Church Family,

This past week, I read an article entitled “You Don’t Know When Your Last Sermon Will Be" by Steve Bateman. The article challenged preachers to consider a few truths: they will one day preach their last sermon, they probably won’t know when it will be, and they will probably be forgotten within a generation.  This may seem nauseating, but as Flannery O’Connor said, “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”  The article goes on to list preachers from church history who preached their last sermon without knowing it would be their last: John Calvin, John Flavel, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, and Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

While there are many points of application, the thing that stuck with me is the fact that all our efforts in everything we do will one day come to an end. This is extremely sobering.  I spend untold hours preparing for sermons, sitting in meetings, planning for the future of this church, thinking through the vision God is giving us and how to lead us through it. I’m sure my activities are very similar to what you do as well, whether you’re a teacher, coach, pilot, business owner, or something else.  It’s not that we shouldn’t be doing these things, all of it matters and all of it is important. It’s just good to be reminded that it will one day come to an end.  Coaches will coach a last game, teachers will give a last lecture, pilots will take a last flight, and business owners will make a last deal.  And then, we’ll all die and be forgotten in a generation.

That may sound dark and dreary, but it’s actually freeing.  We serve an eternal God who intends to use us in all of our vocations and callings.  We can work with diligence and eagerness as unto the Lord, all the while knowing that neither our successes nor failures define us or signify our worth. If we know God and believe in Christ, then we are redeemed children of God who will live eternally with Him.  With that truth ever on our hearts and minds, we can have confidence and joy in the weightiest of tasks and also in the smallest of responsibilities.  Moreover, we have the assurance that no good work will end with us.  God always raises up gifted leaders after we’re gone to carry on His work.  

In light of these truths, let us be a people who make every day count.  We don’t know when our last day will come.  So with God-centered sobriety, let us fearlessly embark upon each day treasuring it as a gift and diligently accomplishing all that God has entrusted to us—be it prepping for a sermon, a game, a lecture, a flight, or something else.  May God receive the glory.

-Pastor Ben

First Baptist,

As the summer moves along with a rapid pace, I want to encourage you to
think deeply about heaven. Let’s face it, our daily rhythms leave little time for meditation and contemplation of eternity. However, the Bible tells us to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:1). The firmly rooted person is the one who meditates day and night on the Word of God (Ps. 1:1-3). Courage, tenacity, and fruitfulness is usually the product of a Christian who understands the presence of Jesus to be “far better” than even laboring for Jesus in this world (Phil. 1:23).

Some may figure that it is unhelpful to think too much about heaven. C.S. Lewis argues the opposite: “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”

Here’s my challenge: Take a midsummer’s night, put devices down so that you can be distraction-free, and look up at the stars and consider the God of the universe who knows them all by name (Ps. 147:4). Consider the brevity of your life and the weightiness of eternity (James 4:14). But also consider that the greatest joys in this present world are not worth comparing to the surpassing joy that awaits our arrival to the Celestial City (Romans 8:18).

I love you First Baptist and I’m thankful to think deeply about heaven alongside you.

-Pastor Ben

Church Family,

Last Sunday was such an amazing time with an amazing church as we commissioned to send an amazing family to the ends of the earth.  The Carmichael Missionary Commissioning Service will go down as one of my favorite all-time services.  It was a truly remarkable and inspiring event that showcased our church's commitment to spreading the gospel of Christ to all corners of the world.

As the Carmichaels prepare to embark on their journey to South Asia, it was reassuring to them that they are backed by a church that loves them and will continue to “hold the ropes.”  William Carey famously said, “Expect great things, attempt great things.”  What we beheld on Sunday and what we have before us now is a family who is attempting a great thing—to take the gospel to an unreached and unengaged people group.  The task is not easy and the burden is not bearable, at least alone.  They need God’s means of grace in their lives, which means, in part, that you and I remain faithful to support them (3 John 8).
 
As I said on Sunday, there is a big difference between a church that has missionaries and a church that sends missionaries.  Both are great, but the latter comes with much more responsibility. So First Baptist, let’s “send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God” (3 John 6).  Let’s read their emails, visit them, and send them care packages.  Let’s ensure that the Carmichael name becomes a household name uttered on the sweet lips of our children in their nightly prayers.  Let’s be faithful to hold the ropes.

I love you First Baptist and I’m thankful to continue to work together for gospel advancement.

Soldiers of Christ, in truth arrayed,
A world in ruins needs your aid: 
A world by sin destroyed and dead; 
A world for which the Savior bled. 
 
His gospel to the lost proclaim, 
Good news for all in Jesus' name; 
Let light upon the darkness break 
That sinners from their death may wake. 
 
Morning and evening sow the seed, 
God's grace the effort shall succeed. 
Seed times of tears have oft been found 
With sheaves of joy and plenty crowned. 
 
We meet to part, but part to meet 
When earthly labors are complete, 
To join in yet more blest employ, 
In an eternal world of joy.
(Soliders of Christ, in truth arrayed By: Basil Manly Jr.)
 
 – Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

As we get ready to celebrate the birth of our nation, it’s fascinating to consider how unlikely it was that we actually became a nation.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed and the United States became a nation. In retrospect, that was the easy part. The aftermath of such a declaration meant war against one of the most powerful nations in the world. Against all odds, America won and her independence was secured, at least for a while. Then, without even being able to catch her breath, America had to struggle with her internal diversity and articulate how this idea of liberty actually played out in real life. This struggle resulted in the creation of two brilliant and unprecedented documents called the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Yet, one major obstacle remained—who could lead such a nation with authority and respect while maintaining the founding principles of liberty and self-rule? All eyes were placed on one man: George Washington.

Imagine if you were Washington, would you even want to be president?

Historian Wilfred McClay puts it like this: Truth be told…Washington did not want the job…Nearing the age of sixty, after enduring two grinding decades of war and politics in which he always found himself thrust into a central role in determining the direction of his country, he wanted nothing so much as to be free of those burdens—and to retire from public life and return to Virginia, where he could enjoy the private joys of a gentleman farmer at his beautiful estate at Mount Vernon.

Washington could have decided to take it easy and coast into the final chapter of his life; no one would have blamed him. But he took the job and the rest, as they say, is history.

As Christians, Washington’s selfless sacrifice has much to teach us. Among many, one challenge stands out: embrace the pain of service and sacrifice. No other man could have led like Washington, and we’re all blessed because he took the job.

God has blessed you so that you may be a blessing. However, if you don’t continually embrace the grind of service and sacrifice, you’ll fail to flourish in all that God has made you to be. Jesus came to serve and sacrifice, dying on the cross for our sins. In so doing, he gives us the greatest blessing and serves as the greatest model.

We have a higher mission than comfort and ease, namely the glory of God. That’s the reason that our very own Nick and Stacy Carmichael and family are packing the bags to move to South Asia to live among Muslims. They are being sent because there are 10 million people in that area who have never heard the name of Jesus. We all must continue to advance the mission of Christ at all costs. On July 9, FBC is having a commissioning service for them in both the 8:15 and 10:45 services. I encourage you to make every effort to be here.

Let us all daily die to self, take up our cross, and bless those around us as we serve and sacrifice for the glory of Christ.

-Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

Named after the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis (Lewis and Clark), The Meriwether Society is a First Baptist book club of sorts that exists for the purpose of exploring ideas from a Christian worldview. It is open to anyone in our church who will read a pastor-selected book and meet to discuss it. This is a great opportunity for us to wrestle with some deep issues in community with one another. After all, we’re called to be “mature in our thinking”. (1 Corinthians 14:20).

It’s been a little while since we’ve had a Meriwether Society meeting, so I’m excited about diving into a book together. Our next meeting will be July 19, and the book we will explore is called Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News by Jeffery Bilbro.
G.W.F. Hegel said, “Reading the morning newspaper is the realist’s morning prayer.” We live in confusing times and suffer from an epidemic of distrust, increasingly suspicious and discouraged with the news we read and hear. My desire is that this book and discussion will help us apply critical thinking and encourage us to encounter our current news and events from a Christian worldview.

Here is an abstract from the book:



I hope that you will pick up this book and read it and join us on the evening of July 19 for the Meriwether Society meeting. Most of all, I pray you’re encouraged by it so that we may interact with the daily news the way Christians ought.

-Pastor Ben

You can purchase the book online here.

Friends and Family,

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a cooperation of like-minded autonomous churches for the sake of evangelism and missions.  First Baptist is a part of the SBC.  Every year we gather together with representatives (Messengers) from these churches to conduct business and hear reports from its entities.  This past week we met in New Orleans. 

Of all the things that we do at the convention, the most important and the most encouraging is the commissioning of missionaries.  For years I’ve considered the missionary commissioning my favorite part of the convention.  However, this year was even more extraordinary since two of our own, Nick and Stacy Carmichael, were commissioned.  Because of security issues they stood behind a screen and only their silhouettes were visible. They shared about their calling and their desire to go to the unreached and unengaged people groups.  It was such a wonderful moment as I stood next to multiple thousands of like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ and honored those to whom honor was due—our friends, the Carmichaels.

Always remember, when we send the Carmichaels to South Asia, we are to “send them…in a manner worthy of God” (3 John 6).  In so doing, we are “fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 8).  That means we stay committed with prayer, encouragement, and giving (through the Lottie Moon Christmas offering).  We will have our own commissioning service for the Carmichaels on Sunday, July 9, during the morning services.  I encourage you to make every effort to attend as we honor them and send them well.  

Peace and blessings,

-Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

VBS was amazing!  There were many hands and hearts that went into making VBS so awesome. I want to thank every student and adult who took time off from work or your busy summer schedule to serve the next generation.  I also want to thank Mrs. Cat and Zach and all the FBC staff for their passion, hard work, and energy they put into making this VBS so special.  

As you know, organizing and running a program like VBS is no small feat, and I was blown away by the dedication, kindness, and energy that all of you brought to the table. You were patient, kind, and supportive to every child, making them feel welcome and included, and creating a safe environment where they could learn and grow in the gospel.  The joy you brought to so many little hearts is just a small example of your deep commitment to serving Jesus—the One who said, “Let the little children come to me” (Matt, 19:14).

We averaged around 500 people each day between children, students, and adults. Throughout the week, we had many professions of faith.  Over the next few days and weeks, we will be methodically following up with each child who made a profession.  As I often say, we don’t want to merely be emotional, we want to be clear.  Therefore, we go to great lengths to meet with these children and their parents to walk through the basic contours of the gospel.  If you or your child have questions, feel free to call the church office and set up a meeting with a pastor or church leader. Additionally, there were children from families who don’t attend church, which created a great opportunity for outreach.  

Here is a list of the actual numbers:
Total for all three days:
Perhaps the coolest thing we did is raise money for certain books of the Bible to be translated in India. We were able to raise $1,196.42, which was enough to translate 1, 2, and 3 John as well as Jude.  What an opportunity for our children to be a part of what God is doing in other nations!

Thanks again for such an awesome week!

- Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve been in the Gospel of John, so I’ve been eagerly anticipating jumping back in it. I have loved studying the book of John. D.A. Carson (who wrote one of the best commentaries on John) was once asked what book of the Bible he loves the most and his answer was, “The book I’m working through at the time.” That pretty much sums up my response as well therefore, my favorite book of the Bible right now is John. If you’ve been absent for much of our John study, here’s a video of D.A. Carson giving a big-picture overview of John’s Gospel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W76UvbZb9q0

The section we’re unpacking this week demands great care in how we handle it. Your Bible probably has brackets around John 7:53-8:11 along with a note that reads, “The earliest manuscripts do not include 7:53-8:11.” I plan to briefly explain on Sunday how we are to handle this section. Basically, the inspiration of this text is in question because the earliest manuscripts don’t include this passage. If you would like to think through this idea a little deeper, below are a few resources:

- Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

It’s been 25 years since I gave my heart to Jesus.

It was the summer of 1998, and people at that time were restless over Y2K— the computers were going to crash and world was coming to an end!

I was restless for another reason. I was becoming restless about life and death, heaven and hell, and eternity. It was never on my radar until Christmas Eve of my senior year in high school. I buried my grandfather in the morning and my friend David Hussey that afternoon. Up until then, I thought death was for old people. I thought I was invincible. I had never considered with great contemplation that I’m not going to have forever to accomplish what I’m here for. So I started asking, “What am I here for? What does it mean for me to not waste my life? How do I know I’m ready to face God?”

Shortly after I graduated from Enterprise High School, I sat in a pew at First Baptist Enterprise on a Wednesday night and I gave my heart to Christ.

Though I grew up in church and knew a lot about Christianity, I didn’t know Christ. Most all, I didn’t know the grace of God. I had very much bought into a works- based version of Christianity—if I’m good then God will accept me. But the Gospel is not about me being a good person, but rather Jesus being a great Savior. Grace is unmerited favor. Therefore, the Gospel is the good news that Jesus purchases for us favor with God—something we didn’t deserve and could never earn. This is the message that landed on my heart and has changed my life. This is the message that is moving our church to do great things for the Lord.

May we continue to embrace and preach and teach this message—the good news that Jesus paid it all. Who knows, there may be another restless teenager who's life and future is forever changed.

- Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

I love seeing so many friendships among the people of First Baptist. One of the greatest gifts we can receive on planet earth is friends. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and
a brother is born for adversity.” We need authentic community. We need friends. We need people who will have our back, people who will call us out when we’re wrong, pull us back when we stray, pick us up when we’re down and spur us on toward love and good deeds. We need friends.

Unfortunately, good friendships seem to be lacking in our society as we are experiencing a so- cial and relational crisis. We are more detached as a society than any society in the past:
• 45% of Americans over 45 are chronically lonely.
• 8% of Americans report having meaningful conversations with their neighbors.
• 32% of Americans say they trust their neighbors (only 18% of Millennials).
• Depression rates are rising. Mental health issues are rising. Suicide rate has risen 30%
since 1999. Teen suicide rate has risen by 70%. • 45,000 Americans kill themselves every year.
• 72,000 die from Opioid addictions.

We’re more “connected” digitally than ever, and yet we’re more fragmented from each other
like never before. We have more freedom than we’ve ever had, but freedom can be a curse. Freedom from any and all commitments will not lead to a flourishing life. David Brooks said, “The unrooted man is the unremembered man because he’s uncommitted to things. Freedom is not an ocean you want to swim in, it’s a river you want to get across so that you can commit and plant yourself on the other side.” To have a friend and to be a friend isn’t easy, but it’s a blessing. Friendship, like all things in this fallen world, is broken. There’s only One who is a perfect friend, and it’s Jesus. There’s an old hymn that says, “Jesus! What a Friend for sinners! Jesus! Lover of my soul; Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He, my Savior, makes me whole. Jesus was mocked for being a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34). Charles Spurgeon once said, “Oh! To be able to say ‘Christ is my friend,’ is one of the sweetest things in the world.”
Do you know Christ in this way? Is he your friend? Do you look to him as the great model for friendship—he came in the fullness of grace and truth, speaking the truth in love, bearing bur- dens without complaint.

First Baptist, let us cherish old friends, make new friends, be a good friend, understand that there are only a few deep friends you can really have, and there’s only one perfect friend—Jesus.
- Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,
On this Mother’s Day, I want to give a shout-out to all of our awesome First Baptist moms. Some of you are young and you tend to deal more with throw-up than you get to dress-up. Some of you are young at heart and grin from ear-to-ear when you see our sweet, young mamas with their arms full, recalling the days when you did the same. Some of you are incredible spiritual mothers, pouring into younger women just like the Titus 2 trophies you are. What a calling you have as mama! And what a great job so many of you are doing—even though I know at times it may not feel that way.

Parenting is the hardest thing most people ever do. As I think about Mother’s Day, I can’t help but think of different ideas I’ve learned along the way. I’m usually slow (very slow) to give parenting advice to anyone, but hopefully some of this can help my fellow strugglers.

Here’s some free random parenting advice from somebody that seems to have more parenting bricks than dunks (basketball terms for saying I stink at being a perfect parent):
1. Create a culture of confession in your home by admitting to your children when you’re wrong and asking for their forgiveness. It’s amazing how vulnerability is a love language for your child’s heart.
2. Encouragements and confessions should be more frequent than the corrections Encouragement is like adrenaline for the soul and confession is pesticide for hypocrisy.
3. Seek to win their hearts, not merely their behavior. Our goal is to reproduce Christians, not raise up Pharisees.
4. The calling of parenting is not merely to raise kids, but to pass on a way of life. So give your children a vision of the good life—walking with the Lord, walking in wisdom, walking in virtue, using talents and skills to advance the Kingdom of God, marrying a godly spouse, raising
children in godliness, and serving the church.
5. Don’t be as concerned about giving them a “traditional” childhood, teenage, and college
experience in order to obtain athletic, social, and academic achievement. Be concerned with
ordering their loves, training their affections, and building their character.
6. Parent with 30 in mind, not 18 in mind (years old). This helps you not overreact to rebellion in your child, but rather lead with a patient hand. Not every moment is a freak-out moment
and not every rebellion is a crisis. If you parent with 18 in mind, you’re going to get in a
hurry. Play the long-game. The reason God is patient with us is because He’s building us for eternity. Play the same kind of long-game with your children.
7. Be neither harsh nor passive when it comes to disciplining your children. Operate within the tension of Ephesians 6:4, “Do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
8. The key to parenting is being the kind of person Christ has called you to be. This takes a
ton of pressure off so that you don’t have unrealistic expectations to see particular results on a particular timeline.

I love you, First Baptist! Have a great Mother’s Day as we continue to behold the glory of God in the face of Christ and thereby be changed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).
- Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

The call to forgive is something most of us learn early in childhood, but it rarely comes easy, no matter how old we get. Forgiveness is always hard. Yet, the Bible’s commands aren’t contingent on their level of difficulty.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” The last phrase in this verse, “as God in Christ forgave you,” sheds light on the fundamental reason why forgiveness is so important to Christians—it is a reflection of the gospel of Jesus. Jesus was sent on a mission for us to be forgiven. His life, death, and resurrection made forgiveness possible for us. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). According to Jesus, whoever has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47). Peter asked Jesus at one time if forgiving a brother seven times is sufficient. Jesus responded, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy- seven times” (Matthew 18:22).

The healthiest of churches are filled with the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Therefore, churches must learn to forgive or they’ll never grow. I love you First Baptist, and I want us to increasingly reflect the character of Christ. Let us all remain in a posture of forgiveness as we strive arm in arm to advance the gospel of Jesus in our community and world.

-Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,
Recently, I saw a list of the most famous people with the last name Armstrong. The top three were 1) Louis, 2) Neil, and 3) Lance Armstrong. As a child of the 80’s, I was a little surprised that Stretch Armstrong didn’t make the list. As a good Southern Baptist, I was a really surprised that Annie Armstrong didn’t make it. Thankfully, my children would put her somewhere in the top three as her name comes up annually around our church and home. Every Spring, First Baptist takes up what we call the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. This offering is the primary way Southern Baptists fund missions in North America. One hundred percent of gifts given to the Annie Armstrong offering go to help plant churches in the most strategic places across North America as well as fund disaster relief. Through this offering, we help support more than 2,400 missionary families serving across the United States and Canada. So who is Annie Armstrong? “Annie Armstrong (1850-1938) was born in Baltimore at a time when there was little opportunity for women. Yet, her devotion to Christ led her to a life of service and leadership. She organized women to pray, to give and to meet the needs around them. She challenged pastors and churches to action and rallied vital support for missionaries. Ultimately, Annie was recognized as a trailblazer for her visionary leadership that still inspires millions today.” (https://www.anniearmstrong.com/who-isannie/). What a glorious thing it is to be a co-worker with God in winning the world for Christ. ~Annie Armstrong Clearly Annie Armstrong was an admirable Christian woman. I want to encourage you to give to the offering in her name, which helps to advance the Gospel and plant churches in the most strategic ways and places in North America. Our goal is $42,000 and we have currently given a little under $37,000. We’re so close! If you haven’t given to the Annie Armstrong Offering yet, will you consider helping push us over the goal? Get your kids involved. It will be awesome. I love you, First Baptist! Let us continue to press on until all is reached.
- Pastor Ben

Friends and Family,

God’s Word is clear: motivation matters. In other words, God is concerned with not only what we do, but also why we do it. This has huge implications for parenting, discipleship, counseling, and all-around Christian living.  

As humans, we are prone to think we know our motivations behind everything we do. However, the human heart is far too complex for us to always understand what drives our actions. We need insight from the One who is infinite in knowledge and completely untainted with sin in order to enlighten us. Proverbs 21:2 says, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.”

Because we are made in God’s image, we have a certain measure of intuition in these matters, but our sinful nature distorts it. Tim Keller said, “Don’t overly trust your moral instincts and motives.” Only God can weigh the heart and only God can shape it so that our motivations increasingly reflect that of Christ.  

That’s why, as a church, we must continually allow God’s Word to wash over us.  Not only is it encouraging to be reminded of the gospel of Jesus, but the Word also has a way of refining our instincts to be Godward. Therefore, as I’ve said before, I’ll say again, let us give ourselves to the continual reading, study, and application of God’s Word.  

This is why I love expository preaching. Few things can shape a church more than Word-driven, Spirit-empowered preaching. Personally, I have loved preaching through the book of John. It has caused me to have greater insight into my own motivations, and it has caused me to marvel at the splendor and wonder of Jesus. We’ll be in John 7 for a couple more weeks and then we’ll pause for stand-alone sermons on Mother’s Day, Graduate Sunday, and Memorial Day Sunday.  

I love you, First Baptist, and I love growing with you in Christ. 
-Pastor Ben

Friends,

In my sermon on Sunday, I briefly discussed a theological category called “eternal security” which is also referred to as “perseverance of the saints” or “once saved always saved.”  Regardless of what we call it, the assurance of salvation is necessary to experiencing the joy of Christ and the freedom to love. The text that prompted this discussion was John 6:39, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”  

I have counseled several people in our church lately who have struggled with the assurance of salvation.  They are Christians, but for whatever reason, they have sensitive spirits or, as one person put it, they are “spiritual hypochondriacs” constantly consumed with over-introspection. While the Apostle Paul tells us to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith,” we are not to merely look inward (2 Corinthians 13:5).  The problem with constantly looking inward is that our salvation and comfort and hope is found NOT by looking in, but looking up.  As the old hymn says, “‘Tis thy wounds our healing give; to thy cross we look and live.”   

D.A. Carson has a fitting word for those who struggle with assurance: 

How many times do we writhe in agony asking if God can ever love us enough, if God can ever care for us enough after we have done such stupid, sinful, rebellious things after being Christians for 40 years?

What are you going to say, “Oh, God, I tried hard, you know. I did my best. It was a bad moment”? 

No, no, no.

I have no other argument! I need no other plea! It is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me! 

We overcome the accuser by the blood of the lamb. There is the ground of all human assurance before God. There is the ground of our faith. 

It’s not the intensity of our faith but the object of our faith that saves. We overcome the accurser [by hiding under] the blood of the Lamb.

First Baptist, I care about your freedom and joy and love in Christ. But all of that will be shortchanged if you are constantly in doubt of God’s commitment and faithfulness and love toward you.  The doctrine of eternal security is not to make you feel at home in your sin, but rather to give you the kind of freedom and courage and hope that breeds a life that increasingly reflects the character of Christ. Keep pressing on friends!



- Pastor Ben

Friends,
I am so grateful for all of you. I continually hear stories of how you are loving each other well, caring for the needs of the saints, and spurring one another on toward love and good deeds. My family and I are so blessed to be a part of this church. That’s one reason I’m excited to announce our new online church directory.
I remember when I was a boy dressing up in a coat and tie and going to St. Luke’s Fellowship Hall with my family to take our picture for the church directory. We’d usually schedule our picture right after my grandparents took their picture. I never really thought of the church directory as important when I was a boy. However, after my mom died and we cleaned out her house, I came across some old church directories. It was both nostalgic and beautiful as I thumbed through the directory and saw faces I had not seen in a long time—some who cut me apple slices for VBS, some who taught me in Sunday school, some who worked the bing bag toss station during the Fall Festival, and others who have now passed and are with the Lord. What I didn’t know when I was a boy was just how useful a church directory can be for creating a culture of health in a church.
The church directory is a ministry tool for connection, fellowship, recognition, relationship, prayer, and so much more. We can’t be a healthy church if we don’t know one another. We need to recognize faces and names, to pray for each other, and get involved in one anothers’ lives. The church directory is a useful tool that can help us do that. But the only way this is going to work is if we all participate. The directory will not be public for several months, but we need your help to setup it up.
So grab your phone, download the First Baptist Enterprise app, and follow the instructions. See page three for more info on how to download the app. The church directory is for church members only.
I’m looking forward to worshipping with you today.
- Pastor Ben

First Baptist Family,
Thank you for your flexibility this past week. As most of you know, our HVAC unit in the sanctuary died, and we have a part on back order. Therefore, we will have to meet in the Fellowship Hall until the part comes in and new units are installed. At this point, we don’t know how long that will be. So for the time being, everything will pretty much run like it did last Sunday: 3 services (8:15 AM, 9:30 AM, and 10:45 AM) in the Fellowship Hall. We have some Sunday School classes who will meet during the 8:15 AM time slot and will come to the 9:30 AM worship. If you’re not sure when and where your Sunday School class is meeting, ask your teacher or call the church office.
“The Lord is in the Interruptions”
I was talking to Chris Duke the other day as we planned some details for worshipping in
the Fellowship Hall and he made a statement that has stayed with me: “The Lord is in the interruptions.” It’s interesting to think about our current situation in light of the recent revival that took place on the campus of Asbury Seminary. It was just a normal chapel service that didn’t end. They allowed God to interrupt their schedule for the sake of worship. While the events here are different, one element remains the same: The Lord is in the interruptions. This is something God has been teaching me personally. God will often get our attention when we’re out of our normal routine. Routines are good and rhythms are healthy, but from time
to time, God will allow our routines to be disrupted in order to do something in our lives, to move in on us and allow some holy discomfort. This can happen through financial setbacks, illnesses, or even broken HVAC units.
Nothing catches God by surprise. One thing God might be reminding us is that the church worship gathering is less about where we meet and more about with whom we meet. After all, the church is a people, not a place or program. Every Sunday we get to gather is a gift, whether we’re gathering in the Sanctuary or Fellowship Hall. Let’s remember to enjoy that gift.
I love you, First Baptist, and I’m thankful for your amazing attitude and versatility. Let’s worship hard this Sunday as we gather together and commune with God!
- Pastor Ben

Brothers and Sisters,

I love First Baptist for many reasons, but one major reason is because I get to raise my family in this healthy church. We talk all the time about how church success is not measured by numbers or buildings or programs, but rather by health. One of the marks of a healthy church is a biblical understanding of the gospel. Therefore, as a church, we must continue to press in with clarity what the gospel is and what it is not.
What the gospel is NOT
The gospel is not: “God loves you,” or, “Be good,” or “Act right,” or, “Everything is going
to be ok,” or, “God helps those who help themselves,” or, “God is love,” or, “Everything happens for a reason.” Some of those statements are true and are certainly part of the gospel, but they are not the gospel. One of the great lies of the enemy is that good people go to heaven. So one of the great tasks of the church is to lovingly remind people they’re not good. That may sound cold or harsh, but it’s actually loving, not to mention, it’s the very thing the Bible tells us. Jesus said that you must be perfect as your Heavenly Father
is perfect (Matthew 5:48). God’s perfect standard is revealed in the Ten Commandments, which we’ve all broken to some extent (Romans 3:23). James says that if you stumble at one part of the Law, you’re guilty of breaking the whole Law (James 2:10). God says that even our righteous acts are filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6). Paul says, the Law is our tutor to show us our need for Christ (Galatians 3:24). Therefore, the first step to understanding and embracing the gospel is to acknowledge that you are not good (Romans 3:10-12). But the next step is to acknowledge what God has done for us through his son, Jesus.
What the gospel IS
God, being holy, made us in his image to rightly reflect him and multiply his glory on earth. We didn’t do that. Instead, we sinned, and we trusted in something or someone else other than God. Because God is just, he will extend a punishment that meets our crime. Because the crime is infinitely horrible, the punishment will be infinitely horrible. Because God
is merciful, he sent his only son, Jesus, who is fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect life, thus fulfilling the law in himself. He died on a cross, thus taking on the punishment
we deserve. He rose again proving that he completed the payment for sin. Now he
calls all men everywhere to repent and believe in him. If we turn from our sin and trust in Christ alone for salvation, we will be saved from the punishment we deserve, given the righteousness of Christ, adopted by God as sons, empowered to live a life that increasingly reflects the character of God, and given the promise of eternal life with God and other believers in heaven. If we do not turn to Jesus, then the wrath of God remains on us and there is no hope, only a fearful expectation of eternal judgment.
The question we must ponder is, “Do I believe this?” In other words, “Am I really trusting only in Jesus and his finished work on the cross?” If so, rejoice and give God glory. If you’re unsure, please contact the church office and set up an appointment with one of the pastors on staff. Your eternity hinges on what you do with the gospel, for “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
- Pastor Ben

A healthy church is one that practices biblical theology. The phrase biblical theology can mean different things. The simplest idea of biblical theology is theology that is based solely on the Bible.
Everyone does theology. Everyone. Theos means “God.” Ology means “the study of.” Theology, then, means “the study of God.” The man who says that there is no God and the one who says that God is love are caught up in the same disciple—both are making truth claims about God, which is essentially theology. Therefore, the question is not if one does theology, but what kind of theology he or she is doing. Is it based on the Bible or feeling or something else?
The Reformers called the church a “Creature of the Word” since she was literally created by the Word and the Spirit in Acts 2. Healthy churches are ones that keep the Bible central in everything. The Bible is our final authority to faith and practice. The Bible shapes our minds to understand the world and everything
in it. As the Baptist Faith and Message states: “[Scripture] reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.”
A church is not at liberty to believe or do whatever she wants to do. Therefore, no matter what direction the current winds of our culture blow, a healthy church’s sails are always position according to the infallibility of God’s Holy Word. It might not be popular to believe in things like the exclusivity of Christ, sexuality purity, sacrificial giving, etc., but the popularity is not what a healthy church is after. Rather, a healthy church seeks to be faithful in all things. And the only way that can happen is when a church is consistent in teaching and living in light of biblical theology.

- Pastor Ben

Stan Windham and I were marveling the other day about the tremendous blessing the Lord has bestowed on our church. Not only are we growing numerically, but we’re also growing in other ways that matter, but aren’t as easy to count. When it comes to church, the metric for success goes well beyond numbers. The main issue is not that we become a cool church or cutting-edge church or smart church or big church. The main issue is that we are a healthy church. A healthy church is one that increasingly reflects the character of God.
One of the primary marks of a healthy church is expository preaching.
Expository preaching is the “investigation of a particular passage of Scripture whereby the pastor carefully explains the meaning of a passage and then applies it to the members of the congregation” (Tim Challies). It’s text-driven preaching where the main point of the text is the main point of the sermon. Challies goes on to say that expositional preaching is “in opposition to the topical preaching showcased in the majority of evangelical churches, where Bible passages are woven together to support a pre-existing point.” Expository preaching is powerful because it simply exposes the people of God to the Word of God.
It takes a while for a congregation’s pallet to develop a taste for expository preaching. However, once a church gets used to it, there’s usually no return.
Why is this such a strong mark of a healthy church? Because the power of God is unleashed on the people of God through the Word of God. The Word does the work. There’s a reason the Reformers called the Church “A Creature of the Word.” There’s a reason why throughout the storyline of the Bible, along with two thousand years of Church history, the people of God have been blessed when they have heralded the Word of God and cursed when they didn’t.
First Baptist, by God’s grace, we will continue to build our sweet church upon the sure foundation of the God’s Word. We will proclaim Christ as revealed in Scripture and stand firm on His promises. As the hymn goes:
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus Just to take Him at His Word Just to rest upon His promise Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”

- Pastor Ben

Not too long ago I read that Charles Spurgeon, who is known as “The Prince of Preachers,” was once asked what it felt like to be the best preacher in England. His response was simple: “I don’t know; but if I meet him, I’ll ask him.” Most assumed, and still do today, that he was the greatest preacher of his time. However, he refused to believe the notion that success or greatness could be measured in worldly terms. How can you measure a preacher or a church? What makes one good or great? There is often an assumption that big churches are better, but the Bible corrects such thinking.
We’ve seen tremendous growth in the last decade at First Baptist Enterprise. We praise God for more people coming to faith in Christ, more baptisms, and more people joining FBC. However, all of this growth begs a question: are we successful? Of course, such a question is loaded with a further question: What is success in church life? Who gets to determine successful and unsuccessful. After all, if you can’t define winning, how do you know
when it happens? According to the Bible success is far different than the standard metrics Westerners often assume—the 3 B’s: Budgets, Baptisms, and Be-hinds in the seats.
Mark Dever’s classic, 9 Marks of a Healthy Church, outlines nine metrics of determining success or health for a local church. The nine marks are listed below. In the following weeks, I want to unpack each one and consider how we as a church may increasingly lean into each one.
1. Expositional Preaching
2. Biblical Theology
3. The Gospel
4. A Biblical Understanding of Conversion
5. A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
6. A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership 7. Biblical Church Discipline
8. A Concern for Discipleship and Growth 9. Biblical Church Leadership
May the Lord be gracious to us as we seek to be a healthy church.
- Pastor Ben

As we think about wisdom and decision-making, the majority of decisions we make on a daily basis are on the immediate, intuitive level. However, from time to time, it’s good to slow down and think about some of the questions that should sway our decisions, especially when dealing with issues classified as “gray areas.” Consider the following questions when dealing with a gray area:
1. Will it build me up spiritually?
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up (1 Corinthians 10:23).
We are to make every effort to grow in Christ-likeness and cultivate godliness. We are to leverage everything at our disposal to intensify our tastebuds for the Kingdom of Christ. So, if doing something has no benefit spiritually, there should be an appropriate reservation from partaking in it.
2. Will it defile God’s temple?
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Since our bodies are temples, we want to honor God with what we put in our bodies, what we do with our bodies, and what we do to our bodies.
3. Will it lead others into temptation or sin?
Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:8-9).
The last thing we want to do as a Christian is cause a brother or sister to be entangled in sin. We should be promoting light and holiness. Ask yourself this question, “Are fellow Christians more or less holy and joyful because they’re around me?”
4. Will it bring glory to God?
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The reason we exist is to glorify God. The most intense pleasure one can experience is when he lives his life for the glory of God. Nothing compares to this. Don’t believe the lie that something is better than Jesus. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Hopefully these four questions that are rooted in Scripture can serve as a helpful filter when wrestling through issues as you pursue godliness in your life.
- Pastor Ben

First Baptist Family,

Thank you for your flexibility this past week. As most of you know, our HVAC unit in the sanctuary died, and we have a part on back order. Therefore, we will have to meet in the Fellowship Hall until the part comes in and new units are installed. At this point, we don’t know how long that will be. So for the time being, everything will pretty much run like it did last Sunday: 3 services (8:15 AM, 9:30 AM, and 10:45 AM) in the Fellowship Hall. We have some Sunday School classes who will meet during the 8:15 AM time slot and will come to the 9:30 AM worship. If you’re not sure when and where your Sunday School class is meeting, ask your teacher or call the church office.  

I was talking to Chris Duke the other day as we planned some details for worshipping in the Fellowship Hall and he made a statement that has stayed with me: “The Lord is in the interruptions.” It’s interesting to think about our current situation in light of the recent revival that took place on the campus of Asbury Seminary. It was just a normal chapel service that didn’t end. They allowed God to interrupt their schedule for the sake of worship. While the events here are different, one element remains the same: The Lord is in the interruptions. This is something God has been teaching me personally. God will often get our attention when we’re out of our normal routine. Routines are good and rhythms are healthy, but from time to time, God will allow our routines to be disrupted in order to do something in our lives, to move in on us and allow some holy discomfort. This can happen through financial setbacks, illnesses, or even broken HVAC units.

Nothing catches God by surprise. One thing God might be reminding us is that the church worship gathering is less about where we meet and more about with whom we meet. After all, the church is a people, not a place or program. Every Sunday we get to gather is a gift, whether we’re gathering in the Sanctuary or Fellowship Hall. Let’s remember to enjoy that gift.

I love you, First Baptist, and I’m thankful for your amazing attitude and versatility. Let’s worship hard this Sunday as we gather together and commune with God!

- Pastor Ben 

As most of you know, I love coaching my sons in baseball.  Not only do I love the game and the competition, but I mostly love the life lessons that a sport like baseball can teach young boys.  

One of those life lessons that I try to reiterate comes in the form of a question.  I’ll ask the boys, “What are two things that require zero talent?”  They answer, “Attitude and effort.”  The longer I live, the more I see that these two ideas carry weight not only in sports, but in every arena of life:  marriage, parenting, work, church membership, discipleship, etc.  

Attitude
Philippians 2:14-16 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.”  In other words, people who complain are crooked, twisted, blemished, and do not shine or represent Jesus well.   Therefore, a complaining Christian is a hypocrite and periodical complaining is perpetual hypocrisy.  The way to not complain is to hold fast to the word of life (the Word of God – it brings life).  In other words, we must take God at His Word.  We must trust Him.  A complaining issue is really a trust issue.  In what ways do you need to have a better attitude with your spouse, children, work, church, and personal discipleship?  Are there areas where you need to pray for God’s blessing and strength to no complain?


Effort
Paul says that we are to “press on toward the goal” and “strive for holiness” (Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 12:14).  The Christian life is a life of grace, but that same grace which saves also empowers us to work.  God did not say to Israel, “I have saved you from Egypt because you worked hard and earned it.”  Neither did He say, “I have saved you by grace and now you just need to sit around and do nothing.”  Rather He saves them by His grace and calls them to work hard to reflect His character.  Similarly, God calls us to trust and obey; to receive his grace and respond with gospel-driven effort.  In what ways are you making grace-empowered effort with your spouse, children, work, church, and personal discipleship?  Are there areas where you need to pray for God’s blessing and strength?

Let us continue to exude Christ-like attitude and effort in every aspect of our lives.  In so doing, by God’s grace, we will continue to make much of Jesus in all the earth.