FIRST BAPTIST SEVIERVILLE | MARCH 2013

Volume 74, No. 6

IN THIS ISSUE

Sunday SchoolBro Craig talks about the importance of being involved in Sunday school.

Page 2

Exhibiting JoyPatrick Miller encourages us to be joyful in Christ no matter what.

Page 5

Prepping for New Growth Royce talks about how as believers we are to bear much fruit which produces new growth.

Page 5

First Baptist Church of Sevierville’s Monthly Newsletter

New EyesDennis FisherOur Daily Bread

A college student I met had recently placed her faith in Christ. She described her initial life-change this way: “When I trusted Christ for salvation, it felt like God reached down from heaven and placed a new set of eyes in my eye sockets. I could understand spiritual truth!”

It was moving to hear how her encounter with the Savior brought new spiritual perception. But her experience is not unique. Everyone is endowed with spiritual sight when they trust Christ as their Savior. Yet, at times a “fog” rolls in and our spiritual vision becomes cloudy and unclear. That happens when we neglect our relationship with Him.

In Paul’s fervent prayer for believers’ spiritual sight, we see how important it is to fully appreciate all that God has done and will do for us through Christ. He prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be enlight-ened that we “may know what is the hope of His call-ing, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18).

Each believer has been given new eyes to discern spiritual truth. As we keep our hearts tuned to God, He will help us to see with our spiritual eyes all that He has given to us in Christ.

My soul within me yearns for Thee Till Christ be fully formed in me; Let love divine enlarge my heart, Then all Thy fullness, Lord, impart.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Sunday School is important.

Those of you who are already committed to Sunday School know this by experience. Maybe you’re a Children’s Department worker who helped a child see, for the first time, the wonder of the Gospel. Some of you have escaped the lure of sin after a teacher revealed to you the truth of God’s Word. Some of you wonder how you could have ever gotten through the death of a loved one without your class’ support.

I’m glad to serve at a church like ours that values Sunday School as an important and strategic way to fulfill the Great Commission.

Our church’s strategy for fulfilling the Great Commission is summed up in three words: Reach, Teach, Serve. Through Sunday School, we reach the lost, teach the saved, and serve one another.

If you’re already part of a Sunday School, let me challenge you to see your class as an opportunity to be at the church more than just one hour a week on Sunday mornings. How can you help mobilize your class to reach lost people? How can you lead your class to minister to the needs of its members? How can you encourage your teacher as he or she ministers to you?

If you only attend worship services, let me encourage you to think about what you are missing. Sunday School is a way to know God more through His Word. Sunday School is a way to reach your lost neighbor. Sunday School is a way to invest spiritually in one another. Sunday School is a way to love and be loved in a way that can only happen in a small group Christian community.

This year, my responsibilities as an associate pastor of our church are shifting to focus primarily on our church’s Sunday School and small group discipleship ministry. If you would like to know more about getting involved in this vital ministry of our church, I would love to hear from you. Please pray today for all those involved in Sunday School from our associate pastors to department leaders to teachers to outreach leaders to shepherd group leaders to class members. Pray that we would bring God glory by fulfilling the Great Commission as we reach, teach and serve through Sunday School.

In Christ’s Love,

Craig Mintz Associate Pastor: Discipleship

Page 2 | First Baptist Church of Sevierville

UP 6th Grade WeekendApril 30th and May 1st

Sign up in Sunday Schoolor call the church office

1 John 4:19

Sonrise SeniorsMarch 5; 9:00am/Parlor

M28: Witnessing Techniques For Today’s Christian Wednesday, March 6; 6:00pm/Room C303Please join us as we discover the joy of being equipped to share about Jesus to those who desperately need to hear.

Triple L LuncheonTuesday, March 12; Noon/FLCBring a covered dish. Special Guest: Arthur Rice

PEP Moms Friday, March 15; 9:15am/ParlorJoin us for this time of food, fellowship and devotion.

Children’s ChurchSunday, March 178:15am– Grades K-6 will meet in the Chapel10:45am– Grades K-3 will meet in the Chapel, Grades 4-6 will meet in the FH

Secret Church SimulcastSave the date for our church’s simulcast of David Platt’s Secret Church on Good Friday, March 29 (7pm-1am). Topic: “Heaven, Hell, & the End of the World.” Secret Church is six hours of intense Bible study and prayer for our persecuted brothers & sisters across the globe. Sign up at the Welcome Center to reserve a study guide. There is no charge. For more information, visit fbcsev.org.

Silent Lord’s SupperSunday, March 31; 4:00-6:00pm/WC

Wonderful Weekend for WomenFriday, April 12, 7:00-9:00 pm and Saturday, April 13, 9:00 am – 2:00 pmGuest Speaker: Carol Kent, bestselling author and international speaker.Musical Guests: Voice of MercyCost: $20, includes boxed lunch provided on Saturday. Registration begins March 24.

Upcoming Events

Special AnnouncementsLocal Mission OpportunityVolunteers needed to help prepare and serve food and share the love of Jesus at the Remote Area Medical Clinic (a free medical clinic for people with little or no insurance), at Pigeon Forge High School, March 9 & 10. Sign up at the Welcome Center for specific time to work.Online GivingContributions may be made online by visiting the church website at www.fbcsev.org. Giving is simple, easy and secure. 

Page 3

Are you an adoptive or foster parent?If you are a member of FBC and have adopted a child or you are a foster parent, we would love to know more about what God has done and is doing. Please call Kristie Russell at 429-6303.

Everyday in the WordReading God’s Word in 2013 with the Church family. Sign up at www.fbcsev.org to receive Brother Dan’s daily blog.

Bible Drill - Sundays; 5:30pmBible Buddies 1st-3rd, C-220Bible Drill 4th-6th, C-212

Youth Bible Drill; 7th - 9th gradeBegins January 27 at 5:30pm in room B-203

You’re InvitedPlease join us for a baby shower honoring Jordan Andrews to celebrate the anticipated arrival of Tristan Michael Andrews. Sunday, April 28th from 2:00-4:00pm in the Parlor. Registered at Babies ‘R’ Us & Buy Buy Baby.

March2013

Page 4

BUILDINGGreg Hall Portia RamseyGreg HallJim Bradley Rex & Louise DelozierJoan Sink Chuck Sexton’s SS ClassGreg Hall Donald & Leah BrackinsGlenn Henderson Ruby Maples Rex & Louise Delozier Dale & Ruth MurrellWanda Barker Portia RamseyDavid King Rex & Louise DelozierPRAYER ROOMNovie ThomasMarjorie Mount Joe & Libby WilliamsCHRISTMAS STOREJoan Sink Hobart Palmer &

Bernice Beeler Carolyn & Palmer

WilliamsPARK ROAD PROJECTCorbin KingMarjorie MountMartha Guy“Cotton” HowardGene TurnerLeona MayWanda BarkerGustav “Skip” FloodquistGrace Carr Lyle & Judy Pat OverbayNelson JohnsonGustav “Skip” FloodquistGreg HallGrace CarrLeona May Jo BlalockGlenn HendersonMary Brown

Charles & Gail Fancher

LIBRARYLeona MayGustav “Skip” Floodquist Tony WatsonNovie Thomas Standing in the Gap

Prayer GroupGustav “Skip” FloodquistLeona MayJustin AllenDr. Gene TurnerWanda BarkerJoan SinkMelvin BranhamGlenn HendersonMary BrownJewel GlaspieFrank LawsonJosephine KingPat Walker First Baptist ChurchCHILDREN’S DEPTGreg Hall Kay Atchley, Kristi

Lacy, Leslie BlantonGustav “Skip” Floodquist Charlie Ownby’s SS Class Jim & Sandy Lane Children’s SS Dept.Mary Adams Charlie Ownby’s SS ClassTV MINISTRYMary Brown Jimmie & Marie TempleGlenn Henderson David & Margaret GoodeHELPING HANDSGreg Hall Billy & Lucy MaplesDoris Ann ThurmanMary WilliamsMary Ruth CookseyGlenda Johnson Louise McCarterJoan Sink Clell & Betty Jean KingGene TurnerGlenn Henderson Joe & Libby WilliamsGlenn Henderson Rowena McFallsMUSIC MINISTRYPaul & Ruth Galyon Robbie & Sandy Fox

TRIBUTEDGIVING

Attendance Report 1/20/2013 1/27/2013 2/3/2013 2/10/2013 8:15am Worship 595 561 433 566 9:30am SS 1348 1334 1109 1179 10:45am Worship 1387 1174 1051 1261 6:30pm Worship 472 504 529 406

Biblical Stewardship 1/20/2013 1/27/2013 2/3/2013 2/10/2013 Total Weekly Needs $ 86,177.00 $ 86,177.00 $ 86,177.00 $ 86,177.00 Tithes & Offerings 88,793.01 92,418.35 68,604.82 90,716.78 Building Fund 331.00 1,126.00 731.00 521.00 Designated Fund 341,618.50 3,948.50 1,736.59 1,790.00

New MembersJohn & Nancy HolovachLeesa McGillBill & Marcie GrayEmily SimpsonJack SmithRod, Laura & Kyndall HutchinsonReese HutchinsAlex MullinsCarolyn GlennMichael & Gay SiselTrinity & Daniel BeaudreauJames UnderwoodMary “Rose” SmithJacob Goderich

Recently HospitalizedRoger SailorPaula HowellJames HarniceEllis AdamsRalph DavisElizabeth HaynesDianne KennaRoger “Wayne” MillerSue CobbJane BrackinsPhyllis WiltNancy HoffBelinda Conner

• The following families wish to express their deep appreciation to the church for kindness shown during their recent loss:

Faye King & family Family of Helen AllenFamily of Skip Floodquist

• The following families wish to express their appreciation for support from the church: Katherine Welch

• Ed Bean in the passing of his wife, Francis

• Family and friends in the passing of Mary Tarwater

• Martha Dooley in the passing of her husband, Bob

• Kim Osborne in the passing of her sister, Elizabeth Zumwalt

• Jim Lethco in the passing of his father, Glenn

• Jerry Whaley in the passing of his mother, Ethel

• Carl & Fred Flynn in the passing of their step-father, Frank Myers

• Dianna Farley in the passing of her mother, Cecil Clabo

• Jean White in the passing of her sister, Martha Guy

• Gayley Hester in the passing of his mother, EdnaThank You Notes

Sympathy to

BENEVOLENCEGreg HallGustav “Skip” FloodquistGene TurnerWanda BarkerGlenn HendersonLeona May Jimmie & Marie TempleMISSIONSGene Turner Jim & Sandy Lane

IN HONORBUDGETOur daughter Ginger’s

Birthday Terry & Gail GossettPast & present members

of the CAB SS Class CAB SS ClassHELPING HANDSFred McMahan Clyde & Betty TrenthamPRESCHOOLGabrielle Grooms Lewis & Betty GroomsSPECIAL FRIENDSSpecial Friends SS

Class teachers Ray & Tammy JohnsonBUILDINGHaley Turner Tommy & Kathryn MillerTV MINISTRYHaley Turner’s

100th Birthday David & Margaret Goode

IN MEMORYBUDGETHoney Greg & Tracy PriceMarjorie Mount Harold & Sue Ownby Milford & Shirley BlairGene Turner Joe & Jean WoodsLeona May Barbara CapehartJoan Sink Michael & Sharon RoederGlenn Henderson Members of the

CAB SS Class Aliene Kerr Dan & Kim Blalock Travis & Karen Stansberry Maxine Hodges Georgia McNabb Jim & Jane Brackins Herman & Jean Huff Claude & Linda HuffGeorge Headrick Barbara HeadrickGreg Hall Glenn Henderson Melba DelozierGlenn HendersonJoan Sink Belva Glaspie

Exhibiting Joy Patrick MillerYouth Intern

Recently, we talked about Heaven on a Sunday night. It was a great discussion, and it sparked my interest in looking for Scripture relating to Heaven. I came across several parables that exist in Matthew 13, which were the teachings and words of Jesus to his disciples about the kingdom of Heaven.

I love the parable that was taught in Verse 44 about treasure: “The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” A common view of this verse is that the treasure is the faith and grace found in Jesus Christ. I want to focus on the man’s reaction to the treasure that he found.

He responds with JOY by selling all that he has so he can get the treasure. Klyne Snodgrass explains in his book, Short Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus, “With Jesus’ ministry the kingdom is present, and it is time to celebrate and participate in that kingdom at any cost” (246).

Page 5

Send questions or comments to newsletter@fbcsev.org

diseases, and you must feed the tree. In our life as believers, we must continually take ourselves through this process.

As we look forward to our “Compel” meeting, I encourage each of us to work diligently on ourselves. God desires to bear much fruit through each of us.

Galatians clearly teaches us the results of the Spirit at work in our lives. We should imagine in our minds eye the following: as a result of being in fellowship with God, I have tended myself, pruned, cut away the selfishness and sin (I John 1:9), sprayed, renewed my mind through the Scriptures (Romans 12:1-2). I have fed myself through consistent Bible reading and teaching.

Therefore, love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

If we claim to know Jesus Christ and have His Spirit inside of us, then we are the light of the world. We are Jesus to people. Therefore people will come to know Jesus Christ because of us, or people will hate Jesus and choose not to be a Christian because of us. It is hard to have an unending joy in every situation that comes our way in this life; however, Jesus is reminding us in this verse that the kingdom of Heaven is worth that unending joy.

We have to remember that we should be going to Hell because we cannot keep the law. We cannot stay pure enough or do enough good to get out of Hell, yet Jesus is the treasure that paid our debt. Lecrae, a Christian rap artist, has a lyric that says, “Like a hero in a dream Christ came and he rescued me.” In the same song he writes, “But you hung there bleedin’, and ya died for my lies and my cheatin’, my lust and my greed.” The forgiveness and grace that exists in Jesus is a reason to be joyous.

I challenge you to exhibit the joy of personally knowing Jesus at all times. Jesus is the treasure and Heaven is the place where

we will all get to be with the treasure. It is impossible to picture Heaven without Jesus because He is the essence of joy and happiness. I want you to Remember that Jesus already lives inside of believers, so Christians have a large part of the kingdom of Heaven with them now on this earth.

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are evident to us and others of God’s saving and sustaining faith at work in our lives.

Lord Jesus, I desire a new work in my life. I really desire revival in my life and in my family’s lives, both at home and here in our church home. Please work through “Compel” to bring everyone to a better, closer walk with You, and propell us into the world to do what you’ve asked us to do...”and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8b

Prepping For New GrowthRoyce BaileyAssociate Pastor of Children

Spring is just around the corner! I love living where God gives us four seasons to enjoy. There’s something very special about watching nature go through its dormant season and then sprouting out new growth in the spring. It reminds me of the opportunity we have as individuals to examine our lives and spring forth with new fruit.

Throughout the Word of God, we are re-minded as believers we are to bear much fruit. Anyone who has been around fruit trees will know to get the most out of a fruit tree you have to take some away from it, and you must give it some things. You must prune the tree, spray the tree for fruit harming insects and

Published monthly by First Baptist Church of Sevierville.Periodical postage paid at Sevierville, TN | 317 Parkway, TN 37862RETURN POSTAGE REQUESTEDPostmaster send form 3579 to “First Word,” 317 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862(865) 453-9001 | FAX (865) 428-3920 | fbcsev.org

(USPS 661-090)

Rev. Dan Spencer Senior Pastor

Roland MaddoxExec. Associate Pastor

Scott AndrewsAssoc. Pastor of Worship

Jerry HyderAssoc. Pastor of Adults

Address317 Parkway Sevierville, TN 37862

Office HoursMonday- Friday8:00am - 5:00pm

Office Phone(865) 453-9001(865) 428-3920 (fax)

Scott CarterAssoc. Pastor of Youth

Craig MintzAssoc. Pastor of Discipleship

Royce BaileyAssoc. Pastor of Children

Clark ByramBusiness Administrator Contact UsSenior Staff

fbcsev.org

info@fbcsev.org

facebook.com/fbcsev

twitter.com/fbcsev

Pastor on Call(865) 453-9257

Prayer Line(865) 429-PRAY