Weekly Encouragement From Pastor Tim
The importance of Reformation Day, and several announcements.
Reformation Day
Reformation Day is an important day for Protestant Christians, and on October 31, Christians around the world will celebrate the day when Martin Luther nailed “The 95 Theses” to the door of Wittenberg’s Church.
It’s important because, without the Protestant Reformation, our worship would be less biblical today. Here’s a partial list I read on the Internet of things that have changed.
It recovered, clarified, and emphasized the gospel of God’s grace, as opposed to the system of works that had engulfed the church.
It challenged the authority of the pope and church tradition, subjugating it to the Bible.
It replaced the Mass with the preaching of the word.
It abolished the system of indulgences and merits as necessary for salvation. It abolished the unbiblical doctrine of purgatory.
It did away with venerating Mary, praying to her and the saints, and venerating the church's relics, idols, or icons.
It reintroduced congregational singing.
It put the Bible in the common language of the people so they could read it for themselves.
It taught the priesthood of every believer.
It recognized only two sacraments or ordinances (Baptism and The Lord’s Supper), not seven.
It taught that marriage is good and that church leaders may marry.
In other words, the Protestant Reformation led the church back to the centrality of Scripture. It also caused a lot of division but that wasn’t what Martin Luther sought. He hoped for reconciliation, but after four years of trying, in 1521, he famously said, “Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear, and distinct grounds of reasoning, then I cannot and will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me! Amen.”
The Apostle Paul, as we learned last week, also took a stand on the centrality of scripture. He thought of himself as “a manager of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). And in verse six, he made his unwillingness to compromise with scripture even clearer:
Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6).
“Nothing beyond what is written” is what the Apostle Paul wanted to ensure was passed on to us and it was. It’s this truth that sparked the Protestant Reformation and it’s our legacy. In this world of distractions and conflicting priorities, may we be found faithful in passing along the centrality of scripture to the next generation, too.
For God’s glory,
Pastor Tim
Sean and Jani Carney
This Sunday, October 30th, Sean and Jani Carney will visit KCBC. Pastor Sean will also be bringing us a message from God’s word. And then, after worship, we will have a church potluck.
Here’s some interesting info from their bio:
“Continually being encouraged to pursue ministry, Sean and Jani were mentored to consider Village Missions full-time. In 2005, after completing an apprentice program through their local Village Missions church in Washington state, they were sent to their first VM field in rural South Dakota. While they loved serving their first field and the families in the church and community, they requested a field closer to family to help out with aging parents, so they relocated to Washington state. As of 2019, Sean and Jani serve as District Representatives for the High Plains District.”
International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians
IDOP 2022 is Sunday, November 6th, and we will emphasize the persecuted church that day.
In this year’s video, the story of Rebecca, a Nigerian woman, is told who watched helplessly with her daughter as Boko Haram militants killed her husband and son and burned her home. When she searched the charred remains of her home, she found the Bible that she and her husband had received on their wedding day. “I still use this Bible,” Rebecca said. “It reminds me of God’s faithfulness.”
This short film will inspire viewers to pray for those who trust in God’s Word as they live faithfully for Christ on the world’s most difficult and dangerous mission fields.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Sunday, November 13th, we will be hosting a Community Thanksgiving Meal from 11:30-1:30 pm. The meal is free to all. Invite your friends, family, and neighbors to church and then stay for a special time of Thanksgiving. Contact Aletha if you’d like to donate food and/or help.