SPRING 2020 Ecclesia CELEBRATING COMMUNITY AND GOD’S WORK AT KENWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH
2020 Spring Sermon Series GOD WITH US ACCORDING TO JESUS This spring we turn our attention to a new series called “The Way of Wisdom According to Jesus.” We will focus on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5-7 known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ public ministry begins with the stunning proclamation: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Jesus’ royal announcement must have caused the hearts of those who heard him to burst with joy. As great crowds begin to follow him, Jesus goes up upon the mountain and begins to speak. His voice resounds with divine authority. He confers upon his disciples the blessings of the kingdom. The poor in spirit will receive the kingdom. Those who mourn will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. Jesus calls his disciples forward for the sake of the world. They are the merciful, the pure in heart, those who make peace. Although persecuted and slandered, they will have great reward and participation in a kingdom that will endure forever.
Jesus defines the believing community as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” The kingdom of God is like a “city upon a hill” that cannot be hidden. As followers of Jesus, we exist for others and shine the light of Christ for the world. In Matthew 5, Jesus explains the life of the kingdom as one of consecrated obedience to the will of God. This is the life we are designed to live. The life of the kingdom leads to human flourishing. People around us feel an irrepressible attraction to the Lord when we love Him by obeying His commands. In Matthew 6, Jesus instructs us in true devotion. Our giving, our prayers, our fasting must be directed towards the Father and not for public praise. With God as our first priority, we are freed from ambition and anxiety as He cares for us. In Matthew 7, Jesus warns us against using our relationship with Him to judge others. We must remain in a vital, ongoing relationship with Him where we can ask, seek, and knock for what we truly need. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount concludes with three urgent parables. The first parable contrasts a wide and narrow gate. The wide gate leads to destruction and is well-traveled. The narrow gate leads to life and only a few find it. The second parable contrasts a good and bad tree. The fruit of the tree reveals a person’s real identity. The third parable contrasts the wise and foolish builder. Only the wise who hear the words of Jesus and put them into practice will flourish. We will be accompanied on our journey this spring by two powerful, committed voices from church history – John Stott and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. John Stott’s The Message of the Sermon on the Mount presents a clear vision of Jesus’ teaching and the distinctive Christian life to which we are called. Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship offers a compelling hearing of Jesus’ call to discipleship in the Sermon on the Mount and the sacrificial witness of the church today. We look forward to learning “The Way of Wisdom According to Jesus” in community together this spring.
OUR VISION As God’s redeemed people, united by faith in Christ, empowered by His Spirit, we worship God, live by His Word, and join His mission in the world. DR. DANIEL MASTER We are honored to host distinguished archaeologist, Dr. Daniel Master on March 8-9, 2020. Master will share his findings from archaeological digs in Israel. His current research includes excavating Tel Shimron, the largest ancient city in the Jezreel Valley. He was a co-director on the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, an archaeological dig run by the Harvard University which explored a Philistine dwelling on the Mediterranean Sea. Other research projects include excavating from Phoenician shipwrecks in the Eastern Mediterranean. Masters has used pioneering methods in DNA testing to illuminate the biblical world. He has been featured on NPR and in the New York Times.
Master will speak at three events. On Sunday, March 8, at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary, David Palmer wil host him in A Conversation with Daniel Master. On Monday, at the University of Cincinnati, Master will speak at noon at Tangeman University Center, Room 220. Finally on Monday night, March 9 at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary, he will present for Kenwood and the Cincinnati community. Please consider inviting guests to the Monday night event which will be followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. All events are free and open to the public.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 AT 7 PM A Conversation with Dr. Daniel Master Kenwood Baptist Church Sanctuary
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 AT 12 PM Sailors of the Wine-Dark Sea: How DNA Testing Reveals the Origin of the Philistines University of Cincinnati MainStreet Cinema, Tangeman University Center, Room 220
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 AT 7 PM God in the Dirt: How Biblical Archaeology Enriches Our Understanding of the Bible Kenwood Baptist Church Sanctuary Reception to follow.
GOD’S GUATEMALA MISSIONS TRIP DOWNTOWN MINISTRY
This fall, God called a group of Kenwood students to begin ministering to the homeless population in downtown Cincinnati. Each Saturday morning, God has called Kenwood's Student Ministries to Guatemala this summer. From June a small contingent of faithful servants 12-21, a group of teenagers, parents and youth leaders will be serving with Lifting gather at Kenwood to cook a nutritious Kids in a small village near Antigua, Guatemala. meal and prepare for an afternoon of ministry. This team, led by Nick Zannis In the mornings, our team will work alongside Lifting Kids to serve seniors, people (12th grade), serves between 30-150 with disabilities, and others with critical needs. In the afternoons, we will lead a people who are homeless. After the Vacation Bible School for about 75 children from the community. Please pray with us meal is served, a Bible study begins that many would trust in Jesus as their Savior. and God’s Word and the love of Jesus is TEAM MEMBERS INCLUDE: shared each week. •Teenagers: Paige Burns (10th grade); Nate Cox (10th grade); Ken Fukuda (9th grade); Manami Fukuda (10th grade); Megumi Fukuda (10th grade); Ian Naughton (10th grade); If you are interested in joining this Pierce Naughton (12th grade); Sarah Nesadurai (11th grade); Jacob Nugent (9th grade) team, please contact Pastor Fred. •Parents: Jason Cox; Carlene Naughton; Cindi Nugent; Patrick Naughton •Youth Pastor and Youth Leaders: Fred Anderson; Tacie Anderson; Molly Doubet, Jonathan Firsdon A WORD FROM OUR ELDERS: STEWARDSHIP By Don Angel Your Elders are excited about the upcoming Magnify campaign. We are grateful to be able to use our resources to glorify and honor Our Lord.
Psalm 34:3 says, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” The psalmist is praising God for the experiences which he and others have had of His goodness. How we respond to His goodness through our stewardship starts with a component that is personal. That is, each person and every family needs to pray and listen to how God wants them to participate.
However, this verse in Psalms also notes the component of community in stewardship. The psalmist is asking us to come along with him. God wants us to be good stewards together. By belonging to a community of Christ, we are joining with our brothers and sisters in Christ on a journey where He is leading us together. God has an exciting part for all of us to play.
As we hear more about the journey in the coming weeks, we need your help. Most importantly, will you join us in prayer that God’s will be done and that He will be glorified? Please continue in prayer for both the personal and community aspects of our Magnify journey.
EXCITING NEW MATH MAGICIANS MINISTRY DOORS OPENING Thirty-three tutors mentor 32 young Deer Park students though our Math Magicians and Whiz Kids outreach programs on Wednesdays. In partnership We relaunched Japanese Fellowship as with Amity Elementary, we seek to empower the students to learn through a part of Kenwood’s ministry in August one-on-one and small group tutoring interactions. Whiz Kids is a tutoring/ of 2019. We have since witnessed the mentoring program of City Gospel Mission. Math Magicians is a Kenwood- wonderful work of God among Japanese created program that uses the Bridges math curriculum to help students people. In January, God brought 75 people, through social math engagement games, repetition, and hands-on learning. including 17 new visitors, to our New Year celebration! Since less than 1% of the people Tutoring/mentoring outreach programs are important for Kenwood because in Japan are Christian, this is a big group! they give us opportunities to build relationships with the students and their About 20 women get together at Kenwood families. According to a 2011 study, students who do not read or count on Tuesdays to learn about biblical marriage. proficiently by the end of third grade are four times less likely to graduate on God also opened the door for Japanese time, and those in poverty are at even greater risk. Volunteer tutoring programs exchange students at UC to experience can help reduce that risk by providing guidance and support to students in God’s love at Kenwood. Five or six Japanese need. students have been attending a Christianity Explored program on Saturday mornings. To serve as a tutor or greeter, please contact Melody Hamilton, Kenwood’s What a mighty God we serve! Outreach Coordinator, at [email protected].
NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Elizabeth Keller joined Kenwood in January. She was first introduced to Jesus through her dad who read the Bible to her when she was a child. As a young adult, Elizabeth was baptized at Westwood Baptist.
She first connected with us through the Thursday Women’s Bible Study group, which she has been attending for close to three years. She started joining us for Sunday morning worship about a year ago. Elizabeth has traveled extensively and loves logging miles on her bike. Welcome to our family, Elizabeth! You’re Invited HOLY WEEK
FEBUARY 26 Dr. Tim Laniak: Buried Culture Reveals Biblical Meaning, 6:30 PM
MARCH 8 A Conversation with Daniel Master, archaeologist of the Holy Land 9 Sailors on the Wine-Dark Sea Daniel Master Lecture 12:00 UC Campus 9 God in the Dirt: How Biblical Archaeology Enriches Our Understanding of the Bible 13 Technology Workshops for Seniors (SALT) 15 Congregational Meeting 27 Technology Workshops for Seniors (SALT)
APRIL 10 Passover Dinner 10 Good Friday Service 11 Easter Breakfast 12 Easter Sunday 24 Technology Workshop for Seniors (SALT)
July 13-17 VBS 6:30-8:30 PM July 29-31 Soccer Camp
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8341 Kenwood Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236 513.791.0355 www.kenwoodbaptist.org