Friday, July 17, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The Gospel in 6 minutes
Here is an excellent short article by John Piper that was featured recently in the Peninsula Baptist Church bulletin:
What's the Gospel?
What’s the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.
The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.
That’s the gospel.
You Can't Outgrow the Gospel
You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.”
No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop.
You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel.
How the Gospel Strengthens
Here’s an illustration, and I use it not because it’s any big deal to speak from my life, but because it’s what I walked through and where I most pointedly in the last year experienced the power of the gospel to make me strong. (Many of you are walking through things much heavier than prostate cancer—much heavier.)
Do you remember the verses that I shared with you back in February that were almighty for me? It was that moment right after the doctor says, “I think we need to do a biopsy,” when this stab of fear comes. It didn’t last long, mercifully.
And then came—what? 1Thessalonians 5:9-10. It’s just as pure gospel as you can get.
God has not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for you so that whether you wake or sleep you will live with him.
Settled. Peace like a river.
The Gospel Is Perfect for Your Needs
That’s just gospel—perfectly timed, perfectly applied, perfectly suited to my need. That’s why the Bible is so thick—because there are so many different needs that you have. And there are suitable places where the gospel is unfolded for you, so that if you immerse yourself in the whole book, always with an eye for what Christ has wrought for you and purchased for you in this thick, glorious history of God’s interaction with people, he will give you what you need.
Therefore, everything in me says, and I hope to say until the day I die, “Now, to him who is able to strengthen me, according to Paul’s gospel, to him—to that God—be glory forever and ever.”
God came into history in Jesus Christ; he died in order to destroy the power of hell and death and Satan and sin; and he did it through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A Plea to Believe
I know that there are people reading this who are not trusting Jesus Christ, and therefore can only expect condemnation. So I’m just going to plead with you here at the end, lay down that rebellion. Lay it down. And simply embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One, died for your sins. He was raised on the third day, triumphant over all his enemies. He reigns until he puts all of his enemies under his feet. Forgiveness of sins and a right standing with God comes freely through him alone, by faith alone.
I plead with you, don’t try to be strong in your own strength; it will not be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there—the strength that God gives according to the gospel.
Don’t put it off.
[This text is an edited transcript of the audio. It is excerpted from the sermon, “God Strengthens Us by the Gospel.”]
By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
What's the Gospel?
What’s the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.
The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.
That’s the gospel.
You Can't Outgrow the Gospel
You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.”
No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop.
You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel.
How the Gospel Strengthens
Here’s an illustration, and I use it not because it’s any big deal to speak from my life, but because it’s what I walked through and where I most pointedly in the last year experienced the power of the gospel to make me strong. (Many of you are walking through things much heavier than prostate cancer—much heavier.)
Do you remember the verses that I shared with you back in February that were almighty for me? It was that moment right after the doctor says, “I think we need to do a biopsy,” when this stab of fear comes. It didn’t last long, mercifully.
And then came—what? 1Thessalonians 5:9-10. It’s just as pure gospel as you can get.
God has not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for you so that whether you wake or sleep you will live with him.
Settled. Peace like a river.
The Gospel Is Perfect for Your Needs
That’s just gospel—perfectly timed, perfectly applied, perfectly suited to my need. That’s why the Bible is so thick—because there are so many different needs that you have. And there are suitable places where the gospel is unfolded for you, so that if you immerse yourself in the whole book, always with an eye for what Christ has wrought for you and purchased for you in this thick, glorious history of God’s interaction with people, he will give you what you need.
Therefore, everything in me says, and I hope to say until the day I die, “Now, to him who is able to strengthen me, according to Paul’s gospel, to him—to that God—be glory forever and ever.”
God came into history in Jesus Christ; he died in order to destroy the power of hell and death and Satan and sin; and he did it through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A Plea to Believe
I know that there are people reading this who are not trusting Jesus Christ, and therefore can only expect condemnation. So I’m just going to plead with you here at the end, lay down that rebellion. Lay it down. And simply embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One, died for your sins. He was raised on the third day, triumphant over all his enemies. He reigns until he puts all of his enemies under his feet. Forgiveness of sins and a right standing with God comes freely through him alone, by faith alone.
I plead with you, don’t try to be strong in your own strength; it will not be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there—the strength that God gives according to the gospel.
Don’t put it off.
[This text is an edited transcript of the audio. It is excerpted from the sermon, “God Strengthens Us by the Gospel.”]
By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Sunday morning classes!
The church has recently begun two Sunday morning classes at 9:45 am. One of them is a Sunday morning bible study, led by Jason Schooler. This class is taking an in-depth look at the book of John. The second class is a Bible stories and memorization class, which will include crafts and activities. This one is taught by Ethan Hardy. All ages are welcome at either class!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Christmas Progam
The Christmas program is still planned for tonight, December 21st, at 6:30pm. Come if you can - we're planning on enjoying music, a presentation of the story of Jesus' birth, and a short message together.
Bring friends and your christmas treats!
Bring friends and your christmas treats!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Most recent letter from the Shadburnes
Dear Peninsula Baptist Church,
I want to get you involved with our ministry now. As I mentioned in our update we have formed a relationship with our neighbors. We have formed a special relationship with one who i will call K-san. (I can't give her full name for security purposes.) She is a young woman here probably in her early 30s. She's married to a man named C-San and has a 6 year old daugher named A-san. They live across the street from us and one house over. From the beginning she has made it clear that she wants to help us and if we ever need anything to please call on her. She has definitely been a great help to our family. We are not sure if she's a person of peace as of now, but we are praying that she will become a future believer. She's very interested in our family and we already seem
to have a connection with her.
To give a little bit more information she is a stay at home mom and her husband works full time in Hiroshima, which is a hour and a half train ride from our neighborhood. He loves his family but work takes up a lot of his time.
Please be praying for this wonderful family that has already been such an answer to prayer. Please pray that our relationship continues to grow stronger. She has already asked us to call each of them by their first names, which I've heard the Japanese only ask friends to do. Big step for us! Also, pray that the Holy Spirit would be working in their hearts and that we would be effective witnesses.
Thank you so much for your unending support.
Love and prayers,
The Shadburnes
I want to get you involved with our ministry now. As I mentioned in our update we have formed a relationship with our neighbors. We have formed a special relationship with one who i will call K-san. (I can't give her full name for security purposes.) She is a young woman here probably in her early 30s. She's married to a man named C-San and has a 6 year old daugher named A-san. They live across the street from us and one house over. From the beginning she has made it clear that she wants to help us and if we ever need anything to please call on her. She has definitely been a great help to our family. We are not sure if she's a person of peace as of now, but we are praying that she will become a future believer. She's very interested in our family and we already seem
to have a connection with her.
To give a little bit more information she is a stay at home mom and her husband works full time in Hiroshima, which is a hour and a half train ride from our neighborhood. He loves his family but work takes up a lot of his time.
Please be praying for this wonderful family that has already been such an answer to prayer. Please pray that our relationship continues to grow stronger. She has already asked us to call each of them by their first names, which I've heard the Japanese only ask friends to do. Big step for us! Also, pray that the Holy Spirit would be working in their hearts and that we would be effective witnesses.
Thank you so much for your unending support.
Love and prayers,
The Shadburnes
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Shapenote singing
Everyone is invited to our "fifth-Sunday" singing this month! It is scheduled for November 30th, 3-5pm at the church - this is a fun way to learn more about traditional American hymn-singing. Feel free to stop by and listen or join in.
Friday, October 10, 2008
A letter from the Shadburnes
Dear prayer supporters,
We want to begin by saying thank
you to everyone for your willingness to pray for Japan and our family. I know many of you have been praying for us for a long time and we deeply thank each one of you. We are proud and grateful to say that Greater Gresham Baptist Church, Riviera Baptist Church, Japanese International Baptist Church, Eugene Japanese Baptist Church, Parkdale Baptist Church, and Peninsula Baptist Church have all agreed to develop a strategic prayer partnership with Okayama Japan and us. We are very excited to develop and strengthen these prayer partnerships and watch how God uses all of us to touch Japan with the gospel. With greater partnerships we can complete much more work than by ourselves.
We will be back in Portland early October and will be flying into Japan October 17th. We want to keep you up to date and informed with all that God is doing in Japan. Please utilize our website and stay in touch with us through it (www.OutreachOkayama.com). Here you will find photos, links, and much more information. Along with updates and
newsletters we also pray for the chances to come visit you as much as possible when on state
side. We have valued our time
with you and want to be able to
spend more time with you.
Please stay in touch.
We want to hear from you!
Dana, Amy,
Caden and Ashton Shadburne
We want to begin by saying thank
you to everyone for your willingness to pray for Japan and our family. I know many of you have been praying for us for a long time and we deeply thank each one of you. We are proud and grateful to say that Greater Gresham Baptist Church, Riviera Baptist Church, Japanese International Baptist Church, Eugene Japanese Baptist Church, Parkdale Baptist Church, and Peninsula Baptist Church have all agreed to develop a strategic prayer partnership with Okayama Japan and us. We are very excited to develop and strengthen these prayer partnerships and watch how God uses all of us to touch Japan with the gospel. With greater partnerships we can complete much more work than by ourselves.
We will be back in Portland early October and will be flying into Japan October 17th. We want to keep you up to date and informed with all that God is doing in Japan. Please utilize our website and stay in touch with us through it (www.OutreachOkayama.com). Here you will find photos, links, and much more information. Along with updates and
newsletters we also pray for the chances to come visit you as much as possible when on state
side. We have valued our time
with you and want to be able to
spend more time with you.
Please stay in touch.
We want to hear from you!
Dana, Amy,
Caden and Ashton Shadburne
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