February 25, 2016 Volume LIII No. 2d The Way of Transforming Discipleship Lenten Sermon Series February 28 “Changing from the Inside” Mark 1:14-20 March 6 “Listening to the Groans” Romans 8:22-27 March 13 “Experiencing the God Who Heals” James 5:13-20 March 20 “Discovering Community Together” I John 1:1-9 Small Group Study Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. Preparing for Sunday. . . “Changing from the Inside” Mark 1:14-20 What does the word “change” mean to you? Does it excite you or does it make you nervous? It depends on what is being changed, but what if the change taking place is a realignment of your priorities or your use of time and resources? We may get defensive at the idea of changing our lives, but when the changes are orchestrated by God we can trust that change is for the better. As we continue on in The Way of Transforming Discipleship we will learn that God changes us by inspiring us to make Jesus our ultimate point of reference, opening our lives to the friends of Jesus, changing us inwardly in heart and mind and giving us a heart for people. We began a sermon series this Sunday entitled The Way of Transforming Discipleship. We’re borrowing the title for the series from Companions in Christ study by Trevor Hudson. A week in and I am very hopeful for what the Lord is doing within us and what we are learning. The first sermon/lesson was Knowing Who We Are and focused on claiming our identity as God’s beloved children. In the book, Hudson points out that we often identify ourselves by our relationships, occupations, accomplishments and personalities. These are important realities, but our first, truest and eternal identity is as sons and daughters of God. The idea that you are a child of God may not be a new one, but I encourage you to reflect on what this means. Our Companions small groups did an exercise that helped us personalize the idea of being God’s children. Hudson calls it “A Beloved Charter.” According to Hudson, a charter is “a document delivered by a monarch granting privileges or recognizing rights.” A Beloved Charter, therefore is “a statement expressing our belovedness in God drawn from passages throughout the Bible that attest to our belovedness.” The exercise of writing A Beloved Charter involves identifying a few of your favorite scripture passages and writing them as a statement from God to you. Here is an excerpt from Hudson’s charter… Trevor, you are my beloved child in whom I delight. You did not choose me but I chose you. You are my friend. I formed your inward parts and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, made a little lower than the angels, and crowned with glory and honor. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you. You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you. I know all your longing, your sighing is not hidden from me. Nothing will ever be able to separate you from My love in Christ Jesus, your Lord. Abide in my love. You may recognize that Hudson uses Psalm 139, Isaiah 43 and Romans 8 in his Beloved Charter. I have included them in mine, but have added a few other personal favorites. I am sharing this with you in the hope that you will take time to write a Beloved Charter. In our day and age, we frequently hear messages that diminish our identity as children of God, so a Beloved Charter is an important statement to keep close by (or even to memorize) to remind you of who you truly are. Grace and Peace, David February 28, 2016 8:45 a.m.
Transcript
February 25, 2016 Volume LIII No. 2d
The Way of Transforming
Discipleship
Lenten Sermon Series
February 28
“Changing from the Inside”
Mark 1:14-20
March 6
“Listening to the Groans”
Romans 8:22-27
March 13
“Experiencing the God Who Heals”
James 5:13-20
March 20
“Discovering Community
Together”
I John 1:1-9
Small Group Study
Sundays at 4:00 p.m.
Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
Preparing for Sunday. . .
“Changing from the Inside”
Mark 1:14-20
What does the word “change” mean to
you? Does it excite you or does it
make you nervous? It depends on
what is being changed, but what if the
change taking place is a realignment of
your priorities or your use of time and
resources? We may get defensive at
the idea of changing our lives, but
when the changes are orchestrated by
God we can trust that change is for the
better. As we continue on in The Way
of Transforming Discipleship we will
learn that God changes us by inspiring
us to make Jesus our ultimate point of
reference, opening our lives to the
friends of Jesus, changing us inwardly
in heart and mind and giving us a heart
for people.
We began a sermon series this Sunday entitled The Way of
Transforming Discipleship. We’re borrowing the title for the
series from Companions in Christ study by Trevor Hudson. A
week in and I am very hopeful for what the Lord is doing within us and
what we are learning. The first sermon/lesson was Knowing Who We Are
and focused on claiming our identity as God’s beloved children. In the
book, Hudson points out that we often identify ourselves by our
relationships, occupations, accomplishments and personalities. These are
important realities, but our first, truest and eternal identity is as sons and
daughters of God. The idea that you are a child of God may not be a new
one, but I encourage you to reflect on what this means.
Our Companions small groups did an exercise that helped us personalize
the idea of being God’s children. Hudson calls it “A Beloved Charter.”
According to Hudson, a charter is “a document delivered by a monarch
granting privileges or recognizing rights.” A Beloved Charter, therefore is
“a statement expressing our belovedness in God drawn from passages
throughout the Bible that attest to our belovedness.” The exercise of
writing A Beloved Charter involves identifying a few of your favorite
scripture passages and writing them as a statement from God to you. Here
is an excerpt from Hudson’s charter…
Trevor, you are my beloved child in whom I delight. You did not choose
me but I chose you. You are my friend. I formed your inward parts and
knitted you together in your mother’s womb. You are fearfully and
wonderfully made, made a little lower than the angels, and crowned with
glory and honor. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk
through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume
you. You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you. I know
all your longing, your sighing is not hidden from me. Nothing will ever be
able to separate you from My love in Christ Jesus, your Lord. Abide in my
love.
You may recognize that Hudson uses Psalm 139, Isaiah 43 and Romans 8
in his Beloved Charter. I have included them in mine, but have added a
few other personal favorites. I am sharing this with you in the hope that
you will take time to write a Beloved Charter. In our day and age, we
frequently hear messages that diminish our identity as children of God, so
a Beloved Charter is an important statement to keep close by (or even to
memorize) to remind you of who you truly are.
Grace and Peace,
David
February 28, 2016
8:45 a.m.
Marc
h 11-12, 2016
Senior Adult Lunch & Shopping Trip Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach March 8, 2016 Departing FBC at 9:30 a.m.
Lunch at The Oceanic, Wrightsville Beach, shopping at the
mall. $9.00 for transportation
Sign up and pay at the church office to reserve your spot!
Easter Eggstravaganza!
Sunday, March 20, 2016
For preschoolers and children up
to 6th grade. Please bring Easter
eggs filled with individually
wrapped candy to the
church office by March 16th. Sunday, March 6 at 3:00 p.m.
Hayes Barton United Methodist
Church, Raleigh, NC
Featuring Classical, Sacred and Popular
works. Transportation: $8.00 per per-
son. Sign up at the Senior Adult Board
to reserve your spot on the church bus.
First Baptist 9th-12th graders are invited to participate in the annual
Plunge to Poverty event in Fayetteville, March 11-12. We will
depart at 4:00 p.m. Friday and return to the church around 3:00 p.m.
Saturday. Cost is $25 and the deadline to sign up is March 1st.
This event takes place in conjunction with Snyder Memorial Baptist Church,
Budgeted 2016 ...................... $775,000.00 Needed per week .................... $14,663.46 Received 2/21/2016 .................. $7,973.01 Yearly need to date .............. $117,307.69 Received to date ..................... $93,077.02 Over (Under) Budget....... ($24,230.67)
Sunday School Attendance 2/21—204
Baptist Women’s Luncheon
March 7, 2016 at 11:45 am in the Activity Building
Mary Gray is our guest speaker. We will hear about Bandana
Ministry and fold bandanas for soldiers. An offering will be
collected to help support the ministry.
The Glen Flora Circle will meet at 10:45 a.m.
Palm Sunday—March 20th
During the 11:00 service the Music Munchkins and Music Makers Choirs will process in with
palms and sing.
Community Holy Week Services—March 21st-25th
Community-wide services will be held each day at noon during Holy Week at the following
churches:
Monday, March 21—Chestnut Street United Methodist Church
Speaker: Rev. Leslie Sessoms, Minister of Youth, Godwin Heights Baptist Church
Tuesday, March 22—First Presbyterian Church
Speaker: Rev. Herbert Lowry, Pastor, Chestnut Street United Methodist Church
Wednesday, March 23—First Baptist Church
Speaker: Rev. Clarence Page, Pastor, Bethany Presbyterian Church
Thursday, March 24—Godwin Heights Baptist Church
Speaker: Gene Wayman, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church
Friday, March 25—Trinity Episcopal Church
Speaker: Rev. Erin Collier, Minister to Children, First Baptist Church
Each church will offer a meal immediately following the service with the exception of Trinity
Episcopal who invites us to fast in remembrance of the Lord’s suffering on Good Friday.
Maundy Thursday Service—March 24th
at 7:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church Sanctuary
Speaker: Rev. David Hawes, Pastor,
Godwin Heights Baptist Church
Servants this Sunday, February 28, 2016
ETC—8:45 a.m.—Maegan Hamilton,
Libby Devine & Lisa Ivey
11:00 a.m.—Maegan Hamilton, Betsy Wilson,
Gay Wilson
Welcoming—Bruce & Jayne Huggins,
Elouise Bullock
Collection—Tim Taylor & Hoss Watts
Entrance Greeters
Children’s Building—Layton & Dianne Britt
Walnut Street—Margie Cockrell
6th Street—Shirley Hickman
Senior Entrance—Jim Driscoll
Security Monitor—Jerry Long
Sound—James Gibson
Video— Greg & Amy Gibson
Coming Up. . . Sunday, February 28
8:45 Early Worship
9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship
3:00 Joyful Notes Choir Rehearsal 4:00 Transforming Discipleship Group 6:00 Youth Bible Study
Becoming Like Christ (4th-6th Grade Bible Study)
Adult Bells
Monday, February 29
9:00 Staff Meeting
Tuesday, March 1
10:00 Transforming Discipleship Group
Wednesday, March 2 4:00 Young Musicians Bells
(Grades 4-6)
4:45 Music Makers Choir (Grades 1-3)
Young Musicians Choir (Grades 4-6)
5:15 Family Night Supper
6:00 Family Night At Prayer
Music Munchkins/Mission
Friends (Ages 3-K) Wednesday Night Live
(Grades 1-6)
Youth Doing Missions (Grades 7-12)
7:00 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
March 4-5 Deacons Retreat
Family Night Supper Menu—March 2
Spaghetti, Green Beans, Salad, Texas
Toast, Sugar-free Lemon Pie, or
Lemon Cake
Upcoming Events. . . March 4-5—Deacons Retreat
March 6—Stephen Aber Recital (Raleigh)
March 7—Baptist Women’s Luncheon
March 8—Senior Adult Lunch & Shopping (Wilmington area)
March 10—Fun & Fellowship
March 11-12—Plunge2Poverty Weekend
March 13—Daylight Saving Time Begins
Early Worship Ensemble @ Boys & Girls Home
March 16—Lenten Organ Recital by Diana Kirkpatrick
March 17—Southeastern Hospice Memorial Service
March 18—CBF NC’s Gathering (Raleigh)
March 19—Community Café (hosted by The Fellowship Class)
