Judson Baptist Church

Judson Baptist Church A friendly church with ministry to our neighborhood and world. Part of American Baptist Churches USA

09/06/2026

Welcome to Judson!

09/05/2026

Relax and Enjoy

Zechariah's new assignment: Learn sign language.

That very morning, Zechariah the priest stood in the temple (Luke 1). His priestly credentials traced back to Aaron. He served in the Abijah division. He had served as a priest for decades. He and his wife Elizabeth loved God above all others. "They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in the commandments," (Luke 1:6). They lived in the Judean hill country. It seems that Elizabeth did not make the trip to Jerusalem. What kept her home, Luke does not say. Maybe an arthritic hip.

Zechariah stood at the altar of incense. As the smoke ascended, so did the prayers of the people who stood outside (10). Had it not been for the prayers of the people, what was about to happen would not have happened.

From the very presence of God, the angel Gabriel appeared. Zechariah wanted to run, but Zechariah did not run that fast anyway, so he stood fast.

Gabriel told him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son...you will have joy and gladness," (vss. 13-14) .

So, why was not Zechariah joyous and glad? For sure, Zechariah was neither the first nor the last to get the angel jitters. But Zechariah wouldn't let go. This fear held tightly.

For the next one hundred words, Gabriel pulls out his best persuasive skills. he begins with the declaration:

He will be great in the sight of the Lord, (15).

What more does expecting-to-be expectant dad need?

But Zechariah persisted. He said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain?"

God's bias has always been faith, not proof. Ever insisted upon proof? We all have. But be careful. God can tire quickly.

God said, "OK, Zechariah, here's proof." "...you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place," (20).

The people waited and wondered "Where is Zechariah? He's late." Probably waiting for his benediction blessing. He did come - eventually. But he couldn't speak. "...and they realized he had seen a vision..." (22).

Zechariah had a few more days of temple service before heading back home. Good thing. He needed to work on his sign for "pregnant."

Our God, when You send Your word, it is ultimately for our joy. May we be joyful however and whenever it comes. Amen.

Pastor John

Labor Day weekend - the last "gasp" of summer - is here. With the heat wave we're experiencing, fall seems a long way in the future, but we have turned the calendar to the first of the "brr" months (September, October, November, and December). This Sunday is a First Sunday, and we will gather around the table to celebrate communion. If you join us on Facebook Live, have your bread and juice ready, We are so grateful for the opportunity to join in fellowship as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us. See you at 10:30 Sunday, ready to worship and praise the Lord.

09/03/2026

A Reminder from the Lord

I need reminding every now and then (daily) that I am not the center of my universe. That I do live for an audience of One. And the Lord uses situations and circumstances to "toughen us up" for His glory.

I come back to Adoniram Judson. Most agree that he was a fastidious young man. He held personal cleanliness as required. When in the hold of the French ship throwing up and being thrown up on, he discovered even he could claim grace to manage.

Jesus gave us a heads up:

But be on your guard, (Mark 13:9).

Hard things will happen. Be ready.

I wasn't.

The year I began Junior High School my folks moved to a new town. My dad was the new pastor at the local Baptist Church. My objective was simple - anonymity. To just blend in.

The boys' restroom was in the hold of the old school building. The trip down required a flight of fifteen to twenty steps. I was
halfway up, headed back to class. A young male voice from behind and below yelled, "Hey, church boy!"

Even as skinny a kid as I was (I may have had a few pounds on my accuser), I was determined to stop this nonsense. He stood at the foot of the stairs. No one else around. Favored by downward momentum, I gained the bottom of the staircase, grabbed his coat and shoved him against the wall. Nose to nose with measured cadence I instructed, "Don't-you-ever-call-me-that-again!"

You know what? He didn't.

He didn't call me church boy. He didn't call me a follower of Jesus. He didn't call me friend. (I went to check on him later that day.)

He never called.

If that be a persecution test measured on a 1 - 10 scale, that was a "0."

As a Junior High boy, I flunked Persecution 101.

On his only visit back to America, a fellow asked Judson to show him the scars on his wrists. He gathered his sleeves, just for a moment and let them fall.

...the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city,
saying that bonds and affliction await me.
But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to
myself...Paul (Acts 20:23-24).

Lord, As we suffer for You, may we know it as the imprint of Your approval. May Your joy be ours. Amen.

Pastor John

09/03/2026

What Made the Difference?

Could it have been?

A cluster of ladies. Listening. Pentecost. Jerusalem. The sound of rushing wind. Tongues that looked like fire. Foreign languages.

A fellow steps forward and begins speaking.

One of the ladies asks, "Who is that man?"

"What man?"

"The one quoting from Joel?" (Acts 2:17).

"Peter."

"No way."

"It's Peter, I'm telling you."

"I heard that Peter roused a rooster last month. Just hours before His crucifixion, he claimed he didn't know Jesus. Three times. And the rooster let fly. I don't think that's Peter."

"It's Peter."

"No, it's not."

"It is Peter. I ought to know. I'm his mother-in-law."

It's true. Peter suffered a spiritual train wreck the morning the c**k crowed.

Peter ran, thinking it was all over. When Jesus died, Peter knew it was over. But at His resurrection, Jesus knew He was only getting started.

Some see Jesus's "Do you love me?" encounter with Peter as a formal reinstatement. Maybe. They were certainly words of encouragement, (John 21). But Jesus had already begun reinstatement. before he failed.

But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and you,
when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Peter's reinstatement was the resurrection of Jesus. Now, Peter was only getting started. All the disciples had run. They all failed. For the Eleven faith stood fast. When Peter saw the risen Lord, he saw himself in a whole new light.

Peter preached.

This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and
having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,
He has poured forth this which you both see and hear,
(Acts 2:33).

Who was on hand? We don't know the individuals. But we know all were convinced that Peter was a new man.

Our God, your forgiveness coupled with the power of Your resurrection. How could we do less than love and serve You? Amen.

Pastor John

09/02/2026

Your Trip to America

eated in our living room, the Roagnas were ready for their ride to KCI. Their home in Alba, Italy awaited. With bags in the car, we were recipients of good-bye hugs and they a God's speed blessing.

"One more thing," I said to our nine-year-old granddaughter.

"Gaia, when you return to school in a few weeks, your teacher is going to ask your class, 'What did you do this summer?' When it is your turn to answer, you will say, 'I went to America.' Then your teacher will ask, 'What was your favorite thing about your trip to America?' And you know what you will say? 'Seeing my granddad!'"

Gaia giggled.

I coached her through the question and answer, phrase by phrase and allowed her to supply the final adulation.

No one should be surprised that I can't think of a Bible verse that endorses such self-aggrandizement. We were blessed by their visit and all the folks of Judson Church who helped welcome them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good.
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Amen. (Psalm 34:8).

(Gaia later confessed that her trips to the pool were number one!)

Pastor John

08/31/2026

Fruit Trees on the Emmaus Road

Robert Zund's portrayal of the Emmaus Road story depicts two men and the Lord walking, engaged in conversation. Luke 24:27 reports their Easter afternoon conversation.

He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the scripture.

Tall trees on either side form a majestic canopy over the road. But suppose Zund had included an occasional fruit tree for hungry travelers. And suppose he had included discreet labels on the fruit trees, reading: "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...," a spiritual orchard.

If I was walking this road, I'd choose the faithfulness tree and start picking. I admire the clear evidence of faithfulness in others. To whatever path God has called them, the fruit of faithfulness is obvious. Most certainly, a life seasoned with a basket full of faithfulness is a life to behold.

You know the amazing thing about a faithfulness tree? The more you pick, the more it grows.

Our God, As the men on the road, may we walk with Jesus and listen well. Amen.

Pastor John

08/30/2026

Welcome to Judson!

08/24/2026

Give Thanks

THANK YOU FOR BEING.

School children sent messages of encouragement to the hospital staff at Overland Park Regional Medical Center They are posted on windows at the far side of the lobby. Space is limited even on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. The young artist ran out of room after "BEING," and completed the thought in much smaller letters. All I saw was "THANK YOU FOR BEING."

Isaiah 12 begins,

Then you will say on that day, I will give thanks to You, O Lord, (verse 1).

The root of the word "thanks" is the word "hand." With the addition of one letter at the end, "hand" now becomes "throw," (the same in verse 4).

You can "give thanks," but why give thanks when you can add a hand and "throw thanks." Take good aim and throw some heart-felt thanks to God -- for Being. It's a good place to start. It's a good place to start each day.

When God came to Moses in the wilderness and told him to return to Egypt for "Operation Deliverance," Moses asked,

Well, who shall I say sent me? I AM WHO I AM, (Exodus 3:14).

That's all He gave him. That's all he needed.

God is intrinsically sufficient. God is inherently sufficient. God is sufficient within Himself.

God, thank You for Being.

Last baseball season, I heard an announcer describe a certain pitcher's curveball - "Nasty," he said.

When life throws that nasty curveball, confused, with no answers in sight, we go to the wilderness and hear again, "I AM."

And we throw to the God in whom we have our being.

THANK YOU FOR BEING!

God, In You is all we need. Demonstrated most surely in Your own Son, Jesus our Lord. Amen.

08/23/2026

Welcome to Judson!

08/22/2026

Evening Prayer

The writer of Psalm 104 says,

Man goes forth to work and to his labor until evening (vs 23).

Unless you work the all-night shift, and I know some of you do, it's time to head home and head to rest. And to all late workers, rest will come to you as well. Ruth and I will be up late. we have yet to head to KCI to meet our daughter Julianne and her husband Pier and their children Gaia and Leonardo who are arriving from Italy.

May all of us rest in the promise of the Lord's presence. Amen.

Pastor John

May I invite you to a special Sunday at Judson Church? John and I were married on August 27, 1976, nearly 50 years ago. Our son Jonathan will be bringing the message, and our children invite you to stay after the service for a reception to celebrate our 50th anniversary. When we were married in 1976, 2026 seemed like a long time away. I had the privilege of attending my paternal grandparents' 50th anniversary in 1969 and our parents' 50th anniversary in 1998. John's maternal grandparents celebrated 70 years of marriage. Several of his uncles and aunts celebrated 50 and some 60 years of marriage. God has blessed our family and honored the vows made. We look forward to seeing you Sunday for worship at 10:30 and then for the reception at 11:30 (or whenever Jonathan finishes preaching!)

Please be in prayer for our community after the storm this past Wednesday. Many are still without power and the help they need to clear their property. This is the time for us to help one another. Ruth

Address

8300 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS
66112

Telephone

+19132998335

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