January 28th, 2024

Greetings, Church Family and Friends! 
On Tuesday, five of us from St. Joseph Baptist Association attended the Midwest Leadership Summit in Springfield, IL. This is a biennial event designed to inform, train, equip, and encourage SBC pastors, staff ministers, church planters, and associational missionaries across 12 midwestern states. I was personally encouraged by the fellowship and renewed relationships made possible by such an event. I was able to reconnect with a church planting pastor from Wichita who was a fellow-pastor with me in our association in southeast Kansas over 20 years ago, an associational missionary in Cleveland, OH (but originally from Republic, MO) with whom I became acquainted at a doctoral seminar a decade ago, and a youth pastor from Leavenworth, KS, who was a teenager in our church in Arkansas more than a decade ago. We returned Thursday afternoon refreshed. I'll be giving a fuller report on the sessions I attended at our member meeting in a few weeks.

Christian Sympathy
On behalf of the church, Christian sympathy is extended to the family of Terry Riley (Trish Abernathy's brother-in-law) on his passing Monday, January 22. His services are today at Passion Church (visitation at 1 pm, service at 2 pm).
Christian sympathy is also extended to the family of Frances Hall who passed away Tuesday morning. Her services were yesterday at First Baptist. Thanks to all who helped with the service and the meal.

THE LORD'S DAY (1/28) 

• 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.  We will once again be returning to our study through the book of Acts, this time in Acts 4:32 - 5:11. What does "lying to the Holy Spirit" mean and what effect did it have on the unity of the early church? That is the question we will be exploring during our time together in God's Word.
• 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 111 
• Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 32:1-21
• Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 2:12-26
• Sermon Text: Acts 4:32 - 5:11
• Benediction: Numbers 6:24-26

Baptist Catechism Questions 

• Question 92: What does God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?
  • Answer: To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption.
    • Scripture: Acts 20:21; 16:30, 31; 17:30.
• Question 93: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
  • Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, trusting him to forgive our sins, and guide us to eternal joy, on the basis of his divine power and atoning death.
    • Scripture: Hebrews 10:39; John 1:12; 6:35; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:15-16, 20; Matthew 14:31.
• Question 94: What is repentance unto life?
  • Answer: Repentance unto life is a saving grace, by which a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it to God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.
    • Scripture: Acts 2:37; Joel 2:13; Jeremiah 31:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 7:10, 11; Romans 6:18.

• Birthday Offering for Missouri Baptist Children's Home and Anniversary Offering for Baptist Homes and Healthcare Ministries will be received following morning worship. If you would like to know more about these ministries to the orphans and aged, please click on the links.

(COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION MEETING POSTPONED TO FEB. 4, see announcement below)

MONDAY (1/29) 

• 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 (1/31)

• Women's Wednesday morning ZOOM Bible Study.  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, 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: 

• BIBLE QUIZ MEET AT LAWSON BAPTIST CHURCH, Saturday, Feb. 3. See Lorrie Dixon for details.
• COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION MEETING, Sunday, Feb. 4, 4-6 pm (NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE FROM LAST WEEK'S UPDATE DUE TO A FEW CONFLICTS. NOT JANUARY 28). 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 be held Sunday, Feb. 4, 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 the 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 Matthew 18:1-10; 19:13-15 "Let the Little Children Come to Me" (Sanctity of Human Life message)

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


FIGHTER VERSE: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-17
[And] we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. ¹⁵See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing ...
 
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