Thursday, February 07, 2008

Get Re-Connected!

Last Sunday we began a new series about Re-Connecting with God. We focused on the importance of “Re-Discovering the Word of God” as we examined the reforms of Josiah in II Kings 22-23.

This Sunday we will look at Genesis 3:1-7 and Romans 5:12-19 as we consider Re-Connecting with God by exploring questions pertaining to what it means to have a right relationship with God. What is “righteousness” in the Bible? How can a person who is subject to temptation and liable to sin live “righteously”? What does it mean to “get right with God”?

On Sunday evening we start a series on Introduction to the Old Testament. How was the Old Testament put together? What does the Old Testament reveal to us about God? Are we responsible for living according to all Levitical and Deuteronomic laws? During our study we will discuss the various literary types, the considerations for interpretation, and the relevancy of the Old Testament message. We will meet in Pleitz Chapel at six o’clock.

Have you visited First Cup, the new coffee shop in the ROC? First Cup is currently open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. It’s a great place to meet your friends and neighbors for coffee, latte, cappuccino, hot tea, a smoothie, and conversation.

As we grow in faith and friendship during 2008, we are encouraging each person in our First Baptist Family to connect by….
* Actively participating in worship and a Bible study
*
Getting involved in a mission and a ministry.
*
Bringing a tithe and an offering.
*
Building a relationship with a friend and a stranger.


There’s no better time than now to get Re-Connected!

Friday, February 01, 2008

Pray It Up, Pay It Up, and Fill It Up!

The Paul Royal Recreation and Outreach Center is now open for ministries and activities. Our students began having Sunday morning Bible Study on January 27. Upward Basketball games begin this Saturday. As with any new facility, there will be wrinkles to iron out in the scheduling process. We appreciate your patience and cooperation in working with our staff and group leaders to progressively enhance the recreation and outreach activities at the ROC.

The ROC is complete, but funding for this great facility is not yet complete. Now that this new addition to our campus is open for ministry, let us continue to bring generous and sacrificial financial gifts as we exercise faithful stewardship and complete the funding during the next few months.

In partnership with the ROC project, we are in the process of completing a mini-renovation project of the area formerly used by Student Ministries on the 3rd floor of the education building. This area will provide much needed additional space for Adult Bible study groups and for our Vietnamese Fellowship. The renovated space should be available in early February.

As we embrace the new opportunities for ministry provided by the ROC and all other spaces on our campus, let’s pray for it, pay for it, and fill it with people who need to experience the love of God.

By the way, we concluded our Winter Bible Study in Job by hearing Job’s confession to God that “I admit I once lived by rumors of you; I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor" (Job 42:5-6 TM).

Many of us could make the same confession, that we have lived more on hearsay and rumors about God than we have on biblical or experiential knowledge of God. In February, we begin a new and challenging series aimed at “Re-Connecting with God.” Each Sunday during this two month series we will consider a combination of Old and New Testament texts as we upgrade our knowledge of God and God’s purpose for us.

One really good way to broaden and upgrade our biblical knowledge is to take the 366 Challenge, a commitment to read all 69 books of the Bible in the 366 days of Leap Year. Although many in our FBC family started their reading plan on January 1, it is not too late for you to begin. You can start with today’s date and read through today’s date of next year. Planning guides to assist you in reading through the Bible are available through the church office and online at www.fbcp.org.

Two simple things will help us fill the space on our campus:
You commit to be a faithful participant in worship and Bible study.
You commit to bring a friend who doesn’t currently have a connection to a church or a personal walk with the Lord.

Together we can be a part of one of the greatest spiritual movements in the history of First Baptist Church.