STANDING STONE BIBLE

WEEKLY

April 22, 2024
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A Point from pastor

The elders presented our five graduating high school seniors with their armor.   The armor ceremony, Saturday night, was an opportunity for the elders to encourage the seniors as they transition, reminding them to wear the armor as described in Ephesians 6.  

Prior to the ceremony, we watched a video by Voddie Baucham who encouraged them to be praying that God would make them "weak things" (2 Cor. 12:9).  There is a tension in that we should be content to be weak but, yet, God commands us to be strong (e.g. God's command to Joshua in Joshua 1:9).   I'm not sure that most parents are hoping their children turn out weak.   But, the tension is resolved as we start to understand that "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Cor. 1:27-29).  

God tells us that we can do all things through Him who gives us strength (Phil. 4:3) and that we are to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (Eph. 6:10).    If we were strong enough on our own, we wouldn't need God.  But, when we are weak, we are strong through the strength of His might!  

And, being strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might is the very verse that then leads into the idea of putting on the whole armor of God.  As our strength comes from the Lord, to be strong, we encouraged our graduates to put on and take up the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith,  the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.  Not only that, we are exhorted to "pray always."  We encourage our graduates to be in prayer always.  

Join in with the elders these days in encouraging these young men and women to be armored up, to be strong in the Lord, and, yes, to be weak things as they move forward.  

THIS WEEK

Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week

Four the Master - The quartet is ministering this evening Ridgewood Retirement Community in Bennington.  This will be at 6:30pm.  

Christian Worldview Day - This free event ends tonight.  Speakers: ICR's Dr. Randy Guliuzza, Dan Woods, and a testimony from Lt. General Mark Shackelford.   The evening registration still seems open:  Register Here.

Final Gym Night - Wednesday night, Clubz have their final gym night (final club night is next week).  Drop the kids off at the Elementary School east-side doors at 6:45pm.  Pick up at 8:10.  

upcoming events

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

OA:sis Final Night - The final Wednesday night for OA:sis will be May 1st.  This will be the last meal, club night, and Life Group.   LIGHThouse (6-12th grade) and Prayer Force will continue meeting on Wednesday nights through the summer.  

Ladies' Brunch - Saturday, May 4, at 10am is a brunch for all gals.  Invite a mother, daughter, sister, friend.  .  .  all ladies are welcome!   There will be food and a fun game.  Try to come dressed in or wear something with teal.  

Summer Bible Camps - Glad Tidings is a camp ministry we have sent several kids to.   They offer camps for pre-school age through High School (and a "wilderness" camp).  Visit their web-page HERE and consider signing up the kids.  Camps run end of May through July.  SSB will help with money if that is a concern.  

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

- John 8:38

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

- 1 John 3:18

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

- Psalm 145:18

the Lord's day

We opened discussing the comparison of Earth Day (we don't worship the earth ...  we worship the Creator of the earth) and Passover - BOTH are today.   Understanding Passover helps us to understand the Lamb of God's sacrifice to save us.  To that end, we also announced our Creation Days conference on August 10th.  Additionally, we installed our 2024 deacons and deaconesses.  Our ministry leaders serve from April to the following March.  May they be encouraged in their service and strong in the Lord!    

The message took us to 1st John 5:14-15 as we began to consider specific "anythings" in the words, "if we ask anything according to his will he hears us."  We considered "if we ask God for salvation according to His will he hears us."   Salvation is not always rightly understood and there are too many that are falsely "saved."  God desires that all be saved but they must understand their sin and lostness.   Rightly asking God for salvation includes God helping you understand your total lostness and need of His salvation.  It is turning from sin and turning to Jesus.  
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Who is Worthy?

Deborah was the fourth “judge” of Israel, the wife of Lappidoth, and a prophetess.   As a judge, she served primarily as a deliverer appointed by God and a leader of Israel.  She summoned a leader, Barak, to challenge the northern tribes of Israel to confront the Canaanites commanded by Sisera.  Barak did not want to go unless Deborah accompanied him – she agreed, but warned that the credit for the victory would go to a woman.   After being defeated, Sisera fled and hid in a tent.  He was killed by a woman named Jael who hammered a tent peg through his temple (fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy).  God uses weak things.  “He that thought to destroy Israel with his many iron chariots is himself destroyed with one iron nail” (Matthew Henry).  We also see a weakness in Israel (a lack of male leadership), thus a “weaker vessel” such as Deborah helps to lead an astounding victory and another “weaker vessel” such as Jael kills Sisera.  “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27).  God is worthy!

  “It's the thing that many couples miss.  It is so simple, so biblically logical, but it seems to slip through the cracks in the lives of many couples.  If it is true that all the horizontal skirmishes a husband and wife have are rooted in a deeper war for the heart, and if it is true that a marriage must be fixed vertically before it is ever fixed horizontally, then the place where you win the war for marriage is on your knees.”  

- Paul Tripp

Prayer Prods

  1. Magill's daughter, Jessica
  2. Gerald  weak but strong in the Lord
  3. Joyce M at Brookstone in Elkhorn
  4. McFarlings as they battle legally
  5. Pastor Jaime Farias as he seeks God's leading
  6. Our high school seniors
  7. Cancer battles (Peggy O, Joyce N, Patty Z, Ron M)
Weekly Prayer Prods

General Calendar