tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50311408407930796482024-03-04T23:24:58.854-08:00Spreading the Gospel in PolandPastor Pawel Bartosik's blogPaweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-15420393767944440682023-04-18T09:14:00.001-07:002023-04-18T09:14:31.907-07:00Children as a part of the church - Pawel Bartosik<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gBvF2YKVK8OfSeYCOEWE2dxeWmnFJAIBPtXPdYlsvEqUuZ0PYzvp_QwdpEFdYQVsh9D02wokpb4c-DBXzTo2Du5pqJyI2aLHaKS_3LeQ5fHfK0GGJRRGls7FiMZ5BrDPMvKkJxfNqurEvmyoHnJ-p-0I0rf5U7_Q-uUEQVDS3PpPLVaTPm0N8DcT/s1024/carlson-family_sitting-in-church_mac-cob-3297.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gBvF2YKVK8OfSeYCOEWE2dxeWmnFJAIBPtXPdYlsvEqUuZ0PYzvp_QwdpEFdYQVsh9D02wokpb4c-DBXzTo2Du5pqJyI2aLHaKS_3LeQ5fHfK0GGJRRGls7FiMZ5BrDPMvKkJxfNqurEvmyoHnJ-p-0I0rf5U7_Q-uUEQVDS3PpPLVaTPm0N8DcT/s320/carlson-family_sitting-in-church_mac-cob-3297.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">First time visitors to our church sometimes express their surprise that children, even the youngest, participate with their parents in the entire worship service. Many congregations created an expectation for the parents (and children) of Sunday School or Child Care being available during the entire worship service or during the sermon. This convenient arrangement seems to relieve the parents and other adults in the church who are expecting a quiet, comfortable setting to listen to the preaching of the Word. But looking at it from biblical pedagogy, I think this practice can be risky, introduces bad habits, and carries the wrong messages.</span><p></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Just to clarify: No, I am not against the church organizing activities for children. I am against these activities </span><i><span>substituting</span></i><span> participation in the worship service. In other words, I am in support of the children participating in the entirety of the weekly worship service. I oppose excusing the children from the meeting between the family of God with its Head.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Several years ago, my wife Jola, our children, and I visited a church. Once inside the building, we were surprised to find out that out of the 70 people assembled, we were only one of two families accompanied by children. After the service we asked the other family if there are any other children at this congregation. We learned that indeed, there were other children, but they were distracting the adults and the pastor from fully participating in the service. Therefore, the other parents choose to leave their children at home or with a babysitter.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>During the service we were pleased with the behavior of our children. They were 1, 3, and 5 years old at the time. We only had two crisis moments, maybe two, when a book fell on the floor, or they spoke louder than they should have (which solicited unpleasant looks from other congregants). When shaking the pastor’s hand after the service we heard these surprising words: “Someone must have been distracting us during the service,” followed by a gaze at our children. I do not remember our immediate reaction but the word “us” struck hard and we remember it till today. “Us”, obviously referring to the adults, which implies that the worship service is no place for a child.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Czech Brethren used to say – “If you cannot hear a child crying in the church, soon you will hear the elderly cry”.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><span>God who speaks – Ages 12+?</span></i></b><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As early as</span><span> the gospels, we read about people who had difficulty accepting the presence of children next to Jesus when He spoke publicly (Matthew 10:11-15). A church void of children is a pleasant site for the devil. He would consider any place more suitable for them than the church and Christian worship. The Psalms frequently remind that engaged Christian children are a strong defense against creeping ungodliness. According to Jesus Christ “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise” (Matthew 21:16). From the beginning, the children of God’s people were prepared, as arrows in a quiver, to gain the enemies’ gates. (Psalm 127: 4-5). The arrows are sharpened in the worship service which is the heart, the engine, of a healthy church.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>King Herod knew the consequences of a baby’s birth in Bethlehem. He had good reason to become scared and angry. Not without reason, the forces of darkness target children of God’s people, like the Pharaoh or Herod did. The practice of removing them from the presence of God and His word, dressed up as developmental psychology or enlightenment ideologies regarding the limitations of the human mind, withhold from the children the important elements of participation in the school of Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Taking the children out of worship to attend “Children’s Church” is a relatively new practice in church history. I’m not denying their good intentions. As a father of three I honestly can say that I empathize with the intentions of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ who genuinely care about the children’s growth in the faith. I just cannot agree with the path they are taking. Both from Biblical reasons and from my experience. My conviction in the matter could be summarized as follows: Sunday School, Catechism, Bible Lessons – Yes, but in addition to the service, not instead.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>I’ll present you with twelve reasons why I believe children should participate in the entirety of the weekly Sunday worship with God’s people. If you are a parent, Sunday School teacher, leader, or a pastor in a church where children are not present in the service, I hope these will encourage you to reflect on and discuss these topics with your congregation.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>1.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>The Lord commands to remember the Sabbath and keep it</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11,0000pt; mso-ansi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> </span></b><b><span>holy</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The commandment to follow the spirit and the letter of the law is not only for us but also for our children (Ef. 6:1-2). The fourth commandment requires us to hallow the holy day also in Deuteronomy 5:12-14. In the old covenant this was the last day of the week (in remembrance of the creation and the exodus from Egypt). In the new covenant it is the first day of the week (in remembrance of the new creation and freeing us from the bondage of sin). Therefore, the children of believers should be present in the weekly gatherings of the church before the face of God. This is a Biblical and moral obligation also under the new covenant (Hebrews 10:24-25).</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>2.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Children of believers are a part of the Christian community</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Children are a part of the Christian community, therefore, the visible church. In the entirety of scripture, God commands them to be a part of the service, that is, public worship by the people of God. (Deuteronomy 31:12, 14:25, Joshua 8:35, 2 Chronicles 20:13, Ezekiel 10:1, Nehemiah 12:43. Joel 2:15-16). </span></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 31:12). There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them (Joshua 8:35).
</span></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the letter to the Colossians, Apostle Paul mentions children among its recipients (Colossians 3:20). Similarly in the letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:1-3). Gathering for Sunday morning worship is the principal activity of the covenant community and it should include all of its members (Acts 2:42, Hebrews 10:24-25). Therefore children, as an integral part of the new covenant community, should participate in the entirety of the weekly worship service. It is one of the key elements of their lives.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Participation in the worship service, listening to God’s word, prayer, worship, and communion are more important parts of their upbringing than all else. Attention devoted to the child’s education, language development, brain development, dexterity, and physical development are wonderful examples of the parents' care and love. However, these should be given a lower priority than educating the children unto Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Obviously, not all church gatherings are designed for everyone. Sometimes in the family we have “Guy Time” that I spend with my son. Sometimes my wife and I go out for a date together. Sometimes I will take my girls out for dinner. Nevertheless, it is critical to cultivate community within the family: reading together, praying, singing, eating, going on trips and vacations. This is what shapes us, strengthens the bonds, gives a sense of identity, belonging, responsibility for one another. The life of the church as a spiritual family should follow the same pattern: gathering with peers at Sunday school, youth group, men, women, seniors, singles, and also being all together for Sunday worship.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>3.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Growth happens not only through words and reason</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>I hope I do not need to convince you that not everything that contributes to the growth and education of your child comes through the verbal process. The belief that change happens only as a result of our intellectual abilities comes from the enlightenment era and the worship of human reason. God nurtures and educates us not only through verbal instructions. Learning to listen to God’s word that speaks to us through the Bible is an important element of our spiritual growth. So is developing the love for our neighbors that is displayed by not drawing too much attention to yourself. Listening (even with little understanding), the child learns reverence for God, and learns the Bible and its importance in life. That’s why we include in our order of worship such elements as singing, weekly communion, lifting of hands (during the Doxology and the Lord’s prayer), kneeling, collection of the offering, reciting the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. The structure of worship has an educational purpose. The Lord is teaching us not only by filling our minds, but also engaging our bodies is worship (Romans 12:1). A child learns reverence for God not only by listening but also by participating, especially if the service is lively, liturgical, and joyful.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The children in our family learn not only through reading and verbal instructions. We also teach them through common experiences, actions, meals, listening, and paying attention. God shapes and strengthens us in complex ways using not only our sense of hearing but also taste, touch, and sight. He did not introduce Himself as the Greatest Professor but as a good Father. A child should learn very early to listen, together with the rest of God’s people, to what the Heavenly Father is saying.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>4.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Children understand more than we give them credit for</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Every parent soon discovers that children learn faster and understand more than we – adults – imagine. Many faithful Christians believe that when God speaks to the church (during Bible reading or preaching) children do not benefit from it at all.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit can penetrate even the barriers of comprehension set by the pediatric psychologists. John the Baptist leaped for joy in Elisabeth’s womb as a response to Mary’s greeting (Luke 1:42-44). It is true that none of our children is John the Baptist, but the Holy Spirit is still a member of the Trinity. He still acts upon children. Expressions like “not able to”, “cannot”, “does not understand”, “not possible” were never convincing for the Lord when referring to the scope and ability of His power over man. John the Baptist filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb? Children of Israel participating in the gatherings of God’s people? Three-year old Christopher who sits on his mother’s lap during the sermon because he was taught that when the Lord speaks, we do not run around? That’s not a problem for the Lord!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>5.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Children need spiritual socializing</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Apostle Paul when writing to the saints – chosen, redeemed members of the church in Colossae – lists among its recipients’ wives (Colossians 3:18), husbands (Colossians 3:19), children (Colossians 3:20), and fathers (Colossians 3:12). We see a similar pattern in the letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:1-4): one family, with different backgrounds, ages, and responsibilities of the members.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Our identity and responsibility are based on our relationships and roles. I am a husband, father, son, and brother. These roles and the responsibilities related to them are defined by bonds with other people. Spiritual pedagogy functions the same way. The education and growth of children is dependent on whether </span><i><span>our</span></i><span> home is </span><i><span>their</span></i><span> home, they bear our name, and whether they feel like a member of the family. That’s why the worship service has a very important socializing aspect. A child, when attending the entire worship, learns the following truth:</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>·</span> <span>The worship service is for me</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>·</span> <span>Jesus is for me</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>·</span> <span>God is here and speaks to me</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>·</span> <span>Church is my family</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>·</span> <span>The Lord’s table is for me because I’m a part of the Body.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Participating in the worship service is not the culmination of a stage in spiritual development. On the contrary, it is an event that shapes the development, rationale, emotions, sense of identity, and spirituality of the child as a young disciple of Christ. Participating in the service communicates to the child: “This is my home. There are my brothers and sisters, this is the Head of my family, who laid His life down for my sins, and these are His words that I should follow.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Church is not a spiritual waiting room for children. This is their </span><i><span>home</span></i><span>. Here they should develop their familial habits, learn values, family history, faith, thoughts, and behaviors; here they are spiritually nurtured. They are </span><i><span>a part</span></i><span> of the family. Removing them from before the face of God is not going to develop this kind of thinking and behavior.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>6.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>The Worship service is a family feast</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The practice of excusing the children from the sermon is based on incorrect presuppositions regarding pedagogy, anthropology, and also liturgy. The basis of the faulty liturgy is the belief that we go to church to </span><i><span>listen</span></i><span> to the sermon. If this were the case, we should remove all barriers that could disturb this goal. One of which is the distracting children.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>It turns out the pastor is not a university lecturer, but a servant of God’s word. The service is not a lecture hall but a family get together at a feast that (in the Bible) is a picture of salvation. It includes not only a speech by the Head of the family to their members (young and old), but also common prayer, joyful singing, eating and drinking, benediction, and community. Being together. Let’s not withhold these elements from the children. We come to church to meet God, not just listen to God.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>7.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>God speaks to children</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Each parent, regardless of their theological convictions, speaks to their children. Even when they are very young. The parents’ smile, their singing, tone of voice, type of words spoken – all have great value, even when directed at an infant. But when God speaks to His children through the word, sacraments, and liturgical dialogue, it suddenly “does not matter because they are too young to understand.” If we truly believed that, we should not speak to our children until they can grasp the meaning of most of our words.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>In Biblical pedagogy, </span><i><span>communication </span></i><span>is the </span><i><span>tool</span></i><span> of education, formation, and development. We speak to our children not because they understand everything. We speak because </span><i><span>we want them to understand</span></i><span>. In this way we help develop their understanding and sensitivity, teach the meaning of words, develop a relationship, and give a sense of security. We do that because this is what our Heavenly Father does. He speaks to our children, and even to us – even when we do not have the full understanding of His words. We speak to infants and toddlers. Let God do the same.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>8.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Children are in need of the means of grace</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Wherever God’s word is preached (Romans 10:14), the sacraments are administered (Mark 28:19-20). Prayer takes place (Acts 2:42-47), along with singing (Corinthians 14:26). Everyone who listens is blessed by the hearing and meeting with God alone. These are the means of grace through which God strengthens, socializes, and nurtures His people. Why should we withhold these blessings from children?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>9.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Education is a parental responsibility</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>God puts the responsibility for educating children in the faith on the parents, not the government, Sunday School leaders, or youth leaders (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Ephesian 6:1-3). One of the key elements of this responsibility is making our children loving worshipers of Christ (John 4:23). Of course, this requires faithful work: preparing our hearts and the hearts of our children to participate in the worship service. When the children are little, it requires dividing our attention between the elements or worship and the needs of our children. Sometimes the parents desire to be able to “fully participate” in the service. They search for a church that provides the comfort of childcare during the sermon or larger parts of the service. I agree that this is an easier route, but not more profitable.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>First of all, it is not profitable for the children because it deprives them of the ability to listen, shape their reverence for God, and develop habits of participating in the entire service. We reinforce the belief that the service is not for them.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Secondly, it is not beneficial for us – parents – because we escape our work and responsibility that was given to us. Of course, sometimes it means leaving the room with a crying infant or giving him additional attention when he is distracting other worshipers. But this is how God teaches us to be Christian parent, spiritual leader, and child's shepherd, demonstrating what it means to serve the Church and contribute to its growth by raising God-loving worshipers. We will not learn that without the children being in the service. During family worship, I correct the behavior of my children and give them my attention, not excuse them from the room so that my wife and I can pray and read the Bible in peace and quiet. If we want to taste the ripe fruit, we need to sow and patiently water. If we desire peace and a fruitful garden, without caring for the planted trees, there are many other ways to abdicate our parental responsibilities.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Thirdly, this is not a practice that benefits the </span><i><span>Church</span></i><span>. A childless family is not inappropriate on its own but becomes inappropriate if it desires to remain so. They are not required to concentrate and focus on their children, but are deprived of the privilege of their presence, correction and learning of God's truth that the children express. God gave us children so that we can develop an attitude of a child-like faith, trust, love, patience, and service to others.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>10.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Children learn by imitation</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Children who participate in the entire worship service learn not only through listening. They learn that the faith of their parents is not a private matter. Faith is lived through families and communities that include the children. Children learn by imitation. They observe the adults and copy them. Do not take away the opportunity for them to watch us sing, pray, lift our hands, kneel, and listen to God’s word. Do we want our children to learn to listen? Let’s show them how it is done. The Bible speaks of great encouragement that the children draw from their parents’ joyful, engaged worship (Exodus 12:1-28, Deuteronomy 4:9-11, Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78, Ezra 10:1, Nehemiah 12:43, Joel 2:12-17, Acts 16:33). Parents have the opportunity to form, correct, and encourage their children (Deuteronomy 31:9-13). Children should see and hear the Body of Christ in action, in person, not be separated from them by a wall. Christ desires to have the children with Him. Let the little ones come to Him (when He speaks the Word to His Church) and do not prevent them, because to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>11.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Children are a blessing and means of instruction to the Church</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Children are a blessing to the community. They are a living illustration that unless we lower ourselves and become like them with regards to the sincerity of our faith, we will not enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3-4). This is how the entire community can understand what it means for the church to a spiritual family. Each family should yearn for the presence of children in their midst. Childless families are an exception, not a rule. The presence of children in the service gives us – adults – the opportunity to develop our character. From self-absorbed Ebenezer Scrooge we can become the servants that support the parents and the children in their callings. If the presence of a crying infant is displeasing to us, we have a glorious opportunity to work on our virtue of love, patience, and understanding that the church does not stop at our pew.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The children in the church are our little brothers and sisters. Instead of seeing them as a problem, distracting the adults’ time with God, let’s focus on trying to learn their names. When was the last time we encouraged them in their faith, built them up with a kid’s word, wished them a happy birthday or brought them a gift?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span>12.</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span>Good habits have power</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Habits are a very important part of the growth and development of one’s identity. A child who participates weekly in worship service has the opportunity, 52 times a year, to meet with God in the church. In 10 years this amounts to 520 meetings, in 15 years – 780. This has a great effect on their habits, ability to listen, think about church, God’s Word, music, prayer etc.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Church and worship are really important!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Most teenagers in western civilization do not participate in worship. How many of them do not participate because nobody chose to develop this habit in them when they were young? The witness of teenagers raised in a Christian home shows that many joined the entire worship service at age 9-11! If their “going to church” over the years meant coloring pictures, building with blocks, doing crafts, and playing games, we should not be surprised that they find the worship service exotic, boring, unnatural, and strange. I love Christian children’s music, children’s pictures, and crafts that decorate my office. But if this is what weekly “going to church” is to consist of, we are withholding something much more valuable from them. They should know the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed, the Doxology, they should sing psalms with us, they should become familiar with listening to public preaching of the word. In the body of Christ there is life. Children should absorb it, participate in it, and love it. The Lord wants our weekly routine to start with a worship service on the first day –before they start the Monday obligations at home, preschool, or school. The Lord wants to instruct and feed them as a part of the church. Do not withhold this privilege from them, and let’s not run away from our calling. The Lord promises that the fruit of our faithfulness will be sweet (Isaiah 59:21, Proverbs 22:6). It is a great calling and challenging work. Let’s not despair and give up. Remember, the Lord blesses those that rest in Him.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Translation: Joanna Haralson</span></i></p>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-41576566796955198772023-04-18T09:03:00.004-07:002023-04-18T09:03:39.787-07:00Publishing ministry<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Mrq9uT_LIHP3awyZV-bNz4LXpS9ZmTham6vpMuUnLbacDWofc3P30uVfqRS9zXWM8qWJ7LJVXhrQFQTeI25oA_WVcQ7hcgLKmGRyWHnTyzfDbRdC9u-KLbC2xcoNRfsI8bDynhHtCeC_K8GC50lskiq8k8JSqjcHU8b4rjPnJdmjuIfhavxZC5vM/s1181/Boze_Narodzenie_Cover_06122021_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="803" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Mrq9uT_LIHP3awyZV-bNz4LXpS9ZmTham6vpMuUnLbacDWofc3P30uVfqRS9zXWM8qWJ7LJVXhrQFQTeI25oA_WVcQ7hcgLKmGRyWHnTyzfDbRdC9u-KLbC2xcoNRfsI8bDynhHtCeC_K8GC50lskiq8k8JSqjcHU8b4rjPnJdmjuIfhavxZC5vM/s320/Boze_Narodzenie_Cover_06122021_front.jpg" width="218" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have finished my book on infant baptism („Such is the Kingdom”). We are waiting for the premiere until May 2023. Some people wrote to me that they were looking forward to it. I hope God will use it to strengthen the Church in Poland and spread the Covenant Theology among Polish Christians. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255,255,255);"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255,255,255);"><span style="height: 306,0000px; margin-left: -0,3333px; margin-top: -3,9333px; position: absolute; width: 279,0000px; z-index: 1;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">We are finishing Doug Wilson's „Easy Chairs Hard Words” and „Clean Water, Red Wine, Broken Bread”. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My new book „Christmas Changes the World” has a good response. People order it for Advent or as a Christmas gift, which is encouragement. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you know it is not an easy ministry. We do a lot of work in writing and reviewing entire books. We usually read it 4 times with Jola. We cooperate with two more people: Radek from our Church, who makes editions, and Ania from Cracow (a pastor’s wife), who is a cover designer. So our team are 4 people. I am grateful for our coworkers. Thanks to them this work goes forward and makes our Publishing House visible. We cooperate with a few Christian bookstores which helps us reach people around the whole country.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you would like to join us as a Partner and support our ministry in Poland or</span><span style="color: #000066;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">participate in printing the next books please let me know on my email. We</span><span style="color: #000066;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">would be grateful.</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My email: bartosik7@gmail.com</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-27248520252508646812015-08-20T03:07:00.000-07:002015-08-20T03:14:02.358-07:00Youth Camp 2015 - part 2.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">In July I was invited to teach at the Youth Camp in Dymin (200 away from Gdansk). The topics of my lectures were:</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">- Lies which you are fed</i><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">- Christ or... - you have to believe in something</i><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">There were over 100 participants - mostly teenagers (14-18 years old) from different evangelical Churches. Some pictures - part. 2.:</span></span></div>
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<br />Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-52187083800933659272015-08-20T02:19:00.001-07:002015-08-20T03:12:22.015-07:00Youth Camp 2015 part 1.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In July I was invited to teach at the Youth Camp in Dymin (200 away from Gdansk). The topics of my lectures were:</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Lies which you are fed</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Christ or... - you have to believe in something</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were over 100 participants - mostly teenagers (14-18 years old) from different evangelical Churches. Some pictures:</span><br />
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Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-84613860794307693402015-08-20T02:12:00.003-07:002015-08-20T02:12:11.194-07:00I love the Head but but the Body<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saying: "I love Jesus, but not the Church" is like saying: "I love your head but not your body."</span></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-70341875469860263082015-08-20T02:11:00.002-07:002015-08-20T02:11:29.794-07:00Human organs belong to humans<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Human organs, which traded abortion organization "Planned Parenthood" belong to ... humans.</span></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-51114860718477078292014-09-27T09:28:00.000-07:002014-09-27T09:28:36.823-07:00Monthly open lectures<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The last School year we
continued series of monthly open lectures on Saturdays. </span><span lang="EN-US">We
call the series: <i>“How to think and live in God’s World?</i> We had meetings
about:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-
Predestination and free will<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-
Homeschooling in Poland<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- What
is Christian education?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">-
Creationism vs. Evolutionism</span></i><span lang="EN-US">. The title was: <i>“How the science and the Scripture deny evolution
theory?<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US">- </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US">Ressurection of Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i>Christian family – what does it mean in practice</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Usually we had 20-30 visitors.
After each of the lectures we had </span><i>Questions and Answers</i> time. Some people
stayed longer for conversation. Some of this lectures we published on youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFRNPQsuTsk">HERE</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PujN8hkDb4Y">HERE</a>.</span></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-8884517994652447452014-09-13T03:10:00.001-07:002014-09-13T03:10:05.664-07:00Virgil and Katie Hurt in Gdansk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39oI0E4lqms/VBQXzGY57wI/AAAAAAAAGjI/c-QWKeG0QOg/s1600/73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39oI0E4lqms/VBQXzGY57wI/AAAAAAAAGjI/c-QWKeG0QOg/s1600/73.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In May we had Family Conference made by our Church in
Ostrzyce (North of Poland, close to Gdansk and to the Baltic Sea).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a special time for many reasons:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- we had special guests: Virgil and Katie<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Hurts from Providence Church (CREC) in
Lynchburg, VA.<span class="apple-converted-space"> Virgil </span>had 5 lectures
(Life Together: Saints loving God and people) and the Sermon at the Service on
the Lord's Day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- we
had almost 60 people, including pastors and members from our all three Polish
Churches connected to CREC: Wroclaw, Poznan (member churches), Gdansk (mission
church)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- it was the first of our Camps made close to Gdansk.
Thanks to that, we had more members and visitors from our town. Some of them
visited our Church last Sunday at the Service and we have regular contact with
them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zM4wpTNJsbc/VBQX7OdlJxI/AAAAAAAAGjQ/BQzXScLfUSY/s1600/79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zM4wpTNJsbc/VBQX7OdlJxI/AAAAAAAAGjQ/BQzXScLfUSY/s1600/79.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">After the Camp we spent 3 days
in Gdansk with<span class="apple-converted-space"> Virgil and Katie</span> on
sightseeing and fellowship. They could see our town, huge medieval Castle of
Crusaders in Malbork (from the 13th Century) and spent time with our family. It
was a great time of refreshment in faith for all of us! We want to make
such a Camp next year too. If you are willing to visit, serve, spent time with
our people from Polish CREC Churches please let me know :) You're
very welcome! Here you can see the photos from our Camp <a href="http://bit.ly/1nzaD89">HERE</a>. </span></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-13186213587170418082014-09-13T03:07:00.002-07:002014-09-13T03:07:14.742-07:00Summer 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KfB3W-Ppms/VBQXN7WlIxI/AAAAAAAAGjA/5xhi9kDul4g/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KfB3W-Ppms/VBQXN7WlIxI/AAAAAAAAGjA/5xhi9kDul4g/s1600/16.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our three kids passed exams for homeschoolers with very good results. The reward was a big dinner in Restaurant and a lot of travels. We rented our apartment for tourists while we were away. The money from renting we spent for journeys. Summer this year was very intensive and hot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a family we were together at Slot Art Festival – a festial for 6 thousand people, organized by Christians. There were a lot of
concerts (rock, gospel, reggae...), artists, workshops, lectures about the Gospel, open air activities: voleyball, soccer, badminton, etc. We (with Jola) gave lectures and workshops about Christian education and homeschooling in Family Tent. It was good to meet new people, spend time with the family and rest. The festival was in the former place of monastery of Cistercians. During the year it's empty and it seems the best place for such a festival: Church and towers in the background of main stage. Here you can see 50 pictures <a href="http://bit.ly/1uFSIz4">HERE</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As every year in Gdansk we had 3 weeks of St. Dominic Fair. A lot of sellers came to our town. And thousands of people visited to buy souvenirs and practical stuff. We also decided to try to sell some of our used things (toys, games, plates, books, cups, a bike, carseats etc.). It was a great experience and a lesson for our kids who could see that we have to work if we want to have money and eat. It was also a good workshop of economy and business when we had to decide about exposition, prices and when we negotiated prices with customers :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In August we met with our friends from CREC Polish Churches at the the Church Camp in Polish mountains (South of the country) made by ERC in Wroclaw. It was another opportunity to meet together, have fellowship which important in the context of our not so big Churches. Our kids were happy :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jola with Zuzia and Janek were at Royal Rangers Camp (350 miles away). Jola is one of the leaders of this ministry
(although majority of the leaders there are Pentacostals, but they try to be ecumenical). They had intensive time of activities, Bible teaching, singing, serving each other. We are grateful for this ministry.
</span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-31304459107129814572013-12-24T05:11:00.000-08:002013-12-24T05:11:06.967-08:00Merry Christmas from the Bartosiks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNTcMhPdLwY/UrmHzG2EXcI/AAAAAAAAFUQ/j0iW2yOoWNg/s1600/Merry+Christmas+from+the+Bartosiks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNTcMhPdLwY/UrmHzG2EXcI/AAAAAAAAFUQ/j0iW2yOoWNg/s320/Merry+Christmas+from+the+Bartosiks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-26809314013853083592013-12-04T04:38:00.000-08:002013-12-04T12:49:20.493-08:00Quiz on infants, baptism and the Church<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Test yourself and others. The answers below. You can
choose more than one. Good luck and enjoy! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. According to God’s
Word children of Christians are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) small pagans<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) small disciples of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) spiritually homeless<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) atheists<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) Muslims<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) we-don’t-know-who<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) children are children, we shouldn’t ask
such questions, I’m a little nervous when I hear such kind of questions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) it’s a good question, it comes back to
me very often, especially since I have my kids<br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">2. According to the Bible children in the
Church are:</span></b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) guests<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) households<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) friends of Jesus’
family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) intruders<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) our Brothers in Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) for “invitation Jesus
to their heart” in future<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) a small problem<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) Sunday School
disciples<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">i) a little bit too loud</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>3. God in the Scripture calls them:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) unbelievers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) unbelievers with huge
potential to be Christians<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) believers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) pagans<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) participants of God’s
Kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) participants of
Kingdom of Darkness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) Saints<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) neutral<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i) God’s seed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">j) God’s people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">k) not God’s people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">l) well-wishers of God’s
Kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">m) His enemies<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">n) we don’t know, the
Bible says nothing about that</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>4. God communicates with them, strengthens and ensures by:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) Gospel music<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) Organ music<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) His Word and
Sacraments<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) exorcisms<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) holy water<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) loudspeakers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) God doesn’t
communicate with somebody who can’t speak<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) just parents can speak
to infants, God understands it doesn’t make sense<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i) latin mass<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. According to Jesus’s
words:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">a) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">such is
the kingdom of God</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) to such maybe will be Kingdom of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">c) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">whoever
does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">d) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God as an adult will by no means enter it</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) we should make public ritual of
dedication once in their life <br />
<br />
<b>6. God:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) waits for conversion of children from
Christian families at a Camp or Church evangelism<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">b) </span><span class="textps-8-2"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">out of
the mouth of babes and nursing infants has ordained strength</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) doesn’t understand anything from
infants’ mouths <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) thinks kids disturb Him focus<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) treats words and songs of Christian
kids as insincere<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) doesn’t treat small kids’ faith
seriously<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) treats faith of Christian kids as
example for adults<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) lets into His Kingdom only people in
“conscious age”<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. In the New Testament
we have description:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) baptism of adults who
were never baptized (</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the name of Triune God)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> before </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) <span style="background: white;">baptism
of adults who were baptized before as infants<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) rebaptism <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) baptism only
regenerated and saved people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) baptism of households<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) baptism of a child
from Christian family on confession of his faith<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) telling testimony of
conversion as a condition of baptism<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) voting of members of
the Church before baptism<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. According to Lord
Jesus’ words we should make disciples by:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) leading our
interlocutor to “pray of sinner”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) street evangelism<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) baptism and teaching obedience of
Jesus’ commandments<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) teaching obedience of Jesus’
commandments and baptism<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) raising up hand<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) participation in Christian meetings<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) reading theological books<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Membership in the
Church is:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) permitted from the age
of 12<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) permitted from the age
of 7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) just for conscious
people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) just for adult
believers and teenagers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) for adult believers
and their household<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">f) not for infants and
disabled people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">g) for anybody who wants<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) engrafting to God’s
family, body of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i) engrafting to
childless God’s family<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">j) signing up to the club
of Jesus’ fans</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Answers:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="background: white;"><br />
ad. 1.</span></b><br />
b) small disciples of Christ<span style="background: white;"> - Mt 28:18-20, Lk
18:16, Eph 6:1, Col 3:20, Gal 3:27</span><br />
h) it’s a good question, it comes back to me very often, especially since I
have my kids<br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad. 2.</b> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">b) households – Eph 1:1; Eph 6:1 </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">e) our Brothers in Christ - Col 1:1-2; Col 3:20</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad. 3.</b> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">c) believers - Eph 1:1,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">e) participants of God’s Kingdom - Mk 10:14</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">g) Saints – 1 Cor 7:14 </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">i) God’s seed - Mal 2:15 <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">j) God’s people - Lev 26:13</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad. 4. </b></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">c) His Word and Sacraments – Mt 28:18-20; Acts
16:30-31, Gal 3:27-29; </span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad. 5.</b> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">a) </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">such is the
kingdom of God</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> - Mk 10:14</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
c) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no
means enter it</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> - Lk 18:17, Mk 10:15</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad. 6. </b></span><br />
b) </span><span class="textps-8-2"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">out of the mouth of babes and nursing
infants has ordained strength</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> – Ps 8:2</span><span lang="EN-US"><br />
g) treats faith of Christian kids as example for adults<span style="background: white;"> - Lk 18:16-17</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad. 7.</b></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">a) baptism of adults who were never baptized
before in the name of Triune God - Acts 8:12; Acts 8:38</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">e) baptism of households - Acts 16:15</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad. 8.</b></span><br />
c) baptism and teaching obedience of Jesus’ commandments<span style="background: white;"> - Mt 28:19-20</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
<b>ad.9. </b></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">e) for adult believers and their household - Gen
17:7, Acts 2:38-39; Eph 6:1-4 <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">h) engrafting to God’s
family, body of Christ – 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:27-29; Eph 6:1-4</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Pawel Bartosik</span></span></div>
Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-54959583320545483352013-12-04T03:55:00.002-08:002013-12-04T03:55:28.164-08:00Open letter to popular Polish weekly magazine<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At
the beginning of September one of the most popular conservative weekly
magazines in Poland published an article about homeschooling as an alternative
for educational revolution in Polish public schools. We have debate about
sexual education, promotion of gender ideology in Polish school, books and that
article encouraged to thinking about homeschooling as a serious alternative for
public education.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
was just one sentence which I didn’t like. The author, who is a Catholic
activist, wrote that the biggest group in Poland that educate their children at
home because of their faith and
worldview are “fundamentalist protestant cults”. So you can see why a lot
Catholics in Poland think that we are cults. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In
reaction to that, I wrote an Open Letter to that Magazine and the author of the
article, I expressed my gratitude for seeing positive aspect of that education
but as a pastor and a parent I had to correct that mistake. I was surprised
when magazine published my letter which wasn’t short and the author wrote a
public apology under that letter.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-81448539777732734472013-12-04T03:54:00.004-08:002013-12-04T03:54:42.829-08:00Homeschooling in Bartosiks family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-Ru7p8T88w/Up8XxYDTQ-I/AAAAAAAAFNI/4dMwYWLaOp8/s1600/Bartosiks.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-Ru7p8T88w/Up8XxYDTQ-I/AAAAAAAAFNI/4dMwYWLaOp8/s320/Bartosiks.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We homeschool Zuzia (the
4th grade) Janek (the 2nd) and Maja (the 0 class). The challenge is getting
bigger and bigger not only because of the difficulty of working on three
different levels, but also planning their time for developing their gifts and
talents. Lack of curriculums for homeschoolers as well as schools experimenting
on pioneers make homeschooling more time
consuming and a bit stressful for Jola. We have no Christian School in Gdansk
and formally our children are students of Christian Primary School in Poznan.
It’s 200 miles away and they have to pass exams in the School in order to move
to the next level. In January Zuzia is going to take three of five exams that
she is obliged to take this school year.</span></span><div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Although it is a challenge for us we can see good
fruits of it: knowledge and character of our kids and in our character. Besides
teaching our children at home Jola gives English lessons 2 afternoons a week
after my work. The news of the month is that we’ve got a dog! Children were
very consistent asking us for it for years (about 4 years!) so we gave up</span><span lang="EN-US">. Nala sleeps in the
hall and everybody at home has a duty to walk her out at least once a day. It
seems we are going to get fit :) </span></span></span></div>
Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-46945730668206138892013-08-26T02:45:00.004-07:002013-08-26T02:46:35.395-07:00We started with our Mission Station 2013<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We started with our Mission Station 2013 in the center of Gdansk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the picture: "What is the way to heaven?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Bibles for free!"</span><br />
<br />
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<br />Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-53696945266431025172013-08-02T03:30:00.001-07:002013-08-02T06:28:27.460-07:00Church-News<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m finishing sermon series from the Sermon on the Mount. It is a wonderful refreshing for my mind and heart. I’ve learnt more what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. I hope it is good spiritual food for people. I am also encouraged because I see that our people show more passion in liturgy. We still learn how to worship corporately, loudly, joyfully and I feel it is getting better and better every Service, although we have no crowds (18-22 people). Although we are a reformed church we have no doctrinal statement that our churches shouldn’t be bigger than 40 souls :-) and we expect God will be glorified by more souls. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We regularly pray for our town and as John Knox (Scottish reformer) we want to see Poland and Gdansk changed by the power of the Gospel.
One of our families which started the Church with us some years ago enlarged. Their 4th kid (a daughter) was born in April. They also faithfully practice homeschooling.</span><br />
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<br />Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-6079428234698271192013-08-02T03:11:00.003-07:002013-08-02T03:11:25.661-07:00"Worldviews among us”<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">We continue our regular meetings </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">in a Coffee Shop in Gdansk to discuss apologetic
topics “Worldviews among us”. So far we have had meetings about basic religious
(Buddhism, Islam, Mormons, Jehowah Witnesses) or secular philosophies
(postmodernism, evolutionism, atheism, agnosticism) and we commented it from
Christian perspective which was a very helpful tool in discussion with people
around us. Sometimes non-Christians visited our meetings. This year we
started </span>to discuss about connections
between worldview, religion, culture and art. As the basis for the discussion I
would like to use the series of Francis Schaeffer’s movies: “How should we then
live?”.</span></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-36305513592662021882013-08-02T03:06:00.000-07:002013-08-02T03:08:23.769-07:00Catholic Monk from Gdansk<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Famous Catholic monk Jacek Krzysztofowicz resigned from his calling and left Dominican Monastery. He had led popular evening Masses every Sunday at 9 pm. A few years ago my friends from Roman Catholic Church invited me there. He preached about commandments of the Decalogue. I published my remarks from that visit on my blog (“Dominikan Monk on the Second Commandment”): <i>http://tiny.pl/h21pf </i> (you can use Google Transtation :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, his leaving was very broadly commented on, not only in Gdansk. Of course Roman Catholic journalists and priests condemned him. I wrote to him an email with words of encouragement and promise of prayer for his new life outside Roman Catholic Church. I offered a meeting and praying together. I also wrote two articles about that situation on my blog and almost 1.800 daily visitors read it . I could see good fruit of that ministry. Thanks to the blog and our Church website we have a few new regular visitors. Here are two notes about that situation: <i>http://tiny.pl/h21pc</i> and <i>http://tiny.pl/h21pd
</i></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-25268308656465079922013-05-27T04:59:00.002-07:002013-05-27T05:09:14.679-07:00“Mystery of sex” in Gdansk<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white;">24<sup>th</sup> of May as Biblical Creational Association we made (with my friend from Baptist Church) a conference “Mystery of sex”. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The speaker was dr. Geoff Barnard (University in Cambridge, microbiologist). In the lecture he proved impossibility of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">spontaneous appearance of the two sexes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">After the lecture we had discussion (Q & A). Frequency was over our expectations. We had 150 people. A lot of them took of our biulletins and filled in surveys and left contact. We want to start with them Bible Study "In the beginning..." (from Genesis 1-3). </span><span style="background-color: white;">dr Barnard finished his lecture with the sentence: "Charles Darwin is almost dead". It looks he's right, especially in sceintific circles. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #000066; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We thank for that opportunity and good fruits of that work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-2064386778244251722013-03-28T08:45:00.003-07:002013-03-28T08:45:50.236-07:00Polygamy "is next logical step"Polygamy "is next logical step", says Dutch same-sex marriages campaigner. More <a href="http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/family/polygamy-is-next-logical-step-says-dutch-same-sex-marriage-campaigner">HERE</a>.Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-60219374555905714192013-03-12T04:28:00.001-07:002013-03-12T04:29:05.195-07:00"Homeschooling as alternative for contemporary school" in Gdansk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Saturday (9th of March) we had the conference "Homeschooling as alternative for contemporary school" in Gdansk. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was great time. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">35-40 people participated in that but 150 people also listened and watched it </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">online</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> thanks live transmission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had 4 lectures:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pawel Bartosik - "Homeschooling as educational opportunity in Poland"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andrzej Polaszek - "Homeschooling in Polish law"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">dr Agata Hofman - "Homeschooling in practice"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jaroslaw Pietrzak - "Christian School as place of support for homeschoolers"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the lectures we had 1,5 hours of discussion (Q & A).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tiny.pl/h2z2k">HERE</a> you can see more pictures<i>.</i></span></div>
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Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-8481038080728169732013-02-27T04:43:00.004-08:002013-02-27T04:44:22.788-08:00Three BaptismsOn our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.604872456193726.110184219.160270843987225&type=1&notif_t=like">Church profile on Facebook</a> you can see the pictures from joyful event which we had last Sunday: three baptisms and membership Magda's household. If you don't have account on Facebook, please click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.604872456193726.110184219.160270843987225&type=1&l=5a128f6303">HERE</a>.<br />
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<br />Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-39490321525162263902013-02-20T02:12:00.002-08:002013-02-20T02:12:56.077-08:00A visit to the hospital<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of men which found us thanks to evangelism with Chorale Gaudete – CREC choir – has been in psychiatric hospital with depression for 2 months. When I visited him two ladies (65 and 35) joined us in discussion and asked a lot of question about our beliefs, the church. During the next visit they invited 2-3 more people and we discussed in a small group in one of their rooms. I am conscious of their emotional problems but they are not disabled people, I would say that their problem is also spiritual and they are spiritual hungry people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I visit them twice a week, we talk about their challenges, problems, they promised me to visit our church after leaving but the biggest encouragement is praying with these people at the end of every visit. During the first prayer they asked me how to pray? They heard my prayer and then every person said: Maybe I could try. Now it’s your turn. One of them prayed: “<i>Father, I ask you that I can leave this place so I could do a lot of funny but good things and that I can bring chocolate and cigarettes for my friends here”. </i></span><br />
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<i>:-)</i></span>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-36154032216039513392013-02-19T09:29:00.001-08:002013-02-19T09:30:18.369-08:00Summer Mission to GdanskShort presentation Peter Mahar's about Gdansk as mission field.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24615743?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<i> Evangelos from Miwaza Jemimah on Vimeo.</i>Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-70901722610559365932013-02-18T01:47:00.000-08:002013-02-18T01:47:31.347-08:00Short Summary of 2012<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year we had a lot of
opportunities for preaching the Gospel, fellowship, witnessing by showing far
reaching and practical ramification of the Gospel. The Church is growing slowly
but is growing.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poland is still a very difficult
mission field for two reasons:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>impact of secularism from Western
Europe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>still a strong position of the Roman
Catholic Church (95% of Polish people are Catholics)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Summary of 2012</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are grateful to the Lord Jesus
for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>everything<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>which we experienced. Among the
many challenges I would like to share with you most important events of last
year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- We continued to homeschool
3 our children (Zuzia 9, Janek 7, Maja 5 years old)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- We changed a few things in our
liturgy: lifting up hands during singing Gloria Parti and Lord’s Prayer,
singing Doxology after Benediction, three readings instead of two, recitation
1-2 questions and answers from Heidelberg Catechism after Apostle’s (or Nicene)
Creed, new melody of singing Psalms in responsive way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- We held regular meetings in
Coffee Shops titled “Worldviews among us” (we had a lot of discussions after
each presentation)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Open concerts of our Christian
music band<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- We held regular open lectures on
Reformation and Five Solas at the University of Gdansk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Summer evangelism at the Old
Town where we had our church’s stand ("sketchboard", two tables with
free literature, invitations and opportunity for a lot of conversations with
people)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Family Camp in May in the
mountains<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Creationism<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>vs</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Evolutionism Conference (“What Darvin
didn’t know?”) with British scientist Andy McIntosh. We had over 80 people
attend (besides the people from our church).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- I was involved in an internet
public polemic about childrearing with a famous Polish TV star (the program is
called: Supernanny). There were almost 600 comments and survey where 65% of
people supported necessity of physical discipline (in some situations)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- I wrote an article about
homeschooling to a nation wide Polish magazine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- As family we also participate in
Royal Rangers ministry. My wife is one of the leaders in Gdansk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- I was a speaker at the
conference for fathers at the Pentecostal Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-My blog ministry is bringing a
lot of fruit. I have an average of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>150
daily readers. It seems that it became one of the more influential “arms” of
sharing biblical (reformed) view on reality.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5031140840793079648.post-64246601062807229762013-02-16T00:45:00.001-08:002013-02-16T00:45:30.743-08:00Public polemic with TV Supernanny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kkZft-rXhg4/UR9Gc2UIH2I/AAAAAAAADaY/JT09VJvLyIM/s1600/Superniania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kkZft-rXhg4/UR9Gc2UIH2I/AAAAAAAADaY/JT09VJvLyIM/s1600/Superniania.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN">One of the famous Polish TV Show Star: “Supernanny” – Dorota Zawadzka
criticized on her Facebook profile an article by Doug Wilson about spanking which had been published on the
website of our quaterly magazine “Reformacja w Polsce” and our church website
(translation from Credenda Agenda). </span>I wrote a
response to that on my blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most popular web-service in Gdansk, Sopot,
Gdynia (3 cities close to themselfes) published an article on their main page
about the debate of “TV supernany and pasor from Gdansk”. I was surprised that
most of 520 commentaries supported my view on discipline and childrearing.
Alost 1600 people voted in the survey under the articles. 67% of them agreed
with biblical view on spanking. Amazing.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it was
very profitable thing because a lot of people in Poland are afraid to say what
they think because of government legislation that’s been issued some months ago
which defines spanking as a civil crime (violence). Thanks God it is not
illegal to share publicly different worldview than Polish government. This is
why that discussion was very important and necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://dziecko.trojmiasto.pl/Gdanski-pastor-i-superniania-spieraja-sie-o-wychowanie-n61426.html">Here</a></b> is the link
to that article.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Paweł Bartosikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841205300271404420noreply@blogger.com0