Psalm 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’!”  I’ve always loved those words from David.  David did not dread going to the temple, but rather he longed to be there (cf. Psalm 84).  He did not see his travel to the temple as a begrudging obligation.  He recognized that it was a blessing from God.  He was excited to participate in the gathering of God’s people and was looking forward to being near God’s presence.

We should not view church as something we have to do, we should view it as something we get to do.  Every Sunday is another divine opportunity from God.  Through the gathering of the saints, God gives His people the opportunity to worship and experience Him in a unique way.  We are also given the opportunity to encourage each other, to build community, and to serve one another with our spiritual gifts.  If you are married, Sundays provide an opportunity for you to grow spiritually with your spouse.  If you have kids, Sundays provide an opportunity for you to help them grow in their faith in their most formative years.

Because Sunday morning gatherings are indeed a blessing from God, I encourage you to do two things this Summer.  First, commit to be here when you are in town.  I understand Summer brings lots of travel and activities.  But if you are in town, make plans to go to the house of the Lord.  I’ll be starting a new summer sermon series titled “Summer on the Mount.”  We’ll be examining the greatest sermon ever delivered by the greatest preacher, Jesus Christ, all summer long (Matthew 5-7). 

Second, I encourage you to share your gladness with others around you.  Paul tells us, “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).  We are blessed every week to have new visitors attend each of our worship services.  I realize we all have friends, but we cannot become so insular in our thinking that we miss the opportunity to live on mission right there in the worship center.  Look for someone you do not know and make the intentional effort to introduce yourself. The truth is church can be intimidating for new people.  Many new visitors don’t feel glad, they feel fearful.  You can alleviate those fears and discomforts by simply welcoming them and getting acquainted.

Our time change goes into effect this Sunday (8:45am choir-led service, 10am BFGs, 11:15am band-led service).  Remember that one of the primary reasons we are making this change is to create more time to welcome each other.  I already know we are the friendliest church in Austin, but let’s prove that this Sunday.  Parents, remember that this weekend is also Promotion Sunday.  Our kiddos will be “moving up” to their new classes, so make sure they are here to enjoy that special day.

Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Be sure to join us this Sunday for ABC Student Weekend.  Our student ministry will be activated this Sunday to lead our church across all areas.  They will be greeting, ushering, leading in music and prayers, and three of our students will be sharing their testimonies in our worship services.  I’m so proud of these students and cannot wait to see God shine through them .  Additionally, we’ll be honoring our graduating seniors in both of our worship services and praying for them as they press on to God’s next steps for their lives.

The Apostle Paul told young Pastor Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).  I believe you will be encouraged by these teenagers as they set the example for our church this weekend.   Make sure you come to church hungry and stick around for lunch.  Our students will be serving spaghetti after the BFG hour (for those who attend the 9am service), and they will serve again at 12:15pm (for those who attend the 11:11am service).  This lunch is a fundraiser to help our students get to camp.  Make plans to enjoy the sweet time of fellowship with our church, but I also encourage you to bless these students with a generous contribution to help them get to camp.

Last Sunday was a milestone moment in the life of our church.  We experienced our largest Sunday morning attendance ever, outside of our Grand Opening and Easter Sundays.  We welcomed 1,060 people to our two worship services.  God is moving in our church, and I’m grateful for it.  I hope you were encouraged by Lori DeVillez as she reported all that God is doing through our partnership with the Trotter House.  I was also encouraged to see our Spanish translation ministry launch for the first time at the 11:11am service.  Pray for this new ministry to reach more Spanish speakers and pray for God to bring us additional bilingual members to help lead in this area.

Pray for our student ministry this week.  Come early to church and encourage these students as they set the pace for our church this weekend.  I believe God is going to do a powerful work through them and we’ll all be blessed because of it.  I’ll see you at 9am or 11:11am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

I hope you are gearing up for a special Mother’s Day weekend!  We are looking forward to honoring all mothers in our worship services.  We will also be celebrating some of our young moms and dads through our Parent Child Dedication.  These sweet families will stand on stage and publicly commit to raise their children in Christ-centered homes.  We as the church will also have the opportunity to commit to pray for them, encourage them, and equip them to shine their light in their homes. 

This Mother’s Day will also have a special mission’s component.  We are proud supporters of the Pro-Life ministry of The Trotter House, and we will hear from their Executive Director, Lori DeVillez.  She will share a few words about the mission of Trotter House, and we will have an opportunity to bless moms in crisis through our “baby bottle campaign.”  I will also present a special stand-alone sermon that will offer words of encouragement for moms in attendance.  Plan to join us and invite other moms to be a part of this special day.

Last Sunday, we wrapped up our vision and values series, “Let There Be Light,” by looking to our 4^th core value, impact.  I am thrilled to report that 121 people signed up to make an impact in our church as new volunteers.  Our staff and ministry team leaders are currently following up with these individuals to equip them to shine their light at ABC.  This series may now be over, but I must remind you that the work is just beginning.  May we all do our part to make an impact and fulfill our mission to lead people into a life-changing relationship with the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

Have a great rest of the week and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Our vision here at ABC is to see God light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.  However, we have been learning through our sermon series that we will only fulfill that shared vision if we first share the same core values.  We have examined three core values thus far: truth, grace, and authenticity.  This Sunday, I will conclude our series by looking to our final core value, impact.

Light is supposed to make an impact.  Darkness cannot move light, but rather light was created to move away darkness.  Sadly, many Christians are failing to live impactful lives in their churches and in the world.  This Sunday, we are going to discover that Jesus has called each of us to do big things for His glory and for the good of others.  Immediately following both worship services, you will have an opportunity to make an impact in our church by finding a place to serve in one of our vibrant ministries.  I hope you come prayed up and prepared to find your place to shine here at ABC.

I will warn you though, it always takes some level of personal sacrifice to make an impact.  With this principle in mind, I’m asking for your assistance in helping our church make a greater impact on our Sunday morning gatherings.  Beginning Sunday June 4^th, we are going to alter our Sunday morning schedule to create more margin for transition time between our worship services and the Bible Fellowship Group hour.  Starting that Sunday, our choir and orchestra led service will begin at 8:45am, BFG’s will begin at 10am, and our band-led service will move to 11:15am.

There are multiple factors leading to this change, but the most pressing problem that needs to be addressed occurs between our BFG hour and 11:11am service.  I love that we give a full hour to BFG’s as I am a proud advocate for on-campus discipleship groups in churches.  However, our current schedule does not provide any transition time for folks to make it to the 11:11am worship service on time.  BFG’s are currently running from 10:10am to 11:10am, and our second hour folks cannot make it across our church in one minute.  Instead, most arrive 10-15 minutes late and they miss out on the opportunity to greet and welcome the dozens of new visitors that show up for that service each week.

If you pop your head into the worship center from around 11:00-11:15am, you will find myself and a small group of people in their chairs.  You will also discover that almost all those people in their chairs are new to the church and stepping into a cold and empty room for their first impression.  We do not have proper greeter teams in place because our second hour members would have to forgo much of their BFG hour in order to serve.  Additionally, we lack a critical mass of worshippers in the room to lovingly welcome all these new people that are coming to our church.  This lack warmth in our first impression is causing us to lose new visitors each week at 11:11am.

This schedule change will create margin for us to build up a proper first impression team that will replicate the excellence that we already offer in our first service.  It will also give us enough time for BFG class members to enjoy a full hour of fellowship and not have to sacrifice missing a large portion of worship because of it.  I understand this change will require many in our church to wake up a little earlier, and it will cause others to stay a little longer.  However, it is worth making this small sacrifice because we must always be a church that exists for those who are not here yet. 

This small change will help our church make a greater impact each weekend.  We will recruit and empower more volunteer leaders in the second service, and by God’s grace, we will welcome more people into the fellowship of our church.  Thank you for helping us through this transition which will become effective on promotion Sunday, June 4^th.  As for this Sunday, I look forward to unpacking this 4^th core value with your further at 9am or 11:11am.  Let your light shine this week, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

ABC’s vision is to see God light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.  We are currently examining this vision statement in our sermon series and aligning our hearts to four core values.  Core values are essential for any organization because you cannot carry out a shared vision if you are not first united by the same shared values.

In week one of our series, we saw that the church is called to lift up the lamp for others to see.  The City of Austin needs to see the light, so we must always value truth here at ABC (1 Timothy 3:15).  Then last Sunday we learned that Jesus shined differently because He was uniquely full of grace AND truth (John 1:14).  We can only shine like Jesus if we learn to value grace like Him.  A grace-saturated church offers warmth, love, and hope for all.

This week we will press on to our third core value, authenticity.  Have you ever noticed that light switches cannot lie?  For instance, right now you are either sitting in a room with the lights turned on or off.  Light cannot pretend.  In the same way God’s people should not pretend. 

We all find ourselves in dark places and situations at times, but sadly many Christians pretend to be shining amidst those storms.  God wants His church to be authentic.  It’s ok to not be ok.  God wants to minister to you wherever you are at, and He’s called the church to be His hands and feet.  The Lord will pour out His light and renew us when we learn how to be authentic with Him and His people.

Take the time to invite a friend to join you this Sunday as this series is the perfect time for someone new to learn what we are all about here at ABC.  As a final note, I hope you can join us at 5pm this Sunday for a special ordination service for Nathan Wood.  We will be setting him apart and affirming God’s call on his life for the Gospel ministry.  I know your presence will be a great encouragement to him that day.

Have a great week, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday. 

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Core values are the deeply ingrained principles that guide a church’s actions and serve as its cultural cornerstones.  Last Sunday we looked at our church’s first core value, truth.  While the world argues that there is no truth, the church is in fact called to be a pillar of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).  ABC is committed to lifting up the lamp so that others may see it.  This week, we’ll be shifting our attention to our second core value, grace.

 I encourage you to prioritize being here for this sermon series.  I believe our church will only be able to fulfill our vision if we first commit to some shared core values.  ABC’s vision is to see God light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.  However, we cannot light up anything if we do not have the same values that will guide us.  I hope you plan to join us this Sunday and invite a friend.

I also would love for you to save the date for a special worship service on Sunday April 30^th at 5pm.  As you heard last Sunday, we are planning to ordain Nathan Wood into the Gospel ministry that day.  Nathan serves as our student minister, and I’ve watched him lead well in ministry for over 10 years.  He has preached faithfully from our pulpit multiple times, and I believe God has made it clear that He has gifted Nathan and called him into pastoral service.

Our church will have an opportunity to come alongside Nathan to affirm that calling.  Pastoral ordination is a special moment where the local church is given the privilege to set apart a man for kingdom service.  Paul told Timothy “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Part of the church’s job is to call out the called.  We will do this through our ordination service for Nathan.  He will stand in front of the church to communicate his calling in ministry, and we’ll have a special time of prayer as we lay hands on Nathan and commit his life to the Lord’s work.  Just like a deacon’s ordination service, a pastoral ordination service is also a special and sacred moment in the life of any church. 

I encourage you to be a part of this moment in Nathan’s life and encourage him with your presence and your words.  I’m praying that God will continue to work through him to build up our church family, and I’m looking forward to seeing how God will use him for years to come.

I can’t wait to see you this Sunday to unpack value #2.  Lift up the truth through word and deed this week, and I will see you in worship this weekend.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

What an incredible weekend!  Easter 2023 was a record setting day for ABC.  We had our largest Sunday ever, as we welcomed 1,734 people to our Easter services.  Additionally, 576 people joined us for a meaningful Good Friday service, which was about a 20% increase from the previous year’s attendance on that same day. 

I’m so grateful for what the Lord did this past weekend.  Thank you to Dr. Stearns and our worship ministry for leading us well, thank you to all our volunteers who served so faithfully, and thank you to every person who invited someone to church.  It’s amazing what God can do through His people when we start to look outward.  To God be the glory for great things He has done.

This Sunday we will press on to the first week of our “Let There Be Light” sermon series.  For nearly two years now, we have been looking to the idea of shining as that city on a hill that Jesus described in His sermon on the mount.  We’ve studied Matthew 5:14-16 and seen that God wants to use ABC to light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.  For the next four weeks, we’re going to introduce four core values that align with that vision.

Core values matter.  Of course, we all value many things, but I believe we must value a few things at our core if we want to see God fulfill the vision that He’s given us.  I encourage you to prioritize being here for these next four weeks of church.  It is important for our church to be united in mission, vision, and values.  I believe God will further bind our hearts together and make us even stronger as a body through this series.

I also believe this series offers a great opportunity for you to invite a friend, neighbor, or colleague.  Visitors will have the opportunity to hear the heart of our church and begin to understand what God is doing here at ABC.  There is no better time to get to know our church than right now.  Take the time to invite someone this week, as Easter reminded us that one simple invitation can make all the difference.  God bless you this week and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Christ is risen!  Holy Week is upon us, and I’m looking forward to celebrating the greatest day in history alongside you.  The significance of the resurrection cannot be overstated as Paul explained it best: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).  Paul is saying if Jesus did not receive new life, we cannot receive new life either.  But praise be to God that the tomb is empty, our debt has been paid, and together we can boldly proclaim, “He is risen indeed!”

I want to invite you to join us for a meaningful weekend of worship.  Our Good Friday service will start us off right by focusing our attention to the cross.  Dr. Stearns and the worship ministry will do a wonderful job leading us in beautiful music, scripture readings, and I will preach the 7^th and final saying of Jesus from Calvary.  We will conclude our service by observing the Lord’s Supper as a faith family in a unique and impactful way.

Sunday morning will be a great celebration of the empty tomb.  We will offer two identical services at 9am and 10:30am with uplifting songs and a hope-filled message focused on Christ’s resurrection.  Our church will offer some photo spots for you to capture a family picture, and don’t forget to bring your baskets for the egg hunt starting right after our 10:30am service.  There will be no Bible Fellowship Groups meeting this Sunday.

Easter is the perfect opportunity to think outward.  Many in our neighborhoods who do not normally attend church would consider doing so on Easter Sunday.  I hope you do not miss that opportunity.  Prayerfully consider who you can bring with you, and then take some time to personally invite them to church this weekend.  I believe God is going to do some great things this Sunday, so I encourage you to come to worship with great expectancy.

“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