Matthew 25:40 says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”  Jesus challenges his church to see the unseen.  It can be tempting to look past the needs that are around us each day. After all, life is busy, our time is limited, and our resources can be scarce.  Nonetheless, Jesus still commands his church to do their best to minister to those who are hurting.  As we love God and love others, we begin to imitate our Savior who never looked past the lame, the sick, or the dejected.

This Saturday, 100+ ABC volunteers will gather at the church to pack 30,000 meals for hungry men, women, and children in Haiti.  We are partnering with Mission of Hope to send these meals to bless this nation in crisis.  I believe simple events like this are so important as they help us keep a proper perspective of our own blessings, and they give us an opportunity to be a blessing to others in need. I hope you consider serving with us this weekend.  Additionally, this Sunday we will commission a group of ladies from our Women’s Ministry as they head to Boston for a mission trip to serve as Jesus’ hands and feet.

I’m so thankful that God continues to use ABC to light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.  May we each continue to do our part to shine the light of Christ to the ends of the earth.  I hope you had a great Labor Day, and I look forward to seeing you in worship at 8:45am or 11:15am.  Invite a friend and we will continue in our study of the Holy Spirit.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last Sunday’s Sermon

John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”  This Sunday I will begin a new sermon series focused on the work of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus promised his disciples he would not leave them abandoned, but instead he would send the Spirit of God to help them as they walked in faith on this earth.

This is great news because don’t we all need some help?  The truth is it can be difficult to walk in faith, but it is encouraging to know we do not walk alone.  Through this series, we will learn that the Spirit of God comforts us, guides us, empowers us, and gives us peace that can only come from him.  As we enter this uncertain season with looming elections, international conflicts, and domestic challenges, it is comforting to know we do not have to face these challenges alone.  God is with us, and he wants to help you and he wants to help me.

If you are out of town this weekend for Labor Day, I wish you safe travels on your trip.  But if you are here in Austin for this three-day weekend, I encourage you to join us for worship at 8:45am or 11:15am.  Remember, attending church is rarely a Sunday morning decision; it is usually a Saturday night decision.  Plan accordingly and invite a friend who needs some help, because God is our “very present help in time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).  Have a great week and I’ll see you Sunday. 

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.”  God calls His people to gather.  The Christian life is not meant to be marked by isolationism.  We are called to be fully dependent on God and intentionally connected to His people. 

I love that our church values authentic relationships and offers gatherings to cultivate them.  Our BFG’s are growing with dynamic, faith-filled people that meet every Sunday at 10am.  Midweek returns this Wednesday night to provide another weekly platform to connect with God and others.  I hope church is not just a place you go to, but instead a family that you belong to. Make the time to invest in relationships at church, and I pray that ABC will continue to be a church that encourages you.

Speaking of encouragement, I received a great note from our friends at TC Egypt.  Our Fayoum Campus has been welcoming record crowds in recent months.  They are seeing men, women, and children fill their classrooms and spaces to find community and hear about the hope we have in Jesus Christ.  Please continue to pray for Egypt and for the TC staff and volunteers who serve faithfully each week.

This Sunday I will offer a stand-alone sermon in both services.  We will return to our mission, vision, and values on this special Lord’s Supper Sunday.  I think it is important for us to be united in our purpose and vision as we prepare for big things this Fall.  I hope you make plans to join us this Sunday, and I encourage you to invite a friend.  This weekend is the perfect opportunity for a guest to get acquainted with who we are at this City on a Hill.  I look forward to seeing you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

The 2024-2025 school year is officially here!  I’m so thankful for the many teachers, coaches, and administrators who will invest into the next generation this academic year.  I hope you will join me in praying for our school leaders and our students who will return to classrooms this week.  I pray that God will grow these children in knowledge and maturity, but I pray most importantly that these children will grow in their love for Jesus Christ.

I am especially excited for our Little Lights Preschool which kicks off this week!  Our preschool team is gearing up for their largest enrollment ever, and we are excited to see how God will use this program to impact our community.  You will also notice in this week’s Bridge that one of our partner’s, Education Connection, is actively searching for more volunteers.  This literacy program could be a great opportunity for you to impact a young child’s life in Austin, Texas.

As the new school year begins, new rhythms to our schedules will soon be established.  Kids will be dropped off and picked up from school.  Sports and extracurriculars will fill up our calendars.  I encourage you to also set a healthy spiritual rhythm to your schedule.  Save time for prayer and devotional Bible reading each day.  Invest in meaningful Christian community.  Commit to be at church each Sunday.  These simple rhythms can make a world of difference as our calendars begin to get chaotic.

I look forward to closing out the book of James with you this weekend.  Bring a friend and I will see you in worship at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Jonathan Spencer

Senior Pastor

Our mission is to lead people into a life-changing relationship with the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.  I’m thankful for the many ways ABC has advanced this mission forward this summer.  We have reached the next generation through our Pre-Teen and Student Camps, VBS, and Creative Arts Camp.  We have reached our community through Freedom Over Austin and community impact events.  And we continue to reach the world through our short-term mission trips.

This Sunday we will send 40+ volunteers to Harlingen, Texas.  This team will partner with local churches in south Texas to conduct service projects, soccer camps, and community evangelism.  Just a few weeks ago we also celebrated our student ministry’s return from an impactful mission trip to the U.K.  And we are excited to send a women’s ministry team to Boston and a mission team to Egypt this Fall.

I pray that God will continue to expand ABC’s impact in these coming years.  Thank you for partnering with us on mission through your prayers, your serving, and your faithful giving.  May God continue to use ABC to light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.  Invite a friend this Sunday and I look forward to continuing with you in the book of James.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”  Freedom is the most valuable gift we can ever receive.  Jesus Christ has purchased our freedom from sin and death.  Our debt has been paid, God lives in us, and we are now empowered by His Spirit to find victory in this life.  I am so thankful for this God-given freedom, and I am also thankful for the freedom God has given this great nation. 

Praise be to God that we still live in a country where we can openly worship the Savior who has set us free.  This weekend will be a patriotic celebration that you won’t want to miss.  We will worship together, honor our veterans, and pray for our nation.  I encourage you to wear red, white, and blue and join us for a memorable Sunday. 

Make sure you also come back next week for our annual “Freedom Over Austin” event on Wednesday July 3^rd.  We will be hosting an all-American festival with inflatables, food trucks, live music and an amazing fireworks show.  Be sure to invite someone to join you for this special event.

May we each stand firm in the faith and walk in the freedom that God has given us.  I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

It’s VBS week and the church is filled with kids!  I thank God for the 500+ children and leaders that came through our doors this week.  Most importantly, I thank God for the 51 children who made first-time decisions to follow Jesus as Lord!  Thank you for being a church that loves kids so well.  I truly believe a healthy church is a church that is filled with children, and I thank God for our growing children’s ministry at ABC.

It is essential for every Christian family to firmly plant roots in a church community.  Raising children is not for the faint of heart.  This is why we as a church want to come alongside parents to encourage them and assist them in the discipleship of their children.  I hope you will join me in continuing to invite new families to our church each week.  I’m so proud of our ABC Kids ministry, and I pray that God will continue to use our church to light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.

VBS is wrapping up, but Sunday is right around the corner.  Invite a family to join you this weekend, and I’ll see you in worship.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

VBS is just around the corner!  Decorations are going up, and ABC Kids staff and volunteers are working hard to get things ready for an amazing week of ministry.  Remember it is not too late to sign up your kids!  Go online today to register and come by the early check-in table this Sunday to avoid long lines on Monday morning. 

Who can you invite to be a part of this upcoming week?  VBS is the perfect opportunity to introduce a young family to ABC.  Never underestimate the power of a simple, personal invitation. I loved seeing two teenagers get baptized last Sunday as a direct result of a fellow student simply inviting her friends to church.  Sometimes our youngest members teach us the greatest lessons.  When is the last time you invited someone to church from your community?

It can be tempting to go to church just to see the same people every week, but we must remember the church is also for those who are not here yet.  God will give us ample opportunities this summer to engage our community by inviting them to ABC’s special events and regular Sunday mornings services.  Be intentional with this season, and prayerfully invite others to hear the hope of Jesus Christ and experience the warmth of our church family.

I’m currently writing this newsletter from Indianapolis.  I am here with Dr. Matt Gillum and Dr. Todd Stearns for the annual SBC Convention.  Pray for our churches across the country, and pray for the many missionaries, church planters, and seminarians that we support through the cooperative program.  May God continue to use our resources to help light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.

I look forward to seeing this Sunday as we continue in our study of the book of James.  Don’t forget Sunday is Father’s Day!  We will have a special donut wall and photo spot to commemorate the day.  I’ll see you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

What an amazing Sunday!  I love my church, and I loved celebrating with you last weekend.  It was exciting to look back at all that God has done, and to look forward to the big things He has for us on the horizon.  I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who made it such a special day.  The music, the burning of the note, the burgers and ice cream, the festival, and all the logistics were simply top notch.  Kudos to Derek Tackett and his team for effectively feeding 1000 people in 5 minutes!  All I can say is wow!  We will return to our regular schedule this weekend, but I hope we carry that same inviting spirit with us.  I still love my church, and I believe there are others in my neighborhood who would too.

I am also looking forward to all that God has for us as we prepare for our generosity initiative this Fall.  I’m pleased to announce that our friend Zack Dawes has agreed to serve as the Director of Light the Way.  He is going to help build a wonderful team of servant leaders to guide us through this upcoming initiative.  I believe God is going to do amazing things in and through us as we unite together to Light the Way forward as a church.  I encourage you to begin praying about how God is calling you to partner with us in generosity this Fall.

This weekend I will kick off our summer sermon series titled, “Faith in Action.”   For the next couple months, we will examine the book of James.  James provides practical insights for us to understand how to put our faith into practical action every day.  I encourage you to read along this summer and ask for God to help you take your next step of faith.  I also want to remind you that our student ministry is currently in Colorado for their summer camp.  Join me in prayer for them, and we can look forward to hearing a report this coming Sunday in worship. 

Invite someone to join you this weekend, and I will see you this Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1).  I hope you are glad to be in the house of the Lord each Sunday.  There is something special that happens when God’s people come together to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  I am thankful to pastor a church that loves Jesus and loves people well.  This Sunday will be a special day in the life of our church as we come together for “I Love My Church Sunday.”

This Sunday features a special schedule: 9am BFGs, 10:30am Worship Service, and 11:30am Cookout and Carnival.  Since we will have an outdoor celebration after church, we are encouraging everyone to come casual wearing their favorite ABC t-shirt.  This Sunday is also Promotion Sunday, so our children and youth will be “going up” a grade level to their new classes.  It will be a big weekend as we look back and celebrate some amazing things that God has done, but we will also look forward to some big things on the horizon.

Take the time to invite a friend to church this week.  This Sunday is the perfect opportunity to introduce someone new to the exciting things that are happening in our church family.  Make a phone call or send a text with the simple invitation: “I love my church, and I think you would too.”  Come early and I look forward to seeing you at I Love My Church Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer