First Baptist Church 100 S.W. 4th Avenue P.O. Box 427 Mineral Wells, TX 76068

PASTOR'S POINTS

Vol 19 No 15 April 16 2019

Nathan Buchanan Pastor

Mel Kincaid Minister of Music Caleb Crouch Minister of Youth

Ann Fidler Director of Senior Adult Ministry

Heather Mahaffey Pastor/Financial Secretary

Liz O’Quin Receptionist/Records Secretary

Steve Richards Building Maintenance Supervisor Lisa Becton First Steps Preschool Director

Anita Baker Preschool Coordinator

Pat Harrington Pianist

Joyce Embry Organist

Easter: Every Sunday, we celebrate our risen Savior. However, once a year, we gather to worship with a resounding, “He is risen!” This Easter Sunday will be no different. We will proclaim the truth of our risen Savior loud and clear. Why is this so important? The whole value of our faith rests on this one moment in all of history. The Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian church speaks to this understanding by saying, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain” (1 Cor. 15:14). He goes on to say, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). This is why Easter is so important. This next Sunday, we will celebrate the truth that because Jesus was raised from the dead,

all who are in Christ will also be raised on the day of Christ’s return. Join us this Sunday as we worship our risen Lord. We will also wrap up the gospel of Mark on Sunday morning in both of our morning services (8:50 AM and 11:00 AM). It will be a Sunday you will not want to miss. Parent/Child Dedication Service: On Mother’s Day, May 12th, we will take time during our morning worship service for a Parent/Child Dedication. This dedication is a time set aside each year for parents to dedicate their babies or young children to the Lord. If you would like to participate in this Parent/Child Dedica-tion, please contact the church office over the next couple of weeks. We will also provide a class on what it means to dedicate your child during the Sunday School hour on May 5th. For more information on the class or the dedication Sunday, please call the church office. Together We Worship: One week from this next Sunday, we move to our one service format. It will not be a contemporary worship service or a traditional worship ser-vice. We will present our best offering to the Lord and seek to give Him all the glory. Worship, by the way, has more to do with one’s response to God than it does with the music style. Yes, I understand that some music styles speak more to our hearts than others, but hearing or singing songs that speak to our hearts does not always equal worship. According to Allen and Borror and their book, Worship: Rediscovering the Miss-ing Jewel, worship is “an active response to God whereby we declare His worth.” Dr. Bruce Leafblad, SWBTS, defines worship as “communion with God in which believers by grace center their mind’s attention and their heart’s affection on the Lord, humbly glorifying Him in response to His greatness and His Word.” These definitions describe worship as an end in itself, not a means to something else. They remind us that wor-ship is not a human invention; rather, it is a divine offering! Worship, therefore, serves to refocus us to the center of our existence, God Himself. Worship is for God and unto God, not for us. However, when we actively respond to God and worship with an intense passion to connect with God, we experience true worship and find our hearts filled with joy at the same time. Join us on April 28th at 10:15 AM as we come together to worship our King!

Serving Him Together,

Pastor Nathan

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers needed for the

“Golf Cart Team” Contact Keith Holamon at

817-821-7870 or catch him on Sunday mornings in the front Foyer.

I had a friend of mine post this on her Facebook page this week. “Guys I had an awesome experience today. I went through the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts and all the sudden it was laid on my heart, "pay for the guy's coffee behind you." I glanced in my rear view mirror and there was a big burly guy staring at me. I paid for his coffee and as we both drove off, he pulled over and rolled his window down, motioning me to roll mine down as well. I stared into the face of a man with tears streaming down his cheeks. He looked me straight in the eyes and said "I hated God. My sister committed suicide a few months ago, and I hated Him for letting that happen. I have been so angry with Him, and I was having it out with Him again in the drive thru, so if you saw my glare that's why. And I said, Ya know what Lord? If you're real, if you care about me, if you love me, have that red car in front of me buy me coffee." He shook his head saying "I should know better than to challenge Him." He looked at me again with tears in his eyes and said "thank you. Thank you for being obedient to the Lord. Thank you for loving Him, even when I hated him. I see His love in your eyes.” Something much greater than buying a cup of coffee for someone happened today. Thank you Jesus.” ~ Caleb Crouch

What a wonderful time of worship we had this past Sunday as our FBC Music Ministry led us through the service “It Was Finished On the Cross”, culminating in celebrating the Lord’s Supper together. Then, it was a blessing to have Scott and Maricel Jennings join our fellowship. My thanks to our staff, Sanctuary Choir, Musicians, A/V Team, our children and our soloists for blessing us. Our prayer was that the message would be very clear—that Christ completed the work on the cross. “Now we rejoice in victory. We life our eyes to Calvary. Before the battle has begun, By Jesus’ blood it has been won. It was finished on the cross.” Blessings, Mel

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us How deep the Father's love for us How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure How great the pain of searing loss The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory Behold the man upon a cross My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom Stuart Townend Easter Blessings, Ann NO PRIMETIME THIS WEEK. We have moved it to next week on the 26th.

First Baptist Church Mission

Statement

First Baptist Church of Mineral Wells reveals God’s grace to the world as we Love like Christ, Live for Christ, and

Lead to Christ one life at a time.

FBC is hosting the 2019 Right Now Media

Marriage Night Conference on Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 5:00-8:30pm. Dinner is

included and childcare is available. The cost is $15 per person. Presenters at the conference

include: Frances and Lisa Chan, Led and Leslie Parrot and Michael Jr. We hope to see you there! Please visit our website and click

on Events to register by May 12!

CENTER OF LIFE The Center of Life is now needing pop-top

canned meats (like Vienna Sausages) and fruit cups (any type of fruit) and

1lb bags of rice.

We will be having our Parent/Child Dedication on Mother’s Day, May 12,

2019. If you would like to dedicate your child during our

Worship Service, please contact the church office

for more information.

Join us beginning Sunday, April 28, as we begin our new One Service

schedule:

Please joins us this Sunday, April 21, for our Easter Sunday Services:

8:50am— 1st Service 10:00am—Sunday School

11:0am—2nd Service with 89.3 FM Radio Broadcast