March 8, 2009: “The First Martyr” from Acts 6:8 – 7:60

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Stephen was not an apostle; rather, he was one of the men appointed to oversee the care of the widows. Yet he was performing great wonders and signs and using his ministry as an opportunity to preach the gospel. Stephen knew scripture and was filled with the Spirit–we also have access to these very things.

Stephen’s answer to the high priest recounts much of Israel’s history to show that God’s miraculous, active working was never restricted by land or temple and that their rejection of Christ was simply a continuation of what the Israelites had done throughout their history. He zeroes in on the self-righteousness of the religious leaders, noting that they had emphasized the temple and the prophets to the point of missing the Savior. They had whittled the living God down to an idol, behind which stood the demon of their own self-righteousness.

A sobering warning: don’t miss the message of Jesus Christ because of religion. God not only calls sinners to repent of their unrighteousness, but he calls religious people to repent of their righteousness.

February 22, 2009: “The Joy of Suffering Dishonor for the Name” from Acts 5:12-42

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Any church that will be a part of the unstoppable advance of the gospel must obey in the face of opposition and rejoice in the suffering that opposition will inevitably bring.

Gospel obedience is gospel proclamation in the face of gospel opposition. Peter proclaimed Christ even as he and the apostles faced trial for teaching the name of Jesus. “We must obey God rather than men” – these words are not the crux of a moralistic lesson to obey God even if your friends try to convince you otherwise, but a call to speak truth with objectivity and clarity, no matter the cost.

The apostles were flogged, much like Jesus was beaten prior to his crucifixion. Their suffering like and for Jesus gave them an intensity of fellowship with him that could not be gained in any other manner. They rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.

When, through regeneration, we come to know Jesus as a person, we will desire to obey in the face of opposition and will rejoice in the suffering that results. When Jesus is only a set of theological truths that we must affirm to gain entrance to heaven, we will not be burdened to proclaim him or find joy in suffering for his name.

On March 29, the last Sunday of this month, we will not be having a regular gathering at GTBC.  In a normal monthly schedule, we celebrate the Lord’s Table on the 1st Sunday, our Small Groups meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, and we have a regular time of study together on the 3rd Sunday.  On the occasion of this 5th Sunday of the month, we are strongly encouraging each of you in the membership of GTBC to open your homes in outreach and hospitality.

We are very thankful for the level of social interaction and fellowship between member families in GTBC.  We want to see how God can use the innate “talent” in our church body as an instrument of Gospel-actualized life.   We all want to think outside of our normal comfort zones;  share a meal with a visiting family in the church that you don’t know well, or at all.  Invite that neighbor family over to your house.  Or you might just prepare extra portions of your normal Sunday dinner and see how God leads on Sunday morning.  There may be someone at GTBC this Sunday morning whom the Spirit will lead you to so that you can minister with fellowship and hospitality.

We pray that this small “event”–not having a Sunday evening gathering–might be just a small part in a larger change in our lives:  to show the world a Gospel-saturated life in all of our families.