Copy
A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford
View this email in your browser

"You Can't Afford Not To Tithe"


<<First Name>>,

The message last Sunday, titled “Honor God with at Least the First Ten Percent,” was the third in our six-week series, Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship. In week one of this series, our focus was on how God is the Owner of everything. This principle is built upon the rock-solid doctrine of God. In week two, our focus was on how we own absolutely nothing. This principle is built upon the doctrine of stewardship. Now in week three, our focus is on honoring God with at least the first ten percent of all He gives to us. This principle is built upon the doctrine of the tithe, giving the first ten percent of our entire income to our local fellowship of believers as an act of worship toward God, who is the Giver of everything.
 
Have you asked yourself the question, “Why is it so difficult for many people to trust God by giving Him the first ten percent of all their income?” Many people do not see the need to honor God with the tithe. Some people say, “I cannot afford to tithe,” while others say, “You can’t afford not to tithe.” How do you respond to the latter statement? For me, when we give our financial resources, we are acknowledging that God is the Giver of all and He alone will meet our daily needs of food, clothing, shelter, protection, etc. What I’m saying is, “God, I so trust You to be the source of my supply that I willingly give back to You the first ten percent of all You have given me, and I trust You to meet all my needs.”
 
Remember Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (CSB). Think about it, if God can take care of us in eternity, can we trust Him to take care of us in the life we now live on earth? If we cannot trust God to take care of us in this life, can we truly trust Him to take care of us for eternity? Most people that find it difficult to trust God by giving Him the first ten percent of all their income are simply making an excuse. Excusing themselves from obeying biblical principles is not a healthy way to live. The real reason people do not tithe is because of a lack of faith in God and His promises found in God’s Word. 
 
When a person has a biblical view of God, they will have a greater faith in God. The greater a person’s faith in God, the more giving will be part of their life and lifestyle. When a person reads the New Testament, Abraham is consistently lifted up as our "Father in the Faith." For example, Hebrews 7:1-10 indicates that Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek, recorded in Genesis 14:17-24, was an encounter with a “type” of Christ (some think this is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament). This is regarded as a theophany, an appearance Himself – Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
How did Abraham respond to his encounter with Melchizedek? He bowed and worshiped; he gave a tenth, ten percent of the spoils and determined not to retain any of the other spoils except what his soldiers consumed on the journey and what was due to his fellow military leaders.
 
If we have had an encounter with Jesus Christ in His glorified state, would we be moved to a humbleness, awe, worship, and a commitment to demonstrate our faith through a tangible means of gratitude and trust by giving at least the first ten percent God gives to us? This all begins with our view of God – He is who He says He is and He can do what He says He can do. 
 
Our message for Sunday is titled, “Bring the Full Ten Percent to the Church.”
 
Pastor Rick

Worship With Us This Sunday!


Join us for worship this Sunday, January 24, as Pastor Rick continues our series, "Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship," based on the book by Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. You can preview the service plan HERE and download the sermon outline HERE.

Our personal financial security and our church’s financial security are more certain when we follow God’s financial plan as revealed in Scripture. This stewardship focus builds upon biblical financial principles to help you prioritize, elevate, and accelerate generosity.

"Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship" focuses on six principles:
  • God is the Owner of Everything (January 3)
  • We Own Absolutely Nothing (January 10)
  • Honor God with at Least the First Ten Percent (January 17)
  • Bring the Full Ten Percent to the Church (January 24)
  • Practice Over and Above Giving (January 31)
  • Focus on the Great Commission Always (February 7)
We hope to see you and your family for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:45. We are also continuing to post our services online for those who can't join us in person. The worship service video will be posted no later than Monday to our Facebook page. It will also be available at FreeChurchOnline if you do not have a Facebook account. Be sure to comment and let us know that you're watching with us! If you need any technical assistance, email Josh Erisman.

Read Through the Bible in 2021


We are reading through the Bible as a congregation this year, using a plan from the Bible Project. Here are this week's readings:

THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT (continued)
Thursday, January 21 | Exodus 13-15; Psalm 21
Friday, January 22 | Exodus 16-18; Psalm 22

THE COVENANT AT MT. SINAI
Saturday, January 23 | Exodus 19-21 (video); Psalm 23
Sunday, January 24 | Exodus 22-24; Psalm 24
Monday, January 25 | Exodus 25-27; Psalm 25
Tuesday, January 26 | Exodus 28-29; Psalm 26
Wednesday, January 27 | Exodus 30-31; Psalm 27
Thursday, January 28 | Exodus 32-34; Psalm 28

You can check out the entire plan by clicking here.

Mom LIFE Game Night


Talk with Brittney Taylor or Brittany Erisman for more information!

SBC Missionary Highlight

Salinas, California is a small city that is roughly a two-hour drive south of San Francisco. The region is well known for its agriculture and scenic mountain views.

Yet, the east side of town is typically a place that some do their best to avoid, considering it a gang-infested area. However, Matthew and Ana Silvestre wanted to start a church there. Theirs is a multicultural church with a strong Hispanic representation in the congregation. Together, they have been able to love their local community by serving the homeless and other people in need in their city as they share the Gospel.

THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM is the financial fuel for reaching every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state, and every nation. Your support through the Cooperative Program allows missionaries like the Silvestres to impact communities like Salinas with the love and peace of Christ.

PRAY for Matthew and Ana as they serve their church and community and that God will continue to open more doors for them.

In every edition of the FirstUpdate, we are highlighting the efforts of the International Mission Board (IMB), the North American Mission Board (NAMB), the six Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) seminaries, and the various Baptist state conventions. Each month, our church and the other 47,000+ churches in the SBC contribute a portion of our undesignated offerings to these important Cooperative Program (CP) ministries. For more information about CP, click HERE.

Giving Options


Even if you aren't joining us for in-person worship on Sunday, please continue to remember your tithes and offerings. The church’s ministries and operational expenses go on in spite of the current situation. We want to be a blessing to our community and it takes resources to do that. Your faithful giving makes it possible!

In addition to dropping cash or checks in the offering box on Sunday morning, there are multiple ways to give your tithes and offerings:
  • Online through Tithe.ly or the Tithe.ly app
  • Mail a check to First Baptist Church, PO Box 367, Strafford, MO 65757
  • Several of our members have begun using online bill pay through their bank to send in their offering. This is a free service that some banks provide. All you have to do is add the church’s name and address as a vendor, just like you would the electric company or any other business.
  • You can also drop your offering by the church office, but please call ahead to make sure that someone will be in the office.
Thank you again, church family, for your generous and faithful giving! If you need help setting up online giving or have any questions, contact Josh Erisman.
Website
Website
Facebook
Facebook
Instagram
Instagram
FB Group
FB Group
Email
Email
Give Now
Give Now
Tithe.ly App
Tithe.ly App

This Week @ FBC Strafford


Thursday, January 21
12:00 noon | Painting Class

Sunday, January 24
8:45 a.m. | Worship Team Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. | Sunday School
10:45 a.m. | Worship Service
3:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal
5:40 p.m. | AFC Championship (Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs)

Wednesday, January 27
6:00 p.m. | NOW Family Meal
6:30 p.m. | KidsNOW (Birth-6th)
6:30 p.m. | M-power Youth (7th-12th)
7:00 p.m. | LivingNOW (Adults)

CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, January 24


ECM | Randi R. & Kirsten C.
Greeters | Sandy S.
Information Desk | Jane L.
Audio | Jeremy F.
Video | Garett B.
Security | Ray S. & Kenny W.
Counters | Colleen A. & Shannon P.

If you cannot serve on your assigned Sunday, please arrange a substitute and let the church office know by calling 736-2148 or emailing church@fbcstrafford.org.

Thank you to all those who serve our church in these important roles each Sunday morning!
Copyright © 2021 First Baptist Church of Strafford, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp