Church Family,
I pray that your week is blessed! I am excited to announce that this week, during our first service, Trinecia Hodge will be leading us in worship. This will be an opportunity to see Trinecia lead, and it is also the final step in the hiring process. I am confident that you will love her and also be assured she will be a great fit for our church. We are also excited to have Rachel Strong now as our pianist for the traditional service; this past Sunday was her first Sunday with us. It was great to have the church come together and worship in our combined service this past Sunday.
The sermon this past Sunday continued through the Sermon on the Mount, where we looked at Matthew 6:1–18, focusing on Jesus' teachings about prayer, giving, and fasting. The sermon emphasized the importance of genuine spiritual practices and disciplines over performative acts meant for public approval. Jesus instructs believers to give, pray, and fast in secret, highlighting that the intentions behind these actions matter more than their outward expression. The sermon encouraged self-reflection on motives, urging believers to align their external actions with their internal spiritual reality. The sermon offered insights into the Lord’s Prayer as a model for authentic communication with God and emphasized the significance of humility and sincerity in our spiritual disciplines. Ultimately, the sermon called for a deeper relationship with God, prioritizing His approval over human recognition.
Church family, before you know it, we will be in the fall, and our midweek services will be resuming. I want to encourage you to find a place to plug in and participate in some of our amazing opportunities to grow in the Lord. I would also like to take a moment to share a brief glimpse of some class and small-group offerings for adults. Below is some information about classes and small groups that we will be offering in the coming weeks. We will have sign-up info for each class.
Pray First Study - Led by Dana Starnes, Lisa Frazier, Skip Russell, and Brandon Starnes.
This will be a 10-week study beginning on Aug. 26. Some class meetings will be co-ed, and others we will separate by gender.
About The Study: Pray First
"Pray First" by Chris Hodges tackles the difficulties many Christians face in developing a vibrant prayer life. Despite knowing its importance, many feel intimidated or unsure about how to pray. The book emphasizes reclaiming the joy of prayer, understanding the role of fasting, and personalizing the prayer experience, encouraging believers to make prayer their first response rather than a last resort.
Old Testament - Led by Mike Jones.
Grow Groups - If you're looking to grow in your faith and learn how to become a disciple maker, Grow Groups are for you. Grow groups are designed as small, intentional gatherings of 2 to 4 individuals designed to train believers in the character and competencies of Jesus. These micro-groups focus on multiplication, equipping participants to study God's Word, share the gospel, and invest in others. The groups are gender-based groups. To sign up for a grow group, please visit the link below.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Brandon
