DECEMBER 8, 2021 WEEK 49

Upcoming
Discipleship
Opportunities

Many scholars
doubt the
authorship of
the final twelve
verses of the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel According
verses of the to
Mark. While the manuscript evidence points to a different
author, the source of that author’s inclusion was Scripture
itself. The truth of the matter is, the Disciples refused the
Gospel. This is not unique to Mark, but his quick repetition of
it draws our attention to that fact. Thanks be to God His will
is more powerful than man’s “free” will; which will be the
subject of next week’s final sermon in this expository series.
New discipleship
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the youth will not be opportunities
able to put on the play, A Night in Bethlehem, as originally beginning in late
planned. Their final gathering for the year will be next January, 2022.
Sunday evening with dinner and games. More information
Continued on Page 2 in future
newsletters.

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DECEMBER 8, 2021

The twenty-seventh chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith introduces one of the
hottest topics of the Reformation: The Sacraments. In this chapter, the Confession defines
what a Sacrament is and why there are only two. Biblical Christianity must define and
delineate its work according to the Scriptures.

The men’s group closed its Bible study on Job by looking at the New Testament’s view and
understanding of the “Patience of Job.” Is Job even patient? Is there a better word to use?
How does Job exhibit this patience? What can we learn about biblical patience in the midst
of suffering? These questions and more rounded out our discussion for the year.

Youth group, Bible study, and men’s small group will return in late January.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Micah 5:1-4
Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they
strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to
be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in
Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore, he shall give them
up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers
shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the
strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell
secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

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Claire Parker Foundation

Corner of Amherst & Main

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DECEMBER 8, 2021 WEEK 49

Next Week at APC

Lord’s Day Worship
December 12| 10:00 AM

Mark 16:14-20,
“Reproof and Commission”

Bible Study
December 14| 10:00 AM

Westminster Confession of Faith,

chapter 28, “Of Baptism”

Did you miss any of this semester’s discipleship opportunities? No worries! The Sunday
school series Reformation Truths and Bible study series on the Westminster Confession of Faith
can both be found online at www.revsoto.com/exegesis. There you can find previous studies
such as my podcast with Sara Jane Nixon on Prayers from the Great Cloud of Witnesses, my
Jesus’ Rules series on the commands of Christ, my conversations on Defending the Faith in
Galatians with Sam Knaus, and many devotionals with Betsy.

If you missed any of my Sunday morning series, you can find them online at
www.revsoto.com/exposition. There you can find the current series on the Gospel of Mark,
my summer series on the Minor Prophets, the Ten Commandments, and First
Thessalonians, among others.

Expositor Digest is a weekly publication of the Altavista Presbyterian Church. Learn more at www.altapres.org.
Ed Soto is pastor of the Altavista Presbyterian Church and editor of Expositor Digest. To learn more about him, PAGE 4
visit www.revsoto.com.