Earlier this week, I sat at my desk and reading and praying over the large stack of Step Up to the Plate commitment cards that were presented at the end of the worship service on Sunday morning. And more commitment cards have appeared on my desk throughout the week. I am grateful for every member of our First Baptist Family who has committed to Step Up to the Plate during the coming church year.
In the Step Up to the Plate challenge last Sunday, I encouraged us to…
• Know the basics.
• Be a team player.
• Implement the game plan.
• Give it your best stuff.
I am also thankful for our members who shared rich and unique faith stories during our services in September. In addition to being inspiring, these testimonies have helped us become better acquainted with other members of our spiritual family.
Scott Grissett reminded us that God guides us through the transitional seasons of life. Scott and Elizabeth Rigsby shared about the emerging strength they have discovered as Christian parents. Fed and Heather Barona have been living examples of how to rely on God when life throws you a curveball. Ron Malone challenged us to take that long walk to step up to the plate. And Lamar Pate encouraged us to appreciate each day and make it count, never taking life for granted.
In October, we begin a new series for Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings that asks, What Would Jesus REALLY Do?
If Jesus were living on earth as a full-fledged human being in the 21st century, what would his lifestyle be like? How would Jesus make purchasing decisions? What would his wardrobe be like? What kind of car would Jesus drive? Would he have a cell phone? What would he do for fun? How would Jesus respond to the moral and ethical challenges of our day? How would Jesus respond to those in poverty?
As we prepare for the annual Tour of Tables event next week, this Sunday morning we will focus on a tour of the Lord’s table as we talk about the significance of the bread and the wine. Then we will celebrate our joy of being in the body of Christ as we receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper.
This Sunday afternoon we also begin our Fall Discipleship Series. During October and November we will meet in Pleitz Chapel at five o’clock to study Religions of the World.
I hope to see you this Sunday morning as we gather for worship and Bible study.
