Part of the doctrinal Sunday School series.

Is there any greater question in the universe then, “What must I do to be saved?” Come join us as we walk through the doctrine of salvation in all its aspects. Using the doctrinal statement of the church as our reference we will discuss the agreed upon and controversial aspects of this most important doctrine. In addition, we will seek to find out how this is more than knowledge for us, but how these great truths show themselves in our daily lives.

View the handouts and ppt files online below:

Week 1: Intro and Order of Salvation (view ppt online)

Week 2 – Predestination/Election

Week 3 – Atonement

Week 4 – Atonement

Week 5 – Calling and Regeneration

Week 6 – Conversion

Week 7 – Justification

Week 8 – Sanctification

Week 9 – Sanctification

Week 10 – Glorification

Week 11 – What happens when you die?

Week 12 – What about the lost?

Week 13 – Conclusion

Book of Acts

]]> http://brbible.org/ministry/march-2010-newsletter/feed 0 http://brbible.org/resources/a-brief-theology-of-romance http://brbible.org/resources/a-brief-theology-of-romance#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:27:25 +0000 Jack Gill http://brbible.org/?p=894 Sermon February 28, 2010

Upcoming dates in our area include:

• Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston, VA – March 12-14
• Baltimore Marriott Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, MD – October 22-24
• Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg, VA – November 19-21

Tim Challies has an interesting article on the subject of what people search for on the Internet. He highlights a time where a major search engine released searches being done by individuals. They thought the information was released in such a way that the searchers would remain anonymous but it turns out that wasn’t the case. People were able to string together the searches of individuals over time that showed not only their actual searches but also gave a glimpse into what was going on in their life. Some of the searches reveal somewhat comical life circumstances, others deep sadness and hurt.

When looking at just the searches of an individual over time it makes me think about the people I see in everyday life when I’m out and about. We all see lots of put together people that seem to not have any serious problems. But what if you could see everything they searched for on the Internet over time? Wouldn’t that give a peek into their heart and mind? You’d get a glimpse past the facade and into the real person. How would that change your dealings with them?

Keep this in mind, every person has pain and hurt and need that is all caused by sin and this world which is cursed by sin. Look at Isaiah 53:4-6 which contains the truth of EVERY person’s condition along with the glorious truth of the gospel:

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

No matter how good someone looks on the outside they have griefs and sorrows. That isn’t debatable and does not depend on the person or the situation. The question is whether they are carrying them or is Christ?

Below is an excerpt from Challies’s article:

While the search engines may never forget, I am grateful that God does forget. He forgets the sins of those who turn to him and confess those sins. Psalm 103 promises that “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” In Hebrews 8:12 God promises “I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” There is virtue in forgetting.

Praise God that he does “remember our sins no more” if we have have turned to Jesus Christ and confessed our sins. Follow the link and read the whole article.

Acts 28:7-31

Acts 27

Greetings from Arequipa! This will be the last update before we arrive in West Virginia on March 12. We are looking forward to hearing from our churches about setting up meetings as well as visiting with our individual supporters. We will need to raise $530.00 a month before we can return to the field. We have lost 30% support because of the drop of the dollar, but we are confident the Lord will raise it up.

We are in the pains of packing up our house and getting ready to head back to the US. Zack and Caleb are having a very difficult time going back to the US, so we would ask you to pray for them. This is the life they have known for a long time and now, at least for Zack, it is a more permanent good-bye. The majority of his friends are here and he is more Peruvian than American, so please pray for him. He turned 18 the 14th of January. Pray that he will be able to find work once we arrive back in the US. His plans are to attend Liberty University in the fall, providing he receives some financial aid. He wants to come back to Latin America and work in youth missions. Caleb will be attending a Christian school while we are in the US. He too is having a difficult time with the packing and getting ready once again for all the sad goodbyes that are soon to come. As for Debbie and I, we are struggling with leaving but are looking forward to fellowship and ministering in the US. We are hoping to serve in our home church and that some friends will allow us to have Bible studies in their homes. If anyone would be interested in hosting a home Bible study using the “Story of Hope”, please let us know.

Yes, we are planning on returning to Peru, Lord willing, once our furlough is up and our funds are raised. However, we are open to do the Lord’s will be that in Peru, the US or another country. For now, the plan is to return to Arequipa.

December was filled with a lot of activities and opportunities to share Christ. There were church dinners as well as our Christmas cantata. We opened up our home on Christmas Eve and had several people stop by for food and fellowship. We also had a special New Years Eve service that was filled with fun, fellowship and praises to our God.

The home Bible study that Aaron has been involved in is going great. He is hoping to finish the “Story of Hope” before we leave for the states. The Bible study is a highlight for Aaron because he believes some of the people have given their lives to Christ. Two weeks ago one of the ladies just came out and asked “What do I have to do to be saved?”. That was like saying “stick-em” to a bull dog. When Aaron finished the presentation of the gospel she said “I believe”.

Willy and his wife have still not made a profession of faith. Aaron took them the “Fire proof” video and the “Love Dare “ book, but obviously they need the Lord first before they can work on their marriage. Their salvation is a huge burden.

We hope to complete the discipleship classes we are currently holding. The students are so full of questions that at times it is hard to get through a lesson. Debbie actually spent 3 weeks on one lesson because of all the questions. We should be able to finish the “Way to Joy” with both of our groups before we leave.

The first Sunday in January, the church held its annual business meeting and elected the first deacon ever in the church. Pastor Abraham has been doing a great job with the transition, stepping up to the job of pastor while we take the role of assistants. We are still meeting with him and his wife offering discipleship and counseling. We are confident in his ability to take the church forward.

The 2nd week in January we had our annual field team meetings and Bible conference with our missionary partners. It is always a blessing for us to see and fellowship with our colleagues from all over Peru. Our conference speaker this year looked at the 7 miracles of Christ in the book of John. It was so refreshing to hear English preaching/teaching as well as singing praises in English.

Right after the Field team meetings, we took a group of five teens to Lima for the Word of Life camp. They made some wonderful decisions for the Lord that week and came back and shared their hearts with the church. We trust that the teens in the church will carry the youth ministry forward since Zack will no longer be here to lead them. José, who has been working with Zack for the last year, has taken over the responsibilities of the youth group and has done a fantastic job so far.

Next week, our church will be joining with another church for family camp in Camana. Aaron will be teaching on purity in the life of a teen as well as on the armor of God. Debbie will not be going with us this year as she is overwhelmed with the packing and final details that need to be done before we leave.

Before we leave, we have planned three weeks of baptisms. We are so thankful for all that the Lord is doing in the church and other ministries we are involved in.

Aaron had the privilege of speaking to a group of ladies at our coworkers’ church on overcoming depression. He does not feel that he is an expert, but having learned so much through his ordeal, he is anxious to share it with others. There were 28 ladies present and the study was a big success. Aaron would love the opportunity to help other people with what he has learned on the subject.

Pastor Julio, who was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, is doing very well considering. The Lord has actually given him the strength to preach in his own pulpit the last couple of weeks. We pray that the Lord will continue to give the whole family strength to deal with this trial.

Update — Feb. 4

First off, Pastor Julio was given just 3 months to live in November, 2009. The cancer had spread to all his vital organs as well as his bones and the end looked imminent. He took three chemo treatments and yesterday went to the doctor for a progress report. To the amazement of the doctors the cancer that had metastasized is gone, his kidneys are clear and his liver is clear. The large mass he had on one side of his backbone is gone. They are not sure about his bones so they are doing tests to see how they are. There is still some residual cancer so they are going to continue the chemo for a while longer. The doctors told Julio’s wife that there was no way the chemo could have done this and she simply replied “I know it wasn’t the chemo, it was the prayers of God’s people and God who did it”. Churches all over Peru have been praying for his healing and God has answered in a powerful way! ALL things are possible with God. Julio has felt so well, he has even been able to preach the last three weeks without coughing, although he is exhausted when he gets done.

Secondly, the Bible study Aaron has been doing with The Story of Hope has brought much fruit. Last Saturday, three of the four ladies in the Bible study placed their faith in Christ and are now part of the family of God. While they had believed for a long time, they realized that they had never received Christ’s forgiveness, like the thief on the cross did, and confessed Christ as their Savior. So right there in their home, they bowed their heads and prayed for Christ to save them. It was such an awesome time to see them repent and to be used by God in this way. I have prayed for their salvation for months and the Lord brought in the harvest.

Third, Sunday was a very special day in our church. We had a missionary from Chile in the morning and a missionary from Columbia in the evening service. Sunday morning after the morning service we baptized a teenage girl that had received Christ some time ago. We are planning 2 more baptisms before we leave!

The boys left for camp in Camaná on Wednesday and Aaron is leaving to join them today. Pray for Zackary as he is a counselor this year and there are at least 2 unsaved boys in his room. Debbie is staying home this year to finish packing and supervise the painting. We only have 24 more days here and are trying to make them all count for the glory of the Lord.

Can I get an Amen! Glory, hallelujah!!

In His Grip,
Aaron, Debbie, Zack, and Caleb Karr
Vonage (304) 521-4330
Skype name is aaron_karr

Please only use our akarr@abwe.cc from now on.

1) What is a BRBC church bond?

Church bonds are certificates of indebtedness issued by churches or other non‐profit organizations to provide funds for the refinancing of our construction loan, through a bond agency (ours is Rives Leavell & Co.)

2) How is that related to our refinancing our loan debt?

BRBC will be selling bonds to the congregation and friends of our congregation in order to gain the funds to pay off the loans we currently have with Wachovia Bank.

3) Is it just for big investors?

No, bonds can be purchased in amounts as low as $250, and in multiples of $250. However, the bigger the amount invested combined with the length of time of the bond, the better the interest and return on those bonds.

4) Will I be able to get my money or will it be tied up?

That depends on the length of your bond. As each bond matures, you will have the choice of receiving the interest payment or reinvesting the entire bond into an additional bond. You should not buy a church bond with a maturity beyond when you think you will need the principal back. Also, in the event BRBC receives increased giving beyond our budget and reserve needs, it can choose to pay off some of the bonds with interest.

5) What is the benefit to me for investing this way rather than a savings or retirement account?

You will receive consistent and regular return on your money, unlike some retirement funds which fluctuate or savings accounts which have low interest rates at the moment. Some people use the money they have been saving for children’s college. Some use inherited money which has to be used for a specific long‐term purpose and cannot be invested in stocks.

6) Is the interest taxable?

Yes, it is taxable as ordinary income and you will receive a 1099 annually for the interest you earned, whether it was paid to you or reinvested.

7) What is the benefit to the church for investing this way?

You will assist the church in paying off the construction loan at a much more cost effective rate. The church will not have to refinance with the bank every three or four years, saving those refinancing costs. Also in this economy it is getting more difficult to obtain refinancing through banks. We can lock‐up our payments and can pay off the loan earlier as money is received over and above our budget needs.

8) What’s the first step in determining how I could participate?

Look over your financial situation with regard to your own debt, your savings account, and your retirement accounts. If you choose to rollover from your retirement accounts, contact your financial advisor to determine what needs to be done. If you are investing from savings, contact Glenda Snotherly at Rives Leavell (877‐259‐1877) for instructions. She can also give you sample rates of interest and return.

9) Who do I contact to find out what I can do and how to do it?

Contact Glenda Snotherly at Rives Leavell (877‐259‐1877) for instructions.

10) What secures my investment if the church or the bond company go under?

The bonds are secured with the church property and building as collateral (currently $4.5 million). This is explained in more detail in the prospectus you will receive prior to making your final commitments.

11) How long will I have to purchase the bonds?

Once we receive our completed and approved prospectus, Rives Leavell gives us seven days to purchase the bonds. Now is the time to be determining if you will participate. Also, it is quite common and very helpful for the congregation to contact your friends and relatives to see if they want to invest in this way. The more of the $1.3 million that our congregation and our contacts can purchase, the less we will be charged by Rives Leavell for their fees in finding additional investors to reach our need.

Yes, we are obviously canceling church again tomorrow! Also canceled is AWANA tomorrow and as well as Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and AHG for Monday evening.

However, instead of just an e-mail, our “tech team” (Carter Farley and Tom Gossage) has made it possible for us to send you a brief message.  If you will connect to the link below, it will direct you to a short video that I hope will equip and encourage  you this Sunday.

Also, for those of you who might be struggling to come up with a lesson for Sunday morning, here is a short devotional to assist you if you need it!

Finally,  here is the link to help assist you with online giving (as mentioned in the video.)

I pray that you have a great day in the Lord, and that you can enjoy the snow!

In Him,
Pastor Jack

In the event of a cancellation, please expect an additional email from Jack with some pastoral encouragement for you and your family to use as you spend the Lord’s Day at home.

Send an email to churchwide+subscribe@brbible.org to subscribe your email address to our list.

Have fun in the snow and stay safe!

The New Member Class has been rescheduled for the same time on February 21.

Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7

January 24, 2010

Acts 25:23-26:18

(Both posts are in the secure area of the BRBC website, so you’ll need to log in to view them. Need to set up an account? Email us at missions@brbc.org.)

Please pray for the people of Haiti and for God’s church in that already impoverished nation.

Update: The orphanage I visited is doing fairly well considering. They had no known damage to their building and also received their monthly delivery of food just two day before the earthquake hit. Praise God that he has provided and protected. We trust him for our provision and care and know that “all things happen together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purposes.”

Another Christian orphanage that you might consider learning more about and supporting is God’s Littlest Angels. They’ve gotten a lot of news coverage in the US.

Full details as well as online registration is below. Registration deadline is January 17.

Retreat Details

Speaker: Margaret Ashmore

As women, we long to live a life of joyful abundance. What keeps us from doing that at all times?

Calling on her training in biblical counseling, Margaret will share the patterns of behavior that lead to a descent into depression. She will also offer hope and encouragement that a different path will allow you to ascend to a joy-filled, abundant life in which Christ is all. You will discover how to attain true joy and also ways you can assist others in living a joyfully abundant life.

• Take note of the cancellation policy: As of Monday, February 22, the hotel will charge BRBC for all reserved rooms. Therefore we are unable to provide refunds for cancellations received after Friday, February 19.
• If you have a financial need and are a regular attender of BRBC please contact Karen Gill or MaryAnne Armstrong.
• If you would like to donate funds (in any amount) to allow a woman to attend the retreat, indicate this on your registration form.
• Free Babysitting: Free babysitting is provided for nursing mothers during the teaching sessions. If you are planning to bring a nursing baby, and need childcare during the teaching sessions please indicate your need on your registration form. This will allow us to provide the appropriate number of caregivers.

16701 Lakeview Road NE
Flintstone, MD 21530
www.rockygapresort.com
800-724-0828 | 301-784-8400

You will enjoy your stay in the welcoming guest rooms. You can reserve a room with two queen beds as a double, triple, or quad occupancy.

You will enjoy the tasty meals served buffet style and time to visit with friends around the dining table. The meals included in the retreat price are: Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Sunday breakfast.

Please note, this year the meals included in the package retreat price are:

• Saturday breakfast
• Saturday lunch
• Saturday dinner
• Sunday breakfast

• Two nights
  • Double: $230
  • Triple: $200
  • Quad: $185
• One night
  • Double: $195
  • Triple: $170
  • Quad: $155

Online Registration Form

Acts 25:1-22

Here is a short excerpt from the first page:

God makes it quite clear in His Word that He has only one answer to every human need: His Son, Jesus Christ. In all His dealings with us, He works by taking us out of the way and substituting Christ in our place. The Son of God died instead for us for our forgiveness; He lives instead of us for our deliverance. So we can speak of two substitutions: a Substitute on the cross who secures our forgiveness and a Substitute within who secures our victory. It will help us greatly, and save us from much confusion, if we keep constantly before us this fact: God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only, namely, by showing us more of His Son.

And isn’t that truth confirmed through the experience of the mature Christian? We are constantly struggling with simply telling God, “I know that Christ and his work on the cross is the answer, but I don’t like that answer, God.” “I know that Christ is sufficient for me, but that isn’t what I want.”

Nee’s point is also made by Paul in a different way in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

And this also echos what Jack said in his sermon last Sunday. We aren’t content in what we have because we don’t want what God is offering. We want something else. And isn’t that the height of foolishness? The all powerful God wants to give us all of himself and we say “no thanks, I’d rather have this measly temporal thing.”

But are we truly content with our “weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities”?

1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19

December 27, 2009

Acts 24:24-27

Gifts may be made either through BRBC or Romania Reborn. Please specify that the gift is for the Living Hope Center roof.

November was a wonderful month of service to our God. We started out the month with an evangelistic campaign followed by our church’s third anniversary. We had a special speaker from Lima who challenged our people and shared the message of hope in Christ. The Saturday before the anniversary service, we held our first sports tourney among the churches. Eight sister churches participated in volleyball and soccer competitions all day. It was amazing to see the fellowship among all the different churches and what was more amazing was that we, as missionaries, had nothing to do with the planning or carrying out of the event. On Sunday, we were excited to have an attendance of 90 people celebrate our anniversary with us.

The second week of November we had a retreat with our ABWE co-workers to Arica, Chile. Arica is just across the border from Peru, only about six hours from Arequipa. However, like so many of our stories this trip wasn’t without its adventure. When we arrived at the Chilean border, we learned that there was a country-wide strike and as a way of protest, the border agents were working extremely slowly. After nearly three hours standing outside in a line along with our luggage, we finally made it across the border. The time in Chile was a great time of fellowship, prayer and Bible study with our co-workers.

On the 19th we hosted a group of fifteen people arrived from Pennsylvania. They were here for 10 days working with Peruvian pastors on work projects and ministering every night in different churches. It was a blessing to have this group here since their leaders were our friends and former co-workers, John and Aimee. Two of their kids were also with them so Zack and Caleb had a great time catching up with old friends.

On November 21, the pastors’ fellowship planned a men’s conference for both single and married men. The theme was “purity”—purity in marriage as well as before marriage. We had 90 men, young and old, come from about ten churches. Aaron taught a seminar on purity to the single men, ages 14-30. It was a great blessing and he has been asked to come and teach the same in another church to all their teens.

The home bible study that Aaron is doing is going great. Every Saturday evening he meets with six ladies to teach them “The Story of Hope”. They are soaking up the teaching like a sponge and we believe they are close to making a decision for Christ. Please pray for them. The other Bible study that Pastor Abraham is leading is also going well; they have about 6 in attendance there as well.

The news about Willy is basically the same. He had an operation to clean out the infection in his hip. Aaron visits with him weekly but he still has not made a decision for the Lord. What a huge burden – knowing a dear friend is still without Christ. We still have three more months; Lord willing he will be saved before we leave for furlough.

The ladies ministry is going well. The retreat in October was a great time of fellowship and learning. Debbie is about to finish the course “The Christian Family” with 6 ladies in the church. She is also continuing to disciple two other ladies. The ladies are planning their last outreach of the year, a Christmas outreach with the theme “God’s Gifts to Us.” Please pray that many unsaved will come and hear the gospel.

It is hard for us to believe that Zack will be finishing high school on December 18. We plan to have a small celebration with his friends here before we leave. He is excited to finish, but he knows that this means his time in Peru is getting shorter. He has a great burden for his friends in his tennis academy. He is trying to set up a Bible study with one of his friends, Sebastian, who is not even sure God exists. Please pray for Zack as he tries to reach his friends. He is also still helping to lead the youth group. This month they will begin a study on how to apply God’s principles to everyday decisions. Steve, our co-worker, will be heading up the study for them.

Caleb will be finishing 10th grade and is very excited to be almost done with school for the year. He is also playing tennis and just played in his first tournament two weeks ago. Caleb loves working with the children at church and is a great help in Sunday School and Bible Club. We are beginning to see more of a desire on his part to reach out to his unsaved friends as well.

One of the national pastors and a dear friend, Julio, has been diagnosed with stage four cancer. The cancer was very silent but very aggressive; there were no major symptoms until the cancer was already at stage four. After several tests, they concluded that the cancer has mastisized and is in his lungs, liver, kidneys, thigh bone, back bone, and collar bone. They are only giving him between 3-4 months to live. Julio and his family came from the Amazon jungle 25 years ago as missionaries to Arequipa. He and his family have lived in the church for a number of years and do not have much. We are asking that our churches and friends help this godly man and his family with the bills they are incurring. God has raised $450 so far but they will need about $3000 for medical bills and, if God does not perform a miracle, more to help with funeral costs. If you would like to help, please let us know and we will send you the information on how to send a tax deductible gift.

November ended with a time of Thanksgiving with our co-workers. It is wonderful to think about all that the Lord has done for us and how much we have to be thankful for. We are very thankful for the ministries God has given us, for our family and friends and for each one of you and the part you play in our ministry in Arequipa. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless you as you bless others.

In His Service,
Aaron, Debbie, Zack and Caleb

More details here…

December 06, 2009