Weekly Update – April 3rd, 2025
In just a few weeks, we as Christians celebrate the cornerstone of our faith. As the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “if Christ has not been raised, then our faith is in vain.” What this means is that the resurrection does matter. We can’t simply resort to saying that Christianity is about doing good for others or living a morally pure life. If Christ has not been raised, then he is just like us, another man to succumb to the curse of death. But Christ was raised and He is alive today. Therefore we celebrate with Christians from all over the world the new life we have in Him because of the resurrection. As believers at First Baptist Church here are a few ways in which we will celebrate this year.
First, we will have a service on Thursday evening, April 17th at 7:00pm. This day is called Maundy Thursday and it has been remembered by the universal church since its early days. Maundy literally means “commandment” which specifically comes from what Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” It is then on this Thursday evening, the night before the crucifixion, that we remember this call to unity through loving one another with the shadow of Christ’s death in the background. We will specifically remember this time through singing, a short message and through taking the Lord’s Supper together.
Second, on Easter Sunday, April 20th at 9:15am we will host an Easter Brunch in the Faith Center. As we gather around a table filled with family, friends and even perhaps a few people we don’t know, we consider the reason for which we are gathering. We are eating together in celebration of what the Lord has done through raising Jesus Christ up from the dead. This will be a time to connect with guests as well as to invite family and friends before we have our service. We will have a full spread of different types of breakfast foods, but we need you to commit to help. This breakfast will be potluck style, so sign up this week to bring something for this occasion.
Lastly, on Easter Sunday at 10:30am we will have our service celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will join together in one song and in once voice around the message of Christ and his gospel. We have something truly amazing to celebrate as Christians. In Jesus, death is not the final say for us, but instead we can have life now and for all eternity. Because of the resurrection we can say along with Paul, “death is swallowed up in victory,” and we can be thankful to God “who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55, 57).
I hope that you will join us throughout this week as we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to take advantage of this time of year to not only celebrate our risen savior but to pray and invite someone else to hear of why we celebrate, so that they too might join with us. We have a great opportunity before us, let us use it fully to the glory of God.
Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson
Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson
Fighter Verse for the Week
[But] far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
-Galatians 6:14
Announcements:
FBC Mini Conference: This Sunday, during our Equipping Hour and our Worship Service, we will have Marshall Adkins with us for a mini conference titled, Taking Every Thought Captive. Marshall is an assistant professor of Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the assistant director of the Biblical Counseling Center at Midwestern.
Prom Dress Giveaway: The prom dress giveaway is in need of volunteers. See Amy Blankenship or sign up on the bulletin board in the hall. Click HERE for more details.
Ladies Bible Study: On Tuesday, February 25th, a seven week Bible study through the book of Esther began. There are two sessions, one at 9:30am and another at 6:00pm. You can check out more information about this Bible study, HERE.
Men’s Study: On the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, from 8:00-9:15pm, a men’s study through the book, The Measure of a Man, takes place. See Clint Blankenship for more information.
Sunday Evening Service: Our next Sunday evening service will be this Sunday, April 13th at 6:00pm. On this evening we will pray together and hear from Scott Neal as he preaches from 1 John 2:28-3:10.
Youth Dessert Auction: We will hold a Dessert Auction 4pm-6pm on Sunday, April 27th. This auction will be a fundraiser to help send the youth to summer camp. Everyone is invited to bring a dessert to auction and to bid on a dessert. There will also be a pie eating contest. For more details, contact Dan Holsten.
Harry’s Hay Days: On Saturday, May 3rd, from 10:00am-4:00pm, First Baptist Church will be participating in the citywide festival called, “Harry’s Hay Days.” We will be hosting carnival games, face painters, balloon artists, Chick-fil-A, and more, right here in our parking lot. Put this date on your calendar and sign up in the hallway to help!
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over North America who are serving with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This year, our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $8500. You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Annie.” Or you can give online HERE and choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.
Easter Schedule: There will be many opportunities to connect with us this Easter season. First, join us on Palm Sunday on April 13th at 10:30am. Second, Maundy Thursday will be on April 17th, at 7:00pm. Lastly, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with us on April 20th. That morning we will have our annual Easter Breakfast at 9:15am with our Worship Service to follow at 10:30am.
Food Pantry: The food pantry is currently in need of peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauce, canned soup, canned vegetables, canned tuna, boxes of macaroni and cheese, cereal, and oatmeal. For a complete list of food pantry needs, click HERE.
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 Isaiah in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament 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–k meet in the nursery suite.
Grades 1-3rd meet upstairs in U-5.
Grades 4th-6th meet upstairs in U-6.
Grades 7th-12th meet downstairs in the youth room.