Scattered throughout the Old

Transcription

1 The Encourager LAKEVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH Adam Metzger, Pastor DECEMBER 2014 Scattered throughout the Old Testament are moments foreshadowing future events. Like a good novelist, God hints, drops clues, and makes allusions about what he s going to do in this world. Today, we re given the advantage of reading thousands and thousands of years of God s work in this world, and how he hinted at that work for decades, centuries, or even millennia beforehand. Many of these foreshadowings involved the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the work he would do on our behalf to save us from our sins. Consider these passages: 1 Samuel 16:1. Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king. The Prophet Samuel was given instructions by God to anoint the next King of Israel. The immediate son of Jesse that was anointed that day was named David. However, later prophets, such as Isaiah, foretold a time when another son would appear from Jesse s stump (his family lineage). Isaiah 11 says it like this: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. (I encourage you to read the whole prophecy found in Isaiah chapter 11). Later, the Apostle Paul would write to the Christians in Rome (Romans 15:12) and state that the Son of Jesse or the Root of Jesse was Jesus Christ. The Gospel writer Matthew wants us to make that connection too, so he begins his book with a long family lineage. While seemingly boring and insignificant at first, Matthew puts this lineage there to allow us to see that the son of Jesse that 1 Samuel 16:1 was referring to wasn t just the handsome and ruddy David, but was a foreshadowing of later son, Jesus. See Matthew 1:6-16. These foreshadowings of Jesus are quite fascinating. A golden, messianic, divine thread woven through time. And there are many more. At the dawn of the Israelite s Exodus out of Egypt, both the Egyptians and the Israelites woke up to firstborn children (and animals) who had been killed during the night. Several nights before, God had given the Israelites instructions on how to be saved from this death angel who would visit their camp: they were to slaughter an unblemished lamb and place its blood on the doorframes of their houses. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt (Exodus 12:13). The Israelites were saved by the blood of the lambs. This incident foreshadowed Jesus work for us on the cross. He died in our place so that we might live. The Apostle Paul would later proclaim Christ, our Passover lamb, has been slaughtered for us. 1 Corinthians 5:7. In another fascinating story, as the Israelites were heading towards the promise land, many were bitten by venomous snakes. So God told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. So, the scriptures tell us, Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Numbers 21:8-9. While those instructions sounded strange, God had a deep purpose in it: to prefigure Christ. John tells us Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up [on the cross], that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him John 3: Isn t it strange, too, that God had the Israelites look at a snake? I mean snakes were cursed by God in the garden of Eden! Why use a snake? Again, it foreshadows Christ. Galatians 3:10 says Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole. Allusions to Christ abound all throughout the scriptures! *** In just a few short weeks, we celebrate the historical birth of Jesus into history. But really, Jesus has been here all along. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:2).

2 THE ENCOURAGER Continued from previous page When God had deemed the time was right (Galatians 4:4), after the world had received foreshadow after foreshadow, God sent the Angel Gabriel to visit a virgin named Mary who gave her the message of her life: Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 Don t be afraid, Mary, the angel told her, for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end! 34 Mary asked the angel, But how can this happen? I am a virgin. 35 The angel replied, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail. 38 Mary responded, I am the Lord s servant. May everything you have said about me come true. Luke 2:29-38 This Christmas, I invite you to worship the Jesus who was born 2000 years ago, but who has always been here. The I am (Exodus 3:14), The alpha and omega [the one] who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8), Adam Time to be announced.

3 The LBC Christian Education Department Presents... 10:00 a.m. Sunday, December 14th A Church Mouse Christmas Written by Richard Zesiger HOLIDAY BASKETS We continue collecting canned goods for Holiday Baskets. We will pack baskets with the following items: Nov. 23 Green Beans Nov. 30 Sweet Potatoes Dec. 7 Peaches Dec. 14 Boxed dressing Corn Fruit Cocktail Pears Jello Frogs Most Wednesdays 7 8:30 PM (Activities & bible studies for school-age kids.) Monetary donations are also welcome. Please place In offering plate & designate Holiday Baskets. PAGE 3

4 THE ENCOURAGER Stewardship Sunday, Dec. 14 th You will be receiving Estimation of Giving Cards soon. These cards will help us plan for the 2015 budget year. Please prayerfully consider your tithes and offerings for the upcoming year on this important Sunday. th. Therefore welcome one another as C hrist has welcomed you, for the glory of God. -Romans 15:7 Lakeview Baptist FOOD PANTRY DAY Friday, December 5th (9:30 am) YOUR YOUR HELP IS NEEDED IN THE FOOD PANTRY: The first Friday of each month is LBC s day to assist in the Food Pantry. Please contact Mary Kline ( ) if you are willing to share your time with this ministry PAGE 4

5 QUILT & CRAFT WORKSHOP Dec. 18th 10 am Noon (LBC Parlor) Come, learn something new or bring your own project to work on. Contact Rolllie Longman ( ) or Mary Kline ( ) Join us! XYZ Club All retirees of the church are invited! The next meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, :30 a.m. Meet in parlor for devotions. Eating out and fellowship -Clara s on the River- Other Dates to remember: November 28: 10am-7pm LBC rings Salvation Army bell December 14: 10:00 a.m. A Church Mouse Christmas written by Rich Zesiger and presented by the Christian Education Department PAGE 5

6 DECEMBER NURSERY VOLUNTEERS 7 Betty Trumbull Donna Headings 14 Mary Kline Nancy Ondracek 21 Linda Daniel Shauneene Crowe December Kid s Church leaders: Libby & Gloria 252 BASICS 28 Lisa Thomas Marni Haapapuro DECEMBER GREETERS DECEMBER HOUR 7 Louise Butler & Donna DeBow Smith 14 Tom & Linda Hicks 21 Hal Longman & Deni Fry 28 Richard & Eleanor VerLee 7 14 Pat, Deni & friends 21 Deni & friends 28 Donna & Liz FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Please remember to designate on your offering envelope how you would like your offering distributed to the various funds, i.e. General Fund, Missions, Fellowship. Since we do not have pledge cards we need your direction each time you give an offering. Thank you. Budgeted need for: MONTHLY FINANCIAL RECORD October 2014 November 2014 Weekly: $ 3,475. $ 3,651. Monthly: $13,900. $ 17,855. Received: 10/5 2, /2 3, /12 2, /9 2, /19 1, /16 2, /26 2, /23 2, /30 TOTAL $ 8,612. $ 10,996+ MEIJER COMMUNITY REWARDS UPDATE Earned in October: $ Since start of program $7,681 (8+ years) LBC earns up to 1% of your purchases each time you use your Rewards card and make a payment by Meijer Credit Card, Cash or PIN-Debit payment. To join go to: If you have any trouble at all hearing the morning worship service, listening devices are now available. Please ask an usher for assistance.

7 7 S. 20th Street Battle Creek, MI Ph Fax: DECMBER 2014 Sun 7 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Pm Frogs 7 Pm Bible Study 6:30 Praise Team 7 PM Falam Praise Team Pm Frogs 7 Pm Bible Study 6:30 Praise Team 7 PM Falam Praise Team Noon - 6 Book Club & Scrap nd Sunday of Advent Communion Sunday rd Sunday of Advent 10 AM Christmas Program 6 PM Council 7 PM Boards meet 11:30 XYZ 7 Pm Frogs 7 Pm Bible Study 6:30 Praise Team 7 PM Falam Praise Team th Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve Service Christmas office closed 27 Office closed Christmas holiday 7 PM Falam Praise Team SUNDAY SCHEDULE SUNDAY SCHEDULE: SUNDAY SCHEDULE 9:00 am Sunday Studies 9:30 am Adult Studies 9:30 AM Adult Bible Studies 10:00 am Worship & Kid s Church 10:45 am Worship & Kid s Church 10:45 AM11:00 Worship & Kid s Church Fellowship 12:00 Fellowship 4:30 PM12:30 F.R.O.G.s & Youth Ministries 12:30 Falam Falam Ministry Ministry 5:30 5:30 Youth/Young Youth/Young Adults Adults

8 7 S. 20th Street Battle Creek, MI Ph Fax: Sunday: 10:00 AM Worship & Kid s Church Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Bir thdays 1 Marilyn Salyers Norm Tower 2 Al Kleinhuizen 4 Tiffany Allred Jean Engel 9 Tony Allred 14 Noelle Herris 16 Cindy Wagner 17 Kyle Linscott 19 Elizabeth Trumbull 21 Christian Bowman-Gould Deni Fry 27 Evelyn Raber 28 Keith Herris 29 Lisa Thomas Anniversaries 4 Gabriel & Juanita Castellanos 20 Louis & Helen Schmitz, Sr. 28 John & Erin Allwardt.