Experience the Passion During Holy Week

Next week is Holy Week, we will join with Christians around the world in reflecting on the events that led to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The tradition of observing Holy Week seems to have originated in the Christian East, emerging out of the practice of pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Each day of Holy Week is important but four days call for guided reflection. Palm Sunday is a day to revisit the royal welcome extended to Jesus by the curious crowd as he entered Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday believers recall the occasion when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as he gave them a new mandate to love and serve. Good Friday is a day to review the passion and suffering of Christ on the cross. And Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is a festive day to celebrate and proclaim that “Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.”

Holy Week is best experienced one day at a time. In his book, The Gift of Worship, Weldon Gaddy underscores the opportunity we have to experience a profoundly meaningful experience of Jesus’ resurrection: “Holy Week services bring into focus dimensions of discipleship that are missed completely by a simple leap from Palm Sunday to Easter. Worship services which take seriously the truths of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday please God because they challenge a greater commitment and a more comprehensive ministry of compassion among the people of God.”

This year as you approach Holy Week, reflect on the larger gospel story of the experiences of Jesus. Take time to listen to the voices of the crowd. Hear again the teachings of Jesus and ponder his days in Jerusalem. Contemplate the cruel injustice of the cross. Experience the passion of Christ’s suffering. And ultimately, celebrate the mystery of the resurrection with renewal of your vows to faithfully follow Jesus. A slow and deliberate journey through Holy Week may re-energize your faith and equip you to live with passion.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we complete our study of the book of Acts, and as we begin this strategic journey through Holy Week.

Stand Strong in the Face of Trials

Can you believe it? There are only three Sundays remaining in our series on Acts: When Church Comes to Life. This Sunday we are in Acts 26 examining Paul’s testimony before Felix and Agrippa. As we read about Paul’s steady faith and extraordinary courage, we are encouraged to “Stand Strong in the Face of Trials.”

At the beginning of the Mid-morning service this week, we will be celebrating the baptism of those who have recently made decisions for Christ. Our next opportunity for baptism is scheduled for Easter Sunday April 4.

During March our emphasis is on Connecting with the Spirit. When a believer is motivated by the Holy Spirit, that believer moves to a more effective level of Christian service. We believe that the Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously in our world and in our community. There is a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our First Baptist Family. Will you set your sails to that wind?

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour this Saturday evening! I look forward to seeing you “on time” as we gather for worship and Bible study.

Getting Acquainted with the Spirit

Acts 19:1-7

(sermon outline for March 7)

In 2010 we are aiming to help people connect with God and others through Jesus Christ.

During March, I am challenging all of our First Baptist Family to connect with the Spirit.

Introduction:

1. The Holy Spirit is perhaps the most misunderstood and underrated member of the trinity.

2. The primary way we experience God in this life is through our connection with the Spirit.

3. In Acts 19, Paul encounters a group of religious persons who have knowledge of John’s message of repentance, but they have not yet discovered the good news of Jesus. It is only after they commit their lives to Christ that they receive the Holy Spirit.

3. Anytime we study or discuss the Holy Spirit within small groups, a Sunday School class, or a worship service, there are some preliminary things we should remember:

• Not everyone uses the same language about the Holy Spirit.
• We should never believe that our experience with the Holy Spirit makes us spiritually elite or superior. (One sure sign you’ve got the wrong spirit is that you have an inflated ego.)
• The Spirit will never lead us in a direction contrary to what we know from the Bible about God and Jesus.
• Be careful not to confuse the Holy Spirit with emotions. Emotions should not be perceived as a synonym or a substitute for the Holy Spirit.

Outline:

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God in our world, the very personality or Spirit of Jesus who resides within the life of the Christian. When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, it is not a miniature replica of the human Jesus who comes to live within us, it is the Spirit of Jesus, who is also the Spirit of God.

2. What does the Spirit do?

The following are among many items included in the job description of the Holy Spirit:

• To convict us of sin. (John 16:8)
• To confirm (assure) our faith. (Romans 8:16)
• To comfort our grief. (John 14:16)
• To guide our decision-making. (John 16:13)

3. How should I respond to the Spirit?

• To agree (confess) when the Spirit convicts us. (I John 1:9-10)
• To obey by following the Spirit’s leadership.
• To receive what the Spirit gives….for example, spiritual gifts, encouragement, guidance, reconciliation, healing, etc.

Conclusion:

1. When a believer is motivated by the Holy Spirit, that believer moves to a more effective level of Christian service.

2. The Holy Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously in our world and in our community.

3. There is a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our First Baptist Family. Will you set your sails to that wind?

Getting Acquainted with the Spirit

As we continue our study in the book of Acts, When Church Comes to Life, during March I am challenging our First Baptist Family to connect with the Spirit as we learn about the indwelling, empowering, encouraging presence of God who strengthens us for daily living.

The Holy Spirit is not a paranormal anomaly, nor does the Spirit leave behind a trail of glow-in-the-dark heavenly ectoplasm. The Holy Spirit is not a divine ghost drifting aimlessly through space waiting to land on unsuspecting believers, nor is the Spirit synonymous with erratic or ecstatic emotion. The Holy Spirit is the personality of Jesus that comes to reside in the life of a believer during one’s initial salvation experience. The Holy Spirit is the dimension of God that convicts us of sin, comforts us in grief, re-enforces us with boldness, and guides us in decision-making.

This Sunday we are investigating Acts 19:1-7 as we are Getting Acquainted with the Spirit. We are also planning to share a few moments of Parent/Child Dedication in each of our worship services.

On Sunday March 14 we will be celebrating the baptism of those who have recently confirmed their decision to follow Jesus. If you have a friend or family member who has recently made a commitment to Christ, encourage them to contact me or one of our ministers so that we can assist them in preparing for the important step of baptism.

Are you experiencing a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our fellowship? The Holy Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously.

Connect with the Spirit in March and stand in awe of what God can do in the lives of ordinary people like you and me.

Connect with the Spirit in March

In March we are continuing our study in the book of Acts as we focus on the good things that happen When Church Comes to Life.

During our study in Acts and throughout 2010, we are learning to help people connect with God and others through Jesus Christ. This month, I am challenging every member of our FBC family to connect with the Spirit as we learn about the indwelling, empowering, encouraging presence of God’s Spirit in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is not a paranormal anomaly. The Holy Spirit is not a divine ghost drifting aimlessly through space waiting to land on a believer. The Holy Spirit is the personality of Jesus that comes to reside in the life of a believer through the experience of conversion. The Holy Spirit is the dimension of God that convicts us of sin, comforts us in grief, re-enforces us with boldness, and guides us in decision-making.

Have you noticed that there is a fresh breeze of the Spirit blowing across our fellowship? The Holy Spirit is at work to unify and motivate God’s people to serve cooperatively and courageously.

Connect with the Spirit in March and stand in awe of what God can do in the lives of ordinary people like you and me.

Sermon topics for March:

Mar 7 Have You Received the Holy Spirit? Acts 19:1-24

Mar 14 Almost Persuaded Acts 26:1-32

Mar 21 Courage on Shipwreck Island Acts 27:13-26

Mar 28 Two Years in a Rental House Acts 28:17-31

Good Things Happen… When Church Comes to Life

Recently, we crossed the halfway point in our study in the book of Acts, When Church Comes to Life. Throughout our study, I have marveled at the number of different translations and methods our members are utilizing to read through the book of Acts. I am grateful for the many personal testimonies I have heard describing how God is working in the lives of individual believers and small groups. And I am excited about these final weeks of our study.

Here’s what a few of our members are saying about the Acts Study:

Acts gives us the model we want our small groups to live by. –Allen Turner

Studying at home, listening to Dr. Bob expound on the lesson material, and experiencing enlightening sermons on Wednesday nights and in Sunday services has increased our knowledge, enlightened our minds, and given us an appreciation and desire for future studies of this type. -Chig and Jill Findley

This study has reminded me of the importance of taking time to listen for God through the Holy Spirit, especially when we are so busy living our lives today. – John Hodges

The renewed indwelling of the Holy Spirit has been exciting, invigorating, uplifting, powerful and palpable! -Dr. Bob Wilson

Because our class is studying the complete Book of Acts, we are learning, that as Christians, we are challenged daily to speak out on behalf of our faith as Paul spoke. – James Callaway

The book of Acts tells us exactly what the church is all about…bringing in the sheep. It is really nice having the entire church study the same thing. We are able to have conversations between different classes of different generations and we are all on the same page. -Adrian Lovell

The study in Acts has been tremendously beneficial and right on point for our class. As we are learning to BE the church in the 21^st century, it is so helpful to be able to examine the formation, growth, expansion and passion of the church in Acts, and to apply those lessons to our own class and church. – Steve Shell

I've tried to impress on my class how important it is to know what we believe and keep it simple. It was well said in our teaching material on Acts---"Salvation is by the Grace of Christ alone, through Faith alone in Christ alone." -Barbara Shows

Hearing a Sunday message on the same text we’re studying in Sunday School, with related material being discussed on Wednesday evenings is an effective approach that, in my opinion, results in better learning. Working through Acts in a chronological order paints a more accurate picture of the life of the early church, the challenges faced and more importantly, the power of the Holy Spirit. – Larry Hicks

As we continue our studies in Acts, I encourage you to…

• Read Acts in two or three translations.
• Participate faithfully in worship and Bible study.
• Invite a friend to join you.

To prepare for this Sunday, read Acts 17. Come expecting to hear an encouraging word from the Lord.

Connecting with Church

Our aim as a church family in 2010 is to help people connect with God and others through Jesus Christ. Acts is a great book to help us clarify and strengthen the important connections in life. In January we focused on the importance of connecting with Jesus in a personal relationship. In February we are emphasizing the importance of connecting with church.

As the early believers grew in faith and friendship, learning to boldly follow Jesus, something extraordinary began to happen. Luke writes, Then the church ... enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. Acts 9:31 NIV

In these days of church shopping, when people tend to float from one church to another, affiliating temporarily with whichever group offers the newest fad or the most popular technology, it’s important for us to remember that church is a spiritual family, a network of believers who covenant to be the incarnate presence of God in their community.

My friend Dan Yeary, pastor at North Phoenix Baptist Church provides a great orientation to those who join the congregation he serves:

I tell our new members: you don't join a preacher, you join the church. And you join the church for one reason--because you believe that God told you to plant your life there. If you join because of a style of preaching, that can change. If you join for the facilities or the programs, that can change. You've got to ask, Where does God want me to invest my life?

This Sunday, as we continue our series, When Church Comes to Life, we will be exploring Acts 15:5-21 as we highlight “Lessons in Consensus Building.” We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper in each of our worship services, and then share the Lord’s Supper with our homebound members on Sunday afternoon.

There’s a fresh wind of the Spirit blowing across our First Baptist Family. Don’t miss the opportunities God is sending our way.