OPBC Focus Newsletter January/ February 2016

IN THIS ISSUE  Introducing TrueLife.org  Questions for the New Year  24 Hour Prayer Room  ESL Training Event  Sweetheart Banquet  Sign Up for 2016 Mission Trips  And More...

Old Powhatan Baptist Church 2202 Old Church Road Powhatan, VA 23139

A Publication of

Old Powhatan Baptist Church Jan/Feb 2016

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No. 4009

John Piper

I love strength. I love the word “mighty,” as in “Mighty Woman of God,” and “Mighty Man of God.” I love to hear that “Moses was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:22), and that Apollos was “mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24).

I love it when Paul says, “Act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13), or, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10), or, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

But make no mistake, the pursuit of this might is not the path to human power and pride. It is the path of ceaseless warfare with your own self. The greatest power in the world among human beings is the power not to sin. The power of holiness and love.

So if you are up for it, would you join me in these 15 prayers that you would be a mighty man of God or a mighty woman of God? Lord, make me so mighty in wisdom that I know and taste that the height of might is childlikeness (Matthew 18:4).

Lord, make me so mighty in war that I defeat every impulse in my soul that destroys peace (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 14:19; Matthew 5:9).

Lord, make me so mighty in my hardness against bitterness that tenderness of heart is not destroyed by wounds (Hosea 11:8; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8).

Lord, make me mightily unbending and inflexible in my Christ-exalting resolve to bend and become all things to all people that I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Lord, make my trunk and branches so mightily tough and impervious to wind and drought that I never cease to bear the fruit of gentleness (Galatians 5:23; James 3:17;1 Peter 3:4).

Lord, make me so mighty in serpentine discernment that I see every opening for dove-like love (Matthew 10:16).

Lord, make me so mightily unmoved by the sting and deceits of injustice against me that I may feel and show the miracle of undeserved compassion (Luke 10:23;15:20; Hebrews 10:34; 1 Peter 3:8).

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout

Lord, make me so mightily unyielding to the enticements of selfishness that from my heart kindness forever flows (2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:32;Colossians 3:12).

Lord, make me so mightily unresponsive to the honeyed lure of self-pity that I may have everreplenished resources to return good for evil (Romans 12:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9).

Lord, make me mighty with ruthless courage to cut off my hand at every trace of greed that I may be content with what I have (Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:8;Hebrews 13:5).

Lord, make me mighty with happy thoughts of child and wife and King to tear out my eye lest I betray their trust and lose the purity that sees my God (Matthew 5:8).

Lord, make me so mighty against the powers of self-justification that I never lose the humility to repent and weep for my sin (James 4:9; 5:16).

Lord, make me so mighty in resisting the bait of frenzied productivity that I never cease to enjoy the still waters of prayer and your sweet presence (Psalm 23:2; Isaiah 46:10; Luke 10:42).

Lord, make me so mighty against the deadly undertow of self-reliance that I am never ashamed to trust your arm, like a child with his father, in every breaking wave (Psalm 37:3, 5; Proverbs 3:5; Galatians 2:20).

Lord, make me so mighty in seeing and mighty in savoring the promises of your sovereign grace that in all my sorrows I might never cease to sing your praise (Matthew 5:11-12; Acts 16:25; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Peter 4:13).

John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of more than 50 books. Read more at desiringgod.org

that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Donald Whitney

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them. Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God. 1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? 2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity? In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you “Consider your ways.” Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

11. What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

17. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What’s one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What’s the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What’s the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn’t considered the question. If you’ve found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace— in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year. So let’s evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage” (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let’s also remember our dependence on our King who said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney. All rights reserved. Used by Permission For more short, reproducible pieces like this, see www.BiblicalSpirituality.org

TRAINING MARCH 5, 2016 8AM-5PM Wayne Hills Baptist Church Wayneboro, VA Register at SBCV.ORG

3 Day Training Event @ OPBC Become Certified in ESL 

Thurs., Jan. 21st , 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

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Fri. January 22 6:30 -- 9:30 p.m.

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Sat. Jan. 23rd, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

COST $20 / person or $30 / couple

REGISTER ONLINE OR IN THE OFFICE

JANUARY 23 & FEBRUARY 27 MEET AT THE CHURCH AT 9:15AM SEE GEORGIE BUCKLEN FOR INFO Adults and Youth needed for Spring and Summer trips to Toronto to work with Rendezvous Church. Adults see Gary Jenkins for more information.

Youth see Rob and Amy Coward for more info. $50 Deposit due Feb. 1

TrueLife...

Is a unique non-profit Christian organization dedicated to showing the world that the Bible is true and reliable. TrueLife desires to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively and lead people to a Bible-teaching church in their area. TrueLife uses online videos and other media, local conferences and evangelistic events to bring individuals to faith in Christ.

Why TrueLife.org?

Christian beliefs are constantly challenged and shaped by many influences outside the church. Without adequate answers, confusion and crisis often results. When Jesse Connors, founder of TrueLife®, intersected the helpful knowledge of university and seminary professors with the Internet, TrueLife.org was born. Today, TrueLife® offers reliable answers from a biblical worldview via the Web that are non-threatening and easy to understand and directs people to church.

How does TrueLife answer questions?

Answers are presented free of charge in an online video format by qualified experts in the fields of biblical studies, theology, history, philosophy, ethics and science. Using experts from across the world, TrueLife® answers life’s most challenging questions through interesting and engaging video and article formats.

OPBC and TrueLife TrueLife.org has provided us with business cards that will serve as invitations to church and to check out the truelife.org website. These cards are available for all of our members to take and to give out.

Website Integration Our partnership with TrueLife also gives us the opportunity to add these videos directly to our church website at www.powhatanbaptist.org. Questions about salvation, the Bible, religions, abortion, homosexuality and other matters of faith are now ours to share with every visitor to our website. The possibilities of greater impact are immeasurable.

Every Member Involved These TrueLife cards afford EVERY member an opportunity to spread Good News. Leave them with a good tip at a restaurant. Hand them out after a conversation at the grocery store.

Pass them out at events. Give them to your neighbors. It’s easy and everyone can do it.

As we Proclaim the Excellencies of Jesus in 2016 and beyond, let us take full advantage of the great tool presented by TrueLife. Pick up your cards starting January 10. Think about what an impact handing out ONE card every day will make in Powhatan and beyond.

If you are interested in church membership or more information, please attend this time of questions and answers / meet and greet with the pastors. We will eat together and have a great time getting to know one another better. Contact the church office to RSVP.

The New Year is the perfect time to get involved with a small group through Growth Groups or Sunday School (or both). See Pastor Roger for times and locations and how you can get involved in 2016!

Tim Thornborough / The Good Book Blog

Here are five ideas to make your New Year's Resolutions more 'Biblely' and less 'self-helpy'.

1. Choose them wisely: Instead of aiming for healthier, happier or lighter, why not choose one aspect of the character of our Lord Jesus to aim to grow into, and think through how that will actually happen (eg compassionate, humble, hospitable) 2. Pick a theme: Make a long list of things you are frustrated with, and try to find a single word that sums them up. Make this your theme word for the year. It might be Grace, or Hope, or Loved or Forgiven - but it should make a conscious connection with your relationship with Christ to be the motivation for the way you want to change, rather than just "improving yourself".

3. Turn them into questions: Sometimes we feel afraid to ask simple, fundamental questions. So instead of a practical goal, choose a question to follow: What does it mean for me to follow Jesus in particular? What is the most essential thing in the Christian life? What makes me tick spiritually?

You may not find an answer to your question, but pursuing it as you read God's Word and talk to others will be an enriching and deepening experience.

4. Make them communal: God has called us into community, to bear one another's burdens, so don't make resolutions private. Share them with friends, your bible study group, and even others who may not be Christian. Ask them to encourage and help you with them, and seek progress reports from you.

5. Make your year an experiment: The Bible urges us to "taste and see that the Lord is good" - to prove by our experience that it is a wonderful thing to have the Living God as your God. So why not pick an area of Christian life to be your experimental proving ground for the year: you might choose to make it the year of Living as a sacrificial Christ-like husband, or The year of being a person of integrity, or The year of accepting all things as good gifts from our Father. Whatever you choose make it part of the way you read the Bible, and something you pray for regularly. www.thegoodbook.com/blog January 6, 2011

Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney When you pray, does it ever feel like you’re just saying the same old things about the same old things? This books offers encouragement and practical advice we all need in our prayer lives.

Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel

by Russell Moore

The signs of the times tell us we are in for days our parents and grandparents never knew. But that’s no call for panic or surrender or outrage. Jesus is alive. Let’s act like it. Let’s follow Him, onward to the future.