The Beaverton Religion Forum has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 19th. Pizza and small talk will be at 6:00 pm, with the debate beginning at 6:30 pm. Tom Gebhardt, a member of the Center for Inquiry Portland and Keith Thomas, Assistant Pastor of Evergreen Presbyterian Church will answer the question, “Do you need God to be a genuinely moral person?” The forum’s Master of Ceremonies, Bernie Dehler, atheist in persuasion, will allow each presenter 10 minutes to answer the question, then he will open the floor to questions directed at one or both of the presenters. We continue the forum having enjoyed peaceful and productive conversations between Atheists, Christians, Muslims, and Jews for two years. Keep the forum going by inviting your friends to join us. The forum is a friendly clash of opposing world views on selected topics.
The topic for this upcoming forum: “Do you need God to be a genuinely moral person?” is central to discussions between Atheists and Christians. Most Christians assume that Atheism necessarily leads to nihilism and thus to immorality. But there is a growing number of Atheists attempting to establish a moral foundation for Atheists and Secular Humanists. Most Atheists assume that Christians believe that no one apart from God can do anything moral or good. But, of course, there is the long standing Christian doctrine of common grace.
The Beaverton Religion Forum is not an attempt to reduce neighbors to common ground, though we find it at times. The purpose is to provide space for clear presentations of conflicting world views while maintaining a friendship between neighbors.
Bernie Dehler, a Christian turned Secular Humanist/Atheist, has remarked to the Forum coordinators that he is unaware of any meeting in the USA like the Beaverton Religion Forum. There are gatherings and events at which Atheists and Christians debate or at which they seek to find common ground reducing all counter-points to a mushy moderation. But he knows of no event with the purpose of kindly presenting two opposing views, allowing them to stand in a context of being good neighbors.
The Reverend Nathan Lewis of Evergreen says, “I am pleased to host and to coordinate the Beaverton Religion Forum alongside my friends, Bernie Dehler of the Westside Science and Religion Discussion Group and Sylvia Benner of the Center for Inquiry of Portland. The three of us along with our presenters are modeling the building of friendships with those who sharply disagree with us. On both sides of any topic we have hopes that at least someone will see it our way and embrace our views. Bernie and Sylvia are just as much evangelists as I am. Of course the term, “evangelism” lexically is inseparably connected to the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and so my friends must pirate it to describe their passionate proclamation of Atheism. But hey, I’m willing to let them borrow a good term so that we can get a lively discussion going.”

“This topic of God and morality is central to discussions between Christians and Atheists.” A teenage member of Evergreen Presbyterian Church

After a brief break for the holidays, Surveyor will start up again on January 18th with a Fellowship and Vision Night to introduce the themes that will be studied. Surveyor is designed to increase one’s understandig of God’s Word toward spiritual growth and productivity, as well as promote fellowship. The evening begins with dinner at 6 pm ($2.00 donation per person/$8.00 cap per family), then classes for all ages start at 7 pm and conclude at 8 pm sharp. Look under the “Education” section of this website for more information about the classes offered and the Evergreen Calendar for exact dates. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Pastor Nathan Lewis will begin a new sermon series January 1, 2012 preaching through the Prophecy of Isaiah. Take some time to read through the prophecy and consider visiting these online sites for helpful information:
The Gospel Coalition’s sermon archive
Monergism’s sermon archive
Geneva Study Bible Commentary
John Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible

Gregory of Nyssa of the Eastern Church in the 4th century wrote, “Isaiah, knew more perfectly than all others the mystery of the religion of the Gospel.”

Jerome in the Western Church, also in the 4th century wrote, “Isaiah was more of an Evangelist than a Prophet, because he described all of the Mysteries of the Church of Christ so vividly that you would assume he was not prophesying about the future, but rather was composing a history of past events.”

Link to Sermon Scripts and Notes on Isaiah 1-11

Link to audio sermons from Isaiah

“A knowledge of the Bible without a college education is worth more than a college education without a knowledge of the Bible.” Dr. William Lyon Phelps, professor at Yale from 1892-1933

“This Christmas Glenda and I gave to our son, Jackson, his first, full length Bible and he said to me, ‘Why do I need to take my Bible to church? You print all of the verses in the bulletin and Mom makes me read them with her.’ I was raised in a church requiring me to tote my Bible every Sunday and so I learned how to navigate my way through it. (Sword drills in Sunday School helped as well.) I told Jackson that he should start bringing his new Bible to worship on Sundays to use it as I was not going to print my entire sermon texts in the bulletin. He seemed excited to have this opportunity. When I was a kid, after worship, my four siblings and I would dump our Bibles into my Mom’s arms so that we could play. Undoubtedly this was a frustration for her. And so, we have the opportunity to teach our children a little responsibility to cart their Bibles to and from worship. One more childhood memory: My older sister and I had red-letter Bibles, the words of Jesus printed in red. While my Dad was preaching we would look for the two consecutive pages in Matthew’s Gospel that were completely red print! When we were teens my sister and I shared a memorable discussion: Are the words of Jesus any more the word of God then the other words in the Bible? Why were Jesus’ words in red? One of our cynical answers = the publisher can charge a little bit more for color print.” (Actually, the inventor, Louis Klopsch had a different reason.) Pastor Nathan Lewis

In this New Year, Pastor Keith Thomas, is encouraging us to devote time to family worship in our homes. He will be making fine materials available to us at a reduced cost. Of course, the primary and best of materials is the Bible. Reading to our children and hearing them read to us the very words of God is worth our time and effort.

John Haralson, pastor of our sister congregation, Grace Seattle, has posted some good advice for those of us navigating the deep waters of extended family gatherings during the holidays: Check out “Difficult Family Holidays.”

This year Christmas falls on a Sunday and Evergreen is worshipping together at 10:30 a.m. We invite you to join us. Some churches are canceling services but we can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than gathering together to worship. So much cultural ground has been lost in our day – a holiday, no longer a holy day, but rather a discretionary day for family or individual entertainment and relaxation. The celebration of Christmas has been largely commercialized and privatized to the extent that churches in our community fear encroaching upon a person’s Christmas Day by the ordering of worship.

Whether or not you are a follower of Jesus, it would seem apparent and fitting that the most appropriate activity for the day celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus, would be to worship together in his name. Of course, none of us at Evergreen would dream of making anyone of us feel guilty for missing worship on Christmas Day, or on any other Sunday in the year. We must join in the worship of the true God with a willing and grateful heart, with joy and with a sincere longing for the courts of the Lord. Like the Psalmist David sang: “One thing have I desired of the Lord/That which I seek after/ That I may dwell in the house of the Lord/ All the days of my life/ To behold the beauty of the Lord/ To inquire in his temple…”

Gathering for worship with us at 10:30 a.m. could lend that spiritual depth to the holiday you have sensed is missing from your personal traditions. Some of us leaders at Evergreen thought about adjusting the worship time and then decided to meet at the same time we always meet on Sundays. In doing so, we will not confuse anyone or in any way miscommunicate that we think that our worship service is an imposition on family or personal plans for the day. BTW, We don’t take attendance and we allow our members to make their own decisions with a free conscience, and so, please don’t mistake our kind invitation to join us as code for religious manipulation.

Come hear the gospel preached – Jesus, the Christ child, born in the stable is the Son of God, who died on the cross to save us from our sins. It is he who rose from the dead to grant us new and eternal life. He has ascended into heaven and he sends his angels to the four corners of the world to gather the elect of God. On Christmas Day, we are gathering in his name to praise his heavenly Father as we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Suggestions for Improving Your Christmas Celebration in the Portland-Metro:
Join the Advent Conspiracy
Visit the Grotto’s Festival of Lights to hear local High School Choirs perform
Treat yourself to the Portland Baroque Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah
Volunteer at Bridgetown Ministries
Make donations to the Portland Rescue Mission or Sunshine Food Pantry
Handmake a gift for a friend
Invite a few people you suspect are lonely to join your Christmas festivities

On Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m. Evergreen is hosting a Candlelight Service. Assistant Pastor, Keith Thomas is preaching the gospel. The congregation is singing and praying, and lighting candles to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and the Prince of Peace. J.I. Packer, in his article, “Incarnation: God Sent His Son to Save Us,” wrote, “Trinity and Incarnation belong together. The doctrine of the Trinity declares that the man Jesus is truly divine; that of the Incarnation declares that the divine Jesus is truly human.” In preparation for Christmas, read Packer’s article this Advent season and also take the time to read the Gospel narratives: Matthew 1 and Luke 2.

Several years ago nine members of Evergreen organized Fresh Start Microloans, working with our Mission to the World teams and with Joy to the World Ministries to help Malawians start sustaining businesses. Working with the church and supplying adequate training and accountability are priorities of Fresh Start. (During the holidays Evergreen joins our community in relieving the needs of our neighbors and fellow church members throughout the world. This past Thanksgiving Day 2011, Evergreen collected $1,800.00 for Eirene Ministries in Guadalajara, supplying dental and medical services to the poor, a school for the children of the pueblo, Santa Ana Tepetitlan, and an orphanage in Camichines. One time gifts and holiday generosity are important in expressing the love of Christ Jesus. The organizers of Fresh Start dreamed of creating a different expression of God’s solidarity with the poor.) Fresh Start allows us to help sustain families in Malawi year round, for a lifetime through loaning $200.00 or less to an approved candidate proposing the start up of a business that will provide for his family as he/she works diligently. (As the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, “If a man does not work, he shall not eat.” Michael Dougherty has created a new look for Fresh Start on the web. Link to our new site and share it with your friends.

On Sunday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m. Evergreen Presbyterian Church is hosting Lessons & Carols for the community. Evergreen follows the traditional presentation of nine Scripture readings followed by nine carols sung by the choir and the congregation. The advent candles are burning and the sanctuary is decorated to celebrate Christ’s birth. Lessons & Carols is designed to tell the story of redemption and so the scripture lessons and music usually spans from Genesis to the Gospels.

Pastor Lewis on the Place for Pink Martini at the Christmas Tree Lighting and Lessons & Carols at the Church
This past week my family and friends took Max to Pioneer Courthouse Square to join thousands at the annual tree lighting. The Oregon Symphony brass played a New Orleans rendition of The Drummer Boy, a sassy Santa Baby and the Peanuts Christmas Music. The great grandchildren of the Von Trapp Family yodeled the Goat Herder’s Song and sang Edelweiss. Thomas Lauderdale and Pink Martini led the crowd in singing Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, Silent Night, Joy to the World, Feliz Navidad, I’ve Have a Little Dradle, and Old Lang Syne in Arabic. There is a place for this kind of celebration and that place is Pioneer Courthouse Square.
There is also a place for Lessons & Carols and that place is the church. Frosty the Snowman should not appear on the platform of a Christian sanctuary. To sing Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer in a church building would not be a sin but it would be inappropriate. The church should proclaim the gospel, presenting the whole counsel of God, seeking to inspire through spirituality. Every community needs the public square, the theatre, the school, the church….The church should not attempt to be the theatre but rather it should focus on being the headquarters for the kingdom of God on earth, executing the mission of Jesus. Lessons & Carols is not particularly entertaining, but a rich presentation of Scripture and thoughtful music. Lessons & Carols is a perfect start to the Advent Season helping us to put our eyes of faith upon the coming Lord Jesus Christ.

With a growing number of people insisting that Adam and Eve were not historical figures let alone the first parents of the entire human race, Pastor Nathan Lewis has written an Advent Sermon series titled: “What’s the Big Deal about Adam, Eve, and Jesus?” Beginning Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. Nathan will preach the biblical texts that are relevant to present conversations in our community concerning Genome DNA research, paleontology, biological macro-evolution, and the history of the human race. Here are the sermons and biblical texts:
November 27 – “The Origins of Death” – Genesis 2: 16-17; 3: 1-7 and Romans 5: 12-15. The biblical text presents death as the consequence of Adam and Eve’s first sin. Many who deny that Adam and Eve are the first parents of the human race also deny humanity’s fall into sin. They conclude that death has always been a part of the human experience, that death claimed human beings prior to any fall into sin. For the student of the Bible or anyone who follows Jesus and his apostles, this view of death is problematic. Secular humanists have begun chanting, “No Adam and Eve, no fall into sin, no need for atonement, no need for Jesus, no need for salvation….”
December 4 – “The Difficulty of Making the Human Race – It’s Not Just a Natural Process” – Genesis 1:1…1:3…2:7…John 1:1-3…Colossians 1:15-20. Nearly all fields of science agree that the making of the human race is a complex and difficult process. Paleontologists who have largely supported the out-of-Africa theory, the view that humanity has sprung from one source in Africa, insist that the making of the human race requires a very long period of time, 2.3 million years. The newer theories of the Genome DNA research now suggest that the human race sprung up in several places on earth, each origin of humanity independent of the other. One origin of the human race is plenty difficult and now we are being called to consider this difficulty occurring many times over. The biblical text also presents the making of the human race, as a natural process, to be most difficult if not impossible. Of course, the biblical view is that the process is primarily supernatural.
December 11 – “The Value of Common Ancestry” – Acts 17: 26-28. Some who are following the Genome DNA research are insisting that the human race in its present diversity could not have descended from one pair of human beings, like Adam and Eve, but had to stem from approximately 2,000 pairs springing up independently of each other in various geographic locations. The biblical presentation of the unity of the human race, springing from one couple, made in the image of God, concludes that every human individual bears the image of God and is of equal and inestimable value. Such a Christian view of humanity protects against views of some human groups superior to other human groups. The genetic superiority of one human group, in the past, has led to chilling and inhumane practices.
December 18 - “What Jesus Believed About Adam and Eve” – Genesis 1:26-27…Genesis 2: 18-24…Matthew 19: 3-9. Jesus considered Genesis 1 and 2 to be complementary accounts of the same creation of humanity. He supported the Old Testament narrative of the history of the human race: creation; fall into sin; redemption through atonement; the conquering of death; reconciliation and restoration. The followers of Jesus in their New Testament writings develop these themes and preach the gospel placing Jesus at the climax of the redemption of humanity.
Advent, the four Sundays prior to Christmas Sunday, are dedicated to the coming of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, the Redeemer of God’s elect. Pastor Nathan Lewis presents Adam, Eve, and Jesus in their places in redemptive history, (the main story of the Bible = God redeeming his people.) What we believe about Adam and Eve influences what we believe about Jesus. What we believe about Adam, Eve and Jesus influences how we view the human race. Join us at Evergreen this Advent season to hear the gospel, the message of God graciously restoring his creation, including humanity through Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

For more information, read C. John Collins book, “Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?”