Tidings Article - March 2010

Dear Friends,

In the fall of 2009, our church started on a project to develop Values and Mission Statements and a Vision/Strategy for implementing the Values and Mission.

Working together, we created a Values Statement focused on being Centered in Christ, Grounded in the Word, Offered in Worship, Unified in Discipleship, Bonded in Love, Supported in Fellowship, United in Prayer and Invested in Missions.

Next, we needed a bold, brief and biblical Mission Statement explaining what God wants us to do. I brought a rough draft of a Mission Statement to our January Council meeting. After some discussion at that meeting, it was revised. This was approved in February:

The mission of the First Baptist Church is to show the York community and the world the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

The statement is active. It says that we are to “show” others about the love of God, which requires action.

It is broad in terms of geography. It starts in our “Jerusalem” and goes out to the whole world (Acts 1:8).

It is general, but focused on a specific aspect of God’s character: love.

It was love that motivated the Father to send His Son to the world, so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. Loving God is the greatest commandment. The next greatest commandment is to love our neighbor. If we do love each other, the world will know that we are Jesus’ followers. We are to be devoted to each other in with sincere love, and to even love our enemies.

The last phrase is of major significance: the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. All of God’s love comes to us through Jesus and because of what Jesus has done. Christian love is obviously centered on and rooted in Jesus.

May we love God and our neighbors, and show it every day,

Pastor Tim

This week's sermon notes:

LOVE COMPLETELY

Feb. 28, 2010; Part 3 of Series: One Month to Live

The Perilous Potholes of Peril

     Misunderstanding, “Me First,” Mistakes

The Bridge of Acceptance

     “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7

The Bridge of Loving Actions

     Consideration – “Look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others.” Phil. 2:4

     Cooperation – “From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph. 4:16

     Commitment – “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Eph. 5:25

The Bridge of Loving Actions

     “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col. 3:13

Current Sermon Series

"One Month to Live - 30 Days to a No Regrets Life"

From Feb. 14 to March 21, our sermons will focus on our Lenten emphasis. This series is tied in with the small group Bible studies, and our Prayer Labyrinth for Holy Week.

"Bringing Outsiders In - the Gospel of Luke"

Began February 2009, will continue in 2010 after Easter

Who is Jesus? How does he relate to us? How does he fit in with our lives?

The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as the Anointed One, who was chosen and prepared to bring people to God, especially those who are far away from Him.

Luke is the story of Jesus for outcasts, for wanderers, for those searching for truth, even if they don't know it.

Jesus heals, he comforts, he welcomes everyone to God. He gives up everything that he ever had to gain everyone who will ever come to God.

Come hear the stories, see Jesus again, for the first time.