Douglas Baptist Church

“Walking with God in the Desert “(That the World May Know Series #12)

Are you going through a difficult period of life? The loss of a loved one? Unemployment? A crisis of faith? During these desert times, it’s easy to think God has disappeared. Instead, discover that it’s only when we are totally dependent on Him that we find Him closer than ever and can experience God’s amazing grace and provision.

This DVD based study will be lead by Pastor Peter and features renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan.

“Building Faith @ Home”

Joshua declared long ago that his household “will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15). But, we live in a turbulent society where our faith is questioned on a number of levels in many different ways. How do we develop Biblical principles into our faith journey and those that we live with or care about? Are you a parent or grandparent exploring how to encourage faith in your children or grandchildren?

Pastor Dan will explore, together with those in this class, several principles and Scripture passages that will encourage us to seek ways to strengthen faith in our own homes.

“Christ, Christians & Christianity: Common Misconceptions”

Many people, both Christians and non-Christian alike, go through life firmly believing things about Christ, Christians and Christianity that are have no basis in reality. Some such misconceptions are relatively harmless, while others are real barriers that keep people away from the church. Over the last decade or so, since the rise of “new atheists” like Richard Dawkins, the number of things that people believe about Christianity that simply are not true has exploded. This course will look at the most common and problematic misunderstandings about what it means to be a Christian. Hopefully, identifying and understanding things like this will help us as we interact with non-believers (who may know very little about Christianity), with new Christians (who are just beginning to learn what it’s all about), and even with mature believers.

This study will be led by Trevor Sawler.

Tip #1 SPEND LESS!

This Sunday (Dec. 4) we will be continuing with our Advent Conspiracy theme. Our topic will be “spend less and free your resources for things that truly matter.”

Here are a few more ideas to go along with what I will be sharing on Sunday!

1) Be intentional when spending money

2) Set a budget; know your limit; strive for a debt free Christmas

3) Before you start buying, consider each person on your list. Think about your relationship and what significance it brings to your life.

4) Consider your core values and whether what you are buying reflects those values.

5) Consider drawing names rather than giving gifts to everyone.

6) Give one less gift than last year (or maybe even two).

Looking for some new Christmas tunes? Pick up this album at your local Christian bookstore (or online). Some fun Christmas classics, great traditional favourites and a few modern musical pieces that fit very well with our church’s Advent theme this year.

This fall I have been leading a Sunday School Adult Elective entitled “Life in the Balance” (Produced by Joni Eareckson Tada & Friends). We have been exploring a number of “hot button issues” and seeking to understand how our Christian faith affects our view on these issues. This past week we talk about Stem Cell Research.

Most mornings we only begin to scratch the surface of these issues but at least we are actually taking about them in church and not ignoring them. We need to be better informed and strive to think biblically about the issues of our day.

This past Sunday, as I was talking about stem cell research, I mentioned a website that I found helpful. I include it hear not as a whole hearted endorsement (I haven’t read every single article on the website) but as a means for you to learn more about the issue.

The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, Trinity International University

www.cbhd.org/category/issues/stem-cell-research