The Open Bible Bulletin - January 2024

Est. 1944

Vol. 65 No. 01

The Open Bible

Bulletin

January 2024

Save The Dates!

Encounter Youth Retreats February 23-25, 2024 March 22-24, 2024

Focus

By Keith McMahon

Will This New Year Be Better if Things Are Not Better?

We can be prone to hopeful thinking that each new year just might be better than the year before. We hope for better opportunities, better relationships, better circumstances, better finances, better habits, and better health. We might even be tempted to think that if things were just a little better for us this year, then maybe our spiritual lives would somehow be of a better quality also. But what if, in some ways, it’s not a better new year? What if this turns out to be a more challenging year than the one before? What if there is loss instead of gain? What if this year brings heartache instead of gladness?

What if this year is not better at all?

What could potentially happen to our spiritual lives?

Concerning our spiritual lives, believers are encouraged to draw closer to the Lord in times of discouragement and difficulty. In fact, we are reminded in God’s Word that God uses the hard things to strengthen our faith in Him as we, in our times of utter weakness, grow increasingly dependent upon Him and the sufficiency of His grace. Second Corinthians chapter 12 is a great study on this. As well, note the following hope from II Corinthians 4-5 that Paul provides for the believer who knows heartache and misery, yet more importantly, knows Christ: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the

Chapel Speakers Jan. 17-18 Pastor Kurtis Kent Waterville Baptist Church

Jan. 30-Feb. 1 John Romano Child Evangelism Fellowship

youtube.com/@nbbimediaministry

excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” II Corinthians 4:7-9 “Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” II Corinthians 4:14-5:1.

So, will this year be better, even if it’s not better in our view? Yes. This year will be better if we know where to look – at the things that are eternal.

We believers, of all people, should be encouraging others to look up.

ENCOUNTER YOUTH RETREATS Feb. 23-25 & Mar. 22-24 Come and experience the powerful Word of God presented by our Guest Speaker, Eric Swithin. Eric, a former marine and an accomplished Film Director and Producer along with holding a Master’s of Arts in Theology wants you to meet with God in a way that will change your life. So come lose some sleep, meet new friends and have an encounter with the living God, it might just be the most important weekend ever!

President’s Challenge In New Testament times, the religious leaders were constantly at odds with Jesus. Their religiosity had blinded them and prevented them from seeing others the way God sees them. In Luke 15, the Pharisees and Scribes were up to their old tricks of murmuring against Jesus. Verses 1 and 2 read, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, ‘This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them’.” These men were blinded by their own religious prescriptions and personal prejudice. The publicans and sinners were the proverbial outcasts of society and here is Jesus eating with them.

In response to their empty accusations, Jesus tells a parable. It is one parable in three parts and covers the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each of these stories is intended

Student Testimony

to teach why Jesus behaved outside the societal norms and met people where they were. Luke 15:8-10 describes the story of the lost coin. A woman has ten pieces of silver and loses one. She lights a candle and sweeps the house looking for that lost piece until she finds it. Why would Jesus tell such a story to religious leaders who were condemning Him for His questionable associations?

First of all, Jesus was suggesting He was hanging out with this crowd because their lives had no value, purpose, and joy apart from Him. A coin is only valuable if it is in the hands of the owner. There is intrinsic value in a coin, but actual value is only ascribed to it if the owner has possession of it. In the same way, a human life becomes productive and purposeful when that life is given fully and wholly to God. What did the woman need to find the coin? She needed to light a candle. In John 8:12, Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world.” The lost coin was found because of the light. Believers place themselves in the hands of God, their rightful owner, as they put their trust in Jesus.

Secondly, a coin can’t be used unless it is in the hands of the owner.

Try going to a local merchant and paying for merchandise with money

that has been lost. How far would a customer get in completing a transaction with a $20 bill not in his possession? Money can only be used if it is in circulation. Believers who put their lives in the hands of God have value and usefulness. What these religious hypocrites were saying is, “Jesus, you don’t need these people.” But what Jesus was saying is, “These people need Me.” I hope that today you recognize the immense purpose and joy your life can have in His hands (Rom. 12:1). And may you see others in the lens through which God looks.

Matthew Little

CFAD Recap

“Jesus Christ is more precious to me than ever before. I have grown immensely in my understanding of the astounding goodness of God as displayed in the gospel. I can honestly say that I love God more because of my time at NBBI. I have been forever changed.”

Andrew Gwinn - Student Body President

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Family File Births & Marriages

November 1, 2023 - Milcah

Men For God January 26-27, 2024

2nd Semester Events 2nd Sem. Registration - January 15

Ruby to Brock (‘17/ABM ‘18) & GraceAnn Caissie

Men For God Rally - January 26-27 College For A Day - February 1-3 Freshman Banquet - February 9 Exams - February 12 1st Youth Retreat - February 23-25

November 4, 2023 -

March Break - March 1-17

David Stokdijk (Assoc’ 21) and Kate Host (‘23)

Pray For NBBI.

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2nd Youth Retreat - March 22-24 Guest Speaker:

DR. DINO J. PEDRONE

College For A Day February 1-3

Have you been praying about NBBI? Do you know someone who is in grade 11 or 12 and is interested in seeing what a year at NBBI is like?

Look no further than our College For A Day event! Come and be our guest, free of charge, sit in on our classes, enjoy our dining and meet our students and faculty. All meals and accommodations are provided! Sign up today nbbi.ca/cfad

Exams - March 26 Spring Banquet - April 20 Final Exams - April 25; 27; 29 Spring Conference - May 3-5 Graduation - May 5

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Give Online: nbbi.ca/donate Give by e-transfer: nbbibusiness@gmail.com For additional options: Call us toll-free at 1-800-771-NBBI (6224) Give by mail: 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 Interested in applying?

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