Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! Hope this snowy Monday has gone well for all of you. It was wonderful to worship together and to witness Emily confessing her faith in Jesus through believers’ baptism. Even though the water was a little cold, seeing this baptism warmed hearts. Emily’s faith in Jesus was not something new, but something she possessed for a while. However, she wanted to take the step of believers’ baptism, the step that is recognized across the world as identifying you as a follower of Jesus. If some of you have never taken that step in your faith journey, consider it seriously. It is a confession of your faith in Jesus and an identifying that you have died to your old life without Christ and you possess new life in Him. Those who truly have believed in Jesus and seek to follow Him as Lord need to be baptized as a confession of their faith.
I hope yesterday’s message helped us to see that Jesus is worth following whatever it might cost us. There is nothing in our lives that should keep us for following Jesus. We can’t receive Him if we are holding on to something else. Let go of anything in your lives that hinders you from loving, following, and living for Jesus.
Ladies, plan to join the fun and fellowship at “Fired Up Pottery” Saturday, March 18 at 12:30. There’s something for everyone’s budget. Most people spend between $18 to $39 a person, but they do have pottery starting at $5. Even if you don’t want to spend any money, come for the fellowship. The address is: 4112 Monona Dr., Madison, WI 53716.
We will be having the Lord’s Supper this Sunday during the morning worship gathering at 10:30 AM. Every believer in Jesus, in humility because of our unworthiness, should take this supper. Taking the supper calls for a willingness to confess any known sin, but it does not call for morbid introspection. Don’t fear taking the supper because you have a vague fear that you might have some unknown sin in your life. Don’t let the devil’s accusation of past confessed sin keep you from taking the supper. If you ask God to reveal sin you need to confess, confess it if something comes to your mind, and join us in taking the Lord’s Supper. If nothing comes to your mind, move on and join us in taking the supper. None of us are worthy, but we can take the supper because Jesus’ blood alone has made us worthy. The supper reminds us of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for our sin. Taking the supper reminds us that we are all a part of His body and we need each other.
Sunday, March 26 there is a pot luck luncheon and family meeting for all at East Madison. We will hear David Juhlin’s report on his recent mission trip. We will talk about some ideas we want to do this summer and ideas of things that will enable us to better disciple and reach people with the message of Jesus. God might have given you a brilliant idea of something East Madison needs to do! I hope you will be praying for this family meeting and stay to be a part of it.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church