This coming Sunday Morning, January 23rd, we will have a great time of fellowship and Bible Study at 9am in our "Great Expectations Sunday School!" At 10am, we will sing and pray and give and study together.
I will be preaching from Acts 8:1-4 on the subject, "Acts 8:1 is Acts 1:8 THE HARD WAY!"
God had "Commissioned" and "Commanded" His people to take the gospel to all of the world... but, they were still hanging around Jerusalem.
God allowed real and terrible suffering to come into their lives to propel them out into His harvest fields! As an old song says, "He did not make them to go against their will, but He sure made them willing to go!"
Sunday Evening, I will be at Lovington teaching the January Bible Study, so Bob Eads will be leading and teaching at our Sunday Evening Prayer Meeting and Bible Study.
I hope you will not have to miss any of these blessed and happy opportunities to worship and serve the Lord this Sunday!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Central Illinois Bible and Evangelism Conference!
On Sunday, May 15th, 2011 to Wednesday, May 18th, our Church along with the Tom Rains Evangelistic Association will host the 2011 CENTRAL ILLINOIS BIBLE AND EVANGELISM CONFERENCE!
Dr. Ron Meyer will be our Featured Speaker each day and we will also hear messages from Nate Adams, Steve Diehl, Wes Feltner, Adam Powers, Tom Rains, Tim Sadler, and Mike Wilder!
Sunday Services will be at 9 and 10am, and 6 and 7pm.
Monday and Tuesday Services will be at 10 and 11am, and 6:30pm.
Wednesday services will be at 9 and 10am.
Special Music for the Conference will be provided by "Power of Praise", Jim Hollis, and First Baptist Church.
A FREE Continental Breakfast will be provided at the Church on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings beginning at 9am.
I hope you will clear your calendar now to attend as many of these sessions as possible!
Dr. Ron Meyer will be our Featured Speaker each day and we will also hear messages from Nate Adams, Steve Diehl, Wes Feltner, Adam Powers, Tom Rains, Tim Sadler, and Mike Wilder!
Sunday Services will be at 9 and 10am, and 6 and 7pm.
Monday and Tuesday Services will be at 10 and 11am, and 6:30pm.
Wednesday services will be at 9 and 10am.
Special Music for the Conference will be provided by "Power of Praise", Jim Hollis, and First Baptist Church.
A FREE Continental Breakfast will be provided at the Church on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings beginning at 9am.
I hope you will clear your calendar now to attend as many of these sessions as possible!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Yesterday's Sermon - From Vision to Victory!
Next Saturday, January 1st 2011, marks the first day of the decade when we begin what we are calling, “The 2020 Vision!” As I shared with you on Sunday, August 29th, (the day you voted to call me as your Pastor full-time) I believe it is certainly possible to grow our church at a rate of 15% per year for the next ten years.
If the Lord allows us to reach this lofty goal, at the end of this coming decade we will have grown from 90 to 350 in Sunday School each week; from 140 to 570 in worship each week; and, we will have baptized 338 new believers and added another 338 people to our church by Letter or Statement!
This morning, as we stand at the threshold of this amazing journey, I want to provide you with biblical answers to the three most vitally important questions we face about the 2020 Vision: “Why”; “How”; and “Why Now?”
Why? Because of Four Relevant Realities:
The COMMANDS from Above!
Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 14:23;
John 15:16; John 20:21
The CRIES from Below!
Luke 16:19-28
The CONDITIONS Around Us!
Revelation 22:14-15
The COMPASSION Within Us!
Matthew 9:35-38
How? By Renewing Three Commitments:
Renewed Commitment to our Individual Spiritual Growth
TALK to God Luke 18:1
LISTEN to God 2nd Timothy 2:15
OBEY God James 1:22; 4:17
SERVE God Matthew 20:28
Renewed Commitment to our Corporate Spiritual Growth
MEET with One Another Acts 2:42-47
MINISTER to One Another Hebrews 10:23-25
MENTOR One Another Proverbs 27:17
MULTIPLY MEMBERS Who Meet with, Minister to, and Mentor one Another 2nd Timothy 2:2
Renewed Commitment to our Numerical and Financial Growth
BEGINNING Relationships with New People
BUILDING Relationships with New people
Bringing New People to CHRIST
Bringing New People to CHURCH
Why Now? At least three great reasons:
Why us? Because we’re the Right FOLK!
Why here? Because we have the Right FACILITIES!
Why now? Because we do not know the FUTURE!
God has given us a great vision of what we can accomplish for Him through the ministry of our Church. I hope you will join me in praying for this vision to become a reality; and participating in the thousands of things we will have to do to see this come to pass. God bless you!
If the Lord allows us to reach this lofty goal, at the end of this coming decade we will have grown from 90 to 350 in Sunday School each week; from 140 to 570 in worship each week; and, we will have baptized 338 new believers and added another 338 people to our church by Letter or Statement!
This morning, as we stand at the threshold of this amazing journey, I want to provide you with biblical answers to the three most vitally important questions we face about the 2020 Vision: “Why”; “How”; and “Why Now?”
Why? Because of Four Relevant Realities:
The COMMANDS from Above!
Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 14:23;
John 15:16; John 20:21
The CRIES from Below!
Luke 16:19-28
The CONDITIONS Around Us!
Revelation 22:14-15
The COMPASSION Within Us!
Matthew 9:35-38
How? By Renewing Three Commitments:
Renewed Commitment to our Individual Spiritual Growth
TALK to God Luke 18:1
LISTEN to God 2nd Timothy 2:15
OBEY God James 1:22; 4:17
SERVE God Matthew 20:28
Renewed Commitment to our Corporate Spiritual Growth
MEET with One Another Acts 2:42-47
MINISTER to One Another Hebrews 10:23-25
MENTOR One Another Proverbs 27:17
MULTIPLY MEMBERS Who Meet with, Minister to, and Mentor one Another 2nd Timothy 2:2
Renewed Commitment to our Numerical and Financial Growth
BEGINNING Relationships with New People
BUILDING Relationships with New people
Bringing New People to CHRIST
Bringing New People to CHURCH
Why Now? At least three great reasons:
Why us? Because we’re the Right FOLK!
Why here? Because we have the Right FACILITIES!
Why now? Because we do not know the FUTURE!
God has given us a great vision of what we can accomplish for Him through the ministry of our Church. I hope you will join me in praying for this vision to become a reality; and participating in the thousands of things we will have to do to see this come to pass. God bless you!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
It's Wednesday, but Sunday's Coming!
On this cool December Wednesday, I am thinking about Sunday! No surprise there! Hopefully, every Lord’s Day and Sunday Sermon is important to your life; but, there are a few things that I believe will make this one special:
First, as it is the last Sunday of December, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together! This is always a beautiful and deeply spiritual time for believers as we examine ourselves, repent of sins, and come to the Lord’s Table with a renewed and refreshed walk with Him.
Second, I will be preaching an, “end of year” sermon about how we are currently doing in light of the vision God has given us for ministry in our area. I believe all of us will need to consider carefully this biblical message on what the Lord is calling us to be and to do as we serve Him.
Finally, we are in for a musical treat, (as usual)! Bill Fleming is feeling much better and he and his family will be worshipping the Lord and serving us through the songs that they had prepared for last week’s Christmas Musical.
I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and family and friends by your side!
First, as it is the last Sunday of December, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together! This is always a beautiful and deeply spiritual time for believers as we examine ourselves, repent of sins, and come to the Lord’s Table with a renewed and refreshed walk with Him.
Second, I will be preaching an, “end of year” sermon about how we are currently doing in light of the vision God has given us for ministry in our area. I believe all of us will need to consider carefully this biblical message on what the Lord is calling us to be and to do as we serve Him.
Finally, we are in for a musical treat, (as usual)! Bill Fleming is feeling much better and he and his family will be worshipping the Lord and serving us through the songs that they had prepared for last week’s Christmas Musical.
I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and family and friends by your side!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Pastor Lanny's Schedule Changes!
Beloved Ones,
I am sorry for any confusion these changes may cause, but the “Second Shift” Schedule I have worked for the last two months is not working well.
Starting today, (12-1) I will be on the field on Tuesdays through Fridays from 9am to 5pm, and I will be available at other times as needed. I will be taking Monday as my day off. I will be present each week at AWANA to help as needed.
I will be making Member and Prospect visits on two Saturdays each month during daylight hours!
Hopefully, this will be more convenient for you and more efficient for me. I am available at any time for emergencies. God bless you.
I am sorry for any confusion these changes may cause, but the “Second Shift” Schedule I have worked for the last two months is not working well.
Starting today, (12-1) I will be on the field on Tuesdays through Fridays from 9am to 5pm, and I will be available at other times as needed. I will be taking Monday as my day off. I will be present each week at AWANA to help as needed.
I will be making Member and Prospect visits on two Saturdays each month during daylight hours!
Hopefully, this will be more convenient for you and more efficient for me. I am available at any time for emergencies. God bless you.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Heart-felt Thanks!
Lin and I want all of you to know how very much we appreciate being appreciated! Your kindnesses over these past four years; and certainly over the past month, have been overwhelming! We are humbled and thankful for the very generous gifts you have sacrificed to give to us.
It is the great joy of my life to be your Pastor and I look forward to every day the Lord allows us to serve Him together. I need to figure out how to have a CONGREGATION APPRECIATION MONTH to let each of you know how very much Lin and I love you and how much Lin and I thank God for the joy of serving Him by serving you!
It is the great joy of my life to be your Pastor and I look forward to every day the Lord allows us to serve Him together. I need to figure out how to have a CONGREGATION APPRECIATION MONTH to let each of you know how very much Lin and I love you and how much Lin and I thank God for the joy of serving Him by serving you!
Friday, October 29, 2010
A Night to Remember!
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
What a truly wonderful experience last Thursday evening was as many of our friends from Central Baptist Association (along with notes from many who could not attend) shared their appreciation and best wishes to Lin and I. Of course, all of this was not necessary as the Association has over and over again made sure that we know that we were loved and our work was appreciated. Not necessary – but very much enjoyed!
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to pull off this “surprise” card shower and made it such a happy evening for us. It was my great joy to serve you for the past sixteen years and I pray that God will bless our efforts. I am humbled by the generosity shown to us through the check that we were presented from the Association and the many cards and gifts.
Thanks also to our dear friends at FBC Atwood for setting up the facility and managing the event; and to those from our Church who attended and also brought cards and gifts. You are a blessing and Lin and I are looking forward to the years of ministry we will have together, as the Lord allows!
Thank you!
What a truly wonderful experience last Thursday evening was as many of our friends from Central Baptist Association (along with notes from many who could not attend) shared their appreciation and best wishes to Lin and I. Of course, all of this was not necessary as the Association has over and over again made sure that we know that we were loved and our work was appreciated. Not necessary – but very much enjoyed!
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to pull off this “surprise” card shower and made it such a happy evening for us. It was my great joy to serve you for the past sixteen years and I pray that God will bless our efforts. I am humbled by the generosity shown to us through the check that we were presented from the Association and the many cards and gifts.
Thanks also to our dear friends at FBC Atwood for setting up the facility and managing the event; and to those from our Church who attended and also brought cards and gifts. You are a blessing and Lin and I are looking forward to the years of ministry we will have together, as the Lord allows!
Thank you!
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