Fishers of Men

The Bible and its Story: Volume 9

Biblical Text:

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Devotional Thought:

The Bible documents the fact and contemporary writers almost unanimously agree, the world is broken, and the root of its brokenness is the people who inhabit it. What a wonderful promise we have in Matthew 28:18-20. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are able to help people from all nations to overcome their brokenness and become followers of the Creator of all things. Furthermore, when we decide to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in doing so, we have the unparalleled joy of knowing that He is with us. Walking through life with the Lord Jesus Christ is its own reward.

Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, please help the members of the International Baptist Fellowship join Your Son in helping people from all over the world become followers of Your Son—Jesus Christ. May the IBF experience the joy of fellowship with Jesus as we join Him in discipling individuals from all nations. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that I pray.

Pastor Bill Edmondson

Fishers of Men

The Bible and Its Story: Volume 9

Biblical Text:

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:...”

The family tree of Jesus in Matthew 1:1

“Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,... the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

The family tree of Jesus in Luke 3:23-38

The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Devotional Thought:

This coming Sunday afternoon, Steve Caesar will begin a series of four studies dealing with the literal meaning of the early chapters of Genesis. We Christians at times make the Bible more difficult to understand than it actually is. God means what He says, and He has communicated in a way that human beings are able to understand. We need to be careful to read the Scripture normally (just like we read the other factual literature) and to not draw abstract conclusions from the literal meaning of Scripture. The family tree presented in Matthew and Luke remind me of this. Both authors are careful to make it clear the Jesus Christ was actually born into this world and that His life was conceived and lived in accordance with the whole Word of God. Just as Jesus Christ literally came into this world (just as the Scripture says) so also the Bible gives us solid, real, concrete facts upon which to base and live our lives. We have an objective Word from God upon which we are able to find real answers that answer the real questions of life. This is why we Christians are the most blessed people in the entire world.

Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, please help the members of the International Baptist Fellowship family experience the joy of realizing how blessed we are to have an objective understandable reliable Word from God—the Bible. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that I pray.

Pastor Bill Edmondson

Fishers of Men

Biblical Text:

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:20-21

The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Devotional Thought:

This last Sunday we concluded our brief study of the four Gospels. Although based upon the sane historical account of the life of Jesus Christ, each Gospel has a distinct message . In John 20:20-21, Jesus explained to His disciples that they had the amazing privilege of living life for the same reasons that Jesus is living life-as the Father sent Jesus into the world, Jesus sent His disciples into the world. The letters of the New Testament-written specifically to the church (us)—confirm that we (the church) have also been sent into the world as Jesus was sent into the world. What a wonderful privilege it is to live life as ambassadors for Christ, offering life to our lost world.

Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, please help the members of the International Baptist Fellowship enjoy the privilege of living life as the representatives of Jesus Christ. Help us to successfully offer life to the world in which You have placed us. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that I pray.

Pastor Bill Edmondson

Israel Prepares to Worship

International Baptist Fellowship Daily (?) Devotional

It is my goal to read through the Bible this year. Today my Bible reading schedule indicated that I should read from the book of Numbers chapter 3. The book of Numbers is the historical account of what has been called, “The Wilderness Wanderings.” By reading this book, one is able to learn lessons for Christian living. In chapter 3 of Numbers, God gives instructions to the nation of Israel concerning the duties of the Levites (one of the 12 divisions of Israel). According to God’s instructions, they (the Levites) were to be assigned the responsibility of caring for Israel’s place of worship. These instructions show how important worship is to God. From these instructions, we are able to make the following application. The worship of God should not be done casually. This is especially true of corporate worship (the gathering of Christian believers for worship). While our gathering together should be enjoyable and personal, it should not be done with a casual attitude. We are gathering as the people of God who have the joy and responsibility of worshiping God appropriately and with thankful hearts.

Pastor’s Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, please bless the International Baptist Fellowship (IBF) today. Help us to understand the wonderful privilege we have of knowing and worshiping You. Help us to gather together tomorrow in a joyful, personal yet serious manner. Please help us have our place of worship prepared for worship by the time we are to start. Help those who are assigned set-up, refreshment, prayer, and music duties approach their divine responsibilities with a sense of awe and thankfulness. Please give us a wonderful time of worship tomorrow. I also ask that You help us meet many new friends at our Chinese New Year celebration tomorrow night. Help us love these friends to a saving knowledge of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

The Suffering Servant

Scripture

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 1Peter 4:12,13

Devotional Thought

Peter’s words, concerning the difficulties that sometimes accompany the living of the Christian life, serve as a good introduction to the Gospel of Mark. Mark was originally written to Roman Christians who were suffering persecution for their Christian faith. These early Christian’s not only faced a civilizational wide basic misunderstanding of the Christian message and manner of life, but these 1st century Christians were also opposed by those who had disdain for the Christian God and His followers. Mark’s Gospel provided the Roman Christians with an explanation for the difficult situation within which they were living—the world had rejected her King. His Gospel also gave vital information on how to live as a follower of God in a God rejecting world. We still live in a non-Christian world and we are still misunderstood and hated by some. Therefore the Gospel of Mark is an important book from which we need to learn. To begin with, as Peter reminds us, we should not think it strange when life is difficult. Difficult living is what one should expect in a world that has rejected Christ. At the same time, Peter encourages us to remember that one day our Savior will return, and that then, we will see the One whom we love and serve.

Pastor’s Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, please help the members of the International Baptist Fellowship learn to love Your Son—Jesus Christ. May our love for Him motivate us to live like Christians should live. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that I pray.

Pastor Bill Edmondson