Blog – Page 17 – bridgewater community church

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events and Notes of Interest

GEMS Girls’ Club —

Monday, January 13^th at 6:30pm. Jill Graham: 419-799-0316, jill@danielandjill.net

Adult Bible Fellowship—

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 beginning at 6:30pm. Join us on Wednesday nights as we study the book of Colossians. Paul encourages the Colossian Christians to see Jesus as the center of all reality, so they don’t give in to pressure and they remain devoted to the exalted Jesus. Pastor Mark: 419-630-7049, mark@146.148.61.121

Baby/Child Dedication—

Our next baby/child dedication will be on January 19^th. If you would like to have your child dedicated, or if you have any questions regarding what dedicating your child means, please contact Pastor Mark. Pastor Mark: 419-485-8229, mark@146.148.61.121

Soup Sunday/Family Night—

Sunday, January 19^th beginning at 5:00pm for our first Soup Sunday of the New Year. No sign up sheet this month as the food is being provided! Sheryl Aeschliman from Simply Scripture will be our guest speaker. Visit her on her website at simplyscripture.org. Sheryl is excited to share her story behind Simply Scripture and how God put the ministry on her heart. Angela Fritsch: 419- 451-0534, bubbles-1971@hotmail.com

Ladies Bible Study—

January 23, 2020 at 9:30am. 1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ by Jen Wilkin. Renee Pitman: realmm@roadrunner.com

GEMS Girls banquet –

The GEMS Girls 4th Annual Banquet is coming up on Saturday, January 25^th @ 5:30pm and will be held at the Kissell Community Building in West Unity. This is the annual fundraiser for the club. The evening will include dinner, music, fun and the ever popular pie auction. Tickets are $10 each (3 and under are free). If you would like to get tickets or if you have any questions, please contact Jill Graham: 419-799-0316, jill@danielandjill.net

Ladies Day—

The Cambria Baptist Church in Hillsdale, MI is hosting their 9^th Annual Ladies Day Away on February 29^th from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Special guest is Sherry Anne. You can check out her ministry at sherryanne.com. There will also be coffee, food, jewelry, Christian literature, and much more! Registration fee is $20.00 if before Jan 26^th. $25.00 after the 26^th. To register call 517-357-4343 or email at cambriabaptistchurch@gmail.com. Cambria Baptist Church, 2772 Lilac Road Hillsdale, MI

amazon.com—

Did you know that if you place orders through smile.amazon.com and choose Bridgewater Community Church as your charity, we receive 0.5% from your order? Prices are the same as amazon.com and it doesn’t cost you a penny. Please consider ordering from smile.amazon.com and choose to support Bridgewater Community Church. THANKS

Cancellation Policy—

In the event of inclement weather on Sunday mornings, we will leave a message on the church answering machine (485.8229), have it posted on our webpage (www.bridgewatercc.org) and it will also be announced on WBCL( 89.5 FM). All church related activities on Monday evenings would be cancelled if North Central is closed due to snow or ice. If the weather would get worse following school and we would need to cancel, you can find out by again calling the church, checking our webpage or listen to WBCL.

Uncategorized Weekly Events

Upcoming Events at BCC

Upcoming Events and Notes of Interest

GEMS Girls’ Club —

Monday, January 6^th at 6:30pm. Jill Graham: 419-799-0316, jill@danielandjill.net

Adult Bible Fellowship—

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 beginning at 6:30pm. Join us on Wednesday nights as we study the book of Colossians. Paul encourages the Colossian Christians to see Jesus as the center of all reality, so they don’t give in to pressure and they remain devoted to the exalted Jesus. Pastor Mark: 419-630-7049, mark@146.148.61.121

Ladies Bible Study—

A new Bible Study will begin January 9 at 9:30am. 1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ by Jen Wilkin. You are encouraged to complete Women of the Word prior to the study, if possible. If you have any questions, please contact Renee. Renee Pitman: realmm@roadrunner.com

Baby/Child Dedication—

Soup Sunday/Family Night—

GEMS Girls banquet –

Ladies Day—

amazon.com—

Cancellation Policy—

Uncategorized

Overcome Anger with Grace

Post author By Pastor Mark
Post date September 10, 2019
No Comments on Overcome Anger with Grace

When my children were little, I thought it would be fun to be an assistant soccer coach. I signed up to be an assistant. I quickly found out, however, I would not be the assistant coach, but the coach. I didn’t grow up playing soccer and had to become a quick study on the rules of the game. I rented videos and studied guides from the library. I also took a soccer reffing class in order to learn the rules more thoroughly.

My children are now well past their youth soccer years, but I continue to officiate games. I really enjoy the sport; however, I am saddened by the explosive anger and frustration often expressed by parents and coaches because of the official’s call.

Anger, in all its forms, is a problem on the field, in the home and everywhere in between—including the church. It’s a problem for all of us.

Jesus said, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ ²²But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court (Matt 5:21-22a).”

Anger in our hearts is murderous. Because we have a desire to have our own way, we’re tempted to play God and to judge and punish people in our hearts.

The anger itself is not necessarily sinful (John 3:36 and Romans 1:18). God gets angry (Exodus 4:14, 15:8). Jesus got angry (Mark 3:5; Matthew 21:12). The apostle Paul tells us to be angry yet do not sin (Eph. 4:26). However, righteous anger is rare. Biblical anger is anger when a real sin has taken place (1 Sam. 11), your concern is for God’s kingdom and not your own (John 2:13-17) and when you express that anger righteously (Romans 12:17-21).

Anger is deceptive and dangerous. It can so quickly get out of control. Often we become angry because we want something too much (James 4:1-4)—that’s idolatry.

The only ability we have to overcome anger is by God’s grace. Managing anger by just keeping it at bay is not a permanent solution. It does not deal with the root issue of the problem. This problem is only overcome when the heart issue is addressed and that is only possible with gospel truth (Philippians 4:8-9, Proverbs 4:23).

So, here are five biblical truths to tell yourself when you are getting angry: (1) I want something too much (Romans 1:25); (2) I am not the Judge (Gen. 50:19); (3) God has been very gracious to me in Christ (Eph. 4:31-32); (4) God is in control and will not give me more than I can bear (I Cor. 10:13); and (5) I need to remember who I am—a new creature in Christ (Romans 6:11).

It is only as we trust our Creator and His provision can we deal with the root of our anger and be at peace.

Blog

Sowing & Reaping

Because of the extraordinarily rainy spring we have had, many farmers haven’t been able to get their crops planted in a more desirable timeframe. This brought to my mind the inexorable law of sowing and reaping. What you sow, you reap. This truth not only applies agriculturally, it applies to our lives. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal 5:7-8).

One of the beauties of natural laws is that they do not change. Every part of the material universe is built on laws. They are consistent; they do not vary. Similarly, there are absolute and unchanging moral laws consistent with the nature of the Creator and His creation.

To one degree or another, most people misunderstand the consequences of their sinful thoughts and behaviors. Even Christians are deceived—so focused on being under God’s grace that we act as though we can sin without natural consequences. Scripture is clear: Christians should not continue to sin that grace may abound (Rom 6:1). We are deceiving ourselves when we think there is not a consequence, and that the natural law will not apply.

If one plants seeds in the flesh, the harvest will be unrighteousness. “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these” (Gal 6:19-21). Do not be deceived. This warning is echoed in Numbers 32:33: “Be sure that your sins will find you out.”

Even Christians have the remaining sinful tendencies that continue to lead us astray. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” We deceive ourselves, and that turns into a license to do what we want, promoting unholy living in the name of grace.

If you are a Christian, you have a choice. You can walk in the Spirit or you can walk in the flesh. Do not think for a moment that you can walk in the flesh and not pay the consequence. “God is not mocked.”

This principle works in the positive as well as in the negative. “If we walk by the Spirit, you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). And the fruit of a life cultivated by walking in the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (Gal 5:22). If you walk in the Spirit, or sow to the Spirit, you will reap the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit is what is experienced; you will harvest those virtues. If you sow in the Spirit, your harvest is holiness.

Instead of sowing division, sow peace; instead of anger, patience; instead of inconsistency, faithfulness. “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us let us do good to all people” (Gal 6:9).