March/April Newsletter

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He is Not Here, for He Has Risen

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In This Issue He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.

Come, see the place where he lay.

- Matthew 28:6

Living in the Shadows

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Why I Believe in the Resurrection

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America’s Most Bible Minded Cities

& 07 Birthdays Anniversaries

Pastor Dave Welsch

FELLOWSHIP NEWS

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Missionary Chris Waye

WINTER 2015

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

- 1 Corinthians 15:14

by Pastor Dave Welsch

The Apostle Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians that if the resurrection is not a true historical event then our faith is pointless. He even goes as far as to say that if Christ is not risen then we should be pitied above all people because we are still lost in our sins and have bought into a lie. One writer puts it this way “In a profound sense, Christianity without the resurrection is not simply Christianity without its final chapter. It is not Christianity at all.” So it is clear that if you make the resurrection into a simple allegory or a spiritual tale but not a historical event then the entire building that is the Christian faith comes tumbling down around you. Without the resurrection our faith is most assuredly a sham.

Throughout history secularists have come up with multiple theories to explain away the resurrection, here are the 3 that have been most accepted and taught: 1. The Fraud Theory The Fraud Theory simply enough presents the idea that the Apostles stole the body of Jesus and the entire resurrection was the greatest fraud in the history of mankind. The theory proposes that the disciples were the greatest frauds in history, they weren’t about doing God’s work they were faking everything. There are a couple of problems with this theory. The first problem is what exactly did the disciples gain by faking the resurrection? A life time of persecution, being beaten, ostracized and ultimately killed? That hardly seems like the normal power, money and prestige that comes with the intent of fraud. You also have to explain how the disciples managed to get by the Roman guards that we are told the Roman Governor Pilate put there (Matthew 27:62-66) for the exact reason that he was worried about the disciples trying to steal the body. If the disciples pulled it off it was under …..cont. on pg 3

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the watchful eye of Rome’s top highly trained guards. Even if they did steal the body would the disciples be willing to die for that lie? It has been said that, “A man will die for something that he hopes is so, but he will never die for something that he knows is not so.”

2. The Swoon Theory The Swoon theory proposes that Jesus didn’t actually die but instead survived in a coma-like state. This view has even more difficult questions to deal with, like how did Jesus survive the brutal scourging and crucifixion? How did the Romans guards who were experts in killing people and even faced the threat of their own lives if one of their prisoners got away miss that Jerusalem’s most notorious figure wasn’t dead? Why would Joseph and Nicodemaus embalm a living Jesus in 75 pounds of bandages and spices? How would a critically injured bleeding man survive 36 hours in a cold dark tomb? How would that man unwrap himself, move the rock in front of the tomb and get past the roman guards? Even the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes the certainty of the death of Jesus:

“Clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the wound to his side was inflicted and supports the traditional view that the spear, thrust between his right rib, probably perforated not only the right lung but also the pericardium and heart and thereby ensured his death.

Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at odds with modern medical knowledge.”

3. Vision Theory The Vision theory simply holds that all the people who claim to have seen the resurrected Jesus (over 500 of them) had a hallucination. This theory really doesn’t even hold enough water to be intellectually viable but we will address it anyway. The historical accounts of seeing Jesus happen by over 500 different people at varying places and at varying times. Sure maybe its possible a few people could all have a hallucination at one time and one specific place but over 500 people at different locations over a period of 40 days? It’s not just unlikely its absurd.

I believe in the resurrection because the historical evidence for the resurrection is overwhelming. If you were to line up all the eyewitnesses and give them 15 minutes to tell their testimony you would have 129 hours of testimony confirming the resurrection. The disciples were so moved by the resurrection that they were willing to suffer and die for their beliefs. Skeptics like Saul of Tarsus, James the brother of Jesus and Thomas were convinced simply because of the resurrection. Within 5 weeks of the resurrection over 10,000 Jewish people were willing to forsake everything to follow Christ and the entire social and theological structure of Judaism was radically changed after the resurrection of Jesus. I believe in the resurrection because not only has it changed the lives of the disciples but it has also changed by life.

“No matter how devastating our struggles, disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary. No matter what happens to you, no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face, no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises you a future of immeasurable good.” – Josh McDowell

FELLOWSHIP NEWS

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WINTER 2015

“I defy the Pope and all his laws! If God spares my life for many years, I will cause a boy that drives the plough to know more of the Scripture than he does!”

It was in the 16th century that the great preacher from England, William Tyndale, would make this bold proclamation. At the time, no english translation of the Bible was available, and only a select few had it’s latin translation making Scriptures virtually unknown to the common man. It was his deep passion to make the new testament available and readable to every man, woman, boy, and girl in Britain. Tyndale would succeed in his efforts, although not without great cost; that price tag being his own life.

William Tyndale, like other great heroes of the faith, are common names in the Christian world.

Many a man has devoted his life’s work to the cause of Christ and making His name known among the nations, but in every case there is much more working being done behind the scenes that goes often unnoticed.

Humphrey Monmouth. To you, this name probably means very little, if anything at all. In fact, it was only just a few months ago that I heard this name for the first time, so you are not alone. Monmouth was a wealthy cloth merchant businessman on London’s eastside. It was in the spring of 1523 that Monmouth would attend the St. Dunstan-in-the-West church in London. It just happened to be the very day that a passionate but underfunded William Tyndale would be speaking.

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FELLOWSHIP NEWS

WINTER 2015

Monmouth would later meet with Tyndale privately and was deeply moved by his ambitions to put the Bible in that hands of every Englishman. Knowing the great risks involved both financially and to the peril of his own life, Monmouth took Tyndale into his home and used his assets to help move Tyndale and his work to mainland Europe. It would be in his own boats that he would smuggle the first new testaments across the English Chanel, later being arrested, and imprisoned for well over a year. He would give the jumpstart that Tyndale needed and be a major part of getting the english Bible into Britain.

William Tyndale would see his work finished before being caught, tried, and executed for heresy and treason Oct 6, 1536. His last words were “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes”. Just three years later, his wish was granted with the publication of King Henry VIII’s 1539 English “Great Bible”.

Had it not been for a businessman with a heart for God, willing to “live in the shadows” for the cause of Christ, and help carry out one mans dream, we certainly would have a different history to read.

The truth is, most of us will live, die, and be forgotten. Most of us will not have lasting ministries that mark the pages of history, but will live in the shadows as Humprey Monmoth did. The real question is, what will we do with the life that we have been given? What opportunities will we cease for the Kingdom? Who’s work will we get behind and make a success?

John 3:30 says “He must increase, but I must decrease”. No truer words could be spoken of what our life’s priority must be about. Would we allow ourselves to be used of God, with the gifts, strengths, talents, finances, opportunities that He has given us, so that He might increase in this world. Do we have to be Paul, or can we be Barnabas? Do we have to be Tyndale or are we happy enough being Monmouth? Do we have to be in the spotlight, or can we give ourselves to God and allow Him to use in whether seen or unseen?

Perhaps there is a ministry in your church that, though unseen and unheard, you could fill. What can you do to allow your pastor to better fulfill his calling in shepherding the flock? Where can you plug in and help lighten the load, jumpstart a ministry, support and encourage a missionary? The possibilities are near endless if we will die to ourselves, our dreams, our pride, our ego, and look to build the name of the Lord, and not our own.

About the Author Chris Waye is a Missionary currently serving in London, England. Chris and Sherry have three children, Lawson, Linden and Liam.

You can follow their ministry online at ChurchPlantUK.com

March 8 - Sara Baldwin March 17 - Herbie Crawford March 19 - Sandra Sullivan March 24 - Khloe Walsh March 31 - Mary D’Elia April 5 - Joan Anderson April 6 - Paul Stott April 9 - Ernie Zarate April 11 - Emily Zarate April 13 - Wendy D’Elia April 16 - Dara Shelsky April 17 - Scott Urquart April 18 - Pam Sperry April 20 - Naya Baldwin April 25 - Trisha Welsch & Claudia Zarate

Anniversaries April 28 - David & Tatiana Rodriguez

Woman’s Bible Study Every other Thursday at 7pm Check the Church Calendar at fellowshipbibleburlington.com for exact dates

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FELLOWSHIP NEWS

WINTER 2015

Small Group Bible Study

Every Other Sunday Starting Sunday March 29th Community is vitally important in the local church. We were not meant to go through our Christian lives on our own. Our Small Group Bible Study will build authentic community as we eat together, pray together and dig deeper in to God’s Word . The Bible Study will be from 5:30-7pm at the Parsonage.

Email info@fellowshipbibleburlington.com for more info

by Trisha Welsch

Psalm 37 is subtitled: “He will not forsake his saints”. What an amazing psalm depicting of God’s protection and love for the righteous and upright, although, at times it may seem as though the wicked are getting away and prospering. I am reminded that God is faithful and just and He will judge them.

In the opening verses I am challenged to: 1. Trust in the Lord 2. Delight myself in the Lord 3. Commit my way to the Lord What a convicting thought and challenge! Am I doing these things? Verse 7 phrases it even more challenging “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;” Wow that is so hard to do, yet so important. I am reminded in the psalm that God protects, defends, blesses, and loves His children. What an amazing thought, how awesome my God truly is. Though at times, it may seem hard, though I will fall (vs. 24) He will uphold me. Perhaps the most encouraging verse is verse 25.

“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

God delivers, and defends those who: 1. take refuge in him 2. who trust him 3. who keep his way What an amazing challenge to me!

So thankful for the faithfulness, the strength and power, the love and the steadfastness of my God.

FELLOWSHIP NEWS

WINTER 2015

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