We oftentimes talk about the fact that God’s ways are not our ways. There is hardly a more glaring example of this than the Scripture that we will take a look at this morning. Let’s read our Scripture from Romans 3:27-31 and then we will see what we can learn.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the
uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:27-31 NIV)
Archive for March, 2008
One Way
Romans 3:27-31
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
Princess of the Powder
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Hi Everyone,
Our Middle School girls were something else on the slopes while we were skiing in Colorado during Spring Break. Here is a picture of some of the girls posing for the camera. Don’t be surprised if you hear their names on the next broadcast of the “Winter X Games.”
In His Steps,
Mike
It’s True!
Luke 24:13-35
Sunday, March 23rd, 2008
Sometimes the truth can be an elusive item to get a grip on. Sometimes we have to hunt, prod, and search before the truth is ever found. The fact of the matter is that the truth will come to light! Covert cover-ups can seek to silence the truth, but the truth will be heard. Antagonistic efforts can attempt to still the truth, but the truth will continue its march forward! Intelligent arguments can try and keep the truth hidden, but truth will shine like the noon-day sun! The real question is not whether or not we will know the truth. The most important question is, “Will we embrace the truth once it is known?”
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008Hi Everyone,
Wow! I’ve never seen so many wide-eyes, brilliant smiles, and happy children in all my life! This morning our Children’s Minister, Dana Stevenson, and her wonderful crew of workers put together the best Easter Egg Hunt in the history of the world! Thanks you guys!! All of the kids left the church with enough candy and Easter eggs to put on their own hunt. If you would like to see more pictures of the kids who were with us then click “More” below and it will take you to the gallery.
I hope each of you will join us in the morning as we celebrate the resurrection of our King!
In His Steps,
Mike
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He Is Risen!
Join Us For Easter Services
Friday, March 21st, 2008
Hi Everyone,
Easter is just a little more than a day away and we have made plans for you to join us this Easter Sunday! We will have two opportunities for you to join us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. Our Sunday morning celebrations will take place at 8:30 and 10:40 am on Easter Sunday. We also want to encourage you to invite your friends to join us for Easter breakfast at 9:30 am in the church gym. Our men’s Promise Keeper’s group will be preparing one of their world famous breakfasts complete with biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs. It will be a great day for everyone!
In His Steps,
Mike
Pic of the Day
Who Are Those Masked Men?
Friday, March 21st, 2008
Dear Friends,
During the next few days we will be sharing some of the wonderful pictures we took while we were at Sunlight Mountain in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Let’s see if you can guess who these famous members of the BCC Youth Group are who had to ski incognito throughout the week to keep their adoring fans away?
In His Steps,
Mike
We’re Back From The Mountain!
Thursday, March 20th, 2008Hi Everyone,
After three incredible days of skiing we pulled into Britton Christian Church about 10 am this morning with every person we left with…and in one piece! That’s the goal! Each of the 38 people who made the trip this year have come home with a truckload of memories. If you don’t believe me then ask Jeremy French about his amazing tricks at Buttermilk on the half-pipe or Keondre Jackson (a.k.a. Bruce Lee Roy) about how he karate chopped a wooden fence and lived to tell about it! Oh, I almost forgot. I wasn’t going to tell the story but I know it will get around so here it goes. Garrett Gilmore was a first time skier on our trip. He proved to be an incredible skier too I might add. I got to go up on the mountain with Garrett one day. Our confidence was at an all-time high when we miscalculated our abilities and chose a “Blue” over a “Green.” When you see Garrett and the battle scar on his face know that I did not push him down the slope. ha! He sure had fun telling folks I did. I’m relieved his mom and dad didn’t call DHS on me!!
I want to thank all of you who prayed for us while we were gone. The adults on the trip talked about what a great idea it was to pass out the prayer bracelets with the names of everyone on the trip before we left so that people could pray for us. Thanks for the idea Barb! It was an amazing trip! If you would like to see more pictures then click on “more” and it will take you there. On the smaller “thumbnails” you can click on them and they will display their full size for you. Thanks again.
In His Steps,
Mike
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Legend Carter Bridwell
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
Join me in welcoming the newest addition to the Bridwell family. Legend weighed in at 7lbs-2 oz. and measured 19 inches long.
I was at the hospital last night and Cody & Piper were full of joy, as they looked at the precious gift God has blessed them with. I ask that you will continue to pray for the Bridwells as they journey into another chapter of life with their beautiful daughter, Legend Carter.
“Wisdom in Shoe Leather – Righteousness in the Book of Proverbs”
Sunday, March 16th, 2008Dr. Bruce Waltke
“Jesus’ Triumphal Entry”
Sunday, March 16th, 2008Dr. David Darnell
We’re On The Mountain!
BCC Hits The Slopes
Sunday, March 16th, 2008
Hi Everyone,
We’ve been planning and praying for this day since we left Colorado last Spring and now we are back in these incredibly beautiful mountains. Tomorrow morning we will hit the slopes for the first time and all of the kids and sponsors are beside themselves anticipating a day full of snow, fun, incredible fellowship, and taking in God’s glorious creation.
We have 10 first time skiiers with us this year. Watching the newbies catch their first glimpse of the majestic mountains covered in snow is always a highlight for me. They will spend the first morning taking skiing lessons before we take all of them to the top for their first run down the mountain.
I wish you could all be here when they ride up the chairlift for the first time. I wish you could see the fear on their faces, watch their hearts beat through their ski jackets, and catch a glimpse of their trembling anxiety–tremors that are so powerful that they could cause an avalanche. It is a sight to behold.
I wish you could be here to watch the veteran kids and adults take a newbie under their wing and coach them, encourage them, and urge them to keep on, press on, and never quit! I wish you could be at the base of the mountain when all of these kids finish their first run and are overcome with exuberant joy like they have never experienced. They will feel 10 feet tall and we will spend the next half a day bragging on their great accomplishment together!
Oh, before I go, you are probably wondering if the picture I’ve posted is from our trip? Well, being the leader, being responsible for the safety of the 37 other skiers, I felt the need to go out and test the snow before the kids ever arrive on Monday morning. After making sure that everything was “OK,” I still had a little time left for a little of my favorite sport–extreme ski cliff diving. Is that really a legit phrase? Just so happens that someone was down below snapping pictures. I thought I’d give you a little glimpse of my skills. (I wish!)
We want to thank all of you who helped get us here. We could never do this trip if we didn’t have lots of incredibly generous folks like you who believe in what we are trying to do with our kids. You have the biggest hearts in the whole world!!
It’s going to be a great week. Keep us in your prayers. We’ll have lots of stories to share with all of you when we get back on Thursday morning. Oh, by the way, be sure an invite all of your friends to church on Easter Sunday.
In His Steps,
Mike
What A Sunday!
Dr. Bruce Waltke and Dr. David Darnell
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
Hi Everyone,
I’ve been telling everyone I know for the past few weeks about Dr. Bruce Waltke’s soon coming visit to Britton Christian Church. I hope you have told everyone you know so that they will be with us for our 8:30 am service this coming Sunday, March 16.
What I haven’t told you is that Dr. David Darnell will also be with us this coming Sunday, March 16! Dr. Darnell will be preaching in the 10:40 am service! It is going to be an incredible morning.
I had the privilege of working with David at First Christian Church in Plano, Texas for over five years while I was in seminary. David taught me so much about God’s Word. I continue to talk to David most every week as I have questions about Greek and Hebrew. David is an amazing student of God’s Word and you will be great blessed by his teaching.
I know you are probably thinking, “Which service should I attend on Sunday? Should I hear Dr. Waltke teach or Dr. Darnell?” I have a suggestion for you–go to both! It is rare that you will ever have the opportunity to hear two such wonderful Bible teachers, much less on the same morning. So come early, go eat breakfast, and then come back for the 10:40 am service.
In His Steps,
Mike
Dr. Bruce Waltke
Sunday, March 16, 8:30 am
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
Hi Everyone,
We have a great opportunity coming our way on Sunday, March 16. One of the most humble and inspiring Bible teachers in America will be teaching God’s Word at Britton Christian Church in our 8:30 am service. This opportunity is being made available to us by our wonderful friends at The Whitefield Society here in Oklahoma City. The Whitefield Society sponsors The James Montgomery Boice Teaching Series each year in Oklahoma City.
Dr. Waltke will be speaking in two churches on Sunday morning: BCC at 8:30 am and then Dr. Waltke will be teaching at Faith Bible Church in Edmond in their 11:00 am service. On Sunday night Dr. Waltke will preach at Heritage Baptist Church in Oklahoma City in a city-wide service beginning at 6:30 pm.
I want to encourage you to begin contacting your friends now. Let them know about this great opportunity to hear the Word of God taught with passion, humility, and depth like they cannot imagine. If you have any questions then please call our church office at 848-2046.
In His Steps,
Mike
Mission Sunday
March
Monday, March 10th, 2008
Hi Everybody,
Sunday was Mission/Fun Sunday and it was so awesome to see so many of you coming out to serve the Lord by serving His people! You are the best! Here’s some pics from the day.
On the second Sunday of each month our Middle School and High School kids devote their Sunday morning to serving others. The High School kids go to the Indian Mission in downtown OKC to serve a hot meal and lead morning worship. Our Middle School kids go to the Alterra Nursing Center where they interact with the residents.
“But Then…”
Romans 3:21-26
Sunday, March 9th, 2008
This is the seventeenth week of our study of Romans. We have followed Paul as he has made his way through the sea of humanity and gathered everyone before the bench of the Judge of all creation. Paul has shown how Gentile and Jew, the immoral and moral, the pagan and the religious—all people are guilty of turning away from God. Paul has shown us that we, each and every one of us, are completely and utterly incapable of living the kind of life that is acceptable to God. This is true because God is holy, absolutely holy, and we are not. Paul has made this clear to us from our study of Romans 1:18-3:20.
As we come to our study this morning a radical change will take place right before our eyes. Paul says, “But now…” Let’s find out what he is talking about by reading our Scripture found in Romans 3:21-26.
Time Flies!
Move Your Clock Saturday Night
Friday, March 7th, 2008
Hi Everyone,
Just a quick reminder that Saturday night time will fly and we will lose one hour from the time you go to bed to the time you get up. So move your clock forward one hour before you go to bed so that you won’t miss Bible study and worship. Have a great weekend.
In His Steps,
Mike
Who’s Got Your Ear?
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008Dear Friends,
We live in a society where there is constant noise. Messages are being communicated, displayed, and screamed at us each and every day from every corner of society. “Do this.” “Buy that.” “Get this.” “Believe that.” “Look like this.” “Strive for that.”How do you know which voices to listen to and which ones to let go of? That’s a great question.
I got an email with this picture of Heath Ledger yesterday. It is the last portrait that he ever sat for, just a few weeks before his tragic death. The portrait was done by Australian artist Vincent Fantauzzo. Mr. Fantauzzo says that the picture “was an idea we discussed together and came up with… it was about how we all have different consciences and voices in our head that tell us what to do and how to react. They’re not good or bad, they’re just voices that we hear, telling us how to behave. That’s what the other figures are in the painting.”
I saw the picture, thought about this talented young guy’s tragic death, and thought to myself, “I wonder what the voices in his head were telling him?” I also thought about the study we have been doing in Romans and how we have learned that we can’t even trust our own thinking, much less the countless number of voices we hear screaming at us from every corner of society. With this in mind you have to wonder, “Who can you trust? Which voices should you follow?”
Throughout God’s Word there is a “Voice” that calls out to us. Calling us from destruction to life. Calling us from trusting in ourselves, our own ingenuity and intellect, and inviting us to trust in Him. Calling us to forsake our ways and learn of His. Calling us from hopelessness to hope. Calling us from rebellion to surrender. What will we do with that Voice? I want to urge you to heed His voice. God will not only lead you through this life into eternity, but He will help you quiet the myriad of other voices that are crying out for your allegiance. The writer of Hebrews said,
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion…” (Hebrews 3:7-8 NIV)
Who’s got your ear today?
In His Steps,
Mike
Silence
Romans 3:9-20
Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
People from all over the world boarded the huge, beautiful ocean liner on April 10, 1912. The world had never seen such a ship. So much thought had been put into its design and construction. Every detail was given to making sure that the safety and comfort provided for the passengers would be unparalleled. The Titanic was commanded by Commodore Edward John Smith, the White Star Line’s most senior captain. Captain Smith was so impressed by the Titanic that he said, “Not even God Himself could sink this ship!”
When the construction was completed and the day came for its maiden voyage, everyone who had been involved in bringing a dream into reality were breathless at the accomplishment. The R.M.S. Titanic was the largest and most luxurious ship that the world had ever seen.