The Elders of Omaha Bible Church gathered for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 25. After prayer, we opened our discussion for the evening by reviewing the financial reports for the month of May.Our budget for May was $67,300 and our giving was $70,400. We are grateful for the Lord's continued provision both spiritually and physically within His local body. We follow...

The book we are focusingon for this month's POST is The Answer of Jesus to Job by G. Campbell Morgan. Morgan wrote during the early 1900s. His book is a rare and hidden gem surrounded by the writings of late 1800s and early 1900s liberal authors. Liberal writers during Campbell's era were pioneering naturalistic interpretations of Scripture with a Darwinian flare, focus...

What would you say, if someone asked you to summarize your entire life and ministry? How would you express your one passion? What is the 'one thing' you do? There are many ministry callings in the service of the church,representedby each member. The saints are zealous for a multiplicity of passions and ambitions reflecting the diversity of the body of Christ. Many of thes...

For this month's book review, we are stepping back into the early 1800s to dust off a little book written by Octavius Winslow. Winslow was born in England and ministered as a contemporary of Charles Spurgeon and J.C. Ryle. He is noted for his high view of God, yet desire to flesh out the power of Christ's supremacy in the believer's daily life. None Like Christis only 9...

Consider with me for a moment Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 6:4:"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything" (6:10). How is it possible to be characterized by both sorrow and joy; having nothing, yet possessing everything? At first glance, they do seem to be contradictory or at the least, strange bed-fel...

The Elders of Omaha Bible Church gathered for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2023.We began our discussion by reviewing the financial reports for the month of September. September averaged 377 in attendance for the month. We praise the Lord that so many were able to hear the teaching of God's Word concerning the goodness of God's salvation offered in Chris...

I am thrilled to highly recommend this book by Fitzpatrick and Johnson. Comprehensive and yet, simple, it is a book conducive for every member of the church. This is a book that provides a biblical analysis of the condition of the heart and fleshes out the promise of the gospel in the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, particularly as God's an...

If a Christian was on a mission to study the Bible to retrieve the God-given roles for a Christian marriage, he or she might be surprised to find that roles are generally identified. Largely missing are the prescriptive details the "how to's." The ideas of leading, loving, serving as a head, and instructing children are attributed to the role of husbands. Submitting, hon...

The elders met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 14. Our evening began with prayer exalting Christ for His sufficiency and beseeching His grace for the many facets of gospel ministry. Our discussion for the evening opened with a review of the financial reports for the month of November. We noted that general fund giving was approximately $74,000 for the month...

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a preacher in London during the greater part of the 1800s. He is said to have preached to ten million people over the course of his lifetime and cared for over 14,000 members during his 38 years behind the pulpit. Yet, it was said that when guests walked through the Metropolitan Tabernacle, they were sure to be taken to the basement prayer ro...

When we think of prayer, we often evaluate it in terms of our duty as Christians. We will readily admit that prayer is a duty by virtue of the Creator-creation relationship; that is, as creatures we owe our Creator worship and praise. Prior to sin, duty was delight, for we were created to rest in the eternal benevolence and kindness of God and respond with joyous thanks a...

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissioned believers to the high calling of making disciples based on his universal authority over heaven and earth. Since the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ, left his church with the commission of discipleship, it would do us well to understand the character of this calling. In his book, Discipling, Mark Devers anchors discipleship on t...

I recently had the opportunity to perform the marriage ceremony of a precious young couple. They were near and dear to my heart as well as the church family. As their pastor for many years, it was a joy to watch them blossom and grow in the soil of the community of the church and the ministry of the gospel. I would like to take a moment and share some of the main points f...

The Elders of Omaha Bible Church gathered for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. After prayer, we opened our discussion for the morning by reviewing the financial reports for the month of March. We had an encouraging month of giving for March. Our budgeted giving for March was $76,718 as we had five weeks of giving that fell into the month. Even with the hi...

Bitterness: The Root that Pollutes,written by Lou Priolo, is a helpful gospel-motivated resource for shepherding a heart through the difficulties of the elusive power and sway of bitterness. The book is a mere 60 pages in length and contains personal questions at the back of each chapter, great for a small group or an individual who would like to take the material to a ...

This holiday season (remember that holiday comes from "holy day," which means especially set apart for remembrance) we are facing an especially trying time that is unique to many of us. We will be thinking about ways we can gather to celebrate God's good gifts while considering how we can best maximize the good of one another. While these times may be unique to many of us...

The elders of Omaha Bible Church gathered for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. We opened our meeting with a reading and discussion of the London Baptist Confession of 1689, Chapter 13: Of Sanctification. We were encouraged to be reminded that through union with Christ, the effectual calling of God, and the regeneration of the Spirit, believers have be...

The elders met for their monthly meeting on the morning of Wednesday,April 22. While the regularity of our monthly meetings was normal, the medium that we used to meet was far from characteristic. As with many meetings these days and at this time in our life, we are gathering virtually through Zoom. Virtual meetings require some getting used to, as I'm sure many have alre...

Guy Waters book,Justification, is a simple, down-to-earth, articulation of the gospel of justification as well as a clear explanation of the threats being made against the gospel. In view of this attack on the gospel in our evangelical churches at large, a book written specifically for members of the local church is a most welcome resource. Guy Waters divided the book ...

As we move toward Christmas I would like to recommendChild in the Manger: The True Meaning of Christmas, by Sinclair Ferguson. Whenever Ferguson puts his pen to paper, his focus on the centrality of Christ's person and redemptive work is a balm to my soul. I have read many books focused on the Christmas season and in my humble opinion, this work outshines them all (except...

This Christmas season as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ's incarnation and birth, I thought it would be encouraging for us to trace the redemptive family line of our Savior throughout Scripture. I pray that as we reflect on the journey of Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, and the Magi, we too would see the worn pathway of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation as th...

One of the most often asked for books in the ministry of the church is a good book on parenting. At the top of the list, I recommend Fitzpatrick's book Give Them Grace. With that in mind I wanted to highlight two books by Elyse Fitzpatrick, who writes to underscore the centrality of the gospel for women who desire to grow in the grace of Christ (inBecause He Loves Me) and...

I am privileged to serve as a representative of our church to our sister church in Pune, India and have traveled there with Pastor Vineet. Part of my preparation for travel involves registering our trip with the United States Embassy in India. Of course, one can understand the importance of doing this. The U.S. Embassy willrecognizemy citizenship along with the benefits o...

The elders met for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 15.Our morning began in the sweetness of prayer exalting Christ for His sufficiency and beseeching His grace for the many facets of gospel ministry. Our discussion for the morning opened with a review of the financial reports for the month of April. Average attendance was 419. We praise the Lord that so many wer...

Today, if someone wanted to take a class on the history of Christianity from a public university or a private college, one might think that the class curriculum would endeavor to accurately represent early Christianity by giving early Christian writers a voice through New Testament readings. Unfortunately, a late 19th and early 20th century interpretive framework is all...

Most of us are familiar with Paul's portrayal of the marriage relationship in Ephesians 5:22-33. We observe that Paul argues from the greater to the lesser, from the reality to the painting. The reality is Christ's loving relationship with His bride, the church, and the painting is a husband's relationship with his wife. Consequently, we observe: Christ's love He lov...

The elders met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 12.Our evening began in the sweetness of prayer exalting Christ for His sufficiency and beseeching His grace for the opportunities in the church for faithful gospel ministry. Our discussion for the evening opened with a review of the financial reports for the month of August. Average attendance for the month was 37...

The elders met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 14. Frank Barber began our evening by focusing on Article 10, the Effectual Call, from the London Baptist Confession of Faith. We were reminded of God's sovereign work in salvation. God, for His good pleasure, by His Word and Spirit, effectually calls the sinner who is by nature in a state of sin and death to g...

As we are remembering the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, it would do us well to ponder the blessing of the recovery of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. Kevin DeYoung provides a marvelous resource to the church in underlining the priority of God's Word for God's people. The subtitle says it all: "Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessar...

As the church celebrates the 500th anniversary of the reformation, I thought we might take a moment to remember a few of the gifts of Christ that the church recovered through the ministry of the reformers: the gift of the gospel in the gift of God's Word granted to His redeemed community. Before we examine the priority of Scripture to the Reformation, it is important to un...

The Elders of OBC met for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 12.Dave Guthrie began our morning by focusing on Article 6, the Fall and Sin, from the London Baptist Confession of Faith. We were reminded of God's two ordained representatives for the human race. God created Adam perfect and appointed him to represent humanity by requiring him to be faithful to keep God'...

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus commissioned believers to the high calling of making disciples based on his universal authority over heaven and earth. Since the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ, left his church with the commission of discipleship, it would do us well to understand the character of this calling. In 100 pages, Mark Dever anchors discipleship on the foundation...

A number of years ago, my family and I would make an annual trip between California and Nebraska to see our families for Christmas. I remember one trek that took us through a dark fog in Utah. We would descend from the mountain peaks into the dark haze and then ascend back to the mountaintops and into the radiant sun. It was strange to drive above the low clouds in the su...

We're excited to announce the newest addition to the ministry internship at OBC, Jay Wipf. Here are some thoughts on the mission and purpose of the program....

Interested in learning more about heroes of the Reformation? Check out Pastor Chris' review of Reformation Heroes by Kleyn & Beeke....

The resurrection is the seal of God on the redemptive work of Christ! We can be assured that Jesus' obedience to the Law of God rendered on our behalf (Romans 5:19) has been accepted by God because of the resurrection. By His obedience, the many will be made righteous....

Looking for resources on parenting? Here are two helpful books by Elyse Fitzpatrick that have encouraged my family as we've been reminded of the power of the gospel in everything....

The cross essentially proclaims the glory of God's righteousness in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The cross underlines the eternal chasm that separates humanity's sin from the transcendent holiness of God. ...