Serving Christ Through Montgomery Area Churches

N H ,D M T ,N 2, 2017

HAPPY 500TH ANNIVERSARY, PROTESTANTS!

SAMS Angel Market
A s many of you know, October marks the 500th
anniversary of Martin Luther hanging the 95
Theses on the Wittenberg door (October 31,1517). This
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for families in need
action ushered in what is now known in history as The
Protestant Reformation. Incidentally, the word New Toy Donations
protestant is German for protestor. Luthers Needed!
objective was to reform the one church and return her
to a biblical standard. What was intended to be an See a list of
academic discussion with colleagues resulted in a suggestions on
movement that changed the world. Almost everything in the Montgomery
present day Western Civilization is a result of seeds
planted during the Renaissance and Reformation era. The
birth of Baptists would be one of them.
Annual Celebration Baptist
Association
Facebook page and
Amazon wish list.
In the past month, I have read numerous articles from
key theologians and pastors regarding the Reformation Monday, November 6 Deliver to Heritage on
Neal Hughes movement. Some of my favorites were in the October 5:15 pm Annual Session December 4.
Director of Missions edition of the Southern Baptist Texan
(http://texanonline.net). The Alabama Baptist also had 6:00 pm Ministry Fair and For more information on
an excellent article from Rob Jackson entitled, How One Mans Understanding, giving or volunteering,
Convictions Led to Worldwide Reform (http://www.thealabamabaptist.org). Seize Finger-Food Fellowship contact Lisa Rose at 271-6794
the moment and be inspired by reading our rich heritage.
7:00 pm Celebration or lrose@mgmbaptists.org
One might ask the question, How does this relate to me as a Southern Baptist? Nursery and preschool childcare available by
Almost everything we hold dear as Baptists can be directly related to the Protestant reservation only, call 271-6227. Baptist Womens
Reformation. Let me illustrate four areas: World Day of Prayer
The Word of God- In 1517, people could only trust what the priest said about Gateway Baptist Church November 6, 2017 9:30 a.m.
Gods precious and mighty Word, as they did not have a copy of scripture. Not Engaged Christian Church
having the Bible in their heart language led to much abuse by those in the know. 3300 Bell Road Fellowship Hall
Baptists have always been known as people of the book. You can go anywhere 2877 McGehee Road
in the world and find Southern Baptists who believe, preach and teach the rich
truths of the infallible, inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). We owe a debt of Upcoming Events An offering will be collected
gratitude to Luther and those before us who paved that path by assuring our for the Baptist World
personal copy of scripture. November 6: Ministers Conference Alliance Women.
Baptism by Immersion- From the 16th century, many believers became known as at Heritage | 11:30 am Call Tammy Rolling,
the one who baptizes again or Anabaptists. They believed that infant baptism Dr. Ken Weathersby, Speaker 201-2488, for more information.
was scripturally wrong and that true baptism would come by way of Jesus
example, an immersion in water symbolizing the death, burial and resurrection of November 9: Lunch n Learn at MBA
For Administrative Assistants| 12:00 pm Letohatchee Homecoming
our Lord (Romans 6:1-4). Furthermore, baptism should happen as an act of biblical 6300 State Highway 97 South
obedience following ones choice to trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and
Savior. The return to this biblical example began in the reformation days by the re- November 11: Co-vocational Pastors November 5
baptizers, or should I say Baptists. Breakfast at MBA | 7:30 am 11:00 am
Priesthood of the Believer- Before the Reformation, it was taught the only way to Covered-dish lunch will follow
Register for these events by contacting Elizabeth at
the throne of God was through an earthly priest. They must have missed Hebrews 271-6227 or ekirk@mgmbaptists.org. For more information, call 799-2667.
4:16 in Sunday School. Peter also calls every believer a royal priesthood (1 Peter
2:9). In short, the same Holy Spirit speaking to your pastor speaks to you, a priest
of God. As a family of believers and in the fullness of the Holy Spirt, every one of
us are bridge builders (priests) to humanity. The contemporary release of the laity
to serve as priests is directly related to the Wittenberg door experience.
Religious Liberty- Luther preached strongly on the freedom of faith
(Romans 1:16-17). Faith was a conscious and personal decision that no man could
dictate. Baptists inherited that DNA, which crossed over the Atlantic and became
the fundamental core value to the new nation called the United States of America.
In fact, it was Baptists who lobbied that the first amendment of the Constitution
(Bill of Rights) would speak to religious liberty: Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Therefore, let us thank the Lord today for those like Martin Luther who have gone
before us, enabling you and me to stand with liberty. If the day ever came, let us
have the courage of Luther to say with conviction, Here I stand. I can do no
other.
Together We Can! For more information, call Columbus Baptist Association at 706-322-7757
Neal or email Info@RenovateMyChurch.org

The Montgomery Baptist Association MBA Community Ministries, Inc. 20 Interstate Park Dr. Montgomery, Alabama 36109 334-271-6227 www.mgmbaptists.org
This publication is made possible by your churches contributions to Associational Missions.