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This evening, I will be preaching on Isaiah 62:6 - 12 as a Christmas Eve passage.  This is a little different sitz im leben for this passage than I have used before.  It is in the lectionary list for the Christmas services, and this seems to be the right passage for this evening. 

While most Christmas sermons try to travel from the what (the story of Christmas, or the prophecies about Jesus) to the lives of the parishioners, this passage will have to travel from the why (the promises of God for the restoration of his people and, indeed, the entire creation) to a place of prophetic action and response. 

In vv. 6 - 7, the prophet speaks of his own actions and desires.  He has posted watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.  They are to keep watch for the coming of the Lord.  They call back and forth to see whether the others have seen the Lord coming.  Therefore, all day and all night they shall not be silent.  This prophetic action could indeed have taken place: Isaiah could have done this in reality, not just in writing. 

Then he speaks to the intercessors - who could also be the watchmen, it is not clear - those who call upon the Lord (YHWH) - who remind the Lord (YHWH) of his promises.  They are to take no rest (like the watchmen, if they are not actually the watchmen in mixed metaphor or extended analogy) until the Lord establishes Jerusalem.  They are supposed to keep up their call and cry and reminder to the Lord (YHWH) and not give him any rest until he follows through.  In this way, they engage in a holy nagging of the Holy One of Israel. 

Vv. 8 - 9 are the recounting of the promise YHWH has made to his people, a promise secured with an oath sworn upon his own strength.  God promises that the grain the people have sown, and the vineyard work they have engaged in will not go to waste or be stolen.  Those who have labored for it and gathered the fruit will praise YHWH and partake of it in his temple. 

We do this prophetic action in communion through the offerings and the participation in the bread and cup at the table.  They are all connected.  We praise God in his temple and praise God for his salvation in that bread and cup by offering up to him that which he has given to us, that which he has restored to us.

Our worship is the reminder to God - especially our prayers - that God has promised to us to do certain things, and that we desire him to do those things he has promised. 

Our labor is not to continue in vain - both our physical labor and our spiritual labor.  Over and over again, our finances have gone to waste.  Our jobs have disappeared, going to others who hate us.  Some of this has been our own fault, other of this has been the responsibility of others.  The scriptures affirm that no person has clean hands in this world.  We live in a world full of broken promises - which are a form of theft, in this case.  “Til Death Do Us Part” is only one of the many.  Some have been promised retirement incomes.  Some have been promised jobs.  Others have been promised other things, and they have not received them. 

God’s promise is that he will restore all things and we will no longer have to experience that kind of privation.  But we can also take this spiritually.  Our spiritual seeds we sow will not be taken by our enemies, or by the Enemy.  Our spiritual fruit of our labors will not be taken by others.  Instead, our seed will become our grain; our grapes will become our wine, and it will be something for which we praise God at all times and in all places because we are the Temple of the Lord.  When we talk to others about Jesus, that’s a seed.  When we do something in the name of Christ for someone else, that’s a seed.  And as we see the fruit, God will continue to bless us - as long as we continue to praise him for providing it. 

We, therefore, are the ones keeping watch and the ones reminding the Lord to fulfill his promises.  We keep watch through worship and prayer primarily.  We should not skimp on either of them.  Our prophetic actions tonight are through the light in darkness, providing food for the poor, celebrating in tithes offerings and communion at the table, and taking our light out into the world. 

V. 10 invites the people to action, to do what must be done for the coming of the Lord (YHWH).  But it is not just YHWH they are expecting.  They are expecting those who have been scattered to return, and for all peoples to come worship the Lord with them.  Therefore, the people are supposed to go prepare the way, with the assumption that they will be having a lot of traffic soon.

Building up the highway keeps it from getting muddy and slowing down the traffic.  In fact, it keeps the road from being basically impassible.  Clearing it of stones means that there will be no impediment to people who are coming into the city. 

Banners are more than just festivity - they are a sign of the king’s rule over the city.  They welcome people, but they also declare that the King is on his way. 

Vv. 11 - 12 are a continuation of God’s promise: salvation is coming, his reward and his payback (or repayment) are with him.  The people once called so unholy that they had to go into exile are now called “holy and redeemed of the Lord” and the city shall be a city that others seek to be in, not forsaken and left behind. 

This is a huge promise for our area, if this does apply: our city has been known for economic depression and government corruption.  It has been known as an area depleted of population because people are leaving.  Instead of forsaking the city, God’s promise is restoration, that others seek to be a part of.  This is the Word of the Lord. 

How is this Christmas?  This baby whose coming we celebrate is the Lord who has done this and is doing this and will do this.  His cross and resurrection have saved us and it is he who will do the rest of his promises to us, his people.  Let us confess our unholiness and our forsakenness and receive his forgiveness, holiness and restoration.

Christmas is nearly upon us!  For many people, this is a very busy time of the year.  There are parties to go to, and shopping to do.  There are end-of-the-year reports to file, and other things that get done only in December. 

But for many in our community, this is a very hard time.  Many families are scattered across the country - and have trouble getting back together for holidays.  Other families are close by, but have serious trouble when they get together.  Others are realizing that the winter, which began early this year, has already reduced their finances and times are getting harder. 

This week, we have received a number of calls for food and other assistance.  These hard economic times are causing people to turn to the church for help.  This provides us with an amazing opportunity to bring the Good News to those who are in need. 

This Christmas Eve, we will provide an opportunity to help those in need by bringing non-perishable food items to the Christmas Eve service.  As a part of our time at the Table, we will present these gifts to God for the relief of the poor and needy in our congregation and community. 

Our Christmas Eve service will be at 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall.  Please invite your friends, neighbors and family to join us for this night of worship and of service to God. 

May God bless you this Christmas!

+ Pastor Matt Thomas

I read an article today on Leadership magazine’s Out of Ur blog by Skye Jethani that I thought could spark some good discussion.  The original article is here.  The article follows below the line.

Enjoy!

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The financial talking heads are attributing the current economic crisis to a number of things: lack of regulatory oversight, bad mortgage lending practices, and globalized market structures. But some of the more plainspoken pundits sum up the mess in a single word: Debt.

Simply put, for too long people have been spending more than they have. We have been purchasing homes we cannot afford, saving less than we should, and racking up debt at an unprecedented rate. The average American currently has a negative savings rate and over $8000 in credit card debt. As Dave Ramsey says, we are not “acting our wage.” On a national level, we have been importing more than we export and borrowing money from foreign governments to make up the difference.The picture is not pretty. We’ve made the foundation of our economy consumer spending rather than manufacturing, saving, or production. All that debt simply cannot hold the weight of the economy over time, and now we’re starting to see the system crumble.

How does this apply to ministry? Read More »

God has truly blessed us this year as he has miraculously sustained the ministry here at First Baptist Church!  This week, we will receive our 2009 envelopes for regular giving at FBC.  I believe that God desires to do great things with us and through us in 2009.  Those who give regularly will notice a change in the designations on the offering envelopes that I believe reflects our growth as a congregation, as we live out the values of the Kingdom of God. 

There will still be three choices on the envelopes.  First, there will be Missions and Benevolences.  This will be for money you choose to designate for the work of the Body of Christ outside of FBC, and also to the Deacons’ Fellowship Fund, as a supplement to the monthly Communion Offering.  This will allow us to become a conduit for the support of the Body of Christ beyond FBC.

The second choice on the envelopes will be called Operating Funds.  This will be for money you choose to designate for the regular operating budget, and the default category if you do not designate anything at all. 

Third, there will be a Reserve Funds category.  This will be for Capital Maintenance, Roof Fund, for new ministries and for financial emergencies.  These are funds that we hope to have available for growth, for unexpected expenses, and for troubled times.

In order to meet our basic operating expenses this year, we hope to raise $82,000.00 for the Operating Funds for 2009.  In faithfulness to Christ, we also hope to give $9,600.00 to Missions and Benevolences this year and contribute $4,800.00 to our Reserve Funds this year.  That is a total of $96,400.00. 

We understand that in order to raise this kind of money, we will have to look beyond the 25 current families and individuals who give actively to FBC.  We know that people are already giving sacrificially in finances, time and energy to keep the work of God going here, for which I am truly grateful. 

We ask that those who can give us an estimate of how much they believe God is leading them to give faithfully - whether little or much.  This will help us to plan and seek out other sources where necessary.  If you have been active in giving this year, we invite you to consider becoming active and involved in the ministry in this way.  We understand that finances are tight for many these days, but we also know that God is faithful to provide for his people, both personally and as a congregation. 

It is not the intention of the leaders of this congregation to make anyone feel badly about their inability to give at whatever level; we speak to these issues as a way of being open and honest with you as to our financial picture.  It is our intention to make a 2009 budget summary available as soon as possible, with an estimate of how much on average is necessary for us to bring in each month based on how many individuals, families, or outside sources are involved. 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of the work God is doing with us here at First Baptist Church!

Welcome to Advent! 

This last Sunday, we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent, where we focus on God’s coming to earth. 

This Sunday, we have a special event coming up - we will be welcoming three new members into the church through the renewal of baptismal commitments.  Worship will be followed by a potluck dinner together.  Praise God for the good things he is doing!

I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!

+Pastor Matt

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week I have been spending time with my family in Illinois, and I will be back with you on Sunday.

This week begins the season of Advent - the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.  In Advent we anticipate the coming of Christ.  We start by anticipating his Second Coming and finish the season by remembering his arrival at Bethlehem as an infant. 

This week, we’ll be looking at Mark 13:24 - 37.  Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard quite a bit about what God intends life to be like at the return of Christ.  This Sunday, we will see how God intends to interrupt the way life is going to intervene in this world.  There is a dual message in this passage - hope that God will make everything right, and a warning to pay attention to see what God is up to. 

Next Sunday, in the Second Sunday of Advent, we will be looking at 2 Peter 3:8 - 15.  This passage describes to us how we should live in light of God’s coming.  It contains the famous “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.”  (verse

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving and I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

This week has seen much good going on for First Baptist Church.  As I mentioned last week, we hosted the City-wide Intercessor group on Thursday evening.  This group prayed intensely for this congregation, for its health, growth and well-being.  We certainly have people outside of our congregation who are rooting for us!  We’ll be hosting them again this evening, and I encourage you to join us at 7:00 PM!

Over the last few weeks, I have begun working with some of our newest regular attenders to invite them more fully into the life of God here at First Baptist.  Right now, we have around 10 people who are growing intentionally toward baptism and/or church membership at FBC. 

The men’s group at First Baptist is beginning to read a book called Outflow.  It’s about how to allow the Spirit of God to fill you to overflowing with God’s life, so that you can pour God’s life into the lives of others.  We had a great kick-off discussion yesterday evening at Panera Bread on Elm Road.  You can join us at 6:30 on Wednesdays.

Tim F. and Eric S. have been talking with me and with a number of you about getting a youth group re-started.  If you are interested in participating - as a youth or as a leader - contact either of them, or talk to me.  We’ll get something going soon!

This Sunday, we will look at how we can encourage one another with God’s promises about what he’s up to, even when times are hard.  We’ll look at 1 Thessalonians 5:1 - 11 during worship.  Next week, we’ll be in Ezekiel 34:11 - 16, 20 - 24.  This passage marks the last Sunday of the year before Advent, and the focus is on God coming to take charge of his people and get them where they need to be. 

I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!

Dear Congregation,

I come to you this week and declare, as I usually do, that God is at work among us!  I hope that phrase is not losing its potency - because it is still true!

On Monday, I met with the pastors of the Warren Prayer Movement to fast and pray on the topic of the next Sacred Assembly, to be held at First Methodist Church on Sunday, November 16, at 5:00 PM.  The theme is “Healing at the Cross.”  As pastors, we have acknowledged that many people have been hurt by church people throughout the years.  In many cases, these hurts and wounds have lasted a very long time and have even caused some to fall away from faith in Jesus Christ.  The purpose of this month’s Sacred Assembly is to pray to receive forgiveness and healing for these hurts in the name of Jesus.  I know that many of us hurt deeply over things that have transpired in this church and in other churches we have been a part of; I would encourage all of you to participate in this Sacred Assembly. 

On Tuesday, we hosted four election precincts in our Fellowship Hall worship area.  We had hundreds of people come through our building to vote.  On that same day, our new signs arrived.  We put up most of them that day.  There are two that are left to hang, so if you would like to help out, please let me know.  I would personally like to thank all those who spent time taking care of the building while the election judges were being trained and on election day.  Thank you for your faithful service!

This evening (Thursday), we have another great opportunity to show hospitality.  Tonight, the Trumbull Prayer Initiative will be meeting at our building, with the purpose of praying for the work of God in this city and in this congregation.  This group gathers from across the city to pray for revival and transformation.  I have been a part of this group for a couple of months now.  Feel free to join us if you like high-powered, exciting prayer times! 

This Sunday, we will have guest music as Michelle is given a day off.  Rev. Dennis Lawrence will be singing for us.  Our sermon Scripture will be Matthew 25:1 - 13, the story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids.  I invite you to consider how God is calling you to prepare for the miracle he is about to do here. 

Next Sunday, we will look at 1 Thessalonians 5:1 - 11, which talks about a different aspect of preparedness for God’s work.  It encourages us that when destruction is raining all around us, we will be obtaining salvation, as long as we continue as “children of light” (vs. 5). 

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!

Dear Congregation -

May God continue to bless you richly as you grow in him, “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:7)

This week, we’ve had the opportunity to play host to the members of our community who will be working the polls on November 4.  The Trumbull County Board of Elections rents our building for the week prior to the election in order to train all the poll workers from each precinct.  Our church will also be hosting four precincts from the southeast side of Warren on November 4, in the Fellowship Hall.  We anticipate having a lot of guests - perhaps numbering even 1000 - in our building that day.  So I, with the help and suggestions of a number of you, took the opportunity to start to spruce the place up, to get ready for our guests. 

The first thing we did was to update all the bulletin boards in the hallway leading from the parking lot to the Fellowship Hall.  We designed the new information on the bulletin boards to help our guests get to know us and feel welcome in our building.  We set up the boards so that as people walk down the hall from the parking lot, they learn a little about us along the way, so that by the time they reach the Fellowship Hall, they may be open to the invitation on the large bulletin board to join us for worship at 10:45 AM Sundays. 

Along the same lines, we placed an order for some banners that we will place on the outside of our building in order to be more welcoming and to help our guests navigate to where they need to be.  Over the years, it has become obvious that those who are not currently an active part of First Baptist Church have trouble finding which door to come in for worship, for the offices, and even where the restrooms are once they get in the building.  We are going to do our best to update our signage without spending a significant amount of money.  As a congregation that is seeking to reach out to others, we must do our best to increase our accessibility to outsiders through making navigation easier. 

This week in worship, we are looking at Joshua 3:7 - 17, where the Jordan River is parted and the people of Israel walk through it on dry ground in order to take possession of the Land God promised to them.  The miracles God did in the desert did not cease when the people entered the Land, but the changed.  Let’s look for how God does new kinds of miracles as we begin to enter in to what God has for us. 

Coming up on November 9, we will look at Matthew 25:1 - 13, the parable of the 10 bridesmaids, with the theme, “be prepared for God to act.”  We don’t want to be having to scramble around when God does show up in a powerful way, so let’s start thinking about (and acting upon) how we can be prepared for God to do in us “exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). 

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!

Dear Congregation,

Before I left on vacation, I left a letter to be posted to the church website and distributed in worship.  I hope you all have read it as a letter of encouragement and exhortation.  I have returned from a week of vacation and three days at the American Baptist Churches of Ohio Annual Gathering in Columbus.  However, it’s likely that relatively few of you have seen or heard from me - especially those not in worship on Sunday - because I came down with a rather nasty cold on Sunday afternoon and have been lying low, fighting it off and avoiding infecting others. 

By the time most of you see this letter, we will be in worship on Sunday, where we will be looking at a passage from 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - 12.  In it, Paul relates to the church at Thessalonika how much he suffered to bring them the Good News of Jesus, but how worthwhile it was, since he was able to share with them his life, in the role of a spiritual parent.  We will talk about such “spiritual parenting” and how we fit into that idea this Sunday morning.  But to summarize: in healthy churches, the spiritual parents parent those who are their spiritual children to maturity, so that they may, in turn, become spiritual parents and raise their own spiritual children.  Instead of a contractual relationship between the “leaders” and the “led”, there is a natural relationship between parents and children.  Instead of a “consent relationship” wherein two parties mutually agree to terms, there is an organic relationship wherein one begets the other, and wherein no matter how broken the relationship becomes, it still exists, because one cannot declare their children, “not their children,” nor their parents, “not their parents.”  Let’s look at how we may put this parental relationship into practice here at First Baptist Church. 

This week, we have an opportunity to reach out to others with hospitality, in the name of Christ.  The Trumbull County Board of Elections will be training poll workers in our sanctuary from Tuesday through Saturday, October 28 - November 1.  Let’s all find ways of making these folks feel welcome as they visit.  If you have any specific ideas as to how we might show hospitality and the love of Christ to these people as they are trained for the election, let me know.  We also will be hosting four precincts for the election on Tuesday, November 4.  Please understand that we cannot endorse or post signs for any particular candidate or party anywhere on our property in order to maintain our tax-exempt non-profit status.  However, we do welcome Christ-centered discussion of the issues as they are presented so that all of us may make faithful decisions in the elections. 

Looking forward to Sunday, November 2, we will be looking at Joshua 3:7 - 17.  In it, God does a mini-repetition of the miracle at the Red Sea when the People of Israel cross the Jordan River to take possession of the Promised Land.  Let us, then, look for ways that God is giving us signs that he is still with us as we move into his land of promise.  Let’s share these with one another.

I look forward to worshipping God with you this Sunday!