First Baptist Church of Rochester PA

January 31 Worship

Bible Study:Psalm 12

A church in Atlanta was honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered t...o ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak.... "When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... The only thing that would comfort was this verse.... "Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, We are weak but He is strong..... Yes, Jesus loves me.... The Bible tells me so." The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best." "Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me": JESUS LOVES ME Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow Though my sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him. (CHORUS) YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I'll go On through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way. (verse 2) When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song.. Telling me in words so clear, "Have no fear, for I am near." (Verse 3) When my work on earth is done, And life's victories have been won. He will take me home above, Then I'll understand His love. (CHORUS) I love Jesus, does He know? Have I ever told Him so? Jesus loves to hear me say, That I love Him every day. If you think this is neat, please pass it on to your friends. If you do not pass it on, nothing bad will happen, but you will have missed an opportunity to "reach out and touch" a friend or a loved one. God Bless Us All!!! AMEN!

A RADICAL MESSAGE Ephesians 3:1-13 As the missionary to the Gentiles Paul was opposed by the Jewish establishment outside the church and by Jews within the church. Yet, Paul tirelessly took the message of salvation to the cities throughout the Roman Empire (3:8). For the Jews it was a hard sell that God intended the Gentiles to be saved. The implications of Paul’s message were radical. The gospel made the unclean, outsider Gentiles members of the family of God. Before Ch...rist that was a privilege that had only been enjoyed by Israel. But through Christ, Gentiles were brought into the family. If Paul took up so much of the book of Ephesians describing the oneness of the body of Christ and explaining how former enemies could be part of the same family, how much more should we work to reduce the ethnic and political and other divisions in the church? When we embrace harmony we have become Ephesian Christians. The second half of chapter 3 is about spiritual growth. When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into G od’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14-19 New Living Translation. Meditate upon the benediction found in verses 20-21. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power to work within us, to accomplish infinitely more (exceedingly abundantly above all that KJV) than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations for ever and ever! Amen. New Living Translation See more

MADE ALIVE WITH CHRIST Ephesians 2 In Ephesians chapter 1 we learned of our identity in Christ. Now in chapter 2 we learn that we are made alive with Christ. In 2:1-10 we are to remember three facts about our lives before Christ. We were spiritually dead. We followed the ways of the devil and our lives had been filled with disobedience and self-indulgence. These memories should encourage us to live our lives in joyful service to God. In our day divisions among us create ...fear, distrust, prejudice and hostility that separate individuals, communities, churches and even nations. In contrast being made alive with Christ results in oneness and peace in Christ (2:11-18). Christ broke down the wall that separates and creates conflict between us. We no longer need to compete for position, access, privilege, attention or supremacy. For believers in Christ, there is no insiders or outsiders. The church is all one family because God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us and makes us one. As Christians, we are now family members with people from different cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities. What a joy to know that regardless of our ethnicity, nationality, gender or financial status, we are not second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God! When our sins are forgiven, we are new people born into a new family. Our past associations no longer control us. We live for the glory of God and to bless others. When we join God’s family, we give up hostility and hatred. We put our unity with fellow believers above any cultural, national, political and ethnic differences. Because of this, let us take the good news of salvation to every tribe and nation so they, too, can join God’s family. See more

Deuteronomy 33 Blessings on the 12 Tribes by Moses

AN HONORED POSITION BRINGS FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY Ephesians 1 We were created by God to be relational people. Belonging to a group provides us with a great sense of well-being. Paul taught that there is even greater value in being united to Christ. As Christians all the spiritual blessing of heaven become ours simply because we are In Christ. Being in Christ we enjoy an inheritance. As part of God’s family our heavenly Father cares for the smallest details of our lives. ... He gives us an identity, a purpose and an honored position in his kingdom. Let us remember who we are in Christ whenever we feel unloved or discouraged. Anxiety is real. Everyone experiences anxieties and fears. These arise from past tragedies, sin or present circumstances. We worry over events in the future. Anxiety is defined as an attempt to find an answer where there is none. In Christ, God has provided a better way to handle our anxieties. God has fully dealt with our past. He offers forgiveness from sin. He includes us in his family and promises us a wonderful inheritance. WE are adopted by God and become his children. So, we belong to his family and enjoy his loving care. But Anxiety is real. That is why in Philippians 4:6-7 Paul said Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything you can understand. When you are afraid or experience times of anxiety remember your identity in Christ. See more

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS Ephesians is a prison epistle wrote to the church in Ephesus but intended to be read by churches across Asia Minor. It was written by Paul while he was in prison in Rome (AD 60-62). The purpose was to present God’s glorious plan of salvation through Christ because of the work of the Holy Spirit. The first three chapters explain our new identity in Christ. The last three chapters give practical advice and explain how the church community can live... in unity. Ephesians teaches us: God’s work of bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ and our being blessed with every spiritual blessing should give us a sense of confidence and security. On the cross, Christ established peace between Christians from all ethnic communities. Racial prejudice or favoritism has no place in the household of God (2:17-20). A well-organized church body, controlled by the ethic of love, will result in spiritual health for the whole congregations (4:11-16). Holiness is a powerful weapon in Spiritual warfare (6:10-20). Spiritual warfare is about standing firm in Christ. We must rely on the Holy Spirit who indwells us and we must remain faithful to the Word of God to withstand the attacks of the devil. See more

Community Community. What does that word mean to you? Church. What ideas enter your thought processes upon hearing that word. Community and church are synonyms. Both are made up of a diverse group of people who have differing skills and responsibilities. Both have a personality unique to itself. The community we call church consists of one family of those Christ has saved and is remaking into new people 2 Corinthians 5:17). This community welcomes all who have become... Christians by faith in Christ and makes no distinction regarding color, culture gender, tribe, language or nation (John 17:11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 5:9). The local church should also be a picture or representation of the community. This community is a kingdom of priests called to ultimately reign with God (Revelation 5:10). This community is different from others because it is driven by God’s Spirit. The community does not seek to dominate others but rather to serve others with the attitude of love, justice, truth, holiness, humility, mercy and joy in sharing. This community will overcome the World simply because of Christ (John 6:25-33; Romans 8:34). The community is called to build up one another, acting with the zeal that comes from their faith in, hope in and love for God. They share possessions with one another. They help and serve one another. The bear one another’s burdens (1 Corinthians 12:7; Galatians 6;2; 1 Peter 4:10). The members of this community aim for harmony, living lives of goodness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17-19), Everyone in the community is called to obey God’s commandment to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 13:1-52: Revelation 5:9-10). This community, the church of the New Testament, is an ideal that no local church meets on every point as it consists of sinners saved by grace. This is the church called out by God to be his own holy people (1 Corinthians 1;2). As a community, as we wait for the Lord’s glorious return, let us truly experience the words of Psalm 133:1. How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony. See more

WE HARVEST WHAT WE PLANT The apostle Paul corrected believers who thought highly of their own spiritual state and did not want to associate or help those believers overcome with sin. Paul said that if a believer sinned, the church should help the member come back to the right path. Paul was not condoning sin but showing how the body of Christ should treat members who fall into sin. There is an opportunity for Spirit-led people to show love and restore people back to the ch...urch (Galatians 6:1-10). We must gently restore others to the faith. When Christians invest in the lives of other believers, the church grows. Therefore, do not stop doing good (Hebrews 13:16). Christians should build a community for Christ in order to see one another in heaven. As we dedicate ourselves to build up people spiritually, we must also find opportunities to bless those who have helped us by sharing good things with them. Find someone today who has contributed to your spiritual growth and bless that brother or sister with a word of encouragement or an act of kindness. See more

FREEDOM IN CHRIST Galatians 5:1-5 The churches in Galatia were struggling to accept the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus. The Jews in the church had accepted the gospel, but they also wanted to keep the law and circumcision as taught in the Old Testament. Are we still holding on to some traditional practices or rituals that hurt our relationship with Christ? If we do that, we cannot have a pure and untainted relationship with Christ because we are depending on thing o...ther than God’s free gift of salvation. Paul shows us the important of love and the important work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian. He responded to a false teaching that said that even though you are in Christ, you still must observe the law of Moses and by circumcised. The truth is that Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Law. Paul summed up the requirement Christians have as love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14). Paul encouraged believers in Galatia to stop fighting one another. As believers, let us not abuse our freedom in Christ. In the world today, freedoms have become rights. Most people want freedom for all kinds of things, forgetting that with freedom comes responsibility. Christ has given us freedom in him through grace. But this does not mean we should lock away the law and serve our selfish desires. Instead, we have freedom to serve others in love. We have a choice. We can either surrender to our selfish, sinful desires, or we can surrender to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit poured out in our hearts can help us break away from lust, sexual immorality, gossip, and other sins that destroy. The Holy Spirit will also give us the power to love as Christ commands. See more

IMPORTANCE OF TRADITION Galatians 4:21-27 Paul uses an example here out of Genesis, The two wives of Abraham. Sarah was free and Hagar a slave. Because the audience knew this story from childhood, they are able to better connect with the idea of living under slavery or freedom (Galatians 4:24). Using a familiar illustration in a new way allows listeners to have a deeper connection with the point you are trying to make. As we preach and teach, it is important to connect wit...h our listeners by using stories and traditions they understand. Through this, we show how God’s Word applies to their situations. The next time you are preaching or teaching, share a story f rom your own experience, history or culture. To help you accomplish this First Baptist Church is having a story telling training on November 13 and 15. Go to FBCROCHESTER.COM for additional information. See more

FREE PROFESSIONAL HAIRCUTS Canceled due to medical emergency Haven't had a haircut since March? Had one last week? Come get a FREE, professional, socially distanced haircut! No appointment needed- all haircuts are walk-ins. Free cloth masks and light refreshments will be available. When: Monday, October 26 from 10AM to 2:30PM... Where: FBC Rochester, 301 Adams Street Contact: 724-570-5143 See more

FREE PROFESSIONAL HAIRCUTS Haven't had a haircut since March? Had one last week? Come get a FREE, professional, socially distanced haircut! No appointment needed- all haircuts are walk-ins. Free cloth masks and light refreshments will be available. When: Monday, October 26 from 10AM to 2:30PM... Where: FBC Rochester, 301 Adams Street Contact: 724-570-5143 See more

THE LAW AND GOD’S PROMISE Galatians 3:15-18 Abraham believed the promise of God that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars of heaven (Genesis 15:5-6). His descendants, Israel, became God’s chosen people. However, they thought that God would keep his promise only if they always obeyed the laws of Moses. Paul explained that Abraham acquired his special relationship with God by faith in God and in God’s promise. God had established the promise as a covenant between h...imself and Abraham long before God gave the Law. Christ came as the promised offspring in fulfillment of the covenant made by God before the Law. It is by faith in Christ Jesus, who is the promised offspring, that God’s promises to Abraham will extend to all people. Each culture has its own procedure for passing family inheritance from one generation to another. In each culture and procedure, promises of the dying are followed and cannot be ignored or changed by anyone else. Likewise, God’s covenant promises in Christ Jesus cannot be changed. Like Abraham, we can fully trust God to fulfil his promises to us no matter what circumstances we are in or what challenges we face. God is trustworthy and faithful to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. See more