It was encouraging to watch our church light up the world last weekend.  Nearly 80 volunteers spent their Saturday morning packing 20,000 meals for Haitian children who are in desperate need.  Then on Sunday, we saw dozens of ABC members get out of the bleachers and into the game at our church-wide ministry fair.  It was encouraging to watch folks commit to walk in the good works that God has planned for them, and I’m excited to see the ministry impact each of these individuals will make in the coming days.  Although we have now wrapped up our City on a Hill sermon series, the work of shining His light truly has just begun.  As we continue to let God light up our lives through His Word, I’m confident He will continue to light up our homes, our neighborhoods, and the world around us.

A few months ago, I was on the road for Dallas when I decided to make a stop at a gas station somewhere north of Waco.  It began as a typical road trip stop, as I filled up the gas tank, grabbed a drink, and quickly tried to get back on the road.  However, I learned that getting back on the road was going to be anything but typical.  As I left the gas station and turned onto the feeder road, I realized I wasn’t going to be getting back on the highway anytime soon.  I could see down the road that the next on-ramp was closed due to construction.  This of course led to bumper-to-bumper traffic, and I began to crawl forward towards the next on-ramp.  Unfortunately, when I finally got there, I discovered that it too was closed.  This pattern repeated itself as on-ramp after on-ramp was closed down, and it led all of us on the road to a growing sense of frustration.  We wanted to get on the highway and get moving, but all we could find was closed doors.

I believe many people who visit churches feel the same way that I felt on that frontage road.  They go to church in search of an on-ramp, as they want to merge into the life and fellowship of a church family.  However, many get frustrated when they realize it isn’t easy to move from the outside to the inside.  The truth is some churches set up blockades in front of their on-ramps.  Some churches have closed-off small groups that don’t want new people.  Some churches do not offer community events for the public and lack opportunities for new people to serve.  Some churches can have new people walk in on a Sunday morning, and no one takes the time to welcome them or learn their names. Consequently, visitors at those churches become frustrated as they cannot find a way to merge in.  I’m proud to Pastor at ABC because I truly believe this isn’t the case here.  Our church family wants new people to get engaged into the life of our church, so consequently, we offer a lot of on-ramps.  We provide on-ramps through our BFG classes.  Every week, classes for all ages warmly welcome new faces into their fellowships with open arms.  We offer open on-ramps through our volunteer ministries.  We want people to walk in their giftedness and serve in our community, so we work hard to merge new people into our volunteer teams.  And we consistently provide on-ramps through our intentional community-wide events.

This Sunday is our annual Trunk or Treat event.  This fall tradition is a great on-ramp for new people, as they get to come and experience the excitement and fellowship of ABC in a casual setting.  We will have nearly 100 volunteers ready to welcome people this Sunday afternoon with over 40 cars that will be decorated by our faithful church members.  We’ll have tons of candy for kids, train rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, and food on site to provide a great atmosphere for community fellowship.  I encourage you to not miss this opportunity and be sure to invite someone to be a part of the festivities.  If you bring a guest, stop me on Sunday as I’d love to have the chance to meet them and thank them for their visit.  If you see someone new, take the time to introduce yourself as well and let them know how glad you are that they are there. Check out our Trunk or Treat promotional video and pass it on to a friend:

It’s essential that we continue to maintain our healthy on-ramps, as we must always “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).  This Sunday in worship we will be kicking off a new study in the book of Jonah.  We’ll be looking at the famous prophet who was sent by God to serve on mission for Him, and I believe we’ll walk away with great practical application for our own mission that Jesus given us.  Be sure to welcome others this weekend at church, and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

Thank you for making last weekend’s “Go Blue Sunday” so special at ABC.  It was exciting to have the Austin Police Department’s new chief, Joseph Chacon, join us in worship along with several officers from our local law enforcement agencies.  I know they were encouraged to witness a sea of blue in our worship center, and they were so grateful for your kindness, hospitality, and prayers.  I was encouraged to hear our chief make a bold profession of faith from stage, and I encourage you to join me in continued prayers for him as he steps into this important position of leadership.  Every day, our officers need our prayers and support, as they are called to one of the most challenging, yet also most vital, positions of service in our city.  May we each continue to express our gratitude when we see them serving in our neighborhoods this week

While Go Blue Sunday was a big success, last weekend was memorable for another reason.  As you all heard, there was a big football game that took place in College Station.  Over 12 million people around the country tuned in from their homes to watch my beloved Texas A&M Aggies shock the world (and me) by upsetting the #1 ranked team in the nation.  I normally go to bed early, especially on Saturdays, but I of course stayed up to watch the Ags take down Alabama.  It was thrilling to watch the game winning field goal go through the uprights, but it was equally exciting to watch what happened afterwards.  Soon as the game clock ticked to zero, thousands of Aggies came flying down the bleachers to rush the field in celebration.  This spontaneous act did come at the cost of a hefty $100k fine, but I’m pretty sure no one in College Station cared. 

Why do fans do this after every big win?  This is a fair question to ask because the Ags weren’t the first to rush the field, and they certainly won’t be the last.  Anytime a team experiences a big victory, people can’t seem to keep themselves from exiting their chairs.  It seems that when we see big things happening, we naturally desire to be a part of the moment.  I believe this should be the same in our spiritual lives as well.  When we see God doing big things in our midst, we should all be rushing to the field to be a part of it.  I do believe God is doing big things at ABC.  Every week, we are seeing new people come through our doors, new members joining the church, and we are continually seeing more light bulbs go into our sign.  In fact, by the grace of God, we could have the best baptism year in church history by year’s end.  Our kids and student ministries are growing, people are getting connected in our BFG’s, and lives are being touched through our prayer and cares ministries.  We’re packing 20,000 meals for Haiti this Saturday, we’ve got a big community event coming up with Trunk or Treat, and lots more is on the horizon.  God is blessing our church with many victories, and this weekend we’re going to give you an opportunity to “rush the field.”

Following each of our services, we’re going to offer a church-wide ministry fair in the Great Hall.  The purpose of this event is to showcase the many ways you can get out of the bleachers and into the game.  All our major ministry areas will have tables with staff and volunteers ready to answer your questions and help you find the right place to use your spiritual gifts.  Paul explains, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:4-5).  If you are in Christ Jesus, God has empowered you with at least one spiritual gift, and that gift was given to you for the glory of God and the good of others.  God wants to mobilize His people to build up His church and expand the Kingdom here in Austin, Texas.  My question is, are you willing to answer His call, or are you going to stay put in the bleachers?  It’s so much more exciting to get on the field and play.  And as our church continues to grow, so do our ministry needs so we need everyone to prayerfully consider how they can help build up this City on a Hill.  I encourage you to begin praying in anticipation for this Sunday, and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do as more and more people transition from spectators to participants on the field.  God bless you and your home, and I look forward to worshipping with you Sunday.

I hope you would agree that last Sunday was an incredible day in the life of our church!  Our first ever ABC Kids Sunday was a huge success, and I’m so proud of how our children shined the light of Jesus Christ last weekend.  Our ABC kids did a wonderful job leading the way as our ushers and greeters, our prayer leaders on stage, and of course we loved hearing from our children’s choir as they led us in worship.  We also got to celebrate nine amazing young families who boldly committed to raise their little ones in Christ-centered homes.  It was exciting to add four more light bulbs to our new “let there be light” sign, as we also saw four individuals proudly raise their flags for Jesus Christ through believer’s baptism.  Thank you church family for your continued prayers, service, and generosity that make all of this ministry possible.  May we always continue to help families light up their homes for Jesus Christ.

Last Sunday, we announced the launch of a new technological resource for our homes.  Every Monday, we are now sending out a “Light Up Your Home Devotional” to anyone who chooses to subscribe to our free service.  Each devotional will highlight the main idea from the previous Sunday’s sermon, and it will equip you with corresponding scriptures, discussions questions, and prayer points to take to you home.  Our prayer is that this resource will help you light up your home through meaningful spiritual conversations each week.  I encourage you to pull it up on your phone at your dinner table or living room once a week.  Read the scriptures, discuss them with your family, and pray for one another’s needs.  I’m confident that God will bless your efforts, and I’m praying that He will spiritually unite your home together.  If you would like to receive these weekly devotionals, simply text “ABCHOME” to 81411.

Technology is an amazing tool in this world.  As we all know, it can certainly bring a lot of darkness into one’s life, but by the grace of God, technology also has the power to shine a whole lot of light.  This week are launching another technological resource as we shift our focus from “lighting up our homes” to “lighting up our neighborhoods.”  Jesus says a city on a hill is not meant to be hidden, so this means we cannot stop shining when we walk outside ABC’s church walls.  Rather, we must remember that our Gospel mission truly begins the moment we leave the church parking lot.  Paul explains, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).  As ambassadors for Christ, we must not forget the mission field is always around us.  This Sunday we’re going to talk about this high calling, and we’ll highlight another piece of technology that will hopefully equip you to shine in your neighborhoods.

ABC will continue to maximize technology for the glory of God in the years to come.  Paul explained that we should always aim to find new methods and means to reach people for Jesus Christ.  He explained, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).  Embracing technological advancements will equip us to meet people on the platforms they already live on.  By God’s grace we’ve built an online broadcast platform and launched a brand new website in recent days (www.austinbaptistchurch.com).  We’ve also taken the church to all the major social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube) and we’ve hired a fantastic communications director to keep us organized.  If you do not follow us or subscribe to those channels, I encourage you to do so today by finding us on all platforms with the @austinbaptistchurch username (social media links are at the bottom of our new website).  In addition to Youtube, we also now upload Sunday’s sermons through our new Austin Baptist Church podcast channel.  This is another great resource for you to pass on the sermon audio to others who may benefit from hearing that week’s message.  I also encourage you to subscribe to our “Citizen ATX” podcast channel and share it with others in your sphere of influence (https://citizenatx.buzzsprout.com/).  I co-host this podcast show with Dr. Matt Gillum, and we discuss various cultural topics and issues through a Biblical lens to help people better understand what it means to live in this city as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20).  In fact, we’re about to launch a new series where we are fielding as many questions as possible from our audience through our new “Asking for a Friend” podcast series.  More details to come this Sunday.

Don’t forget to wear blue this Sunday to support our local law enforcement officers.  We’ve invited constables and APD officers to join us as we celebrate these brave men and women and pray over them in our services.  Of course you are welcome to invite any officers you know to join us as well.  Our law enforcement men and women are a great picture of what it means to “light up our neighborhoods.”  Each week, they serve us by pushing back darkness from our neighborhoods, and I pray that we may follow their example in the spiritual realm by shining the light of Jesus in the dark places that surround us.  Invite a friend this Sunday, wear blue, and I look forward to worshipping with you at ABC.

I hope you have found some time to plug into God’s Word this week.  As we learned last Sunday, the Bible is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, and I’m certain that God wants to light up your life through His Word today.  Last Sunday was a great day of worship, and we once again were honored to welcome many brand-new visitors and several new members.  This coming weekend, we’re looking forward to adding a few more light bulbs to our new “Let There Be Light” sign, as several folks are scheduled to raise their flags for Jesus Christ through believer’s baptism.  I do want to thank Derek Tackett, Ken Porter, and Daulton Halliburton for diligently constructing that beautiful new sign in our worship center.  I believe it will continue to encourage us as we watch God light up more lives and more bulbs are added to the room.  However, I also pray that the empty slots will constantly remind us that we have much more work to do on this hill.

This coming Sunday we are shifting our focus from lighting up our lives, to lighting up our homes.  God wants to light up your home and make an eternal impact in the lives of all who are under your roof.  For parents with kids in the home, we especially have an amazing opportunity and responsibility to pass the light down to the next generation.  ABC is committed  as a church to partnering with parents and equipping them to raise champions for Jesus Christ.  We are blessed to have amazing kids flood through our doors every Sunday, and because of that, we’re going to have a special “ABC Kids Sunday” to celebrate them this weekend.  You won’t want to miss this Sunday as we will have kids greeting, serving, praying, and singing in the children’s choir.  We will also encourage and pray for nine young families as they dedicate their children to the Lord in our worship services.  It will be a weekend that you will not want to miss, and I encourage you to invite a family to come and see all that God is doing through our family ministries.

I’m proud to serve at a church that loves kids.  It’s essential that we continue to give our kids our best efforts and resources, as they are the future of our church and our country.  I remember a couple months ago when we were hosting our annual Vacation Bible School, I had the chance to visit with a father in our lobby.  He was brand-new to our church and just finished dropping off his kids when we approached me.  He asked me several questions, but the main thing he wanted to know was how we were able to pay for everything while not charging the participating families?  I was thrilled to explain that our church loves kids and it was our honor to minister to them, and their parents, through the faithful tithes and offerings of our people.   He was blown away by our church’s generosity, and in fact, he was then inspired to make a donation that day himself. 

Always remember that your light stands out to those who are watching.  So I want to thank you for shining your light into the next generation.  Your faithful stewardship and volunteer service makes our kids’ ministry possible.  I love that our BFG classes pray through our children’s class rosters by name.  I love that our volunteers send birthday cards and notes of encouragement to our children and their parents.  I’m amazed to see our teachers faithfully prepare and teach God’s Word to our kids each week in a thoughtful and engaging way.  I’m encouraged to watch our volunteers show up in full force for our outreach children’s events, including our upcoming Trunk or Treat event.  And I’m grateful for your continued generosity to our general budget to fund all of this ministry.  As your Pastor, but also as a father of 3 young children, I want to thank you for loving ABC’s kids.  Through your service and generosity, you  are modeling the heart of Jesus as we must not forget he said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

I look forward to celebrating all that God is doing through our children and their families this weekend.  Don’t miss what I’m sure will be a powerful Sunday of multi-generational worship as we learn what it means to “light up our homes.”  God bless you and your home, and I’ll see you at church this weekend.

What an amazing Vision Sunday!  It was thrilling to see our church family come together to celebrate all that God has done through Austin Baptist Church, and all that He will continue to do through this local body of Christ for years to come.  I especially want to thank a few people who helped make it such a special day in the life of our church.  Thank you to Wayne McDonald, Demetrius and Janis Loukas, and Russell Walters for helping share ABC’s story through our amazing testimony video last Sunday.  I’d also like to thank Lauren Ortiz, Carlos Jordan, and Christina Mendoza for putting in countless hours to get us transitioned to our new state of the art website.  Derek Tackett and his facilities team worked hard as well to get all the new signage properly installed, and Jennifer Wilcoxson did a fabulous job feeding all of us at the celebration breakfast.  Thank you BFG leaders for showcasing your classes and thank you to our hospitality team for making everyone feel welcomed in our Heritage Hall.  It truly was a great day in the life of our church, and I appreciate every person who helped make it happen.

Of all the exciting things that transpired last Sunday, perhaps the 10am breakfast was my personal favorite.  While the food was indeed fantastic, I wouldn’t say that specifically was the reason why I enjoyed the event so much.  What made it great was the people.  I loved seeing both of our worship services come together as one united church during that hour.  The building was electric, and it was encouraging to watch our people give hugs, laugh, and sincerely enjoy one another’s company as the body of Christ.  That kind of love and fellowship is so needed in this world right now.  Our city is filled with far too many people who are isolated, frightened, and disconnected from others.  As we talked about last Sunday, this city on a hill must always be a place of refuge for people to run to.  We must always be a safe place that people can find the community and support their soul’s need.  The author of Hebrews instructs us to be a church “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).  The gathering of God’s people is vital for our hearts, but sadly many across our city have forgotten that and are in the habit of neglecting it.  I hope you were reminded like I was last Sunday that we truly do need each other.

I believe that God positioned us on this hill so that we can be used by Him to shine in Austin, Texas.  He has blessed us beyond measure, but we have been blessed to be a blessing to others around us.  For the next four weeks, we’re going to look at ways we must shine as this city on a hill.  This Sunday, we’re going to see that before we can shine into the lives of others, we first must let God shine His light into us.  God’s Word has transformational power.  The more we get into this Book, the more the Book gets into us.  God’s word convicts, guides, empowers, and changes us so that we can become the difference makers He made us to be.  Because of this, we must remain firmly committed to preach and teach the Word of God at ABC.  Scripture reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).  This weekend we will see that God’s Word must always remain as the centerpiece of our church, but we must also be sure to make it the centerpiece of our individual lives. I encourage you to invite a friend to join you this Sunday for worship.  This series is a perfect opportunity for you to invite someone to come and experience the fellowship of ABC and hear about what God is doing up on this hill.  Come expectant, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

I hope you have enjoyed these past two months as we’ve studied the “Last Things” recorded in the book of Daniel.  Daniel’s visions can be tedious to study, but I also believe they are incredibly rewarding for any committed Bible student.  As you dig into the depths of God’s Word, you find hope, comfort, and joy through the understanding of Biblical prophecy.  I pray that God has grown you spiritually through this series, and I hope you now apply these truths into your life so you can stand strong like Daniel during our time of exile (1 Peter 2:11). 

This Sunday we are moving away from Daniel’s visions to another.  This weekend is “Vision Sunday,” and I believe it will be an important day in the life of our church.  We are going to celebrate what God has done through ABC these past 14 years, but we’re also going to look forward to what God is going to do in the coming days.  Jesus Christ cast a vision for His church in his famous sermon on the mount.  Jesus told His followers, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatthey may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Jesus paints a picture of the church as a city on a hill.  He says we are designed to shine into places of darkness, so that, others may come to give glory to our Father in heaven.  I do find it interesting that our church happens to be positioned literally on a hill.  We are on this hill because years ago, faithful servants of Christ saw that God was calling them to go “up the mountain” to build a new church for Him.  Through God’s faithfulness, ABC built a beautiful church home on this hill, and I believe we are now positioned to see God do amazing things through this family of faith for years to come.  For the next 5 weeks, we’re going to look at ways we must be committed to shine from this hilltop through our new sermon series, “City on a Hill.”

This Sunday, I will start the series by featuring a 10-minute professional documentary that shares the story of how we got here.  ABC’s story is saturated with God’s grace, and we are going to take some time to celebrate all that God has done to get us here.  From there, we will examine Matthew 5 to see what He’s calling us to do next.  This weekend, we will also unveil a brand-new church logo and a state of the art website.  I’m excited to see how God will use our updated multi-media platforms to tell His story and expand the Kingdom here in Austin, Tx.  We will also have a merchandise “store” open in our lobby during this sermon series.  We will be selling brand-new shirts with the new logo at a low cost.  We hope you plan to purchase a few items so you can wear them proudly in our community to tell your neighbors what God is doing at ABC. 

I must also note that this Sunday will feature a celebration breakfast for all adults at 10AM in our Heritage Hall.  Our Adult BFG classes will not meet this Sunday, but instead, we will come together for a church-wide party to commemorate the day.  The delicious breakfast is free of charge, and our classes will be hosting a BFG Fair in the café area to showcase their individual classes.  We have lots of folks that have not found a bible fellowship group to call their home, so this event should be the perfect opportunity for people to get acquainted with our dynamic small groups that meet on campus every weekend at 10:10am.

I hope you plan to join us this Sunday for an important time of fellowship, celebration, and worship.  If you have been out for a while, this is the perfect time to come and get reconnected.  I also encourage you to invite a neighbor or friend to come hear the vision of ABC and enjoy the fellowship of our people.  Join me in praying for this weekend, and come expectant to meet with the Lord.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

This Sunday is National Grandparents’ Day, and we are excited to celebrate and honor the wonderful grandparents in our church family.  The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is a wonderful gift from the Lord, and we’re grateful for the impact that our ABC grandparents make every day.  This Sunday, we will display a special photo loop featuring some of our church’s grandparents with their grandchildren.  We will also honor and pray for them during our worship services, and the ABC Kids ministry will be making special crafts for children to give their grandparents.  I encourage you to bring your extended family with you to church this Sunday, and be sure to take a picture at our special photo spot to commemorate the weekend.

While Sunday will be an exciting day, we must not forget that this weekend also marks an important milestone in our country.  This Saturday is the 20-year anniversary of the tragic attacks that transpired on September 11^th, 2001.  I’m sure you can remember exactly where you were when you heard the devastating news that America was under attack.  I remember vividly seeing people leave work early that day, schools send their kids home, and many churches being flooded with community members that evening.  September 11^th was one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, but I will also always remember it as one of our brightest moments.  We watched our courageous first responders run into burning buildings while others were running away from them.  We heard the news of brave civilians on United 93 who sacrificially laid down their own lives to save countless others from another attack.  We witnessed our military heroes step up ready to fight and do whatever was needed to defend our country from wicked enemies.  9/11 was one of our worst moments as a nation, but perhaps it was also one of our best.

The summer following 9/11, I had the opportunity to go to New York City to see Ground Zero firsthand.  I remember looking at the massive wreckage the twin towers left behind, and all who were there began to experience a true sense of loss.  I saw people from all around our country standing together to witness the devastation, and it certainly was a somber moment.  However, I would also contend it was quite the unifying moment.  It didn’t matter what your age or political ideology was, all of us were united with that same sense of loss.  Moments of crisis often tend to unite people together, and I remember how proud I was of our nation rallying for the common good during that tumultuous season.  I think we would all agree that we could use a renewed and unified spirit right now.  We are divided on most things today, and my hope is that September 11^th might be a moment to help us remember the powerful unity that our country needs.

As Christians, the Bible calls us to live as a model of unity.  Paul says, “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV).  We should always aim for restoration and agreement with one another in the family of faith.  We should live in peace with one another because the Prince of Peace has come.   We have experienced His peace, and that peace transcends all circumstances.  Because of that, we should be of the same mind, with the same love, in full accord with one another (Philippians 2:2).  When we model that kind of counter-cultural unity in our family of faith, it will most certainly be noticed by a world stuck in darkness.

God made you to be a difference maker for Him (Ephesians 2:10).  Each of us has an opportunity to demonstrate His peace inside our church walls, but also in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools this week.  Jesus says if we pursue meekness, mercy, and peace with others, we will indeed be blessed (Cf. Matthew 5:5-9).   I encourage you to be a uniter this week and model the love and affection that we have received from Jesus Christ.  This Sunday, we will remember and pray for the nearly 3,000 families who lost loved ones on 9/11, but we will also pray for the unity and peace that our nation desperately needs.  I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday as we gather with one mind to glorify Jesus Christ and meet with Him in this place.  Have a great rest of your week and I’ll see you Sunday.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some college football.  Fans have been building up anticipation for a year, teams have been practicing for months, and school spirit has once again come alive across our country.  Because of that, we’re going to have a special “College Colors Day” at ABC.  We are encouraging you to wear a football jersey or your favorite team’s colors at church this Sunday.  It should be a fun morning of fellowship, and friendly banter, as we all showcase our college allegiance to one another.

I am always excited to welcome back college football, but I’m especially grateful for its’ return this year.  As we all know, recent weeks have featured a constant flow of troubling headlines.  From Haiti’s devastating earthquake to Hurricane Ida’s impact on Louisiana, to continued COVID challenges and the gut-wrenching events that transpired in Afghanistan, our world has not been short on bad news.  Because of that, the good news of college football’s return seems to be a little extra refreshing this year.  Nonetheless, college football’s return will not remove today’s cultural challenges.  Saturday’s games will eventually come to end, our welcomed distraction will be over, and we will have to press on to face all of life’s problems next week.

Most Americans are struggling to figure out how to do that.  It seems that most people are walking through today’s problems carrying heavy loads of anxiety, discontentment, and even rage.  These past few weeks, I observed many troubling remarks from people across our country.  I saw some make terrible insults about complete strangers, simply because they either do or do not wear a mask.  I heard people propose the refusal of medical treatment for people who are sick with COVID, if they were not vaccinated.  I read people’s comments wishing death and destruction to politicians they were angry with.  I have personally seen hatred in people’s eyes for those who do not align with their personal political leanings.  One could argue that we live in the most polarizing moment in our nation’s history, and sadly, I would contend love and kindness are in short supply.  Jesus warned that this would happen before His triumphant return as He promised that, “the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). 

I do believe the love of many has grown cold.  People have tragically gotten comfortable with hatred, and many homes, businesses, classrooms, and neighborhoods have been divided as a devastating result.  Fortunately, as believers we do not have to fall into the pattern of this world though.  Jesus prayed that we would not when he requested from God, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21).  Jesus prayed that His future followers would share a spirit of unity that others outside of the faith could see.  He knew that the world would be divided and filled with darkness, but he also knew that our love for one another would stand out to those who are watching (John 13:35). 

Christian love is meant to look different.  Jesus gave us two essential directives that are both centered around this goal of love.  He simply instructed us to love God and love others (Matthew 22:34-39).  Obedience to these commandments is so paramount during these dark times.  The love of many has indeed grown cold, but our love can remain as strong as ever.  This is because Jesus Christ modeled His sacrificial love for us (Romans 5:6), He extended His everlasting love to us (Romans 8:39), and He put a spirit of love inside us to transform our lives.  Paul reminds us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control” (2 Timothy 1:7).  I pray that others will see the power of God in you through the self-control of your words, and through the sincere love of your hearts.  Love God and find ways to love others this week, because the world needs it more than ever. 

If I were to ask you, “What makes a church great?”, I bet I would receive a variety of answers.  Certainly, some would say strong Biblical teaching and a dynamic music ministry.  Others would say discipleship classes and a thriving prayer ministry.  Parents would likely chime in with the need for vibrant children’s and student ministries.  Some would add the importance of strong volunteer teams and exciting special events for the community.  While I would agree that all of those things help make a church great, I would contend that the list is missing one key ingredient: fellowship.  A church can do a lot of great things, but also be missing the one thing that truly makes it come alive.  The list I gave was focused on things that great churches do, but fellowship is the spirit that binds great churches together.

When the early church was first established, we’re told “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42 ESV).  Those first 3,000 converts in Jerusalem built a vibrant church with some of the same important marks I just listed above.  However, they also committed themselves to fellowship with one another.  That word “fellowship” comes from that famous Greek word, “koinonia.”  It can also be interpreted as “participation” or “sharing.”  The idea Luke is trying to communicate to us is that the early Christians participated in their family of faith.  Church wasn’t reduced to a worship service they watched or a building they walked into.  Church was a group of people that shared their lives together for the glory of God and for the good of one another.

Last weekend, we hosted our “Discover ABC” dinner on Sunday night.  We welcomed about 40 new members and guests for a special evening of fellowship around dinner tables.  I loved getting to visit with some of our new folks and hear their stories.  I asked people what stood out about ABC when they first visited.  I heard multiple people say the same answer different ways.  Some said, “Y’all just have some of the nicest people.”  Others said, “we felt so welcomed by everyone.”  One told me they were “blown away by the fact that our church followed up with them after their visit because other churches didn’t.”  All of these remarks are encouraging evidence that our church is indeed devoted to fellowship. 

I truly believe we have so many people in our church who sincerely want to share their lives with others.  I watch this unfold every week through people praying for another, checking in with each other, sharing meals together, and helping one another in moments of crisis.  Only the Lord knows how many texts, phone calls, and notes are written every week by our members to encourage, check-in, and love on others in our faith family.  ABC indeed has a sweet fellowship, but the sweetest part is that we make room for others to be a part of it as well.  We will always exist as a church for those who are not here yet.  There are many outside our church walls that are starving for fellowship.  We live in a big world where we all know lots of people, yet ironically, we are known by very few.  The pandemic pushed many onto isolated islands, and I believe there are many Austinites who feel more spiritually and socially alone than ever before. If you are personally in search of fellowship, I want to let you know that ABC has lots of on-ramps for you to find it.

To find fellowship, you will have to “devote” yourself to finding it just like the early church.  They committed their lives to participating in community, and in 2021, it takes commitment in the same way.  We offer a Midweek meal and discipleship classes on Wednesday nights to give you an opportunity to experience fellowship.  Likewise, we offer BFG classes for all ages and stages of life to help people find the community they are looking for.  We host special events every month for people to come together and build healthy relationships.  We offer volunteer opportunities for people to share their lives and spiritual gifts with one another through service.  But in all these things, it takes devotion and initiative to find the fellowship you need.  In other words, you can’t be known until you decide to make yourself available to be known. The good news is, I believe if you simply take a few bold steps, God will start to bless you with the fellowship and community your soul is searching for.

The darker times get, the more important it is to gather as that city on a hill.  I encourage you to come and enjoy the fellowship of our church this weekend.  We always shine brighter when we are together, and I believe you’ll be blessed by sharing your life and participating in the lives of others this Sunday.  This weekend, we will share the Lord’s Supper together as Christ commanded us to do in remembrance of Him.  I look forward to fellowshipping with you this Sunday and pressing on in our study in the book of Daniel.

It has been a busy few days at ABC.  This past Monday, we were excited to officially launch our new weekday preschool, “Little Lights Preschool.”  This ministry marks a new milestone in the life of our church, as we now offer a fully licensed preschool operating 4 days a week at ABC.  We were even able to expand the age range for our classrooms, and we are now privileged to minister to children from 6 months to Pre-K through our church’s preschool.  The community’s response has been outstanding, and we were blessed to max out our enrollment and begin wait lists for many more families.  Be sure to thank our Preschool Minister, Rachel Tovar, and our Little Lights Director, Eby Whatley, for their outstanding work.  They have put in countless hours to get us to this point, and I’m excited to see what God is going to do as we shine His light into the lives of these little ones.

As we all know, ABC is not the only ones kicking off a new school year this week.  Some schools started back last week, but several other school districts and private schools returned to the classrooms this week.  Of course, this is all happening during complicated times.  I know many parents, educators, and politicians have been debating how to best proceed with school amidst the current COVID climate.  With that in mind, I think it is important for our church to lift our schools up in prayer this week.  We need to be praying for their safety, but also for peace as parents and educators work together to find a way to press forward together.  This Sunday, we’ll have a time of prayer for our schools, and we’re also going to give you an opportunity to be a prayer partner all next week.  At the conclusion of our services, we will hand out wristbands with an ABC students first name and grade level.  We’re going to encourage our church members to wear a bracelet all next week and pray for that child by name every day.  Our hope and prayer is that our children and youth will have a meaningful year filled with personal growth and development as they press on this school year.

The truth is our world needs a lot of prayer right now.  Every day, there seems to be some sort of new bad news.  Many of us have been tracking Haiti’s situation this week.  Weeks ago, you may remember their president was assassinated, and they have sadly endured lots of political and economic turmoil for many years.  Unfortunately, things got worse as they suffered through a 7.2 magnitude earthquake last Saturday.  The nation has confirmed nearly 2,000 deaths at this point, and the country is struggling to figure out how to move forward.  I know many of our hearts have also been with the people of Afghanistan.  It is heartbreaking to watch the Taliban seize control and see the suffering that is coming to the Afghani’s land.  Western allies are frantically trying to find a way out, Christians are being hunted down, and women are being exploited every day.  There are some horrific things happening around our world, and I think it’s important for us to do two things this week.  

First, we should all be counting our blessings.  I know it’s easy to become cynical and angry in our own political climate.  We too have problems here in the United States, but I still do believe we are blessed to live in the greatest nation in the world.  We should thank the Lord for what we have, as our hardships are often very small when compared to the hardships of many of our brothers and sisters around the world.  But secondly, I think we also need to be in prayer.  As we learned from Daniel last week, God does listen to the prayers of his people.  Those prayers are so essential, especially during hard times.  I think about Daniel’s example in chapter 6.  You might remember, Daniel got word that Darius had signed a new decree outlawing men and women to petition any god other than him.  How did Daniel respond?  “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem.  He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously” (Daniel 6:10 ESV).  

In a moment of crisis, Daniel did not run from God, he ran to Him.  Our world is in a moment of crisis, and it is important for us to follow Daniel’s example.  I encourage you to also get on your knees this week.  Our physical posture before God is an important thing.  Even at 80+ years old, Daniel understood that there was value in him kneeling before God.  In doing so, he was humbly surrendering himself to His King and His will.  On his knees, Daniel would give thanks for what he had and petition for God’s supernatural help.  This week, I encourage you to find your room to kneel in.  Take time to pray for Afghanistan and Haiti.  Pray for our schools.  Pray for our political leaders, even the ones you don’t agree with.  Give thanks for what God has given you before you petition Him for what He has not given you.  This basic spiritual discipline will renew your mind and realign your heart with God’s purposes for your life.  Prayer sustained Daniel, just as it likewise sustained Jesus Christ during His ministry.  My prayer is that we would follow their examples because it will likewise empower us to live faithfully during trying times.  I look forward to praying with you this weekend and continuing our series, “Last Things.”  I hope to see you there at 9am or 11:11.