Frank and to the Point

Changes

Life is all about change. People move. Jobs come to an end. Children grow up. Goldfish die. Graduation, work-force reduction, immigration, regentrification, retirement, transfer, downsize, upgrade: all these words and more remind us of ways change is introduced into our lives. If you are not facing change, you probably are not living.

We’ve experienced some changes at First Baptist Nashville and I anticipate a few more on the horizon. The make-up of our staff is changing. The neighborhood around us is changing. The way we communicate our message is changing. The way we engage our mission is changing. Fear comes with change, but so does opportunity. Between the two, there are other stages or seasons that we must experience in order to benefit from and grow with change. The process cannot be manipulated or hurried. It must be experienced with patience and trust.

The one constant is God. Scripture tells us that He never changes. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!

I cling to that in these days and I hope you do too. I know that as much as I love the church, and even as much as you love the church, God loves it even more. He’s not going to leave us to our resources nor treat us as orphans. God is on our side, and He’s an experienced (timely and seasoned) helper (Psalm 46).

One thing you can do is pray for your church as we move through the change cycles that are before us. New committees are in place to assist us with staff searches. Pray for them. Another thing you can do is practice faithfulness. That may seem insignificant at first, but your commitment to being in your place each and every Sunday matters. Be present, be engaged, be ready to worship, be willing to serve, and be as positive about our future as you’ve ever been.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Chris Harsson, Director of Development for the Tennessee Right to Life Campaign, will be our special guest on Sunday, January 20, in the foyer following morning worship. You will have an opportunity to purchase a “front plate” for your automobile showing your support for the work of Tennessee Right to Life. The plates cost $10.00 with proceeds going to offset the legal costs involved in securing the Choose Life specialty plates for Tennesseans wishing to show their commitment to the Pro-Life Movement. Look for Chris in our lobby on Sunday and prayerfully consider your support for the work of Tennessee Right to Life.

All Things Roman

Thanks for your continued enthusiasm for our study of Romans on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. There’s probably not a greater text for us to embrace than this timely letter so full of grace and truth to anchor our hearts and minds as we enter the new year. See you Sunday as our study continues through this wonderful book.

January 20 - Grace for Life’s Storms

January 26 - Grace for Life’s Struggles

February 3 - The Holy Spirit’s Role in the Life of Grace

February 10 - Experiencing Grace without Embarrassing God

February 17 - Living for Christ While Paying Your Taxes

February 24 - How to Live For Christ and Impact the World

Life Change University begins February 10

Life Change University (LCU) is coming soon! Join us for a preview on Sunday, February 3, in our Foyer prior to and following morning worship services. We’ll preview again on Wednesday, February 6 at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall foyer. Stop by and learn more about these studies:

Beth Moore’s Stepping Up

A 7 week Journey through the Psalms of Ascent explores Psalms 120-134. This Bible Study will help adults gain a new appreciation for the life of faith as a journey to greater fellowship with and worship of God. The remaining 4 sessions walk through Loving Well also by Beth Moore

Audience: Adults
Cost: $13.00 per person, $6.00 for LW journal
Facilitator: Judy Latham
Location: Room 360, 3rd Floor

Building Bridges Through the Centuries: A History of the Church on Mission

From its earliest days, the Christian Church has been at work to connect people with God's love in Christ. At the same time, the Church has always adapted its methods and strategies to its surrounding cultures. In this study, you will gain an understanding of the history of the Christian Church from its earliest days until the present day. We will place a special emphasis on ways that the Church has adapted its evangelistic and benevolent ministries to the world in which it has found itself.

Audience: Adults
Cost: FREE
Facilitator: Andrew Smith
Location: Room 140, 1st Floor

Servant Warriors

A continuation of men’s physical and spiritual fitness every Sunday afternoon. For the first hour participants will work out using the Servant Warrior routines learned in the first semester. We will add a light weight-training routine in this semester. (Bring your own fifteen-pound set of dumbbells.) After a vigorous workout, participants will engage in a Bible study led by our pastor using Dallas Willard and Don Simpson’s book The Revolution of Character: Discovering Christ’s Pattern for Spiritual Transformation. If you do not have a bokken (wooden samurai sword) we will order one for you. Please add $11.00 to your registration fee.

Audience: Men
Cost: $12.00 (plus $11.00 for your Bokken)
Facilitator: Frank Lewis
Location: Fellowship Hall through April, 1st floor

Modern Parables: Living in the Kingdom of God

Modern day examples and discussion regarding the application of the Biblical parables to our every day lives as Christians.

Audience: Adults
Cost: FREE
Facilitator: Ronnie Boling
Location: 150G, 1st Floor

Weight Watchers

Stop Dieting, Start Living. Weight Watchers isn’t a diet because it helps you eat right and live healthy. It works because you’ll learn how to lose weight and keep it off, in a way that fits your life. Join us for an informational session on February 10. Fifteen must commit in order for meetings to begin.

Audience: Adults
Cost: $120 new/returning, $110 current members, $100 lifetime members
Facilitator: Dana Haddock
Location: 150E, 1st Floor

CAREGIVING: Caring for Aging Parents

Addressing the many issues of caring for aging parents. The emotional stresses and conflicts, understanding your role as caregiver and practical how to’s. Discover Biblical principles specific to aging and long-term care.

Audience: Adults
Cost: $14.00
Facilitator: Sam Sanders
Location: Room 150F

Preschool & Children

Babies – 2: Teeny Tots, Preschool Suite
Age 3 – 5: TeamKID, Room 354
1st – 3rd grade: Bible Buddies, Room 452
4th – 6th grade: Bible Drill, Room 451

SMART

SMART (Student Ministry Arts & Resource Team), for students in grades 7 – 12, resumes February 10 beginning at 5 p.m. with Chapel Choir, followed by?snack supper and a variety of training and ministry options. Visit
firstbaptiststudents.org for more information!

Financial Peace

Financial Peace University is a biblically based, video-driven small group study that teaches families to beat debt, build wealth and give like never before! This Program is for you IF... Your credit cards are your emergency fund; Your dog responds to the name “Ebay”; You have to sell your house to put your kids through college; You’re intrigued by the word “plasectomy”; You want to know what God says about money; Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds are friends you haven’t met yet!

Audience: Adults
Cost: $93.00 per family
Facilitator: Mark Brown
Location: Room 370, 3rd Floor

INSIGHT GROUPS

In this nine week course, participants will look at eight objectives from II Peter 1:5-7; faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, Godliness, kindness and love. Through these qualities, God helps us address potential strongholds (II Corinthians 10:4) which master our life or those around us. Insight groups are for everyone—church member, person seeking Christ, believer or those uninvolved in a local church. Participants will pray, talk and study the Bible to learn about God’s building of these qualities in our lives.

Cost is $13; there are several groups available:

Audience: Adults
Facilitator: Jim Shull
Location: 150B, 1st Floor

Audience: Adult Women
Facilitator: Sharon Herrera
Location: 150A, 1st Floor (begins March 2)

Audience: Women Ages 20’s/30’s
Facilitator: Cheri Viar
Location: off-campus
Time: Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m.

2008 Committee Orientation is this Sunday, January 20!

All Church Committees will meet Sunday, January 20, at noon in Fellowship Hall for lunch (you can’t beat $4/person for a great spaghetti lunch meal!), brief orientation and first kick-off meeting of each committee separately.

Souper Sunday Is February 3

Are you new to First Baptist Nashville? Then you may not know about our Super Bowl Sunday tradition. We join with hundreds of churches and collect soup and crackers for a local organization. Bring what you can to the foyer on Sunday morning, February 3. We will deliver it the following week.

This year (as in recent years) we shall gather food for our neighbors at the James Robertson Apartments one half block north of us on Seventh Avenue. Residents are receiving financial assistance due to a disability. We held a Bible study there every Sunday afternoon. Some residents attend our services regularly. This project ia a good way to be a neighbor and to say we love you and want to offer a little assistance.

January Bible Study:God’s Amazing Grace

First Baptist Nashville will participate in a study of Romans during January and February. Pastor Frank will teach Sunday mornings during worship from Romans. We encourage our members and guests to purchase an accompanying learner guide, God’s Amazing Grace, Studies in Romans, and do independent study, do study with a friend, or gather a group of Sunday School friends/neighbors.

We can learn so much through the study of this wonderful book of the Bible, including verses that are so near to us including, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) and “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Learner Guides are available for purchase following morning worship in the foyer and Wednesday in Fellowship Hall at a cost of only $7 each.

Reserve Sanctuary Flowers for 2008

You may place a memorial or honor someone special by donating flowers for worship. Please sign up on the 2008 flower calendar posted outside Fellowship Hall with your name and phone number, call Laurie Hall at 664–6030, or sign up using the online form for Sanctuary Flowers available on the church website.

SEMINARY STUDENT UPDATE: Tom Hearon

Meet Tom Hearon—missionary, Building Bridges Task Force #4 chairman, and seminary student.  Tom and his wife Bonnie, have 2 daughters. He and Bonnie have served with the International Mission Board in Brazil and Italy. Currently they are working with the IMB in missionary enlistment.

Tom is a Doctor of Ministries student through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The proposed topic for his doctoral project is to “Create an Understanding of Strategic Coordinators with a View of Enlisting New Missionaries.”
Remember to pray for Tom and Bonnie as he continues his studies.

Family Ties

When Mike and I married over 35 years ago, I received an unexpected blessing--a loud, loving family of in-laws that included a mom and dad, 3 sisters, 3 grandparents, over 30 aunts and uncles, and cousins too numerous to count. What a bonus! Not only was I marrying the man of my dreams, but I was also becoming part of another solid, Christian family.

This past Christmas, 19 members of the Harris clan spent 3 days together, celebrating the holidays and our family's unique bond. While our nephew's wife serves in Iraq, we all doted on their two-year-old son Austin and enjoyed having four generations of the Harris clan--and loads of laughter--under the same roof. In 2006, we added our son-in-law, Stephanie's husband Justin, to the mix. This year, we'll add a new brother-in-law; next year, our niece will marry and expand the family once again. God continues to be gracious and we count our blessings.

Through the years, I have come to value and cherish the members of my Harris family. My mother-in-law, Bobbie, is truly a treasure and is a close, trusted friend and mentor for me. Papaw Red, Mike's dad, is a happy, active octogenarian who fills the void my own father left when he died 21 years ago. And all three of Mike's sisters are as dear to me as my own sister.

Our family isn't perfect but we're family--loving through good times and bad, forgiving and tolerating each other's imperfections, and laughing together because of an unbreakable bond. Thanks, Mike, for letting me share your family and your heritage.

What Is a JuniorSenior?

The JuniorSeniors are a very loosely organized--by design--group of folks, all of whom are approximately retirement age, whatever that is, who meet once a month at the Piccadilly Cafeteria on Murfreesboro Road to eat, have a good time with friends and guests, and enjoy an interesting program. Our programs encompass a wide range of topics from gardening to antiques to history to practical matters, such as estate planning and financial advice, to spiritual topics such as reports from mission trips. The JuniorSeniors have been growing in recent years, and we're hoping Piccadilly will make us a larger room. The meeting of this group is a highlight of our month. Some of our best programs in recent years have been our own church members discussing their professions. We've had lawyers, TV and radio personalities, authors and business pros. The meetings are on the fourth Thursday each month. We eat starting at 5 p.m., get the program going around 6 p.m. and are gone by 7 p.m. Twice a year--in April and September--we have a banquet meeting in Fellowship Hall. If you would like more information, please call me at 664-6051.

Sunday School Xtravaganza

Task Force 1 Team Leader Brad Dunn and Tom Crow encourage all Sunday School leaders to attend the February 3 Sunday School Leadership Lunch Xtravaganza in Fellowship Hall. Our featured speaker is Mr. Terry Turner, longtime Sunday School teacher, Belmont University Trustee, and CEO of Pinnacle Financial Partners. Terry will be speaking on the subjects of leadership and growth as they relate to Bible study and church life as a whole.

Division meetings will be held for 15 minutes as part of our mid-year gathering. Lunch is provided by reservation.  We will dismiss by 2.00 p.m.

Please make reservations by calling 664-6001 or send an e-mail to lori.towns@firstbaptistnashville.org (be sure to include reservations for childcare as needed).