Page 2 - Inside Report 3Q 2015

the president’s

perspective

Pastor Doug
Batchelor

A

s an adventurous, rambunctious kid, I once tied a Bible heroes, in reality, point us to the only one who really
towel around my neck, pretending it was a lowing deserves our complete adoration, Jesus Christ.

cape, and jumped off a rooftop. Why? I wanted to
The apostle Paul said it perfectly: “Since we are

be like my hero Superman.
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside

Someone once said,“Be careful the friends you
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
choose for you will become like them.”While I sadly never let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

developed Superman’s power of light, try as I might, people looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1, 2). A Bible hero is a

really do need good heroes. We tend to imitate the
witness who helps us ix our eyes upon Christ so that our

people we look up to, and over time, we become more
lives will be radically changed.
and more like them.
So I’m very excited to tell you about

According to the dictionary, a hero
a new 10-part revival and evangelistic

is a person distinguished by his or her
series Amazing Facts is broadcasting from
courage or ability, admired for his or her
Lansing, Michigan, one I believe will help

brave deeds, sacriice, or noble qualities. your church, friends, and family rediscover

Unfortunately, these days, multitudes of
salvation and Christlikeness. Heroes of

people admire the wrong heroes.Whether
Faith: Inspirational Stories of Salvation
the idol is a powerful athlete, famous
for the Whole Family will begin on Friday

singer, or glamorous actor, more often
evening, October 2, and will be a paramount

people are attracted to pop-culture stars
opportunity for you and fellow church

whose personal lives are exposed for their
members to experience a lifesaving dose of
violence, cheating, drug abuse, and sexual immorality.
revival, while inviting Christian friends who are unfamiliar

This is nothing new, of course, as the Bible says the with the three angels’ messages to encounter the real Jesus.

crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus. And it seems to me there Along the way, I’m going to lift up true heroes of
is a serious shortage of godly role models for God’s people faith—Rahab, Elisha, and, of course, Jesus Christ and

today. Perhaps it’s about time we shut off the TV and open others—so we have genuine heroes to model in a time

our Bibles to behold the lives of worthy role models who they are so hard to ind. Though these Bible heroes were

point us heavenward. Don’t you agree?
imperfect men and women, they became champions of faith
One reason I feel so strongly about spending time through the power of the Holy Spirit. We’ll even introduce

focusing on the heroes of Scripture is because I know that you to one of them in this issue of Inside Report, which I

their lives were transformed by looking to God. The great
hope blesses your walk with the Lord.

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Inside Report 3Q 2015