Click here for pdf version. A New Year's Prayer As we begin a new year I wanted to share with you a prayer from Scripture that I often pray for us as a church family. Would you join me in praying it for one another in 2012? For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 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. Ephesians 3:14-22 May we see God powerfully at work among us this year! Blessings for 2012, ___________________________________
The first night of our 2012 Spring LBI will be a Preview Night on Sunday, January 8, at 6:00 p.m. Class options this semester include Missions, Apologetics, and the EFCA Statement of Faith. If you are interested in one of these classes come to the Preview Night to register and find out more about what all will be involved! _____________________________________ A new year begins and so begins the buzz of New Year’s resolutions. Will you make them? What will they target? Fitness? Organization? Better eating habits? I want to continue sharing a few thoughts from the book, “Family Ministry Field Guide” especially regarding the idea of goals and resolutions. When it comes to whose responsibility it is to disciple children in the faith I would imagine very few of you expect the church to shoulder 100% of the responsibility. The author, Timothy Paul Jones, concludes that most parents believe it is their responsibility to disciple their children in the faith. This is not to say the church bears no responsibility, but God has placed the responsibility on the parents, especially fathers (Eph. 6:4). Unfortunately there is not much more than this felt responsibility—and probably a lot of guilt as parents find working this out in life to be difficult. Jones boils down the roadblocks to a parent’s role in the discipleship of their children to two main issues: A Matter of Training and a Matter of Time. The Matter of Training aspect is a challenging one. Most parents probably did not have this modeled well by their own parents. Jones recommends using sermons as the starting place for once per week devotions with children. Included in the time together would be prayer, an activity of some sort, a biblical text (from the sermon) and a few discussion questions related to the sermon. Click here for full article. _____________________________________ Mommy & Me meets twice a month on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Contact Jill Yowell with any questions January 11 - meet at Towne East Mall January 25 - details to come ___________________________________ Student Ministries I grew up as the middle child of three boys. Both my brothers are incredibly intelligent and since they have always been natural born thinkers, I have looked to find my identity in other areas (that don’t include Star Wars and speaking Klingon). Consequently, I have grown up as a Christian who needs theology to be simple and straightforward. This might be one of the reasons I love working with teenagers. Most of our students can answer most of the cliché Christian questions with ease. These “Golden Children” have a clear understanding of the rules that good kids should follow, but I wonder if they actually know the main message of the Bible. Think for a moment about the brightest teenagers you know (neighbors, relatives, or others). They might be involved in Church events, be “good kids,” and even be really well-spoken with adults. But, do they know—and I mean really understand in both mind and heart—what the Scripture says is most important? _______________________________
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Dear First Free Family, To Our Friends at 1st Free, ____________ Day of Prayer
Thursday, January 5 Come to the Chapel any time that day to pray.
Sunday, January 22
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