The Open Bible Bulletin - November, 2022

November 13 Bethel Baptist Church Pine Glen, NB Sunday Services

KEITH MCMAHON

November 20 First Baptist Church of Houlton Houlton, ME Morning Service

FAMILY FILE Weddings Josh Gerrior (ABM/B.Th. ’21) to Ashlan Organ on May 28, 2022.

Sophie Gerrior (Assoc. ’21) to Jakob Ducey (’22) on June 10, 2022.

Births June 17, 2022 - to Kaitlin (Weatherall, Assoc. ’17)) and Isau Balbuena, a daughter, Mya Rose.

September 1, 2022 - to Jason (ABM ’99) and Kristi (Bredin, ’98) Paulino, a son, Delmi Rosario.

Homegoing Margaret (Simonson) Daley, graduate of 1949, was promoted to Glory on July 24, 2022.

Have you ever asked, “Is God there?

Is He really faithful?” NBBI grads, Ruth and Rose Meed and friends have had a Bible study book published entitled, “Is God There? 34 Ways God Says He Is Faithful.” Ruth says, “It lists all the ways God says He’s faithful in the whole Bible, with an explanation of how these verses fit in their context and how these truths apply to help you.” This book is available for purchase for $22.98 at the Open Bible Bookstore.

Also available is a classical, sacredstyle music CD by Ruth Meed and Rebekah Ringenberg with violin, vocals, and piano.

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Anyone who goes on a long hike knows that he/she needs a good relifor a able map. There is nothing worse than hearing November 10-12 the stories of hikers that nbbi.ca/cfad have become lost in the wilderness, not knowing which way they should go. If you are a follower of Jesus, you should know that God’s Word is the road map of life. This is why NBBI exists - to train believers to know God’s Word so they can navigate through life carefully and productively. You might not know where life’s journey is taking you but getting to know God in a deeper way is a crucial first step. Why not join us for one of our College for a Day weekends? You can see our campus, sit in on classes, get to know our students, enjoy great food and fellowship and see if God may be leading you to come to NBBI for at least a year. Explore the possibility of studying the Word of God with us.

BULLETIN

Men For Go Godd Rally

FOCUS

BY KEITH MCMAHON Still Learning How To Walk

January 27-28, 2023 nbbi.ca/mfg

After a two-year hiatus, our Men for God rally is returning in 2023. E.M. Bounds said, “The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.” We believe that our nations need strong men of faith who love God, lead their families, and are willing to put Christ first in every area of their lives. In order to do that, we need 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

Editor................................................. Larry Rushton Writers.............Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni Typist................................................. Brenda Cabral Layout & design...........................................Larry Rushton Copy proof..............................................Rose Meed Printer.................................................Merritt Press

For weekly updates visit us at nbbi.ca/connect

a commitment to the truth of God’s Word and the support and encouragement of other men. This is one of the reasons we host our Men for God rallies.

Join us and enjoy relevant challenges from God’s Word, great food, and encouraging fellowship with other men of faith. Plan on joining us January 27-28, 2023.

PARTNER WITH US

VOL. 63 NO. 11 NOVEMBER 2022

Liberty Hall 2022

nbbi.ca/donate

Give online: Click the Donate Now button. Make a one-time gift or choose the recurring option for automatic monthly support.

Give by mail: Send your cheque payable to: New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB E7P 1C7 U.S. Donors: East Hodgdon Bible Church Attn: NBBI Fund PO Box 828 Houlton ME 04730-0828 Give by e-transfer: Send an e-Transfer via the bank of your choice to nbbibusiness@gmail.com.

For additional options: Call us toll-free at 1-800-771-NBBI (6224).

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November 4-6 Tay Valley Bible Camp Taymouth, NB Teen Retreat

Printed in Canada

MIKE GRANT

I am 56 years old and I’m still learning how to walk. Imagine that. One might think that I would have mastered this ability by now. Yet, I’m still learning. Now, I am not speaking of the process of physically walking, but the spiritual discipline of walking in the Spirit. I am still learning it for myself, daily. That’s the nature of spiritual truth. As Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 1:12-14, there is spiritual truth that we may already know and be established in, yet, we still need to be reminded of it. This is how I feel about walking in the Spirit. In Galatians 5:16, 25, the Apostle Paul speaks clearly on this issue, “This I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” NKJV. Dr. Charles Wagner, during one of our conferences years ago, shared an insightful description of how a child, learning to walk, is likened to believers continuously learning to walk in the Spirit. “In the process of walking, each step is an incipient fall. Each step is the manifestation of the beginning of a fall; there is a temporary loss of equilibrium. So it is with our spiritual walk - in the Spirit. Each step is an

act of utter dependence upon the Spirit of God. The normal Christian life is to be a process of continual walking in dependence upon the Spirit, not holding on to the things of this world, or the flesh.”

What a great description! We picture toddlers, learning to walk, holding on to the things that they sense will keep them from falling. Gradually they become more skilled and bold in their attempts. Before you know it, they are off and running with great confidence and an increasing sense of independence. Spiritual truth is often paradoxical to human experience. With a child, increasing independence as they walk through life is seen as a sign of maturity. Yet, God raises believers to maturity through an increasing dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Of the many purposes for God giving us His Spirit, one of the key purposes is that we might be empowered to honour God well with our lives. Perhaps the best way to do that is to be obedient to His Word as we live our lives in a manner that demonstrates an utter reliance upon Him. Of course, the opposite of this would be for us to hold on to our own ideas and culture’s ideas of how we should live.

I believe that, as our culture grows increasingly hostile to God and His Word, it is going to be even more challenging for Christians to think and live biblically. Our world is wicked, and our flesh is weak. But

our God is wonderful. So, let’s take Him at His Word and let Him take us by the hand as we seek to walk in the Spirit today.

CHAPEL SPEAKERS November 4..........Marsha Boyd-Mitchell Christian Action Federation of NB

NBBI

God’s Purpose Our Passion Established 1944 2 Timothy 2:15

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2022-2023 STUDENT ENROLMENT

PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

BY LARRY RUSHTON

BY MATTHEW LITTLE

The Middle Man Have you ever heard the expression, “Let’s cut out the middleman”? It is a clever way of saying, “We want to deal directly with the seller and not a representative.” We all know that if there is a middleman, the price goes up for someone and the transaction has the potential of becoming more complicated. Yet, our current culture is bent on keeping the “middleman”. Statistics show that individuals today are becoming less and less willing to deal directly with businesses. Doordash and Uber Eats have taken the world by storm. We book our hotels through Expedia and Priceline and we order all of our merchandise through Amazon. In his 1995 book, “The Road Ahead”, Bill Gates predicted that the internet would become the universal middleman.

According to the Institute for Local SelfReliance, Amazon’s cut of third-party sales increased from 19 percent in 2014 to 34 percent last year. It seems like the middleman is here to stay and he is making a hefty profit.

As we reflect upon God’s plan and purposes for man, it is apparent that

God does not need a middleman (you or me) and yet, He chooses to use us. God could deal directly with mankind but He involves you and me in the process (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Knowing our own sinful limitations we may ask, “Why would God involve us in His plan, knowing we have such a great potential to ‘blow it’?” Take heart and consider these three biblical truths.

First, it is because God is working on us. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

God is doing a spiritual work in our lives, making us more like Jesus. The molding process involves the successes and triumphs of our service for Christ but it also includes the bumps, bruises and failures that come our way. Service for Jesus is the path that leads to Christlikeness.

Second, it is because God is glorified through us. Ephesians 3:21 says, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.

Amen.” As God includes us in His plans, it brings glory to Him. Others see that

February 24-26 & March 24-26, 2023 For those in Grades 7-12 nbbi.ca/encounter

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Excitement! People want it; many lack it; Encounter 2023 will provide it. NBBI Encounter retreats are back and we invite all teenagers to join us for a weekend of relevant challenges from God’s Word, great games, good food and the chance to meet new friends. Don’t miss out on these fun-filled retreats.

we are broken and sinful, yet, they witness your Spirit-empowered life and it brings glory to God (1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

Finally, God is the one doing the work anyway. You are just the vessel. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” In the truest sense, there is no middleman. It is God in the beginning; it is God working in you throughout; and it is God in the end. Vance Havner once said, “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is a broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever before.” God gave us the gift of 86,400 seconds today. Let’s use a few of them to thank Him!

STATISTICS FROM THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE Another school year has begun and, though we are low in number, we are strong in spirit. I have heard many comments from faculty and staff, encouraged by the unity and attitude of our students. We thank God for those He has sent to us for biblical training.

I found it interesting that we have only two freshman students from the USA this year. I believe border regula-

tions, now being lifted, have made an impact on our enrollment. After two wild, pandemic years, regulations are loosening, borders are opening and retreats and conferences are, again, being held on our campus in Victoria Corner. Praise the Lord! Staff were able to speak at camps this past summer and are being invited to speak in various churches again. Our students are now able to fulfill their

Practical Christian Service assignments in area churches and ministries. These have all been feeders to our enrollment in the past and we are asking God to make them so again.

Will you pray with us - for continued unity among students and staff, for wisdom in handling God’s Word, for growth in our students’ lives and for increased enrollment next year?

Total Student Enrolment is 46 Breakdown by Countries

Breakdown by Classes

Breakdown by Gender & Marital Status

Breakdown by Provinces/States

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