Posts by Michael Nelson (Page 9)

Weekly Update – January 19th, 2023 Back at our December member’s meeting, we passed a new statement on Biblical sexuality.  The statement has nine points describing what it is that we at First Baptist Church believe about how God has created us as men and women to function and interact with one another.  Over the next couple of months, I want to take some time to review each point to further clarify what the Bible says about sexuality and why…

Weekly Update – January 12th, 2023 Many times when we pray for members in the church, it is easy to remember requests that are spoken, lift up those who might be on our prayer list, or pray for those we know in our classes or in our groups.  But when we take a look at the apostle Paul’s prayers for the different churches, we notice that he might mention his concerns about other’s health (Phil. 2:27; 2 Tim. 4:20), but…

Weekly Update – January 5th, 2023 On Sunday, January 8th, at 9:15am, we will begin what we are now calling, Adult Equipping Classes.  These Equipping Classes will take the place of what we have traditionally called Adult Sunday School or Bible Study Classes.  This hour won’t look much different from what it has looked like the last year or two.  We will still have three classes, they will still meet at the same time, and the studies will still be…

Weekly Update – December 29th, 2022 This Sunday, there will be a number of Bible reading plans available for you to look at set on the organ bench in the sanctuary.  You can also feel free to choose one from this website too, if you are interested.  Each Bible reading plan set out and on the above website are varied in the days that you read, where you read, and how much you read.  Every year I pick out a…

Weekly Update – December 22nd, 2022 There seems to be this growing trend among many churches to cancel services on Christmas Day.  For that matter, there are several others who will also cancel on New Year’s Day as well.  Ruth Graham of the New York Times says, “Christmas Day falls on a Sunday for the first time since 2016, and that’s a problem.”  Some pastors will give practical reasons for why they have cancelled church on these days saying, “it…

Weekly Update – December 15th, 2022 During our September members’ meeting, there was a document introduced to be considered as our new constitution for First Baptist Church. This document was adopted last Sunday night at our December members’ meeting (You can view the new constitution HERE). Some of the major changes that this new constitution would entail included a plurality of elders and a sort of redefinition for our deacons. There was also some clarification given to how we receive…

Weekly Update – December 8th, 2022 On Sunday night, we will meet for our final quarterly members’ meeting of the year. During this meeting, you will hear of updates from various ministries, be encouraged by what the Lord is doing in our church, have an opportunity to pray, and finally, participate in the decision making process of the church. The goal of members’ meetings are to create a family type of atmosphere where we can celebrate God’s hand at work,…

Weekly Update – December 1st, 2022 The Christmas offering that we as Southern Baptists participate in every year is named in honor of a woman named Lottie Moon.  On July 7, 1873, the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention appointed her a missionary to China. Lottie spent most of her missionary years in Tengchow and P’ingtu, China where she taught at mission schools and ministered to women. Through having immersed herself in Chinese culture,…

Weekly Update – November 24th, 2022 Every year churches all around the world take time out of their normal schedule and celebrate the season of Advent.  Advent means “coming” and it is designed to prepare us for the celebration of Christmas.  As we look forward to this celebration, let us remember that it is more than gifts, lights and food.  It is a time for us to remember the first coming of our savior while also longing for his second…

Weekly Update – November 17th, 2022 What does it mean to be born again?  This phrase garnered a lot of attention back in 1976 when President Jimmy Carter officially declared that he was a “born again” Christian.  Being “born again” then became almost a sort of add on to the faith.  People began to proclaim that they were not only Christians but that they were “born again” Christians, as if there is a difference.   Even still, the use of the…

Weekly Update – November 10th, 2022 In Ephesians 1:15-16, the apostle Paul says that he does not cease from giving thanks in his prayers for the Ephesians.  The reason for his thanks is because of the Ephesians’ “faith in the Lord Jesus” and their “love toward the saints.”  Now, these two phrases about the Ephesians’ faith and their love, they are necessarily connected.  The reason why I said that is because within the church, there can be no display of…

Weekly Update – November 3rd, 2022 It is that time again.  It comes around every two years.  That’s right – it is election time.  Every two years it seems as though the stakes are higher, the parties are more divided and the nation is in peril.  Now I don’t want to downplay this election, there are clearly multiple ideologies being promoted that will take our nation in one direction or the other.  But I do want to communicate that despite…