Easter 2022

Weekly Update – March 24th, 2022

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 14^th 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 Monday through Friday, April 11th-15th, there will be a devotion posted on Facebook and our Youtube page each morning. The goal of these devotions is to highlight the events that occurred each specific day of the holy week. Each day of that week was significant in the life of Jesus and, Lord willing, we will see how each day leads up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how each day impacts our faith. I hope that you will turn in that week.

Third, on Easter Sunday, April 17^th 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.  There we will be cards available this Sunday for you to pick up and hand out as an invitation.   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

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.

RightNow Media: RightNow Media exists to provide resources that will inspire you to champion the mission Jesus gave to his people—making disciples of all nations. First Baptist Church wants to make these resources available to you. There is a sign up sheet in the hallway that asks for your name and email address. Sign up and gain access to the world’s largest library filled with Biblically-based videos on topics like marriage, parenting, youth, recovery, leadership, finances and much more.

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 Brunch 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 events that occurred the week between Palm Sunday and Easter.

Fighter Verse for the Week

"Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name."
Psalm 86:11

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 Spiritual Disciplines. A women’s Bible Study meets at the same time at then end of the hall near the nursery.

First Wednesdays Prayer Meeting

Join us 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month in the sanctuary for an hour of prayer. For more information about these prayer meeting, go HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Help Box

In the welcome center there is a “Help Box.” This box is designed to provide you with a form of communication if there is anything physical or practical that you might need help with.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE.