A Sunday School teacher asked her class of third graders, “What is gray and has a long bushy tail?” Class was silent. “Ok,” the teacher went on, “It lives in trees and likes to eat nuts.” Still nothing, so the teacher continued. “It loves to jump from branch to branch and chatters and flips its tail when it is excited.” Finally, one boy tentatively put up his hand. The teacher breathed a sigh of relief and called on the little boy. “Well,” said the boy, I know the answer is Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.”
It’s an old joke I know. But for Christians the “right” answer seems to always be Jesus. There was a billboard down south that had the words, “Jesus is the answer” written in big bold letters. Somewhere along the way, someone came along and wrote these words under that statement, “But what are the questions.”
Do we know the questions people are asking? And when they ask, do we know how to answer? Peter in his first letter spoke of the importance of living in such a way that people ask us to give the reason for the hope that lies within us (I Peter 3:15). How prepared are you to share how Jesus is the answer in your life? What is He the answer to?
If asked what the Bible is all about, “Jesus” would be the correct answer. We kicked off our series this past Sunday in tracing the storyline of the Bible. Sixty-six books written by over forty people over a period of 2,000 years yet it all fits together to point to the Bible’s main subject of the salvation God offers through Jesus Christ. We left off with humankind a mess! Sin’s ripple effect on all people is in great need of an answer. We will pick it up in Genesis, chapter 12 this Sunday. Check out in the announcements the section of Scripture to be read for this Sunday. I will also make available a reading chart for those of you who want to go deeper each week and to include other passages if you want to read through the Bible in a year.
There are plenty of tools available online for reading the Bible through in a year if you wanted to research it. One tool online is the blue letter bible reading program, chronological plan. Also, I have used the “Daily Bible in chronological order, 365 daily readings” by Harvest house publishers. The objective isn’t necessarily accomplishing reading the Bible cover to cover in one year as much as creating the discipline of getting into God’s Word daily. Can it make a difference in our lives, the more time we spend in the Word of God? Will it have an effect on my life? Check out this two-minute video: https://vimeo.com/380063273
Blessings to you, church, in this new year. Let’s commit to reading and obeying His Word and see what happens in our church this year. Let’s see what happens to our witness as we live and declare, and the Jesus is the Answer!
In His Grip, Pastor Brian
Looking Forward
Sermon Direction
The Blessing People Need
Genesis 12-36
Last Sunday’s Sermon
Read Through the Bible in a Year Plan
We have created a reading plan for you to read through the Bible in a year that goes along with our current sermon series, The Greatest Story from Cover to Cover. These will be available on the Ministry Counter this Sunday.
Community Group Sign ups
We have created a reading plan for you to read through the Bible in a year that goes along with our current sermon series, The Greatest Story from Cover to Cover. These will be available on the Ministry Counter this Sunday.
OWLS
Do you have cabin fever from all the snowy and cold weather we have had over the past few weeks? We think a trip to Johnson’s Steak and Seafood on Wednesday, January 22nd might help! We will meet at the church at 11:30 to travel to New Durham. All OWLS are welcome to come and enjoy a great time of fellowship and food. If you feel you will be able to attend, let one of us know although we do not need an accurate number. They are flexible, but we do like to give them an approximate number ahead of time. Should the weather be bad we will go on Wednesday the 29th.
Jay and Bette – 528-4458 or 759-3780
Norma 848-7203 or 783-0211
Men’s Breakfast
Men’s Breakfast Saturday January 25th 7am-8:30am
Sign-up this Sunday at the Ministry Counter.
Save The Date
“Created for Connections”
Marriage Seminar at EBC for the EBC family.
April 3-4. More details to come.
EBC Kids
Please pray for the EBC Kids Ministry. Volunteers in nursery, teachers and helpers in all age groups are needed. For more information please contact Mary Whitman 540-986-6626 or mflain@libery.edu
Meal Train
A meal train has been set up for Jim and Donna Dube to help out with meal’s during this month while Jim and their daughter Christina undergo surgeries. You can sign up by clicking on this link: https://mealtrain.com/v9nwk6
Celebrate Recovery
5th Annual Fundraising Rally
Thursday January 23rd 6pm-7:30pm Pitman’s Freight Room Laconia.
$12 per person or $20 per couple. All proceeds go to Water’s Edge Church to support Celebrate Recovery.
Meal. Music. Live Testimony. Recovery News.
Any questions contact Shaun Dutile
shaun@watersedgecofc.com or 603-366-8727
Cancellation Procedure for Sunday Mornings
In the event of bad weather that would potentially impact services, the following will be taken into consideration: the current weather in Laconia, timing of the weather event, and whether roads, walkways, parking areas will be cleared. A decision will be made by 7:30 am to cancel one or both of our services. Events in the afternoon or evening will be dealt with separately. EBC will notify of cancellation using the following: WMUR TV, Church website news feed www.laconiachurch.com , Email (weekly epistle list), and EBC public and private Facebook pages.