October 2020

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday as we worshipped together, we thought about examples of overcoming faith from Hebrews 11. We saw people of faith who did not see complete fulfillment of God’s promises in their lifetimes but knew God would come through and fulfill his promises. We saw people of faith who stood in faith amid angry opposition. We saw people of faith doing seemingly impossible things in impossible situations. We saw people of faith conquer and overcome God’s enemies. We saw people of faith endure horrific and unspeakable treatment because they would not deny their faith. Finally, we saw the people of faith of the Old Testament wait for God’s ultimate best, which is Jesus, and then all God’s people waiting until every enemy is destroyed under Jesus’ feet. Through these examples, we see that men and women’s imperfect faith in a perfect God enables them to overcome in life and in death.

Remember to turn your clocks back this Saturday night as daylight savings time ends at 2:00 AM, Sunday, November 1^st.

If you miss our Sunday services and would like to watch them or perhaps share them with someone you know, you can find video of the services at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3rJ-oFvSS-9W-iWf6Wcvnw.

We provide multiple ways for you to give to support the Lord’s work through East Madison. Every Sunday morning, an offering box is provided for you to be able to deposit your offerings. If you would like, you can mail offering checks to the church address at the Milwaukee Street address below. Also, you can give your offerings online at the embclife.org website by clicking the “Give Online” tab on the homepage or you can click this link directly: https://give.idonate.com/east-madison-baptist-church/give

Please join me in praying for our city, state, and nation during these difficult days. God’s people need to intensely seek His help, His justice, His mercy, and His peace in these times.

Here is a link to a song that I hope would encourage all of you, “Jesus, Your Mercy”:  https://youtu.be/HpQZREWhgXg.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! We worshipped together yesterday both virtually and in person. We looked at the first part of Hebrews 11, the faith chapter of the Bible, to consider what faith is and what it is not. Faith is more than wishful thinking or hoping for the best. Faith is not some kind of “blind leap” into irrationality or something that has no evidence whatsoever. Faith is not closing your minds to natural law and science. It is not becoming an unthinking and irrational person. Biblical faith is trusting the one who made the laws by which all the universe operates and is governed. Biblical, saving faith is believing and trusting in God who has come to us and revealed Himself to us. Saving faith believes in the power of God’s Word. Saving faith worships, walks, and works for God. Saving faith stakes it very reputation, life, and future on God direction. Saving faith believes in real and full life beyond this earthly existence. Saving faith honors God and receives His approval. Saving faith is finding life in Jesus who made the universe, loving Him and living for Him.Saving faith trusts in the living God and acts upon the certainty of His Word.

The Minnesota/Wisconsin Baptist convention annual meeting will be held virtually this Friday, October 23, 20 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  If you would like to be a part of this annual meeting, use this link this Friday: https://www.mwbc.org/annual-meeting/.

If you miss our Sunday services and would like to watch them or perhaps share them with someone you know, you can find video of the services at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3rJ-oFvSS-9W-iWf6Wcvnw.

We provide multiple ways for you to give to support the Lord’s work through East Madison.  Every Sunday morning, an offering box is provided for you to be able to deposit your offerings. If you would like, you can mail offering checks to the church address at the Milwaukee Street address below. Also, you can give your offerings online at the embclife.org website by clicking the “Give Online” tab on the homepage or you can click this link directly: https://give.idonate.com/east-madison-baptist-church/give

Please join me in praying for our city, state, and nation during these difficult days. God’s people need to intensely seek His help, His justice, His mercy, and His peace in these times.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! It was wonderful to be able to worship outdoors yesterday so more of us could gather physically. We were able to take the Lord’s Supper together. We sang about the hope we always have in Jesus. We sang about the darkness being great and our sins many, but the light and mercy of God is greater and more. We heard a wonderful answer to our prayers as Donald shared with us the good reports of his improvement.  From Hebrews 10, we thought about living in community with each other.  We considered how to draw near to God together, how to hold fast to our hope in Jesus, and how to stir one another up to love and good deeds. We saw from Hebrews 10 the utter hopelessness of those who, after having been enlightened to the gospel, willfully and finally reject the love of Jesus. We considered how during extremely hard times we can help each other be victorious. We must live together in community to truly live victoriously as believers in Jesus. To live in isolation is danger and disaster. Not living in community reveals something seriously wrong with our spiritual life.  It will reveal either continual defeat in following Jesus or it reveals you have never truly embraced Jesus. Satan will do everything he can to keep you isolated and separated from God’s family, so do not let him to that! Believers in community together victoriously face the struggles of life and carry the gospel to the world.

If you miss our Sunday services and would like to watch them or perhaps share them with someone you know, you can find video of the services at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3rJ-oFvSS-9W-iWf6Wcvnw.

We provide multiple ways for you to give to support the Lord’s work through East Madison.  Every Sunday morning, an offering box is provided for you to be able to deposit your offerings. If you would like, you can mail offering checks to the church address at the Milwaukee Street address below. Also, you can give your offerings online at the embclife.org website by clicking the “Give Online” tab on the homepage or you can click this link directly: https://give.idonate.com/east-madison-baptist-church/give

Please join me in praying for our city, state, and nation during these difficult days. God’s people need to intensely seek His help, His justice, His mercy, and His peace in these times.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. 

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! It was good to worship with those of you who could attend physically and those who worshipped with us virtually because we had to meet inside. Even though we were not all physically together, we worshipped together as the body of Christ united in Him. We worshipped our Almighty Maker and gloried in the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We looked at dealing with our real guilt before Holy God from Hebrews 10. We learned that religious ritual and repetition never provide forgiveness or a cleansed conscience. Christ Jesus’ offering of Himself on the cross, which was fully accepted by God the Father, provides complete forgiveness and a cleansed conscience. We are set free to know, love and serve God! Jesus’ offering of Himself provides all who believe with new hearts and minds. Christ Jesus once for all by the offering of Himself on the cross sets apart all who will believe to love and serve God forever. Yes, forgiveness and new life is possible in Jesus. Do not live in unforgiveness and guilt any longer. Give your life to Christ today if you have never received Him. If you know Him today, live in the complete forgiveness that belongs to you as you belong to Him.

We will observe the Lord’s Supper during our morning worship next Sunday, October 11, 2020. If the weather is good, we will meet outside. 

Please join me in praying for our city, state, and nation during these difficult days.  God’s people need to intensely seek His help, His justice, His mercy, and His peace in these times.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church