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GRACENOTES Equipping the Saints of Grace Bible Fellowship
GBF Life | Different Facilities, Same GBF
Song Spotlight | “Man of Sorrows” BY JESSE QUESADA
BY J.R. CUEVAS
Where do you go to church? It's one of the most common and almost necessary ice-breaking questions that Christians ask each other. For the record, I ask this question—in this form— quite frequently. But it's for colloquial purposes, and nothing more. From a linguistic standpoint, to ask someone, "Where do you go to church?" is equivalent to asking someone, "Where do you go to family?" It really doesn't make sense. The reason is simple. The words where and go imply that the object of discussion is location. And the church, by biblical definition, is not a location. In the same way that a family may live at a particular location but itself is not a location, the same holds true for the church. If the church was indeed a location, then implied is that the 159 members of GBF have indeed changed churches three times in the last In This Issue twelve months. ______________________ During the summer of 2014, GBF The Pastor’s Study Sunday Services Where Does Faith met at the MounCome From Page 2 tain View SDA facility. In SepGBF Abroad tember of 2014, Local Church, we moved to and Global Ministry Page 6 started meeting at Sunnyvale SDA. Parenting 101 Page 8 Then in June of 2015, due to a reJoy at Home modeling project, Building Family Unity we had to tempoThrough Travel Page 14 rarily transfer our Sunday service location to the Mountain View Academy (our current Continued Page 17
There is a strand that runs through the hymnal of the church from its beginning until today: we sing about Jesus. He is the uniting theme of our praise, for He is our head, and He shall have preeminence (Col 1:18). Continuing this tradition, we will be looking at the modern hymn, “Man of Sorrows,” written by Brooke Ligertwood & Matt Crocker of Hillsong Church. Its themes deal with the earthly ministry of Christ, His atoning sacrifice on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, and our response of praise to God. As they are thematically connected, we will be looking at the verses first, and then moving on to the chorus and bridge. Man of sorrows, Lamb of God, by His own betrayed. The sin of man and wrath of God has been on Jesus laid. The two titles of Christ in the first verse directly relate to His mediatory role as Savior. He was a Man of sorrows, that our sorrows might be carried (Isa 53:3-4). He was acquainted with grief that our grief might be borne. In His chastening on the cross – receiving the strokes that ought to have fallen on us – our well-being was secured (Isa 53:5). It is with a view towards this that John says, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn 1:29). For what the blood of bulls and goats could never do (Heb 10:4), He did Himself (Heb 7:27). Not temporarily covering sins, but blotting out completely the sins of all who would believe (Rom 3:24-26).
Silent as He stood accused, beaten, mocked, and scorned. Bowing to the Father's will, He took a crown of thorns.
Often we can move quickly to the finished work of Christ and forget what horrors He endured in the process. Never was there one so abused as He – and without cause. We see Him betrayed, abandoned, falsely tried, slandered, beaten, scourged, and made to wear a Continued Page 16
November 2015
The Pastor’s Study Where Does Faith Come From? Reflections on Romans 10:17 BY CLIFF MCMANIS
What does the unbeliever need to be saved? He needs faith! But what is the origin of faith? The answer to this question is part of the nexus that sets biblical apologetics categorically apart from traditional apologetics. Traditional Christian apologists would agree that unbelievers need faith. But they propose that faith comes from countless sources that flatly contradict what the Bible says on the matter. They say faith can come from logic or unaided human reason, natural revelation, natural theology, history, experience, intuition, education, and a host of other sources. On the contrary, the Bible teaches that there is only one source of true faith. Faith comes only from divine revelation given by God! That’s one simple litmus test that can be used to scrutinize all apologetical approaches to discern whether they pass or fail. Ask the apologist under consideration: “Where does faith come from?” His answer will expose an entire intricate system of beliefs, presuppositions and a worldview that forms the foundation of everything related to his apologetical approach. The Bible teaches that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). It is that simple. True, saving faith comes from hearing the Word of God centered in the Person of Christ and His saving gospel. And that is the only place it comes from. The Certainty of Faith Let’s take a look at the details of Romans 10:17 along with the implications of our findings. The passage in the New American Standard text is as follows: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Faith is a main theme of this passage. Paul refers to it or a synonymous variant of it in eleven of the first seventeen verses (vv. 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17). This faith is the supernatural capacity to believe in the gospel that results in salvation (10:9). The noun has the definite article showing that it is a specific kind of faith—a faith that saves. This kind of saving faith speaks of certitude, not mere probability. Traditional apologists often tell us we are seeking to attain mere “probability” and not “certainty”
when interacting with unbelievers in the apologetics task. But such epistemological agnosticism flies in the face of the meaning of faith in this passage. The notion of the certainty of faith is replete throughout Scripture. The Hebrew word,’āman, for example, denotes firm conviction, based on the reliability of the message. We also find this certainty conveyed in the New Testament: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1; emphasis added). When Paul speaks of faith in Romans 10:17, he is referring to certitude and full assurance that flows from God’s character and Word, not mere probability or plausibility in the abstract. The Source of Faith Unbelievers need supernatural faith to be saved, and such faith overcomes personal sin and satanic blindness, enabling the sinner to believe in the gospel. But what is the source of such faith? Is the source of saving faith the laws of logic as traditional apologists would have us believe? No, Paul says saving faith comes “from hearing.” The preposition “from” (ek) refers to the source, “out of,” and that source is “hearing.” “Hearing,” then, refers to the specific gospel message being preached to unbelievers. This is established by the immediate context as Paul mentions, “the word of faith which we are preaching” (10:8). To sum up this phrase, “faith comes from hearing,” Paul means “the only source of saving faith is in the preached message of the gospel.” So faith comes from no other source. Traditional apologists say faith comes from mere “evidence,” usually the so-called evidence produced by human logic apart from special revelation in order to prepare the way for the gospel. In stark contrast, Paul, inspired by the Spirit of God, says, “faith comes from hearing” the preached message of the gospel. The Medium of Faith In the last part of 10:17 Paul specifies what he means by “hearing” or the published message that produces faith—specifically it is “hearing by the word of Christ.” The preposition “by” is dia and with the genitive here it
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GraceNotes Volume 1, Number 2
Contents 1 GBF Life: Different Facilities, Same GBF | J.R. Cuevas is instrumental, “by means of.” Faith comes “by means of” the word of Christ.
1 Song Spotlight: Man of Sorrows | Jesse Quesada
The Origin of Faith Finally we examine the ultimate origin of saving faith—divine, special revelation about Christ, “the word of Christ.” Where does faith come from? Saving faith comes from the “word of Christ,” and only “the word of Christ.” Here “word” is not the usual logos, but rhema (cf. 10:8). Rhema refers to uttered and spoken words, and in the New Testament specifically in relation to special revelation uttered, spoken, proclaimed and preached by Jesus and the Apostles, usually revolving around the good news of the gospel. The gospel must be verbalized so people can hear its propositional truth! We don’t “live” the gospel for unbelievers; we “proclaim” it in propositional verbal speech. We are not the “good news”; Jesus is. Again, the very important point is reiterated: efficacious faith comes only from divine or special revelation. Or as Luther said 500 years ago in his commentary on this verse: “Hearing indeed comes only through the Word of Christ.” This means that faith results only after an unbeliever has been exposed to special revelation from God’s Word that is Christo-centric as it is preached and taught. This is what Peter meant in his apologetics passage. The apostle said we begin by “setting apart Christ as Lord in our hearts” (1 Peter 3:15). We begin with the gospel. We station ourselves, pivoted on Scripture. All our conversation is Christ-centered, cross-centered and Scripturally-driven, because we know the unbeliever needs supernatural faith. And faith comes only from hearing about Christ in Scripture.
2 The Pastor’s Study | Cliff McManis
The Gift of Faith Romans 10:17 makes it clear that faith only comes from special revelation. And that special revelation concerns the gospel truths of Jesus Christ: who He is and what He did. Faith comes from no other source. Faith is a divine gift given by God. That is what Paul meant when he said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is not the by-product of clever rational arguments. Faith does not result from impressively amassed, indisputable archaeological evidences. Faith does not come from life-changing personal encounters and experiences. Faith is a supernatural gift from God. May these truths help us keep the Bible central as we share the gospel with our family members, friends, and colleagues.
19 GBF Staff Picks | Cliff McManis
vCLIFF MCMANIS IS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF G RACENOTES AND PASTOR-TEACHER AT GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
This article was adapted from Pastor Cliff’s new book, Faith: The Gift of God, published by GBF Press.
4 Meet the Members: Dave, Noreen and Brian Stringer | Breanna McManis 6 GBF Abroad: Local Church, Global Ministry | Cliff McManis 7 Ministry Update: Couples with Children | Bob Douglas 8 Parenting 101 | Derek Brown 10 Finding Christian Fellowship at Stanford University | Gray Umbach 12 Staff Introduction: Sheri Lee | Breanna McManis 14 Joy at Home: Building Family Unity Through Travel | Debbie McManis
20 Engage: Being Salt and Light in a Culture of Death | Derek Brown Photo Credit Page 20: Lisa Rosario
Advisory Board Bob Douglas, Sam Kim, Tim Wong Peter Lam Editor-in-Chief Cliff McManis Managing Editor Derek Brown Associate Editor Breanna McManis If you are interested in contributing to GraceNotes, please send your submissions to GBFPress@gbfsv.org.
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M eet the
Dave, Noreen & ? When did the two of you first meet and how long have you been married? Noreen Stringer: We met as seniors in high school when we went to First Baptist Church in San Jose, which was downtown at that time. Now it’s called Church on the Hill. I found out that he was available, and we had a Sadie Hawkins Party in the high school group and I invited him out. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have invited me out because he was too shy. That’s when it started. And then he invited me to go to the snow with the high school group, and it just kept going from then on. We were married in December of 1960, so we’ve been married for fifty-four years.
call a “casual employee,” because I didn’t have a full-time job, but I went around wherever they needed me in different departments. Dave: More people knew her than knew me, because she was working in so many different divisions as a floater. They would come up to me and say, “Oh, you’re Noreen’s husband!”
? What do you both do for a living? Dave Stringer: I’m still working some of the time, although I work only one quarter a year now. And I taught at De Anza College for thirty-one years full-time, and for the last four years I’ve been on a reduced contract.
? What did you teach there? Dave: Business Administration. And I also taught the same subject up in Oregon for eight years before coming here. Noreen: I was a housewife. Well, I worked before we had kids, and then I quit work when we had our oldest son and I stayed home with the boys full-time. And when we moved back to San Jose I worked as an admin. Then I worked at De Anza. I was what they
? Tell me about your kids. How many kids do you have and how old are they? Noreen: We have two boys. Paul is fifty-two and Brian is forty-seven. Paul lives in Texas. And we have two granddaughters who were adopted from China. The oldest just graduated high school, and the youngest one is going to be a freshman in high school. The older one is going to Texas A&M, so I’m a Texas A&M grandma!
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Members & Brian Stringer INTERVIEW WITH BREANNA MCMANIS
?What ministries are you involved in at GBF?
highlight. And then I went to the Women’s Retreat last time, and that was great.
Noreen: I’ve been helping with the meals. And I’m also helping out with the Bible study with Jane.
? What is something that we probably don’t know
Dave: I’m leading the Wednesday night Bible study. There were five of us who were attending church that went through a book called The Vanishing Conscience, by John MacArthur, and once we finished that book our group didn’t want to stop. So right now we’re doing The Attributes of God, by Steven Lawson. It’s been a very good group— very solid and lots of participation, so I really enjoy being involved in that Bible Study. Then I also help out as Brian’s assistant when he takes the offering. Brian enjoys doing that.
?
That’s right. Brian is also involved in his own ministry
at GBF. Dave: Yeah, he is. He loves any kind of service, whether it’s offering, or helping with church meals. He loves to wait on people or pass out stuff. It’s always been a gift that he has. There’s nothing that he enjoys more than serving people. Noreen: He works at Trader Joe’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then he goes with a group of adults to serve at a Senior Facility.
about you?
Dave: A lot of people don’t know that I used to be a hired killer. I used to have people sign contracts and then I would kill. And I usually have a lot more respect when I tell people that. When you tell people that you’re a teacher, they often feel sorry for you and things like that. I was a professional killer, but I was an exterminator—I did that for about twelve years. It was a great job because it drove me to go to college, because I realized that I didn’t want to kill for the rest of my life.
? When did you both first come to GBF? Dave: I believe it was almost four years ago now.
? How and when were both of you saved? Noreen: I was saved as a child at First Baptist Church. Dave: I think I was approximately nine, and I was attending church in Santa Cruz at the time.
Dave: That’s probably the highlight of his week.
?
vBREANNA MCMANIS IS ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF GRACENOTES
What have been some of the highlights for both of you
since you’ve been at GBF? Dave: I think for me, one of the things I greatly appreciate are the number of men who are like-minded and who have a real desire to know the Word better and to study it and put it into practice. That has been most encouraging to me. I think that’s really a rarity today. A lot of people like to show up to things just for the social part of it, but to have a real hunger for the Word and to put it into practice is a fairly rare thing. Noreen: Well, I think having Secret Sisters has been a great
GBF mobile member directory is available for all devices. Contact Sheri at slee@gbfsv.org 5
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GBF Abroad | Local Church, Global Ministry BY CLIFF MCMANIS
The Church is “the Body of Christ” and is composed of individual believers as well as many individual local churches around the world. Paul spoke frequently of many different local “churches” (2 Thess 1:4) that comprised the one Body of Christ. John wrote to “the seven churches.” Health in the local church is contingent in large measure upon its connection to the universal Church, or its connection, support, awareness and partnership with biblical church ministries abroad. When Jesus promised to build His Church (Matt 16:18), He was not just promising local church growth; He meant the universal Church. This being true, GBF has purposed to partner with other biblical church ministries, local and abroad, since our inception in August, 2006. One of the foundational ministry distinctives of GBF states that we are committed to the following: “Partnership Ministry with Other Biblical Churches—‘Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you’ (2 Corinthians 8:24).” The danger of any local church is to become “selffocused” to the neglect of considering the greater Body of Christ abroad. Some churches can function like a cul-de-sac, acting as though they are the only church doing God’s business. GBF is not an island! We have been blessed by formal as well as loose partnerships in ministry with many local churches since we began. Consider just a few examples: Pastor Mike Burchfield of Westhills Community Church in Morgan was a catalyst in helping GBF get started in 2006. Westhills Church, NorthCreek Church in Walnut Creek, Redeeming Grace in Redwood City and Community Bible in Vallejo have all helped GBF in the training of our elders. GBF has partnered with Valley Church Cupertino for nine years in AWANA, youth ministry and various seminars that Pastor Cliff has taught on Apologetics, Mormonism and other topics. GBF continues to have strong ties to Believers Fellowship in San Antonio, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Compass Bible Church in Orange County, Trinity Bible Church in Morgan Hill, and Faith Community Church in Oxnard as we co-labor together in many different ways in the furtherance of the gospel. Pastor Cliff is in his tenth year teaching at The Cornerstone Seminary and serves on the board. Five of the board members are lead pastors in various
churches. A dozen of the professors are full-time pastors from area churches. A high percentage of the student body includes local pastors serving in churches from Hollister to Eureka. GBF’s connection to the seminary ministry is a vital connection to Christ’s greater Body throughout Northern California. Learn more about the seminary at tcbs.org Russia GBF has partnered with Dr. Bob Provost, President of Slavic Gospel Association (SGA), in various ministry efforts the past few years. Pastor Cliff taught Apologetics at the Russian seminary in Siberia, in the dead of winter, in support of SGA. SGA recently translated Biblical Apologetics into Russian and printed 5,000 copies for worldwide distribution. The GBF saints also support SGA financially as a missions organization. Learn more about SGA’s excellent ministry at SGA.org Ukraine Pastor Cliff has an ongoing teaching ministry at Irpin Biblical Seminary in Kiev, Ukraine, in an effort to equip Ukrainian men for local church ministry. Irpin was started by John MacArthur and other men from The Master’s Seminary in the early 1990’s. More info about Irpin Seminary is at their website ibs.org.ua India Grace Bible Church, Tenali, India. This church began in 1953 in southern India. GBF has been supporting Pastor Johnpaul the past two years as he ministers the truth of the gospel in a predominantly Hindu region and his church has a hands-on-ministry to orphans, widows, lepers and the elderly. Pastor Cliff teaches local Tenali pastors regularly through Skype, as they have limited Bible resources. Pastor Bob Douglas helped design their new website which can be viewed at ChristToIndia.org Africa In August, 2015 Pastor Cliff and his son went to Ghana, Africa to evangelize and train various leaders. One fruit of that trip was a friendship with Pastor Samuel Boateng, a young biblical expositor from Ghana that GBF hopes to support with training and resources to enhance his ministry. vCLIFF MCMANIS IS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF GRACENOTES AND PASTOR-TEACHER AT GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
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Ministry Update | Couples with Children BY BOB DOUGLAS
As most of you know, GBF has seen a baby boom over the last several years, which has brought growth to both the nursery and children’s ministry. Praise God! Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the Lord.” While this is undoubtedly true, children also bring tremendous change when they first enter the home, ushering in a new season of life for every married couple. Many times new parents find themselves overwhelmed with the conflicting schedules and responsibilities that children bring to the home. Marital conflicts often arise due to strained finances, limited alone time for husband and wife, exhaustion, home and work conflicts, extended family issues, and more. Children entering the home bring realities of changing priorities, the difficulty and pressure of being a working mother, as well as questions on teaching, training, and discipline. As all of this adds up, it can often become overwhelming. A little over a year ago, GBF started a new fellowship group called “Couples with Children.” The purpose of this fellowship was to provide couples with the following: • • •
Biblical teaching on the topics of home and family Practical wisdom from seasoned parents Social connection with others in the same season of life
Today, the group has about seventeen couples and is led by Pastor Bob and Robin Douglas. Over the years, the group has studied the foundation of marriage, the roles of husbands and wives, biblical principles of parenting, the Beatitudes, and Old Testament charac-
ters. Currently, the group is addressing practical daily issues of raising children with a different seasoned parenting couple per topic. These couples include: Sam & Lily Kim • Balancing Professional Career and Home Life • Working Mothers Cliff & Debbie McManis • Permissive and Authoritarian Parenting • The Strong Willed Child David & Noreen Stringer • Using Everyday Events for Teaching Spiritual Truth Robert & Deloris Saams-Hoy • Developing and Teaching Friendships Bob & Robin Douglas • Overview of Discipline Ken & Kim Medeiros • Importance of Church Community and Serving Anyone who is expecting or has children under twelve years of age is welcome in the group. We look forward to studying God’s Word together, getting to know each other better, and supporting one another in this tough and precious season of life. vBOB DOUGLAS IS ASSISTANT PASTOR AT GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
December Events Saturday December 5th 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Ice Skating Gingerbread House Event – An event for all ages filled with fellowship and light snacks.
Friday December 11th 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Christmas Concert – An evening of Christmas music. Great to bring friends and family
Saturday December 12th 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Parents Night Out – Child care for parents of school aged children so mom & dad can enjoy some time together.
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Parenting 101 | Discipling Your It was about two years ago when I was in the kitchen preparing lunch and caught a familiar tune wafting from the living room. My son was singing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” along with an interactive Christmas book. Particularly delightful was his substituting “morning” for “glory” and mumbling incoherently the “peace on earth” section. He didn't have any trouble with the following phrase: “God and sinners reconciled,” my 3-year-old bellowed with joy. As I laughed to myself and squeezed mustard onto a slice of wheat bread, my wife—ever ready to seize on teachable moments—turned immediately to the living room. “Do you know what reconciliation means, Colton?” After he indicated he didn't understand the significance of what he'd yelled across the house, she proceeded to explain, in simple terms, the nature of our relationship with God and our need for a Savior. But wait: hadn't Colton heard these things before? Wasn't he familiar with the idea of sin and holiness and the need to be right with God? Ever since bringing him home from Ethiopia two and a half years ago we'd incorporated family worship into his nightly routine. We'd read The Jesus Storybook Bible several times and talked a good deal about God, Christ, and the cross during our nightly treks through Scripture. Wasn't that enough? Compartmental Discipleship Despite my wife's remarkably keen gift to capture moments of educational opportunity, I failed that afternoon to capitalize on Colton's singing. It's easy for me to disciple my son the way I organize my office. Each item in, on, and around my desk is guarded from foreign objects with a carefully crafted and regularly updated system. Why such care? Because the essence of organization lies in having a place for everything, and daily productivity largely depends on ready and reliable access to the right item at the right time. But let this passion for organization dominate my strategy for nurturing our child and I might soon find myself in the dreaded mire of Christian compartmentalization. So long as I've completed the formal time of Bible reading, prayer, and singing, all the other aspects of discipleship will shake out, right? Let's not let fun activities interfere with serious Bible reading, nor spiritual discussion spill over into bath time. Remember: everything in its place. The potential danger in this kind of thinking is ob-
vious. If we talk to our children about spiritual things only during our nightly routines or on Sundays after church, we're gradually teaching them to isolate their faith to a few small sections of the day and week. Spiritual realities meant to permeate life like sugar in a cup of tea get relegated to small parts of the day, and we wonder why our kids cannot think or act Christianly—with any authenticity, at least—except for a few formalized moments here and there. As they grow into young adults, it'll feel increasingly out of place to talk about God's holiness while enjoying a baseball game or to discuss Scripture while shooting hoops. The problem here lies not in the regular practice of family devotional time. Rather, it's found in relying on such formal instruction to fulfill our responsibility to train our children in the fear of the Lord. Is it wise to set aside time each day for family worship, prayer, and Bible reading? Absolutely. But we should apply the same diligence we expend to find the best devotional literature to seeking unexpected opportunities for teaching all day long. The call God places on me to disciple my son is far more comprehensive than what a few minutes of family worship can afford. Scripture portrays an all-inclusive approach to discipleship that resists compartmentalization. Moses and Proverbs: All-Day Discipleship Moses, for example, instructed Israelite parents to speak regularly of the Lord to their children, carefully weaving spiritual discussion throughout daily activities: “You shall teach [these commandments] diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deut. 6:7). Parents couldn't seal off biblical instruction from the natural rhythm of the day or quarantine it to a brief devotional time before bed. Moses envisioned a kind of walk-and-teach discipleship amid life's ordinary events. The book of Proverbs informs this kind of parent-tochild discipleship in at least two ways. First, the structure of the Proverbs jolts parents out of a compartmental mindset. One notices, for example, that the Proverbs traverse a wide range of topics without following a discernible outline. One verse may speak about gaining wisdom by listening to instruction (10:8), while the next mentions the value of integrity (10:9), only to return a few verses later to wisdom (10:17). Verses extolling the diligent man and chiding
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Children is More Than Family Devotions BY DEREK BROWN the sluggard (12:11) are flanked by statements on caring for animals (12:10) and the danger of covetousness (12:12). Why such a meandering method of instruction? Because Solomon knew life rarely comes at us in carefully organized chunks. It's an example of patience right after your son spills a cup of milk onto the newly mopped floor; it's a reminder to your child how desperately she needs Jesus immediately after throwing her doll at her brother in anger. Second, the Proverbs portray a father walking and talking with his kids, creatively using examples from everyday life to instruct in the way of wisdom. “Look here,” says the perceptive parent, “see how the ant works hard without anyone motivating her” (Prov. 6:68)? Or as they pass a soldier the dad might say, “Here is a strong and courageous man. But someone who guards
his tongue is even mightier” (16:32). This parent isn't waiting until 15 minutes before bedtime to start spiritual conversations; she's taking opportunity throughout the day to instill in her child a vision of God as Lord of everything, even the ant and the soldier. I am confident, therefore, that as we steep ourselves in Scripture and allow God to broaden our view of discipleship to encompass the entire day, our capacity to perceive and leverage timely opportunities will become the natural outflow of our lives. As a result, our children may find faith that is utterly pervasive and a Savior who really does change everything, not just bedtime. v THIS ARTICLE WAS ORGINALLY PUBLISHED AT THE GOSPEL COALITION. USED BY PERMISSION.
Have You Checked Out GBF’s Website Lately? Library of Sermons Calendar of Events Information on Ministries
GBFSV.ORG
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Finding Christian Fellowship at Stanford sity Praise God for Christian fellowship! Of all the concerns I carried into my first year of collegiate study, how the university and its attendees would greet my faith particularly weighed on me. Is college as liberal as I had heard? Is campus a hostile environment for the Christian student? As a member of an athletics team, what would they think of me as a Christian? Would I find a group of Christian friends? I had lots of questions, not a lot of answers, and lots of anxiety as a result. I confess that this anxiety stemmed from a desire to “fit in,” whereas I should have determined to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and let my “light shine before men” (Matthew 5:16) regardless of social ramifications. I confess that this anxiety also betrayed my ignorance of the truth that “we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). I did not have to fear the collegiate environment stunting my walk with the Lord. Rather, I should have believed that God could nurture my faith irrespective of the newfound influx of worldly influences and pressures. Yet despite my misplaced worries, the Lord was patient with me. He did not deal with me according to my sin (Psalm 103:10). He was mindful that I am but dust (Psalm 103:14). Instead of justly chastising me for my lack of trust and my desire to associate with the world, God richly showered me with blessing upon blessing through the gift of Christian fellowship. So what are these blessings upon blessings? Space
limits me, but I would like to touch on three: a close group of Christian brothers, GBF’s campus ministry—Grace Campus Ministries (GCM), and the corporate assembly of GBF herself. My freshman year, God wasted no time in putting me in a small group lead by a faithful man of God. This group remains today and we continue to dive into the Scriptures together. As our Bible study leader has consistently fed us the truth of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit has confirmed the truth to our minds and hearts, and our mutual, eternal love for God has spilled over into an eternal love for one another. My brothers have stimulated me to love and good deeds, and have encouraged me greatly (Hebrews 10:24-25). God has proven this true in our lives: “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” (Proverbs 27:17). In addition to being dust (Psalm 103:14), I am also, by God’s grace, a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). Yet, I am just a member and therefore I need to exist in association with the other members (1 Corinthians 12:14-21). I need to benefit from fellow believers’ spiritual gifts, and I need an outlet to exercise my spiritual gifting. I need the local church. So God placed me in Grace Bible Fellowship. I have attended GBF for roughly a year and a half now, and it has blessed me mightily. I have been fed the truth of God’s Word, and the body refreshes and encourages me weekly to keep my eyes set heavenward, and to do all my “work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men“ (Colossians 3:23). Finally, GCM has edified me immensely. Through it, God has provided me and other
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University BY GRAY UMBACH Christians with a truly biblical community led by yet another faithful man of God. How can I be thankful enough for the regular time in the Word, the worship through song, the chance to see family in a home off-campus, all over a delicious, homecooked meal? At GCM, God continues to nourish us and equip us to bring the glorious gospel of His Son to our neighbors. As an aside, I confess that I am not thankful enough for being free to practice and free to share my faith on campus. It may be that my Christian faith is mocked at times by certain individuals, but praise the Lord that we live in a country where it still remains legal to present the gospel. To say that I have even come near to resisting “to the point of shedding blood” (Hebrews 12:4) is irreverent. On campus, God has provided an ocean that we Christian students can legally fish without peril of life. Please pray that I and we all would capitalize on God’s blessed provision. Why mention all of these joyous involvements? Besides the fact that I thank God for all of them and wish to give Him glory and praise for placing me in them, I also wish to relate that through constant Christian fellowship, God has guarded my heart against falling away while attending college. It is no coincidence that immediately after the exhortation to continue to meet together in Hebrews 10:24-25 follows Hebrews 10:26-31, a warning passage concerning the danger of persisting in sin. The temptation to give myself to worldly pursuits and evernagging sin chases me week after week. But God has empowered me for the fight through regular meetings with my brothers, sisters, and spiritual leaders. It has not been by my own strength or willpower that my faith has grown while attending university. No, God has encouraged me through His Word taught by faithful minsters, and this constant influx of biblical truth and encouragement has kept me from falling away. Praise God for Christian fellowship!
? o G e On T h Featured Sermons Pellentesque:
GBF’s weekly expository preaching ministry has produced a large collection of sermons over the years that are now available on our website. Because each of these sermons can serve as a helpful resource for you, your friends, and your family members, we want to highlight a few in each installment of GraceNotes.
Key s to Godly Living in the Loc al Church http://gbfsv.org/sermons/sermon/keys-‐to-‐ godly-‐living-‐in-‐the-‐local-‐church God ly Young Men http://gbfsv.org/sermons/sermon/godly-‐ young-‐men God ly Young Women http://gbfsv.org/sermons/sermon/godly-‐ young-‐women Consectetuer: Wha t the Bible Says About Ang er http://gbfsv.org/sermons/sermon/what-‐the-‐ bible-‐says-‐about-‐anger GBF Distinctives: Expository Pre aching http://gbfsv.org/sermons/sermon/gbf-‐ distinctives:-‐expository-‐preaching
v GRAY UMBACH IS A MEMBER OF GBF AND ON THE GRACE CAMPUS MINISTRIES TEAM
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Staff Introduction ? Tell me about your family. How long have you been married and how many kids do you have?
Sheri Lee: We’ve been married for thirty-five years. We have two boys. They both have followed in their father’s footsteps—both are police officers. One wants to be a firefighter, too, so eventually he’ll go to Sunnyvale like his dad did. We’re pretty typical.
?What do you both do for a living? Sheri: Walt is retired from Sunnyvale as a public safety officer. He worked public safety at Sunnyvale from ’86 to about ‘05 and then retired. Now he is part of their IT group and he gets to still play with all the officers, which he loves. He’s a self-taught IT guru, so he has a brain that his wife doesn’t have! I work here. I started at Achiever on a volunteer basis back when the kids were in 1st and 2nd grade. That’s the only reason that I didn’t homeschool, because I made a deal with the Lord that if He put the kids in a Christian school I would volunteer at that school so that I could see them. So obviously he did not want me to homeschool! And then we moved from Achiever and we went over to Los Altos Christian School, and I made the same deal with the Lord and He got both of them into that school. I worked there and started as a volunteer and then immediately moved into a paid position of aiding. I went and worked in the office and eventually worked up to being the principal’s admin, and then I was hired in the church office at First Baptist Church. And now I’m here!
?How is it being a police officer’s wife and now mother? What are some of the ways that you have dealt with worry or anxiety? Sheri: When I met Walt, I was an operations officer at a bank. I used to tell people that that was the big question throughout our entire dating period and then even into our married years. How do you do it? You have to trust your husband, first of all. You have to trust that the training that he has received, the knowledge that he has, and the wisdom and discernment that God has given him is going to work together to make Walt a better officer. I watched him go through many scary
situations, and I just trusted that the Lord knew what He wanted him to do. I used to tell people, “I could get shot in a bank just as easily as he could get shot on duty. In fact, I could get hit by a car crossing the street long before he’ll ever get hurt on duty.” So you just have to have faith in your guy and know that he’s doing what God wants him to do. And it’s kind of how I survive being the mother of two police officers, especially nowadays. Back in the day when Walt was a police officer, the world wasn’t as bad as it is right now. I find myself praying a lot harder now that the boys are police officers. I find that my knees hurt a lot more! But it’s still the same thing—you have to trust in their training. You have to trust that they know what they’re doing because they went through the training and they passed it. You just have to let it go and trust that Lord is not going to put anything on you that you can’t handle. So it’s just trusting the Lord and knowing that your kids and your husband are going to take their training to heart and that this is where God wants them. And if this is where God wants them, then this is what will make them happy.
?Can you tell me about when you were saved? Sheri: I was seven. I had the best third grade Sunday school teacher anyone could ever have. Besides my parents, it was her that led me to the Lord. And I just thought I wanted to be like her. I wanted to become a Sunday school teacher like her; I wanted to lead children to the Lord. In fact, I did teach Sunday school when I was in high school because I wanted to be just like her.
?When did you come to GBF? Sheri: I think it was September 1st of 2013. And the reason I came was because Bob Douglas had called me and asked if I would pray about working here. The Lord convicted me that I wasn’t done in the church. And so I called Bob back and said, “Alright!”
?What made you then settle on becoming a member? Sheri: This church is amazing. It has been such a refreshing change from what you get used to. It’s hard to explain, but as I tell my friends, when God moved me
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Sheri Lee
INTERVIEW WITH BREANNA MCMANIS
out of the last church, I was still willing to go to that church because that was my church. I found that the more comfortable you are, the less open you are to really seeing how healthy or sick your church is. It’s not until you actually get into a church that’s really healthy that you realize that. So, both Walt and I couldn’t wait to join. It was that much of an eye-opening experience for both of us. And we love you dad’s preaching!
?What is your specific role here at GBF? Sheri: I just kind of do whatever the guys want me to do, and then I make sure that all the paper gets pushed and done. I’m basically there to bounce things off of people and to help make things happen. I’m there for the people of the church—kind of the middleman. If they need something, I can give them the answer or I can get them the help that they need. So I love it!
?What have been some of the highlights for you since you’ve been at GBF?
Mid-Week Bible Studies Monday 7:00 PM North San Jose (Women's)
Sheri: I love the people. It’s such a warm environment here. It’s contagious. It makes you want to do the same thing to the next person you see walk through the door that you’ve never seen before.
Monday 7:30 PM - Sunnyvale
?What is something that the people at GBF wouldn’t know about you?
Tuesday 7:00 PM - Milpitas
Sheri: I’m addicted to running! I found that by keeping my energy level up with exercise, I could be active with the boys. They didn’t run over me and plow me down. I could actually keep up with all the different sports and the shifts that Walt had that were crazy. It really gave me that extra amount of adrenaline, and then I became addicted to it. And once you’re addicted to it, you can’t stop.
?How can the people at GBF be praying for you? Sheri: I have a lot to do with my mom. We moved her to an assisted living and she’s really happy, but the whole role is really different. Both she and my sister are very sick. Praise God that they are both believers! But it’s been very hard. vBREANNA MCMANIS IS ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF GRACENOTES
Tuesday 7:00 PM - Fremont
Tuesday 7:00 PM Grace Campus Ministries Friday 7:30 PM - Sunnyvale Each Bible study has a time of fellowship, study, and prayer. The Bible study teachers are godly leaders who are overseen by the staff. For more information please contact J. R. Cuevas at jrcuevas@gbfsv.org.
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Joy at Home | Building As a young child and teen, I had the privilege to travel extensively with my family. My father’s job was flourishing through the 80’s and his company rewarded top agents with elaborate trips around the world. My parents would frequently take me out of school early or allow an absence here or there in order to take advantage of these opportunities. I cherish memories of traveling as a family—the good, the bad, and the ugly. We laugh about the time we left my brother at a McDonalds in the high desert as we rambled down the highway in our motorhome, not realizing he was missing for over an hour. We are humbled by the grace the Lord demonstrated upon us when our camper caught fire and our heroic father, with the calm of a trained professional, evacuated the family, snuffed out the fire with an extinguisher, and declared us fit for the road once again. My brother and I tease one another with loving affection about our squabbles over “zones,” beds, seats (particularly who had to sit behind mom, who typically leaned her seat waaaay back), and all sorts of childish behaviors. These memories hold a special place in my heart and fueled the desire that, if the Lord blessed me with a family of my own, vacations together would be of high importance. Below are some ideas, tips and tricks that we have found useful for our family travel through the years. These points are by no means exhaustive or authoritative. I only hope to share with you the importance of making time for vacations and, hopefully, spur you on to go forth and discover! Vacations Are Needed They are a time of rest that allow us to unplug or detach from our devices, break from our routines and spend time together in unique and varied settings or circumstances. These become opportunities for deeper conversations, moments of shared splendor, and authentic enjoyment of one another. God calls us to work hard throughout our lives. He modeled for us six days of work. Then, on the seventh day, He rested. God commands us to rest so that our bodies and minds can be refreshed, enabling us to get back to work. Don’t miss that. Rest is not the end. Rest is not the goal. Rest is a pit stop we enter and leave so we can get back on track to do what God has called us to do with our lives.
Vacations Can Protect Your Marriage The marriage relationship can be drowned in the midst of hectic work schedules, demanding school calendars, and abundant church or social opportunities. And yet, the primary relationship between husband and wife needs time together—yearly and monthly. The marriage relationship is the foundational relationship in a family (Gen 2:18-25). In order to cultivate unity in a marriage, couples need to carve out time for one another on a regular, ongoing basis. Date nights or coffee shop meetings must continue after children come into a marriage. In addition, prolonged time together (aka vacations) as a couple will allow for renewed unity intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually. It is not surprising that couples struggle to make this happen, especially after children enter into a family. For this reason, Cliff and I have regularly been intentional in this area and planned get-a-ways together. Some have been a simple overnight in the city; others have been full-fledged destination vacations. But each has been invaluable in building our marriage covenant.
Vacations Can Cultivate Family Unity Building family unity is essential for Christian parents. Family vacations can help build the unity of your family and allow for your children to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit and practice the “one anothers” in unique ways. At this point, you may be thinking that traveling with small children may be the last place that you can see the fruits of the Spirit demonstrated. On the contrary, it could be a place where sinful desires abound,
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Family Unity Through Travel BY DEBBIE MCMANIS and this is an ideal forum for character training. Character training built upon solid biblical virtues (Gal 5:22-23; 2 Tim 3:15) from Scripture is foundational. It is undeniable that small children can test our patience, especially when out of their routines. However, it is possible to have an overwhelmingly positive time with careful planning. Below are some tips that we found to be invaluable on our trips together. •
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Budget: Always budget for your trip at least six months in advance. Not all families can travel equally. I remember one of our first family vacations was to a campground in Texas. As I researched the cost of the travel and the fees, I remember pitching the trip to Cliff with, “Wow, this is something we can do! The overnight fee is $18 a night!” For whatever reason, that still stands out to me. I was a bit incensed when we moved to California and our first trip up to Big Basin was $25 a night for tent camping. Planning the trip into a family budget will allow for you to enjoy your vacation without guilt or worry of overspending. Departure Time: When you leave, are your kids already spent for the day? Have you or your hubby already put in a full day at work? If so, a short fuse is to be expected. The best routine we started was to travel early—and I mean really early. We typically departed around 4 or 5 am (o’dark thirty) if our trip involved car travel. What we loved about this was that our car was packed, we put sleeping children in their car seats, and we would have several hours of drive time logged in before the sun or their tummies woke them. Their dispositions were cheerful and excited for their adventure. Travel Bags for Kids: Pack a small backpack or suitcase filled with snacks for the road/ airplane. Items such as new small toys or books and games like Old Maid or Car Bingo are invaluable while traveling with children. Leap Pads and electronic books that can be changed are wonderful for longer excursions. Allow them to eat their snacks in stages, saving some for later in the journey. For our children, they could not open or get into their bags until permission was given.
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Bag of Tricks for Mom: I always brought something I knew would entertain and distract to pull out when traveling. One favorite was a Magna Doodle. One of us would draw an item and the children would love guessing who or what it was. I also started the children on audio books at an early age. We began with short stories like the Adventures in Odyssey and then worked our way up to classics such as The Secret Garden, Les Miserables, and our favorite, The Chronicles of Narnia. In addition, favorite cookies, a puppet, and of course some flashcards would be typical items in my carpetbag.
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Itinerary That is Realistic: When we travel, we have a set of activities that we typically accomplish. It involves this simple formula: Rest Day, Pay Day (something fun for everyone), and Play Day (active activity like hiking, biking, etc.).
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UNPLUG: This is the beauty of camping and what makes all the effort worth it for me. I am not going to explain why this is so important, because I am confident that it has become obvious to Christian homes. To be out of cellular reception is becoming increasingly difficult, so banning devices will most likely be the need for the future. This is not easy to do, especially as your children grow, but if mom and dad demonstrate a willing attitude to go dark, then your children will follow your example.
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Expect Difficulties: Numerous challenges will arise when you travel. I’ll never forget when our car blew an engine rod in the middle of Texas. We were so disappointed that our visit to California would likely be canceled. But God provided for our family miraculously and we were on the road the very next day. Our children were watching Cliff and I throughout the entire trial. Pointing to God’s provision in our hour of need is what we tried to model. What is important to remember as challenges arise is how you handle them. You will either be building or tearing down your family and marital unity. Choose to have grace, choose patience, and choose to demonstrate love and kindness. This is what the Lord requires and what makes your time together priceless. v DEBBIE MCMANIS , SERVES IN MULTIPLE CAPACITIES AT GCM AND G RACE B IBLE FELLOWSHIP.
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Song Spotlight, cont’d crown of thorns (Jn 19:2-3). Yet, He submits all things to the Father's will (Mt 26:39-44), knowing that it is for this very purpose that He came into the world (Jn 12:27). Here is omnipotence restrained in love for us: that throughout all this, He remains silent, not resisting, but willingly bearing all for our sake. Sent of heaven, God's own Son to purchase and redeem. And reconcile the very ones who nailed Him to that tree. Jesus says of Himself that He came down from heaven, sent of the Father, that He would redeem and give eternal life (Jn 6:38-40). However, it was not righteous God-fearers for which He came. On the contrary, they were – to the last one – wicked, rebellious, Godhaters (Rom 1:29-30; 3:10-18). So much so, in fact, that not only did they not welcome the Savior who had come, they instead demanded He be executed as a criminal (Mt 27:22-23)! Despite all this, He still came for His people, that those responsible for His death – including us – might be redeemed. This is His unfathomable love: “that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). See the stone is rolled away, behold the empty tomb. Hallelujah, God be praised, He's risen from the grave. Here now we come to the glorious truth that makes the others shine: Christ has risen from the grave! Paul makes it clear that “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless” (1 Cor 15:17). God be praised then that on the third day, when the women arrived, they found the stone rolled away, the tomb empty, and the proclamation of the angel declaring, “He has risen, just as He said” (Mt 28:6). By His rising we now have hope for eternal redemption, and confidence that since He lives, we will live also, and be transformed into the likeness of His body when He comes (Rom 6:5; Phil 3:21).
aspect to the atonement, whereby Paul can say that the Son of God “loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal 2:20). Our worship, however, is first and foremost theocentric, so we then appropriately sing, “Hallelujah!” and give all glory to God. Now my debt is paid, it is paid in full By the precious blood that my Jesus spilled. Now the curse of sin has no hold on me. Whom the Son sets free, oh is free indeed. Here we have a fitting place to conclude our discussion of “Man of Sorrows.” At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, He declared that the purpose of His work was to "proclaim release to the captives" and "freedom to prisoners" (Lk 4:18; Isa 61:1). The bridge of this song is a declaration of that freedom we have in Christ. Whereas we once were captives of sin (Rom 6:20), He has now "released us from our sins by His blood" (Rev 1:5). Where we once were prisoners of sin and its curse, in Him we now have freedom and victory over death (Rom 6:18-20). We see here that the saving work of Christ is a complete work. What He does, He does not do in part only. For those who draw near He saves to the uttermost, and those whom He sets free are free indeed (Heb 7:25; Jn 8:36). This is the reality we live in, and the hope we have for the future: that the good work He began, He will complete (Phil 1:6), and that for all eternity, it will be "to the praise of His glorious grace" (Eph 1:6)! v J ESSE QUESADA IS ON THE WORSHIP TEAM AT GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP.
Oh, that rugged cross, my salvation, Where Your love poured out over me. Now my soul cries out, hallelujah, Praise and honor unto Thee. It is with all the proceeding truths in mind that we turn in praise to Christ, recognizing that the ground of our salvation is set wholly upon the cross, where He bled and died. Although there is a group aspect to Christ’s work – as He purchased “the church” with His blood (Acts 20:28) – there is also an intimate individual
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GBF Life, cont’d meeting location). If I was asked over the past twelve months on three separate occasions, "Where do you go to church?" I could have potentially given three different answers. The truth is that the church’s facility location is related, but not synonymous, to the church’s identity. Or, better yet, it has nothing to do with who the church is. GBF did not switch from being the Sunnyvale SDA to the Mountain View Academy. We've remained as Grace Bible Fellowship. And in reality, GBF isn't something you "go" to. It is an institution in which we are integrated. This truth stems from a deeper, biblical reality about the definition and nature of the church. The universal church, by definition, is the united body of believers that was formed and inaugurated at Pentecost through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The church is the household of Christ, not the house of Christ; we are His bride, not His bricks. The reason why GBF remains GBF whether we meet at Mountain View Academy, Sunnyvale SDA, or at Eagle Rock Park is because the church is a people, not a building. Listen to the words of Ephesians regarding the nature of the church: And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (1:22-23). So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple of the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (2:1922). And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (4:11-13) Thus, it is the identity of the people—not the address of the worship service - that defines the church. It is in the same way that the identity of a family is defined by its
parents and children—not by the hometown or city of residence in which the family lives. The local church, by definition, is the assembly of believers in Christ in a certain locality who have submitted themselves to a particular set of elders and who have committed themselves to one another for edification and accountability. This is not to say that a proper facility is negligible in the life of the local church. Without a meeting place, the church can't engage in its purpose and ministry, in the same way that it would be difficult for a family to engage in family duties without a roof over their heads. But take a hard look over this past summer, and you'll see that temporarily moving facilities has not altered the identity, philosophy, or practices of GBF and its ministries. Pastor Cliff has continued to preach expositionally through 1 Corinthians and other portions of Scripture. The same elders continue to shepherd the flock with due diligence, and the same staff continues to administer the various ministries. Sunday School classes have continued going through their respective curriculums and materials. The membership roster has not changed (though we've had some new visitors and regular attenders). People have continued to encourage one another in fellowship before and after Sunday service, and have continued to meet together mid-week for Bible studies and discipleship groups. It remains a place where the grace of God is abundant, where the Bible is preached and taught, and where members have remained in fellowship with one another. So instead of asking, "Where do you go to church?", perhaps we ought to ask, "To what local body of Christians to you belong?" vJ. R. CUEVAS IS PASTORAL ASSISTANT AT GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP. HE AND HIS WIFE KATHY RESIDE WITH THEIR TWO CHILDREN IN MOUNTAIN VIEW
GBF is Mobile with ChurcLink /c ale nda r /s erm ons /a nd mor e…
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Engage, cont’d GBF Calendar
Continued from page 20 In order to leverage their case for a woman’s right to choose, abortion proponents have also turned to science to dispute the notion that human life begins at conception. We should not be fooled at this point, however. Genuine embryonic and fetal science tells us that life most certainly begins at conception. Even someone without a background in fetal science would be able to ask this basic question: At what point, then, if not conception, does human life begin? Any answer is, at best, arbitrary and question-begging. The science confirms what God’s Word has said for centuries: Human life, and thus, human personhood, begins at conception. Our Response to Abortion Because human life begins at conception and because all human life is made in God’s image, Christians have, by default, a special interest in the issue of abortion. Our responses may not all be the same, but respond we must. Some of us may devote ourselves to praying diligently that God would move in this country for the sake of the unborn. Others may work strategically to find ways to evoke legislative change. Some of us may develop ministries to encourage young pregnant mothers to carry their children to full term and care for them once they are born, or give them to other families through the gift of adoption. Others might sense a call to serve women who have had abortions. The gospel is the power of God to salvation (Rom 1:16), and women who are reeling under the guilt of previous abortions will need to see the glorious forgiveness that Christ offers at the cross. In all of this, we will engage this culture of death with courage and hope in the gospel. We tread confidently yet humbly for we know that we are chief among sinners in need of a bloody cross for salvation. And we look ultimately to Christ, our just King, to set all things aright at His return. May He come quickly (Rev 22:20).
December 5
11:30 – 2:30 PM Gingerbread & Ice Skating at Winter Lodge
December 11
7:00 PM Christmas Concert
December 12
5:00 – 8:30 PM Parents Night Out
December 27
No Sunday School
January 3
No Sunday School
March 6
Johnpaul at GBF
March 9-12
Shepherd’s Conference
March 27
Easter
June 20-24
Tentative Date for Basketball Camp
July 2-4
GBF Camp
July 24-30
Hope House Summer Trip
Stay Updated on GBF Events at gbfsv.org and ChurchLink Mobile App
vDEREK BROWN IS MANAGING EDITOR OF GRACEN OTES AND PASTORAL ASSISTANT AT GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
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GBF Staff Picks LIST COMPILED AND ANNOTATED BY CLIFF MCMANIS
Cliff McManis, Christian Living Beyond Belief (The Woodlands, Texas: Kress Christian Publications, 2006). This book is about the basic disciplines of Christian living. It is intended to be used for discipleship, Sunday School classes or by individuals who want to do deeper study on specific topics. The chapters cover giving, prayer, evangelism, spiritual gifts, membership, Bible study, discernment, worship and obedience. Those who want some quick, simple, biblical answers related to the above topics might want to dust off a copy of Christian Living.
Derek Brown, “A Prison House of Riches: Calvin’s Theology of the Human Body” in Reformation Faith, Michael Parsons, ed. (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 2014). Derek wrote chapter 3 in this 250-page book. The book is composed of fourteen scholarly essays on various matters, doctrinal as well as practical, related to the theology of Calvin and Luther. Derek tackles Calvin’s view of the human body, highlighting Calvin’s many refreshing insights about how our bodies are the creation and gift from God. Derek also shows how Calvin was at times influenced in the wrong way by Platonic thought as seen in his use of the phrase “prison house” in reference to the body as compared to the immaterial soul. Students of the Reformation will find Derek’s chapter, and a few others, edifying and easy to read.
Derek Brown, “What’s So Special about the Bible?” in How We Got the Bible, Timothy Paul Jones (Torrance, CA: Rose Publishing, 2015). Derek wrote the first chapter in this survey of a very important topic. In his concise and clear introductory chapter, Derek talks about how God speaks to His people through His Word, which is the Bible. He also defines key words describing the Bible’s nature including the following: inspiration, infallibility, inerrancy, sufficiency, preservation and illumination. The rest of the book talks about how the Old and New Testaments developed over time and the value of manuscripts. The book is a very helpful overview and is beautifully illustrated. It is the perfect tool to give to an inquiring teenager who is looking for solid answers to questions related to the Bible’s compilation and integrity.
Derek Brown, “Admonish the Idle: Thoughts on How to Motivate Lazy Men” in The Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Spring 2015, Vol. XX, pp. 19-23). In this short and helpful article, Derek gives nine suggestions on how one can encourage a fellow brother to be productive and not be lazy, for God’s glory and our good. All nine suggestions are rooted in basic biblical principles. Real men work hard. Every male of age should read this. God’s Word is clear about what He expects of godly men with respect to industry, stewardship and obedience.
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ENGAGE
Being Salt & Light in a Culture of Death By Derek Brown
Scripture, Culture, and the Christian
This past summer our country’s pro-life movement was infused with fresh motivation to oppose abortion with vigor and persistence. Undercover videos exposing current and former Planned Parenthood employees discussing the potential sale and procurement of aborted baby parts emerged in July and quickly went viral, jolting many back into the public fight for life. These videos, gruesome in their verbal and visual content (one video shows the two undercover “buyers” sifting through petri dishes of tiny, mutilated body parts) compelled pro-life proponents to take to the Internet and to the street to serve as a voice for those who have no voice. Christians and the Issue of Abortion Of anyone, Christians should be the first to oppose abortion in our day and age. We know that every person, born and unborn, is made in the image of God and is, from the moment of conception, worthy of life and protection. Regardless of what popular sanitized rhetoric attempts to convey, abortion ends a human life. Sadly, since Roe v. Wade (1973), over 55 million human lives have ended as the result of abortion. But how might Christians serve as salt and light in a culture where access to abortion is framed as a fundamental right and where celebrities take to Twitter to encourage women to “Shout their Abortion?” This is not an easy question to answer, and our respective engagement in the culture at this point will vary depending on our gifts, current responsibilities, and sense of God’s calling on our individual lives. But there are a few things we need to know. The Bible and Abortion At basic, we need knowledge of what Scripture says about human life. From the first chapter of the Bible human life is given special status. Human life has inherent dignity because humans are made in the image of God (Gen 1:26). To kill that image unlawfully, therefore, is an act of high-handed revolt against one’s Creator, for one is attacking directly God’s very image. Yet, this value for human life does not begin once a child is outside the womb. From the moment of conception, God relates to
that new life personally (Psalm 51:5) and knits that life together in the mother’s womb (Ps 139:13-15). Such life is utterly vulnerable and requires the utmost protection and care. God’s Word tells us that personhood does not begin at birth or at “viability;” it begins at the moment of conception. Contemporary Arguments For the Right to Choose But we also need some knowledge of the current argument for legalized abortion. The major claim made by Pellentesque: abortion proponents is that it is the woman’s right to determine whether or not she will have an abortion. This stance is often framed as the mere “right to choose” so that when pro-life advocates oppose abortion, it appears that they are opposing a women’s right to make her own decisions, thus making it sound like pro-lifers stand against women’s freedom. Framing the argument in such a way puts those who oppose abortion in a difficult position. The question we need to ask, however, is what “choice” are we talking about? There is only one genuine option. A pregnant woman can allow her pregnancy to go to full term and then deliver her baby. In this case, she has made no choice, because she is allowing the pregnancy to run its natural course. But if she wants to interrupt this natural process, she can choose to Consectetuer: abort that baby. When abortion proponents call for a woman’s right to choose, therefore, they are calling for the right to choose to end a human life. Get past all the politicized bluster and this is, at bottom, what the abortion debate is all about. Far from being a private issue between a woman and her doctor, then, abortion is an issue of public justice, for a powerful class of people (mothers and husbands and boyfriends who want to end unwanted pregnancies) are claiming the right to kill another weaker class of people (the children in the womb). And we all know how God feels about justice and the stronger taking advantage of the weaker (Ps 10:17-18; 82:3; Is 59:14-15; Jer 9:23-24). Continued on Page 18
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