the lost”? What does it mean to be lost? In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables to the crowd of tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and scribes. Jesus’ teaching brought gospel truth to the tax collectors and sinners—those whose unrighteousness separated them from God—and to the Pharisees ...

It’s always good to try and look at life the way God sees it, but especially during uncertain times.  And today’s global pandemic com­bined with a political climate of hate-fear-spin-rage-polarization (etc.) puts our society in a place of high anxiety and uncertainty. In the flurry of such a moment, it’s easy to get dragged down into discouragement and forget to wear the glasses of God’s Word in order to get a right perspective on all that’s happening.  We all need to be reminded to look through the lenses of Scripture. Financial advisors ...

The Gospels record dozens of Jesus’ parables. A parable is a simple story Jesus told to help people understand the kingdom of God. Each parable taught a lesson and revealed deep and often mysterious truths about God’s kingdom for those who would understand. (See Matt. 13:10-15.) In Matthew 13:31-33, Jesus tells two stories about the kingdom of God. In the first, He compares God’s kingdom to a mustard seed. In those days, the mustard seed was the smallest seed planted in the region. Despite its size, the seed yielded a tall, tree-like bush ...

Each year on Labor Day Sunday morning, the Elders wrap up our sum­mer adult Sunday School series by leading a Prayer Walk around our church grounds.  As we turn the corner into the fall ministry season, we call upon God to lead and provide for his church. But this year, since we’re not meeting on site for Sunday School, we decided to ask our staff, Elders, Deacons, Deaconesses, and other leaders to list their top prayer requests for our church.  They’ve done this, so “let us pray”!  Here's our collection of prayer requests. As I look over ...

Goshen Baptist Church - September 2020   Instead of leading a Prayer Walk on Labor Day Sunday this year, the Elders have asked a number of Goshen leaders to share prayer requests for our church ministry (see below).  Please take time this weekend, and in the coming weeks, to call out to the Father (ask, seek, knock), and to seek the Lord for the advance of the Gospel in and through our church.  And pray also for the spread of his truth and love in the midst of all that’s going on in our world today.  Thank you.   Peter Nelson, Senior ...

OUTDOOR WORSHIP & PICNIC LUNCH Sunday, September 13 Friends, let’s get together in God’s great outdoors and sing his praises!  Here’s the plan: Outdoor Worship Service on the slope and in the field behind our church buildings, beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Please bring lawn chairs and blankets, take a seat in the shade, and join your brothers and sisters giving glory to our Christ the King!  And then linger afterwards for a… Picnic Lunch (please bring your own food—water bottles will be provided).  If you’ve been reticent to attend indoor ...