STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

October 7, 2024
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A Point from pastor

As we pass the one year mark after the attack on Israel by terrorists, it is worthy of reflection.  May this turmoil end soon! We all wish it had ended many months ago.  

I'm mindful of Joshua as he is surveying the area just prior to the first battle as this people entered that land to claim their God-give nation over 3400 years ago.  They were about to conquer a well-defended, walled-in Jericho.  They had already sent in a couple of spies.  They had already miraculously crossed the Jordan river.  They had already set up a markers of stone and even marked their men as Jewish.   Jericho lay ahead.

As Joshua is surveying, he sees a man with a sword in his hand calling himself the "Commander of the Army of the Lord" (see Joshua 5:13-15).   Joshua asks him, before the introduction, "are you for us, or for our adversaries?"   This angel of the Lord (very possibly the pre-incarnate Jesus) responds, "No."   In other words... Are you for us?   No.  Are you for our adversaries?  No.   This commander of God's army responds, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come."  

Joshua, albeit briefly, mistakenly considered whether this commander might be on his side or his enemy's side neglecting the most important point... We must be on God's side!  God had promised Abraham a land.  Moses and the people delayed that promise.  Now, Joshua and the next-generation Israelites were about to step into that Promised Land and battle for it.  This was about God fulfilling His promise.  And Joshua was to be on God's side!  Following God's leading.   Obeying what God commanded.  

Of course, we know how the battle of Jericho came about with marching around the walls.  Certainly not a modern warfare tactic.  But, being on God's side means we are about God's plan, God's timing, and God's outcome.  

May Israel remember the Commander of the Lord's Army and the battle of Jericho these days!   May she  remember that she must be on God's side and trust that the outcome is in His hands.  Just as this Commander of the Lord's Army drew the people to His side and His plan, may Jesus, the Lord's Commander, draw the Israelites to His side and His plan of salvation.    

Church Notes...

October 16th begins the 2024 Missions Conference.  There will be a shared meal that first night at 6pm.   Followed by Al McElheran speaking at 7pm.    There will be no other Wednesday night activities that night.  The conference will continue Thursday and Friday night at 7pm with Al and another special guest those nights.  Join us!  

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

Joyous Hearts - This is Wednesday at 10am.    There will be a devotional, some food, and fun (including a few comedy bits by Michale Jr).   For those  ages 55 and older.    

Four the Master - This gospel quartet will be ministering Thursday, 2:30pm, at Heritage Pointe (168th & Blondo).  You may attend.

WCC - The Westminster Confession Class is a study of doctrine using Westminster as a guide.  This extremely well-written confession summarizes reformed doctrine.  We use it as a guide but God's Word is the measure of truth (we do not always agree with Westminster!).    This monthly class is at 8am (for 90 minutes) - this Saturday morning.  

upcoming events

Make note of the classes and events available in the near future

Missions Conference - Wednesday, October 16 - 18, Al McElheran will be joining us for updates and talks about his past work in Ecuador and current work in Honduras.   This begins, Wednesday, October 16 at 6pm with a meal followed by Al sharing. He'll then share Thursday and Friday nights at 7pm.    

Men's Breakfast - MEN:  On Saturday morning, October 19 @ 7:30am, join us for food and to hear Al share a final encouraging message for the men.  

According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

- 1 Peter 1:2

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

- 1 Corinthians 2:12

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

- James 1:18

the Lord's day

We shared in fellowship singing to the Lord.  We shared in fellowship praying to the Lord.  We shared in fellowship at the Lord's table.  We began and ended the service in song to the Lord...  Ending with how well it is with our souls.... amen!

We shared 1st John 5:20-21 for Communion:  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

The "we" - We are the body of Christ that John refers to... how important is the knowledge of God in this?  In knowing Christ, we become partakers of His divine nature.  If we do not know Christ, we do not know God... and, therefore, we do not have salvation.    Being "in Him who is true... in His Son" is required for communion.  We are to be "in Christ.   We must be saved!   We also see that Christ is in us...   taking in bread and juice pictures this.  We, like John, get to see, hear, and touch; we connect to Christ through communion in a very real way.  We also ended with an important warning against idolatry.  How we worship God is important and making idols is much about getting something elsewhere that we should be getting from God.  
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Did You Know?

SSB annually has a fall missions conference where we highlight a missionary that we support.   Why is this important?   This allows you to hear of other cultures, learn of God's mighty movement around the world, and better pray/support missions.  As Christians we should be mindful and supportive of those who are witnesses "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).   Join us at this year's conference Wedn, October 16 through the 18th!  

This Month in Christian History

George Whitefield’s funeral was on October 2, 1770 in Newburyport, Massachusetts.  Whitefield was arguably the best-known evangelist of the eighteenth century.  Born in England and ordained with the Church of England, he spent time in the colonies beginning in 1738.  His time in New England became a sensation as he preached to crowds of up to eight thousand nearly every day for over a month.  This preaching was a key to the Great Awakening.  He returned to the colonies several times; the final trip was in 1769.   On September 29, in New Hampshire, he preached his final sermon, dying the following morning.

While friends with John Wesley at Oxford, Wesley eventually attacked Whitefield’s Calvinism.  Even so, Wesley preached a sermon in November of 1770 honoring his friend.  Wesley wrote, “If it be inquired what was the foundation of this integrity, or of his sincerity, courage, patience, and every other valuable and amiable quality; it is easy to give the answer. It was not the excellence of his natural temper, not the strength of his understanding; it was not the force of education; no, nor the advice of his friends: it was no other than faith in a bleeding Lord; "faith of the operation of God." 

Of Whitefield’s doctrine, Wesley preached, “His fundamental point was, "Give God all the glory of whatever is good in man;" and, "In the business of salvation, set Christ as high and man as low as possible." With this point, he and his friends at Oxford, the original Methodists, so called, set out. Their grand principle was, there is no power (by nature) and no merit in man. They insisted, all power to think, speak, or act aright, is in and from the Spirit of Christ; and all merit is (not in man, how high soever in grace, but merely) in the blood of Christ.”

Thousands were unable to get in the door of the church for the funeral of this man who preached more than 18,000 sermons (do the math on this man who lived not quite 56 years!).  Whitefield is buried in a crypt under the Old South Church in Newburyport, MA, a church he helped found in 1740.  

“Christ was always the Son of God by eternal generation, and that He took upon Himself humanity through generation of the Holy Spirit.  The human birth was not in order to become a Son of God, but because he was the Son of God.”

- John Walvoord

Prayer Prods

  1. Ron A is in for knee surgery today
  2. Jimmy & Alice are together but helping many dealing with the storm aftermath & recovery
  3. Don C's son-in-law, Scott, passed away last night. 
  4. Mike & Debbie S both with health struggles
  5. Gerald B (home hospice)
  6. Missions Conference on 10/16-18; Al M traveling
  7. Cancer battles (Peggy O, Joyce N, Ron M, Patty Z)  
  8. McFarling's battle with state and courts
  9. Quartet as they minister again - their health!
Weekly Prayer Prods

General Calendar