6-13-21 Update

We made it back from the SBC Annual Meeting! We got home from Nashville in the wee hours Friday morning, and were glad to be back. Eight of us (6 messengers, 2 teenage guests) traveled on Sunday, attended two different conferences on Monday, and spent Tuesday and Wednesday in the business sessions. Thursday morning we checked out of the airBnB, saw a few sights in Nashville, then drove out to Mt. Juliet for lunch at an Italian restaurant recommended to us (the chef grew up in St. Joe, so that was the connection).
I will be preparing a fuller report for our church family on what took place during the convention. The short version is, there was much to rejoice over, some things to be concerned about, and a few "aha" moments. My advice is not to accept uncritically everything you read or hear in the media, left, right, or center. Talk to some people who were "in the room where it happened" and you will probably get a better idea of the grassroots level opinion of things.

TOMORROW is THE LORD’S DAY! As we prepare for corporate worship tomorrow, take a look at these lyrics from Eva B. Lloyd from over 50 years ago. Eva was born in Jameson, MO, in 1912, and was a long time member and WMU leader at FBC Maryville until her death in 2006. This hymn, "Come, All Christians, Be Committed," was written in 1966 and found its way into a Baptist Hymnal for the first time in 1975. It has been included in the two successor Baptist Hymnals in 1991 and 2008, as well as a host of others:


"Come, all Christians, be committed to the service of the Lord.
Make your lives for Him more fitted, tune your hearts in one accord.
Come into His courts with gladness, each his sacred vows renew,
Turn away from sin and sadness, be transformed with life anew.


"Of your time and talents give ye, they are gifts from God above,
To be used by Christians freely to proclaim his wondrous love.
Come again to serve the Savior, tithes and off'rings with you bring.
In your work with Him find favor, and with joy His praises sing.


"God's command to love each other is required of ev'ry man.
Showing mercy to a brother, mirrors His redemptive plan.
In compassion He has given of His love that is divine;
On the cross sins were forgiven; joy and peace are fully thine.


"Come in praise and adoration, all who on Christ's name believe.
Worship Him with consecration, grace and love you will receive.
For His grace give Him the glory, for the Spirit and the Word,
And repeat the gospel story till all men His name have heard."


Meditate on the following Scriptures that will shape and inform our worship tomorrow:
Fighter Verses: 1 Peter 1:3-5
Call to Worship: Psalm 9:9-20
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Prayer of Confession: Psalm 51:1-4
Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 32:1-2
Sermon Text: Luke 6:37-42
Benediction: Numbers 6:24-26


THIS WEEK

• JUNE 20: Night of Hymns at Riverbend Bible Church in Atchison, Kansas, at 6 pm. Lorrie and I will be leading this event for Riverbend in their recently purchased facility. We would love for you to join us for this night of music. Let me know if you would like to attend and/or need transportation.

COMING UP

• JUNE 26, Saturday at 7 pm: Prayer, Praise, and Pie in preparation for Community Revival. We will pray and praise in the sanctuary, then fellowship around desserts (pie, cake, cobbler, etc.). This is for people from all the participating churches to come together for prayer and encouragement prior to the beginning of services. Also, we will need a team to coordinate the serving of desserts, so let me know if you are available to serve in this way.
• JUNE 27-30
  • Community REVIVAL Services with M. R. Hamilton, June Conley Building at 7 pm each evening
  • Noon Bible Study with M. R. Hamilton each day at First Baptist Church. (Brown bag luncheon)
• JULY 5-9
  • SJBA Youth Camp at Grand Oaks. So far we have 12 students registered, but will continue to accept registrations as space is available. If you still have a form out, please return it TOMORROW as cabin assignments will be made beginning Monday morning, June 21.
• JULY 12-16
  • Vacation Bible School at FBC is just 3 weeks away! Each evening will begin at 5:30 pm with supper provided to children and workers. Our theme this year is "Destination Dig," an archaeology theme. Watch for details about an upcoming meeting!
• AUGUST 9-13
  • SJBA Children's Camp at Grand Oaks. Forms are available in the narthex and online.

ICYMI Last Sunday’s Message audio
Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. 


READ THROUGH THE BIBLE
Week 25 of the 5 Day Bible Reading Program.
Read through the entire Bible following this plan, or read only the New Testament (in italics).
Day One: Proverbs 29-31; 1 Thess. 4
Day Two: Song of Sol. 1-3; Psalm 72; 1 Thess. 5
Day Three: Song of Sol. 4-6; 2 Thess. 1
Day Four: Song of Sol. 7-8; Psalm 127; 2 Thess. 2
Day Five: 1 Kings 5; 2 Chr. 2; 2 Thess. 3


Visit the website for more up-to-date information!

BONUS: Here is a video with Todd Friel interviewing pastor Mike Stone, who ran as the conservative candidate for SBC president. He did not win, losing to the more moderate candidate Ed Litton by the margin of 522 votes with over 13,000 votes cast. Full disclosure, I voted for Mike Stone on both the first and second ballot because I believe he was the best candidate. That being said, please pray for Ed Litton. He is a good man by the estimate of everyone who knows him. Pray for godly leadership, godly appointments to the committee on nominations (the only officially prescribed duty of the SBC president aside from presiding at the annual meeting), and a godly direction for our convention of churches. Please understand when I say "conservative" and "moderate," these should not be thought of in standard political or theological terms. All of the candidates are biblical inerrantists. How the Bible is applied to specific issues is where these candidates differ.


See you in church!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Greg