A Light That Guides Our Steps A Life That Fuels Our Passion

First Baptist Church has a strong heritage of mission and ministry because of the solid commitment of veteran Christians who have served the Lord faithfully across the generations. This Sunday is Heritage Day at First Baptist. During each worship service, we will recognize members of our Heritage Club, individuals who have been members of our First Baptist Family for 50 years or more. We express our gratitude to many of these individuals who have been living examples of what it means to be a devoted follower of Jesus.

In addition to Heritage Day, this Sunday we are honored to host the Law Week Worship Service. Each spring at the beginning of Law Week, sponsored by the Pensacola Bar Association, our local attorneys and judges are invited to attend a worship service together. I invite you to join me in offering an enthusiastic First Baptist welcome to members of the PBA who join us for worship this Sunday.

This Sunday we continue our series, Passion with a Purpose, as we talk about “When God Moved into the Neighborhood” from John 1:1-11. Often called the “forgotten Christmas story,” in this passage John describes the incarnation of Christ in philosophical prose whereas Matthew and Luke offer a nativity narrative. Matthew announces that “they will call him Immanuel---which means ‘God with us.’” (1:23) Luke emphasizes that Jesus came to bring “peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” (2:14) John, however, points out that Jesus came to bring light and life to all who are willing. (1:4) Over 2000 years later, the Light guides our steps and the Life fuels our passion.

I look forward to seeing you as we gather in worship and Bible study this Sunday

How Do You Recognize the Voice of God?

How long has it been since you have heard the voice of God? And how do you distinguish the voice of God from all of the other voices demanding our attention and allegiance during a given day?

Charles Stanley reminds us that “God's voice is still and quiet and easily buried under an avalanche of clamor.” Could it be that the busier our schedule and the more hurried our pace, the more intentional we have to be about listening for the voice of God?

This Sunday, as we continue our series Passion with a Purpose, we will focus on John 10:22-30 as we talk about “Sorting Out the Voices.

Whether you work in a large office, attend a sizable school, or just live in a media saturated culture, you hear hundreds of voices each day. Of all the voices in your head and heart, which voices do you listen to, and how do you know which voices represent the voice of God? Jesus confirmed, “My sheep know my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (v.27)

God’s voice is not the only voice inviting and persuading you to follow. Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I am come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (v.10) Our friend, Reggie McNeal, reminds us that, “The enemy of your soul whispers fear and anxiety to you all the time and if you listen to that roar you cannot hear the Spirit speak.”

Don’t let the avalanche of busyness or the roar of the crowd cause you to miss the voice of God speaking passion and purpose into your life.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we gather for worship and Bible study.

Have You Got ComPASSION?

In these days following Easter, as we absorb the reality of the resurrection, we have an opportunity to connect with passion in our faith and lifestyle. Just as the passion of Christ on the cross testifies to his great love for us, the fervent love of Christ fuels our passion to serve him by serving others, even the “least of these” in our world.

As we continue our series in the gospel of John, Passion with a Purpose, we have designated this Sunday as Compassion Sunday. In John 21:1-19, we find a post-resurrection encounter where Jesus helps his disciples catch an abundance of fish. This story not only reminds us of God’s gracious and faithful provision in meeting our needs, but the story also challenges us to share from our abundance to feed the body and nourish the soul of those who live in poverty around the world. As we grow in our faith, our passion to serve inevitable expresses itself in the way we show compassion to those in need.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we gather for Bible study and worship to focus on ComPASSION.

Passion with a Purpose

Throughout 2010 our M. O. (modus operandi or missional objective) is to help people connect with God and others through Jesus Christ. During the month of April let’s encourage each other to get connected with passion.

This Sunday is Easter, a day that we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. During worship this week we will celebrate the baptism of new believers and we will begin a new sermon series from the gospel of John entitled Passion with a Purpose. Just as we have been reading the book of Acts together as a church family during January through March, I invite you to join me in reading through the gospel of John in two or more translations during the months of April and May. In addition to the triumphant resurrection story, the good news according to John includes Jesus’ practical teachings about love, service and abundant life.

In chapters 12-20, John reports on the events that occurred when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The experiences surrounding the betrayal, trial, and execution of Jesus are often referred to as the passion narratives. The passion of Christ speaks volumes about the depth of the love of Christ. As we carefully consider the passion of Christ, the Spirit inspires us with more passion to serve Christ by serving others.

This week as we reflect on the suffering of Christ and celebrate the resurrection of Christ, I am praying that God will kindle passion with a purpose within each of us.

Invite a friend to join you as we gather for Bible study and worship on Easter Sunday.

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but Life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light; Stronger than the wrong, the right; Faith and Hope triumphant say Christ will rise on Easter Day.

- Phillips Brooks