Nu’uanu Baptist Church March 22, 2023
Coming Together
Last week as Gail and I headed home from church, we were listening to the radio. Dr. David Jeremiah was sharing about people who have had a very rough go of it. They wonder how anything good can come out of the difficulties they are experiencing. They wonder what God is doing in their life. Dr. Jeremiah used the illustration of a tapestry, that some of you have heard, to illustrate the point that God does care for us and is working out His purposes in our life, even though we can’t see it at the time. Dr. Jeremiah said on one side of the tapestry we see thread and knots and no discernible pattern or picture. It just looks like a mess. However, on the other side of the tapestry we see a beautiful picture coming together. What a contrast between the two sides. Maybe your life is like that. The side you see of your life is just a bunch of random threads and knots, no pattern, no picture. One day, maybe not until we see Jesus, we will see the other side with the beautiful picture. Some people believe they are able to see the beautiful picture after a time of difficulty. Others don’t. Even those who believe they do, don’t see the final picture. We will only see that when our time on this earth is over.
Related to the “tapestry” there is something that I believe God showed me about the awesomeness of His Word, the Bible from this illustration. That is, when we read the Bible, we read about the sinfulness of humankind. We read about the failures of God’s chosen people, the Israelites. In the New Testament, Acts 5:1-11 we even read about Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, who believed in Jesus but lied to the Holy Spirit and died. And then there are “a lot” of things in the Bible we don’t understand.
Critics of the Bible talk about contradictions, inaccuracies, fables, or other things. The problem is, they are looking at the wrong side of the “tapestry" of God’s Word, the Bible. When we see the Bible as a whole, we see the record of the redemptive work of God in our world through His Son, Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible’s message is first and foremost about the triune God. It’s centered in His name and His glory, and how He has graciously chosen to share Himself with us. When we look at the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we see a unity, a purpose, a record of our history, not just individually, but all humanity. It really is a beautiful tapestry.
The Bible makes it clear who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. We look at creation around us and see there has to be a God who designed and created everything. But when we read the Bible we see this almighty, transcendent, eternal God revealing Himself to us. And He does it without error. God has revealed everything we need to know for life in this world and the next and in a way that we don’t require another written revelation. How great is that! How awesome is that!
I will close with two passages of Scripture that say it better than I could.
Hebrews 4:12,
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword,
penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17,
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
God bless,
Pastor Bob
Announcements
1. Biblical Counseling Workshop THIS weekend, starting Friday evening. Register today on Nuʻuanuʻs website, or call the church office. If you don’t know till Friday if you can make it, then just come! It begins Friday evening at 6 p.m.
2. This Sunday **we will have baptism for Mark Serafin in our worship service. Come and witness this wonderful testimony of a follower of Christ. Also, **business meeting will follow immediately after the worship service. It will be fairly short in light of George Iwahiro’s memorial service at 2 p.m. And, **there will be no prayer meeting at 5 p.m. because of the last session of the Biblical Counseling Workshop.
3. Deacon Nominations deadline is this Sunday, March 26. Please give prayerful consideration and place your nomination form in the boxes available.
4. Photo Retake of our church family will take place on April 2 after worship service.
5. Anniversary Lunch Tickets can be purchased from Pam Ginoza, Janet Chinn, Tani Kagesa, and Donna Miller. Our 80th Church Anniversary Lunch is on April 22 (10:30 am - 1:30 pm at Hale Ikena-Ft. Shafter.) $30 per adult, $15 for children 4-12, ages 3 and under free. Deadline is April 3! For easier entry to Ft. Shafter, if you are the driver, please provide the following information when purchasing your ticket: Driver’s first and last name, license number, and date of birth. If you need transportation to the lunch, please let one of the deacons know or contact the church office. If you need financial assistance with the cost of the lunch, please contact one of the pastors.
6. Annie Armstrong Easter Offering total as of March 21, 2023 is $4,583.00. Our NBC goal is $8,500.