How Are You Shining?

Our four core values at ABC are truth, grace, authenticity, and impact.  Our church values the truth of God’s Word.  The Bible is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path, and the church is called to lift that lamp up so the world can see it (Psalm 119:105, 1 Timothy 3:15).  However, as we lift the truth up, it is imperative for us to also demonstrate grace.  Light has a way of drawing others in, especially those who are tired of the darkness.  The church must be prepared to receive others with the warmth of God’s grace.  When we begin to value truth and grace, we begin to look more like Jesus (John 1:14).

Our third core value is authenticity.  No one should feel like they have to fake it when they go to church.  God wants each of us to walk in the light as He is in the light so we can have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).  It’s ok to not be ok because when one member suffers, the church is called to suffer together (1 Cor 12:26).  Our final core value is impact.  God created light to make an impact on the world.  Light was created to push back darkness, and we believe Jesus created His church to do the same thing (Matt 5:16).

Do the people around you see these four values in your life?  Can others recognize your commitment to truth?  Are you known as a person of radical grace?  Are you humble and authentic in your relationships with others?  Are you making an impact on the lives of others?  We must remain steadfastly committed to these values if we are going to see God fulfill our vision, “to see God light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.”  As our fall calendars begin to get crowded, I encourage you to remain committed to these things.  If we stay true to our values, I believe God will shine powerfully through this city on a hill this fall.

Invite a friend to join you this Sunday at 8:45 or 11:15am, and I look forward to continuing our study on the days of Elijah.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon – When the Brook Runs Dry – 1 Kings 17:8-24

We All Need Community

How do you make a big church feel small?  That is a natural question that many will ask when they step foot into a larger church.  How do you get connected in a larger church and be known by others?  Every local church should take time to answer that question because every believer needs community.  In fact, every believer is commanded to build community.  “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10).

Here at ABC, we provide two primary on-ramps to help you find community.  The first is our Bible Fellowship Groups which meet at 10am every Sunday.  Last weekend, we had over 800 people of all ages and stages find themselves in a BFG group to study God’s Word, pray for each other, and to build relationships with others.  Secondly, we offer Midweek ministry here at ABC.  Starting August 23rd, we will bring back our Wednesday night meal (5-6:30pm) and classes for all ages (6:30pm).  I love Midweek at ABC and the opportunity it provides each of us to be recharged in our faith through teaching and fellowship with one another.

God has been blessing our church as we continue to grow week by week.  If you are new to our church, I want you to know that you are an answered prayer.  I pray that God continues to bring new faces through our doors, and we will always be a church that exists for those who are not here yet.  But as our church grows bigger, it is imperative that we also think smaller.  Every child, teenager, and adult needs to find a way to be known and grow in community with believers.  Have you found your place to belong at ABC?  If not, we would love to get you plugged into a BFG this Sunday and Midweek next week.  As you find your place to plant roots, I believe you’ll discover that we’re not a big church, but rather we are more like a small town.

I enjoyed kicking off our new sermon series with you last Sunday.  I’m praying that God will continue to strengthen your faith and grow our church as we walk through the days of Elijah together.  Invite a friend, and I look forward to worshipping with you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon: The Days of Elijah – “Dry Days” – 1 Kings 17:1-7

Staff Retreat

This Sunday we are kicking off a new series called The Days of Elijah.  Over the next several weeks we will get to know Elijah, whose name means “The Lord is my God.”  We are going to see that Elijah lived up to his name as he courageously stood firm in his faith while navigating through dark and challenging times.  I hope you plan to join us for the next several weeks, and I pray that we all learn from Elijah’s example of courage and humility. 

This week we are conducting our annual staff retreat.  Our staff has taken some time to be sharpened and encouraged by one another.  I am so thankful that God has blessed our church with such a dynamic team of gifted and passionate servants.  I’m personally blessed by our staff, and I know our entire church is as well.  I encourage you to do two things this week that will return that blessing back to them.

First, take some time to encourage the staff. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”  A good word can go a long way in a staff member’s heart.  Thank them for what they do and affirm the Godly character and gifts that you see in them.  Don’t just celebrate what they do, celebrate who they are.

Second, find ways to partner with them in ministry.  Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” God did not give leadership to the church to do all the work themselves, but rather to equip the church to do the work of ministry more effectively.

Where are you serving right now at ABC?  The reality is our church is growing, especially in the children’s area.  We have joined over 100 new members in the last 7 months, and we need more members of this faith family to step up and find their place to serve.  You will never truly grow in your faith until you learn to exercise your faith through service to others.  Contact a staff member and ask how you can help.  Your availability will be a blessing to them, but I also know you will end up being blessed through your service to the church.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at. 8:45 or 11:15am.  Bring a friend and come ready to worship with us.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Summer of Impact

It is hard to believe, but August is here and summer is officially winding down.  This week our music and media ministries are hosting ABC’s final summer camp, our 2nd annual Creative Arts Camp.  Over 90 children are on campus right now to have fun and learn how to honor God through music and the creative arts.  I’m looking forward to seeing all that they learned in their Friday evening showcase of “Sermon on the Mound.”  Make sure you thank Dr. Todd Stearns, Garrett Ullrich, Lynn Wood, Stephen Vaughn, and all our amazing volunteers for making it possible this week.

Our 4th core value here at ABC is impact.  Jesus wants His church to make an impact on the world.  I’m so proud of our church answering that call and shining its light all summer long.   From Preteen Camp to Preschool Camp, to Beach Camp and VBS, to Creative Arts Camp and Freedom Over Austin, our staff and volunteers have done a phenomenal job investing in the lives of the next generation.  Thank you for shining your light into our community, and I’m looking forward to seeing how God will continue to impact our city through this city on a hill.

As summer is ending, our summer sermon series will also be ending this weekend.  This Sunday, I’ll preach the final sermon in our “Summer on the Mount” series.  I want to thank Dr. Matt Gillum for filling in for me last Sunday as our family got to enjoy a week away on summer vacation.  I hope you have been as challenged through this sermon series as I have been challenged through the preparation.  God is doing a great work in our church, and I have high expectations and high hopes heading into this new school year.  May we all stand firmly on the foundation of Jesus Christ and pray for even greater things in our midst:

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

VBS Report

VBS is here!  It has been thrilling to watch over 460 kids and leaders walk through our doors this week for our annual Vacation Bible School.  I love that our church goes “all in” for VBS.  We have an amazing team of volunteers who have spent countless hours decorating, organizing, and leading behind the scenes to make this week possible.  Likewise, I’m thankful for Rachel Tovar, Ashley Lindsey, Victoria Rodriguez and the entire ABC Kids staff for their vision and direction.  I’m especially thankful for Derek Tackett and our facilities team for their diligent work in getting things set up AND getting things turned back over so we can have church this Sunday.

I’m also thankful for you.  Your Gospel partnership made this ministry possible.  James 5:16 tells us “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”  Your prayers have been felt, and I thank God for the 45 children who made first time decisions for Jesus Christ this week.  I have no doubt that your prayers played a pivotal role in the fruit that we have seen.  Additionally, I know your generosity through your tithes and offerings made this week possible.  I love that ABC offers this event (and so many more) free of charge to our entire community.  But I know that only happens because of your continued support to the general budget.  Thank you for worshipping God through your giving, and I hope you know that God is making an impact through your faithfulness.

Paul says, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5).  Those who pray, give, and serve are indeed partners in ministry, and like Paul, I give thanks for each of you.  To God be the glory for great things He has done.  May we remain faithful to Him as He is always faithful to us.  Let’s press on to the next challenge and shine our light this week.  I’ll see you Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon: “Worried to Death”

VBS is Here!

It was wonderful having Tony and Vanda George join us at ABC last weekend.  I hope you enjoyed meeting them and have now added them to your regular prayer lists.  Before they left Austin, I took some time to record a podcast episode with them so they could share their testimonies and pass on more information to our church about their ministry.

I’ve provided a link below to our “Citizen ATX” podcast channel, where you’ll find that episode at the top of the list.  If you’re unaware, we regularly use this podcast channel to provide Biblical conversations that help equip the saints and reach the lost.  I encourage you to subscribe to the channel and share the episodes that you find are helpful.  Likewise, I’ve added links to our sermon podcast and YouTube channels.  Our sermons are posted each week on these audio and video platforms so you can reference the content and share it with others:

This Sunday you will be excited to see that VBS is officially here!  Our staff and volunteers have done a phenomenal job decorating and preparing our church for an impactful week of children’s ministry.  The remarkable transformation of our facility will continue after church this Sunday as our team puts the final touches on the buildings. 

I am so thankful to pastor a church that LOVES kids!  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).  Join me in prayer that many children will indeed come to Jesus at VBS.  The Gospel is profound, yet at the same time it is so simple that it only requires “child-like faith.”  Pray that many children will put their faith in Jesus, and pray that many parents in our community will follow their footsteps.

Thank you for being a generous church and providing the necessary resources for us to offer this event FREE of charge.  Your continued faithfulness makes a difference in so many lives.  It is imperative for us to continue to reach children, youth, and families in our community with the light of Jesus Christ.  Thank you for helping us carry out the vision of our church.  May God continue to use ABC to light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.

I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon: The Right Treasure

The Impact of Generosity

I hope you enjoyed our fun-filled patriotic weekend at ABC.  It was such a special time of worship, prayer and fasting, and community impact at our Freedom Over Austin event.  I want to especially thank Derek Tackett and his facilities team for making Freedom Over Austin possible.  I also want to thank our staff who did such a great job administrating the various elements of the event.  And of course, I must thank the dozens of volunteers who made this event such a success.  It was an “all hands-on deck” moment, and I was proud to see our church rise up to shine our light into the community together. We could not have done this event without you! 

This Sunday I’m looking forward to introducing you to my friends Tony and Vanda George from Cairo, Egypt.  Tony is the leader of TC Egypt, the dynamic evangelical ministry that our church is partnering with in the Middle East.  Tony and Vanda will be joining us in worship to greet our congregation and share how God is using the ABC family to impact the city of Fayoum.  I encourage you to warmly welcome Tony and Vanda this Sunday and continue to lift them up in prayer.  We will also have a limited number of TC Egypt t-shirts for sale at cost this weekend to promote our partnership in Egypt.  Consider picking up a shirt to show your support for our campus in Fayoum and to help you remember to pray for our ministry in Egypt regularly.

Thank you for continuing to be a generous church.  Events like Freedom Over Austin and ministries like our campus in Egypt are only possible because of your partnership.  Malachi 3:10 tells us, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”  I believe God has been pouring down his blessings on our church family.  Thank you for being a part of that blessing through your financial stewardship.  May we all continue to be faithful, as He is always faithful to us.

Have a great week and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon – “Under God” – Matt 6:1-18

Freedom Over Austin – THIS Sunday!

I missed you last Sunday, but Bethany and I were so thankful to have a getaway weekend to celebrate our anniversary.  We spent the weekend enjoying good food and the outdoors in Wimberley, and we even got a chance to worship together at FBC Wimberley on Sunday morning.  It was a refreshing weekend, and we had a blast spending time together in the beautiful hill country.

Every time I step away to spend time with my family, I’m always reminded of how great our staff is at ABC.  We are truly blessed to have such a talented and passionate staff who serve our church so faithfully.  It’s a blessing as a Pastor to be able to step back and know in full confidence that our team will continue to lead well in my absence.  Be sure to encourage a staff member this week and let them know how grateful you are for their service to our church.

It’s going to be a big patriotic weekend at ABC!  I hope you’re planning to wear red, white, and blue all Sunday long.  We will honor our veterans in worship this weekend, feature special music, and I’ll be preaching a special message from God’s Word.  Then, make plans to return to the church at 7pm for our 3rd annual Freedom Over Austin event.  We’ll have an all-American carnival, food trucks, live music, and a fireworks show when it gets dark. Because of your continued generosity, we are able to offer this event FREE of charge to the entire community!

Take the opportunity to invite a neighbor or friend to join you this weekend for all the festivities.  This is not a Sunday you want to come alone to church.  Invite someone to come celebrate the freedom of our great nation, and most importantly, to celebrate the freedom that Jesus Christ has given us through His life, death, and resurrection.  I’ll see you Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Setting a Target

ABC’s vision is to see God light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.  I pray that God will continue to use our church to light up your life, but I also pray that He will use you personally to begin shining light into the lives of others.  The summer season provides our church a great opportunity to make an impact on our surrounding community.

I was so encouraged to see 15 students make decisions for Christ last week at our Beach Camp.  Many of these students were guests, and camp provided an incredible platform for our church to make an eternal impact on their lives.  On July 2nd, we will likely host over 1,500 people for our Freedom Over Austin event.  I’m praying that God will use that event to plant Gospel seeds and help our church better connect with our neighbors.  I’m also praying that God will use our upcoming VBS to bring the gospel to hundreds of children in our city.

I’m so proud of our church for continuing to exist for those who are not here yet.  However, I encourage you to not forget that you have a personal role to play in carrying out this vision for our church.  We all have neighbors, co-workers, family members, and friends who don’t go to church regularly.  When was the last time you invited someone to join you in worship?  I encourage you to make a list today and pray for those individuals by name.  Then send them personal invitations to be your guest this Sunday. Many would attend church, if they were simply asked by a trusted friend.

I will always remember the famous Zig Ziglar quote, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”  Let’s not aim at nothing.  Write down the names of people that God has put on your heart and set a goal.  And then let’s pray for God’s favor as we each do our part to shine His light into our spheres of influence.  May God continue to bless you and bless our church in this exciting season.  Have a great week and we’ll see you at 8:45am or 11:15am this weekend.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon

Camp Experiences

This Sunday we will be sending off two buses full of teenagers and leaders to Gulf Shores, Alabama for our student ministry’s Beach Camp.  Camp season is such a special time in the life of a church.  I believe it is important for every child and teenager to have the opportunity to experience camp in their upbringing.  Camp helps students grow in their character, grow in their relationships with each other, and most importantly in helps them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  I’m thankful to pastor a church that prioritizes the next generation and provides ministry with excellence for them.  God has already moved this summer through our church’s pre-teen camp, and I’m looking forward to hearing how He will impact the hearts of our teenagers next week. 

As we get older, we unfortunately do not have the luxury of a “camp experience” every summer.  However, I want to remind you that you can find ways to spiritually retreat in these coming weeks.  Last Sunday, we learned that blessed people approach God differently.  For the blessed, God is not just part of their life, He is their life.  How can you approach God differently this summer?  You could set the alarm clock back a few minutes to create some margin for prayer and solitude with the Lord.  You could start a Bible reading plan and begin to seek His voice through intentionality in His Word.  You could take a hike on a trail to walk and talk with God.  You could put down the phone and read a good Christian book instead or go out with Christian friends to fellowship.  You could incorporate a new spiritual discipline such as journaling, fasting, or giving. 

I hope you don’t miss your own opportunity to spiritually grow this summer.  I believe God is already doing a work in the life of our church, but I want you to know above all that He wants to do a work in your life as well.  What is your next step?   I pray that you do not become complacent, but instead you become courageous.  “Awake, O sleeper and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14).  I look forward to seeing you in worship this weekend at 8:45am or 11:15am.  Let your light shine this week and invite a friend to join you this Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon: Summer on the Mount – Matthew 5:1-16