January 21st, 2024

Greetings, Church Family and Friends! Last week we used a modified schedule of services due to the extreme cold weather, encouraging folks to exercise caution in getting out. Thanks to all those who braved the weather to join us in person and enable us to have sound and video for those unable to get out. This week, we will observe our regular schedule (see below). Hope to see everyone in the Lord's House tomorrow!

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is always the Sunday closest to January 22. That was the date in 1973 when the Supreme Court handed down the now overturned Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in all 50 states. Since Roe was overturned in 2022, that decision has been remanded to the individual states. While the overturning of Roe should be considered a moral victory, it has also served to show just how deep the moral divide is in our nation concerning the unborn. The pro-abortion political machine is better organized and more well-funded than the anti-abortion side, so states thought unlikely to go pro-abortion in legislation (like Kansas and Kentucky) did.
While abortion has been condemned by the Southern Baptist Convention more than twenty times since 1980, recent overtures to offer a stronger position on the abolition of abortion have had a harder time being brought out from committee to the floor (sorry about the "inside baseball" talk here). One that failed to be brought to the floor of the 2022 Anaheim convention was the Resolution on Equal Protection of the Law for Preborn Children. The essence of that resolution was summarized in a promotional piece advocating its adoption: 
"From the moment of fertilization/conception, preborn children are created in the image of God and the same laws protecting our lives ought to protect them. This should not be controversial among Southern Baptists. As Christians, we are commanded to uphold justice for the fatherless, love our neighbors as ourselves, and treat others as we wish to be treated. We are not at liberty to deny preborn children the same legal protections that we enjoy. We must demand the abolition of abortion through equal protection for preborn children."
With respect for all the moral ground gained through incremental pro-life work and legislation, we as Christians, living in a culture of death, ought to be working for the abolition of all murder of all image-bearers. All the while offering help, grace, and forgiveness for all who have been involved in abortion in the past.  

THE LORD'S DAY (1/21) 

• Bible Study for All Ages, 9:30 am. Nursery through Senior Adults, we have a group for you!
• Worship Together at 10:40 am in the Sanctuary.  For Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, we will be in Matthew 18:1-10 and 19:13-15 for a message entitled "Let the Little Children Come to Me." Jesus loved little children and pointed to them as living pictures of the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as Jesus elevated their significance by comparison to the prevailing culture, so must we. Valuing the sanctity of human life means, at the very least, not devaluing or destroying children, but exalting the picture of them Jesus gave to us. So we will ask and seek to answer the question: “Why did Jesus elevate the value of children in His earthly ministry?”
• Scriptures for Sunday.  Here are the Scriptures we will be reading that will shape our corporate worship. Take a few moments to read and meditate on them as you prepare for worship tomorrow. Click anywhere on the link to see a printable version of these passages on biblegateway.com

• Call to Worship: Psalm 62:5-12 
• Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 2:1-11
• Assurance of Pardon: Romans 8:1-4
• Sermon Text: Matthew 18:1-10; 19:13-15;
• Benediction: Numbers 6:24-26

• Baptist Catechism Questions #90-91 “On the Severity of Sin’s Deserts”
  • Question 90: Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
    • Answer: Some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
      • Scripture: Ezekiel 8:13; John 19:11; 1 John 5:16.

• Question 91: What does every sin deserve?
  • Answer: Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come.
    • Scripture: Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 3:10; Proverbs 3:33; Psalm 11:6; Revelation 21:8.

• SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADERS MEETING, brief meeting following worship (around noon) in Church Library. Leaders will be introduced to Planning Center, our new church information database, and how to best use it for class organization purposes.
• PRAYER/SHARE/CARE TEAM MEETING, Sunday, Jan. 21 - Luncheon meeting following Sunday School leaders' meeting (around 12:30 pm). This will be a "re-grouping" meeting from our initial meeting in the fall. I plan to be finished no later than 1:45 pm. (If you have not yet let me know you are attending, please do so ASAP for lunch planning purposes).

MONDAY (1/22) 

• Sewing Circle meets at 5 pm. All ladies are invited to attend even if you don't sew!
• Monday "Sunday School" online via ZOOM, 7 pm. See Pastor Kyle to join this virtual Bible study group.  To join Zoom Meeting, follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87573789453?pwd=Zjg5ZWZ2N1h5WklxOEFjM3IrVUt1QT09      Meeting ID: 875 7378 9453       Passcode: 478672    

WEDNESDAY (1/24)

• Women's Wednesday morning ZOOM Bible Study.  The group is studying Heaven by Randy Alcorn. You will need to secure your own copy of the book. Please see Jan McElwain for further details.  To join Zoom Meeting, use this link (different from the one above):  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3665081666?pwd=N21LSEJaYURhUzZVSmRLcFhPdW8zZz09 Meeting ID: 366 508 1666   Passcode: 844160
• Kids' Club Resumes, 3:30 - 5:15 pm
• Bible Study and Prayer, 6:30 pm in the Great Room, live and via ZOOM.  Join us for a time of prayer and time in God's Word walking through the book of Exodus.  To join Zoom Meeting, follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87573789453?pwd=Zjg5ZWZ2N1h5WklxOEFjM3IrVUt1QT09                Meeting ID: 875 7378 9453    Passcode: 478672 

• Youth Hangout and Bible Study, 6:30 pm. All students, grades 7-12, are invited. 

COMING UP: 

• COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION MEETING, Sunday, Jan. 28, 4-6 pm. All committees and ministry teams are encouraged to meet at least annually to organize for the year. The existing committees are carrying over from the previous year until the Nominating Committee meets to draft a new slate. Two time slots (4-5 pm and 5-6 pm) should allow anyone who is on more than one committee to attend both with minimal conflict. More information on exact times for committees will be in an upcoming communication.
• DISCOVER FBC CLASS will tentatively be held Sunday, Feb. 4 (NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE FROM LAST WEEK'S UPDATE), noon to 3:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. This will be a luncheon followed by workshop sessions for those exploring membership at First Baptist, or for members seeking a refresher on what church membership is all about. Let me know if you plan to attend so we can make adequate preparations for lunch.
• CHILI COOK OFF, Sunday, Feb. 11 at 4:30 pm. Just before the Super Bowl, we'll gather for a chili supper. Bring your chili entries to the fellowship hall at 4 pm for judging. We will watch the game together at 5:30 pm and have a devotional service during half time. 
• BI-MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING, Feb. 18, following morning worship. There will be a carry-in dinner with church supplying drinks and table service and the members supplying everything else. 
• JEREMY POPE IN CONCERT, Sunday, February 25 at 6 pm. Come and join us for a wonderful evening of Gospel music. Many of you are familiar with Jeremy as he sang with the quartet "4 His Love." Now he is a solo artist and we are excited to have him back. Bring a friend! A love offering will be received. Here is a link to a video of Jeremy singing at his home church, FBC Kearney, where he also serves as a deacon.

ICYMI: Last Sunday's sermon audio for last Sunday from Acts 4:13-31 on Spirit-Filled Boldness.

Other previous messages are archived here .   Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. 


FIGHTER VERSE: John 14:6
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
 
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE The Five-Day Bible Reading Plan for 2024 is attached to this e-mail for your convenience. Plan to make this year a year centered on God's Word. One way to do that is by having a definite plan to read Scripture this year. You may want to access additional resources to support your reading available at this website. If you would like to see other Bible reading plans, visit ligonier.org/posts/bible-reading-plans  .



See you in church! 
Grace & Peace,

Pastor Greg