Crossing the border

I vividly remember the first time I was outside of the United States and was crossing the border back in. I was a teenage and with my family had crossed the bridge that connects El Paso, Texas, and Juares, Mexico. In those days a passport was not required but you had to verbally declare to the border patrol officer the nation of your citizenship. I enthusiastically stated that I was a citizen of the United States because I was proud to be, but also so I would not be stranded on foreign soil!

In a spiritual sense, we are citizens of one “country” (Phil. 3:20) but are currently residing in another (John 17:16). As we continue our Bible study series, “Amazing Reasons to Trust God’, this Sunday’s study in the Word will help us see more clearly our spiritual connection and help us overcome the fears that our “alien status” sometimes causes us. I also trust as we can focus more on our spiritual connections that we will be enthusiastic in our declaring before others that we are part of the kingdom of God, and that they too can enjoy the benefits of citizenship through faith in Christ.

If you want to get a head-start on this study read Luke 12:22-34 / If you missed any of this series, you can get caught up at www.biblecenterchurch.net

Jesse Waggoner

Amazing Reasons To Trust God

In case you haven't noticed there are many reasons to fear, in fact it seems like just about anything can scare us. God obviously knows this, for more than 60 times in the Bible we are told not to fear. If you would like some help in this area I want to invite you to go along on a spiritual journey over the next two months.

We are going to use these "fear not" passages to uncover some amazing reasons to trust God. You will be blessed -- and perhaps you know of someone who is needing some encouragement that you can invite to join you. Make plans to be part of this encouraging study in these troubling times.

Sundays 9:00 and 10:45 p.m.

Fear’s greatest nemesis

In our worship services this Sunday, I will be sharing on the topic of fear and how that emotion, if pervasive, can weaken our faith and affect our testimony. Fear can have a corrosive and powerfully negative impact on our lives. When we are held captive by fear, we forego the abundant life on this earth that Jesus Christ desires for us.

Fear’s greatest nemesis is faith. When we strengthen our faith in our great God, fear retreats. As we review Daniel 3 this morning, we’ll examine three “twenty-something” faithful young men who refused to cave in to fear. Instead of retreating in fear, they stood behind the God that they served. Rather than fearfully denouncing God, they were willing to give their lives faithfully for God. These three men of God weren’t supernatural heroes; they were frail humans like you and me. Yet they displayed faith during the most fearful of circumstances. That made all the difference.

Sometimes we reduce God to the size of our biggest fear. That’s faulty thinking. Our God transcends our fears and wants us to stand with Him when fear strikes. That’s when fear retreats.

Dr. Bill Tanzey
Associate Pastor of Community Ministries

Missions Sunday

October 4, 2009, 9:00 or 10:45 AM and 6:00 PM

Join us for our Annual Missions Sunday, this Sunday, October 4. We have the privilege of featuring Dwight and Gloria Lehman as well as Jonathan and Becky Mott. Dwight is the International Director for the Americas for CrossWorld, an organization that serves the church around the world by mobilizing teams to make disciples and train leaders. Dwight will be speaking to us in both AM services, as well as in the evening service.

Jonathan and Becky Mott minister and serve in Kazakhstan as church planters and grow relationships within the communities and multiplying churches. Jonathan and Becky will be reporting in the 9:00 AM ABF class (room 3105/06), in the 5:00 PM ABF (room 2104) and also in the evening service.

Don't miss out on this special opportunity we have to fellowship, pray with and learn from some of our own missionaries. We will also be distributing our new 2009-2010 Missionary Directories. Pick one up and use it as a reminder to pray, to reflect, or perhaps even to give.

Jennifer Rothschild and Kathy Troccoli at Bible Center Church

Fresh Grounded Faith Conference, 9-11-2009

What Defines You?

Video used to introduce the fourth message in the Extreme Makeover: Soul Edition series.

Life Universty Classes Annouced for Fall 2009

We are pleased to announce the seven classes that will be offered in the Fall Session of our Wednesday Night Life University. Classes begin Sept. 9 and end November 11. Offering a wide range of interest topics, Bible Study and practical studies, you are sure to find something that will be of value to you. Please share this opportunity with others and make plans to take advantage of Life University. For more information use the link below.

Life University