Weekly Update – April 14th, 2022
Since 2015, First Baptist Church has had a Maundy Thursday service the Thursday before Easter. This night is primarily meant to function as a time to reflect and prepare ourselves as we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now when we say Maundy Thursday, there is still likely some confusion over its significance. Good Friday we know, and of course, Easter Sunday we know, but what is so special about this day called Maundy Thursday?
For starters, let’s consider what Maundy means. Maundy is short for mandatum, which is Latin for “command.” This means that we could theoretically call this day “Command Thursday.” Personally, I still like calling it “Maundy Thursday” over “Command Thursday,” but that is beside the point. This Thursday was the day before the crucifixion, where Jesus was in the upper room with his disciples about to celebrate the Passover. It was during this meal that he said this statement recorded in John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
What Jesus effectively did by giving this new commandment was raise the definition of love. On this night, Jesus washed his disciples feet (John 13:5), he prophesied about his own betrayal (John 13:21) and he took of the last supper (Luke 22:27-38). What he did here was show his love for his own, his love for his enemies and the explanation of that love through what would soon be his own death. In was in his death that Jesus brought about the forgiveness of our sins and from there, reconciliation with God the Father. As John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Therefore, in light of what this night symbolizes, we will remember the night before the death of Jesus by singing, listening to the message concerning his death, and taking the Lord’s Supper together. The tone for the evening is meant to be somber. Every time we gather, we remember what Jesus has done for us as proclaimed in his gospel message. But on Maundy Thursday, we specifically gather to remember the death of Jesus and to reflect upon the sacrifice he paid for our sin. It is meant to be a reflective time, where we approach the Lord with humility and repentance as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Gathering together on Maundy Thursday is not mandated by the Scriptures, but it is a great time to for us as a church to prepare our hearts for Easter. Though our savior has risen from the dead, let us never forget why he died in the first place. It was our sin that he paid for, our debt that he cancelled and our ransom that he paid. Let us never take these truths lightly. Instead, let us prepare ourselves on Thursday in anticipation for Sunday.
Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson
Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson
Fighter Verse for the Week
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Announcements:
Maundy Thursday: Come tonight and remember with us the final night of Jesus’s life before his death and resurrection. We will sing, hear a short message and take the Lord’s Supper together.
Easter Schedule: Come celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with us on April 17th. That morning we will resume our annual Easter Breakfast at 9:15am with our Worship Service to follow at 10:30am.
Passion Week Devotionals: In case you missed any of them, there were devotionals posted every day this week highlighting each day of the final week in the life of Jesus. You can find those videos HERE.
Sunday Night Bible Study: No Sunday Evening Bible Study this week.
Ladies Bible Study: The Ladies Bible Study will not meet this week. They will resume meeting on Tuesday, April 26th.
Worship Leader: In January, the Personnel Committee began meeting to determine who the next worship leader at First Baptist Church would be. Martin Maharas graciously offered to fill in for us during that interim time. Last week, it was agreed upon by the Personnel Committee to ask Martin to stay on a permanent basis, in this non-ministerial position, and lead our church in worship. Martin accepted and will now officially be the “worship leader” for our church. Let me know that you are thankful he is here and welcome him back to our church.
Home Groups: On Sunday evening, May 15th, there will be 3 brand new home groups starting. Each will meet in a different home on Sunday nights throughout the summer. Be on the lookout for more details in the upcoming week.
Harry’s Hay Days: On Saturday, May 7th, 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, Life 88.5 and more, right here in our parking lot. We need volunteers to help with this event, so sign up in the hallway this Sunday.
Young Adult Home Group: Starting on March 9th, there will be a new home group called, “The Young and Relentless.” Single, married, or engaged, 18-30ish are welcome to join. The group will be going through “Adulting” by Jonathan Pokluda. You can find a preview of the study HERE.
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 $7500. So far we have raised $5905. 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.
Secret Church: Join on us on Friday, April 29th at 6:00pm, as we listen to David Platt via simulcast for an intense evening of Bible study and prayer. The goal of this event is to simulate the experiences of churches who are persecuted for the Word of God, but yet hungry for it at the same time. We will join with thousands of other people from all over the world as we study the theme, Who Am I? Come and join us, in homes this year, for some or all of this 6 hour night as we study together and pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. There is a sign up sheet in the foyer. You can find out more about this study HERE.
First Wednesday Prayer: Join us on Wednesday, May 4th at 7:00-8:00pm in the sanctuary for an hour of prayer. On these evenings, we will have a mixture of structured and less structured times of prayer as we seek the Lord to move for our sake, the sake of our church, as well as the sake of our community and world.
Awana
No Awana Clubs this Sunday evening.
Bible Study
No Bible Study or Sunday School this week. Come to the Easter Breakfast in the Faith Center Gym instead.
Giving
To Give Online, Go HERE.
You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030
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 0-3 years is available during the worship hour.
Livestream
Continue to join us at 10:30am on Sunday mornings.
Facebook live: HERE.
YouTube: HERE.
Guide for Worship can be found 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.
Pre-K and Kindergarten meet in the nursery suite.
Grades 1st – 5th meet upstairs in U-5.
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