FBC Gateway

Announcements (1.18.12)

2012-01-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

Wednesday Nights for Adults - We are continuing our study Secret Church: Old Testament. Come ready to learn and to pray together. Starts at 6:30pm in the sanctuary. If you're not serving in Youth or AWANA, then please come to Bible study.

First Baptist University - Ever been reading the Bible and just not had a clue what you were actually reading??? Join us as we learn how to study the Word of God in this 4-week course. Starts this Sunday at 5:00pm in the LEC classroom. There will be some homework with this course, but it will not be an overwhelming amount.

Honorology - This Sunday we're going to be looking at the long, lost virtue of honor. Make the commitment now to join us at 10:00am. And...what an honor it would be for you to bring a friend with you. :)

What's Coming Up on Sunday Mornings?

January 29th - Youth Sunday - Jordan will be preaching, make sure you're here to support him in his first time preaching on a Sunday morning
February 5th - Start of our series "Rich in Generosity"

Weekly Announcements (1.10.12)

2012-01-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

Wednesday Nights for Adults - Starting this Wednesday we will be beginning the study Secret Church: Old Testament. Come ready to learn and to pray together. Starts at 6:30pm in the sanctuary.

What's God's Will - We left you hanging on Sunday morning. So, how do we actually hear from God about the decisions we make in life? Come back this Sunday for part 2!!!

First Baptist University - Ever been reading the Bible and just not had a clue what you were actually reading??? Join us as we learn how to study the Word of God. Starts January 22nd at 5:00pm in the LEC classroom.

Youth Pastor Candidate - Shane Carr will be here on Sunday, January 22nd preaching in the morning service in view of the call to First Baptist as Youth Pastor. After worship service is finished, church members may stay to vote on Shane.

Membership Discovery - If you'd be interested in knowing more about our church or in the joining the church as a member, then this is the class for you. It's this Sunday at 5:00 pm in the Golden Circle room on the main hallway.

What's God's Will???

2012-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

This Sunday morning starts a 2-week series that will answer every question you have about major life decisions and give you unshakeable confidence every time you make a decision (JUST KIDDING). What we will do is explore this difficult and error prone topic. By the end you'll hopefully have a better grasp on living in the will of God.

See you Sunday morning!!!

Announcements (End of the Year Edition)

2011-12-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cards - The card box in the church lobby is overflowing. That means lots of money for me if you don't come and get your cards!!!

Christmas Eve Service - We're having our annual candlelight communion service on Christmas Eve at 6:00pm.

Christmas Day - On Sunday, December 25th we will only have a morning worship service (no SS and no evening worship)

Sundays in January - Here's a glimpse at how we're starting off the year.

January 1 - Heads or Tails
January 8 & 15 - 2 week series called "What's God's Will?" all about (you guessed it)...knowing and living the will of God
January 22 - youth pastor candidate, Shane Carr, will be preaching. The church will vote on Shane following the morning worship service.
January 29 - We will start a sermon series called "Rich in Generosity"

Sunday nights in January we will finish Revelation. In February I would like to begin walking us through one of the 4 gospels. So, help me decide which one. Would you like to study the life of Christ from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John? Let me know by leaving a comment on this post or email me or just tell me in person.

First Baptist University - Starting Sunday, January 22nd at 5:00pm and going through April or May. The purpose is to equip you to be able to sit down with the Word of God, understand it, find the main point of a passage, and be able to communicate that to another person. If you come to this you will have to work and turn in assignments...that's why it's called University!!!

Membership Discovery - January 15th at 5:00pm

Announcements (12.13.11)

2011-12-13T13:30:00.000-08:00

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - Our Christmas offering for international missions will be this Sunday, December 18th. Of course, you can give during the entire month of December, but the 18th will be our day to focus on the offering.

To learn more about who Lottie Moon was, click here
To learn more about how the offering is used, click here.
To go to the imb connecting website, click here.

Candle Light Christmas Eve Service - 6:00pm in the Sanctuary, December 24th.

Last 2 Sundays of the Year

December 18th - Business meeting following evening worship service
December 25th - Morning worship service only at 10:00am (no Sunday School or evening worship service)

Announcements (11.29.11)

2011-11-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

This Sunday Night - "Memories of Christmas" - December 4th at 6:30pm in the FBC sanctuary. A night for family, fun, and focus on the Savior. Featuring the children's musical "Census Time in Bethlehem", memories of years gone past, Signs of Love performance, and more.

***Please bring a finger food to the LEC before the event, and we'll celebrate afterwards.***

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - Our Christmas offering for international missions will be on Sunday, December 18th. Of course, you can give during the entire month of December, but the 18th will be our day to focus on the offering.

To learn more about who Lottie Moon was, click here
To learn more about how the offering is used, click here.
To go to the imb connecting website, click here.

Sundays in December

4th - Missionary guest, Kim Margrave - Volunteer Missions Director at TBC
11th - Choir Musical and Holiday Dinner (no evening service)
18th - Lottie Moon offering (business meeting after evening service)
25th - Special Christmas Day worship service at 10 a.m. (no Sunday School or evening worship service)

Lighthouse Christian Camp - We'll leave the church parking lot at 8:30 a.m. this Saturday morning to serve at the Girls' Christmas Party, or you can just go directly to the camp on your own. Be there by 9:00am.

Announcements (11.21.11)

2011-11-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

Sanctuary Christmas Decoration - This Saturday, Nov. 26th, we will be decorating our sanctuary for the Christmas season. Please come and join us. The decorating begins at 8:00am. Anyone and everyone is welcome and invited to help.

No Church Services, AWANA, or Youth this Wednesday - Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Enjoy this time with your family. Reflect on the blessings of God in your life.

Lighthouse Christian Camp Christmas Parties - We are collecting toy donations for the LCC Christmas parties. Bring your toys unwrapped to the church anytime before Thanksgiving and the church will deliver them to the camp. Dates for the parties if you want to go and serve...

December 3rd - Girls party - 9:00 am
December 10th - Boys party - 9:00 am

To learn more about who Lottie Moon was, click here
To learn more about how the offering is used, click here.
To go to the imb connecting website, click here.

Weekly Announcements (11.7.11)

2011-11-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

Lighthouse Christian Camp Christmas Parties - We are collecting toy donations for the LCC Christmas parties. Bring your toys unwrapped to the church anytime before Thanksgiving and the church will deliver them to the camp. Dates for the parties if you want to go and serve...

December 3rd - Girls party
December 10th - Boys party

"Memories of Christmas" Service - December 4th at 6:30pm in the FBC sanctuary. A night for family, fun, and focus on the Savior. Featuring the children's musical "Census Time in Bethlehem". (Practices for the children are Sunday nights at 6:30pm). See Anthony for details.

Community Thanksgiving Service - The Community Thanksgiving Service will be on November 20th @ 6:00pm. This year's service will be hosted by First United Methodist Church.

Community Thanksgiving Choir - There will be 1 rehearsal for the choir for the community Thanksgiving service. This practice will be Tuesday, November 15th @ 6:00pm in the sanctuary of the Methodist church.

Monday Morning Prayer - Our Monday morning prayer times are at 9:00am. You are invited to join us.

Visit of Potential Youth Pastor - This weekend the candidate for the youth pastor job will be visiting our church. His name is Shane Carr. The purpose of this weekend is to allow Shane and his family to meet our church, and for us to meet him. Here's how the weekend has been planned out.

Saturday 12:00 noon - Youth and parents of youth will meet Shane and his family for a cookout and casual afternoon of games and conversation. This will happen at the Terrell farm, located near the airport.
Saturday 6:00pm - Deacons, Personnel committee, and their spouses will meet Shane and his family for dinner in the LEC.
Sunday after morning worship - The entire church is invited to meet Shane and his family for a soup lunch in the LEC.

Please be in prayer for the Carr family as they come this weekend.

Weekly Announcements (10.25.11)

2011-10-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Gospel Centered Family - Join us for this 4-week seminar about aligning our families around the gospel. This will be taught on Wednesday nights from 6:00-7:30pm, starting October 26th-November 16th. So drop your kids off for AWANA or youth, and come join us. There is no cost for this seminar and no homework.

"Memories of Christmas" Service - December 4th at 6:30pm in the FBC sanctuary. A night for family, fun, and focus on the Savior. Featuring the children's musical "Census Time in Bethlehem". (Practices for the children are Sunday nights at 6:30pm). See Anthony for details.

Trunk-or-Treat - We need you to come up with carnival type games for our annual Trunk-or-Treat event. The event will be on Monday, October 31st. Also, anybody can donate candy for the event as well (and we need lots of it). Look for flyers Sunday morning to put on your doors on Halloween night.

***We need to know how many games we have coming. If you are bringing a game, please confirm with Pastor Mark.*** All games will be inside the LEC.

Sunday, October 30th - On the eve of Reformation Day we will be watching a feature film about the life of Martin Luther, the man God used to spark the Protestant Reformation. This film will be shown in the LEC starting at 5:30pm. Children will have movie in one of the classrooms as well.

AWANA Returns - This week AWANA starts back up this week on it regular Wednesday time, 6:00-7:30pm.

Weekly Announcements (10.5.11)

2011-10-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

Gospel Centered Family - Join us for this 4-week seminar about aligning our families around the gospel. This will be taught on Wednesday nights from 6:00-7:30pm, starting October 26th-November 16th. There is no cost for this seminar and no homework.

Serving at Lighthouse Christian Camp - Sign up sheet will be on the bulletin board for you to sign up to serve any day or days, October 10-14. LCC needs help with painting, construction on Widow's Home, and leaf removal.

Trunk-or-Treat - We need you to come up with carnival type games for our annual Trunk-or-Treat event. The event will be on Monday, October 31st. Also, anybody can donate candy for the event as well (and we need lots of it).

Naco Mission Team - Your mission team is leaving October 15th to travel to Naco, AZ. Please be in prayer that God will be glorified in this time and through our work.

"Memories of Christmas" Service - December 4th at 6:30pm in the FBC sanctuary. A night for family, fun, and focus on the Savior. Featuring the children's musical "Census Time in Bethlehem". (Practices for the children are Sunday nights at 6:30pm). See Anthony for details.

"O Holy Night" - A Christmas worship service led by the FBC Sanctuary Choir. December 11 at 10:00am in the FBC sanctuary.

AWANA Break - AWANA is taking a break along with the school system's fall break the next 2 weeks. We will return on October 26th.

Weekly Announcements (9.26.11)

2011-09-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

Communion Service this Sunday - So, Ecclesiastes is finished (I can hear your excitement). Communion is always a special time in the life of our church. See you Sunday.

Get Motivated Conference - We have a few free tickets available for this business conference. If any of our business men or women want to go please let pastor Mark know and we'll get you the tickets. Date of the conference is Monday, October 17th. Location is Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Click here to go to the conference website.

Serving at Lighthouse Christian Camp - Sign up sheet will be on the bulletin board for you to sign up to serve any day or days, October 10-14. LCC needs help with painting, construction on Widow's Home, and leaf removal.

Trunk-or-Treat - We need you to come up with carnival type games for our annual Trunk-or-Treat event. The event will be on Monday, October 31st. Also, anybody can donate candy for the event as well (and we need lots of it).

Business Meeting This Sunday Evening - After our evening worship service this Sunday, we will have our regularly scheduled business meeting.

Announcements (9.20.11)

2011-09-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

Chasing After the Wind - This is our final week of our series in Ecclesiastes. We're going to finish up with Ecclesiastes 11:8-12:14. The most famous verse of the book (12:13) is found in our passage. See you Sunday as we look at the Scripture says to the young and the old.

Returning to Revelation - Sunday night we'll get back into the book of Revelation, chapter 11.

October Events

Week of October 9th (fall break) - Teams will go to Lighthouse Christian Camp to help serve. We'll be helping with camp leaf cleanup (and they have a lot of leaves) and other tasks they request. For those who have construction skills, LCC is building a new widow's home and may need help.
October 31 - 4th annual Trunk-or-Treat event

Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions - September is our month for collecting the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. This offering goes 100% to support TBC ministries and new church starts in Tennessee. The offering envelopes are in the pew backs if you want to give to this offering. Click here to go to the Golden Offering website to learn more about this offering.

Weekly Announcements (9.8.11)

2011-09-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

9/11 Memorial Service - This Sunday at 2:00pm on the city square, east side of courthouse, we will join with other churches in a memorial service on the 1oth anniversary of the terrorist attacks. We will not have an evening service here at our church.

Special Business Meeting - This Sunday immediately after morning worship there will be a short business meeting to approve money to be spent for heating and air units. The property committee will bring a proposal. The business meeting is necessary b/c the money needed is significantly more than budgeted.

Deacon Ordinations - Sunday night, September 18th, we will ordain our two new deacons, Mack Harney and David Hirsbrunner, during our evening worship service.

AWANA - We have jumped out to a great start this year. Our average club attendance has been 57 over the first 2 weeks. Please keep praying for these kids and for the volunteers who serve.

Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions - This month. Look for offering envelopes in your pews. 100% of this money goes towards mission causes in the state of Tennessee. 50% of all money collected statewide will go towards starting new churches.

Request from RT Ministry - RTs would like to have the names, addresses, and birthdays of all our college students. Please submit this information to the church office. You may call the church secretary Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between the hours of 8:30 and 12:30 to give her this information. Or you may leave it on the secretary’s desk anytime.

Weekly Announcements (8.22.11)

2011-08-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

2011-2012 Service Positions Open - We have just a couple of positions still needing to be filled for this coming church year.

Mission Friends teacher
Children in Action teacher

Mission Friends (preschool ages) and Children in Action (elementary ages) are our missions programs for our children. They meet during Sunday evening service.

Naco, Arizona Mission Trip - We will be partnering once again with Tim and Jennifer Scarbrough and Naco Baptist Church this fall to help spread the gospel in Naco. The main focus of our work will be in Naco doing a children and youth outreach camp to reach the younger population and intensive adult discipleship classes to help ground all of the new adult believers they have seen come to faith over the past several months. Dates for the trip are Sat, Oct. 15 - Sat, Oct. 22. This is during the second of the two school fall break weeks. You are officially invited to come!!! Speak with or email pastor Mark to sign up. We have up to 2 spots remaining.

AWANA Registration Night (this Wednesday, August 24th) - Registration night will start with some hamburgers and hotdogs off the grill. We will have our very on ventriloquists with us for some entertainment and then we'll finish off with ice cream. (We'll get the kids registered in the middle of all that as well.)

Puggles Is New to FBC AWANA This Year - Puggles is the AWANA club for boys and girls that are 2 years old (Cubbies is 3-4 year olds). So, if your child isn't quite ready for Cubbies, then come register him/her for Puggles!

Deacon Ordination Council - All ordained men are invited to ordination council this Sunday afternoon at 4:30 in the Sanctuary.

September 11th Memorial Service - This year Sept. 11th falls on a Sunday. This year is also the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks. We will be doing a special afternoon memorial service that day on the town square with other churches in the area. We have one request: if you or someone you know was particularly affected by the events of the day and found hope thru Christ will you please contact me to talk about doing a short testimony during the service? Thanks so much.

Weekly Announcements (8.16.11)

2011-08-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

Naco, Arizona Mission Trip - We will be partnering once again with Tim and Jennifer Scarbrough and Naco Baptist Church this fall to help spread the gospel in Naco. The main focus of our work will be in Naco doing a children and youth outreach camp to reach the younger population and intensive adult discipleship classes to help ground all of the new adult believers they have seen come to faith over the past several months. Dates for the trip are Sat, Oct. 15 - Sat, Oct. 22. This is during the second of the two school fall break weeks. You are officially invited to come!!! Speak with or email pastor Mark to sign up.

Homecoming - This Sunday (Aug. 21) - This year's homecoming speaker will be Mark Thomas, former pastor of youth and worship. As always, make sure you bring a dessert/side dish or two for our Homecoming meal that follows our morning worship service.

2011-2012 Service Positions Open - We have just a couple of positions still needing to be filled for this coming church year.

Mission Friends teacher
Children in Action teacher
3rd-4th grade SS teacher

Mission Friends (preschool ages) and Children in Action (elementary ages) are our missions programs for our children. They meet during Sunday evening service.

AWANA - School is starting back up so that means that AWANA is returning as well. Here's the schedule we have planned.

Wednesday, August 24th - Registration / Parent Orientation, 6:00 pm
Wednesday, August 31st - First Night of AWANA Clubs, 6:00 pm

Church - We have an awesome opportunity for you to serve children. I hope you remember the sermon from Mother's Day this year called "One Generation Away". The critical importance of passing on the faith to the next generation cannot be understated. Will you embrace this opportunity? We averaged over 50 children per week last school year, so that means we have a lot of opportunities for you to serve. Speak to or email pastor Mark to get connected to this ministry.

Parents - If your child is 3 years old thru 6th grade this school year please come to our registration night on August 24th to get your child in AWANA.

Youth Pastor Search Team - Our search team has worked diligently to take our list of candidates from 70+ submitted resumes down to a final 3 candidates. Please be in prayer for the search team as they continue forward.

Weekly Announcements (8.1.11)

2011-08-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Chasing After the Wind - Just when you thought it was gone for good...it's back. We continue this Sunday morning in the book of Ecclesiastes. We'll be chapter 7.

AWANA - School is starting back up so that means that AWANA is returning as well. Here's the schedule we have planned.

Wednesday, August 24th - Registration / Parent Orientation, 6:00 pm
Wednesday, August 31st - First Night of AWANA Clubs, 6:00 pm

Church - We have an awesome opportunity for you to serve children. I hope you remember the sermon from Mother's Day this year called "One Generation Away". The critical importance of passing on the faith to the next generation cannot be understated. Will you embrace this opportunity? We averaged over 50 children per week last school year, so that means we have a lot of opportunities for you to serve. Speak to or email pastor Mark to get connected to this ministry.

Parents - If your child is 3 years old thru 6th grade this school year please come to our registration night on August 24th to get your child in AWANA.

Deacon Elections - We didn't have a deacon election this past Sunday morning because we had only 5 men (the exact number we needed) who were willing to serve as deacon this year. Here's the names of the 5 men who will begin serving as deacon in September...

Larry Redmon
David Hirsbrunner
CD Webb
Roth Terrell
Mac Harney

Men's Conference - "Leaving a Legacy" Saturday, August 27th 8am - noon at Calvary Baptist here in Smithville. Cost is $15. Breakfast and workbook are included. To sign up leave a comment below, email Pastor Mark or use the bulletin board sign up sheet. Sign up deadline is August 13th. Here's a description of the conference...

This conference will challenge each one of us to be the spiritual leaders of our families that God has called us to be. One of the greatest needs, if not the greatest need, of our day is Godly men. There is a gaping hole in our post-modern society that needs to be filled with men who will walk with integrity, be upright in their character, honest in their dealings, who will love their wives as Christ loves the church and raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Homecoming, August 21st - This year's homecoming speaker will be Mark Thomas, former pastor of youth and worship. As always, make sure you bring a dessert/side dish or two for our Homecoming meal that follows our morning worship service.

Weekly Announcements (7.27.11)

2011-07-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

AWANA - School is starting back up so that means that AWANA is returning as well. Here's the schedule we have planned.

Wednesday, August 24th - Registration / Parent Orientation, 6:00 pm
Wednesday, August 31st - First Night of AWANA Clubs, 6:00 pm

We have an awesome opportunity for you to serve children. I hope you remember the sermon from Mother's Day this year called "One Generation Away". The critical importance of passing on the faith to the next generation cannot be understated. Will you embrace this opportunity? We averaged over 50 children per week last school year, so that means we have a lot of opportunities for you to serve. Speak to or email pastor Mark to get connected to this ministry.

Homecoming, August 21st - Former Youth and Worship Pastor, Mark Thomas will be our homecoming speaker this year. Also, you know the routine, bring some side dishes and deserts b/c we'll have our homecoming meal after the morning worship service.

Deacon Elections - This Sunday morning (7/31) after worship service we will have our deacon elections. The sermons from the past two Sunday mornings, "Deacon: The Man and the Ministry" are available on our sermon download page. On a related note, I have begun a series on my blog about pastoral qualifications if you would be interested in reading this.

Men's Conference - "Leaving a Legacy" Saturday, August 27th 8am - noon at Calvary Baptist here in Smithville. Cost is $15. Breakfast and workbook are included. To sign up leave a comment below, email Pastor Mark or use the bulletin board sign up sheet. Sign up deadline is August 13th. Here's a description of the conference...

This conference will challenge each one of us to be the spiritual leaders of our families that God has called us to be. One of the greatest needs, if not the greatest need, of our day is Godly men. There is a gaping hole in our post-modern society that needs to be filled with men who will walk with integrity, be upright in their character, honest in their dealings, who will love their wives as Christ loves the church and raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Youth Sunday - This Sunday morning will be Youth Sunday as our youth lead us in worship, testimony and preaching. Come hear what God is doing in our youth.

Weekly Announcements (July 4th edition)

2011-07-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July - Today is our country's celebration of independence. May you live a life that is in dependence on Jesus every day. He is our everything!

Youth Group to Camp - Our Youth Group left for camp this morning. Please be in prayer for them this week that God will work greatly in their lives!

Guest Preacher This Sunday (7/10) - Emily and I are headed out on vacation for our 10th anniversary!!! This Sunday, Jimmy Arms will here preaching. He is one of the most gifted preachers I have ever had the privilege of listening to (and I've listened to a lot of preaching). Click here to link to his ministry blog. There is a link on the homepage of his blog that says, "contact me". Why don't you send him an email and tell him you're excited that he's coming to First Baptist??? That would be a blessing to him.

Deacon Elections This Month - Here's the schedule for the election of deacons this month. July 17th and 24th will be open for nominations. July 31st will be election of those who were nominated and willing to serve. We will be taking a break from our Ecclesiastes series on the 17th and 24th for a 2 week sermon series called "Deacon: The Man and the Ministry". Don't miss it.

Weekly Announcements (6.20.11)

2011-06-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

VAN DRIVING ROTATION - We have kids who came to VBS who would like a ride to church on Sunday mornings. This is an awesome opportunity for ministry that we have before us. If we are to do this, we will need to create a rotation for the driving schedule. Please let me know asap if you are willing to be on this rotation. I am hoping for enough (8-10) people so that no one will have to drive more than once per month. It would require you to leave the church in the van around 8:45am so the kids will be here on time for Sunday School.

You can email me at mbass@smithvillefbc.org or leave a comment at the end of this post.

CENTRIFUGE / M-FUGE - Our teenagers are leaving Monday, July 4th to go to camp. Prayer sign ups are available on our bulletin board for you to be able to partner with a particular student in prayer for the week.

NEW TRACT RACK - Look for a new tract display in our side lobby this Sunday. These tracts are to help you share the gospel with your neighbors and our community. Spreading the gospel is at the core of what we do. Take as many tracts as you want.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - Huge thank you to everyone who helped with Vacation Bible School in any way. You are each a huge blessing to our church and to all the children who attended.

Weekly Announcements (6.6.11)

2011-06-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Vacation Bible School - Next week (June 13-17) is VBS. 6-8pm

If you are volunteering, please plan on attending a training meeting on Sunday 12th at 5:30pm in the LEC.
Remember to bring in your snacks to the office this week if you grabbed a postcard this past Sunday morning.
Totally weird/awesome way for you to help us...we need to borrow 2 portable basketball goals. If you have one we can borrow, please email Mark or Anthony.
INVITE. INVITE. INVITE. (1st - 6th grade) We have invite cards in the office if you want to us those.

Communion Sunday, June 26th - This is a special time in our church family as we reflect on and remember the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. Be here.

Youth Pastor Search Team Update - We met last night to begin working through all of the resumes we have received. We received a total of 67 resumes. Each person on the team read each of the resumes on their own before coming to the meeting. At last night's meeting we agreed on 10 candidates that we wanted to pursue in greater depth. We were not seeking to get a top 10 list, that's just the number of candidates that we all felt good about. We are in process of contacting each of these 10 candidates to see if they are still interested and to request more information from them. Please continue in prayer for your search team.

Weekly Announcements (5.16.11)

2011-05-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

AWANA - This Wednesday is our closing ceremony where final awards will be given out. The entire church is invited to the closing ceremony (it will replace Wednesday prayer meeting for adults). We start at 6:00pm in the LEC. Come celebrate with our kids. Also, please consider serving in AWANA next year!!! The kids need you and you will be blessed!!!

Chasing After the Wind - Part 2 of our series continues this Sunday. If you enjoyed the beating you took from the introduction, :) then Solomon has something special in store for you this weekend. We'll cover Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 with a message titled Misplaced Hedonism.

Youth Pastor Search - Please be praying for your youth pastor search team. The team is Roth Terrell, Andrew Moore, Lynda Hansard, Jim Bell, Tonya Sullivan, Sheila Kirby, and Pastor Mark. We are currently in a time of waiting and prayer as we allow potential candidates to submit resumes. Our next meeting is planned for June 5th.

Weekly Announcements (5.9.11)

2011-05-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

One Generation Away - We've had quite a few requests for the sermon audio from yesterday's message. It's posted on our church website for listening or downloading. Click here. Look for the sermon titled "One Generation Away"

Chasing After the Wind - This Sunday we begin a sermon series called "Chasing After the Wind". If you want to get a jump start on it, you can read the book of Ecclesiastes. I'm not trying to just hype this, but you don't want to miss this series. So plan on being here every week. It's gonna be good!

Revelation Returns - Our Sunday night series on the book of Revelation returns this week.

Senior Recognition Sunday, May 15 - We will be recognizing all of our graduating seniors on this Sunday morning. There will be a reception for them following our evening service.

Project Graduation - May 20th. Contact person is Lynda Hansard. We need can drinks to be donated.

Youth Pastor Search - Please be praying for your youth pastor search team. The team is Roth Terrell, Andrew Moore, Lynda Hansard, Jim Bell, Tonya Sullivan, and Sheila Kirby. We will be having church wide prayer time for our youth pastor search on Sunday, May 15th at 6:00pm in the Golden Circle classroom.

AWANA - This Wednesday is our last week of AWANA clubs for the school year. Next Wednesday (18th) is our closing ceremony where final awards will be given out. The entire church is invited to the closing ceremony on the 18th. Come celebrate with our kids. Also, please consider serving in AWANA next year!!! You will be blessed!!!

Weekly Announcements (5.2.11)

2011-05-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

One Generation Away - I am extremely excited about what God is showing me in His Word about passing our faith down to the next generation. This Sunday morning we will hear from God about the importance of our children and grandchildren being raised up in the faith because Christianity is always "One Generation Away" from being forgotten and abandoned. Hear the words of David in Psalm 145:4, "One generation shall commend your works to another..."

Mother's Day - This Sunday is also Mother's Day. Call your mom. Tell her you love her.

Chasing After the Wind - On Sunday, May 15th we begin a sermon series called "Chasing After the Wind". If you want to get a jump start on it, you can read the book of Ecclesiastes. I'm not trying to just hype this, but you don't want to miss this series. So plan on being here every week. Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most painful book in the Bible when it comes to dealing with the reality of daily life.

Senior Recognition Sunday, May 15 - We will be recognizing all of our graduating seniors on this Sunday morning.

Project Graduation - May 20th. Contact person is Lynda Hansard. We need can drinks to be donated.

Youth Pastor Search - Please be praying for your youth pastor search team. The team is Roth Terrell, Andrew Moore, Lynda Hansard, Jim Bell, Tonya Sullivan, and Sheila Kirby. We will be having church wide prayer time for our youth pastor search on Sunday, May 15th at 6:00pm.

Vacation Bible School - June 13-17, 6-8pm each night - Mark your calendars. Stay tuned for how you can serve.

Weekly Announcements (4.20.11)

2011-04-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

Good Friday - We will be showing The Passion of the Christ at 10:00am in the sanctuary.

Easter Sunrise Service & Breakfast - We're having sunrise service this year. We will meet on the patio area of the LEC. Following the sunrise service our deacons will be cooking breakfast for all who come! Sunrise service will begin at 6:30 am. Just as a reminder...the sunrise service will not be replacing the regular morning worship service. This is just a special gathering time in addition to our regular 10:00 am service.

Easter Sunday Morning Worship - Please make sure you invite your lost friends and family. They will hear the gospel. If you took any outreach packets, make sure you get them handed out before Sunday! Please be in prayer for our worship time and for Pastor Mark as he prepares the message.

Senior Recognition Sunday, May 15 - We will be recognizing all of our graduating seniors on this Sunday morning.

Project Graduation - May 20th. Contact person is Lynda Hansard. We need can drinks to be donated.

Youth Pastor Search - Please be praying for your youth pastor search team. They will be meeting this Sunday night to begin the process. The team is Roth Terrell, Andrew Moore, Lynda Hansard, Jim Bell, Tonya Sullivan, and Sheila Kirby.

Weekly Announcements (4.11.11)

2011-04-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

Door-to-Door Easter Outreach - Monday at 5:30pm. All the outreach kits are prepared. We must have your help in order to deliver all 250 packets. Also, if you want to take some to your neighbors, please feel free to come back the church office and pick some up.

Good Friday - We will be showing The Passion of the Christ at 10:00am in the sanctuary.

Easter Sunrise Service & Breakfast - We're having sunrise service this year. We will meet on the patio area of the LEC. Following the sunrise service our deacons will be cooking breakfast for all who come! Sunrise service will begin at 6:30 am.

Easter Sunday Morning Worship - Please make sure you invite your lost friends and family. They will hear the gospel.

Senior Recognition Sunday, May 15 - We will be recognizing all of our graduating seniors on this Sunday morning.

Project Graduation - May 20th. Contact person is Lynda Hansard. We need can drinks to be donated.

Youth Pastor Search - Please be praying for your youth pastor search team. They will be meeting this Sunday night to begin the process. The team is Roth Terrell, Andrew Moore, Lynda Hansard, Jim Bell, Tonya Sullivan.

Weekly Announcements (4.4.11)

2011-04-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

Door-to-Door Easter Outreach - Monday 4/11 and 4/18 at 6:30pm. Stick it on your calendar. We will meet each night at 5:30pm to prep for our outreach. We need you. Our goal is to reach 250 homes over the 2 Monday nights.

Good Friday - We will be showing The Passion of the Christ at 10:00am in the sanctuary.

Easter Sunrise Service & Breakfast - We're having sunrise service this year. We will meet on the patio area of the LEC. Following the sunrise service our deacons will be cooking breakfast for all who come!

Youth Group Direction - Please be in prayer for our youth group in this time of transition. Also pray for Andrew and Jordan as they lead during this time. Please plan on attending the April 10th business meeting. The personnel committee will be bringing 2 proposals about the future direction for the youth pastor position to the church to be voted on. Please be in prayer until then. Pray that we will do exactly what God wants.

Senior Recognition Sunday, May 15 - We will be recognizing all of our graduating seniors on this Sunday morning.

Project Graduation - May 20th. Contact person is Lynda Hansard. We need can drinks to be donated.

Weekly Announcements (3.28.11)

2011-03-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

DCHS Basketball Banquet - First Baptist is hosting the DCHS basketball banquet this Thursday, March 31st. We need lots of volunteers to serve our basketball players and their families. If you can serve please arrive at the LEC by 5:30pm. Also, let Andrew Moore know that you're coming.

Revival Week - April 3-6 - This Sunday starts our revival time. Please be in prayer asking God to do great things among us. Jason Groe, pastor of Upper Helton BC in Alexandria, will be our guest speaker. Now is the time for you to begin thinking and praying about who you will invite. Don't come alone. We are challenging everybody to bring somebody with them. Pray about who God would have you to bring. We start at 6:30pm each night.

Home Prayer Groups - Our final home prayer group is this Friday night (4/1). The purpose is simply to come together in a time of prayer, asking God to do great things among us. This Friday's prayer group will be hosted by the Rosolowski family. They live at 709 Cill St. Start time will be 6:30pm.

Door-to-Door Easter Outreach - Monday 4/11 and 4/18 at 6:30pm. Stick it on your calendar. We will meet each night at 5:30pm to prep for our outreach. We need you. Our goal is to reach 250 homes over the 2 Monday nights.

Project Graduation - May 20th. Contact person is Lynda Hansard. We need can drinks to be donated.

Easter Sunrise Service & Breakfast - We're having sunrise service this year. We will meet on the patio area of the LEC. Following the sunrise service our deacons will be cooking breakfast for all who come!

Youth Group Direction - Please be in prayer for our youth group in this time of transition. Also pray for Andrew and Jordan as they lead during this time. Please plan on attending the April 10th business meeting. The personnel committee will be bringing 2 proposals about the future direction for the youth pastor position to the church to be voted on. Please be in prayer until that. Pray that we will do exactly what God wants.

Weekly Announcements (3.21.11)

2011-03-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Revival Week - April 3-6 - Please be in prayer for our revival time. Jason Groe, pastor of Upper Helton BC in Alexandria, will be our guest speaker. Now is the time for you to begin thinking and praying about who you will invite. Invitation cards were passed out this Sunday and more are available for you at the church. Don't come alone. We are challenging everybody to bring somebody with them. Pray about who God would have you to bring.

Home Prayer Groups - We are having home prayer groups the next 2 Friday nights (3/25, 4/1) leading up to our revival week . The purpose is simply to come together in a time of prayer, asking God to do great things among us. This Friday's prayer group will be hosted by Tony and Frankie Hagan. They live beside the Love Cantrell Funeral Home. Start time will be 6:30pm.

Door-to-Door Easter Outreach - Monday 4/11 and 4/18 at 6:30pm. Stick it on your calendar. We will meet each night at 5:30pm to prep for our outreach. We need you. Our goal is to reach 250 homes over the 2 Monday nights.

Vacation Bible School Planning Team - March 27th at 5:30pm. This is the initial planning meeting. Open to everyone.

North American Mission Board & Annie Armstrong Easter Offering - We are taking up our special offering this month for North American church planting. You can use the special offering envelopes to give to the AAEO.

Pure: Mandate for Manhood - MEN, this conference is for you. We will be going together to this conference on March 26, 6-8pm at Upper Helton BC in Alexandria. There has been a slight change in schedule...the worship leader for the conference dropped out a few days ago, so pastors Anthony and Mark will be leading the worship. This means we need to leave a little earlier. We will leave the church parking lot at 5:00pm. If for some reason you cannot make it at this time, please feel free to drive on your own. Start time is 6:00pm. Here's the address...

Upper Helton Baptist Church
217 Upper Helton Road
Alexandria, TN 37012

AWANA schedule - There is no AWANA or meal this week b/c of Spring Break. It picks back up next week.

Weekly Announcements (3.14.11)

2011-03-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Reception for McNew family - As you know by now, God is moving Brett on to another ministry. We want to gather for a time of remembrance and thanksgiving of how God has used Brett and his family among us. This Sunday night Brett will be preaching a final message, and following evening worship service we will have a reception for the McNews. Please bring finger foods.

Pure: Mandate for Manhood - MEN, this conference is for you. We will be going together to this conference on March 26, 6-8pm at Upper Helton BC in Alexandria. We will leave the church parking lot at 5:30pm. To sign up, leave a comment at the end of this blog, or look for the sign up sheet on the bulletin board this Sunday. Check last week's blog for more info on the specific about the conference.
North American Mission Board & Annie Armstrong Easter Offering - We are taking up our special offering this month for North American church planting. You can use the special offering envelopes to give to the AAEO.

Revival Week - April 3-6 - Please be in prayer for our revival time. Jason Groe, pastor of Upper Helton BC in Alexandria, will be our guest speaker. Now is the time for you to begin thinking and praying about who you will invite. We will have invitation cards available for you this Sunday. Our goal is for each person to bring at least one other person with them. Pray about who God would have you to bring.

Home Prayer Groups - We will be having home prayer groups the 3 Friday nights leading up to our revival week (3/18, 3/25, 4/1). The purpose is simply to come together in a time of prayer, asking God to do great things among us. Bro. Mark and Emily will host the first prayer group on March 18th at their house. Start time will be 6:30pm.

Door-to-Door Easter Outreach - Monday 4/11 and 4/18 at 6:00pm. Stick it on your calendar. Come.

2 Very Important Meetings
Outreach and Missions Team - March 20th at 5:30pm. If you would like to serve on this team please come to this meeting. Open to everyone. This will be a time of prayer and planning and Easter outreach.
Vacation Bible School Planning Team - March 27th at 5:30pm. Again, open to everyone.

Weekly Announcements (3.7.11)

2011-03-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

Pure: Mandate for Manhood - MEN, this conference is for you. We will be going together to this conference on March 26, 6-8pm at Upper Helton BC in Alexandria. To sign up, leave a comment at the end of this blog, or look for the sign up sheet on the bulletin board this Sunday. Here's a little more about the conference...

Pure: Mandate for Manhood originated from 1 Timothy 6:11 where Timothy was reminded of his identity as a “man of God.” Paul further instructs Timothy that men of God “pursue after” and “flee from” certain things. And that is the purpose of this evening.
The morality and integrity of a man is in jeopardy moment by moment. Men battle lust and lucre, anger and addictions, faith and faithlessness, commitment and compromise, and success and satisfaction. So many men are losing the battle for their mind and heart. You are invited to join with other men for a night of worship and spiritual enrichment. Come and grow as a “pure man of God” in a culture of ungodliness.

Dr. Dean Sisk, senior pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN will keynote the night. Dr. Sisk is involved in men’s ministries, challenging men to cultivate a Christ-centered heart. His challenges from the Word of God will highlight the worship service. There will also be two Break-Out sessions led by Ben Simpson, pastor of West Main Baptist Church and Dr. Jason Groe, pastor of Upper Helton Baptist Church. These Break-Out sessions will address specific struggles men face and provide strategies for victory. Each participant will receive a FREE bag filled with gifts and resources.

North American Mission Board & Annie Armstrong Easter Offering - This is our week of prayer for North American missions (click here for daily prayer guides). Also, we are taking up our special offering this month for North American church planting. You can use the special offering envelopes to give to the AAEO.

Revival Week - April 3-6 - Please be in prayer for our revival time. Jason Groe, pastor of Upper Helton BC in Alexandria, will be our guest speaker.

Home Prayer Groups - We will be having home prayer groups the 3 Friday nights leading up to our revival week (3/18, 3/25, 4/1). The purpose is simply to come together in a time of prayer, asking God to do great things among us. Bro. Mark and Emily will host the first prayer group on March 18th at their house. Start time will be 6:30pm. We need host homes for 3/25 and 4/1. Please let Bro. Mark know if you would like to host this.

Outreach and Missions Team - If you would like to serve on this team please come to a meeting on March 20th at 5:30pm. This will be a time of prayer and planning and Easter outreach.

Door-to-Door Easter Outreach - Monday 4/11 and 4/18 at 6:00pm. Stick it on your calendar. Come.

1-on-One with Jesus - Our new sermon series continues this Sunday as we look at the encounter the Samaritan woman had with Jesus (John 4).

Daylight Saving Time - Don't forget that this Sunday (3/13) you need to move your clocks forward 1 hour.

Weekly Announcements (2.21.10)

2011-02-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

Soup Fundrasier - This Sunday we are having a soup fundraiser after our morning worship service. The youth group will be serving soup for lunch. All money raised will help send our youth group to camp this summer.

Revival Services - Week have planned revival week for April 3-6. Put it on your calendar and start praying now.

Pure: Mandate for Manhood - MEN, this conference is for you. We will be going together to this conference on March 26, 6-8pm at Upper Helton BC in Alexandria. To sign up, leave a comment at the end of this blog, or look for the sign up sheet that will be on the bulletin board this Sunday.
"It is Finished!" Easter Passion Play - This community-driven passion play is coming to our Life Enrichment Center on April 22 & 23. Spear-headed by Trinity Fellowship Church, the play is open to area churches and their members who would like to participate. Check out the cast list, rehearsal info, and script on our church bulletin board if you'd like to sign up. Parts and supporting roles for all ages available!

This Sunday - We've got a special Sunday lined up for you. Brett will be preaching a message about adoption and sharing his family's experience in adopting their son, Canaan.

Hot Topics - Our Sunday night series continues. Here's our final topic before beginning the book of Revelation.

Feb 27 - What is the unpardonable sin?

Weekly Announcements (2.14.10) - Valentine's Edition

2011-02-14T09:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day everybody. Emily and I have been married 9 years and 7 months today!!! Speaking of Valentine's Day, our first announcement is all about love...

"Love Your Family" Week - If you weren't able to come to church yesterday, then you can download the devotional that we have created. Click here to go to our church website where you can download. Instructions are on the front.

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - We finished our series yesterday with "Faith Risks". The 2 barriers to taking faith risks are 1.) the myth of safety, and 2.) fear of failure. We looked at Philippians 1:21 about how taking risks for the cause of Christ is right b/c live or die, we win. What risks do you need to be taking for Christ?

Next 2 Sundays - We've got some special Sundays lined up for the next 2 weeks. This coming Sunday (2/20) we will be celebrating communion. The following Sunday (2/27) Brett will be preaching a message about adoption and sharing his family's experience in adopting their son, Canaan.

Hot Topics - Our Sunday night series continues. Here are our final 2 topics before beginning the book of Revelation.

Feb 20 - How can we apply the command, "Judge not, that you be not judged?"
Feb 27 - What is the unpardonable sin?

Revival Services - Week have planned revival week for April 3-6. Put it on your calendar and start praying now.

"It is Finished!" Easter Passion Play - This community-driven passion play is coming to our Life Enrichment Center on April 22 & 23. Spear-headed by Trinity Fellowship Church, the play is open to area churches and their members who would like to participate. Check out the cast list, rehearsal info, and script on our church bulletin board if you'd like to sign up. Parts and supporting roles for all ages available!

Information Update Month - We want everybody to update their communication information this month. If you've had any changes in your info since last February, please fill out a connection card this coming Sunday morning with your new info and put it in the offering plate. Even better, go to your Sunday School class and check the membership info that we have for you. Make corrections as necessary.

Baby Boomer SS Group Update

2011-02-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

Due to illness, the Valentine's party that was scheduled at the Webb's house on Friday night has been canceled.

2/9 AWANA STILL ON

2011-02-09T09:31:00.001-08:00

Use your own discretion with driving conditions. If you are able to make it safely to FBC, we will see you at AWANA.

Weekly Announcements (2.7.11)

2011-02-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - This Sunday will be our last week of the series. The sermon is "Faith Risks". The Bible is full of people who took risks for God. This is part of the nature of faith. What risks do you need to be taking for God?

"Love Your Family" Week - Valentine's Day is Monday, Feb. 14. We're asking you to set aside time every day during the week of February 13-19 specifically for the purpose of bringing your family together around the Word of God and prayer. Resources are available to be downloaded from our church website. They will also be available in next week's bulletin.

"It is Finished!" Easter Passion Play - This community-driven passion play is coming to our Life Enrichment Center on April 22 & 23. Spear-headed by Trinity Fellowship Church, the play is open to area churches and their members who would like to participate. Check out the cast list, rehearsal info, and script on our church bulletin board if you'd like to sign up. Parts and supporting roles for all ages available!

Hot Topics - Here's the lineup for the coming weeks (Sunday night sermon series)...

Feb 13 - How were people saved before Christ?
Feb 20 - How can we apply the command, "Judge not, that you be not judged?"
Feb 27 - What is the unpardonable sin?
March 6 - scheduled to start the book of Revelation (unless other Hot Topic questions come in during the next few weeks)

Membership Discovery - This Sunday at 5:00pm in Golden Circle room. This is a time for anybody to learn more about our church, our ministries, and how we operate. If you want to join FBC as a member, this is the place you need to be.

Attention Baby Boomer SS Group (Tom Groom teacher) - The Baby Boomers SS Group is having a Valentines Week social this Friday night at 6:30 at C. D. and Cindy Webb's house. All class members and prospective members are invited. The party is for couples and singles (Valentine dates are not required). The evening will include Food, Fellowship, and Competitive Games of skill and strategy. Contact Cindy or C. D. for more details.

Weekly Announcements (1.31.11)

2011-01-31T09:43:00.000-08:00

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - Yesterday's message was called "Faith Fears God". Here's the 5 truths that we found in Daniel 3:1-30.

The world will demand your allegiance. (1-7)
The world is not your friend. (8-15, 19-23)
Living by faith means choosing to fear God over people - regardless of the outcome. (16-18)
God is able to save. (24-27)
God is glorified through our faith in him. (28-29)

If you missed it, you can check the church sermon audio page.

Next up is "Faith Asks" from Joshua 10:1-15.

Hot Topics - Here's the lineup for the month of February...

Feb 6 - How do I share my faith at work & how do I keep God first with a busy schedule?
Feb 13 - How were people saved before Christ?
Feb 20 - How can we apply the command, "Judge not, that you be not judged?"
Feb 27 - What is the unpardonable sin?

Membership Discovery - It's only 2 weeks away, Feb 13th at 5:00pm.

"Love Your Family" Week - Valentine's Day is Monday, Feb. 14. We're asking you to set aside time every day during the week of February 13-19 specifically for the purpose of bringing your family together around the Word of God and prayer. In the coming week we'll be releasing some resources we've created for you.

"It is Finished!" Easter Passion Play - This community-driven passion play is coming to our Life Enrichment Center on April 22 & 23. Spear-headed by Trinity Fellowship Church, the play is open to area churches and their members who would like to participate. Check out the cast list, rehearsal info, and script on our church bulletin board if you'd like to sign up. Cast meeting is Saturday, Feb. 5 so don't hesitate to sign up! Parts and supporting roles for all ages available!

GIVE. ME. FAITH.

2011-01-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

I want to do a quick review and preview with you now that we're halfway finished with our series.

Message 1 - FAITH IS...
from Hebrews 11:1-6

Faith is assurance about the future
Faith is conviction about true reality
Faith is living a life that is commendable by and pleasing to God
Faith is believing God exists
Faith is believing God reward seekers

Message 2 - FAITH GROWS...
from Genesis 12-22

Faith grows from believing God can only work thru the natural to believing God works thru the supernatural.
Faith grows from trying to make God’s word/promise happen in your timing and wisdom to trusting God’s timing and wisdom.

Message 3 - PRIDE & FAITH
from 2 Kings 5:1-14

Main idea: Faith demands that you come to the end of yourself.

Here's the messages and their passages for the next 3 weeks. This is where our series will really get going. These next 3 messages are about the practical outworking of faith in your life. Be here!!!

Message 4 - FAITH FEARS GOD (Daniel 3:1-30)
Message 5 - FAITH ASKS (Joshua 10:1-15)
Message 6 - FAITH RISKS (various)

Weekly Announcements (1.24.11) - [Updated]

2011-01-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - Yesterday's message was from the life of a man named Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14). Main Idea: Faith demands that we come to the end of ourselves. Pride is a faith killer and faith is a pride killer. It's one or the other. It's us or God. If you weren't here, you can listen to the message on our church's sermon archive page here.

Membership Discovery - Interested in joining First Baptist? Want more info about how our church operates, what our mission and values are? This is the place. Membership Discovery will be on February 13th at 5:00 in the Golden Circle Room.

Superbowl Sunday (Feb. 6th) - The Superbowl is a fantastic time for you to do some outreach and build relationships with people who don't know Christ. Have a Superbowl party at your house. Invite people. Get to know them. Build relationship with them.

Our evening service time will be moved to 4:00pm and scheduled business meeting will be moved to the following Sunday evening in its normal time after evening worship.

The Book of Revelation - Someone asked for the book of Revelation to be taught as part of our Hot Topics series. So, this Sunday night we will begin. Be there at 6:30pm. Update: We have had some other questions come into the box today, so we will answer them before starting Revelation - this Sunday night will be about a favorite topic of mine...come and find out.

Weekly Announcements (1.17.11)

2011-01-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

Commitment Challenge - Our attendance has definitely improved the past 2 weeks. We've had 173 and 174. Our goal for this month (if you remember from Jan. 2 message) was to increase our average attendance to our seating capacity of 187 by the end of the month. So, we've got some work to do the next 2 weeks to continue bringing our average up. We need 200 average the next 2 weeks to hit our goal. Remember, this is not a stretch considering we have 253 active members and attendees.

In reality, (though we have been talking a lot about the numbers) this is not about the numbers. The numbers are a tangible thing that represents individuals who are gathering for worship and being impacted by the Word of God. As your pastors, we care for you, pray for you, and long for the best for you. God has placed us here to minister among you for your blessing. Check Ephesians 4:11-14, emphasis on 13-14. We need you to show up and be involved, so that you receive the fruit of our work. Each person is important to our church.

So, we really need you to be reaching out to those you are challenging to make sure they are coming. We have to do this together!!!

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - The series continues this Sunday. Yesterday in a message called "Faith Grows" we found these 2 things in the life of Abraham.

Faith grows from believing God can only work in the natural to believing God can work in the supernatural.
Faith grows from trying to make God's word/promise happen in your timing & wisdom to trusting God's timing & wisdom.

Membership Discovery - Interested in joining First Baptist? Want more info about how our church operates, what our mission and values are? This is the place. Membership Discovery will be on February 13th at 5:00 in the Golden Circle Room.

Youth Centrifuge Camp - Parents: If your child will be attending Centrifuge for the first time with the youth group this summer, there will be an info meeting for you and your child this Wednesday at 7:30pm in the youth room.

Weekly Announcements (1.10.11)

2011-01-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - Our series has started. This past Sunday we looked at Hebrews 11:1-6, one of the definitive passages in the Bible that tells us what faith is. Here's the link to our church's sermon audio page where you can listen to the message if you weren't here yesterday. If you'd like to read a brief part of the message, here's the link to Bro. Mark's personal blog with a recap of the idea that "If God exists, everything changes." Series continues next week with "Faith Grows".

The Challenge Continues - We had 173 people in attendance yesterday morning (including guests). This is improvement in the right direction, but we have a long way to go!!! Remember, we have 253 active members. So, the challenge continues. Will you step up and be here every week? Have you challenged your 5 to step up? Follow up with the people you challenged if they didn't show up on Sunday. We want you here!!!

Hot Topics - Series for Sunday night. You can still submit questions (via email or box in side lobby) until the series concludes.

Membership Discovery - Interested in join First Baptist? Want more info about how our church operates, what our mission and values are? This is the place. Membership Discovery will be on February 13th at 5:00 in the Golden Circle Room.

Prayer Week - Our week of corporate prayer is finished, but our job of prayer is never finished. Keep on praying church. Our God is great!!! He answers prayers!!! And, let's be looking for the answers to our prayers.

Prayer Week - Day 5 - Heart for God

2011-01-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

It's the last day of our prayer week. I know I have been blessed this week, and I am in great expectation to see how God will answer our prayers. Here's the prayer guide for day 5 - topic is Heart for God.

Some Ideas to Get Us Started Praying for our Hearts

pray for a personal passion for God
pray for people to hunger after a daily time with the Lord
that we would recognize the sin in our lives and would repent of that sin
our hearts would break for what breaks God’s heart
personal commitment to growing our knowledge of God and his holy word
pray that we would hunger and thirst after righteousness
our personal prayer times would be a vital part of our life
that we would long to know God’s word
pray our personal purity in all things
that our personal worship would be passionate
pray for boldness for the gospel

Some Scriptures to Pray for Our Heart for God

Matthew 5:6
Ephesians 3:17-19
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 26:41
1 John 2:15-17
1 Thessalonians 1:6
Romans 15:13
Psalm 100:2
Acts 28:30-31

Prayer Week - Day 4 - Church Leadership

2011-01-06T06:06:00.000-08:00

Today's prayer focus is on our church leadership. We're using that term in a broader sense than just the pastoral leadership (see below).

Some Ideas to Get Us Started Praying for Our Leaders

Pastors

our spiritual lives to be strong
Mark and Brett to preach the Word strongly
that we have vision for the future
ability to make leadership decisions & moves
that we would set a godly example
music ministry would inspire genuine worship among us
to be encouraged

Sunday School leaders

knowledge and understanding of the Scripture
ability to teach
genuinely love the people in their SS groups

AWANA leaders

patience and understanding of children’s hearts
ready to share the gospel

Youth leaders

understanding of issues that teens faces
to show youth what a godly man or woman is

Deacons

they would lead by example with their lives
have a ministry and people focus

Some Scriptures to Pray for Our Leaders

Ephesians 4:11-14
Ephesians 3:14-19
1 Timothy 3:8-13
1 Timothy 5:17-18
1 Peter 5:1-5

Sermon Recap - Fulfilling the Joshua Challenge

2011-01-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

I'm praying that 2011 is going to be a good year for us church. These are the slides from Sunday's message. If you missed it...then here you go. Please read the whole thing, all the way to the end.

The basic idea of these verses is that God calls his people to commit. We need to be challenged to step up our commitment b/c we drift. Gravity pulls us away from God and the church.

253 total people represents those who are involved to some extent (not those who fall into inactive status)

The smart people who do research on church growth tell us that 80% of seating capacity is as much as a church can seat on a recurring basis. For a one-time event (like Easter) we can seat over capacity, but we won't sit shoulder-to-shoulder on a weekly basis. We like our space.

Wow.

Our 2010 average was almost 100 below our the number of our members and attendees. This is unacceptable to me. It should be unacceptable to every one of us.

Commit - we are literally asking you not to miss this year (vacations excepted) - on Sunday mornings don't be on the lake, in the bed, on the golf course, out in the woods hunting, etc...
Create - we want to have a seating problem immediately

Engage - sing with us, open the Bible, serve in ministries with us, etc.
Expect - so often we don't even expect that God will show up and work...let's start expecting

MOST IMPORTANTLY - Take this challenge and pass it on to 5 other people. We want everybody to challenge 5 other people to commit, create, engage, expect.

Prayer Week - Day 3 - Work / Neighbors

2011-01-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

Here's the prayer guide for day 3. Thanks for praying even if you can't be here. Later today I'll upload a really important post reviewing Sunday's message and challenge.

Some Ideas to Get Us Started Praying for Our Work and for Our Neighbors.

pray to impact your work for the kingdom of God
pray that our church would do all things to the glory of God
that we would live out the love of Christ
neighborhoods impacted for Christ
our hearts would be turned to our lost neighbors and co-workers.
our attitudes at work and home would reflect Christ
that we would love our neighbor as ourselves
we would recognize opportunities to share Christ

Some Scriptures to Pray

Matthew 22:36-40
Leviticus 19:18
Colossians 3:23
John 15:12-13
James 2:8-10
Galatians 5:14
Proverbs 17:17
Luke 6: 27-35

Prayer Week - Day 2 - Church

2011-01-04T07:32:00.000-08:00

Here's the prayer guide for day 2 of our prayer week. The topic for day 2 is our church.

Some Ideas to Get Us Started Praying for Our Church

that the gospel would be central to everything we do
God to do a mighty work among us, a work different than anything we might expect
that we will be willing to let God do his work among us
that we will be hot in our evangelism here in Smithville
that we are inviting people to church regularly
many people to be saved through our church
us to grow in the depth of our faith, to be rooted and grounded in Christ
our commitment level to God and the church to greatly increase
our worship times to be passionate
God to raise up missionaries out of our church who will take the gospel around the world
the preaching of the Word to be highly valued
that there would be no divisions among us and that forgiveness would be quick when we hurt each other
that love would be so evident among us that it is irresistible to those outside the church

Some Scriptures to Pray for Our Church

John 15:1-8
Acts 2:42-47; 11:19-26
Romans 12:4-8
Hebrews 2:10-12; 10:24-25
James 2:1-4
1 John 4:7-12

Weekly Announcements (1.3.11)

2011-01-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Here's the roundup for the week.

Prayer Week - This week is prayer week. If you're unable to make it, check the blog everyday for a new prayer guide. You can pray at home also. The guide for day 1 is already posted below (scroll down past this post to find it).

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - Our new sermon series starts this Sunday. In all seriousness, I think this will be the most important series that I've preached since I've been at the church. Don't miss a week of this series.

Stepping Up Our Commitment in 2011 - Hope you were here yesterday for worship. If not, there will be a repost here on the blog later this week. Here's the basic scoop: We are challenging you to commit to being here without fail every Sunday morning this year when you are in town...and we want you to pass the challenge on to 5 other people. More to come later this week. Stay tuned.

AWANA returns - AWANA starts back this Wednesday.

Prayer Week - Day 1 - Home/Family

2011-01-03T07:26:00.000-08:00

It's prayer week at First Baptist!!! We're praying everyday at 7am, 12 noon, and 6:30pm in the Golden Circle room. Come join us...but, we've got you covered even if you can't make it. We still want you praying with us, so we're posting our daily prayer guide on the blog for you to pray along.

Each day with have a different focus topic. Today we're praying for our families and homes. Here's today's guide...

Some Ideas to Get Us Started Praying for Our Homes and Families

pray for a God-focus in our homes
pray for men to lead their families spiritually
children to hear the gospel from their parents
children to see the gospel in their parents
families to be committed to coming to worship
for our children as they go to school (protection from the world’s influence, God to use them as witnesses)
husbands to love and lead their wives as Christ loves and leads the church
wives to follow their husband’s leadership
protection from Satan and the world’s influence
that our homes would be fertile soil for raising children who love God and want to change the world for Christ

Some Scriptures to Pray for Our Homes and Families

Exodus 20:12
Deuteronomy 6:6-8, 31:12
Joshua 24:15
Psalm 32:8; 103:17; 127:3-5
Proverbs 22:6; 31:30
Ephesians 5:21-6:4
Titus 2:1-6

Weekly Announcements (12.20.10)

2010-12-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

There are some really important things coming up in the life of our church. Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with everything...

First Sunday of the New Year (Jan. 2nd) - The first Sunday of 2011 is a challenge Sunday. The staff has been praying for you and for God's work in the church and we're going to extend a challenge to each of you on the first Sunday of 2011. Don't miss it. This Sunday will also be tied together with our prayer week.

Prayer Week (Jan. 3-7) - We're going to start our year off with a corporate prayer week. Prayer is such a privilege. Let's hit our knees together and beg God to do great things among us. Daily times of prayer at the church will be 7:00am, 12:00 noon, & 6:30pm. We would like everyone to try and make 1 of the 3 prayer times each day.

GIVE. ME. FAITH. - Do you live by faith??? Have you lost faith??? What does the life of faith look like??? Can you really step out in bold faith and see God move in a mighty way??? GIVE. ME. FAITH. sermon series starts on January 9th, 2011. Be here for all 5 weeks of the series!!! "Without faith it is impossible to please God." - Hebrews 11:6

Hot Topics - Do you have a question about a passage of Scripture? Not sure about what the Bible says on a certain topic. Pastor Mark is will answer you questions on Sunday nights starting in January. Use the "Hot Topics" box in the side lobby to ask your question or email Bro. Mark with your questions.

Christmas Cards - There are hundreds (literally) of unloved and unclaimed Christmas cards sitting in the church mailboxes. Please pick them up asap. :)

Weekly Announcements (12.12.10)

2010-12-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

We're retooling this blog to use on a weekly basis, primarily for announcements and to raise awareness about church events. In combination with our new facebook group (please join if you're on facebook), this will be a place we want you to check regularly to get your info about what's going on at church.

Important Things on the Horizon...

First Sunday of the New Year - The first Sunday of 2011 is a challenge Sunday. The staff has been praying for you and for God's work in the church and we're going to extend a challenge to each of you on the first Sunday of 2011. Don't miss it. This Sunday will also be tied together with our prayer week.

Prayer Week (Jan. 3-7) - We're going to start our year off with a corporate prayer week. Daily times of prayer at the church will be 7:00am, 12:00 noon, & 6:30pm. We would like everyone to try and make 1 of the 3 prayer times each day.

New Year, New Sermon Series - Do you live by faith??? Have you lost faith??? What does the life of faith look like??? Can you really step out in bold faith and see God move in a mighty way??? Our first sermon series of 2011...

Sunday, January 9th - February 6th. Don't miss a single week of this series!!!

Friday in Quito

2010-10-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

We came back to Quito as scheduled today. Delta is also scheduled to fly out tonight. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Blessings...

Bro. Mark

Quick Note

2010-09-30T14:47:00.001-07:00

If you want to email me during this time while we wait please use this email

markbass01@hotmail.com

Blessings...

Thursday in Tambo

2010-09-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

We have finished teaching our classes. Today was quite incredible. We gave the men a time to speak to us and tell us their hopes for the future of Christianity in the area of Tambo. Almost every man who spoke talked about how desperately they wanted to have a missionary in the area (there are no full-time, on-field missionaries in this part of Ecuador) who would lead a pastoral training center. One man who is in his mid 50´s said that in his 33 years of being a Christian this was the first time he had ever had anyone teach him the things he learned this week. Talk about breaking my heart as I listened. Let´s pray for them, church, that God would make their hopes and prayers come true.

Of other very important note, there has been major unrest in the capital city, Quito, today. The police (national police, different than in US) are striking against the president because he is cutting their wages. When they strike things get violent. The president is currently holed up in a hospital surrounded by the police. The Ecuadorian airforce has shut down the airports during this time.

So, we will not be able to leave until this mess is finished. So, pray for our time here while we wait. Pray for our safety. We are fine up in the mountains, and this is where we will wait until the airports reopen.

I love you church...

Bro. Mark

Wednesday in Tambo

2010-09-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hey church...

I pray all is well with you. We had another great day on Wednesday. The men are very attentive from early in the morning until we finish in the early evening. We start about 9:00 am and finish about 6:30 pm (they have an hour long afternoon siesta after they eat lunch). There were 20 men here today. The need is great here. These pastors are often preaching in multiple churches because there are not enough men who are willing and able to do the job. We often take for granted the fact that we have solid biblical teaching everywhere around us. Take a moment today and pray for these men and thank God for the privilege of the abundance of his Word in your life.

I love you church...

Bro. Mark

Tuesday in Tambo

2010-09-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

We had another great day teaching. Some new men were here today, and one man even brought his wife. There is a pastor in the group who is blind. When we told him yesterday that there was a Braile Spanish Bible being made for him, he was excited like a kid on Christmas day. You can imagine if you can´t read the Bible for yourself. He currently has a person who reads the Bible to him. He has huge amounts of Scripture memorized.

Thanks for your continued prayers...

Bro. Mark

Monday in Tambo, Ecuador

2010-09-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic and heartbreaking day we had today. Mike taught the morning session. He´s covering doctrinal issues by walking the group church history. I taught the afternoon session. I´m covering the topic of cults, which is a huge deal. The Mormons and Jehovah´s Witnesses are very prevalent here as well as a few lesser known groups. The cults thrive on lack of knowledge of the orthodox, historic Christian faith because they present themselves as Christians, and for those who cannot discern right doctrine from wrong doctrine the cults are very persuasive. And lack of knowledge seems to be the norm. For example, we had one man (who is serving as a pastor of 2 churches) ask us if Jesus was baptized before or after he was crucified.

Everything went really well and the pastors were amazingly attentitive for being there all day long. There were 15 pastors in our classes today.

Thanks for your prayers and keep praying.

Bro. Mark

In Tambo

2010-09-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Tambo about noon today. I preached in a worship service this afternoon. Tomorrow morning starts our teaching. Thanks for your prayers so far. The other man who is teaching is Mike Kessler and the translator is David Sills. Please pray for us as we start tomorrow.

Blessings...

Bro. Mark

Where in the World Is Tambo, Ecuador???

2010-09-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

You can play around with this map (moving, zooming, satellite views, etc.)

Here's where we'll be...

View Larger Map

Praying and Preparing for Ecuador

2010-09-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

I will be traveling on a mission trip to Tambo, Ecuador from September 25 - October 2. The purpose of this trip is to help lead in a pastor training institute. If you attend our Wednesday evening prayer meetings, you know that we pray thru a different country of the world each week. One of the prayer requests that shows up on almost every country is the need for pastors and leaders to be trained. This is a definite need in Ecuador. This blog lists some things that you can pray for with me as I prepare and as I travel and teach these pastors.

The content I'm teaching is "Cults". Cults are highly deceptive and very active in Latin America. Pray for clarity as I teach. Pray for the translators to translate well. Pray for understanding for the pastors. Pray for them to stand strong and be able to teach their people well. I will be traveling with two other men (pastors in U.S.) for this week. Pray for safety in our travels.

I will update the blog from Ecuador as I have access to the internet. If there's no updates, then I can't find internet.

Love you church...

Bro. Mark

Naco Mission Trip Day 5

2010-07-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

Well our final day in Naco is coming to a close. There is so much to share and so much to praise God for. No words can express exactly what God has done on this trip. Our hearts have been moved in such a way, that we will never be the same. God has answered so many prayers, big and small. He is so faithful to us. God is able to do more then we could imagine or hope for.

The devil had tried many ways to discourage us from coming. We were told by so many people to not come to Naco. 'It's too dangerous' and 'There is so much violence there!' All of us were told these things. In the airport, a random lady told us that we were crazy for coming to Arizona. To alleviate the fears, the most dangerous thing we've come into contact with was probably a couple of jalapenos from Tim's garden. There was no violence, riots, gang wars, or even grumpy stares. We've been treated like family from everyone we've met. Even the border guards have been fun.

I don't say this to make people think there is nothing going on around the Mexico border. The El Paso border is rather violent currently. Be in prayer for the area. That is hundreds of miles away from here. Even eating in Mexico twice, it has been a wonderful experience.

I write that to say this: if we had not come. If we had not counted the cost, and came on faith anyway, despite fears, this week would never of happened. If this week had not happened we never would have made such wonderful friends. We would not have had some of the most intimate worship times in my memory. If we had not come, we never would have been blessed by these people. If we had not come, the children of the villages would not have come together to play. If we had not come, they the children would not have come. And if those children had not come, EIGHT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAVED. Eight children, now are part of the family of God. Eight children came to play soccer and toss a frisbee, now eight children will forever be with God.

What is that worth? How 'dangerous' is too dangerous when it comes to the souls of the lost? Blessedly, we did not have to struggle with those worries this trip. Yet it is the question all Christians must deal with. I love the comfort of my own home and life. It's safe. Yet God's command to go and make disciples must override my desire to be comfortable. If you find yourself reading this blog, would you be willing to go if you felt God leading you out of your comfort zone? I pray you would would desire to see all people come to know the One who loved us enough to die. I pray, I would love Him enough to die to myself.

Thank you for your prayers. Know that God has been so faithful.

Naco Mission Trip Day 4

2010-07-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

I had been waiting for last night to happen all week. In fact we had been praying for last night for some weeks now. We discussed with Pastor Tim what he wanted us to do here in Naco, one of the main things he asked for was for us to do a service on Wednesday night. So we have been in prayer, hoping people would come out and that God would use our meager gifts to make a difference. Our prayers were heard.

While we worked hard yesterday, digging up bamboo, mowing, digging up weeds, etc. We were focused on what God might do at the service. At first it seemed that not too many people were going to show up, but we've also discovered time is a little more fluid down here, starting times don't exactly mean you start right then, but sometime around then. But the church ended up being full by the end of the service.

A group of young boys started off the service, they are from Cuahtamoc, and lead worship at the church there. It was only in Spanish, but it was so good! They played a couple songs we knew the English version of, and the last song they did was one where basically everyone did a dance. It was so fun and freeing, to not be too proud or embarrassed to dance for the Lord. Basically, all the people for Cuahtamoc went to the front of the church and led in the dance. When we get the video uploaded I'll post, as you do not want to miss it.

We then took a break, got our instruments set up. I (Brett), then moved to preach with Mario who translated for me into Spanish. I can honestly say, I was more nervous walking up to preach then I have ever been before. I so wanted to be used by God, but the last thing I wanted was the words to be of and from me. I preached out of Psalm 62:5-8, and asked them two question spaced through out the message: What do you hope in? And, why do you not trust God? I brought out Romans 8:37-39, nothing can separate you from God, so why trust in anything else?

I gave the invitation and our group moved up to lead in the invitation and more worship. Hannah sang Revelation Song and Hosanna, which if you know the songs and what they say about God, will break your heart if you mean what you sing. If you make those songs a prayer unto the Lord, you will feel God's presence, and we did. Jordan then took lead for From the Inside Out, How He Loves, and The Stand. God is always present, but God was moving in our midst powerfully. Some came to alter to pray, some people who mainly spoke Spanish were praising God despite not knowing what we were singing! They just knew God was working, so the only to do was to give Him praise for it.

We were touched and changed by God that night. I end with a section of the lyrics from one of the songs last night, I had been praying for these words to be true in us:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

Naco Mission Trip Day 3

2010-07-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

So I thought today I would upload some of my favorite pictures of the trip so far. We had an awesome day yet again. We learned some bible verses in Spanish, played soccer in the rain, ate some delicious pizza, got the van searched twice (wasn't a big deal if you've ever crossed the border), and finished with another time of worship and prayer. But please be in prayer today, the big service is tonight at 6:30, thats 8:30 central time. But till then here are some of my favorites.

Naco Mission Trip Day 2

2010-07-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the late post. It is morning of our third day, and we are beginning to get up and prepare for our second day into Mexico.

Yesterday was by all accounts amazing, for a few different reasons. God answered a major prayer request with a passport issue. By God's grace and mercy, we have gotten it worked out, and our whole team got to go into Mexico (and come back) without issues.

Secondly, the rain. That's right, rain. In the desert. In July. It's actually something like monsoon season out here. And it POURS the rain, as often as it wants, and it wants to pour everywhere. Yesterday it rained all over the place, except the two villages we were at! At the second village we finished up and drove to the main road a few hundred yards away to find that it had rained so hard it had washed debris out onto the road and covered the road up with standing water. Yet barely a drop had fallen in the village.

The children were amazing at the villages of Cautahmec and Zaragoza (which I destroyed the spelling of). These children have already touched our hearts and we have such a burden to see God move and work in their lives. Please pray as we return to be Christ to them, loving them unconditionally. We sang with them, played games, and taught some Bible to them. We return to do it all over again today, in about 30 minutes actually.

Finally we have had some of the most moving and authentic times of prayer and worship together. Each night we gather together and have a devotional time. Each person leads it one night, and speak whatever is on their heart. Sunday night we ended up having worship for around an hour. Last night we each took time and genuinely prayed for each other. These times have been so sweet our to souls. God is alive and he is moving here in Naco. Please continue to pray for us, as we have far to go before this trip is through, and we cannot wait to see all God has in store.

In case you've been wanting some pictures follow these links:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=1509990018&aid=67121&s=0&hash=7811effb0ea2e4b8464cef431479dffd

Jordan has been taking and uploading pictures to Facebook for us.

Also here are some videos!

http://www.youtube.com/user/jdatnip21

Naco Mission Trip Day 1

2010-07-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone back home,

we've successfully made our way to Naco, Arizona. We've survived full flights, the Houston airport, and the long drive to Naco. Allow me to say, it is breath taking out here. The hills, the mountains, colors, and even the distant rainstorm is a beautiful reminder of the creativity and work of our Lord. It's easy to forget how vastly different, yet wonderful, the places that God created.

I can also say with no exaggeration, we love it here. All of us. We already adore the people. So far we've made it to Naco, and this morning we had the privilege, and I do mean privilege, of worshipping with Naco Baptist Church. Our group hung out and taught the students during the bible study hour, and we played one song during church. Which was 'How He Loves'.

I was truly moved by the authentic worship, humble prayers, and fellowship that took place this morning. The presence of the Lord was tangible as we sang out in Spanish and English. During prayer time, the people lifted their prayers out loud. I was moved when I after the prayer time was over, and the next worship song had begun, I noticed multiple people still on their knees in prayer.

I believe this is the heart of the people of Naco, there are lost here. Many who need Christ. Many who are focused on fun and pleasing only themselves. There are hurting people. Lost people. But as we discovered, God is already at work here. Setting the hearts of his children ablaze with passion and love. We are honored and blessed to come along side the people of God here.

We ask that everyone would be in prayer for us this week, especially on Wednesday night. We are leading the service here, it's labeled a youth service, and I (Brett) will be preaching and we all will be leading in worship. We are asking God to do amazing things and change many lives that night.

Much more to come!

New Thru 30 - Day 24 - 1 & 2 Timothy

2010-02-25T14:56:00.000-08:00

Paul seemed to think that the most important thing young Timothy could do as he settled into ministry was focus his time and energy on teaching the Word and maintaining the purity church's doctrine.

The words "teach/teaching" are used 16 times in these 2 letters.

There are 6 times where Paul talks about "doctrine/sound words".

What's Paul's reasoning for all of this?

2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Teaching is for the body of Christ so that we don't abandon the faith. I can resonate well with the 4th stanza of the hymn"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" as it says, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;"

Do you feel that tendency to leave God? One the safeguards God has in place the preaching and teaching of the Word on a regular basis. Make sure you're here every week to hear the Word of God!!!

New Thru 30 - Day 23 - 1 & 2 Thess, Titus

2010-02-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

A Personal Request from Your Pastor

I have a prayer request to ask of you that comes out of today's reading. In 1 Thess. 1:5 Paul is writing about the time when the gospel first came to the Thessalonians. In that verse he says, "...our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

I think so much preaching is nothing but preaching in word only. The Bible is opened and some verses are read and the preacher speaks for 30 minutes telling the meaning of the text, throwing in some stories, etc.

But there's no power in the preaching, there's no Holy Spirit in the preaching, and there's no conviction in the preaching (either on behalf of the preacher or of the hearers).

So, here's my prayer request...Will you beg the mercies of God in my life as I prepare and preach, that the preaching of the Word here at First Baptist would never be only in word, but would always be with power and with the Spirit and with conviction?

Pray that for me and pray that with me as I pray it for myself, and may God be glorified in his church.

New Thru 30 - Day 22 - Eph & Col

2010-02-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

The book of Ephesians is evenly divided into two parts: doctrinal (1-3) and practical (4-6)

In the doctrinal section Paul covers topics like predestination, salvation by grace alone, unity of the body of Christ, and the mystery of the gospel.

In the practical section Paul strings the metaphor of "walking" through his message.

In Eph. 4:1 (beginning of the practical section) Paul writes, "I...urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" and then he goes on to describe what that looks like in verses 2-3.

How else does Paul describe our walk?

In Eph. 4:17 he tells us that we are not to walk in the futility of the mind (you need to think right and fill your mind with the right things.)

In Eph. 5:2 he says that we are to walk in love...actually the same kind of love with which Christ loved us.

In Eph. 5:8 we are told to walk as children of light, meaning that the way we live is to be pleasing to God and to be open for all to see that we live with integrity.

In Eph. 5:15 Paul says that we should be careful to make sure that we walk in wisdom.

So, how's your walk with Christ?

walking worthy of the gospel???
thinking right???
loving at all times???
living a pleasing life before God with integrity???
being wise???

It's a daunting list, but you can do it in Jesus. He gives the power. Trust him for your walk today!!!

New Thru 30 - Days 17-20 - I'm Out of Pocket

2010-02-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

Hey folks...our baby is coming Wednesday morning/afternoon, so I won't be writing the blog for the rest of this week. I promise I'll be right there with you in reading the Scripture, but I won't have a blog for you.

See you back here on the blog on Monday, day 21 of NT30.

Blessings...

Pastor Mark

New Thru 30 - Day 16 - Romans 9-16

2010-02-16T20:01:00.001-08:00

What an awesome section of Scripture you had for today's reading. Chapters 9-11 can be very difficult to interpret. Then, starting with chapter 12, you get the practical outworking of our justification in everyday life.

I want to key in on one verse...Romans 14:13, "Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."

This is the third time in chapter 14 that Paul has written about passing judgment on other people (verses 4, 10, 13). So, what's the point of verse 13? You could summarize it this way...

Quit looking at everybody else and make sure you're living right!!!

The first part of the verse talks about not passing judgment on others. Paul immediately follows that up by telling us to put the focus on ourselves in making sure that we are living the way we are supposed to.

Isn't this our age old problem??? We want to look at other people's mistakes and judge them while we completely ignore the way we're living. That's not acceptable. Our job is to tend to the way we live and let God take care of the way other people live.

New Thru 30 - Day 15 - Romans 1-8

2010-02-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

If you're reading this post and you're up to date with your reading guide then you've made it halfway!!! Way to go; keep it up.

So we made it out of the narrative literature and into the epistles today.

John Piper title his sermon series on the book of Romans "The Greatest Letter Ever Written." I agree.

Buried in this treasure chest we call Romans is the following verse: "Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4)

I know I've written and spoken a lot about repentance lately, but I just feel the need for it personally as God is dealing with me. As I read the Bible more and more, I am seeing that repentance is a bigger and bigger theme. I don't want to ever come to the place where I presume on God's kindness and forbearance and patience.

Hasn't God been good to you??? I'm not talking about the fact that you have lots of money and live in a land of freedom, etc...

I mean hasn't he been good to you in that he hasn't destroyed you for your sin?

Look back at the verse. All of God's kindness, forbearance, and patience is designed for one thing in your life...

Repentance.

Come to him today and repent.

New Thru 30 - Day 13 - Acts 21-28

2010-02-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

Today's reading really focused in on Paul as a person and though the reading spans over many years of his life, it all centers in on Paul's trial, imprisonment, journey to Rome, and ministry from the Roman prison.

As I read the end of Acts I was captured by Paul's passion to fulfill his God given mission.

In Acts 21:7-14 we see Paul and his companions as they have arrived in Caesarea. A prophet named Agabus comes and prophesies that the Jews will capture Paul when he goes to Jerusalem. (Paul, like Jesus, was often in conflict with the Jewish religious establishment)

I love the interchange in verses 12-14.

12 - Upon hearing this prophecy Paul's companions begged him not to go to Jerusalem.
13 - Paul proclaims his readiness to be killed for Jesus.
14 - Everybody sees his heart and says, "Let the will of the Lord be done."

Paul loved Jesus more than life itself because Jesus was his life.

New Thru 30 - Day 12 - Acts 11-20

2010-02-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

Why do things happen as they do?

We have that question a lot don't we? I was struck by this question as I read today's section from Acts.

In Acts 12:1-5 Herod kills the apostle James and makes plans to kill Peter until the Lord does this miraculous work of sending an angel to rescue Peter from prison (12:6-18).

Peter. James. John. The 3 amigos. The inner circle of disciples. All 3 knew each other before they met Jesus because they were fishing partners, and all 3 received their call to follow Jesus as the same time (Luke 5:9-11).

James is killed by Herod. Peter is saved from Herod's sword by a miraculous intervention from God.

Why does God allow James to die and Peter to live?

Let me first confess I don't have all the answers to these type of questions, but I do get a good clue just one chapter later. In Luke 13 Paul is preaching. In verse 36 he makes this statement, "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers..."

It could be that James, like David, had finished his course and the purpose which God had laid out for him. So, God brought James into his presence.

If we only view these things thru the lens of a human lifespan then they look terrible. But when you add eternity in the presence of Almighty God, with blessings forevermore, then the picture changes.

Oh yeah...Peter's there now also, and has been for close to 2,000 years.

Serve the purpose of your God, trusting him, and then go live forever with him and receive your reward from him.

New Thru 30 - Day 11 - Acts 1-10

2010-02-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

Witnesses to the Resurrection

1:22 - "one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."
2:32 - "This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses."
3:15 - "you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses."
5:30, 32 - "The God of our fathers raised Jesus...And we are witnesses to these things"

Do you see a connection???

Are you being a witness to the resurrection of Jesus? If not, start today!

New Thru 30 - Day 10 - John 11-21

2010-02-11T07:55:00.000-08:00

There's so much more than we know.

The last verse of the book of John (21:25) says, "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were everyone of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."

Imagine all that Jesus did during his 3 year ministry. All we get are just a few brief snapshots. Paper was expensive. Writing was a laborious task. There were no printing presses, copy machines, computers, etc. What we have in the gospels is a truly remarkable treasure...but it doesn't even scratch the surface of everything Jesus did.

You truly have a great Savior...far greater than you can imagine.

New Thru 30 - Day 9 - John 1-10

2010-02-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

The message that Jesus brought to first century Judaism was radical, and John really makes a point of bringing out the radical message of Jesus.

I love the words of Jesus in John 5:25-29 about the dead coming to life. Jesus says that the dead will hear his voice and come to life (25).

We've all been to a funeral and seen a dead person. Dead people don't hear anything. They're dead. People don't have life in themselves. Life is given to us and then we eventually lose it and we die.

God is different. God has life in himself (26). No one ever gave God life. He has just always existed, and he will never die. That's what it means to be God. In fact, he gives life to people.

Evidently the people were absolutely stunned by this because Jesus had to tell them not to marvel at his teaching about life (28), and then he reinforced the teaching that the time is coming when the dead will hear his voice.

If by his voice God spoke creation into existence, why is it so hard to believe that by his voice he will speak life into dead people? I believe it.

Jesus didn't come to make bad people good. Jesus came to make dead people alive.

New Thru 30 - Day 8 - Luke 15-24

2010-02-08T09:41:00.000-08:00

Seeing Jesus

In today's reading we walked thru Luke's presentation of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Luke puts a lot of emphasis on seeing or not seeing Jesus.

The death of Jesus is recorded in Luke 23:44-49. The centurion (47) and the crowds (48) both "saw" Jesus die. The acquaintances of Jesus (49) stood at a distance "watching" him die.

The burial of Jesus is recorded in Luke 23:50-56. The women (55) who watched him die "saw" the tomb and saw how his body was laid in the tomb.

The resurrection of Jesus is recorded in Luke 24:1-12. Peter ran to the tomb when the women told him that Jesus was risen. When he got to the tomb Peter (12) began "looking" in it and he "saw" that Jesus was not there.

The remainder of chapter 24 contains various post resurrection appearances of Jesus. In verse 39 he tells his disciples, "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see."

The death of Jesus was real. The burial of Jesus was real. The resurrection of Jesus was real. The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus were real. We know this because people have seen it all with their eyes and recorded it for us.

Praise God that one day our faith will become sight.

New Thru 30 - Day 6 - Luke 5-14

2010-02-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

Leaving Everything

In Luke 5 Jesus calls his first disciples. In 5:1-11 he calls the fisherman Peter, James, and John during one of their fishing trips. In 5:27-32 Jesus calls the tax collector, Levi.

These are ordinary people that Jesus used to do the extraordinary. So, how did it happen?

Check verse 11 and verse 28. They both say the same thing.

The fishermen and the tax collector left everything to follow Jesus. This is important. If our heart's desire is to build ourselves a nice kingdom here on earth and serve Jesus when we get a little spare time, then Jesus won't do much in us.

Jesus is demanding. He demands that we follow him wholeheartedly, not with one eye on him and one eye on maintaining our earthly kingdom.

Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus??? Leave everything. Follow him.

It's worth it.

New Thru 30 - Day 5 - Mark 11-16, Luke 1-4

2010-02-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

AND PETER

Today, you read the crucifixion narrative as Mark presents it. One part of the narrative is Peter's denial of Jesus. Jesus had told Peter beforehand that it would happen (Mk. 14:26-31).

You can read the actual account of the denial in Mk. 14:66-72. As you read that passage you can feel the fear in Peter. The words of verse 71 are some of the most heart-breaking in the Bible, "But Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, 'I do not know this man of whom you speak.'"

To invoke a curse on yourself??? To swear??? To tell a boldfaced and shameful lie??? To deny Jesus???

Fast forward to resurrection day (Mark 16:1-8). In verse 7, the angel tells the women who come to the tomb, "But go, tell his disciples and Peter..." The emphasis was on specifically making sure that Peter heard the message b/c Peter needed it more than them all.

Jesus was all about restoring Peter, not beating Peter up. Do you need to hear that from God today? No matter your failures, the message from God is, "I love my children and you..."

Peter went on to be used in a mighty way by God. God can do the same in your life.

New Thru 30 - Day 4 - Mark 1-10

2010-02-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

The message of repentance...who's it for???

In Mark 1:14-15, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee (northern area of Israel). His message is that the kingdom of God is at hand and that people need to repent and believe. Who is his audience? The people of Israel (God's people). The first thing Jesus does is to preach the message of repentance to those who have been "God's nation" for 2,000 years. Repentance is for God's people.

In Mark 6:7-12, Jesus sends out the apostles to preach. If you check the parallel passage in Matt 10:5-15 you will see that Jesus tells them to only go to the people of Israel. So, what is the message that the apostles preach? Mark 6:12, "So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent." Repentance is for God's people.

Of course, repentance is necessary for unbelievers to be saved, but here's our point for the day. Somewhere along the line, somebody developed this idea that repentance is a one-and-done thing. Says who??? Repentance is to be a major part (as in daily) of the life of a believer.

Repentance is for God's people.

New Thru 30 - Day 3 - Matt 21-28

2010-02-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

In your reading today Jesus really cranks up the heat.

After entering Jerusalem at the beginning of the week he is to be crucified, Jesus has his authority challenged (21:23-27). After that incident, Jesus just absolutely nails the religious establishment (rest of 21, all of 22 & 23) for their hardened hearts. I want to check out with you today one of the things Jesus says was wrong with the religious establishment.

Look at Matthew 23:23-24.

Those who were part of the religious establishment were really good at tithing. They even tithed part of the mint leaves and other garden herbs (not required in the law). At the same time they had this strict observance of tithing, they neglected more important things like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

WHY???

I think it comes down to the fact that it is easy to tithe. It's easy to give money. But it is difficult to have mercy on the poor. It's difficult to seek justice for the social outcasts. It is difficult to remain faithful to God on the inside.

Tithing is clean. Drop the money in the plate and you're done. Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are dirty. They will consume your life (not a bad thing).

Are you tithing while ignoring justice, mercy, and faithfulness??? Practice what's hard, not just what's easy.

May the mercy of God dwell richly in you today...

Pastor Mark

Google Video Problems

2010-02-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

The posts below are currently not working. Google knows about the problem and is trying to fix it, but so far has not come up with anything. Looks like I'll be posting in text from now on...

Blessings.

New Thru 30 - Day 2 - Matt 11-20

2010-02-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

Hey church...what a great reading we had for today. I hope that Jesus is soaking into your life thru this. Blessings...

New Thru 30 - Day 1 - Matt 1-10

2010-02-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Hey church...

I'm gonna blog everyday as we read thru the New Testament together. I'd love for you to leave some comments and interact with me as we do this. First time ever for me...I'm gonna try video blogging.

Iron Man 2009 Missions

2009-07-26T04:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Lake Placid, NY! As I write this, over 2000 Iron Man athletes have already begun their day-long race consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run. Jackie and I have been working with North Country Ministries this week to serve, pray for, and witness to the athletes through the many venues their mission team has planned. It's been a great week so far with lots going on, including a lot of service evangelism opportunities. I don't have time to cover everything right now, but I wanted to share a few thoughts and encouragements that have struck me this week as we have served here...
This week has been an example to me of the importance of being intentional in our evangelism. North Country Ministries (NCM) operates in this Iron Man venue as a small group of volunteers among thousands of other volunteers. This isn't what some might think of as a typical mission trip where you have planned outings, the sole purpose of which is to go witness to people. Instead, NCM has found their specific place in this annual event and they are very much appreciated by believers and non-believers alike for the services they offer (often times something as basic volunteering at athlete registration or giving out free snowcones at the family venues). It is through this intentional servant-hood attitude that they have created opportunites to share the gospel, encouraging and teaching all of their volunteers to make connections and share Christ whenever possible. It's simple and it's exciting to see it at work. The most encouraging thing, however, is that this type of evangelism is available to all of us; we just have to look and pray for opportunities to serve others and ask God to help us make connections and share the gospel with them.
Well, time flies. I must go for now as I'm leading worship at Lake Placid Baptist Church this morning so that their music minister can go participate on the race course. Before I go however, let me encourage you...be aware of the opportunities that you have individually and that we have as a church body to practice servant-hood evangelism. The Christian life is all about worshiping God and making disciples of Christ. Let's be intentional in both of these areas.

Anthony

GCR (part 1) - The Lordship of Christ

2009-07-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

We talked this evening about the Lordship of Christ in our lives, our church, and our denomination.

I want to ask a series of questions for you to reflect on...

If you took the commands of Christ literally (to love, forgive, be peacemakers, stop lusting, stop revenge, treasure him, be compassionate, etc.) would your life look different than it does right now?
What is stopping you from allowing Christ to literally be Lord of your life in all areas? What are you afraid of if he becomes Lord over all your life?
How can you begin right now to give lordship of your life over to Christ?

An exercise...

Read the "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew chapters 5-7. Be intentional on doing what Christ says.

Leave any thoughts you have about the Lordship of Christ.

May you be blessed as he is Lord...

Mark

The Thursday Experience

2009-07-10T04:38:00.000-07:00

As I write this, it's our last day in Canada. I can say with all honesty, we are sad to leave. The people of Kingston have been great, and while they are far from Christ, they are kind and welcoming. I have another guest blogger with me today, Jordan. You may ask where the girls are at, and well, they never seem to make it to breakfast since they bought a box of Lucky Charms for their rooms.

Here to tell you about yesterday and whats been going on, is Jordan Atnip:

Hello all. First of all, I want to thank you all for your prayers. I know that you all are praying and it's helping us get through. This entire trip has already been a blessing. I am in the social group. From our church, Mr. Jim, Mrs. Lynda, and Andrew are with me. The past couple days we have been working at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. We've all had different jobs to do there, some giving more opportunities to witness than others. We're all getting to do God's work, and He is blessing our souls for it. We had a large free time yesterday, so we went to a Tex Mex restaurant. We celebrated Bradley's birthday with our whole church group, plus our church group devotional leader, Dennis. Dennis has been more than a blessing and treats us like he's known us his whole life. He's barely older than me and he has already done incredible things for God. Keep us all in prayer. I look forward to seeing my home church soon.

Love,

Jordan

Canadian Tex Mex? That's right! I'm still amused by it all. They were all highly excited to find out we were from Tennessee. We had an extended free time yesterday, and hang out in Downtown Kingston. Luckily there was a Street Performer Festival downtown. The streets were blocked off, and we saw juggling fire, guys on Pogo sticks, etc. It was rather cool. We all wore our camp shirts, which allowed us to have quite a few conversations with people. We explained we were missionaries from the states, and it was just another chance to tell people about Christ. We had another great time of worship in church group, and took up an offering for Missions. The neat thing is, part of the offering we took is going to Canada, right here, to where we are working, in Kingston. The other part is going to work with the Roma, who I had I chance to work with last year in Romania.

Pray for us today. I challenged our group to look for every moment that God presents to them today. Moments to share their faith, moments to encourage, moment to hear the still small voice of God. This is our last day, and my prayer is we give every ounce of energy and passion to let all these great people know about the name that is above every name, and that is our Lord Jesus.

I know God is going to bless us and is going to work through us. We are praying for you church, and we know you are praying for us.

-Brett

A Mega Type Day

2009-07-09T04:37:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday morning and we are moving slightly slower then normal. God is still moving and changing hearts here. I thought for a treat for the folks back home, I would allow someone else to take a turn at blogging. There were no volunteers... but then Bradley spoke up and here we are at breakfast ready to tell you about our day. So without further ado, I give you Bradley:

Hello everyone, i'll tell you a little about our week in Canada so far. Brett, Jessica, and me are in the pcy group. We are working on the Kingston FBC, painting and fixing anything along the way. Our group leader is a guy named Dennis, who has become part of our church family here. It's just amazing the way God has worked through all of us this week so far. I just want to thank evryone that made our trip possible and we will see you soon.

Thank you Bradley! Dennis has become part of our family, he comes to our Church group devotion time, eats supper with us, and will be hanging out with us tonight during our extended free time. We will be celebrating Bradley's birthday (even though it is technically tomorrow). We will be going to downtown Kingston, getting some good food, and enjoying the local sights. Which the lake is simply beautiful.

Mega relay was yesterday, and war paint was applied to all. Jim had so much that it was running down his by the end of Mega. Shay and Vic's group brought home the Fuge Cup. We were quite proud, and extremely jealous.

We are loving our time here. I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say the time we spend together has been such a great bonding exprience. Our times of worship, pray, and playing games has been some of my favorite times.

You might doubt it, but some of the conversations we are having make me so very proud. We talk about spiritual things, we talk about what God is doing in us. We talk about how what God showed us in our quiet times. We talk about the people we want to pray for here and back home. Not during our church group times, but just hanging out at the dinner table, or as we walk to worship, or while driving to Wal-Mart (yes there are Wal-Marts in Canada). The depth of these students devotion and love of God is such a blessing to me.

We prayed for all of you last night, hope that each of you are running after God, and looking for those moments to serve Him throughout your day.

-Brett (with Bradley)

Introduction to Great Commission Resurgence

2009-07-08T12:24:00.001-07:00

Click here for the Great Commission Resurgence website.

In our introduction tonight we looked at why a Great Commission Resurgence is needed among Southern Baptists. In the mid 2oth century we were reaching people quite quickly, but the first decade of the 21st century has seen Southern Baptists plateau with the 2008 data showing us enter a year of decline.

Here's the graphics we looked at.

This is the word cloud of answers to the question, "What do you think when you hear Southern Baptist?"

This is the history of Southern Baptist growth since 1950. You will notice the fact that we are now on the plateau of our growth curve as Southern Baptists, so something must be done to prevent our denomination from decline and eventual death.

So the question of the hour is, "What must be done for there to be a resurgence of the great commission among Southern Baptists?" The church grows through conversions. The great commission is about seeing people converted and become disciples of Jesus.

The proposed manner of the resurgence is contained in the Great Commission Resurgence document. Go read the full thing. We'll be talking about it for the next 10 Wednesday nights.

Leave any thoughts you have in the comments section.

A Good Night

2009-07-08T04:42:00.001-07:00

It's morning again, and...we are not morning people. Yet we are up and getting ready for Bible Study at 8am. At 9:15am we have our morning celebration, where we get hyped up and ready to go out and serve.

Here is the varying tracks and groups our crew is part of:

Social Track: Lynda, Jim, Andrew, Jordan
Yesterday this group went to a local food bank. With their track group they managed to box up 18,000 pounds of food for the hungry and in need!

Children Track: Kendra and Lauren
This group is going to the same location all week, the first night they planned out a VBS and are now taking children through the program. Our heart breaks as most of these children have no clue who Jesus is.

Games and Rec Track: Shay and Vic
Somehow Shay has managed to get placed in a track where she can help kids with golf!?! This group is putting on a 'sports camp' for area children. They are using a major draw (sports) to let others know about our Lord.

PCY: Jess, Bradley, and Brett
We three have had the joy of working in downtown Kingston at First Baptist Kingston. The church is beautiful and cathedral like. Yet the church has shrunk to 70 members. We are prayer walking, and repainting just about everything: windows, floors, steps, and doors. Pray for the pastor Kevin, as he attempts to reach the people of Kingston.

We had an amazing night during church group devotion as we lifted each other up in prayer. As I'm typing this it seems to be time for bible study, we love you all, and are so grateful for each of you.

-Brett

Heart for the North

2009-07-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hello church friends and family,

we will be updating the church blog with all kinds of information and news about all that is going on while we are in Canada. Here is what has happened so far:

After our slow start, we made good time, and spent the night in Carlisle, PA. The following day we made it to St. Lawrence College by 2:30ish PM. The campus is nice, and within five minutes walk is Lake Ontario. The view simply breathtaking.

While the camp is small, the staff is wonderful and encouraging. It was initially not to have a band leading worship, or a band as we know it. Our worship is led by Larri (who is female by the way) on keyboards and Christina on violin! Sounds strange but the Lord uses it to bless us as we seek to bless him and praise His name.

The youth (and adults) are all having a great time. Our track groups are full of wonderful people, and we all went to site today. I'll be posting more information about the various youth and their escapades.

But I'll leave you with this thought. We are here, far to the north, to see God move in a land that has seemingly forgot Him. In all of Canada the number of evangelical churches has been shrinking. There are around 279 evangelical churches here (Tennessee alone has over 3,300). The youth and college have no clue who God is. The fastest growing religion here is Wicca. Our hearts break for these people. We pray that God will use us in amazing ways to reach these wonderful people, that Christ would be visible in our actions, attitudes, and words. Join with us in praying for Canada, and for the missionaries that God is calling here, for their task is great. But we serve an even greater God, and with God all things are possible.

I'll be attempting to update the blog each morning about the previous day and all the wonderful things God has done.

-Brett

Book Review - The Next Generation Leader

2009-05-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

***click the link on the right sidebar for the 2009 reading list***

The Next Generation Leader
by Andy Stanley

Book Summary

This is a short little book for the men and women who are rising up to be the next generation of leaders. Stanley covers 5 elements to being a good leader: competence, courage, clarity, coaching, character.

Book Review

Stanley writes well on the topic of leadership because he is one of the extraordinary ministry leaders of our day. This book is too small to be a very comprehensive treatment of leadership, but it is a good introduction to the topic. The book itself could actually be easily condensed down to a short booklet because it is filled with so many stories, much of which can easily be skipped over. Overall, a good quick read on leadership.

Next 3 books up
1. 10 Great Ideas from Church History
2. Made to Stick
3. Pierced for Our Transgressions

Reminder - AWANA Awards Ceremony

2009-05-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder...

The AWANA awards ceremony is this Wednesday at 6:00pm in the Sanctuary. We want all adults to join with us reguardless of whether or not you worked in AWANA ministry. Please make a special note of the time. We are starting at 6:00pm.

Blessings...

Mark

Book Review - The Heart of Evangelism

2009-05-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

***click link on right side-bar to view 2009 reading list***

The Heart of Evangelism
by Jerram Barrs

Book Summary

Barrs has written a simple and straightforward book about evangelism and the principles involved in sharing the gospel with others. There are four sections to this book: Mission to the World, The Kindness and Perseverance of God, Barriers in the Way of Communicating the Gospel, Making the Gospel Known

Book Review

I like this book very much. It is Scripture-saturated from cover to cover. If you have been a Christian for long you probably already know the content of the gospel. This book will help you greatly, particularly the final section which deals with principles in sharing the gospel.

Many evangelism books will give you techniques of sharing the gospel. Many evangelism books give you a canned presentation of the gospel that you can just unload on anybody. Barrs does none of this. He is very big on the importance of the individual and the necessity of tailoring the gospel presentation to the person or group you are speaking to. Barrs gives us principles by which we are to work when sharing the gospel. Excellent.

Book Review - Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches

2009-05-13T09:05:00.001-07:00

***click the link on the right side-bar to see the 2009 reading list***

Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches
By John Hammett

Book Summary

Hammett has written a thorough book outlining Baptist ecclesiology (doctrine of the church). Hammett himself is a member of the Southern Baptist denomination and teaches at Southeastern Baptist Seminary. The book is divided into 5 parts covering the basics of the nature of the church and then diving into Baptist specifics of who the church is, how the church is governed, and what the church does. Hammett concludes part 5 by writing about where we are headed.

Hammett spends significant time dealing with the weaknesses that have crept into 20th and 21st century Baptist churches. He writes at length about regenerate church membership and how Baptist churches can return to what has been a historic Baptist practice, but was abandoned in the 20th century.

Book Review

This is an excellent book. I would recommend that this book be read by anybody who is interested in seeing how a healthy Baptist church should function. Hammett makes no bones about the departures that the Baptist church at large has made from historic Baptist principles.

This is a hard read, but a good read. It pulls in at 354 pages, so buckle down.

Of particular interest should be parts 2 and 3. Part 2 answers the question, “Who is the church?” by addressing the issue of regenerate church membership and church discipline. These are practices that Baptists have abandoned and which have caused our churches to greatly weaken over time. Case in point with our own church…we have 650 members and about 180 average attendance. In centuries past, Baptists would have never allowed this to happen, but in our day it seems to be normal practice. Part 3 answers the question, “How is the church governed?” by stating that Baptists should be congregationally governed (ch. 6) with plural elder leadership (ch. 7) and served by a deacon body (ch. 8). Hammett provides excellent Scriptural and historical evidence for this model. Again, on this issue, modern Baptists find themselves to have departed from this pattern.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this book if you have the desire to see how the Baptist church should properly function according to Scripture and history.

Great Commission Resurgence

2009-04-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

I have just signed the declaration called the Great Commission Resurgence.

What is the Great Commission Resurgence you ask??? Good question.

In the 1980's Southern Baptists experienced what is now called the the "Conservative Resurgence" where the "battle for the Bible" was won. During that time Southern Baptists firmly reclaimed the belief in an inerrant Bible. Fast forward to our day now, some 25 years later, and we find that the Conservative Resurgence thus far has been a failure in terms of producing the fruit it should have produced. Yes, our seminaries are solid again, as those who did not affirm inerrancy were asked to leave, but the Conservative Resurgence has failed to produce a Great Commission resurgence. That is, the Conservative Resurgence has failed to propel our churches forward in their effectiveness of reaching the world for Christ.

Much has been said of the decline of the Southern Baptist Convention. I will not write again what others have already said in a manner better than I can say it. So I will point you to 2 articles that fully explain the extent of Southern Baptist decline.

Please read this article by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, written in April 2009.
Also, please read this article also written by Ed Stetzer in April 2008.

The basic summary of these articles is this:

The SBC rate of growth has been slowing for decades. (see chart on the 2nd article) At the end of any growth curve is a plateau. After a plateau comes a decline. Currently, the SBC has just passed its plateau. As a denomenation we have now entered into our period of decline. If we want to avoid our own death as a denomination then we must do something about it!!!

We are desperate for a Great Commission Resurgence to send us into a new growth curve.

Below are the 10 statements of the Great Commission Resurgence. Each statement is explained in fuller measure at the website. Go here to read it in entirety, see who has already signed it, and sign if you wish. I have debated whether I will expound on these individually here on the church blog or if I will commit to speaking about them on Wednesday nights later this year. If you have a preference please leave me a comment.

I. A Commitment to Christ’s Lordship. We call upon all Southern Baptists to submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ in all things at the personal, local church, and denominational levels. (Col. 1:18; 3:16-17, 23-24)

II. A Commitment to Gospel-Centeredness. We call upon all Southern Baptists to make the gospel of Jesus Christ central in our lives, our churches, and our denominational ministries. (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:17-21)

III. A Commitment to the Great Commandments. We call upon all Southern Baptists to recommit to the priority of the Great Commandments in every aspect of our lives and every priority we embrace as a network of local Baptist churches. (Matt. 22:37-40)

IV. A Commitment to Biblical Inerrancy and Sufficiency. We call upon all Southern Baptists to unite around a firm conviction in the full truthfulness and complete sufficiency of Christian Scripture in all matters of faith and practice. (Matt 5:17-18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

V. A Commitment to a Healthy Confessional Center. We call upon all Southern Baptists to look to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a sufficient guide for building a theological consensus for partnership in the gospel, refusing to be sidetracked by theological agendas that distract us from our Lord’s Commission. (1 Tim. 6:3-4)

VI. A Commitment to Biblically Healthy Churches. We call upon all Southern Baptists to focus on building local churches that are thoroughly orthodox, distinctively Baptist, and passionately committed to the Great Commission. (Matt. 16:13-20, 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 5)

VII. A Commitment to Sound Biblical Preaching. We call upon all Southern Baptists to affirm and expect a pastoral ministry that is characterized by faithful biblical preaching that teaches both the content of the Scriptures and the theology embedded in the Scriptures. (2 Tim. 4:1-5)

VIII. A Commitment to a Methodological Diversity that is Biblically Informed. We call upon all Southern Baptists to consider themselves and their churches to be missionaries in non-Christian cultures, each of which requires unique strategies and emphases if the gospel is to penetrate and saturate every community in North America. (Phil. 2:1-5; 4:2-9)

IX. A Commitment to a More Effective Convention Structure. We call upon all Southern Baptists to rethink our Convention structure and priorities so that we can maximize our energy and resources for the health of our local churches and the fulfilling of the Great Commission. (1 Cor. 10:31)

X. A Commitment to Distinctively Christian Families. We call upon all Southern Baptists to build gospel-saturated homes that see children as a gift from God and as our first and primary mission field. (Deut. 6:1-9; Psalm 127, 128; Eph. 6:4)

Coracora Team - 4/23 Report

2009-04-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

Hey church...great news from Peru. Check out below the final report from the April team. Thanks for praying.

We made it back to Lima this morning, arriving at the guest house at 9am. What a great trip. We had several discipleship sessions with Yulber and a couple with Edgar. We led 3 to Christ, two were co-workers of Yulber and another was the crippled father of one of his students. We also had a meeting with Yulber, Pastor Jose (from Nasca), and Bro. Porfolio Morales from the baptist church. Edgar was out of town and couldn't attend. We all agree the work in Coracora needs resurrecting and everyone at the table is on board. Bro. Jose has been working on getting a Peruvian missionary from Lima to go to Coracora and commit to 2 years. Churches in Nasca and Ica have offered to underwrite the support needed. So far he has not been able to get this together, but He has a renewed commitment to try. There is still an interest to get into the baptist church building, but all agreed that an alternative location must be found. Bro. Porfolio has a cousin who owns 2 locations near the center of town and he believes we can use one of them. It sounds like the Lord is leading us to revive this work. We all agreed that there two urgent needs. First, to find a place to meet for those we have been working with as well as many scattered believers throughout Coracora. Second, we need someone to step up to lead. Edgar, who I know none of you have met, is the the one I, Greg, and the enhancement team have the most cautious optimism to be out in front. Yulber and Edgar have already begun to talk. We all agreed that we believe a larger, strong church can be built in Coracora which will reach a larger number in Coracora, and be a "sending church" for that region. Ladies and gentlemen, I believe great things are about to break out in Coracora. Pray hard! The enhancement team will be in Coracora for 2 more weeks. They will be trying to keep Yulber, Edgar, and bro. Porfolio in contact with each other and get them to begin meetings, as well as monitoring the meeting location issue.

Book Review - The Pursuit of Holiness

2009-04-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

***see the 2009 reading list link on the right sidebar***

The previous book reviews have been a little long, sorry about that. I’m going to try and keep them shorter.

The next 3 books I will be reading and reviewing are: The Heart of Evangelism, The Next Generation Leader, and Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches

The Pursuit of Holiness
by Jerry Bridges

Book Summary

The Pursuit of Holiness is a short book on the topic of personal holiness. It is practically written with a focus on how to live it out in daily life. Jerry Bridges communicates the absolute necessity of holiness for the believer and the disciplines that will lead the believer into a holy life.

Book Review

YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!

The Pursuit of Holiness is a short book (approx. 200 pages) with a really powerful punch. If you want to live a holy life then you need to allow Jerry Bridges to help you. Every page of this book is packed with the meat of the Word of God.

Go get it now. Click here.

Coracora Team - 4/19 Report

2009-04-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

We have met with Edgar and had one very good Bible Lesson review. He seems to be very mature in his faith. He was leaving today via bus to Lima to buy goods for his store. However all bus lines except Lopez are grounded or otherwise not running so he missed his bus today. We are taking that as God giving us another opportunity tomorrow with him and we already have an appointment tomorrow at 11am Peru time!! We also have two more meetings tomorrow with Yulber. The Spanish lessons are working very well and being well received as a tool for their groups.

We have attempted to contact the couple from the Baptist Church, but they are in Nasca returning tomorrow. Hopefully we will get with them then. We made one attempt to see the older pastor of the Baptist Church who we heard is in CoraCora now. No luck yet.

Things are going well with the discipleship.

No meetings planned with the Mayor as we understand he is in hiding after the bridge collapse.

We plan to see the children and Sylvia tomorrow and check to see how things are going there.

More to come from Peru!

Greg Hodge

Coracora Team - 4/18 Report

2009-04-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

I will be copying Pastor Bobby's report from the Google Group that he is part of. The team will be in Coracora today thru this coming Wednesday. Please be in prayer for them. Here's their first report...

We made it to Coracora at 6:30 am. No problems, just long. We met with Yulber for discipleship class at 10. We then met at 1:00 with a man named Edgar who also shows great potential. The Enhancement team introduced us to him. Does anyone remember meeinting him? We ate supper with the team and Yulber. We have another class with Yulber this afternoon at 5pm. We meet with Edgar and his brothers tomorrow at 10am. Romi has invited us to lead a study for her and some of her friends each afternoon at 3pm while we are here. We haven´t found the older couple from the baptist church, but hope to. We are casting a vision with these groups to stay and meet seperately in order to have expotential growth. ´Í will stay in touch.

Book Review - Arminian Theology

2009-04-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

***click on the link to the right for the 2009 reading list***

Arminian Theology
By Roger Olson

Book Summary

Olson’s purpose is to defend classical Arminianism through refuting 10 common myths about Arminian theology. He feels that there is widespread misunderstanding of the basic teachings of Arminianism. He is correct (there is also widespread misunderstanding about the teachings of Calvinism). This book is organized in a way that each chapter is able to stand alone as an individual topic. So you could read chapters 2, 5, and 9 without having to read the rest of the chapters if only the topics of those three chapters interested you. Arminian Theology is not an exegetical defense of Arminianism based on the Scriptures. Instead, Olson has taken the route of attempting to clarify what Arminian theology is based on the writings of its’ adherents over the past 500 years.

Book Review

Olson is an Arminian (many Calvinists will write books about Arminianism), so it is good to read a book about Arminianism written by an Arminian. I think that Olson has written a good book, although his experience and perspective of Arminianism seems to be quite different than my experience and perspective. Let me explain.

Olson writes of many people who are looked down upon for holding to Arminian theology and how Arminian theology in general has a bad rap among evangelicals (pp. 20-21, 29-30). So he seems to write out of a defensive position of feeling attacked. This is fine as long as we understand the perspective he is coming from.

I grew up Southern Baptist. My observation of Southern Baptist life is exactly the opposite. Southern Baptist churches are known for firing pastors who hold to Calvinism (I’ve never heard of an SBC pastor being fired for being Arminian). Southern Baptist state newspapers are known for writing anti-Calvinist editorals (as our own TBC B&R has done). Popular Southern Baptist pastors and churches hold anti-Calvinist conferences. My observation is that the SBC views Calvinism as a threat and actively fights against it.

Although I have some basic disagreements with Arminianism, I enjoyed this book b/c it allowed me to learn a lot and to see an Arminian theology explained. Although it was not his purpose, I would have liked to have seen some exegesis by Olson to explain some of the basic beliefs of Arminianism. In pages 15-39 (part of the introduction) Olson lays out what Arminians believe. I have marked these pages up left and right with the same questions, “What Scriptures proves this?” “Show me?” “Where does it say this?”

Recommendation: good book if you are comfortable in theological dialogue/debate, but not for beginners b/c there is no exegetical work to defend positions

Pray for the People of Coracora

2009-04-14T07:53:00.001-07:00

I just learned that a suspension walking bridge in Coracora fell at a time when there were 40-50 school children and teachers walking on it Monday after school let out. Please pray for the people of Coracora. This Thursday Pastor Bobby (from Poplar Grove BC in Cookeville) and Greg Hodge (member of PGBC) are leaving for Peru. They will arrive in Coracora on Saturday morning. Please pray for them to have the right words to speak to those who have lost family members. Also, the Enhancement Team (college students serving a year in the Andes mountains with the IMB) is currently in Coracora for the month of April, so they are already ministering to people. Please pray that God will use this tragedy to draw people into a saving relationship with himself. Pray for Yulber to jump in a be ready to speak up as well.

Below is a picture of the bridge, which our team crossed several times, and the article from Reuters.

Peru bridge collapse kills 8, injures 40 children
Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:32pm EDT

LIMA (Reuters) - A suspension bridge packed with school children snapped in Peru on Monday, killing at least 8 and injuring dozens of others who plunged into a deep ravine, the mayor of the Andean mountain town of Coracora said.

"We've suffered a grave accident, a suspension bridge that goes to a high school has fallen, it has broken in two, and we have a large number of students injured and dead," Mayor Walter Antayhua told RPP radio.

Most of the injured were aged 10 and 13, but reports said several teachers were with the children when the bridge collapsed.

The bridge was 130 feet long and stretched above a canyon that is up to 320 feet deep, the mayor said. The town is about 370 miles southeast of Lima, the capital.

"We need a helicopter because there are children who are dying," Alfonso Paredes, a town resident, said from the poorly equipped hospital from where doctors were hoping to evacuate patients to trauma centers.

At least 40 other victims were taken to the hospital, 13 of them with serious injuries.

"The injuries are grave," said Fernando Valencia, a doctor at the hospital.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino and Terry Wade; Editing by Sandra Maler)