Spiritual Growth Opportunities

Course Catalog Fall 2014

Encounter. Equip. Empower.

First Baptist Church of Terrell 403 N. Catherine St. Terrell, TX 75160 972.563.7561

www.fbcterrell.org

Spiritual Growth through

Seek the Kingdom. . . .

and more . . .

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COME HOME A Call Back to Faith

By James MacDonald Led by: John Lowrie Start Date: Oct. 22 6 pm Room: 111E (Choir Room) 5 Sessions. Book cost: $10 God is very concerned for individuals who wander from the truth and find themselves far from Him. Most of us either know a wanderer or have personally experienced what it's like. And there are multiple examples of wanderers in the Bible, such as Peter, Thomas, Samson, and the prodigal son. These biblical characters represent the variety of qualities found in people who wander today: fearful, doubtful, sensual, and willful. Come Home is a call to a greater awareness of the disconnected and hurting. And it is a challenge to believers to bring back those who are missing.

By Henry and Richard Blackaby

Led by: John Lowrie 7 sessions on Wednesdays Starts: Sept. 3 at 6:00pm Room: 111E (Choir Room) Book cost: $10

Fresh Encounter by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby & Claude King

Fresh Encounter guides believers through the biblical pattern of experiencing God's presence which leads to revival in the church and a spiritual awakening in the world. As churches today search for the right ministry to reach their community, this study will help them return to their "first love" of Jesus Christ so He can work powerfully in them and through them. Fresh Encounter is designed to aid churches and individual believers to return to a faithful relationship with God and become catalysts for revival. (7 Sessions) Introductory week, followed by six weeks of study of God’s

Pattern for Revival, Our Hearts Discipline, Repentance, Role of

Prayer, and the Catalyst for Revival.

Book Cost: ____

KINGDOM AGENDA

By Tony Evans

Led by: Hal & Karen Jones 6 Sessions Wednesdays, beginning Sept. 10 6:00 pm in Room 111W on Main Campus Book cost: $10

The Christian message, when communicated from a comprehensive Kingdom perspective, provides an agenda that can stand next to and above all other attempts to define the meaning of life, whether for the individual, the family, the church, or the nation. A Kingdom agenda based on God's Word — rather than a secular agenda based on man's word — is the best way to make all of life work as our Creator intended.

Join author Tony Evans to learn biblical characteristics of God's kingdom agenda and the visible demonstration of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of life. Discover your identity, role, and responsibilities as a citizen of God's kingdom. Acquire a God-focused perspective for you, your family, your church, and your nation. Align your heart and your life with the priorities of God's kingdom agenda.

Led by: Keith Clayton 5 Sessions

Sundays, beginning Sept. 7 5:30 pm in Room 111W on Main Campus

Book cost: None

FAITH PATH is a great opportunity and resource to help parents become better equipped to be the primary spiritual leader for their kids. “Foundations” will help parents utilize the FAITH PATH resources and model more effectively. Parents will learn: The challenges kids face today in their spiritual development; three developmental phases children go through, including two that are key windows of opportunity; two key ingredients to help children develop effectively; five elements of giving a child a blessing; how to create and leverage “impression points” with kids, and much more!

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By Matt Chandler

Led by: Barbara Shaddox Sundays, beginning Sept. 7 5:30 pm, Room 118 on Main Campus. Book cost: $15

In this 12-session study, Matt Chandler explains the implications of the gospel with surprising clarity and striking candor. Those who have been Christ followers for years will find that it helps connect the dots of their faith, serving as a bridge between

salvation and maturity. It's also an essential study for new believers. Session 1 – The Reality: Everything is Broken--Man, has fallen from a place of dignity to a state of depravity. Apart from Christ, we are powerless to overcome sin, and efforts to fix our problem only increase the mess. Session 2 – The Remedy: Our Hope in the Gospel--God lovingly intervened. By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be made clean—redeemed. Session 3 – The Response: Faith & Repentance--When facing the good news of the gospel, saving faith brings transformation. Session 4 – The Result: Justification & Adoption--Now the Holy Spirit testifies to the fact that we have been declared innocent and welcomed as children of the King. Session 5 – Growing in Holiness: Sanctification--By setting our focus on life-giving truth and putting the empty promises of sin to death, we begin to mature with grace-based effort. Session 6 – Knowing our Brokenness: Free from Shame--Being honest with ourselves and fully known to others opens us up to walk in freedom. Session 7 – Trusting God's Goodness: Free from Fear--We can escape the unhealthy cycle of worry by clinging to the loving faithfulness of God. Session 8 – Continuing Healthy Cycles--As a new creation, we must continually renounce our old ways and reroot in new ways. Session 9 – Experiencing Grace: Love & Confession--As recipients of His merciful love, we are empowered by the Spirit to walk in the freedom of His forgiveness. Session 10 – Making Peace: Confronting Sin--The love of Christ compels us to graciously reconcile

fractured relationships and to help brothers and sisters experience healing. Session 11 – Pursuing Joy: The Abundant Life--The motivation of true joy, strengthens followers of Jesus to persevere in the highs and lows of our daily grind. Session 12 – Sharing Hope: Light of the World--The people of God are sent as ambassadors of reconciliation, taking the counter-cultural wisdom of the gospel to a lost and dying world.

A powerful new study.

Children of the DAY By Beth Moore

Two Options: Tuesday Daytime Wednesday Evening Led by: Charlotte Cox Led by Kim Abbott 9:30 am, begins Sept. 2 6 pm, begins Sept. 24 Parlor Room 118 on MC Book Cost: $15

Join Beth Moore and walk the shores of Thessalonica with this verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. During this nine week study, you'll learn how to let go of past mistakes and discover your circumstances are not coincidental - God's timing is impeccable! Whether you're facing family crises, medical diagnoses, relationship troubles, doubts, or fears, you'll come away encouraged that even though it may not feel that way, you are exactly where Christ wants you to be! "You are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Forward from Here: Urgent Priorities for Today’s Sunday School By Allan Taylor Led by: Keith Clayton Start Date: Oct. 1 A205 (over the Nursery) 8 Sessions Book cost: None Allan Taylor is widely known for his creative and enthusiastic approach to training, mentoring and encouraging Christian educators. He conducts training workshops and conferences both nationally and internationally. This series will help place the heart of Sunday School leaders back on the priorities of Sunday School and reaching people. As a former coach turned Minister of Education and author, Allan has led his church to explosive growth through Sunday School. In Forward from Here, he shares the priorities that helped his church reach people through Sunday School.

For current & prospective

Sunday School leadership

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Work as Worship

J. D. Greear Led by: Brad and Kelley Jones 6 sessions; start date to be announced Wednesdays, 6:30 pm at Brad & Kelley’s home (home-based group) Many Christians—from the CEO to the teacher to the stay-at-home mom—spend a great deal of time working and yet do not realize how their work intersects with their faith. They

compartmentalize their faith to Sunday morning and see the rest of their week as having little to do with their walk with God. Scripture, however, makes no division between the sacred and secular parts of our lives. God gives us our work, talent and skills so that through them we might worship Him. This six-part Bible study resource will challenge all of us to consider the reason God calls us to work. It will cause you to consider why He may have you in your current position and encourage you to look beyond how your job makes you feel and see purpose and significance in your work. Through powerful biblical teaching, real-life documentary stories and engaging video illustrations, this series will help us understand the biblical mandate for work. We have been called to work with excellence, integrity, and diligence and our careers

are opportunities to be on mission for Christ in the marketplace. God gives us great potential for impact on our families, churches, communities and the world through the blessing of our work.

When God’s People Pray By Jim Cymbala Led by Keith Clayton Start Date: Oct. 19 Rm 111 W (Ad. 2 SS area) 6 Sessions. Book cost: $5 Discover the keys to powerful prayer. Prayer can change lives and circumstances like nothing else can. What are the keys that unlock its power, that turn prayer from a mere activity into a vital link with God and all his resources? In this study, Brooklyn Tabernacle pastor and author Jim Cymbala shares the truths about prayer that God has used to turn his own church from a tiny, stuggling inner-city congregation into a vital, thriving community of believers who pray with passion, focus, and faith.

Support Group Ministry for those who have experienced loss of loved ones

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experiences. You don't have to go through the grieving process alone. GriefShare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. GriefShare's resources help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. There are thousands of GriefShare grief-support groups meeting across the country and around the world. This one would like to help you. Led by Marilyn Carter, meeting in the Parlor. Book cost: $15. Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 pm, starting September 3. 13 sessions.

Ongoing Bible Study Group with Bro. John Sundays, 5:30 pm in the Dining Room at the ROC

Join this weekly, ongoing time of interactive Bible study with our pastor. Bro. John leads the group through a progressive study of a book of the Bible in an informal time of teaching that includes questions and observations shared by those in the group. With opening worship music led by John Wells, this is a great place to be on Sunday evenings. Current book of study: Exodus

What is “Discipleship”? In short, discipleship is the process of becoming more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It involves growing in our knowledge and understanding of Him through the Word of God, the Bible, and its application to our lives. Discipleship also includes a process of learning to surrender ourselves to Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct and guide us. The more we surrender, the more the Spirit can fill us with the heart and mind of Jesus. Our Commission from our Lord Jesus is to make disciples. In Matthew 28, Jesus told His disciples (followers): "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you." To make disciples includes leading others to saving faith in Jesus, as well as helping them grow and mature in their faith – the process of discipleship. Disciples reproduce disciples. discipleU is designed to help better equip believers for our role as disciples who reproduce disciples.

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Our process for making disciples:

Helping people Encounter God at various levels of exploring, seeking, transforming

and growing;

Equipping Believers for multiplication and service, to become disciples who

reproduce disciples, who are then

Empowered into Ministry in service and leadership roles for ministry and

missions, locally and around the world.

First Baptist Church of Terrell 403 N. Catherine St. Terrell, TX 75160 972.563.7561

www.fbcterrell.org