January 15, 2026

News from Isabel Acheson for issue of Jan 15, 2026

Somerset Bible Chapel 

Sunday School classes resumed January 11, 2026 following a 2 week recess. At least 15 families were represented, I may have missed one or two. Our Sunday School leaders are very much appreciated. 

Ernie Unrau, the AV Co-ordinator, led the announcements. Katie and Emery DeRoo were the music leaders. Jon Timmerman was usher, Pastor Jeff Peacock led the Prayer Focus and Michelle Friesen was the Scripture reader. 

The hymns and songs included “Everlasting God”, “God is For Us” (a new song Katie introduced a few weeks ago), “Jesus Messiah”, “Lord I Need You”, “His Mercy Is More”  with “They Will Know You are Christians By Your Love” for the closing.  

Pastor Jeff returned to 2 Corinthians 6 for the basis of his sermon “Unequally Yoked”. This is part of a phrase the Apostle Paul used in verse 14. 

The Old Testament commandments and regulations covered Moral, Ceremonial and Civil law. The Hebrews in the exodus from Egypt were instructed in Deuteronomy 22:10 not to yoke an ox and a donkey together for plowing land. Such a pair of animals were unequal in so many ways that the job of plowing would never get done.  

Paul’s instructions were not to isolate oneself from unbelievers. The primary goal of Christians is to be friendly, to love your neighbour, to make disciples and to give glory to God. The prohibition relates to being in a common spiritual enterprise with those who are not of the same spiritual nature. 

When this is applied to marriage, God’s purpose is for Marriage to picture the relationship between Christ and the church. It is for His Glory, for our protection and for our good. God’s desire is to give good gifts to His Children. 

The passage continues in verses 14-16 with a set of rhetorical questions of unrelated entities. The account of King Manasseh of Judah beginning in 2 Kings 21:1shows the dangers of syncretism and the damage it brought to the city of Jerusalem and its people. 

As the temple of the ancient Hebrews represented the dwelling place of God, so in the Christian era, the believer’s body becomes a temple for the Holy Spirit. 

The church annual meeting is set for the next Sunday Jan. 18th. 

Monthly bulletins and previous reports are available on the website  www.somersetbiblechapel.com.