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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-05-10, Page 27THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018. PAGE 27. From the Minister's Study Jesus is a Saviour who forgives: Versteeg By Pastor Andrew Versteeg Brussels Community Bible Chapel Recently my doctor sat me down and had a serious conversation with me about my health. My cholesterol levels were too high and I was placing myself in danger by doing nothing about it. I had been mildly aware of this for a time, but I was ignorant of how serious it might be. What the doctor said jolted me into reality. I asked what I had to do and began to follow a course of action. A month later my levels were in the "safe zone" Initially, my reaction to what the doctor said was not good. I had kind of prided myself on being a healthy kind of guy who looked after himself. I thought I was doing a decent job, maybe not perfect, but decent. The doctor, however, smashed all of those self- congratulatory ideas of mine to bits. I had to admit that I was wrong and that I needed to do things differently. A few weeks ago I gave a message at our church from Acts chapter two. The account of what took place in this passage happened about 50 days after Easter. Peter, one of Jesus' followers was explaining to a crowd in Jerusalem what had happened to Jesus, and the significance of His death and resurrection. Many of these people had been present in Jerusalem when this event had taken place. Peter explained to them that Jesus' death and resurrection had been all according to God's gracious plan to pay for our sin and reconcile us to God. He said that Jesus had been "delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God." This had been planned out by God long before Jesus even came to earth; in fact before He created the universe, our world and everything in our world. But then Peter addresses the people and he points out their responsibility in Jesus' death. He said to them, "you nailed (Jesus) to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death." These people were responsible. They had all wanted Jesus dead and had shouted for Him to be crucified even though He was innocent. They not only killed an innocent man, but they had hated the Son of God and wanted Him gone. So, Peter was very clear with them. He pointed out their sin. He pointed out that they were guilty before God. But more than that, he spoke about the ramifications of what they had done. Since Jesus had risen from the dead and had gone back to heaven and since God had #1 And We Still Try Harder Recent circulation figures show The Citizen has the highest circulation in the northern part of Huron County, #3 in the entire county. The Citizen Proudly Community -Owned Since 1985 made Jesus, "both Lord and Christ - this Jesus whom you crucified", they would have to give an answer to Him. And so the people were jolted into the reality that things between them and God were not okay, they were in danger of His judgment, and something had to happen now. So they asked the right question: "what shall we do?" And Peter answered them, "repent (turn to God), and each of you be baptized (i.e. demonstrate that you trust) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." Peter was very clear about their sin and the eternal consequences and as Christians who proclaim God's word we need to be that clear as well. Heaven is real but so is Hell and people need to know that they have sinned and the consequences for that sin. We need to tell people, as Peter did, that we can turn to God and receive forgiveness of sin and be reconciled to God. The results that day were amazing. About three thousand people repented and were baptized. We know that God had orchestrated all of this, but we also know that Peter had been faithful that day. He had been faithful to tell some bad news about their sin and judgment. He had also been faithful to tell them the good news about forgiveness and reconciliation with God and all that offers. Today, I am thankful that my doctor was faithful to give me the bad news about my health. I am Get breaking farm news on the Rural Voice website at www.ruralvoice.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope Everyone Welcome! Trinity Anglican Church St. John's Anglican Church BLYTH BRUSSELS 9:15 am 11:15am MINISTRY OFFICE 519-357-4883 Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope COME WORSHIP WITH USI 'You're .9nriteri 7( orsiiip SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen / (5. Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 AN INVITATION TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE A New Sermon Series HURON CHAPEL Every Sunday in Auburn at 9am & 11 am huronchapel.com Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service at 9:30 am Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited@tcc.on.ca . Accessible ® Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches OFFICE: 519-523-4224 thankful that my doctor did not mince words and told me the truth about my situation. And I am thankful that my doctor also spoke hopeful words to me about what to do. Spiritually speaking, the stakes are The Citizen much higher. We are sinners before a holy God and are in danger of eternal judgment. But the extremely good news is that Jesus is a Saviour who will forgive all those who come to Him believing in His name. See histories and historic photographs on the Huron History section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca BRUSSELS United Church Welcome to Sunday morning worship & Sunday School at 11:00 am Hillary MacDonald (905) 246-7386 Macdonald.hillary@gmail.com Everyone welcome You're Znvitec( to ,me worship with us Sunday, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, MAY 13 We invite you to join our church fami y in: Worship & Sunday School - 11 am Coffee & Snacks following the service Come out and meet our new minister, Rev. Charmila Ireland Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-6687 THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Winaham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph's Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N.