Insider. A publication of Edgewood Baptist Church

Transcription

1 The Insider A publication of Edgewood Baptist Church Kevin Hollinger Senior Pastor For Such a Time as This Kevin Hollinger, July 2017 As we get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, I find myself thinking a lot about the life William Wilberforce. When Wilberforce saw the evil of the slave trade, the corruption of the British leadership and lukewarm Christianity of Great Britain he decided to do something about it. April 12, 1797 he published a book entitled A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Higher and Middle Classes in This Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity. My copy of the book is simply titled A Practical View of Christianity, and is one of my most prized books. I love the book for many reasons. First, I admire people who stand against evil without becoming evil. Wilberforce spoke against the slave trade with passion, persistence, and proper perspective. He knew that Christianity was the greatest defender of human rights and that the moral fabric of Britain had been corrupted by a weak and lifeless form of Christianity that had no power. He never turned to violence because he trusted in the power of God to work through the word of God. Second, I admire Wilberforce because he did not close his eyes to the evil around him and yet refused to let it diminish his view of God. Some try to argue that the existence of evil threatens the belief in God, but Wilberforce reminds us that belief in God threatens the existence of evil. At one point, when Wilberforce was weary from the battle, he read a letter he had received from John Wesley that said, Unless God has raised you up you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils, but if God be for you who can be against you? From 1788 until the slave trade was outlawed in 1807 Wilberforce trusted God and spoke truth. After 1807 he worked another eighteen years to emancipate the slaves. It was his belief in God that gave him strength. Third, I admire Wilberforce because he understood that Christianity that changes the world is full of joy and life, but nominal Christianity is reduced to guilt-producing morality. He wrote, Drink deep or taste not, is a direction fully applicable to religion. A little religion is, it must be confessed, apt to make men gloomy, as a little knowledge to render them vain: hence the unjust imputation often brought by those whose degree of religion is just sufficient, by condemning their course of conduct, to render them uneasy; enough merely to impair the sweetness of the pleasure of sin, and not enough to compensate for the relinquishment by its own peculiar comforts. (p.238) In other words, a little Christianity does not have the power to inspire a joyful obedience to Christ, but is able only to make men gloomy from their guilt and to bring them the sadness the comes from missing the pleasure of sin. True Christianity replaces the gloom of guilt with the joy of life-transforming grace, and replaces the pleasure of sin with the great joy of knowing God. Therefore, if we want to see society change we must encourage them to drink deep from the cup that Christ offers. Fourth, Wilberforce reminds me of the story of Esther in the Bible. Esther used her position as Queen to speak up for the Jews. Wilberforce used his position in the Parliament to speak up for slaves. Wilberforce sat at his desk on that foggy Sunday morning in 1787 thinking about his conversion and his calling. Had God saved him only to rescue his own soul from hell? He could not accept that. If 1 Continued on page 4 We exist to LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS, KNOW CHRIST, & MAKE HIM KNOWN for the glory of God and the joy of his people July 2 Communion and Interview with Liana Jimenez July 9 What does God want from Us? The Call to Faith and Repentance (Saving Grace, Eph. 2) July 16 How does God want Us to Live? The Call to a Spirit-filled Life (Galatians 5:16-26) July 23 How does God want Us to Treat Others? The Call to Radical Love (I John 3:11-18, I John 4:7-21, Matt 22:36-40) July 30 What does God want You to Do? God s Special Call on Your Life (Eph. 2:1-10, 1 Cor. 12, Matt 25: 14-30) June 28, 2017

2 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: SUNDAYS (NEW SCHEDULE): Sunday Worship 9:30-10:30 am* Sunday School for all ages 10:45-11:30 am** Spanish-Speaking Service & 12:30-1:30 pm*** Children s Sunday School * Childcare provided for 0 - Preschool only Kindergarten & older join families for Worship service **Childcare provided for 0 years - 6th grade (in Fall) ***Childcare provided for 0 years - 4th grade only TUESDAYS: Prayer Teams Edgewood Student Ministry (grades 7-12) WEDNESDAYS: Men s Prayer Breakfast (off-site) FRIDAYS: Spanish Prayer Meeting 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 6:30 am 8:00 pm (every other week) 2

3 everybody 3

4 students Kaleb Willey Student Ministry Pastor 4

5 children Shannon Bullock Children s Director Space is filling up fast!! Register online now at: Urgent VBS Donations Needed We need 150 tin cans (15 oz) that have been washed and their labels removed. Please place them in the box outside the Junction. Plan to join us Sunday evening July 9 at 6 pm as we seek God s guidance and blessing on our upcoming week of VBS. Continued from page 1 Pastor Kevin Christianity was true and meaningful it must not save but serve. It must bring God s compassion to the oppressed as well as oppose the oppressors. (Chuck Colson in the forward to A Practical View of Christianity). Mordecai said to Esther, Do not think to yourself that in the king s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:13-14, ESV). This Fourth of July as we celebrate the freedoms we have in this country and the many blessings we have received, let us also pray that God would give us the wisdom, the love, and strength to joyfully stand for truth. Pastor Kevin Edgewood Baptist Church 12 pm - 3 pm Lunch served at 12 pm 5

6 worship adults Help My Unbelief The song Help My Unbelief was written by John Newton in We sing this hymn to a different melody, but the truths of this song are still relevant today. The message of this song was taken from Mark 9: This passage is about a father who asks Jesus to heal his son who is possessed with a demon. The message holds great impact because it reminds us that we often don t believe God can do great and powerful things; It reminds us to pray for faith amidst our doubt and unbelief. As the father of the boy cried out to Jesus, I believe; help my unbelief! (vs24), we need to daily cry out and ask God to give us faith and rest in His most holy will. Jesus is the great example of who we should be and continuously reminds His disciples and the people he encounters to ask the Father for guidance in all things. This prayer confesses that without God we are unable to believe as we should, but there is grace for us because God loved us first. (V1) I know the Lord is nigh and would but cannot pray. For Satan meets me when I try and drives my soul away, and drives my soul away (V2) I would but can t repent, though I endeavor oft This heart of stone can ne er relent Til Jesus makes it soft, til Jesus makes it soft (C) Help my unbelief. Drag me to my knees. I confess, I have nothing but need. I lack faith to believe. My help must come from thee. (V3) I would but cannot rest. In God s most holy will. I know what He appoints is best. Yet grumble at it still, Yet grumble at it still. (C) Sydney Jensen Worship Music Director Help my unbelief. Drag me to my knees. I confess, I have nothing but need. I lack faith to believe. My help must come from thee (V4) We would but cannot serve or love this broken church. Until our joy rests in His word. Grace, grace! Continued on next column 6 Save the Date All Seniors (55+) Potluck Picnic August 16 (C) Guests and grandchildren in your care are welcome. Please bring food to share and a lawn chair Watch for more details He loved us first! Grace, grace! He loved us first! Help my unbelief. Drag me to my knees. I confess, I have nothing but need. I lack faith to believe My help must come from thee. Help our unbelief, Drag us to our knees. We confess, We have nothing but need. We lack faith to believe. Our help must come from thee Sydney Jensen

7 ministerio hispano Servicio Domingos 12:30 pm Se provee cuidado de niños y escuela dominical para todas las edades durante el Servicio. Julio & Liana Jiménez Hispanic Ministry Pastor Junio 30 Julio 14 y 28 Clases de Discipulado y Membresia Miércoles 7:00 pm en la sala # 36 10:45 Descubriendo a Cristo (Clase para bautizos y membresía) Domingos 10:45 am En la biblioteca 10:45 # 41 10:45 7