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Belcroft Bible Church, Bowie
Sunday Sermon: Living Wisely in a Wicked World
Belcroft Bible Church is a place marked by Proclaiming the Word, Growing in Grace, and Serving with Love. We are a gathering of believers who are passionate about the proclamation of the Word of Christ, who are seeking to grow in the grace of Christ, and who are eagerly endeavoring to serve Bowie and beyond with the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
Locations & Times
Belcroft Bible Church
13000 Beechtree Ln, Bowie, MD 20715, USA
Saturday 10:30 AM
“Living Wisely in a Wicked World” – Pastor Matt White
6th Annual Bowie Block Party – Monday, October 31st
Belcroft is once again hosting the Bowie Block Party October 31st, on Towanda Lane, but we need your help! Sign-up sheets for various areas are available in the foyer, or sign up online by following the SignUp Genius below. Last year we had nearly 1200 attendees, and we need everyone's help to put on this successful event! If you have any questions, please talk to Claire or Steve Waskiewicz.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0844a9ac2ca1fc1-6thannual
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0844a9ac2ca1fc1-6thannual
Christmas Choir Rehearsals – Starting Sunday, October 16th
If you had a chance to sing in the choir last Christmas, you know what a blessing it is and how much fun we have! So, come join us! We will be singing three songs at the Christmas Café on Sunday, December 4th. Practices will be Sundays, 12-2pm, with lunch!
Belcroft’s Christmas Café - “The Light Before Christmas” – Dec. 4th
Our kids will be rehearsing their lines each Sunday in Sunday School and Children’s Church. Parents, please help them practice!!
GAMA Holiness Conference – Saturday, October 22nd
The Grace Advance Mid-Atlantic (GAMA) 2016 10 th Annual Bible Conference is coming up this October 22 nd ! This year’s conference is on Holiness, and our very own Pastor Matt will be teaching a workshop. Don’t miss this great opportunity for sound biblical teaching on the heart of the gospel: Holiness. For more information and to register, visit: www.graceadvancema.org or call 443-200- HOPE
Christmas Shoebox
Now is the PERFECT time to shop for Operation Christmas Child shoe box items to send to needy children in other countries! Take advantage of the Back to School sales! Nan Hathaway has a collection basket for donated items at the welcome desk.
Packing party will be on Sunday, October 23rd .
Packing party will be on Sunday, October 23rd .
Men’s Retreat – November 4-6, Skycroft Retreat Center
This year’s Men’s Retreat is back as Skycroft in Middletown, MD. The cost is $110, which includes 5 meals. Pastor Matt will be speaking. Louie Villafane will be available each Sunday to get you registered! Look for him in the foyer.
Weekly Bible Studies and Accountability Groups
Women’s Study on the Prison Epistles – Tues. 10am, see Emmie Marshall.
Women in the Word Study in the Book of Luke – Meets Tuesdays @ 7pm. See Laurie Smith for more information.
Women’s Prayer and Accountability Group – Next meeting October 10th @ 7pm, see Becky St. Andrie or Kelly Herndon.
Women in the Word Study in the Book of Luke – Meets Tuesdays @ 7pm. See Laurie Smith for more information.
Women’s Prayer and Accountability Group – Next meeting October 10th @ 7pm, see Becky St. Andrie or Kelly Herndon.
October 6, 2016
Hello Church,
Last week we started to consider what it looks like when a husband leads his wife in love like Christ. I cannot stress to you enough the critical nature of the marriage relationship because it stands as the foundational building block of all societies and a pivotal part of God’s plan for man to rule and reign over His creation as His viceroys.[1]God designed the marriage to not only be the place where the family is formed[2] and generational holiness propagated,[3] but also where a clear picture of Christ’s love for the Church is portrayed.[4] The magnanimous priority of marriage was established by God at creation,[5] was reaffirmed by Jesus Christ multiple times while He walked upon the earth,[6] and was lucidly exclaimed by Paul during the formation of the Scriptures! The strength and stability of a family, a Church, a community, a state, and a country is inseparably linked to the spiritual condition of the marriages that feed and undergird every one of these institutions. Therefore, faithfully supporting, proactively serving, and biblically strengthening the marriage and the home must be a priority in the life and ministry of every God honoring and faithful church![7] Furthermore, equipping husbands to fulfill their God given roles as leaders in the marriage and the home in a way that protects, encourages, and promotes Christ-like love is paramount to both the health and stability of the marriage and the family. Thus, we continue now in contemplating what it looks like when a husband leads his wife in love like Christ.
Leading Your Wife in Love Like Christ: Part 2
After learning last week that a husband who leads his wife in love like Christ will love his wife reverently in awe of this awesome calling by God and love her sacrificially in light of the nature of true love as displayed by Christ, we also see from Scripture that…
A godly husband will love his wife graciously![8] This is an unconditional love that moves and manifests itself by a personal decision to remain true to a personal commitment.[9] A love that acts with no thought of reciprocation[10]and pursues in the care of others, despite the fact that they may act in a way that seems undeserving. Remember that a gracious love does its best work when the other person is at their worst![11] This is the kind of love manifested by Christ as He laid down His life for us while we were wicked sinners![12] However, this gracious love is also tender, manifesting itself in patient kindness and personal watch care as the husband seeks to understand a wife’s worth, ways, wants, and works.[13] Thus, a husband follows the example of Christ who is sympathetic and understanding in how He cares for His Church.[14] Moreover, a gracious love is a forgiving love that eagerly pardons in light of how much Christ has already forgiven.[15] This kind of forgiveness that flows from a gracious love will keep no record of wrong nor does it insist on its own way or display itself in irritability, but instead bears all things, hopes all things, and endures all things![16] May God give us homes and husbands where gracious love abounds to the glory of God!
I pray these letters, which flow from my heart as your pastor, will be a helpful tool used by God to encourage your pursuit of God-given holiness. I am grateful for the opportunity to regularly motivate all of us, myself included, to not quit in growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ![17] I look forward to worshipping with you this Lord’s Day as we see two priorities in the believer’s life that are paramount to living wisely in a wicked world. Do you know what those priorities are? Read Col 4:2-6 and consider how critical prayer and living evangelistically are to walking wisely during your time upon this earth. What are some of the negative results of failing to embrace these priorities? Well, for starters unhealthy speech and an undisciplined use of time! May the Lord help you to prepare to hear from His Word this Sunday as we seek to redeem the time graciously given to each of us for His ultimate glory.
Yours for the Master,
Pastor Matt
[1] Gen 1:27-28
[2] Gen 2:24-25
[3] Malachi 2:14-15; 2 Tim 1:3-5, 3:14-15
[4] Eph 5:22-33
[5] Gen 2:18-25
[6] Mt 5:31, 19:3-9; Mk 10:1-12
[7] Eph 5:22-6:4; Col 3:18-21; 1 Tim 3:4-5, 12; 5:3-10; Titus 1:6; 2:1-8
[8] Eph 5:25
[9] John 17:4; Phil 2:1-8; Heb 12:1-2
[10] Luke 6:35-36
[11] Rom 5:6-11
[12] Rom 5:8
[13] 1 Pet 3:7
[14] Heb 4:15-16
[15] Luke 5:36; Eph4:32; Col 3:13
[16] 1 Cor 13:4-7
[17] 2 Pet 3:18
Hello Church,
Last week we started to consider what it looks like when a husband leads his wife in love like Christ. I cannot stress to you enough the critical nature of the marriage relationship because it stands as the foundational building block of all societies and a pivotal part of God’s plan for man to rule and reign over His creation as His viceroys.[1]God designed the marriage to not only be the place where the family is formed[2] and generational holiness propagated,[3] but also where a clear picture of Christ’s love for the Church is portrayed.[4] The magnanimous priority of marriage was established by God at creation,[5] was reaffirmed by Jesus Christ multiple times while He walked upon the earth,[6] and was lucidly exclaimed by Paul during the formation of the Scriptures! The strength and stability of a family, a Church, a community, a state, and a country is inseparably linked to the spiritual condition of the marriages that feed and undergird every one of these institutions. Therefore, faithfully supporting, proactively serving, and biblically strengthening the marriage and the home must be a priority in the life and ministry of every God honoring and faithful church![7] Furthermore, equipping husbands to fulfill their God given roles as leaders in the marriage and the home in a way that protects, encourages, and promotes Christ-like love is paramount to both the health and stability of the marriage and the family. Thus, we continue now in contemplating what it looks like when a husband leads his wife in love like Christ.
Leading Your Wife in Love Like Christ: Part 2
After learning last week that a husband who leads his wife in love like Christ will love his wife reverently in awe of this awesome calling by God and love her sacrificially in light of the nature of true love as displayed by Christ, we also see from Scripture that…
A godly husband will love his wife graciously![8] This is an unconditional love that moves and manifests itself by a personal decision to remain true to a personal commitment.[9] A love that acts with no thought of reciprocation[10]and pursues in the care of others, despite the fact that they may act in a way that seems undeserving. Remember that a gracious love does its best work when the other person is at their worst![11] This is the kind of love manifested by Christ as He laid down His life for us while we were wicked sinners![12] However, this gracious love is also tender, manifesting itself in patient kindness and personal watch care as the husband seeks to understand a wife’s worth, ways, wants, and works.[13] Thus, a husband follows the example of Christ who is sympathetic and understanding in how He cares for His Church.[14] Moreover, a gracious love is a forgiving love that eagerly pardons in light of how much Christ has already forgiven.[15] This kind of forgiveness that flows from a gracious love will keep no record of wrong nor does it insist on its own way or display itself in irritability, but instead bears all things, hopes all things, and endures all things![16] May God give us homes and husbands where gracious love abounds to the glory of God!
I pray these letters, which flow from my heart as your pastor, will be a helpful tool used by God to encourage your pursuit of God-given holiness. I am grateful for the opportunity to regularly motivate all of us, myself included, to not quit in growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ![17] I look forward to worshipping with you this Lord’s Day as we see two priorities in the believer’s life that are paramount to living wisely in a wicked world. Do you know what those priorities are? Read Col 4:2-6 and consider how critical prayer and living evangelistically are to walking wisely during your time upon this earth. What are some of the negative results of failing to embrace these priorities? Well, for starters unhealthy speech and an undisciplined use of time! May the Lord help you to prepare to hear from His Word this Sunday as we seek to redeem the time graciously given to each of us for His ultimate glory.
Yours for the Master,
Pastor Matt
[1] Gen 1:27-28
[2] Gen 2:24-25
[3] Malachi 2:14-15; 2 Tim 1:3-5, 3:14-15
[4] Eph 5:22-33
[5] Gen 2:18-25
[6] Mt 5:31, 19:3-9; Mk 10:1-12
[7] Eph 5:22-6:4; Col 3:18-21; 1 Tim 3:4-5, 12; 5:3-10; Titus 1:6; 2:1-8
[8] Eph 5:25
[9] John 17:4; Phil 2:1-8; Heb 12:1-2
[10] Luke 6:35-36
[11] Rom 5:6-11
[12] Rom 5:8
[13] 1 Pet 3:7
[14] Heb 4:15-16
[15] Luke 5:36; Eph4:32; Col 3:13
[16] 1 Cor 13:4-7
[17] 2 Pet 3:18