First Peter 3:15 says, “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you and accounting for the hope that is in you.” But how do we prepare for those times? At some point or another, we engage in conversations—and even interrogation—about our faith in Christ and the beliefs that are distinctive […]
Read More »Thank you so much for your continued prayers and participation in our vision process. As I shared with you in January, the church appointed an 18-member strategic planning team. Over 250 people have offered their feedback during the congregational listening and vision sessions, from college students to senior adults. We have received survey results from […]
Read More »This Easter, we’re focusing on the eyewitnesses around the cross. Everyone is an eyewitness to Jesus’ work; are we willing to follow him? This month, let me suggest a few ways to do that at First Baptist. Follow our Boston team and pray for them this week. Erin will be posting updates on our website. […]
Read More »Jesus was under surveillance during the last week of his life. So many people watched, but few followed. Each one was an eyewitness to Jesus’ last hours, but few obeyed him. One betrayed him, another denied him, several plotted to arrest him, several ran away, but only two responded publicly to his work. For instance, […]
Read More »This Sunday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a period of examination and preparation for believers around the world. Forty days prior to Easter, the church pauses to reflect, repent, and remember Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. I want to challenge you to do a couple of things this season as I will be […]
Read More »When was the last time you had a picnic with 900 of your closest friends? In Mark 6, Jesus and his disciples gathered with over 5,000 people and fed a multitude with just a few loaves of bread. This Sunday, we’re having an indoor picnic to see and experience all the ways that God is […]
Read More »Last Thursday, Jenna Young shared with me that she is planning to retire from ministry so that she can better care for her husband Ray and his needs. As many of you know, Ray’s health has been declining over the last few weeks. Despite several trips to the doctor, his condition is still a mystery—a […]
Read More »God has richly blessed our church again throughout 2014. The spirit in the rooms Sunday was just one example of our church’s excitement about proclaiming the gospel. Thank you for participating in the Vision Sessions last Sunday. Over 200 people provided great feedback to our committee. The discussions were positive, engaging, and multi-generational. If you […]
Read More »This year, our church is engaged in a strategic planning process to discover God’s vision for our church in the next 4-6 years. We want to discern God’s call together for First Baptist through 2020. This process involves several stages of gaining information from the church and community, planning with staff and deacons, and sharing […]
Read More »Winter connects and equips the body of Christ at First Baptist. Just as people flood local gymnasiums to get into physical shape, we have the chance to train our spiritual muscles together. We learn to do as Ephesians 4 instructs, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of […]
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