Living According to the Word of Christ

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”‘ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:1-13

Because we have been taught by Jesus, we must live according to His Word!

1. We must embrace His ideas over our ideas.
2. We must pursue obedience over convenience.
3. We must seek righteousness in Him not ourselves.

Click below for sermon audio:
Mark 7:1-13

Finance and Procurement Policy and Procedure

Finance and Procurement Policy and Procedure

Finance and Procurement Policy and Procedure

Announcements for February 21, 2010

Men’s Fraternity Evening Edition will meet in the JIBC Office at 7 PM on Wednesday.  This week’s topic is: The Discipline of Purity.

There will be no Friday Youth Fellowship this weekend because of the planned JIBC Servant’s retreat.

The Reformed Baptist Institute course Systematic Theology II meets on Tuesday at 7 PM in the JIBC Function Room.  If you are not an enrolled student you may audit two classes for free.  Come and see what it is all about.  This Tuesday’s topics are: Sanctification and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

“One Purpose: Glorifying God” JIBC Servant’s Retreat Participants. Please be at Aryaduta by 9:45 on Friday, February 26 for the Check in and Registration. Remember, participants are expected to handle their own transportation. Please come on time. See you there!

JIBC Ushers who are participating in the Retreat are welcome to help during the Check in and Registration. Please come at 09:30 on Friday, February 26 for a short briefing.

Have a Prayer Request? Please fill out a prayer request slip and drop it in the offering bag during the collection of the offering.

Look to Christ for Help

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well (Mark 6:45-56).

When we face difficulties, we must look to Christ.

1. Look to Christ in prayer.
2. Look to Christ in our problems.
3. Look to Christ’s power.

Click below for sermon audio:
Mark 6:45-56

Our Many-Faceted Beautiful Salvation in Christ

Dear friend,

Salvation is a result of simply recognizing your need and trusting Jesus to meet that need. We are sinners who deserve death and Christ has died in our place, to take away our sin and give us eternal life when we trust in Him. However, salvation is also like a beautiful diamond. When you look closely at it, you see many different facets.

Theologians often describe this using what they call “the order of salvation.” It is a summary of our redemption described in the New Testament. Here are some of the beautiful views of salvation given in the scripture:

We are chosen, called, born again, converted, justified, adopted, sanctified, and will be glorified with God in heaven.

Here are some brief definitions for each concept:

- Chosen (God determines to save us by His grace and kindness)
- Called (the gospel message is proclaimed to us effectively so that we respond)
- Born again (we are regenerated, given new life by God’s Spirit)
- Converted (we repent of our sins and place our faith in Christ)
- Justified (God declares us “not guilty” on account of His Son’s work on the cross)
- Adopted (we become God’s children, members of his family)
- Sanctified (we continue to mature as Christians until we are in heaven)
- Glorified (when our life on earth is over, we will be in heaven with God)

Praise God for the salvation we enjoy in Christ. Praise Him that it is so simple and can be understood by little children and yet it is so beautiful that we can ponder the amazing aspects of it for all eternity!
Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

“Psalty’s Christmas Calamity” Photos

The JIBC Kids along with some Young Adults did a very successful Christmas Musical production titled “Psalty’s Christmas Calamity”.   Well done kids!  Thanks to Joshua St. John, in bright blue,  who played the lead role of Psalty.  Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Froilan Cruz for their hard work with the kids!

Here now, the photos…

And ofcourse, the rehearsals and some “behind the scenes” photos…

Jesus Cares for Us

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand (Mark 6:30-44).

We must gather around Jesus, because he cares for people.

1. Jesus shows compassion.
2. Jesus gives instruction.
3. Jesus supplies provision.

Click below for sermon audio:
Mark 6:30-44

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