Weekly Update – September 19th, 2024
As a Baptist church, one of our distinctives is that we are autonomous. Essentially what that means is that we govern ourselves and do not take directives from anybody outside of our own assembly. In other words, we are independent. We see this principle of autonomy first come up in Matthew 18:16 when Jesus tells the church to remove an unrepentant person from their midst. The call here is not to go to a presbytery or to a pope, but to bring the matter of sin out before the local body of believers. In essence, the local church here is guarding its membership. The local church not only guards its membership though. It is the local body who also commissions missionaries (Acts 13:2), ensures its faithful teaching (Gal. 1:6-9), appoints elders and deacons (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:1-13) and gathers to baptize (Acts 2:41) and take the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:17-34).
Yet, at the same time, you see local, autonomous churches, partnering together for bigger, gospel purposes. Acts 15:1-35 clearly shows this principle. In this text, there was some confusion among the churches about the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. Therefore, the apostles and elders at the church of Jerusalem sent a letter to the churches at Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia encouraging them in how they should live before the Lord. In some sense, they were agreeing upon a sort of statement of faith. Even so, you also see churches pulling together for benevolence purposes (2 Cor. 9:1-5), sending workers to each other (2 Tim. 4:19-20; Titus 3:12-13), and planting churches (Acts 13:2-3).
Therefore, at First Baptist Church we are autonomous, but also connected. That means that we govern ourselves, making our own decisions, raising up our own leaders, seeking to reach our community and fulfill the Great Commission on our own, but we are also partnered with other churches for these same purposes. Broadly we are connected nationally with the Southern Baptist Convention, state-wide, we are connected with the Missouri Baptist Convention and locally we are connected with the Blue River-Kansas City association. In addition to these connections, we also partner with other local churches for ministry and encouragement.
Here is where I am going with this. On October 6th, from 5:00-8:00pm, our church will be hosting the semi-annual meeting of our local association. It is not an uncommon for me to receive the question from church members that asks, “what does our local association do.” If you have that question, come to this meeting and find out. In fact, it would be prudent for all of us to know what our local association does, since we give 2% of our offerings to them every year. At this meeting you will hear of different ministries that our giving goes to, how our partnership helps other churches and ways that the gospel is expanding through our collective efforts.
Though we are independent of any outside organization, we are still voluntarily connected to other like-minded churches. Our vision for First Baptist Church is that we would see our families, our community and our world transformed by the power of God. We strive for this vision as a local church, but we also seek to fulfill our vision through connecting with other churches. Therefore, consider coming on October 6th to learn more about our partnership and how First Baptist Church reaches beyond our ministries to transform other communities through the power of God.
Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson
Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson
Fighter Verse for the Week
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
-Revelation 2:10
Announcements:
Missouri Missions Offering: Every year, along with nearly 1,800 other churches, our church partners to pray and give concerning the Lord’s work in our state. The statewide goal is $750,000 this year. Our church goal is $4500. I hope that you will consider praying and giving to this effort throughout this month. As with your normal offering, you can give in person, by mail or online. Just mark MMO when you do give. Check out more information about this effort HERE.
Membership Matters Class: Beginning Sunday, October 6th, there will be a Membership Matters Class for those interested in joining FBC. This will be a 4 week class (10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27), meeting at 9:15am during our Equipping/Sunday School hour. You can find out more about our membership process HERE.
Association Meeting: We will be hosting the semi-annual association meeting for the Blue River-Kansas City Baptist Association on Sunday, October 6th. There will be a missions fair and potluck dinner from 5:00-6:00pm, followed by the association’s business meeting and message from 6:00-8:00pm. The keynote speaker for this evening will be John Mark Clifton. If you would like to come to the dinner, click HERE to bring something.
Nursery Check-In: This Sunday, parents of children ages 0-4 will check in their children at the computer station in the Welcome Center. Once you check in your child, a label for your child will print and that card will be used to drop off and pick up your child. Monica Smith will be available to help, if necessary.
Resource Health: We are collecting $10 gift cards from Quik-Trip to donate to Resource Health. You can either donate a gift card or put money in an envelope and mark it “Resource Health” and put it in the offering box.
Ladies’ Bible Study: This will be a 10-week study of Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom by Jen Wilkin. Morning and evening sessions will be held on Tuesdays, beginning on September 10th. Details are on the bulletin board.
Christmas Choir: During Awana and Youth, from 6:45-7:45pm, Wednesday nights, a choir will begin rehearsing for the Christmas Season. If you have any questions, see Martin Maharas.
Men’s Bible Study: This men’s study is based on the book, The Exemplary Husband. The study is held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday night of each month at 8:00pm in the library. If you are interested see Clint Blankenship.
Men’s Dinner: On Friday, October 4th at 6pm, all men are invited to the church for dinner, games, preaching and prayer. Cost is $15. Mark your calendars and sign up on the bulletin board in the hall.
Biblical Counseling Conference: Join us at First Baptist Church, Monday evening, October 7 through Wednesday afternoon, October 9th for the livestream of the ACBC annual conference. Look for more information as this date comes closer. Check out a preview of this conference HERE.
Sunday Evening Service: Our next Sunday evening service will be on Sunday, October 13th at 6:00pm. On this evening we will pray together and hear from Matthew Klika as he preaches from 1 John 1:5-10.
Missions Need: Simon and Hannah Snodgrass will be with us December, January and February. They are in need of a car and two rear facing car seats while they are back home visiting. If you can help, please contact the church office.
Food Pantry: We are in need of spaghetti-o’s, ravioli, dry pancake mix, and maple syrup.
Nursery Volunteers Needed: Nursery volunteers are needed each week during the 10:30am service time. Contact Monica for more information on how you can serve.
Awana Bible Club
Awana is held at 6:30pm on Wednesdays throughout the school year. Dinner is at 6:00pm. Children can be registered HERE.
Equipping Hour
We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” meets in the Sanctuary, a study in the Essentials of the Faith in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the the book of Acts meets in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.
Giving
To Give Online, Go HERE.
You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030
Home Groups
Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.
Prayer
An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE.
Prepare for Sunday
Guide for Worship can be found HERE.
Worship Service
Worship Service begins at 10:30am on Sunday mornings. Nursery care for children ages 0-4 years is available during the worship hour.
Livestream
Continue to join us at 10:30am on Sunday mornings.
Facebook live: HERE.
YouTube: HERE.
Join us and invite a friend or family member to watch with you.
Sunday School
Children and Youth Sunday School take place at 9:15am on Sunday mornings.
Ages 0-2 and 3-pre-k meet in the nursery suite.
Grades K-3rd meet upstairs in U-5.
Grades 4th-6th meet upstairs in U-6.
Grades 7th-12th meet downstairs in the youth room.
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