Vox. Changeless Gospel for Changing Times Thomas Waters. Voice of Emmanuel Baptist Church

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1 Vox Voice of Emmanuel Baptist Church Volume 10 Issue 4 April 2017 IN THIS ISSUE Quotable Quotes 3 Devouring the Word 3 The Word of God 3 Staying Fed 4 Holy Week Resurrection Sunday Walking the Faith 4 April Calendar 5 4 Changeless Gospel for Changing Times Thomas Waters I n our consumer driven economy, all sorts of products from Pampers to Pet Shampoo, Mylanta to Mercedes, Cheez-It to Coke and Apple I-Phones to Mrs. Renfro s Chipotle BBQ Sauce are sold as New and Improved. As some consumer advocate groups are noticing, however, new and improved in some cases is primarily a distraction from the reduction in the content of the product. For example, a couple of years ago when Pampers changed its packaging and added a stamp to make it seem the product was better than before, they also reduced the number of diapers in the box by eight, from one hundred to ninety-two. Devious. When Keebler came out with a New Look! Chips Deluxe Cookie, the package was 3.2 ounces lighter than the old one it replaced. Perhaps those elves formed a cookie makers union and as part of their compensation, are allowed to eat a couple of cookies from every package they produce. Clever. The Gospel, however, is not new and improved, but old and approved. 1 Corinthians 15 is one of the go-to chapters in the Bible about the Resurrection. The chapter opens with these words, Now, I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. In these opening words, the Apostle establishes that the truth, reception and stability of the Gospel in the life of the believer are paramount. Next, perhaps to reiterate obvious truths or to address inevitable errors, the Apostle defines a couple of core matters relating to the true Gospel s message; that is, the substitutionary death and victorious and vindicating resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostle writes, For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures... It is important to note, that these truths of the Gospel, as is the Gospel itself, are declared in the Scriptures. The Scriptures to which the Apostles refer are, of course, the (Continued on page 2)

2 Changeless Gospel for Changing Times (Continued from page 1) Old Testament. So, the Gospel is about Christ; in particular it is about His vicarious death and victorious resurrection, and these are declared in the Scriptures. The Gospel, therefore, is not new, but as old as the prophets and was preached to Adam and Abraham. (See Genesis 3:15, Romans 1:2 and Galatians 3:8). It is not our (i.e., church or believer s) job to try to improve the Gospel. The Apostle said he refused to tamper with God s word, but rather was set for the defense of it (2 Corinthians 4:2, Philippians 1:16-17). The Scriptures (that includes the Gospel) are given (thus approved) by God. Ministering in a world at flux and in a culture often fixated on something newer and better and different from before, the church is often tempted to fix or improve the message entrusted to us to declare. After all, it has been almost two millennium since God added any new books to the Bible. We live in a day of virtual reality, space travel and mind-blowing technology! Of course, some do find the Message lacking and change the Gospel narrative: some change the nature of the Triune God, most often by denying the Trinity and/or by trying to make God more like man (Psalm 50:21); others focus their change notions upon Christ. Some strip him of his Deity and say he was just a man (Matthew 16:13-15); others, however, would strip him of his manhood (move toward Gender-Neutral Translations); some focus on the concept of salvation and end in a free-loving God who saves everyone (universalism) or a pantheistic concept of God and cosmic reconciliation (i.e., absorption into the cosmos) or annihilation (cessation of existence). Resurrection Sunday (April 16) is approaching fast. Unless the Lord Jesus should come again on that day, I don t anticipate that we at EBC will do or hear anything new or improved on that Lord s Day. I don t know yet what hymns we will sing or from what text I will try to preach. Whatever hymns or text, however, I don t expect anything novel when it comes to the message in fact, the thought of something new or different is frightening. As a pastor, I have preached on thirty-five Resurrection Sundays (Easter). During those years, I have preached multiple sermons on a given Lord s Day, viz., Sunrise, Morning and Evening sermons. Sometimes, I have preached community sermons on the resurrection as well as at Spring Meetings. I don t know that I have preached on every text in the Bible on the resurrection; I doubt that I have, but I don t reckon I have a new message concerning the resurrection either. Does that mean there is nothing more to learn or expect? No, I didn t say that. The Gospel message may be old, but it is approved by God and it is the power of God unto salvation. 1st - May we be kept from ever growing tired of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May it never become stale or boring. 2nd - May we never try to improve what God has approved or change what the Lord has said is sufficient. 3rd - May we pray that the Lord would more fully open our minds and faith to the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe His Gospel. Paul said the power that is at work in us is the same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead! Wow! Now, to grasp that power is something to consider and pray about knowing. No, we don t need a new and improved message. We just need to better understand, believe and live in the old and approved Gospel that has been declared in the Scriptures through the ages. - The Word of the Lord Stands Forever - EBC Vox is a monthly publication of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Address: 1618 Waycross Highway, Jesup, GA 31545; Phone: Pastors: Thomas Waters, Dean Strickland, Al Groover, John Hubbard Editor: Chlo Dukes, chlondukes@gmail.com Submit information to Chlo Dukes by the fifteenth of the month preceding publication by , in person, or at the church office. The editor reserves the right to edit for content or space. Soli Deo Gloria! 2

3 Staying Fed How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103). ecently I was confronted with this question: If you fed yourself with food the way R you feed yourself with God s Word, would you still be alive? It gave me pause. Do I eat enough spiritually? feast regularly enough on Scripture to keep up my energy and the health of my soul? Do I eat nutritiously? take in a balanced meal of law and gospel, comfort and commandments, prophecy and promise? Do I pass up spiritual junk food? set aside empty calories that lead to disease, in order to hunger for what truly gives life? Do I drink enough Living Water to avoid faith dehydration? And once in a while, do I splurge on dessert? savor the sweetness and joy of belonging at God s table? What abundance God sets before us. May we never skip a meal! -Heidi Mann Palm Sunday - Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! as Jesus entered Jerusalem. (See Matthew 21:1-11) Maundy Thursday - Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, commemorates the evening just before the crucifixion when Jesus and his disciples broke bread together for the Last Supper. It was then that Jesus instituted the Eucharist or what we call communion or the Lord s Supper. Good Friday - Good Friday, a day of terrible suffering and sacrifice, a day of crucifixion. Christ who bore his crown of thorns willingly, arose from the dead, and defeated death that we might have eternal life. The Lord is risen! Hallelujah! We celebrate the foundation of our faith: the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and his victory over sin and death. April 16, 2017 at EBC Sunrise Service: 7:30 AM Morning Worship: 10:45 AM Walking the Faith s spring buds and temperatures rise, it s fun to get outside and walk. Walking is great for both body and mind. To A solve a problem, walk around, advised St. Jerome. Naturalist Henry David Thoreau agreed, saying, The moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. Indeed, walking has been linked to improved creativity and reduced anxiety. Some Bible versions translate Ephesians 5:8 Live as children of light, while others use walk : You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (NKJV). What a great rendering! Living is something we often do passively and without much thought, while walking is an intentional, active pursuit; we must choose when, where and how we do it. Now that we re children of light newly alive springtime people, Easter people! Jesus urges us to not just live the faith but to walk it. When our faith becomes active, new thoughts flow, anxiety decreases and we make strides in our relationship with Jesus. 3

4 Preaching the Word Tyler Melton April 9 - Afternoon Service Pastor Larry Vincent April 23 - Morning Service Devouring the Word While traveling in Scotland, the great evangelist Charles Spurgeon came across a very old, worn Bible at a wayside inn. As he examined the book and held it up toward the light, he noticed a small hole where a worm had eaten from cover to cover. Lord, make me a bookworm like that, Spurgeon said. From Genesis to Revelation, it has gone clear through the Bible. Quotable Quotes Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor. -Charles Spurgeon The Word of truth teaches in the clearest and most positive terms that all of the dead will be raised. No doctrine of the faith rests upon a more literal and emphatic body of Scripture authority than this, nor is any more vital to Christianity. -C.I. Scofield EBC will change the day of the 1st Sunday fellowship lunch to the 4th Sunday in April. We are expecting several ministers who are going to the ARBCA General Assembly to be worshipping with us on April Please prepare additional food - April 25-27, 2017 Epworth by the Sea St. Simons, GA Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America The Word of God faith needs the Word as much as fruit needs the living root of a tree (Institutes 3,2,31). "The instrument by which the Spirit effects (sanctification) is generally the Word God" (Ryle, Holiness, 16). "You must receive the Word not only as the True Word of the Lord, but as the good Word of the Lord" (Burroughs, Gospel Worship, 231). "The Scripture is both a glass to show your spots, and a laver to wash them away."--thomas Watson, (Sermons from the Great Ejection, 137). 4

5 SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 9:30 AM WORSHIP 10:45 AM & 1:30 PM WEDNESDAY PRAYER SERVICE 7:00 PM Lord s Supper Morning Service NO Fellowship Lunch FreeHart Ministry 6:00 PM WIC Meeting Spurgeon Room 11:00 AM Palm Sunday Bridge Builders 10:00 AM Easter Sunrise Service 7:30 AM Morning Worship 10:45 AM FreeHart Ministry 6:00 PM Guest Speaker & Fellowship Lunch ARBCA General Assembly Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Union Service EBC 6:00 PM. HAPPY BIRTHDAY 03 Sandra Brown 04 Carl Yarbrough 06 Matt Yawn 12 Gloria Strickland 16 Hunter Yawn FLOWERS 02 Nancy Primm 09 Libby Lighfoot Lynne Groover 30 Carol Lipthratt USHERS 02 Carl Lane & Robert Dennis 09 Damian Brown & Ron Tugend 16 Carl Yarbrough & Gary Shepherd 23 Tyler Melton & Chris Brantley 30 Donzell Lewis & Robert Dennis Please wear your best attire, and inform one of the deacons prior if you are unable to attend your Sunday. NURSERY ATTENDANTS 02 am--tonia Hubbard pm--ann Lane 09 am--gail Waters pm--jean York 16 am--ann Lane 23 am--jean York pm--gail Waters 30 am--tonia Hubbard pm--ann Lane Thanks be to God, who give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 5

6 Emmanuel Baptist Church 1618 Waycross Highway EBC Jesup, GA He is Risen, Indeed!