Weekly Bible Verse: Romans 5: 1-11

Romans 5: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.


6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. 9Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Memorial Day Remembrance and Prayer

We at the Exton Community Baptist Church pause to remember all the brave soldiers who have served in the United States armed forces over the generations. Their courage, their combined efforts, and their sacrifices guaranteed the freedoms we enjoy today. That service is not to be taken lightly. We thank you all. We thank your families for their shared sacrifice.

We pray for all the brave men and women serving honorably in our armed forces today and for their families. May you all feel God's presence and be uplifted, wherever you go. May you all come home to the embrace of your loved ones and to enjoy the peace you have done so much to maintain.

We pray for all the families of those soldiers in these troubled times who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We stand with you in your grief and loss. We honor the memories of your beloved sons and daugthers.

Why Do Christians Gather Together So Often?

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1 

For all who are curious about Christian community, I will use excerpts from a theologian who created a Christian seminary to experiment with a community far different from the community surrounding them under the Nazi regime prior to World War II. His name was Deitrich Bonhoeffer. After his seminary was disbanded by the Gestapo in 1937, Bonhoeffer wrote Life Together about the experiment. I commend this book to everyone.

So, why do we Christians gather on Sunday and through the week? First, our gathering is a gift we enjoy from God. As Bonhoeffer states, "It is by God's grace that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly around God's word and sacrament in this world. Not all Christians have a share in this grace." For this grace we are grateful and we are keenly aware of those Christians who are not allowed to gather for many reasons around the world. We pray for them, struggling on in their isolation. Bonhoeffer adds, "Therefore, the believer praises the Creator, the Reconciler, and the Redeemer God, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the bodily presence of the other Christian."

The community we create when we come together is a community headed by Jesus Christ. As Bonhoeffer states, "Christian community means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. ... Everything the scriptures [The Bible is the foundation of our belief] provide in the way of directions and rules for Christians' life together rests on this presupposition..." Bonhoeffer expalins a benefit of centering our community on Jesus, "The more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground and strength and promise of all our community is in Jesus Christ alone, the more calmly we will learn to think about our community and pray and hope for it."

Here's what happens when we follow Jesus closely. Bonhoeffer states, "The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more everything else between us will recede, and the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is alive between us."

We live in community to support one another through our often difficult lives. God promises no one that life will be an easy going affair full of success and wealth. On the contrary, Jesus asks us to take up our own crosses (our own burdens and sacrifices for others just as Jesus did) and follow Him. One of the great things Christian community reminds us of is the practice of gratitude for all God has given us, including Christian community. Bonhoeffer provides a great argument for being grateful every day, "Only those who give thanks for little things receive the greater things as well. We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts prepared for us because we do not give thanks for daily gifts." We work to remind each other of this important truth.

In this community we listen to each other's stories as God listens to ours, we help each other in little things and big things in our lives together, we bear each other when we sin against each other as God bears with us and we know others bear each of us as well and this keeps us humble. We pray for one another because, once again, life is hard and we want to help each other along the journey. We also pray for those who are not our friends, even those who wish us harm, because we believe in the power of prayer and because those you pray for long and honestly you soon discover you cannot hate.

We break bread together a lot and we are often joyful when we do so. Bonhoeffer explains this well when he states, "God will not tolerate the unfestive, joyless manner in which we eat our bread with sighs and groans, with pompous, self-important busyness or even with shame. Through the daily meal God is calling us to rejoice, to celebrate in the midst of our working day." See that, God can even bring us joy while taking us down a notch when we try to get all pompous and full of ourselves!

The best meal we share with each other is the Lord's Supper. This reminds us of Jesus' sacrifice for everyone and when we break bread together in this most important of meals we are honoring Jesus, who instructed us to do this. Here's what Bonhoeffer says is so significant about this meal, "The community of the holy Lord's Supper is above all the fulfillment of Christian community. Just as the members of the congregation are united in body and blood at the table of the Lord, so they will be together in eternity. Here the community has reached its goal."

We think this community of God is wonderful and we are excited to share it with everyone, just as Jesus shared Himself with everyone and was willing to die for everyone who will ever live and for their sake. And so we try to share this good life and good news with others. Sometimes we do it well and sometimes we don't ... we are very human. Still, Bonhoeffer has something to say about that too [no great surprise there], "Spiritual love [the love for God that develops in Christians as they learn what God has done for us all, a love that wants to be extended to everyone] will prove successful insofar as it commends Christ to others in all that it says and does. It will not seek to agitate others by exerting all too personal, direct influence or by crudely interfering in their lives. ... it will encounter others with the clear word of God and be prepared to leave them alone with this word for a long time, willing to release them again so that Christ may deal with them. ... [spiritual love] will find full community with them in the Christ who alone binds us together..."

That's why I have written this today, out of spiritual love, and out of that love I invite you to join the Christian community. Come and gather with us on Sunday. See what our community is all about. If you are close to Exton, Exton Community Baptist Church's doors are open to you. You are most welcome. We hope to see you soon.

Simple Evangelism Any Christian May Do

The following is an excerpt from a brief inspirational article from Revive Us Again: A Prayer Devotional Guide by Leaders from Greater New York and Beyond. The article is entitled "May I Pray for You?" by Os Hillman, based on Philippians 4:6

"I walked into the office. The secretary seemed physically struggling with her breathing and her countenance was different from normal. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Allergies," she replied. "Sometimes it gets so bad I can hardly breathe." "May I pray for you?" I asked. "Oh, I don't want to take up His time with something as menial as me. I'd rather not waste it on me. You should pray for someone much less fortunate than me. My mother always taught us to pray at the dinner table for those less fortunate than us," she replied. The woman was touched that I would offer to pray for her.

The next day I told her my prayer group was praying for her. She could not believe that I would do such a thing for her. It is interesting what happens when you offer to pray for someone. Offering to pray for someone can be the most genuine and loving thing you can do for another person. It can be the one means of getting a conversation on a spiritual plane that cuts across religious stigmas and get to the root of the problem--the person's real need. It immediately reveals your own values and sets the stage for future encounters. All it takes is a little holy boldness to step through the door when the opportunity seems to present itself.

Is there anything too small to pray about? ... Paul clearly tells us ... that prayer is talking with God. It is having such a relationship with Him that we can bring anything to His attention.

As you enter the workplace today, ask a coworker if you can pray for him about something. You may be surprised at what doors will open as a result."

This is a simple approach to evangelism, allowing you to act upon your faith and offer the person you approach with a wonderful offer and gift. We hope it works for you in the days and weeks ahead.

God bless you.

[Os Hillman, TGIF Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Shippensburg, PA 2000 www.marketplaceleaders.org IN Revive Us Again, Katie Sweeting & Beverly Cook eds. New York: Concerts of Prayer Greater New York, 2007, p. 86.]

A Message from Carlos Peralta

Carlos Peralta made an impressive presentation at ECBC concerning his mission experience with Sue Hegarty in Cuba. Here is a bit of what he has to say and an offer he is making to other churches.

In March I had the privilege of spending time again with Sue Hegarty; but this time was different! During 15 days I had the opportunity to travel to Cuba and visit her in her very own mission field. I wish each one of you had the experience that I had! There are pictures of us at the end of this article.


In the past, I had heard that visiting Cuba and its churches is the closest a person can come to experiencing the first century Christian church … especially for those of us who are fluent in Spanish! After twenty two years of listening to Cubans’ stories (remember that Miriam, my beloved wife, is Cuban!), I agree 100%! The Cuban church is thriving with love for Christ and passion for spreading the Gospel. During my trip, I had the opportunity to see Sue in her own mission field, teaching her very own students at the seminary and to see her passion for the Lord and her love for Cuba’s people. She is very grateful to each one of you [all who support her mission work through ABC USA's International Ministries: www.internationalministries.org] that allow her to continue serving God in this land.

Let me share with you just one personal testimony about Cuba as an incredible mission field. On Wednesday March 24, more than 45 churches were united with one purpose: sharing the good news of Jesus! Hundreds made a decision to follow Christ! At the church that I was designated to, even without a regular service, that night over 250 people filled the room! An amazing worship, a powerful ministry to the deaf, and a relevant message were shared. There was not enough room for all the people coming to the altar! And Sue is ministering to this kind of congregation and to people who are ready to know the Lord and be disciples!

As a result of this life changing trip, I prepared a presentation about Cuba, Sue, and her mission and also, a sermon titled: Twenty One Centuries, Two Churches and One Mission: Antioch and Cuba: Lessons for the Church in America Today. Some churches are planning to have us during their pastor's vacation as a pulpit supply preacher and others on a regular Sunday.

I have a mission presentation about Sue and the thriving church in Cuba that can be used as a workshop during a Missions Conference, camp, retreat, etc. If you would like us to visit your congregation, please make contact with us at the address that you find below. We just did a presentation at Exton Community Baptist Church in Exton, PA, and we received wonderful testimonies like the following:


“Dear Carlos,

Thanks for sharing with us your own testimony about what the Lord is doing in Cuba through Susan Hegarty and our partnership with her. After your presentation, there were very few people without tears in their eyes…. It made a difference in our own perspective about Cuba, missions and our role as God’s partners. Please continue with the good fight!”

As you consider inviting us to come and make a presentation to your group or congregation, please pray with me for Sue and for Cuba until all of this nation has an opportunity to know the Lord!

Weekly Bible Verse: Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.


5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o”clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

The Lord's Pantry Needs You!

For years, Exton Community Baptist Church has been supporting the good work of the Lord's Pantry. This is an organization that provides emergency food relief to those who need it. This is a volunteer organization located at 141 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, PA 19335, 610-873-1149. Here is what they say about themselves and the people they serve: "We currently serve 781 registered families a four to five day supply of food which includes non-perishables, meat selections, fresh vegetables and dairy products when available. We also recognize that our families need paper products, and therefore, we encourage donations of these items in order for us to supply them to the families.
All of our families qualify for the food they receive based on their income of 150% of poverty. The local churches support the pantry and are very important to us, but we recognize that hunger and poverty are community issues as well. We believe that our supporters are critical to sustain, and more importantly, expand the effort before us.
We encourage you to call us or stop by for a visit. Good and cost efficient work is being done in Downingtown! We welcome your support, ideas and assistance."

Here are the food items needed to stock their shelves for this good work. The items with the *** are those most needed. Can you help?

Beverages:
Coffee
***Juice

Boxed Goods:
Spaghetti, Pasta
Rice
Macaroni & Cheese Dinners
Instant Potatoes
***Breakfast Cereal
***Peanut Butter & Jelly
Snack Crackers

Canned Goods:
***Fruit
***Baked Beans
Vegetables
***Spaghetti Sauce
Tuna, Ham, Chicken
Stew & Pasta Meals
Soup

Miscellaneous:
Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorant
Shaving Products, Soap, Shampoo
Toilet Paper, Paper Towels
Baby Food, Wipes & Diapers

Jesus spent much time helping the suffering poor and all those in need during his ministry. Jesus calls us to do the same. Will you answer that call? If you click on the title of this article, you will be taken to The Lord's Pantry website, where you may learn more.

God bless you.

Weekly Bible Verse: Luke 24: 44-53

Luke 24: 44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”


50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Why We Pray

For seekers, it may be puzzling why Christians emphasize an active prayer life. Here are a few of the basics about prayer. For believers, prayer is direct access to God and is an essential part of both worship and a healthy believer's everyday life. God wants to have a relationship with each and every person in the world, including you dear reader. There are no exceptions as we are all God's children. Prayer allows us to cry out to the God of the universe, the creator of all, who is also a deeply personal God.

How do we pray, you ask? There are five basic elements of prayer: praise to God, thanksgiving for all God has done and continues to do in our lives, supplication--which is asking for God's help in our lives as we are small and God is not, and intercession--seeking God's help for ourselves and others.

Jesus taught us a simple prayer that features all of these elements and that we pray to this day. Give it a try if prayer is not a part of your life. It's a great place to start:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one."

Give it a try. God loves you very much and wants to have a personal relationship with you, a relationship that will last forever.

When seeking a response from God, a great place to look for a general response to prayer is in the Bible, where God speaks to us all most clearly.

If you want to try more prayers, click on the title of this article and you will be taken to Sacred Spaces, where you can explore.

If you have more questions about prayer, and there is a great deal more to it than is possible to outline briefly here, and you live near Exton, stop by the church on Sunday and ask us personally why we pray and what it does for us. We welcome your questions.

God bless you.

Weekly Bible Verse: Acts 16:9-15

Acts 16: 16One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” 18She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.” 22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.


25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

A Prayer for the National Day of Prayer

If you find yourself wondering what to pray on the National Day of Prayer, here is a suggestion from a little booklet from 1994 entitled "Word, Kingdom & Spirit."

God our Father, Lord of heaven and earth
     You have come to us in your Son Jesus
     in whom all things hold together
     By your Spirit make us into a people
     who in words, works and wonders
     bear witness to the power and presence of your Kingdom

We confess that we have failed
     to live the Word we preach
     and in our brokenness
     we have torn apart
     the wholeness of your gospel

Give us the grace, O Lord
     to commit ourselves, as your body,
     to love our neighbor as a whole person
     in the costly woundedness of the cross
     and in the power of the resurrection

Grant us wisdom to commit ourselves
     to proclaim your good news to all people
     to care for your world
     and so to live that society is transformed
     by the daily renewal of the Spirit in us
     and by the power of the Kingdom

Make us one at the foot of the cross
     as we struggle to overcome the hostility
     that divides men and women, rich and poor
     young and old, races and nations

That the world may believe that Jesus is the Christ
     so that we may be liberated
     from the oppression of demonic powers
     and unjust social structures,
     and receive abundant life for the present
     and hope for the age to come.

Amen

[If you would like to read the entire booklet for yourself, it is: "Word, Kingdom & Spirit" published for Word, Kingdom & Spirit International Consultation by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Centre for Community Studies Bhd, 1994. ISBN: 983-9796-02-X. This prayer is found on page 5.]

Weekly Bible Verse: John 13: 31-35; Revelation 21: 1-6

John 13: 31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Revelation 21: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

A beautiful commandment -- love one another -- and a glorious promise to give you the courage to enact that commandment. May God bless you in your endeavors this week.

National Day of Prayer: A Reflection

You are invited to stop by the Exton Community Baptist Church from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to pray on Thursday May 6 as part of the National Day of Prayer. The following is offered as inspiration.

Matthew 6: 9-10




One way which we can know our Lord's will is to pray

Unceasingly, make it a habit each day

Respectfully listen to wait God will say



Faithfully pledge to live a holy life

Accepting and caring of others, help ease their strife

Take a greater interest in your fellow man

Help in any way that you can to advance the Lord's plan

Enter the homes of the sick, lonely, or poor

Rather than averting your eyes and walking past their door



When the opportunity comes to feed the hungry, clothe the cold

How can you write a happy ending to the story that is told?

Obey the Master's call, giving freely to all and not hoarding your gold



Are you ready to take up your Cross and follow the Lord?

Ready to leave home and family as Christ has foretold?

Today plan to come with Him and listen to His word



Invincible the Lord is, in great word and deed

Never neglecting to plant and water faith's seed



Hallelujah!

Everlasting to sing His praise

Always motivates us joyful noises to raise

Verily meditate during this season of Lent

Evil's power will not be able to make the least scratch or dent

Never forget the price that was paid, never be afraid to repent

Andrew Henry