Lose Your Life

"Jesus said that if you are not willing to give up your life for His sake and His Kingdom, you will lose it ( Luke 9:24) . But if we deny self ; if we follow the example of Christ and put the welfare of others before our own desires; if we repudiate self and give our lives for the salvation of others , we will find our lives and, in the end come out winners~~ Leroy Elms"

Urgent Need

There is a family of six that is in URGENT need of food or gas cards.There is also a need for girls clothing, size 18 husky. The mother of the family has gotten a new job, but won't get a paycheck for another few weeks. This is a very time sensitive need. If you're able to help, please bring stuff to Stephanie Simmons on either Wednesday night or Sunday. Anything that you can do will be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Paradox

"It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn’t want our success; he wants us. He doesn’t demand our achievements; he demands our obedience. The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross a holy God is utterly glorified. Victory comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self. -- Charles W. Colson

The Fruit of Faithfulness

“The fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness...” Galatians 5:22b

 Faithfulness flows from the fruit of the Spirit’s vine with divine fidelity. It is the ability to stay the course in a crisis or to correct a corrupt circumstance. Faithfulness is a personal resolve to stay committed in marriage through “sickness and health, richer and poorer and to death do us part.” Faithfulness feels a compelling call from Christ to stay put in a career, especially when it’s not easy, knowing perseverance leads to righteous rewards.
 
Are you at the crossroads of a commitment? Will you remain faithful, even though it is unfair and hard? It is easier to follow Jesus when He heals and forgives. It is harder to be a dedicated disciple when you are persecuted for your faith and demeaned for doing good. However, because Christ remained faithful to the Cross, on the Cross and after the Cross, you remain faithful to bear your cross for Christ. Faithfulness finds faithfulness by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
“What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?” Romans 3:3

Moreover, make sure to keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the unfaithfulness of others. People will let you down; so do not place them on a pedestal. A friend’s unfaithfulness, even betrayal is your opportunity to remain faithful, as you lean into the Lord’s faithfulness. Scared friends may scatter and an insecure family member may gossip, but you still model loyalty to those you love. Love is faithful in the face of unfaithfulness.
 
Furthermore, you can rely on the faithfulness of your heavenly Father. He is faithful when you are not faithful. He is faithful to give you courage when you face fearful situations. He is faithful to give abundant grace in your time of great need. He is faithful to give you wisdom for the best decision. He extends you mercy, so you can be merciful. The Lord’s faithfulness facilitates your faithfulness. So, stay faithful to Him and them!

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11
                                                                                                            -Boyd Bailey

Engage Jax

EngageJax Conference - September 9

On Sunday evening, September 9 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, we will be hosting here at First Baptist Church of Orange Park, the annual EngageJax Conference. This annual conference is sponsored by the network of churches in the Jacksonville Baptist Association. This year, the focus is "Domain Engagement."
Our guest speaker this evening will be Bob Roberts, Sr. Pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas and Chief Visionary Officer of Vision360. For a better description of how the church must embrace domain engagement, watch Bob in the video linked here.
This concept is key to winning this city and community for Christ.
Mark your calendars and get your child-care secured (there's no child-care available at the church this evening) and plan to join up to 200 other churches this evening.
Leading us in worship this evening will be Ascension Worship. This group of worshippers from various Jacksonville-area churches, are gifted and anointed by God. The worship is fresh and worthy of the One who is our audience

"I think it is valuable to be poked at and I think - and this is obviously where things are headed-it's going to be much harder to be a Christian in America … which means to be a Christian you actually have to think it's worth it. You actually have to think it through, you actually have to process it." - Phil Vischer
"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."- Luke 9:23

Isaiah 41:10

Class Input Needed A.S.A.P

Class Camping Trip:
The camping trip is the last weekend of September. Please contact Stephanie A.S.A.P to let her know if you will be going or not, so that extra treehouse cabins can be released.

Pastor Appreciation Dinner:
The dinner is coming up in October. We are not anywhere close to what is needed financially to prove the dinner. If the class as a whole isn't interested in doing the dinner, Stephanie needs to know so that that time can be released on the calendar.

Gospel Project:
Please let Terry of Stephanie know you preference regarding material (download, internet, iphone app., or paper book) this week.

The Outcasts

Unashamed Hope

No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Psalm 25:3

 We are shameless when our hope is in our Savior Jesus Christ. Hope in Jesus resides in a no shame zone. We have nothing to be ashamed of when our hope is in heaven. Others may make fun of our simple faith, but they cannot shame us. Ironically, critics of faith are the ones to be ashamed. They are without hope. Hope outside of Christ is a caricature of positive expectations. Misplaced hope is a shame. It is a sham. It leads to deep disappointment and disillusionment. Shame is the reward for sin. On the other hand, freedom is the fruit of hope. We have nothing to be embarrassed about when we hope in the eternal. We have something solid to look forward to when we look to the Lord for hope and encouragement. Hope in Jesus is never put to shame.

However, hope is often related to our hurt. It is out of our pain that hope in Christ seems the most compelling. Our pain from suffering produces a need and a capacity for hope. Suffering enlarges the heart by creating the power to sympathize. When we have lived in poverty, we have more of a tendency to empathize with the poor. When we, or a loved one, have combated disease, our prayers are on the lookout for the ill. When we have seen our families ripped apart by death or divorce, we have a soft spot in our hearts for a single parent and the children. It is in our hope that we are able to extend hope to the hopeless. We can be grateful for the occasional grief we encounter if it saves us from hopeless hard-heartedness. Hope-filled hearts are on the lookout for those seeking the Lord. So it is out of our hurt that hope comes alive for others and ourselves.

Furthermore, our hope is reserved for us in heaven. Our heavenly Father owns our hope. He is an owner whom we never have to be embarrassed about. Our Savior’s hope will never bring shame to our situation. No rational thinking person would say, “What a shame that Christians have forgiveness of their sins, abundant living on earth and the hope of heaven.” If anything, people without hope may be jealous and ashamed of their own hopeless condition. Lastly, the Lord dispenses hope liberally and indiscriminately. Jesus is not stingy with hope. He extends hope as a generous giver, gladly and cheerfully. It gives God great joy to give hope to His children. His part is to give; our part is to receive.

So heaven’s hope is alive and well. It is waiting for the engagement of faithful followers of Jesus. Like a secret garden accessible by faith alone, there is a luscious environment of hope for our enjoyment. We can sit and smell the flowers of God’s faithfulness. We can bite into the deliciously juicy fruit of God’s peace. We can stand without fear in the warm light of the Lord because we are full of hope. Hope lifts the veil of shame and replaces it with the face of encouraging expectations. Pessimism is replaced with optimism. Inertia is replaced with energy. Excuses are replaced with ambition. Defeat is replaced with victory. We can be extremely grateful and unashamed that our hope is in Jesus. Hope may be lost for a season, so do not be ashamed to continually seek the Lord. Seek Him while He can be found (Isaiah 55:6). You will find hope in Him. Hope is God’s way to love and encourage you and others. Hope is not ashamed. -Boyd Bailey

The Presence of God

We (Christians) are always in the presence of God. There is never a non-sacred moment! His presence never diminishes. Our awareness of His presence may falter, but the reality of His presence never changes. ~~Max Lucado

Conviction vs. Condemnation

When God speaks to us about our sin it is to convict us, when the devil speaks about our sin it is to condemn us. The word sin means to ‘miss the mark.’ Its origin lies in archery. If you shot an arrow and missed the target, it was called ‘sin!’ By how far you missed was not the issue. An inch or a mile, it’s still sin.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Rom. 3:23
We are by nature sinners; we are not what we were created to be. Both God and the devil speak to us about sin – but they speak very differently. God convicts us of sin, whereas Satan condemns us. The devil is called, ‘the accuser of our brothers and sisters’ (Revelation 12:10). Condemnation sits on us like a wet blanket, with no way out. When God speaks to us about our sin, He convicts. Conviction not only makes us aware of our sin, but also points to a way out – through the cross of Christ. He convicts us not to humiliate us, embarrass us or condemn us, but to liberate us and set us free.

Paul is able to confidently write, ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ (Romans 8:1). To know that is true is wonderfully liberating.
Has a past sin left you feeling paralyzed? See where that condemnation is coming from, because that voice is not God’s. Thank Him for the forgiveness available in Christ and move forward in peace. - Charles Price

Greenware Needs

We will be collecting baby items for Greenware each Sunday until August. Here is a list of specific items that are  needed:

-Diapers
-Baby Wipes
-Baby Soap
-Baby Clothes
-Baby Blankets
-General Health Supplies for the moms

This is a wonderful way to help someone less fortunate than ourselves!

School Supplies Needed

It's time:

The church is collecting supplies for the schools we sponsor. While any supplies are appreciated, these are some specific needs:

-Clorox Wipes
-Dry-erase Markers
-Dry-erase Board Cleaner
-Tissues
-Hand Sanitizer

Please drop items off on the sides of the stage. Thank you.

Trials

"Every person in the world, including yourself, will encounter various trials throughout life. Satan seeks to defeat you by tempting you to trust your own wisdom, to live according to your self-centered feelings, and to gratify the desires of your flesh. In contrast, God's will is for you to be an overwhelming conqueror in all of these tests for His honor and glory. --Andrew Murray"

Visions of Hope- Fundraiser/Vendor Fair

If you are interested in being a vendor, please contact Melissa Brusoe a.s.a.p. to get a vendor registration form. This is going to be a great event! I hope to see you all there!

Walking on Water

Christ walked on the water before He calmed the storm. If He had simply calmed the storm, the disciples would have missed His majesty. And what a shame. His majesty was the whole point. We want Christ to hurry and calm the storm. He wants us to find Him in the midst of it first. --Beth Moore

John 15:5

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NIV) Have you ever really thought about the relationship between a branch and the vine? We don’t use these kinds of word pictures very much anymore, but think about it — if the branch is not attached to the vine, it withers and dies. The very life of the branch depends on being attached to the vine.

6 Steps To Accountability

6 Steps To Accountability:

Believers cannot live the Christian life without the power of the Holy Spirit. But they also cannot live without the influence and support of other believers. In the battle against the flesh, accountability is vital. Here are six steps for establishing an accountability relationship:

1. Begin with prayer, asking God to lead you to the right partner.
2.Emphasize things you share in common. This helps break the ice and creates a context of comfort.
3. Focus on the relationship first. Build the friendship and trust.
4. Commit to transparency and confidentiality. Without these characteristics, accountability relationships will founder.
5. Refuse to harbor offenses. Correction can be painful, but it is necessary. Remember the motivation for the words.
6. Love beyond limits. Make sure this is the driving force of the relationship.

                                                                                            -From (LIVE) your  faith every day-Life Truths

A Way to Serve

There are some needs for the Wood family:

-Lysol Spray
-Gloves (the kind you find in the Dr.'s office. These can be purchased at Walmart)
-Masks (These can also be found at Walmart)

On Sunday, we'll be taking a contribution in our class to be put toward a gas card for them. If you feel led to give in any of these ways, Sunday is the day to do it! Most importantly, please continue to pray for Andrew and his family (Jon and Mandi, their son, Brady, and daughter, Grace) as they go through this tough time.