Don’t miss out! Check here each week to learn abut what’s happening at BBT.
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.9
Our big event is just two weeks away! When we first started talking about it, March 16 seemed like a long way off, but it’s right around the corner. This is a great opportunity to let the community around us know that we are here for then, inviting all who will come into the fellowship of God’s people. We are blessed to have help with the execution of the event, but it will not fully accomplish its purpose without you, the members of our body, being there to meet our neighbors and share the love of Jesus. Sharing a meal together is a time-honored gesture of peace and friendship. So, have some meat and meet new friends.
This Sunday, we’ll be in John 19:1-16. Jesus has been brought before Pilate, and the crowd is demanding that He be crucified. Palate’s behavior is in terns cautious and contemptuous. He taunts the chief priests with their powerlessness by parading the battered Jesus before them as their king, yet tries to release Him, knowing that they have no real case against Him. Yet it is the issue of His kingship that the religious leaders use to convince Pilate to crucify Jesus, saying, ““If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself to be a king opposes Caesar.” (v. 12)
Pilate chooses convenience over conviction. He serves himself above all. He has already shown his contempt for the truth, and now he will crucify Him. But the greater judgment is for those who should have known better. Jesus said, “…he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (v. 11) Again he taunts them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (v. 15)
The chief Priests were without excuse. They had heard Him teach. They knew the scriptures. He was the one, but they rejected Him. We, too, are without excuse. All creation is a testament to Him. His words have been preserved for us. We each must choose. Will we serv the King of kings and the Lord of lords, or give our lives to some lesser king. As much as we might not like being ruled, we will be. Choose the One who died so that you could be part of His royal family. There is really only one other. He is a would-be usurper. He will promise you everything, and take your very soul. Who is your king?
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.8
Things are starting to come together for our community outreach on the 16th of March. I learned that we have a group of 20 volunteers committed to help. That seems like a lot, but there will be a lot to do surrounding the event. I’m actually glad we got more than we asked for.
The message this week will be from John 18:28-40. I usually don’t repeat myself in so short a timeframe, but the passage happens to overlap with a message from last year. It never hurts to reenforce the truth. And the truth is exactly what we are going to focus on in this passage. Jesus has been arrested and falsely convicted by the religious leaders in Jerusalem, and they want him executed. Under Roman rule, they cannot do it themselves, so they take him to Pilate, the governor of the region. Pilate can find nothing against Him, but bows to the pressure and issues the execution order. So, Jesus is crucified, as He and the Old Testament prophets said He would be.
As Pilate interrogated Jesus, he asked a question that we are still asking today. “What is truth?” Some of us really want to know. Others wish to obscure the truth that they do know because they find it unacceptable. Others claim that there is no such thing, or that it varies according to ones own belief. For truth to have any meaning at all, it must be absolute. There are many things about which we do not know the truth, but that does not mean that the truth is unknowable or absent. The Truth stood before Pilate that day, and he chose to deny Him. Let us not make the same mistake.
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.7
BRRRR! It’s cold! This is one of those mornings I am especially grateful to be part of a church that doesn’t start until 2:30 in the afternoon. The service time originally came of necessity and was found to be best for the people we serve, so we kept it that way. One of the churches my father pastored when I was young also had an afternoon service. I do not remember why, but i liked it then too. Sleep until you’re ready to get up, then come to church!
As we approach Resurrection Sunday, our study through the Gospel of John has also brought us to the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. During the next few weeks, I may take a paws in order that we may cover the resurrection on the day that we celebrate it, but it might take us that long to get there without stopping. God’s word is packed with truth waiting to be discovered.
This week we are in John 18:12-27. John gives us some details about Jesus’ trial that the others have not provided and also fills in the account of Peter’s denials. It is significant that his denials are recorded by all of the Gospel writers. I think at least part of the reason is so that we can see Jesus’ redemptive work in action. Peter reacted in fear, but he never stopped loving Jesus. He would later become a leader in the church.
Jesus told him what he would do before he did it, telling him according to Mark 14:30, “today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” When Peter heard that rooster crow, he remembered the words of Jesus and wept.
How many of us have been where Peter was that night. Peter actually did have something to fear. As he sat there with the guards witnessing what they were doing to Jesus, he knew he could be next. Give him credit for coming that close. All the rest, save John, ran away as soon as Jesus was arrested. Christians around the world are in similar danger, but what have we to fear? We might be ostracized by our peers. We might get “canceled”. Some have actually lost their jobs. A few have even been jailed. And yes, in some rare instances, some here have lost their lives. But for most of us, the consequences are little greater than uncomfortable.
Yet, we stay silent. If our faith is not hidden, it is impotent. Evil grows around us and we hide behind the walls of our churches. Or worse, we adopt the evil as our own that we may be spared the ire of the world. If we claim Jesus, he is not the Jesus the disciples knew. We may not deny Him with our words, but do we deny Him with our lives? Have you heard the rooster crow? I have.
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.6
It already seems to me the year is moving fast. Valentine’s day will be on Wednesday. Our outreach on March 16 will be here before you know it. I’m excited to see what God will do.
This Sunday, we’re in John 18:1-11. After concluding His prayer, Jesus brings His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas knows the place, because they often met there. John gives us some detail about what happened there that the other writers do not, while omitting things they had already recorded. It is difficult to reconstruct the exact sequence of events after Judas arrives on the scene, but John records something remarkable.
Jesus, knowing why they were there, went out to meet them. It seems as if He wanted to give anyone in that company who would take it the opportunity to repent of what they were about to do. He gave them a dramatic demonstration of His power. He asks them, “Whom do you seek?” They reply, ““Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus then replied, literally translated, “I AM.” At this word “they drew back and fell to the ground.” (v. 6)
The Roman soldiers probably thought they were arresting a common criminal or a Jewish rebel. The religious leaders thought they were removing a threat to their power. Jesus asked the question that reverberates through out the ages. Whom do you seek? His answer is the only one that matters. “I AM!” His authority, His power, His mercy and His love are all in those words. Really, one Word, and He, by submitting Himself to all that they would do to Him, would ultimately triumph over death.
The world is still trying to destroy Him. False religions try to diminish His deity. Others pretend He never existed at all. But His truth remains. His word abides forever. Still others are seeking a false god, made in their own image. They may call him Jesus, but He bears little resemblance to the risen Lord. Whom do you seek?
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.5
Sometime I feel like it is my duty as pastor to paint a bright picture even if I can’t see it myself. I have always maintained hope, believing that God has bigger and better things in store for Bartimaeus Baptist Temple, but I’ll confess sometimes I feel like a hypocrite standing up there saying that when I can’t see the way forward. I still choose to trust. I still choose to believe, and I think this could be the year we start to see new fruit. It starts just by doing what we can with what we have, and that is what we’re doing. Let’s give it our all!
This Sunday, I’ll be wrapping up John Chapter 17 with verses 20-26. Here Jesus goes back to the theme of unity and says it 3 times. He prays for us the same kind of unity that He has with the Father. I don’t think that’s possible until He returns, but we sure are a long way from it today. Events of the past week make that abundantly clear, and I am saddened and angered by what I have seen. I pray in agreement with Jesus that we would all be one, so that the world will know that there is one true God and the way to know Him is to know Jesus.
Please Join us on Sunday.
Love you all.
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.4
First, thank you all for the birthday celebration last week. It is good to love and be loved. It was cold outside, but warm in our hearts. I am looking forward to seeing what happens when we share that warmth with the community around us on March 16. We’re going to have some resources to help us and volunteers on the day of the event, but we are going to be the ones to plan and execute. More to come.
Our study continues with John 17:12-19. Jesus continues His prayer for the disciples, that they be protected from the evil one while they remain in the world, and that they be sanctified by the truth of His word. He said that the things He spoke to them were so that they would have His joy, and affirms that they have been sent into the world for a purpose. The world would not love them for it. This prayer is also for us, and we can take instruction, comfort, and joy from it. I hope you can join us as we explore this very special chapter. When God the Son prays to God the Father on our behalf, we can be sure of the answer.
Praise and Prayer Requests from Sunday Service of January 21
Rejoice with us and pray with us.
We are so happy to be here today. Pris’s eye surgery went well and she’ll soon have her cataracts done. Don is thankful to hav come through all of his health issues.
Brenda and Don ask prayer that they get all the paperwork straight so that they get the compensation they are supposed to. Debra’s dog needs eye surgery. April prays for housing and work opportunity. Don asks prayer for a former coworker named Mark with pancreatic cancer. Another coworker Annette has esophageal cancer. Also another former coworker James with cancer. Debra prays that DART continues to improve. Pray for Kimi. Pray for a friend of Pris whose name I missed. Pray for my family. Remember Gary. Remember Cathy’s friend Teresa. Deedee and B.J. Ask for prayer. Pray for Brenda’s mom.
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.3
We ended up canceling services last week. We’ve got another cold one coming this weekend, but not quite as bad and with less threat of precipitation during the time that would concern us, so I’m looking forward to seeing you all there. I have some good news. The outreach project that we thought was not going to happen has been approved. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 16. I’ll tell you what I know on Sunday.
The message for this week is the same as last week. 🙂 I’ll be continuing in John Chapter 17 with verses 6-11. Jesus is praying, and he now turns his attention to his disciples. He notes that the father has given them to Him and that He has revealed the character and nature of the Father to them. They believed His words, and He was glorified through them. Jesus makes a point that this prayer is for them and not for the world. He then makes an amazing request, “Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”
The theme of unity is expressed repeatedly in this prayer and follows Jesus’ teaching on how they, and we by extension, ought to love each other. He desires for them, and for us (see John 17:20-23) the same kind of unity that He has with the Father! How is that even possible? Does the church today look like that prayer is being answered? Be assured, it will be answered. The only question is whether we will cooperate willingly. I pray that we will hear the very heart of God expressed in this prayer, and commit ourselves to the fulfilment of His desire out of our love for Him.
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.2
Winter takes its time, but it does make some brief appearances here in Nort Texas. We don’t like it much, but we can be thankful that it doesn’t stick around. It’s going to be cold this weekend with a chance of some freezing precipitation moving in Sunday evening. So far, it doesn’t look like a problem for us, but we’ll keep an eye on things and let you know if that changes. For now, bundle up and come on in!
For anyone who may not have gotten the news, I’m happy to report that Priscilla’s eye surgery went well and she has been recovering at home. I’m hoping we get to see her Sunday, but no pressure. 🙂 It was good to have Don back with us after his recent challenges. I was also encouraged by the discussion we had after the service. Let’s keep thinking about how we can be about God’s work in the community.
I’ll be continuing in John Chapter 17 this week with verses 6-11. Jesus is praying, and he now turns his attention to his disciples. He notes that the father has given them to Him and that He has revealed the character and nature of the Father to them. They believed His words, and He was glorified through them. Jesus makes a point that this prayer is for them and not for the world. He then makes an amazing request, “Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”
The theme of unity is expressed repeatedly in this prayer and follows Jesus’ teaching on how they, and we by extension, ought to love each other. He desires for them, and for us (see John 17:20-23) the same kind of unity that He has with the Father! How is that even possible? Does the church today look like that prayer is being answered? Be assured, it will be answered. The only question is whether we will cooperate willingly. I pray that we will hear the very heart of God expressed in this prayer, and commit ourselves to the fulfilment of His desire out of our love for Him.
I hope to see you there on Sunday. For those who may be trying to connect online, I apologize for all the technical difficulties we have been experiencing. I hope to be able to try something different this week that may help with the sound, and we’ll pray for no more connectivity issues. We lack the resources for professional quality production.
Love y’all!
The Bartimaeus Blog 2024.1
We have made it into a new year, and I am so thankful. It is my belief that God has been preparing us for new and better things, and it is my expectation that this is the year that we will begin to see those new thing. Let us rise to meet the challenge. The Lord is our strength.
Over the holiday season, we took a break from our progress through the Gospel of John as we observed our familiar traditions. I also wanted to wait until we had an unbroken stretch of Sundays in which to examine the next chapter. It is very special, because it contains Jesus’s prayer for us! John has included a great deal of detail in his gospel so that we cannot miss the deity of Jesus as well as His humanity. He is the son of God, and He is also God. Therefor it may be said that God prayed for you! If you wish to know His heart, I can think of no better place to start.
Scholars typically divide John 17 into 3 sections. In verses 1-5, which we will cover this week, he prays for “Himself.” In verses 6-19, he prays for the disciples, and in verses 20-26 for all who would believe through their teaching. That would be you and me. However, the whole of this prayer has application for all of us.
Jesus began His prayer by declaring that His time had come. Within hours, he would be arrested, tried and crucified. In that which appeared to be His final defeat was actually His victory and glorification. The price would be paid and the way opened that we can know God. So, even as he asks His Father to restore His glory, he askes for our sake. To know God is to know life eternal. Hear the heart of God, and rejoice!
See you Sunday.