Can You Hear Him Now?

Good morning, everyone! Hope your Friday is going well. I've been watching the weather reports and forecast models this morning, and it looks like we are in for a major winter storm Sunday night and into Monday. HOWEVER, please everyone take note that we're not expected to get anything until after noon on Sunday, so morning services SHOULD NOT be hindered in any way!

Everyone please make sure that you are prepared for the possibility of power outages Sunday night and into Monday. Also make sure you've got enough food for a few days just in case the worst case scenario happens. We want everyone to be safe!

But again, regardless of what happens Sunday afternoon and night, Sunday morning's looking really good, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this weekend at EFBC! I know we've got some baptisms lined up, and that always lights my fire! And I've got a message that is burning within me for this Sunday. The sermon is entitled Can You Hear Him Now?, and we'll be looking at Revelation 3:1-6. I can hardly wait!

Don't forget that this Sunday we'll also have our monthly business meeting immediately following the morning service. If you're a member of this church, let me encourage you to please plan on staying for the business meeting. These meetings are not just for the "church leaders." If you're a member here, these meetings are for you, too! I hope you'll stick around.

By the way, did anyone notice how many folks were here Wednesday night? Quite possibly the biggest crowd for a regular Wednesday night service we've ever had (at least in the past 9 years). It was an AWESOME night!

God is up to something BIG at EFBC! He's not done working here! He's got greater things in store for 2011! Last year was great, but THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Behind The Manger

OK, so it probably feels like it's been a month since I published a weekly "Sunday preview." And it nearly has been. Certain things have happened on Fridays that have prevented me from doing this, so I'm really glad to get this out today.

I'm really excited about our Christmas Experience Live Nativity which will be tomorrow night and Sunday! This was one of the highlights of last year, and I fully expect it to be even better this year! And it looks like the weather is going to cooperate with us this year. We'll begin at 5 o'clock each night and will go until eight. Remember to dress warmly, and pray for lives to be changed as a result of this ministry!

I'm also excited about Sunday morning at EFBC! This week's message is entitled Behind The Manger. Have you ever noticed how Luke tells the Christmas story with a focus on Mary, while Matthew tells the story with a focus on Joseph? We're all familiar with the human side of the story, but what would it look like if we pulled back the veil and saw the story of Christmas from God's perspective?

I think that's what John's Gospel does for us. This Sunday morning, we'll be looking at the Christmas story from John 1:14, going behind the scenes to see what Christmas is all about. I'm really looking forward to preaching this message, and I hope you'll plan on being here with us. It will be a special day because our children's choir will be sharing several Christmas songs with us during the morning worship, as well.

Also, remember that this Sunday is the day when Angel Tree gifts are due. And, don't forget about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. It should be a great weekend here at Eulaton First Baptist Church as we kick off Christmas week! I hope you'll plan on being a part of it!

Joy to the world, the Lord has come! The best has already come into this world, and praise God, the best is coming again!

About The Church

It's Friday, and you know what that means, don't you? It means I'm getting super-pumped about this Sunday at EFBC! Wednesday night was amazing this week! At about 5:45, we had everybody in the fellowship hall, and just seeing all those kids in there lit a fire in me. Sure, it was a bit loud and crazy for a few minutes, but I'll take a loud crowd over a silent and empty building any day!

What we're doing at EFBC is the most important thing in all of the world! OK, so it's not really us, but rather God doing it and using us in the process. There's no greater need on this planet than for people to have a life changing relationship with Jesus! For those of you who are serving in ANY capacity, don't ever think that what you're doing is not making a difference. God has already produced fruit that we've been able to see right now. And I truly believe there will be many other fruits that we'll not even know of until we all get to heaven.

This Sunday at Eulaton, we'll be continuing our Frequently Asked Questions series. This week's message will deal with frequently asked questions about the church. Here's the questions we'll try to answer this Sunday:

-Why can't I just watch church on television?
-Can't I worship God just as well in the woods?
-Aren't all churches full of hypocrites?
-With so many denominations, which one is right?
-Why should I attend when it doesn't apply to me?
-What is church really all about?
-Can't I love Jesus without loving the church?

I hope you'll plan on being with us this Sunday morning. I'm praying (and I hope you will be, too) that God will show up in a huge way. One verse God showed me this week is Psalm 69:9, where David says, "zeal for your house consumes me." I'm praying that a zeal for Jesus and His church will consume all of us in a powerful way!

Keep praying! Keep investing and inviting! And keep expecting GREATER THINGS because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

About The Bible

I'm incredibly excited about this Sunday at EFBC! This weekend will be the second installment of the 2010 edition of Frequently Asked Questions. Our theme this week is frequently asked questions about the Bible. Questions we'll try to answer this week are:

-Isn't the Bible just an invention of man?
-Weren't eighty gospels considered for the New Testament?
-Wasn't the Bible compiled by the Roman emperor Constantine?
-Does the Bible really teach that Jesus is God?
-How can I be certain the Bible is the word of God?

I hope you'll plan on being with us Sunday morning at EFBC. Keep investing and inviting! Keep praying! And keep expecting GREATER THINGS! I'm looking for God to show up in a HUGE way this Sunday!

It's more than just a cliche' folks...I really mean it every week when I say that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Sunday's Coming

As I write this, we are now just a little more than 48 hours away from Sunday morning worship at Eulaton First Baptist; and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this weekend! I'm really excited about getting together with my church family and lifting high the name of Jesus! And I'm super-pumped about the opportunity to get to preach to the best group of people that I know.

Last November, I did a series of messages entitled Frequently Asked Questions, and it was without a doubt the most talked about series I've ever done in 17 years of ministry. After we finished up the series, I mentioned that we would do it again next November. Well guess what: November's here and the FAQ's are back for another round of sermons.

We're going to do it just a little bit different this year, though. Last year, the questions were all completely unrelated. We might have been talking about the doctrine of election one minute, and then we were shifting gears and talking about divorced deacons. Well, this year every message is going to have a theme. The first message this Sunday will deal with frequently asked questions about spiritual warfare. Here are the questions I plan to address this weekend:

-Where did Satan and the demons come from?
-Can a Christian be possessed by a demon?
-Are Christians instructed to bind Satan?
-Aren't angels just Christians who've died and gone to heaven?
-Do angels have to be seen to be real?
-What should be my response to spiritual warfare?

I'm really excited about this series of messages, and I hope you will be, too! Tell a friend, tell a co-worker, and tell a family member. Let's fill this place up Sunday morning and blow the roof off with our praises to Jesus! And let's come together expecting God to show up as we remember this verse:

Ps 63:2 - So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (NKJ)

Keep investing and inviting. Keep praying for your lost friends and family. Keep praying for all of our folks who are sick and going through tough stuff right now. And keep believing God for GREATER THINGS because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!