Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter.
It is exciting to see the progress on the building, as well as the progress in FBC. Building is a hard process, but it is also profitable. The building being constructed has allowed me to learn new things, experience disappointments while still being amazed. It’s kind of like growing physically, emotionally or spiritually. I could say all those are also true. The building seems like it has taken “forever” but it is pretty close to original expectations. When I am “growing” sometimes it seems like I will never get beyond “this,” but it does eventually transpire. Setbacks and amazement also come but that again is just the process.
For some of you, you see the progress from Sunday to Sunday and are amazed how much got done in that week. Others see it every day and wonder why nothing is happening. I compare that to seeing your kids grow up at home, and watching your grandkids grow up onlyseeing them every few weeks. Either way we must remember the long-term goal, for kids to grow up and be a productive member of society, but for us what is the long-term goal? The long-term goal is not a “building.” The long-term goal is not to have merely up to date facilities. The goal is to give our church the room to reach more people and to grow those already here. You already know these updates will show parents their kids can be safe in our secured nursery. You already know it allows us to have bathrooms more accessible. You already know we will have a “gathering area” to talk, visit and fellowship more easily. But the construction process also shows that we are building for the future. We are concerned about those who come after us. We want to leave our church in a better position to teach a lost world and for families who need to grow in their walk with the Lord, that we are here. That is the primary reason why the church is here.
Paul wrote to the church in Colossae to show them that they not only had an amazing opportunity but a responsibility to grow and to help others grow. Paul writes to them and says,
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Paul’s advice is telling them to pray for each other and God to help us grow in our spiritual walk. Paul is talking about growing, growing in knowledge of God, being strengthened will all power, to have patience and endurance. This is all evidence of our growth. So, as we see the building go up, as we grow as a church, I hope you see your own spiritual growth. Give thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints. Did you get that? You are qualified! The church is not able to fulfill all it is called to do, without you.
The hard part about this building is realizing how many things I don’t understand. I have been so blessed to have contractors, people like Charlie Akers, Johnnie Wilson and others, to explain to me why this is used or why it is done that way. So many people are using their talents to help to accomplish God’s plan. God has also used many people to get me to be your pastor and to grow into the person God wants me to be. We want you to be a part of our church’s growth, but we also want to be a part of yours-so I hope that I will see you Sunday, so we can all grow together.
In Christ,
Brother Alan
Do you know what is the world’s most popular bible verse? If you guessed John 3:16, you are correct. This verse is searched over two million times each month across the globe. The next most popular searched bible verses are, Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13. Both of those are searched for less than 100,000 times per month. This past month the youth have been going over a study called, “Famous 3:16s.” We have been teaching 4 of the most popular 3:16 verses in the Bible.
Our first week began with 2nd Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
All scripture is God-breathed. Paul said everything in this book is from God’s mouth; literally exhaled by God. It’s kind of confusing, but the process of how what a person wrote can also at the same time be authored by God, is what we call, INSPIRATION.
Simply stated, God inspired the different authors of the Bible to write the exact words God desired, in the author’s original language (that’s Hebrew for the OT and Greek/Aramaic for the NT).
• It was written by: at least 40 different authors (shepherds, farmers, tent-makers, physicians, fishermen, priests, philosophers and kings) spanning a time period of 1600 years,
• It was written in three different languages,
• And it was written in multiple styles including, narratives, poems, prophecy, parables, proverbs, songs, and letters.
God speaks to us through this book. And the great thing is that what He speaks to us has such power and authority, that it can change our lives.
Our second week was 1st John 3:16: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
This is the heart of the gospel. Jesus Christ in His desire to have a restored relationship with people, He took on human form, He died for you and me,
so that we might live. We ought to also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can do that by giving of our possessions to people in need and sharing our time with others.
The third week scripture was Revelation 3:16: So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Where is it in your life that you may be LESS focused (distracted) on Jesus because you are too focused on something or someone else? The reality is that when we become LESS focused on Christ our faith can become lukewarm and useLESS. We challenged the students to become FULLY focused on their walk with Christ.
Our last text was the most famous one, John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 is a short and clear summary of Christians central message, highlighting God’s love for people, Jesus as the Father’s Son and the connection between being a believer and everlasting life.
As the school year comes to a close, I ask that you pray for our students as summer begins. There are a lot of great things going on for our students this summer. Also, we are looking for any kind of work or chores for the students to do to help offset the cost of youth camp. We are planning to work this Saturday, May 4th, but if that day does not work for you, let me know and we can find another time. Thanks for reading, God bless.
Eli Lopez
A couple of weeks ago we passed out cards with a seashell attached and the word S-H-E-L-L written on it. It was a reminder for us all to pray for Vacation Bible School. VBS is one of our church's most concentrated opportunities to impact the lives of children and their families in our community. We can only do it through the surrender of volunteers and the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we step out and pray, acknowledging our weaknesses and placing the whole event in His hands, I believe God will do a mighty work! I hope you join me in this prayer!
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Luke 8:8
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8
Thank you!
Marie Dittmar
Copyright © 2022 First Baptist Church - All Rights Reserved.
600 East Commerce 903-322-4332 church@fbcbuffalo.org
Sundays Bible Study at 9:30am, Worship at 10:45am