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Vacation Bible School
Weekly Update – June 15th, 2023 As you all know, Vacation Bible School is just around the corner. Every summer our church has a week where we specifically focus on teaching the children of our church and the community the gospel of Jesus Christ. This week always requires a lot of effort, resources and time. Therefore, for the sake of simply doing something because we have always done it, I want to remind you, just as I have done in…
Don’t Assume the Gospel
Weekly Update – June 8th, 2023 In Philippians 1:4, the apostle Paul starts off his letter by expressing his thankfulness for the Philippians “partnership in the gospel.” This coming Sunday, we will see Paul talking about his situation in prison as a circumstance that will serve “to advance the gospel” (1:12). With Paul starting off his letter with this word “gospel” and continually using it throughout, it was necessary for us on Sunday to take some time to clearly define…
Making the Most of Summer
Weekly Update – June 1st, 2023 Summer is easily my favorite time of the year. I know some complain about the hot weather, but I love it. I love the warm nights, the bright sun, the afternoon storms and the different pace that summer often brings. With summer though, there comes a temptation. Anytime there is an opportunity for leisure and refreshment, the evil one will bring the temptation to focus inward and to neglect what the Lord is doing…
Biblical Sexuality – Pt. 4
Weekly Update – May 25th, 2023 Over the last 5 months, we have been slowly walking through our newly adopted statement on Biblical Sexuality. There are nine points to this statement. This week we will look at point four. Point one can before found HERE. Point two, HERE. Point three, HERE. Point four is as follows: God has designed marriage to be a covenantal, sexual, procreative, lifelong union of one man and one woman, as husband and wife. This covenant…
Parent/Child Dedication
Weekly Update – May 18th, 2023 Last Sunday, we had, what we called, a parent/child dedication. At First Baptist Church, we want to be a community that not only celebrates children, but we also want to be a place that stands with parents to equip, support, encourage and pray for them as they seek to lead their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. That means that as joyful as it was to watch six young families present…
Don’t Listen to Your Heart
Weekly Update – May 11th, 2023 The phrase “listen to your heart” is not an uncommon mantra of our modern day. If you don’t know what direction to take in making a decision in life, you might hear the advice, “listen to your heart.” If you are unsure about what to do in a relationship, you might hear, “listen to your heart.” If you are unsure about whether something is right or wrong, you might hear, “listen to your heart.” …
More than a Verse…
Weekly Update – May 4th, 2023 On many Sundays over the last few months, we have read larger portions of scripture during the sermon time. As we have been going through 1 Samuel, it is helpful to sometimes read a chapter or more at a time, to understand the full context of story that is given. We don’t typically have to do this in Paul’s letters or even the gospels, but with Old Testament narrative, this is necessary. Nevertheless, no…
Together to Display God
Weekly Update – April 27th, 2023 The plan of God, from before the creation of the world, is that we would be redeemed through his son Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:4). Due to sin, we have all been separated from God, made strangers to his promises, as we live without hope in this world (Eph. 2:12). But God, being rich in mercy saved us (Eph. 2:4-5). God’s plan wasn’t just for us as individuals though. What I mean is that when…
Biblical Sexuality – Pt. 3
Weekly Update – April 20th, 2023 It has been several weeks now since we have examined the a point in our newly adopted statement on Biblical sexuality. So far, we have taken an in-depth look at the first two points of our statement. You can find an explanation of point one HERE and point two HERE. This week we will take a look at point three which says this: Those born with a physical disorder of sex development are created…
Secret Church
Weekly Update – April 13th, 2023 For the last several years, we have hosted what is called Secret Church. We have gathered either in homes or at the church on a Friday night in April for 6 hours of Bible Study and prayer. Over the last few weeks, I have received a number of questions as to what this event typically looks like. Therefore, let me try to explain what Secret Church is and why it is you should go.…
Why Jesus Died
Weekly Update – April 6th, 2023 In many ways, the remembrance of Maundy Thursday and the celebration of Easter Sunday are two of the most significant days in the life of our church. Don’t get me wrong here, every time we gather as a church is significant in our lives because it provides an opportunity to encourage one another and proclaim Christ. But our gatherings this week specifically focus on what is at the center of our faith with the…
Celebrating God’s Work
Weekly Update – March 30th, 2023 It is easy to neglect to stop and take stock of the evidences of God’s grace upon us as we live in a culture that is prone to complain and criticize. That means that one of the ways that we can live counter cultural to this world is to encourage one another with the faithfulness of God. When we consider the Lord’s work among us, not only does it remind us of his goodness,…