New Heights Baptist Church, Louisville, KY

This Sunday morning begins our 8 week sermon series called “What is the Gospel?”  I’m not sure there has ever been a more important series in the life of our church and our community.  I hope you’ll all be faithful in attendance for the next two months and that you’ll be praying about who you can bring with you.

Nothing is more important than individual believers and the corporate body having a biblical understanding of the gospel.  The implications for believing the gospel are not only eternally significant but are important for every day of the believer’s life in Christ.

Here is a look at the topics we will be addressing:

January 8 – Does God Exist and What is He Like?

January 15 – What is Sin and am I Really a Sinner?

January 22 – Who was Jesus and Why Does He Matter?

January 29 – Why Did Jesus Die? 

February 5 – What Must I Do to Be Saved?

February 12 – How Does God Forgive Sinners?

February 19 – What Happens After Someone is Saved?

February 26 – Can I Really Know God Has Forgiven Me?

Have you been visiting New Heights for some time now and are interested in membership?

At New Heights, we believe that the New Testament demonstrates that local churches practiced meaningful membership. In addition, we believe membership provides many benefits like allowing church leaders to fulfill their task of shepherding the church, providing the opportunity for spiritual growth under the guidance, accountability, and authority of the church, and challenging believers to use their God-given spiritual gifts alongside others God has placed in the church, among others.

The Discovering New Heights class for January will begin this Sunday, the 8th and will run through the 29th. The class meets during the normal Sunday School hour at 9:30am. This class is our membership class designed for those who are currently pursuing membership at New Heights or are simply interested in finding out more about our church. We would love to see you there!

We will have a very brief meeting for all those involved in children’s ministry this Sunday immediately after church.  We will meet in the library.  The meeting should only take 10 minutes.

Matt Emadi

With the coming of every holiday season also comes a truly American event; College Football Bowl Season.  Beginning last week and running into January, some thirty plus bowl games will be played.  They will be watched by millions of sports fans across the country, most having a particular team to cheer on, hoping for a big bowl game win to propel them through the darkness of off-season until the next football season dawns bright.  Some fans are good natured, enjoying the game and able to keep college football specifically and all sports generally, in proper perspective.  Many cannot.  The loss of their team produces for some a mood altering sadness or a win might produce fleeting joy and annoying boasting.

In reading an excerpt from the The Journals of Jim Elliot, I came upon the following entry:

“October 7        I have just come fron the O.U. [Oklahoma University] versus Texas A&M football game, one of the best, I suppose, I shall ever see.  A&M led out, and the score record read 7-0, 7-7, 14-7, 14-14, 21-14, 21-21, 28-21 until the third quarter.  Then O.U. failed the conversion which put the score at 28-27 with 1:55 to go.  Within one minute of the end of the game, O.U produced a touchdown, setting the final score at 28-34.  Crowd reaction was interesting to watch.

Ah, what will it be when, not 40,000 but myriad people rivet their excited attention upon the Son of God.  No need for cheerleaders and coaxing, no need for telling people to stand, for all shall mourn over Him, bowing in one stroke to His sway.  Wonderful day!  O Jesus, Master and Center and End of all, how long before that glory is Thine which has so long waited Thee.  Now there is no thought of Thee among men, then there shall be thought of nothing else.  Now other men are praised, then none shall care for any other’s merits.  Hasten, hasten, Glory of the Heavens, take Thy crown, subdue Thy Kingdoms, enthrall Thy creatures.”

Let us be reminded where our joy should be anchored and our worship focused.

Is spanking an archaic form of punishment that needs to be eradicated in today’s modern society?  Many today would go so far as to say that spanking is a form of child abuse.  The Bible suggests exactly the opposite.  According to Proverbs 13:24, to withhold spanking is child abuse!

Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

The father and mother who fail to spank are guilty of hating their own children.  How can this be?  Proverbs teaches us that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child (22:15).  If we fail to discipline our children we leave them to their own folly and their own ruin.  God has created the family to be a microcosm of society.  Children learn how to respect authority, make good decisions, and function in society through their family relationships.  Parents who love their children and want to see them as upstanding members of society will discipline them for poor behavior.  The lack of such discipline stems from a lack of care and concern.  Who has ever learned virtuous behavior by being neglected!  Spanking is not child abuse.  It is the action of someone who loves their child enough to truly care about their well being.