First Baptist Church, South Haven
We are currently only having VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICES. In addition, all in-person activities have been cancelled. Watch our emails or check the website for how to participate virtually.
While our place of worship has changed from the usual place and time, we are grateful to know that the Body of Christ can worship anytime, anywhere. And a building is just that - a building. The Church is the people, not the place where we worship. In these troubled times, our witness for Jesus Christ can be evident to those around us as we take wise precautions, while simultaneously living out our faith with what it means to have a peace that passes all understanding. May you be blessed this week as we see God at work through these unprecedented times. We can get through this together. Our God is able.
Yoked to Christ
Matthew 11:29
Pastor Jerry Koller
We have been looking at an invitation Jesus gave for a couple of weeks that is found in Matthew 11:28-30. It is one of the greatest invitations one could ever receive.
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
There are two key verbs in this passage: Come and Take. Both are important actions as far as this invitation from Jesus is concerned because they are interconnected.
First, Jesus invites us to come to Him.
· Then He invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him.
· Yoking and learning go hand in hand.
· Yoking is a decision that we are invited to make.
In Jesus’ day, it was not uncommon for individuals to attach—or yoke—themselves to a particular rabbi and thus became that rabbi’s disciple.
· “Take my yoke” is an invitation from a teacher to a student.
To yoke is to learn
· This yoke-taking learning process Jesus invites us into is still given within the context of rest.
The second Sunday in Advent focuses on peace.
· In Christ, we have peace with God.
· Peace and rest go hand-in-hand.
John 14:27 NIV
Peace is likened to the Hebrew term Shalom.
· Shalom has to do with wholeness.
· It has to do with harmony.
· It has to do with completeness.
· When there is shalom, it means a person, a situation, or a place is the way God intends for it to be.
In Matthew, Jesus said: I will give you rest.
In John, Jesus said: My peace I give you.
In John, Jesus said, I do not give to you as the world gives...
· That is why He said, in Matthew’s Gospel, Come to me...and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls.
The world and its ways stand in opposition to God and His ways.
· It stands in opposition to kingdom living.
It is so important for us—for you and I—to learn from Jesus.
· It is so important for us to make this a priority.
What does it mean to learn?
· It means to acquire knowledge or skills.
· It means to get to know
· It means to be a student
· It means to commit to memory or learn by heart
Examples of being conformed to the world.
How? you may ask. I am sure we could discuss this at great lengths. But due to time constraints, let me quickly share five examples.
1. Personal perceived rights
2. Political alignments
From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:52-53)
3. Rejection of absolute moral truth
4. Religious plurality
5. Materialism
APPLICATION
Learn from Me, Jesus said.
· He is our example.
· He is our Help.
· He is our rest and peace.
Choose to make this a priority in your lives today—and you will find rest for your souls.
· Dean and Linda Newell and their family upon the death of Linda's brother-in-law, Todd Wiersum, on 12/4. Please pray especially for Linda's sister Chris, their two daughters Tina and Rose, and their granddaughter Aurora, as well as Todd's family.
· John & Susan Seitz and their family upon the loss of Susan’s stepfather, Robert Pollard, following a Covid infection.
· Tina Dell has tested positive for Covid and is also going through withdrawals from a narcotic drug called Norco and she says it "is bad" and she is struggling.
· The Wiersum Family (relatives of Linda Newell): Brother-in-law Todd is hospitalized due to Covid, on a ventilator with pneumonia, is receiving dialysis due to kidney failure from meds, and is in critical condition. Sister Chris is also positive and slowly improving. Niece Tina tested positive, has been quite sick, and developed bronchitis Please pray for healing and support for the family as they cannot go to the hospital to be with Todd.
· Randy Follman (brother of Steve Follman) is recovering from hip replacement surgery. He is doing well and will have the other side done in December. Pray for a speedy healing and full recovery
· Chet & Renee Goff and their extended family members: 1) Renee's mom has recovered from pneumonia and is doing well; 2) Chet's mother continues to be hospitalized due to very high sugar, a mini stroke, and a positive Covid test with no symptoms and is waiting for a Covid bed in a rehab facility so she can begin intensive physical therapry; 3) Chet's brother, Kenny, has recovered from Covid and is doing well; 4) and their son Dylan tested positive for Covid and continues to have no symptoms. Their immediate family is all quarantining. So far, no one else has become infected.
· Howard Robinson (brother of Stan Robinson, father of Bruce Robinson) is recovering from a stroke followed by surgery. Howard has been struggling since his first stroke several months ago from which he has not regained speech ability.
· Mary Ann Jones (Vasha Ferguson’s godmother) is currently hospitalized as she is recovering from a fall. She is also suffering from dementia and is undergoing testing.
· Leslie Robinson (friend of Vasha Ferguson) continues to have multiple health issues.
· Deborah Kirby (Vasha Ferguson's sister) has been moved to a rehab center following a massive stroke. Pray that medicare/medicaid insurance can be upgraded to cover needed treatment. She also has a wound that is not healing and is being tested for diabetes and cancer. Please pray for good results.
· Ginny Dorsey (Rhonda Dobberstein's mother) is receiving radiation for cancer.
· Lynn Rarick continues to deal with hip issues. Pray that a resolution can be figured out.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.
First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com