The Mercy of the Savior

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him (Mark 2:23-3:6).

Because Jesus is Lord of all, we must follow his example of mercy.

1. We must avoid the hardness of the Pharisees.
2. We must embrace the mercy of the Savior.

Click the link below to listen:
Mark 2:23-3:6

Announcements for the Week of September 27

Men’s Bible Study (lunch edition) will be this Wednesday at 12 PM. We will meet at Outback Steakhouse in Ratu Plaza. Come for fellowship and Bible Study.

There will be an elder meeting on Sunday, October 4 at 8:30 AM. Please pray for our elders who “are responsible for the spiritual leadership of the Church, serving under Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd” (JIBC, Const. 7.1.A).

There will be a meeting of the Ministry Council on Monday, October 5 at 7 PM. Please pray for our elders, deacons, ministry directors, and church staff as they meet. “The council is not the governing body of the JIBC… the purpose of the Council will be to facilitate ministry activities through communication and coordination” (JIBC, Const. 7.8).

The Couples Bible Study only has a few spaces left! Some have committed verbally, but not signed up. Please double-check the sign up sheet in the back and make sure your names are on the list today. This 12 to 14 week study for married couples will be held at Pastor Stephen and Jennifer’s house on select Saturdays from 2-4 PM. We will be using John Piper’s video series and book, This Momentary Marriage. The schedule for 2009 includes the following dates: Oct. 10, 17, 24; November 7, 14, 21; and Dec. 5.

JIBC Youth Group plans to visit the less fortunate “box dweller” people in the Senen area in October and we look forward to your participation. We will be distributing food items such as rice, canned milk, sugar, cooking oil, noodles, sardines and similar products to 100 families. If you would like to donate food or rupiah, please leave your donations at the church office before October 10 for packing. Contact Mrs. Edna Romulo or Jill Sharp for more information.

Food Gathering Next Week for Street Children’s Ministry and the Ministry of our sister Indonesian Language congregation. Please come with non-perishable food items or cash donations.

Spurgeon on God the Rock

Because our church office was closed most of the week for the national holiday, I am sending out this edited “Guest Edition” of the Weekly Words from C.H. Spurgeon’s, Morning and Evening. Spurgeon’s devotionals can be read each day at http://www.spurgeon.org/daily.htm Your servant, Stephen

“When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”—Psalm 61:2.
MOST of us know what it is to be overwhelmed in heart; emptied as when a man wipes a dish and turns it upside down; submerged like a vessel mastered by the storm. Discoveries of inward corruption will do this, if the Lord permits the great deep of our depravity to become troubled and cast up mire and dirt. Disappointments and heart-breaks will do this when billow after billow rolls over us, and we are like a broken shell hurled to and fro by the surf. Blessed be God, at such seasons we are not without an all-sufficient solace, our God is the harbour of weather-beaten sails, the hospice of forlorn pilgrims. He is higher than we are, His mercy higher than our sins, His love higher than our thoughts.

It is pitiful to see men putting their trust in something lower than themselves; but our confidence is fixed upon an exceeding high and glorious Lord. He is a Rock, since He changes not, and a high Rock, because the tempests which overwhelm us roll far beneath at His feet; He is not disturbed by them, but rules them at His will. If we get under the shelter of this lofty Rock we may defy the hurricane; all is calm under the shelter of that towering cliff.

Alas! such is the confusion in which the troubled mind is often cast, that we need piloting to this divine shelter. Hence the prayer of the text:

“O Lord, our God, by Your Holy Spirit, teach us the way of faith, lead us into Your rest. The wind blows us out to sea, the helm answers not to our puny hand; You, You alone can steer us over the bar between the sunken rocks, safe into the fair haven. How dependent we are upon You—we need You to bring us to Yourself. To be wisely directed and steered into safety and peace is Your gift, and Yours alone. Be pleased to deal well with your servants.”

Rev. C.H. Spurgeon

Jesus the Friend of Sinners

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:13-22).

Because Jesus said follow me, we must do things His way!

1. We must beware of self-righteousness.
2. We must love sinners.
3. We must celebrate our salvation.

Click below to listen:
Mark 2:13-22

Announcements for the Week of September 20

Interested in a couples Bible Study? There will be a 12 to 14 week study for married couples held at Pastor Stephen and Jennifer’s house on select Saturdays from 2-4 PM. We will be using John Piper’s video series and book, This Momentary Marriage. The schedule for 2009 includes the following dates: Oct. 10, 17, 24; November 7, 14, 21; and Dec. 5. Space for this study is limited so please sign up soon using the form on the welcome table.

JIBC Day Whatever you do…do all to the glory of God! It’s been 46 years since KBC-ELC (our former name) opened its doors for worship in Kebayoran Baru. A full year has passed since JIBC’s first Sunday was held at the Occasion, Darmawangsa Square. To celebrate God’s faithfulness, our leadership desires your assistance to organize a JIBC Day when we can come together after a Sunday worship service to praise our great God. We’re looking for a team of four or five faithful servants! If you would like to serve in this ministry to choose a date, find a location, organize activities and source for catering of food, please see Lars Nielsen right after today’s worship service or call him at 0818 759 855.

Youth Girl’s Only Bible Study will meet at 11:30 am in the church office on Saturday, September 26. We will be getting lunch, so please be prepared. All girls aged 11 - 17 are invited to attend!

Interested in Christian Baptism? Please plan to attend a Christian baptism class on Sunday September 27 at 9:15 AM here in the Occasion. The class will only meet for one Sunday and is led by Pastor Stephen. Children and adults interested in baptism are welcome to attend. Pastor Stephen will discuss the meaning and importance of baptism and also explain how you can be baptized here at JIBC.

Lord’s Supper next week, September 27 we will have the Lord Supper.

Who Do You Trust?

Dear friends,

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps. 20:7).

In King David’s time, chariots and horses were powerful battlefield weapons. To have them meant security and an increased likelihood of success. But David makes it clear that he is not looking to those things for help. He does not place his hope for tomorrow or his trust for today in them. Instead, he looks to his great God for comfort.

Sometimes we are tempted to look to the things of this world for hope and help. Perhaps we are tempted to depend too much on our bank accounts or our talents. It is possible also for us to depend too much on other people around us. All of these things can be useful. They are sometimes God’s gifts to us so that we can be secure. However, we must never place our trust in these gifts. Instead, we must trust the Giver!

Who do you trust?

Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

Party!

On September 4, the JIBC Youth Group celebrated the conclusion of another six weeks of Bible study with a party at the St. John home. Thank you to the St. John’s for hosting, and to all the kids who came and enjoyed good food and fellowship!

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