OPEN BIBLE New Brunswick
Bible institute GOD’S PURPOSE
OUR PASSION
FOCUS
BY AL CABRAL
What on Earth has God been Doing? This is a Christmas message and since I have been immersed in Matthew, teaching New Testament Synthesis, the question we have been trying to answer is, “What was going on before this genealogy in Matthew 1:1, the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham?” I am cheating a little on this because of the time factor so this article will be an overview of how we answered the question of how this all got started. First, God wrote a Book in which He tells the story of how, why, where and when He began this work of His, which explodes in Matthew 1:1. The Bible is God’s explanation of what He did, what He has been working on, who He is sending, and how He is orchestrating, planning and revealing the purposes, intentions and sovereignty of His will.
BULLETIN
VOL. 55 NO. 12 DECEMBER 2014
villages in Israel. God loves geography; it is always where He does His work Israel, Nazareth, Zion, Galilee and, of course, Bethlehem. Whether it was in Old Testament times, in New Testament times or today, God used and continues to use the places He chooses to do His work, through the people He chooses. Eventually, there would be Gethsemane and Golgotha, places of incredible impact on our world. God has so ordered history as to fulfil everything needed for this to happen. No amount of opposition could curtail His intentions - His Son would be born in history, in geography, at the exact time of His choosing! The New Testament is explicit. He would be born in Bethlehem, born of a virgin, for the purpose of redeeming the nation and the world. The entire Bible envelops this history of how, why, when and where God came to us.
In viewing His geneology in Matthew 1, we see that God actually chose one man, and an old one at that, Abraham. It seemed impossible, slow and arduous. Out of this man comes a son, then a family, a nation and a prophecy which indicated His plan to use the event of Matthew 1 to reveal Himself through His Son.
Now, at Christmas, we celebrate the coming of that God-Man. No wonder the angels rejoiced and the shepherds were startled, praising and glorifying God. It had come to pass - He had come! Things would be different now. The Saviour, Son of David, Son of Abraham, was finally revealed. This person, Emmanuel, changes how we see history, places, people, sin and the transformation of the human heart.
How did this come about? Geographically He used places, towns and
This is not only true of “way back when,” but it is true today. Jesus reveals
to us His Father. He is the One who secures our future, regardless of the difficulties, impossibilities, tragedies and mysteries of what lies ahead for us and our world. When we sing, “Joy to the world the Lord is come,” that simple fact changes everything. Merry Christmas - He has come and He is coming!! Shalom!
ON THE ROAD STAFF ITINERARIES JOHN HOAG December 1
Milltown Baptist Church Milltown, NB Extension Classes
DAVID DOHERTY December 4 Open Bible Campus Church Victoria Corner, NB Prayer Meeting December 7 Open Bible Campus Church Victoria Corner, NB Worship Service
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Have you considered making a donation toward our scholarship program? These scholarships are awarded to worthy students at graduation each year. Give to one of our existing scholarships or develop a new one in memory of a loved one. For more information contact Danny Robins at 1-800-771-NBBI or danny.robins@nbbi.ca. 1
PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE
BY MATTHEW LITTLE
An Encounter with Jesus Christmas is many things to many people. For some, it is nothing more than a much needed break from work, or an excuse to eat too much, or spend time with family and friends. Still others use it as a time to momentarily pay homage to a man named Jesus who was born, but has no part in their lives. What about you? In Luke 2:25-33, we are introduced to a man named Simeon, one of whom it was said, “...the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.” (vs. 25). What a marvellous man Simeon must have been and in a world that, for the most part, allowed the birth of Jesus to pass them by, he, in contrast, lived for that moment. First, I want you to notice, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present Jesus to the Lord, Simeon “...came by the Spirit into the temple:...” (vs. 27a). The Spirit of God instructed Simeon to go to the temple and there he stood face-to-face
with the Messiah. Friends, if we are truly to see Jesus for who He is this Christmas, and every day, the Holy Spirit must lead us to Him. There is much in life that leads us away from the Saviour and our tendency is to drift from His love and care. We must ask God, through the help of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word, to lead us to see Jesus in a clear and fresh way. We need to be like the Greeks who came to Philip and said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” (John 12:21). May the Holy Spirit give us a fresh encounter with the Lord Jesus this Christmas season. Second, Simeon took up the Lord Jesus in his arms and said, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation...” (Luke 2:30). This bold declaration by this aging man was that he had seen God’s salvation. Who was he looking at? An infant 40 days old, a little baby. You see, salvation is not wrapped up in a program, a church, a religious organization or a set of rules because it is not what you do that saves you. Salvation is in a Person and some
ENCOUNTER 2015 FEBRUARY 20-22 & MARCH 20-22
At NBBI we love teenagers. In fact, some of our favourite times of year have been our teen retreat weekends. We host over 500 young people over two weekends for a life-changing event. Our desire is that you encounter the Lord Jesus Christ and surrender your life to Him. Our students will personally invest in you and challenge you in your walk with the Lord. Plan on joining us for one of these fun-filled weekends. To learn more, visit our website at nbbi.ca/encounter.
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people need to come to grips with that. When Peter and John stood before the religious council in Acts 4:12, they said concerning Jesus, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Christmas is a celebration of the Person of our salvation. Finally, verse 33 says, “And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.” As Simeon, this Spirit-led man, spoke about their Son, they stood in amazement. Talking about Jesus or reflecting upon what He has done should never get old or become mundane. Our lives should stand in perpetual awe at the wonder of who He is and what He has done. Someone once said, “The most important part about Christmas is the first six letters.”
FAMILY FILE KEEP UP WITH OUR GRADS
BIRTHS September 20, 2014 - to Philippe (ABM/B. Th. ’13) and Isabelle Belanger, a daughter, Laurianne. September 22, 2014 - to Tyler (ABM/B. Th. ’13) and Heidi (Clark ABM/B.Th. ’11) Hill, a son, Liam Alexander. October 3, 2014 - to Ben (attended ’07’08) and Emma (McLaughlin, Assoc. ’08) Emery, a son, Theodore Laughlin. HOMEGOING
Bay Forrest, 6’10” evangelist Phoenix Suns ’77-’80
Sterling Silliker, husband of Arlene (McKibbon ’60) Silliker and father of Starlet (Silliker, attended ’83-’84) Nickerson, Edward “Sonny” (’88) Silliker and Sandy Silliker was promoted to glory on September 30, 2014.
NBBI staff
Top row: Lorna Robins, Danny Robins, Al Cabral, Mary Meed, David Meed, Keith McMahon, David Doherty, Christa Nancekievill, Julie Wagstaff, Dodi Little. Bottom Row: Larry Rushton, Jean Rushton, Brenda Cabral, Rose Meed, Paul Long, John Hoag, Heather Hoag, Steve Wagstaff, Matthew Little
The board of directors, staff and students of New Brunswick Bible Institute wish you a Christ-filled Christmas and aNew Year filled with blessings from our God.
CAMPUS NEWS
teams; McMahon’s Marauders, Long’s Lions, Meed’s Mavericks, Horsman’s Hurricanes, Little’s Legends, and The Dean’s Dodgers. After three weeks of intense competition, played in a variety of weather scenarios, one team was crowned champion. Congratulations to The Little’s Legends, NBBI 2014 Softball Champions!
WITH STEVE WAGSTAFF
Play Ball! It’s that time of year again. Crisp cool air, the smell of freshly mowed grass, sharply drawn lines framing the field, and the sound of ball to leather as teammates play catch to warm-up. No, I’m not talking about the MLB playoffs! I’m talking about something much bigger - NBBI
student body softball! This year, six elite teams battled it out for baseball supremacy of Victoria Corner (and a cheap trophy.) After a spirited schoolwide draft was held by coaches, coed teams of equal numbers were established and battle lines were drawn. The league consisted of the following 3
STUDENT TESTIMONY
BY TIM LEUBNER, STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
could never supply was the salvation of my soul, and the forgiveness of my sins. I attended Awana Bible clubs as a child and I participated in youth groups as a teen. My life on the outside was one of righteousness. My heart, however, was deep in sin. I had never experienced the forgiveness of Christ for myself. I understood that Jesus died for me, rose again, and lives to intercede for those who call on Him, but I never bowed my knee to Him in my heart. One day when I was eighteen years old, I confessed to my Dad that I was living a lie. He shared with me that Christ is more powerful than any sin, than any sinner. He is able to forgive. On May 13, 2011, I sat in my car in a library parking lot and cried out to the Lord to save me, and I know He truly did. I am planning on studying to get my Bachelor of Theology Degree here at
MEN FOR GOD RALLY JANUARY 23-24, 2015
Theme: Men of Valour and guest soloist David Gopee
Printed in Canada
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Men, we need to encourage one another and support one another in our walk with the Lord. Our men’s conference is a great way for you to do that. Join us on January 23-24 as we host our 11th annual Men for God Rally - good food, good fellowship and good opportunity to be challenged in your walk with the Lord. Don’t miss it!
with guest speaker Dr. Les Loftquist Executive Director IFCA International
NBBI. I want to continue to learn how to say yes to God after years of saying no. I desire to live to please Him more and more with my life each day as He leads. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful fiancée that I am excited to marry next August. I do not know all He has in store for us, but I do know that He is faithful and just. He will never fail us.
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Hi my name is Tim Leubner and I am in my third year here at NBBI. My life, growing up near Buffalo, New York, was one of constant dependence. I depended on my parents to supply everything I needed to live. If I needed food, it was provided. If I needed clothes, they were in my drawers. I was really in need of nothing. One thing, however, my parents
New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB Canada E7P 1C7 Phone: (506)375-9000 Fax: (506)375-1800 Website: nbbi.ca Email: nbbi@nbbi.ca
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Editor........................................Larry Rushton Writers........NBBI Faculty, Staff & Students Typist........................................Brenda Cabral Layout & design.............................Larry Rushton Copy proof.................................... Rose Meed Printer....................................... Merritt Press