FBCJacksonville Blog

Dear Church,

In 2 Chronicles 29, good king Hezekiah restores the worship of Israel.  The chapter describes all the work and reforms necessary to bring the nation back to the point of the worship of God.

There was a great deal of cleaning and set-up required. People were stationed at certain locations and assigned various tasks and duties.  The music and instruments were prepared as the people planned the time of worship.

The day finally arrived. Second Chronicles 29:28-29 states the following:

While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. . . . So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

What an experience that must have been! It was an incredible day of worship. Second Chronicles 29:36 says that

. . . all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

Pastors’ Conference 2012 has come and gone. The people rejoiced over what God had prepared and it all came about so suddenly.

What a great conference.  Every year someone says, “This was the best one yet.”  However, this year I have to agree with them.  It was so evident that the Holy Spirit was not only in the process of preparation, but He rested over the conference like the great cloud of fire that rested over the Hebrews in the wilderness.  It seemed as if the Lord stayed right here in our presence until the final note was struck, the final parting was made, and the last light was turned out.

I can’t begin to adequately thank you for all your hard work, labor, and especially your prayers.  Every year the greatest aspect of the conference is what our people do for pastors.  The people’s ministry is the greatest ministry of the conference.  Pastors are amazed, moved, stirred, and encouraged by our people and how they minister.  Every smile means something. Every word connects. Every deed is watched and God uses it all to heal, help, and hurry on His process in a pastor’s life.

Thank you for your willingness to work hard and display a wonderful attitude.  Now we, like Hezekiah and the people, can rejoice over what God has done.

Because of Him,

Pastor

Over the Christmas Holidays, you should have received a letter from Dr. Brunson telling you a little about 2012 at First Baptist. With that letter were two enclosures: a giving / pledge envelope…and a commitment card for the “God in Me” emphasis. These were sent so that you and your family can begin now making plans for what you want to do inthe way of spiritual and financial commitments to God in 2012.

Please take some time to look at both the envelope and the “God in Me” card. You will note that the envelope is an expression of what you hope to do in the matter of financial giving to God through our church this coming year. There is also a place for you to update your contact information if you need to and also to indicate whether you would like to receive giving envelopes or whether you give on-line and do not need the envelopes. All of this information will be very helpful to the church.

The God in Me card has four areas of commitment highlighted. They are personal spiritual growth, expressing God in your relationships, and in your community, and in the world. You will note that each area has some space providedfor you to write in specific goals in each area. The card is perforated so that you can complete both sides, tear off one for your own keeping and giving the other to the Lord during the Chest of Joash Commitment Service. You are encouraged to be thinking about the reality of God’s presence in you and how that impacts these four vital areas ofyour life, and how you want to express His presence in your life as a matter of worship to the Lord this year.

Both the envelope and the card will be used in our Chest of Joash Commitment Service on January 22. These will be distributed in Sunday School on January 15. You will want to complete each one, as the Lord leads you, and then bring them with you to the service on Sunday morning, January 22.

I received a well written and compelling e-mail from one of our High School teens last week requesting that FBCJAX participate as a host church for the upcoming webcast of “Secret Church”, a ministry of Dr. David Platt and The Church at Brook Hills . We know and love David Platt. He is a gifted, God-anointed, soul-stirring young preacher who has spoken in our Pastor’s Conference. However, due to the timing of the event (April 22 / Good Friday), I thought it was too late to get the word out and make preparations for hosting the meeting. So, I wrote my response to this young lady explaining why we would not be able to participate this time…but the Holy Spirit stopped me from pressing the ‘send’ button, confronted me about my answer, and impressed on my heart that we should press on and do what was necessary to host the event. Thus…this blog entry and an invitation to you to participate in “Secret Church”.

The event will be held in the FBC Dining Room. Doors will open at 6:00 PM. The event starts at 7:00 PM and lasts six hours…yes you heard me. That means a 1:00 AM finish time. BUT…it will be worth it! Everyone that I have ever spoken with about one of these events raves about it. I can think of no better way to spend a ‘Good Friday’ night than in soul preparation for Resurrection Sunday. Check out the info contained in the excellent “Secret Church” web site via the link above. I hope you will join us.

“E-vite” Form

For those who plan to attend, here are some important things to know…

- The event is free of charge and is open to the public. No ticket or registration is required. You are encouraged to ‘go viral’ and invite friends to attend with you.

- A voluntary offering will be received during the meeting to benefit the persecuted church around the world. All offerings will be given to Disciple-Making International via The Church at Brook Hills.

- Parking will be in the Preschool Parking Garage (corner of Ashley and Laura Streets). This garage connects with the building we will be meeting in via an elevated bridge…thus no street-walking late at night in downtown)

- Eat dinner before you come…or bring your own snacks. No food will be provided.

- You will need your Bible. FYI…David preaches from the English Standard Version (ESV).

- Praise and worship will be interspersed through-out the evening, and there will be some built-in ‘stretch’ breaks.

- The first 100 attendees will receive a study guide. We only have 100 of the guides, so the early birds get‘em…

- The meeting location is 125 West Ashley St., First Floor

I look forward to experiencing “Secret Church” with you…

Rev. John Blount
Executive Pastor

Thank you to all of our members who joined in the massive Springfield Clean-up this weekend! It was a great success and showed an outpouring of love to the community surrounding our church.

“This Saturday the Block Captains organized a massive cleanup effort to clear some of the most impassable alleys in Historic Springfield.  Springfielders were joined by 75-100 volunteers from First Baptist Church who brought commercial mowers, chain saws and a willingness to get sweaty and dirty.  By the end of the day it became one of the largest cleanup efforts in several years.”

- original article from  MySpringfield.org | “Block Captains and FBC Stage Massive Cleanup”

(left - Dan & Marianne Elkins, Middle School Pastor, middle - Shane & Allison  Johns, High School Pastor, right - Steve & Laurie Clifton, Exec. Pastor of Education)

My heart is overflowing with joy as I introduce to our church family our newest staff member, our High School Pastor, Shane Johns. Shane and his lovely wife, Allison (Taylor), were part of our First Baptist family during their youth years. They are coming to us, along with their three children, Seth, 9, Kallie, 7, and Luke 4, from Arlington, Texas, where they have been serving the same church for the past 12 years as the Student Pastor. Shane is an answer to so many of our prayers and is a gift from the Lord to lead our High School ministry.

Shane is a graduate of Trinity Christian Academy, the University of North Florida and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He believes that student ministry should be Christ-focused and relationship- driven with a balanced approach to addressing the many aspects of the life of the believer. He knows that good biblical doctrine is absolutely essential to proper discipleship, and wants to build that upon a proper heart foundation of a love relationship with Jesus not the intellect’s foundation of knowledge about Jesus.

Shane has a strong belief that even the youngest and meekest of students can be world changers so he pushes, teaches and holds students accountable just like an adult. He will develop a strong student- led ministry supported by active adults and will seek passionately to teach students what it means to fall head- over- heels in love with the Savior through his personal interaction with them and his leadership of our adult workers in our High School Ministry.

We welcome the Johns’ home to our First Baptist family and look forward to many years of fruitful labor with them on our Educational Ministry Staff Team! I know that you will love on them and tell them how thrilled you are that God led them here to lead us. You can contact them at 366-1216 or send an email.

Serving Jesus with you,
Steve Clifton
Executive Pastor of Education

I did not realize how self-centered and self-reliant I had become. But that day I had to admit that my outlook on life and every day decisions had become much more about self-preservation and self-reliance than about magnifying God in the world. Honestly, I was too interested in what I was doing than what God was doing. But in my self-centeredness, which I thought was necessary and prudent, I was actually creating a lot of anxiety, fear, and frustration in my heart. I no longer imagined or dreamed about what could be…from a spiritual perspective. I only saw what was. I had become a pragmatic pessimist…and was not very happy.

Thankfully, that day was a turning point for me; a spiritual wake-up call; the beginning of a renewed outlook on life and the rekindling of a zeal for what could be accomplished through God’s provision, both in my personal life and in the life of our church. That day a man invited me to imagine what could be if I lived life with a generous heart. The strange thing was that he was not talking about money. He was talking about my heart.

Throughout the meeting I heard personal testimonies and stories from people who had experienced the graciousness of others toward them. They told about the fantastic impact those acts had made on their lives. Then I heard from the people who had been so gracious, and why. They said they were living with an open hand and a generous heart…and were overjoyed at the results of what God was doing in them and through them. That day I was made very aware that my heart had grown dull. It had been a while since I had experienced the joy of lavish graciousness in my life. I came to realize that in living from a self-centered heart I had built-up calluses on my spirit, and had grown lukewarm about life and what God was doing. In living for myself, I had actually hurt myself.

Are you in that place? Are you living with a lot of frustration and pent up anger about life and your circumstances? You do not have to stay there. God has a far better place and far greater plans for you. But you have to be willing to change; to relocate; to move out of that place, toward God.

That is why I am writing this post. I want to help you move from that ungodly, unfulfilling, unproductive place that we can easily find ourselves in. On Friday March 25 at 6:30 PM (register) or on Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 AM (register) you can take a step toward a renewed outlook on your purpose and God’s purpose for you. You are invited to attend “A Generosity Encounter”, and discover once again what it is to live life with an open hand and a generous heart; to love God with all your being; and to love others as yourself. I hope you will take that step. I assure you, you will be glad you did. Please refer to the website for details and registration information. I hope to see you there.

Grace to You…
Rev. John Blount

Children are everywhere. Just about wherever we look, children are there. This does not simply mean we must watch where we step and what we say. Through His word, God has given the Church a weighty responsibility for children. Even if you don’t have children of your own, you have an important role to play. The Apostle Paul carefully nurtured his spiritual son Timothy. James’ readers were exhorted to “look after orphans.” Christian parents in Ephesus were charged with bringing up their children in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Considering the great responsibility we have in the lives of children, the ministries of FBC JAX are able to assist you in this with an upcoming Parenting Conference that is not just for parents, but grandparents, too!

As bookshelves are flooded with a myriad of books promoting various approaches and philosophies for parenting, it is essential that every Christian grow in God’s plan for parenting. This conference is also an incredible help to anyone who teaches or works with children, middle school, or high school students in the church.

The 2010 Parenting Conference will help you grow by teaching you:

*The Biblical Model for Christian Parenting
*The Biblical View of Children
*How to Cultivate a Godward Orientation in Children.
*Biblical Truths for Ministering to Youth During the Difficult Teen Years
*God’s Instructions for Discipline in the Home
*How to Lead Children in Family Worship

Register now for the 2010 Parenting Conference at FBC JAX or click here for more information.

Speaker: Lou Priolo
When: October 15-16
Where: Ruth Lindsay Auditorium
Cost: $30/couple; $20/individual
Included: All materials and boxed lunch

Pastor & Debbie will lead a group on a tour of the Holy Land February 27-March 11, 2011. This will be an incredible experience you will never forget!

See the hillsides where Jesus delivered the Beatitudes; sail on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus taught and walked; sit on the slopes of Mount Hermon where Jesus was transfigured and enjoy the beauty of the Holy Land. On this journey, you will travel to Jerusalem and see the city that God said He placed in the midst of the nations.  It was the city that David took and where Solomon built one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple of God.  Just outside the walls of this city, our Lord was crucified and resurrected.  Then if you choose, you can travel to Rome, known as the eternal city.  These two cities, of all the cities in the earth, stood opposite one another during the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry.  It was the city where Paul and Peter were executed; where Caesar ruled; and the city Nero burned and rebuilt.

“Nothing in your Christian walk will have a greater impact on your life than a trip to the Holy Land.  Journey with us to Israel as we follow the steps of our Lord and see how the stories in the Bible come to life.” – Debbie Brunson

If you are interested in this trip, please download a schedule & registration form.