Church Blog

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we celebrated the peace, the shalom, the complete well-being, we have in Jesus. We remembered Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross to provide that peace as we took communion together. Then we looked at Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, from Matthew 1 and 2. We learned there are no words of Joseph recorded in the Bible. Joseph simply listened well to the voice of the Lord and quickly obeyed when God spoke. And it would be my guess that Joseph listened well to others. All of us need to learn from Joseph that we are to listen to God and tune into other people. It is more important to hear from God than it is for Him to hear from us. And when we listen carefully to others as they speak, we can more wisely know how to communicate God’s love to them. Do not be one who simply loves the sound of your own voice. Believers continually seek to hear and heed the corrections of the Lord, the warnings of the Lord, and the direction of the Lord as He speaks to us by His Holy Spirit through God’s Word. Today, as you hear God’s voice, do what He leads you to do.

We will be having a potluck luncheon next Sunday, December 17, after our worship gathering. Bring enough food for your family and maybe a little extra for any guest we might have.

On Christmas Eve and New Years Eve there will be no morning Bible Study. We will start worship on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve at a special time: 10:00 AM.

During the month of December, we will be taking up the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. We encourage you to pray and give toward supporting missionaries who takes the good news of Jesus to places that have no or little witness to the saving gospel of Jesus.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday in the songs and scripture Pete chose for our worship, we looked with anticipation to the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord. We then focused on the greatness of Jesus from Luke 1 as Mary was told that she would be the human mother of Jesus. We saw Jesus’ inherent greatness in that He is great in and of Himself whether people accept His greatness or reject it. We recognized the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ in that Jesus has the greatest name, the name before which every knee will bow. We realized the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ in that He has absolutely the greatest Father, Most High God. We grasped that Jesus has the greatest throne and heritage that fulfills all the promises the Word of God made about the Messiah. We perceived the greatness of His miraculous and unique virgin conception and birth. Don’t reduce celebrating Christmas to merely presents, family, and food. Don’t even reduce it to the birth of a child, or the birth of someone who made a huge impact on the world. Remember Christmas is about the Great One of the universe, God the Son Himself, becoming Emmanuel, God with us, to do for us what we could not do for ourselves-save us from sin! The story of Christmas forever remains the story of the greatness of Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us.

This Friday, December 8, we will meet at the church building at 6:30 PM and then go out to carol in our neighborhood. Then, we will come back to the building and enjoy treats together. You might feel like you can’t go out and carol. That is understandable. We want you to come for the fellowship. Bring a Christmas treat we can share as we celebrate the season together.

During the month of December, we will be taking up the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. We encourage you to pray and give toward supporting missionaries who takes the good news of Jesus to people that have no or very little witness to the saving gospel of Jesus.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday as we looked in Luke 1 at the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, we saw that living for Jesus is a life of preparation. God is always preparing us as His children for what He will do now and what He will do in the future through us. God prepares us for what is ahead as we walk with Him today. God prepares and works through us in spite of our imperfect faith. And God’s preparation of His people always leads to His perfect timing in working in and through their lives. Yes, truly, God prepares the world and His people for His determined times of deliverance.

I have come to love a new Christmas song called, “O Come All You Unfaithful.” It describes me and the mercy God has on me and all of us. I think you might like it too. Here is a link: O Come, All You Unfaithful • Official Video – YouTube.

On Friday, December 8, we will meet at the church building at 6:30 PM and then go out to carol in our neighborhood. Then, we will come back to the building and enjoy treats together. Plan to bring a Christmas treat we can share as we celebrate the season together.

During the month of December, we will be taking up the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. We encourage you to pray and give toward supporting missionaries who takes the good news of Jesus to places that have no or very little witness to the saving gospel of Jesus.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday and happy Thanksgiving week to all!

Yesterday we worshipped the holy, holy, holy Lamb of God Who is forever worthy to receive glory, honor, wisdom, and power. Also, from God’s Word in Psalm 69 and Romans 1, we learned the importance of cultivating a grateful heart. God created each one of us and provides us with life and everything we need to live. God gives us every single blessing we know or will ever know. And most important of all, God provides forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life by the costly price of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. We were created and then redeemed to know and love God, to live life for His glory, and to give thanks to Him all our days. Knowing this, we seek to cultivate grateful hearts. We seek to focus on the blessings we have been given. We seek not to be distracted by the difficulties of our lives in such a way that we forget the multitude of blessings God has given to us! God is so good and we as His people ought to live lives of continual gratitude toward Him.

In keeping with the theme of Thanksgiving, Bart and Lauren have a nephew, Seph Schleuter, who is a Christian artist with a song, “Counting My Blessings” that you may have heard on the radio. I love the song! Here is a link: https://youtube.com/watch?v=c17u2lkSzEI&si=gOfbKXLtsEu4vEc2.

On Friday, December 8, we will meet at the church building at 6:30 PM and then go out to carol in our neighborhood. Then, we will come back to the building and enjoy treats together. Plan to bring a Christmas treat we can share as we celebrate the season together.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday was a wonderful day of worship, fellowship, and thanksgiving. We had a great time last night feasting together, enjoying one another, and speaking to one another of God’s blessings and goodness to each of us. Yesterday morning as we worshipped, we praised God for His wonderful grace that believers have received and live in every day. From Mark 13, we looked at Jesus’ teaching to His apostles and us about near future events that would happen in their generation and events that will precede Jesus’ coming back. We learned that Jesus did not share these things with us so we would be preoccupied with trying to figure out the exact timetable of His return. Jesus shared these things with us so we would be faithful as we serve Him looking for His return. We are to always be diligent about the tasks the Lord has entrusted to each of us. Are we ready for Jesus to return? Live everyday walking with and serving Jesus and look forward to His sure return. May we, with the church of every age, say, “Even so. Come Lord Jesus.”

On Friday, December 8, we will meet at the church building at 6:30 PM and then go out to do some caroling in our neighborhood. Then, we will come back to the building and enjoy some treats together. Plan on bringing a Christmas treat we can share as we celebrate the season together.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! As we worshipped yesterday, we thought in both our singing and in the message of the wondrous mystery of our Savior Jesus. We learned from what we sang and from God’s Word in Mark 12 that Jesus is the descendant of David and Lord of all. Jesus is fully human and fully divine, God the Son who became flesh and dwelt among us to do for us what we would not do for ourselves-save us from sin and give us eternal life. Matt Boswell helped us to:

Come, behold the wondrous mystery
Christ, the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father’s plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured, love untold

Come, behold the wondrous mystery
Slain by death, the God of life
But no grave could ever restrain Him
Praise the Lord, He is alive.

East Madison Thanksgiving celebration will be next Sunday Evening, November 12 at 5:30 PM. I hope you plan to join us at this wonderful celebration!

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,  

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday as we worshipped, we learned how blessed we are! Doug Plank reminded of this in a song he wrote that we used yesterday, “Blessed is the One.”

Blessed is the one whose sins are overcome
Whom God has sheltered deep within His grace
Blessed is the one who trusts in God the Son
His steadfast love the sinner’s hiding place

I will always hide at my Savior’s side
I find my refuge in His sovereign care
When the waters rise, God will hear my cries
His steadfast love will hold me safely there.

Jesus, Your blood covers all my sin
Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing
What a Savior, Jesus!

We can continually thank God for our Savior Jesus. Then from Mark 12, we looked at those who were trying to trick and trap Jesus. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy. But one of their group was open to Jesus and truth. From this passage, we found we could ask ourselves a few questions about our lives. Do we simply want to hang with people who think exactly like us and reinforce our opinions? Or do we seek Jesus in truth and want to truly know Him and truth? Do we come to Jesus seeking for Him to reinforce our false political or religious preconceptions? Jesus will not be cornered by any political faction or bamboozled by false religious ideas. Do we want to trap Jesus, or do we want to know Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Do we want to find the love, purpose, and meaning in life found only in Jesus? Jesus’s enemies were seeking to judge and trap Jesus with these trick questions, but they found Jesus will be the One judging them. The scribe who was open to Jesus found commendation and encouragement from Him, as will all who seeking Him then and now. Jesus wants us to be like this scribe open to His love and truth. Jesus will be open to any who approach Him seeking truth.

I wanted to thank all who helped in any way with the “Trunk or Treat” outreach to our community. We had a steady stream of families during the whole time of the “Trunk or Treat.” I know Carla and I had a few very meaningful interactions with people who came. It was a family effort of the EMBC family, and it was wonderful!

Next Sunday, November 5, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper during morning worship. Also remember to change your clock and “fall back” as that day is also the end of daily savings time.

East Madison Thanksgiving celebration will be November 12 at 5:30 PM in less than two weeks! There is a sign-up list for the foods we will need on the table in the foyer.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Brothers and sisters,  

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday as we sang in worship together, we remembered we do not have to live in fear and unbelief because Jesus has completely paid the penalty for our sins. Jesus willingly received the punishment that we deserved. We no longer will have to suffer that punishment if we believe in Him. Then Mark 12 reinforced what the song “Why This Fear and Unbelief” taught us. We can trust fully in His rescue of us from the penalty of sin. However, we learned that the message meant to bring us to forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus will turn to a message of judgment and condemnation if we will not receive and believe in Jesus. The good news meant to rescue us will condemn us if we refuse to believe that Jesus saves. Do not be irrational and refuse the gift of forgiveness and eternal life found in Jesus.

We will be having a “Trunk or Treat” for our community this Saturday, October 28. We have collected a lot of candy, but we want to collect even more so we can abundantly bless the children who will come. You can bring more to the church building during the week or bring more with you as you come on Saturday! We need “all hands on deck” for this event so if you are able, please come to help us. Set up for the event is at 2:00 PM and the event is from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

East Madison Thanksgiving celebration will be November 12 at 5:30 PM. There is a sign-up list for the foods we will need on the table in the foyer.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,  

Happy Monday to all! What a day we had yesterday in worshipping together and witnessing Alicia confessing her faith in Jesus through believers’ baptism. In the message from Mark 11, we saw the dangers of trusting in religious ceremonies and rituals that do not lead to heart and life change. Religion sometimes can be empty, meaningless, and even violent and dangerous. Religion that causes us to hate people and not love them is not from the true and living God. Jesus was showing that believing and trusting in Him changed how you related to God and how you treated others. Jesus was warning them against trusting in religious rituals that left life unchanged. Jesus in the acted-out sermons of Mark 11 was pointing to Himself as the hope of the world and the way to eternal life. Do you see that today? Jesus makes life beautiful and meaningful. Jesus empowers us to love, bless, and pray for those who curse us and do not love us. Jesus empowers us to forgive those who wrong us because we are subjects of His abundant forgiveness. Do not look to some religious ritual or religious place. Look to the Jesus today, the One who died for you and rose again from the grave. Jesus is the Way of salvation and life.

We will be having a “Trunk or Treat” for our community on Saturday, October 28. We will need to collect a lot of candy for this event so you might be planning for that in the days ahead. We need someone to pick up the Block Party trailer in Sun Prairie and bring it here and then take it back. If you can do that, let me know.

East Madison Thanksgiving celebration will be November 12 at 5:30 PM. There is a sign- up list for the foods we will need on the table in the foyer.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Brothers and sisters,  

Happy Monday to all! What a wonderful day we spent in worship and fellowship yesterday! From Mark 10, we considered the ways Jesus expect His children to live for him in this broken world. Too many believers think like James and John and want to be great by being in positions that will give us political and military power. However, we need to understand the way of Christ is love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, service, and sacrifice. Instead of wanting our enemies to be ruined and destroyed, Jesus’ disciples seek to conquer those who oppose us with Jesus’ methods of truth, mercy, love, and kindness. We need to embrace that the way to greatness in God’s kingdom is serving others and even giving our lives so they might find life in Christ. We cannot make true impact on the world by adopting the methods of the world. We must follow the way of Jesus until Jesus comes back. Believers on mission with Jesus serve and sacrifice for others in seeking to expand the Kingdom of God. Then, following the message from Mark, Pete and the worship team led us to sing these words written by Michael Farren, Rich Thompson, Jonny Robinson.:

What love, my God, would bring You down to earth
What king would take a low and lonely birth
Yet to this dark and broken place You came
To sleep beneath the stars that You had made.

What love my God, would send the way of life
To walk the road, rejected and despised
That You might know the weakness I possess
And be my rock of strength and righteousness.

What love, my God, could hold You to the tree
To bear that overwhelming debt for me
The Son of heaven leaves the Father’s side
The Healer bleeds, the life was made to die.

What love my God, so gracious and extreme
Was strong enough to come and fight for me
To go through hell and down into the grave
And raise me up to see You face to face
You raise me up to see You face to face.

O Your love, my God like a flood
As heaven opened up, pouring out on us
O praise the King who came to the world
In His love like a mighty flood.

CityAlight – What Love, My God – YouTube

We will be having a “Trunk or Treat” for our community on Saturday, October 28. We will need to collect a lot of candy for this event so you might be planning for that in the days ahead. Also, we will need volunteers for the block party trailer items we will set up. Be praying and preparing for this community outreach. We need someone to pick up the Block Party trailer in Sun Prairie and bring it here and then take it back. If you can do that, let me know.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church