Prayer & the Church WATC

Prayer is not one of many different ministries.  Pray, a dependence on God, should be part of EVERYTHING the church does.  While we should pray for physical needs, the church's prayers should focus on spiritual growth and salvation.

What are some reasons we don't pray?  You may have come up with some different ones in your class.

• Seems like a waste of time.  
• Lie: Let's get working and doing something.
• Truth:  We are commanded to pray.  We need to grow in our dependence on God.  
• "I don't know how to pray."
• Lie:  There is an exact way that I need to pray.
• Truth:  Ask others to help you grow in your prayer life.  If you aren't sure how to pray, look to the Bible for examples of prayer.  
• If God is sovereign, why bother praying.
• Lie:  There is no reason to pray if God is sovereign.
• Truth:  We are commanded to pray.  The purpose of prayer is not to change God's mind.  

What would mark a praying church?

• People praying more.
• Harmony and unity in Christ.
• Growing dependence upon God
• Understanding that prayer is not ONE MORE activity of the church.  Prayer lies at the heart of all the church's ministry.  (The Praying Church, p. 28)
• Individuals praying for each other and asking others to pray for you. 

This "We Are the Church" study and last week's 75-year celebration are not meant to focus on Trinity Baptist Church but on the God Trinity worships.  We do church best when we don't look at the church but gaze at Christ (From The Praying Church by Paul Miller).  One way to grow in your prayer life is to look at and consider how to pray in scripture.

Here are three of Paul's prayers found in Ephesians for the church in Ephesus.  

• Ephesians 1:15-24
• Do not cease to give thanks for God's people.
• Pray that God will give the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God.
• Pray that believers would know the hope to which he has called you.
• Pray that believers would know the hope, the riches, the greatness of his power.

• Ephesians 3:14-19
• Pray for believers to be strengthened with power through His Spirit and according to the riches of his glory.
• Pray that Christ would dwell in the hearts of believers.
• Pray for the strength to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth
• Pray for believers to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
• Pray that believers may be filled with all the fullness of God.

• Ephesians 6:18-20
• Pray at all times.
• Pray that words may be given so the mystery of the gospel will be boldly proclaimed.

 Remaining We Are the Church Sessions

10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

For every We Are the Church, click HERE

Additional Resources:

Fighter Verses - www.fighterverses.com

40 Days of Life - https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/blogs.aspx

Prayerful Dependence from Church Ministries Conference workshop March of 2023.

Encouragement to Pray:  Prayer Promises from Thomas Hill

• James 1:5 - James 1;5 Image
• Hebrews 4:14 - 16 - Heb 4:14 Image; Heb 4:15 Image; Heb. 4:16 Image;  
• Philippians 4:6 - 7 - Phil 4:6 Image; Phil 4:7 Image
• Philippians 4:13, 19 - Phil 4:13 Image; Phil 4:19 Image
• Romans 8:26 - 28 - Rom 8:26 Image; Rom 8:27 Image; Rom 8:28 Image
• 1 Peter 5:7 - 1 Peter 5:7 Image
• James 4:1 - 3

TBC 75th Celebration

This week's "class" is not a formal study.  Celebrating God's goodness and grace is a great day, made known in and through Trinity Baptist Church. 

Here is the link to the Celebration Service

Here is the post from this Sunday's Trinity Kidz page post.  

The theme of today's lesson is Celebration. Trinity is celebrating its 75th anniversary with an open house, new members' reception, communion, and a Gospel reminder from Pastor Brett. The 1st—5th graders will learn about two events that remind us of what we need to celebrate: Rebirth through Jesus (John 3) and Salvation in Jesus (John 4).  

Take time today, this week, this month, and all of your time together to celebrate as a family THE HOPE WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST!
As you CELEBRATE GOD'S GOODNESSS AS A FAMILY, make it a habit to talk about these things regularly!

• Talk to your children about what it means to be a local church member, which is why we are doing the We Are the Church study.  This could be a weekly talking point.
• Talk to your children about communion. Remind them that it is a memorial and a celebration of Jesus for those who have been saved. This could be a monthly talking point.
• TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE GOSPEL, SALVATION, and JESUS CHRIST.  Use the booklet they will be taking home this morning.  This should be a daily conversation!

We need to remember that the church of God is the pillar that supports the truth.
It is not a marketplace for your preferred activities and ideas.

We need to share with the world about Jesus, his incarnation, righteousness, death, resurrection, and ascension.

This is the schedule for the next six weeks of class.

10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

Ministries of the Church WATC

Big Reminder: The church ministries are formal, as listed in the bulletin on the schedule, and informal, as each of us goes throughout the day.

What attributes of God are incommunicable (God alone possesses thus, we cannot have them)?

Omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, immutability, self-existence (aseity), and eternal

What attributes of God are communicable (We can be like God in these attributes)

His moral attributes:  love, goodness, and kindness

What do these questions about the attributes of God have to do with the ministries of the church?

In the first chapter of Discipling, Mark Dever makes two points.

We change:  “One of God’s incommunicable attributes is that he is immutable.  HE DOESN’T CHANGE.  But we change.” 

We influence and are influenced by others:  "We human beings are open to being influenced...  In fact, I want to take this one step further: all of us will inevitably be influenced by others, and we will influence others."

At the heart of discipleship is that we are not like God – we change.  Change is inevitable.
We should grow in love, goodness, and kindness – we must grow in Christlikeness. 
We can only do this through God's power and for God's glory.
The formal ministries of the church are meant to help us change and be change agents.  
For more verses on discipleship, go to www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-discipleship/ and consider what these verses say. 

As we think about the ministries of the church and discipleship, think about these two questions:

• What is essential for spiritual growth in a believer?
• The Gospel
• The Holy Spirit
• The Word of God
• The People of God
• Time

• What can be helpful but optional for a believer's spiritual growth?  Not necessarily bad, but it can be misplaced.  What are the benefits?  What are potential problems?
• Books other than the Bible
• Programs ("new and exciting OR "older and familiar")
• Events
• Potlucks

Ministry is NOT programs or events planned to keep people busy and entertained.
Ministry is saints in motion towards Christlikeness for the glory of God.  (from Praying Church by Paul Miller)
The formal ministries of the church are meant to help people grow in godliness, connect with people, and help others do the same. 

Last week's review of the membership included the BAPTIST acrostic.  The letter P is Priesthood of the Believers.  The ministries of the church are directly related to this point.  Each and every member of the church has the opportunity and RESPONSIBILITY to minister to one another.  This is not limited to those who stand between a pulpit.  
Another way to think of the Priesthood of the Believers is the phrase Ministry of the Pew - every believer speaking God's word and truth to one another.

The pastors, elders, and deacons have specific ministries and responsibilities at Trinity.

It is so important that we remember that EACH church member has a ministry at TBC. 

Brochure #2 says, "speaking the Word of God to one another for the glory of God."

The Trellis and The Vine is a book that has influenced Trinity's philosophy of discipleship and programs. The basic idea is that vinework is people-work and discipleship. The trellis are the programs and systems designed to help the discipleship process. It says, "If the real work of God is people-work—the prayerful speaking of His word by one person to another—then the jobs are never all taken. The opportunities for Christians to ministry personally to others are limitless."

With these truths and thoughts about discipleship and ministry, here are some considerations connected to specific ministry programs at Trinity Baptist Church

• Biblical Counseling
• Statement from the website:

No matter how long we've been followers of Jesus Christ, everyone needs fellowship and reminders of God's truth to persevere, grow in our faith, and help others do the same.

Such encouragement typically happens through participating in Sunday services and getting together with other Christians regularly for bible study, prayer, and discussion about applying biblical truth to life.

Sometimes, we need help beyond those general means of discipleship and encouragement.  It could be a trial that's hard to process, a long-standing pattern of sin, the impact of unwise choices, or a broken relationship.  How do we continue to obey and trust God when it gets tough? That's the role counseling can take in the Christian life.  It provides intensive and focused support for a particular issue to help us walk in obedience, faithfully steer life's storms, and persevere when hope, reconciliation, or change is impossible.

• Formally:  Biblical Counseling is meant to help people with difficulties with relationships, emotions, or habits.  This formal counseling involves meeting with someone with specific training, scheduling appointments, and more.

• Informally:  Everyone should be prepared to help people seek God and search scriptures for help.

• Women's Ministry & Men's Ministry (Taken from Women's Ministry In the Local Church)
• They are NOT consumer-oriented.  "We deserve a ministry that focuses on us."  With a consumer focus, the goal is to have EVERY woman or man participate in planned activities. And the ultimate motivation is merely because we love people and want to help them.
• They need to be Kingdom-oriented:  How can we invest in women or men in a way that equips them as disciples for their own spiritual growth, the good of families and individuals of the church, the betterment of the total ministry of the church, and their life in the world.  With a kingdom orientation, the goal is to serve and encourage every woman or man in the church for God's glory.  And the ultimate motivation is an insatiable longing to see the display of God's glory in the local church. 

• Children and Families & Teens and Families
• With both ministries, we want to disciple the children and teens God brings to us and help parents in their role of primary disciple-maker in their child's life.

• Adult Christian Education classes during regular quarters
• We want these classes to engage God's Word, God's World, and God's Work.  With these as our goal, we specifically offer the following
• one book of the Bible class each quarter.
• Classes on evangelism/missions, theology, prayer, church history, and parenting are regularly repeated.
• Occasional classes on current issues.

These are four specific words that are not separate ministry programs.  They should be part of everything we do.

Missions:  We should all be involved in Missions.  See the mission's brochure.  We should pray for and support our supported workers in each ministry while encouraging individuals to prayerfully consider serving the Lord in missions.

Evangelism:  This is not one of many programs.  It should be part of everything.

• The sermons and each ministry should encourage and equip Christians to know and share their faith. The ministries may also offer events to which you can invite unsaved people.

Discipleship: This is not one of many programs.  It should be part of everything.

• Class, groups, Bible studies, and Children's and Youth ministries are designed to help people connect with others for spiritual growth.

Prayer:  On August 8, we are going to look at PRAYER.

ADDITIONAL  RESOURCES

• Book:  10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, www.challies.com/book-reviews/ten-questions-to-diagnose-your-spiritual-health/

• Article: "Why don't churches make disciples?" This series of articles, www.9marks.org/article/5-reasons-we-dont-disciple-part-4/, provides some possible answers.

REMAINING LESSON SCHEDULE

10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

For every "We Are the Church," click HERE

Intentional Relationships WATC

The church seeks to build intentional relationships with believers to help each other grow and with unbelievers to share the gospel with them sooner rather than later.  This lesson and post explore what “intentional relationships” mean and look like in the church body.

This week’s lesson and last week’s lesson, Meaningful Membership, reviewed the two weeks of the New Members class to help each member understand what new members and every member are committing to when they join Trinity Baptist Church.

Two main parts of the second week of membership are (1) two initial church membership requirements – salvation and baptism and (2) a BAPTIST acrostic that explains some distinctive beliefs.

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY:  The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16‑17, 2 Tim. 3:16-4:2) 

AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH:   (Col. 1:18; 2 Cor. 8:1-5,19,23)

PRIESTHOOD OF EVERY BELIEVER:  Every believer has direct access to God. (Rev. 1:5‑6, Heb. 10:19, 1 Tim. 2:5)

TWO ORDINANCES:  Baptism by immersion and The Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41,47, 1 Cor. 11:23‑31)

INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY:  Every believer can distinguish truth from error through the teaching of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 2:20, 27; 1 Cor. 2:12)

SAVED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP (Acts 2:41, 47)

TWO OFFICES:  Elder and Deacon (Phil. 1:1, I Tim. 3:1‑13).  There is a Plurality of Leadership – Never CEO.

Each member of the church plays a vital role in the life of one another because each member is a part of the body of Christ.  In The Gospel Primer, Milton Vincent captures this reality with the following statement: “The more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.”

This intentionality is made known in the many "one another" commands.  Many of these commands can be found at www.challies.com/articles/one-another-the-bible-community/

Hebrews 10:24 and 25 tell us to meet together.  This spurring one another towards love and good deeds and encouraging one another needs to happen all throughout the week, not just Sunday morning.  It is not passively showing on Sunday mornings.  It is intentionally building relationships with others. 

These intentional relationships are built on Sunday mornings, other regular meeting times, special events, and throughout the week. 

These intentional relationships are built on different levels.  There are deep personal relationships, friends, and acquaintances.

A helpful intentional relationships resource is www.crossway.org/articles/building-a-culture-of-spiritually-intentional-relationships/. It contains four Ps that can lead to persistent cultural change. You can discuss how each of these can help grow intentional relationships.

DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:

Church members seek to build intentional relationships with believers to help each other grow and with unbelievers to share the gospel with them sooner rather than later

Upcoming Classes

10/01      Ministries of the Church
10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

For every We Are the Church post, click HERE.

Meaningful Membership WATC

The first part of the Meaningful Membership and Intentional Relationship class reviews the two weeks of membership class.

One of the first questions in the membership class is, “Why should one join a church?”

While there are multiple answers, here are two answers Pastor Brett shares with potential members. 

Membership means something.

True believers have been brought into the family of God.

The Bible does not talk about church membership.  However, it does talk about submission.  Submission to God and to one another.

In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul writes to the church, not the individual.  He tells “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons” (1:1) how to live. 
Be of the same mind, united in spirit, intent on one purpose, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, humbly consider another as more important than themselves, and don’t look out for your own interests but also for the interests of others. 
What a submission list.

We live this way because of who Jesus is and what He has done

In the church, this submission is made...
physically (gathering with church family on Sunday and throughout the week),
geographically (giving members access to me for discipleship and hospitality),
socially (Our most robust relationships should encourage us to grow in Christlikeness.  We should have friends outside of our comfort zone.),
financially (voluntary, sacrificially, for God’s glory),
ugliness (We tend only to want to submit to people or organizations if they are perfect or support our desires.)

Most of the N.T. was given to the church to be applied in the community, not individually.  Even Paul's letter to Timothy is written "so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God.”  (1 Tim. 3:15) 

We have brochures on various aspects of life at Trinity Baptist Church.  One is the “What does it mean to be a church member?” brochure.  It states that the church is a community of believers committed to growing together in godliness and testifying corporately about Jesus Christ to a fallen world.

This is done by...
- Protecting sound doctrine
- Pursuing unity in the church
- Promoting church purity
- Participating in the church
- Providing for the church 

During class time and, hopefully, outside of class time, talk to others about how God has used the church and saved people to help you grow in godliness.  Remember, God can and does use specific ministries at specific times in the life of a church.  Ultimately, membership is about a commitment to be used by God in the lives of others and to allow others to be used by God in your life.

To read more about meaningful membership, check out https://www.9marks.org/answer/what-meaningful-membership/

DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:

One key aspect of Meaningful Membership is that members are saved; they understand the importance of salvation and desire to see others saved.

9/24        Intentional Relationships
10/1        Ministries of the Church
10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church 

Urban Legends of Theology by Michael Wittmer has a section (216-217) very much connected with this week's lesson - "The Bible doesn't teach church membership."

The New Testament does not command Christians to join a local church, probably because it did not need to. What New Testament follower of Jesus would refuse to join his body?  On the day the church began, 3,00 people believed, were baptized and added to the church. In the ensuing days, "all the believers were together," and "every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved" (Acts 2:41-47). This pattern of believing and joining the church continued throughout the book of Acts. Is it possible to believe in Jesus and not belong to his local assembly? Maybe, but it never occurred to an apostle that anyone would; if someone refused baptism and membership in a local assembly, they would be counted as a genuine believer. The church assumed everyone baptized by the Spirit had become a member of the body of Christ by that baptism.  They belonged (1 Cor 12:12-13).° 

We do not know how the New Testament church kept track of its members (did they keep membership rolls?), but several Scriptures assume they had them. Paul tells Christians directly, "Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it" (v. 27). The New Testament church held elections for deacons and sent men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 6:1-4; 15:22). Surely, they knew who had a vote and who did not. Membership is also required for church discipline. Jesus said if our offending brother will not listen to our rebuke, we should "tell the church" (Matt 18:15-17). How do we tell the church if we do not know who belongs to the church? If our erring brother does not repent, Paul said we must "remove the evil person from among [us]" (1 Cor 5:13). How do we remove a person from among us if we do not know who counts as us? Paul said God judges those outside the church, and we judge those inside, so when we evict people from membership, we leave them to God's judgment (vv. 12-13). How do we do this without a clear boundary between those inside and outside the church?

 Finally, God says the church elders are responsible for the people under their care. They must "be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God" (Acts 20:28). They "will give an account" to God for how well they kept "watch over your souls" (Heb 13:17). If they "shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly," they "will receive the unfading crown of glory" when Jesus returns (1 Pet 5:1-4). The elders are not responsible for everyone or even every Christian. They are responsible for the people in their flock, which assumes they know who is a member of their church and who is not. 

New Testament Christians could not imagine uniting with Jesus but not his church. Neither should we.

For every We Are the Church post, click HERE.

Surgery Day Hope Reminder

 

We have been reminding Josiah and ourselves that this senior year injury reminds us of some critical, fundamental truths.

 It is not everything.  It is not a defining event.

It is not nothing. It is a significant event in his life.

It is something.  God is using this for His glory in Josiah’s life.  

This is part of a devotional I read to Josiah before his shoulder surgery. While we are disappointed that he will miss sports for a big chunk of his senior year.  We pray that his and our hope in God will continue to grow.

 “Hope:  Living Confidently in God”  by John Crotts The verse is Psalm 62:5

“The fact that we have to wait on God is not accidental. It is not a delay. He designs waiting times, using them to build our patience and strengthen our hope. When God’s children patiently expect him to bring the help they need, it shows that they recognize their dependence on him and trust him to come through.”

“God’s timing also has purposes beyond you. Have you considered God may be delaying the answer to your prayer so that your testimony of waiting (prolonging your active hope) on him can help someone else who is watching?”

“Although you cannot access God’s calendar, you can know his heart as revealed in his Word. Your hope for God’s good work in future events is as sure as all God has accomplished in the past. Until God finishes his plan, you must wait for him—but you can know for certain that God’s sovereign plan is good and wise. Waiting upon him is never in vain. He will always come through. He will deliver on every one of his promises. Your godly desires will be satisfied, according to God’s perfect will and in God’s perfect timing.”

Intro WATC

For every We Are the Church post, click HERE

As we dig even deeper into the Biblical idea of the church in general and what Trinity Baptist Church does and why, let's look at some primary reasons for doing this topic (We Are the Church) this way (in our Deacon Care Groups). 

“We Are the Church” is the Adult Christian Education everyone will be doing this fall because we must constantly be reminded of who we are and what we should be about.  In the “Theology Matters” study this summer, Zach shared this one-sentence explanation of the church.

The church is the assembly of believers who regularly meet together across the whole world, glorifying God by obeying His Word and discipling one another in the unity that comes through Christ Jesus.

As we begin this study on September 10, two ideas will be repeated throughout the entire series. 

1. The church is a specific group of people – saved people.  
2. This group of people is focused on the glorification of God.  Two ways we do this are through helping and equipping believers to grow in the Gospel & sharing the Gospel with those who need to be saved

In the first week of every membership class, Pastor Brett shares some incorrect ideas about the church.

The church is not a club, a voluntary organization, or a service provider
The church is not a meeting time.  There are times when the church gathers.
The church is not a building.  There may be a designated place where the church meets together.

What does the Bible say the church is?  God's word contains several different images to explain what the church is.

In Ephesians 5:22-23, the church is called a bride. 

In 1 Timothy 3:14-15 and Romans 8:15-17, 29-30, the church is a family. 

In Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:13; and Ephesians 4:11-12, the church is a body. 

 

 

In Ephesians 2:19-22, the church is a building. 

 

In Acts 20:28-32, the church is a flock.

The church of God must live according to God’s plan in dependence upon God’s power for God’s glory.

Ephesians 4:11-16 shows us that God provided apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for equipping the saints.  This is a familiar passage about the purpose of the church and church leaders and will be referenced in several different lessons.

Read through this passage and look for result statements.

God's plan for individual believers and his church is spiritual growth.

As you think about this week's lesson and look ahead to next week's lesson, "Meaningful Membership,"  plan to grow as an individual and as a church.

Additional Resources
https://www.challies.com/articles/whats-the-purpose-of-the-church/

DISCIPLESHIP & EVANGELISM THREAD:

The church's purpose is to glorify God, and the two main ways we do this are through helping and equipping believers to grow in the Gospel & sharing the Gospel with those who need to be saved.

Lesson Schedule

9/10        Introduction
9/17        Meaningful Membership
9/24        Intentional Relationships
10/1        Ministries of the Church
10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church

For every We Are the Church, click HERE

We Are the Church

For every We Are the Church - Fall Class post, 

including the most recent lesson's post,

click HERE

For Info about the Winter 2023/24 classes

click HERE

On September 10, Trinity Baptist Church will begin its Fall Adult Christian Education (ACE) class. Instead of the three or four different classes, we will have three groups doing the same study, "We are the Church."  

This continues to build on our one combined summer study, "Theology Matters."  One specific lesson was "What is the Church?"  Zac Harmon did a great job teaching that lesson. Still, as we think about the details of the community that is our church family, it is essential to understand what the church—universal—around the world and local—here at Trinity Baptist Church is.  

In our study of "We are the Church," we will explore the Biblical idea of the church in general, what Trinity Baptist Church does explicitly, and why.

Two ideas that will be emphasized throughout the study are as follows:
The church is a specific group of people - saved people.
The church's focus must be the glorification of God. Two ways we do this are through spiritual growth and sharing the Gospel.

While the main reason for this study is the importance of the church in God's plan. A secondary reason is to get to know your church family as we are reminded of the church. In the groups, people will share testimonies and pray together. The three groups are based on the deacon care groups, and each group will be taught a very similar class. The Red Group will be meeting downstairs in Room #3. The Green Group will be meeting in the Fireplace Room. The Blue and Yellow Groups will be meeting in the Chapel.  

Plan to join your Deacon Care group starting September 10.

• The Red Group will be meeting in Room 3 downstairs.
• The Green Group will be meeting in the Fireplace Room.
• The Blue and Yellow Groups will be meeting in the Chapel.

Remember the purposes of this study.

• Grow in an understanding of what the church is - universal and local (Trinity Baptist Church)
• Grow in our love for and knowledge of people in our deacon care group
• Remember who we are and what we do so we can focus on the main thing.

Lesson Schedule

9/10        Introduction
9/17        Meaningful Membership
9/24        Intentional Relationships
10/1        Ministries of the Church
10/08      75th Celebration
10/15      Prayer & the Church
10/22      The Bible & the Church
10/29      Preaching & the Church
11/05      Leadership & the Church
11/12      Discipline & the Church
11/19      The Gathering of the Church

2023 Fall Kickoff

Sunday morning, September 3, was our Fall Kick-Off time.

Eating donut holes, drinking some orange juice, cider, and coffee

and even more so

sharing about and praying for many exciting opportunities to learn and grow
together and personally

during this school year.

 

ACE (Adult Christian Education) Fall Class

Middle School & High School Youth Group

TBC KIDZ Fall Update

Small Groups @ TBC

AWANA Registration

To Connect with Missionaries & Ministries,
Contact Pastor Jason

Some Personal Growth Resources

School Year Bible Reading Plan

Fighter Verses Bible Memory Plan

 

What are End Things?

Eschatology - What are the end things?

Pastor Brett's sermons on this topic:

• Intro to Eschatology - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/04-03-16PT59.mp3
• The Judgement of Christ - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/04-17-16PT60.mp3

Short Statement  (TBC doctrinal statement): 

We believe that the day is imminent when the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven and we who are in Christ, weather living or dead, will be caught up (“raptured”) to meet Him in the air to be with Him forever; that at His second coming He will put all of His enemies under His feet and consummate His kingdom reign on the earth for all eternity.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.

Key Thoughts

• Return of Christ is Imminent
• Judgement is real and every knee will bow.
• Heaven is real – New Heaven and New Earth
• Hell is real

Why is it Vital to our Daily Lives:

• Life is more than the here and now but what we choose here and now determines where we spend eternity.

Here are some specific thoughts from Sunday's class time.  HERE is a link to the PowerPoint

• In the Christian life we have a PRESENT PEACE and a FUTURE HOPE.
• Why study eschatology (end things)
1. It is a key element of our story as Christians.
2. Prophecy is an important part of the Bible
3. Christians are interested in a look at future events.
4. Christians can be motivated to godly living through eschatology.
5. It gives us perspective in a troubled world.
6. It's a warning to the unbeliever.
• The word "dispensation" refers to an interpretation of Scripture that places the events of Scripture into seven dispensations, or time periods, in biblical history.
1. innocence (Adam and Eve)
2. conscience (Adam to flood)
3. human government (Noah to Babel)
4. promise (beginning with Abraham)
5. law (Exodus through Christ's death)
6. grace (current age of grace)
7. kingdom (Millennial kingdom)

Chapters of Urban Legends of Theology by Michael Wittmer connected to this doctrine:  
We Will Live Forever in Heaven (Ch. 40)

Hope in God

I want the theme of my life and work to be HOPE!

Psalm 42 HOPE

I need to hope in God in every circumstance, easy or hard, good or bad.
On July 16, I was privileged to preach a sermon on Psalm 42 entitled "An Old Hope."
The preparation for the sermon was so helpful in my own life.  In preaching the sermon, I used "hope" over 70 times.  However, it is my prayer that, even more than repeating the word "hope," many times, those who hear the message are reminded and live in the hope that only Jesus Christ brings.

At the end of this sermon, I shared four prayers for the people at Trinity Baptist Church:

• Kids and youth, I pray that your parents and others would live so that you see their hope in God and that God grows in you a more profound hope in Him.
• Young adults, I pray that the older believers in this church live and act on Sundays and every day in such a way that they know they are loved by God and others and that you desire to ask them how to live life for God’s glory and the good of others.
• Newer believers, I pray you will always remember the joy of your salvation and prayerfully seek opportunities to grow formally and even more so informally.
• Older believers and long-time church members, I pray that you will remember and rejoice because the church has helped you grow in your love for God and continues to help you succeed.  While it may look a little or a lot different, pray that it will continue to focus on God and the hope he brings.

I am thankful I don't have to devise creative and innovative ways to inspire hope.

I need to be filled up with God's Word and share God's Word with others.

Romans 15:4 HOPE

When teaching and reading scripture, I need to remember that it was written to provide hope. At our Children's Ministry Leaders/Helpers Kickoff Meeting at Trinity Baptist Church, this is part of the devotional I shared in the beginning, Hope: Living Confidently In God by John Crotts.

God has provided many beautiful records of his strength and character in the Bible.  He has also provided many amazing promises that Christians can count on.  Paul wrote today's verse as he looked back at the Old Testament.  According to what Paul says in Romans, Bible stories are not just for Sunday school classes or Bible trivia games - they were written "for our instruction," so you might be encouraged.  Their goal is to refocus your hope by reminding you of the greatness of God.  

The stories in Scripture demonstrate that hope in God is solid, true, accurate, and effective.  Those who hope in God can be used by him to do impossible things.  If God was faithful to David and Moses, he would be loyal to you, too.  You have the exact same God, the God of the Bible.

If you are saved, remember, you have been saved
BY GRACE
THROUGH CHRIST
and you have 
A LIVING HOPE.

As we live our lives, talk with people, and deal with good times and challenges,
hope in God.

As I teach, I provide oversight to Trinity's ministries to children, families, and adults,
I want to proclaim our hope is in Christ and help others live in this hope.

As we go through life,
proclaim that ultimate hope is in Christ and help others do the same.

God-focused Hope is what we need.
Not the hope of this world.

Who are the angels and the demons?

Pastor Brett's Sermons on this topic:

• Angelology Intro - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/09-28-14PT24.mp3
• Satan - Who is He? - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/10-05-14PT25.mp3
• Satan - His Activity - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/10-12-14PT26.mp3
• Satan - His Defeat and Our Defense - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/10-19-14PT27.mp3

Short Statement (from The Essential Scriptures by Kevin Zuber):  

There can be little doubt that the Bible reveals the existence of angels.  Angels serve God as messengers of judgment, give Him praise, and reveal significant developments in the progress of God's program.  

Scripture also reveals the existence of Satan and demons.  Both oppose God and deceivers.

While there is not a specific statement in Trinity Baptist Church's doctrinal statement about angelology, it is a topic in most systematic theology books and there are things that need to be clarified as it relates to what they believe and conversations they might have with others. As a community of individuals interested in religious studies, we can delve deeper into this topic together.

HERE is the link to Dan Poling's notes (student and teacher) from Sunday's notes.

Remember, Look Up and Be Humble.

From Urban Legends of Theology

Eulogies that end with "We may have lost our father and friend, but heaven got another angel" are wrong.  They are vaguely comforting, but only if we do not think too hard.

Humans never become angels.  We are an entirely different class of being. God aspires to conform us "to the image of his Son so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29).  God saved us to be like Jesus.   

Chapters of Urban Legends of Theology by Michael Wittmer connected to this doctrine:   Grandpa Went to Heaven and Plays Outfield for the Angels. 

What is the Church?

What is the church?

In Sunday's class, Zac gave this definition of the church

The church is the assembly of believers who regularly meet worldwide, glorifying God by obeying His Word and discipling one another in the unity that comes through Christ Jesus.

Pastor Brett's Sermons on the Church:

• The Study of the Church - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/08-16-15PT46.mp3
• Membership and Purpose - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/08-30-15PT47.mp3
• The following will be covered in the Fall's What is the Church? study
• Why Baptism by Immersion - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/09-13-15PT48.mp3
• The Lord's Supper - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/09-20-15PT49.mp3
• Why Church Discipline - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/09-27-15PT50.mp3
• How to Grow Spiritually - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/10-25-15PT51.mp3
• Discipleship 101 - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/01-10-16PT54.mp3
• Prayer - The Most Important and Least Prioritized - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/01-31-16PT55.mp3
• The Vine, the Branches, and the Vine Dresser - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/02-28-16PT56.mp3
• True or False - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/03-06-16PT57.mp3
• American Christian - https://tbcgr.org/sermons/mp3/foundational-teachings/03-13-16PT58.mp3

Short Statement  (TBC doctrinal statement):   

We believe that the two ordinances of the local church are Baptism (the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and the Lord’s Supper (partaking of the bread and the cup to memorialize Christ’s death and anticipate his second coming); that the local church is an independent and self-governing body responsible alone to Christ who is its Savior and Lord.

The church is made up of disciples who 
GLORIFY God
GROW into the image of Christ
SHARE THE GOSPEL with others

An essential part of church life at Trinity is meaningful membership.

Why is it Vital to our Daily Lives:

• Hebrews exhorts us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.”
• The purposes of the church are best accomplished with “one another.”
• The example of the early church was that they were DAILY together.
• The early church constantly (Daily) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
• Consider – terms we use for connection to the church – “joining” a church as if it’s a club – “driving down to the church” as if it’s a building – “enjoying church” as if it’s a show – what do these terms say about our assumptions about church and how do they impact our participation?

Bible Verses

Matthew 28:19-20

Acts 1:8; 2:1-3, 38-39; 10:44-45

Galatians 1:3-5

“What is the Church?”  Fall Series Information beginning September 10, 2023.

The overall goal is to help Trinity glorify God even more and to help our church family encourage and love one another.

There will be four classes based on the Deacon Care Groups.

The class times are designed with two purposes in mind: 
-  grow in an understanding of what the church is (universal and local)
-  grow in our love for and knowledge of people in our deacon care group

2.  Each week's class time will have the following elements built into them:|
-  at least 10 minutes of prayer built in to pray for your Care Group and the church.
-  two individuals sharing a testimony time for additional thoughts and discussion built into each lesson

     Chapters of Urban Legends of Theology by Michael Wittmer connected to this doctrine:

    I Don't Need Church to Have a Relationship with God (Ch. 36)