Inside This Issue...

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1 Macedonia Baptist Church A monthly publication for Members of Macedonia Baptist Church Volume 16 Issue Southfield Road Detroit, Michigan Rev. Charles D. Twymon, Pastor December 2018 Inside This Issue... Announcements... 2 Sermons/New Members... 3 Why Did Jesus Come As A Child? Ways To Reduce Heating Costs In The Winter... 5 The Lord s Light Within/MBC Bible & Book Corner... 6 Invitation to Sunday School/Watch Night Service... 7

2 attend. Bible Study, led by Pastor Twymon, meets at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. every Wednesday in Fellowship Hall. All members and guests are encouraged to HAPPY 73rd BIRTHDAY PASTOR TWYMON Thursday, December 13, 2018 The Bi-Annual Business Meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This meeting is reserved for church members only. Evening Bible Study class will be canceled on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, and will resume on Wednesday, January 2, December

3 SERMONS CDs and DVDs are available through the Audio Ministry. Visit or via the MBCDET app to listen to archived sermons. Pastor Charles D. Twymon November 4, 2018, 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. An Altered State Of Mind 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 Pastor Charles Twymon November 11, 2018, 8:00 a.m. Praise God For His Hope, Psalm 146 Rev. Carl Livingston, Pastor Walnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church Clarksville, Tennessee November 11, 2018, 11:00 a.m. A Good Soldier, 2 Timothy 2:1-4 Rev. Terry Minor The New Members Orientation Class meets on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on the second floor in the Upper Room. November 18, 2018, 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. Giving Thanks In A Storm Acts 27:33-36 Pastor Charles Twymon November 25, 2018, 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. Going Over On Broken Pieces Acts 27:42-44 Pastor Charles Twymon December

4 WHY DID JESUS COME AS A CHILD? Submitted by Maxine Gardner Jesus is the One like no other, for he was fully human and fully divine - simultaneously. Nothing about his humanity could detract from his godliness; nothing about his godliness could detract from his humanity. Only because this is true can he reconcile the Father in heaven with his children on earth. He is the Man of both worlds; he is the bridge by which God comes to earth and people come to heaven. In that regard, we have seen that the Virgin Birth is the sign of his divinity. He comes to the earth from outside, pure and clean, and he is in no way a product of this world. Now we see that, in the same way, the infancy of the Child is the sign of his humanity. He is one of us in every way. He arrives from heaven with perfection and godliness of which no man or woman is capable - yet he takes the full human journey, which even God in heaven had not taken. How could we follow his footsteps as a man if we hadn't seen him crawl as a child? How could we believe he had undergone all the temptation we have faced if he had bypassed the most difficult years in which we struggle to earn our adulthood? To make the full sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus had to make the full commitment. It would have meant very little to us if he had sprung from heaven fully formed, bathed in heavenly glory, saying, "Here are my hands and my feet - place me upon the cross, for I am willing to die." Instead, we see him as a child in a manger. We see him at the Temple as a boy on the verge of maturity, already about his Father's business. We see Mary and Joseph wondering at him, trying to understand, as he grew "in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people" (Luke 2:52). Finally, we see him as a young man, quietly beginning a ministry that will change all of human history. We overhear the whispers from his neighbors: "He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers - James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us" (Matthew 13:55-56). We see him in the desert, wrestling with temptation and the matter of his destiny, and we know he is fully human. We see his love for children, and we can believe it because he, too, has been a child. And then, when those crude spikes are drilled through his wrists and his ankles, we know he feels the pain that any man would feel. We know the price of our sins is on the table, being paid in full with no credit plans or easy payment schedules, but by every last drop of blood and every brutal slash of the whip. We are bought with a price that could never have been paid without the full burden of humanity having been accepted. If he had been God only, his sacrifice would have been cheap and unconvincing. If he had been man only, his sacrifice would have had no power; he would have been a martyr like ten thousand others. (Why Did Jesus Come...Continued on page 6) December

5 3 WAYS TO REDUCE HEATING COSTS THIS WINTER Submitted by Wendell Smitherman As temperatures drop and cold weather sets in, heating costs typically rise. You can keep warm without taking a huge hit to your monthly utility budget by taking simple actions that should help drive heating costs down. Here are three things you can do to help reduce your heating bill. Be Smart with the Thermostat In today s tech-driven landscape, there are lots of smart thermostat options featuring built-in energy-saving and billreducing options, like Nest. The Nest Learning Thermostat programs itself, learns what temperature you like and adjusts itself accordingly. It is Energy Star certified and regulates your home temperature with little effort needed on your part. You can monitor it with your smartphone or tablet and it delivers reports on how much energy you ve saved. Saving energy = cost savings, and independent studies have shown people save an average of 10 to 12 percent on heating bills with Nest. An optional Nest Temperature Sensor can adjust temperatures in different rooms; it also knows when you re away from home and turns the thermostat down. Plus, some utility companies will offer rebates or credits for installing a smart thermostat in your home. If you use a traditional thermostat, a good rule of thumb is to always turn the temperature down at night when you go to bed, as you can use extra blankets to keep warm while sleeping. You should also turn the heat down while you re away from home. When you are home, keep the thermostat set as low as possible for you to still be comfortable and layer your clothing to stay warm. Once you get used to cranking down the setting, it will become a regular routine that should translate to savings on your energy bill. Take Advantage of Solar Heat Solar heat is free and in abundant supply. If you have south-facing windows in your home, whenever possible, open your curtains and blinds to let heat from the sun s natural light flow into your home and warm it. At night, you ll want to close the curtains in the absence of the sun, to block any cold resonating from the windows. Stop Drafts and Leaks Drafts and leaks around windows and doors can cause a spike in energy usage and heating costs. You can use plastic sheeting around window frames to insulate windows in the cold months or even insulated curtains or drapes to help block out cold air. Use draft-stoppers at the bottoms of exterior doors or patio sliders to keep drafty, cold air at bay. Always check and replace worn weather-stripping and apply caulk where needed around doors and windows, Improperly sealed frames and fixtures can let cold air in and allow warm air to escape, which will drive up your energy bill. Also, be sure to look for chimney leaks and seal them promptly. Source: Radio.com, Bill Grant, Bill Grant. Deputy Commissioner Of Energy, MN Department of Commerce December

6 THE LORD S LIGHT WITHIN Submitted by Maxine Gardner Lord, we reflect with thankful hearts On the wonder of your birth The love you expressed when you left Your glory to come to earth For your life was like a beacon, Lord Shining brightly in the night Filling the world with the radiance of The Father's glorious light And we, too, long to have inside Your light for others to see The beautiful reflection of your grace And the wonder of your majesty For as your life indwells our hearts, We can shine wherever we are And arise to take hold of each new day With your light ablaze in our hearts So rekindle the flame within us, Lord So it will not flicker nor dim Ignite us with the light of your love, So you will shine brightly within By M.S.Lowndes (Why Did Jesus Come...Continued from page 4) But he was man and he was God, and therefore he was all in all. He came as a child to confront and conquer every challenge and every temptation common to humanity. We trust him with our lives because he was God. We love him with our hearts because we know that once he was a tiny baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. why-did-jesus-christ-come-as-a-baby html MACEDONIA BIBLE & BOOK CORNER Submitted by Sonja Gray In Charles Stanley's book, Man of God, he speaks to the issue of what it takes to be a "real" man of God. Starting with spiritual rebirth, he challenges men to become better leaders, teachers, fathers, and husbands. In the back of the book is an 8-session Group Leader's Guide with goals, discussion questions, and activity suggestions for each small group meeting. You don t have to be perfect to be a man of God. As Dr. Charles Stanley writes, a man of God is a maturing man, a striving man, a knowledgeable man. And the first step in real manhood is spiritual rebirth. In Man of God, Dr. Stanley asks and answers questions such as these: What can we learn about manhood from Jesus s example? How does a true leader allow God to lead him? Why is a godly man "both velvet and steel"? What does it look like to be a provider? What does it mean to lead with sensitivity? Man of God will challenge and equip you to become a better leader, teacher, father, and husband. What makes a man? The answer starts here. Includes study guide for individuals or groups. This paperback book is available in the Bible and Book Corner. December

7 Invitation to: Macedonia Baptist Church Sunday School Superintendent of Sunday School: Rev. Ronald Davis Pastor: Reverend Charles D. Twymon The Sunday School Ministry invites you, your family and friends to attend Sunday School classes. The classes begin at 9:30 a.m. We know you will enjoy the wonderful lessons that will be reviewed, and can apply these teachings to your everyday life. The list of lessons for December 2018 includes the following: The Advent of Immanuel Date Lesson Scripture December 2 The Sign of Immanuel Isaiah 7:1-4, 7-16 December 9 The Promise of a Divine Ruler Isaiah 9:1-7 December 16 The Righteous Branch Isaiah 11:1-10 December 23 The Birth of Christ (Christmas) Matthew 1:18-25 December 30 Wise Men Worship Christ Matthew 2:1-12 Watch Night Service At Macedonia Usher in the spirit of a new year; usher in the spirit of the Lord! Macedonia's Watch Night Service will be held on Monday, December 31, 2018, between 10:00 p.m. and midnight. Bring praises into the new year with the combined choirs. The service will close out the year with prayer. Come and worship with family and friends as we welcome 2019! December

8 Macedonia Baptist Church Southfield Road, Detroit, Michigan "Come over into Macedonia and help us. ACTS 16:9