Cling to Christ

Weekly Update – April 7th, 2022

As we continue to watch the downgrade of our culture, we must remember how important it is for the church to remain counter-cultural to all that we see around us.  There is pressure from many angles to capitulate to what are quickly becoming the norms of society in terms of the sexual revolution, the idolatry of self, and the general acceptance of immorality.  Over the last few months in 1 Timothy, we have seen the results that occur when a church loses its focus and begins to prioritize other ideas outside the word of God. Certain people wandered into vain discussions (1 Tim. 1:6), a few made shipwreak of their faith (1 Tim. 1:19), some turned to different doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1), and others quarreled over words and created constant friction (1 Tim. 6:4-5). The only hope we have as the church to resisting these dangers, is the truth that has been communicated to us by God himself.  Upon this truth, we must plant our feet firm so that when we are “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine,” we are not cast down and assimilated into our culture, but instead we “grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:14-15). 

Here is an excerpt from a sermon given by Martin Lloyd-Jones describing the importance of holding onto the word of God as a church:

“There can be no doubt whatsoever that all the troubles in the Church today, and most of the troubles in the world, are due to a departure from the authority of the Bible. Human philosophy took the place of revelation, man’s opinions were exalted and Church leaders talked about ‘the advance of knowledge and science’, and ‘the assured results’ of such knowledge. The Bible then became a book just like any other book, out-of-date in certain respects, wrong in other respects, and so on. It was no longer a book on which you could rely implicitly.

There is no question at all that the falling away, even in Church attendance, in this country is the direct consequence of the departure from the authority of Scripture.  The whole situation is one of drift; and very largely, I say, it is the direct and immediate outcome of the doubt that has been cast by the Church herself upon her only real authority. Men’s opinions have taken the place of God’s truth, and the people in their need are turning to the cults, and are listening to any false authority that offers itself to them.

We all therefore have to face this ultimate and final question: Do we accept the Bible as the Word of God, as the sole authority in all matters of faith and practice, or do we not? Is the whole of my thinking governed by Scripture, or do I come with my reason and pick and choose out of Scripture and sit in judgment upon it, putting myself and modern knowledge forward as the ultimate standard and authority? The issue is crystal clear. Do I accept Scripture as a revelation from God, or do I trust in speculation, human knowledge, human learning, human understanding and human reasons Or, putting it still more simply, Do I pin my faith to, and subject all my thinking to, what I read in the Bible? Or do I defer to modern knowledge, to modern learning, to what people think today, to what we know at this present time which was not known in the past? It is inevitable that we occupy one or the other of those two positions.”

In order to be a people who fulfill our mission to speak out and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must be grounded in scriptural authority.  God has spoken to us and his very words are recorded for us in a book (2 Tim. 3:16).  Therefore we as the people of God must unite together around the truths contained in this book (1 Tim. 4:13), because if we find ourselves clinging to anything else, then we are one step towards being overtaken by our culture.  God’s word and its proclamation is the means by which God has ordained for our faithfulness to him.  May we find ourselves abiding in Christ as his words abide in us (John 15:7).       

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Announcements:

Sunday Night Bible Study: Join us on Sunday evenings at 6:00pm for a 6 week study titled Follow Me. This will be a video based study, but companion books are available for $10 for those who would like to go deeper. We will meet in the sanctuary. You can find an introduction to this study HERE.

Ladies Bible Study: Ladies, join us on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm, for a Bible study through the book of Exodus. The study is a video based study led by Sheryl Nelson. There is a sign up sheet in the hallway, or sign up by contacting the church office. You can learn more about this 10 week Bible Study HERE

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. 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 10th at 10:30am. Second, Maundy Thursday will be on April 14th, at 7:00pm. Lastly, 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. Also, during passion week (4/11-4/15) there will be a short daily devotion posted on Facebook and YouTube. These devotions will aim to highlight some of the events that occurred the week between Palm Sunday and Easter.

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.

Fighter Verse for the Week

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32

Awana

Every Sunday at 5:45pm, children ages 3 years to 6th grade are invited to join us for Awana.

Bible Study

Join us in the Sanctuary at 9:15am on Sunday mornings for a study in the book of 1 John. A women’s Bible Study meets at the same time at then end of the hall near the nursery.

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.