STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

April 2, 2024

A Point from pastor

Where do we go from here?
After Resurrection Sunday as the big event on the Christian calendar, where do we go when it is finished?

While we long for Jesus to return, our place is not to gaze up to heaven watching (recall the angels seemed to warn against this to the disciples in Acts 1:10-11). Jesus had just instructed them to be witnesses of Him throughout the world. His final commission stated the same thing.

We are to live our lives witnessing to the fact that those lives belong to Jesus. In that, we are to make disciples of others. We live between the book of Acts and Revelation as disciples of Jesus submitting to Him, living for Him, and worshipping Him. Easter Sunday can be a great celebration but we should not be let down when it is over - we should be encouraged and energized as we move forward seeing it once again as a commissioning and reminder that this "Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." He will return... let us be busy serving Him while He is gone.

Church Notes...

This Sunday is our monthly communion service - be prepared.

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

"That Week" - A study by Pastor Ken Buttermore on that week concludes tonight in Ashland at 7pm.

OA:sis - Wednesday nights are an "oasis" (a pause) from the difficult weekly journey at SSB. Join us at 6pm for a meal followed by activities for all ages. OA:sis... One Another: sharing, inspiring, serving.

Shared Meals - This Sunday morning is a shared "meal" as we join together in communion. This is followed by another meal... a shared pot "trust" (not "luck") meal after the worship service. Join us!

upcoming events

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

Joyful Hearts - A monthly gathering of those ages 55 and older is on Wednesday, April 10. This joyful time includes some food, some fellowship, some fun, and some faith fortitude. From 10am to noon.

WCC - The Westminster Confession Class is Saturday, April 13th from 8-9:30am. High school through adults are welcome to join in this discussion of doctrine.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance...

- Romans 5:3

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

- 2 Peter 3:9

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

- Ephesians 4:1-3

the Lord's day

Sunday morning began early for some as we shared in Sunrise Service at the Gerdes' yard. Several huddled up inside the shed before we began - the wind was chilly. The gathering was warm as we shared from Psalm 27 about our life in Jesus - His is risen!

We opened our worship as Amos and Andy reported on the resurrection taking us to the empty tomb (too bad the camera failed during the earthquake!). Pastor Tim shared about TLT and acknowledged the grads... may this be a marker and help for upcoming teen years lives well.

The message was from 1st John 5 about Jesus being risen giving us eternal life. The empty tomb screams out that we can know that we have eternal life. Eternal life is given by God as a gift, it is something believers are living now , and Jesus is with us as the great "I AM" in that life.
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THANKS! - Thank you to Ron & Rhonda (and helpers) as they opened their property to us (and fed us!). Thank you to Alan P, Monte, S, Isaac W, and Elijah W as they reported on the Passion Week these last three weeks. Thanks to all of the Saturday helpers on 3/23 that helped clean and prep the property.

View Past Worship Services

This Month in Christian History

He was possibly the first convert to Christ in the Congo. Mantantu Dundulu was a young man protecting his three sisters who began to assist a Baptist missionary named William Bentley. It was on April 30, 1882, that Mantantu became a Christian and this action cut him off from his tribe as they still practiced demonic rituals. His birth name meant “sorrow” and “stupid” so Bentley started calling him Nlemvo (meaning “obedient”). Bentley taught him to read English and Nlemvo, in turn, assisted greatly in helping Bentley create a dictionary and translate the New Testament (and portions of the Old) into the Kikongo language. Although he never was fully accepted back into his tribe, he did marry and then he continued exploring the Congo with Bentley and other missionaries to preach the gospel.

As he got older, Nlemvo went blind but then learned braille. Even suffering blindness, he continued to aid in translation work. As he got older he was viewed more and more as a statesman and was sought out to resolve disputes. It is estimated that, by his death in 1938, 200,000 Congolese had accepted Christ.

“We must always remember that our circumstances are primarily for the purpose of bringing glory to God, and so we should respond accordingly to whatever comes our way. Unfortunately, we often do not view difficult circumstances this way because we do not have a biblically-informed theology of suffering.”

- Darrell Harrison & Virgil Walker

Prayer Prods

Those in cancer battles (including Peggy, Joyce, Jessica, and Kathie).
Some recent surgeries: Janet B, Liz N, Amy M.
Birdsell family: Rick recovering from heart attack. Lani losing father.
Gerald's health
McFarlings have been in a legal battle for over a year now.
Yoder's at 36 weeks.
Praise: He is risen!
Ministries that our folks help with: Jail, 4-the-M, Aspire.

Weekly Prayer Prods