Hebrews, Why Better Is Best.
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What’s Better – Health Foods or Bad Foods without Health? – Part 1
February 13, 2013 by
By the Same Water, Some Saved and Some Lost – Part 1
January 2, 2013 by
December 12th – No Town Too Obscure
December 12, 2012 by
Why wasn’t Jesus born in Chicago? I’m not being facetious. We have some great hospitals: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and the University of Chicago Medical Center. We also have great accommodations for families with newborns. Families may choose from hotels with the most basic amenities to extravagant penthouses. There’s something for everyone here in this city.
For all of Chicago’s appeal, Jesus wasn’t born here. Instead, God chose Bethlehem Ephratah (EF-ruh-tah) as the place where His Son would enter the world as a human being. Bethlehem Ephratah was the smaller of two Bethlehems in Israel, situated in the southern part of the country in the land of Judah near Jerusalem. Apart from being the birthplace of King David, this town had no prestigious credentials of which it could boast. Only God knows why He selected this obscure town, but we do know if Christ had been born anywhere else, the Scriptures concerning Him would not have been fulfilled.
Here is another reason God may have chosen lowly Bethlehem Ephratah: Jesus was to become the Savior of the entire world — not just the Savior of the most heavily populated metropolises of the world or the most elaborate cities of the world. The humble Savior’s compassion extended to the lowliest of communities. No town was too obscure for Him.
Perhaps you live in a small town which has little Christmas spirit. You wonder if there is any reason to celebrate the season this year, because no one else seems to care. Maybe you may live in a community where commercialization has caused many people to replace Jesus with secular characters like Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman. If Jesus’ birth could transform a tiny, obscure, Judean town into something special, then you can use this event to accomplish the same effect where you live. Let your home be a reminder to the community that the spirit of Christmas lives on today.
Devotional by Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.
Click here to learn a creative way to make Christ known in your community.
There’s still time . . . order your Christmas Tracts today!
Character Does Count – Part 2
September 17, 2012 by
DBC Alumni News: Pastor Dave and Cheryl Ralph
June 27, 2012 by
Dave and Cheryl met while attending Illinois State University and were married in 1990. They have since been blessed with three children: Ian (17), Rileigh (14), and Caleb (12).
They began attending Quentin Road in 1995. Little did they know what God had in store for them.
Cheryl worked in the preschool full time and later in the sign language ministry, while Dave helped with the VIG broadcasts. Both were an active part of the Awana program.
Dave graduated from Dayspring with his Bachelors in 2005 and later with his Masters in 2008.Dave shares, “Dayspring didn’t just prepare me for ministry. It prepared me for running the Christian race and instilled in me the desire to finish strong.”
A few years ago, Dave became the pastor of Pleasant View Baptist Church in Kentucky. Dave and Cheryl recently began a children’s ministry and youth program, as well as several other ministries designed to win the lost to Christ. Their latest form of ministry has been the most unexpected to-date.
A recent tornado in their area greatly impacted their congregation. Pastor Dave shared about his church family, “The greatest way they found they could help was by offering hope. Our church family gave out hundreds of tracts as they helped those in need. Our church put in almost 500 hours of service. The tornado provided our people a chance to shine as beacons of light with the gospel of grace. In tragedy, God was honored, souls were saved, and hope was restored.”
Please keep Pastor Dave and his family in your prayers as they continue to reach souls for Christ.
Article by Stephanie Scialabba
