First Baptist Church of Ojai, California

July "Oak Leaves" Newsletter Article

The Latest From Pastor Chad

 

1. Thank you so much for your kindness in remembering my birthday (38!) and our anniversary (15!).  Your expressions of love are much appreciated.

 

2. I commend our church family for having the vision and faith to broaden the ministry description for Zac Cannon as Director of Family Life Ministries and to temporarily call Dan Bergstrom as the Adjunct Director of Equipping Ministries.  They will work in tandem to develop the Family Life Ministries of First Baptist Church.  Priority #1 is children’s ministry.  This includes the development of teams, curriculum, and a plan for most effectively using the space we have.  Is God calling you to be part of this new movement in children’s ministry?

 

3. The current edition of Discover First Baptist has completed phase 1 (Frequently Asked Questions About First Baptist) and is in phase 2 (the discovery of spiritual gifts using the “Network” curriculum).  This class is always a lot of fun and full of valuable information.  Look for a new edition of the class to begin in the next few weeks.  A sign-up sheet will be available in the lobby.

 

4.  I am thoroughly enjoying Coffee Hours (Tuesday-Friday, 9:10 AM – 10:00 AM) at Full of Beans in Mira Monte.  The conversations that have taken place their have deeply enriched my life and given me the opportunity to know many of you on a deeper level.  If you are interested in participating in Coffee Hours, see the sign-up sheet provided in the lobby each week to make an appointment.

 

5. Missionary Dan Chetti will be at First Baptist on Saturday, July 11^th to share what God is doing in Beirut, Lebanon where Dan is a seminary professor.  He provides a valuable resource in learning more about ministry in the Middle East.  A potluck dinner will be at 5 PM with the presentation to follow.  Please sign-up to save your spot for this unique opportunity.

 

6. As we like to say around here, “Many hands make light work.”  We have the opportunity to chip in and help with our annual yard sale on July 17^th and 18^th.  Proceeds from the yard sale are used each year for special ministry projects.  The greatest need for help is for an army of people to join together in boxing up the leftovers and making things ready for ministry on Sunday.  Contact Troy and Arlene Lawson for more details. 

 

7. Remember that you can receive almost daily updates regarding life at First Baptist at www.firstbaptistojai.typepad.com.  Make it your home page. 

 

In the joy of being your pastor,

Chad

Highlights From Today's Bible Reading

2 Kings 18:5-8 (NIV) 
    Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. [6] He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. [7] And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. [8] From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

Acts 20:22-24 (NIV) 
    "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. [23] I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. [24] However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

This Week's Bible Reading Schedule

Tuesday, June 30th
2 Kings 17:1-18:12
Acts 20:1-38
Psalm 148:1-14
Proverbs 18:6-7

Wednesday, July 1st
2 Kings 18:13-19:37
Acts 21:1-16
Psalm 149:1-9
Proverbs 18:8

Thursday, July 2nd
2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Acts 21:17-36
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 18:9-10

Friday, July 3rd
2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Acts 21:17-36
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 18:9-10

Saturday, July 4th
2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Acts 21:17-36
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 18:9-10

Sunday, July 5th
2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Acts 21:17-36
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 18:9-10

Monday, July 6th
2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Acts 21:17-36
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 18:9-10

Bravo!

To the food share ministry under the leadership of David and Ruth Kille which distributed 118 boxes of food to needy families this past weekend.  Well done!

Sermon Rewind

Ephes. 1:17-21 (NIV) 
    I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [18] I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, [20] which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Many Christians search in vain for something more:  more of Jesus, more of the Holy Spirit, more of an experience.  But Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is that they would be able to see that they are complete in Christ.  The need is not for something more.  The need to is see and appropriate by faith what is already there "in Christ". 

Specifically, Paul prays that the Ephesians would see:

1. Hope

2. Inheritance

3. Power

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead resides in you in the person of the Holy Spirit.  It is not until we clearly see all that we possess "in Christ" that we will live up to the calling that God has placed upon our lives.

Highlights From Today's Bible Reading

Acts 16:25-26 (NIV) 
    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. [26] Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.

Psalm 143:1 (NIV) 
A psalm of David.

    O Lord, hear my prayer,
        listen to my cry for mercy;
    in your faithfulness and righteousness
        come to my relief.

A Different Perspective On Small Groups

I came across this today.  It has got me thinking.  What do you think?

By

  

"Why is it that pastors are so passionate about small groups yet are rarely in one themselves?"

 

It's a fair question.

 

A spiritual leader I know once referenced small groups as the 'speed dating' of friendship.  A place where people get together, talk about their daddy wounds with folks they've never met.  Small groups usually start out great, but then they begin to lose their energy after a month or two and the group divides into two camps: one group of people who are the committed types would go to a root canal every week if they had promised to.  The other group are those who happen to find something else to do, are sick, had a root canal to go to instead of going to the boring small group.  Those who left feel guilty.  Those who stay judge those who left.

 

It's beautiful, really.

 

That's why I'm calling an end to small groups and crying out for a shift towards friendship.  Healthy people don't need small groups- they need to bring people into their social network.  People don't need groups, they need friends.  Somehow the whole world has survived without the strange concoction of the 'small group' that churches readily and sincerely embraced in the 90s.

 

I almost never talk about small groups at Mosaic.  I almost always talk about getting around some good people that can bring out the best in you- people you can partner with and do something meaningful with your lives.

 

In other words: get some friends and get a life.

 

I wonder if we put the Prius in front of the lithium battery on this one and just try to get everyone into our pre-programmed infrastructure, rather than creating a value for healthy friendship- something that is difficult [impossible?] to achieve without the active presence of God among us.

What's Next? Message Preview

Ephes. 1:17-19 (NIV) 
    I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [18] I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

It sounds noble to want "more of Jesus".  But is it theologically correct.  The Apostle Paul prays for his readers that they will awaken to the fullness of Christ already present within them.  It is my prayer that Paul's prayer will be a reality for us as we study God's Word this Sunday.

Way to go Zac!

Congratulations on your graduation from the Brooks Institute.  We are exceedingly proud of your accomplishment.  Even more we are proud of your obedience to God's call on your life and your humble service in ministering to youth.  We thank God for bring you and Jess to First Baptist.

This Week's Bible Reading Schedule

Monday, June 22nd
2 Kings 3:1-4:17
Acts 14:8-28
Psalm 140:1-13
Proverbs 17:22

Tuesday, June 23rd
2 Kings 4:18-5:27
Acts 15:1-35
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23

Wednesday, June 24th
2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Acts 15:36-16:15
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 17:24-25

Thursday, June 25th
2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26

Friday, June 26th
2 Kings 9:14-10:31
Acts 17:1-34
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 17:27-28

Saturday, June 27th
2 Kings 10:32-12:21
Acts 18:1-21
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 18:1

Sunday, June 28th
2 Kings 13:1-14:29
Acts 18:22-19:12
Psalm 146:1-10
Proverbs 18:2-3