0e4532473 1442347241 central connection newsletter september 2015
NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 138 PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
1104 Balboa Avenue ~ Panama City, FL 32401 850.769.6000 ~ www.centralbaptistpanamacity.org Dr. Bruce Barton, Pastor
CentralConnection
Connecting Members and Friends to Central Baptist Church in Panama City, FL September 2015
Making of a Missions Church Recognizing the Call of God on our Members Make your plans to join us for our 60th Anniversary Weekend — June 10-12, 2016!
Now is the Time. This is the Place. Our city needs a church like ours. Not because we are anything special or important, but because He is. In a time, when today’s church—even Baptist churches—are turning to the world for their methods and their messages, our city needs a church like ours. In a time when today’s government—even though founded upon God and His Word—is turning away from our heritage, our history, and our God, our government needs a church like ours. In a season when today’s culture—heavily influenced by starlets and superstars—finds its place without the only Lord and the only God, our culture needs a church like ours. Now in my fifties, I am resolved with a greater determination to make an impact in our world, fortified together with the Central Baptist Church membership, remaining fundamental in doctrine and faithful in practice. Now is the time, more than ever, to stand for righteousness. This is the place more than any place, to be a lighthouse in a stormy, tumultuous world. Church, join me in remaining GOD-CENTERED, living TRUTH-DRIVEN lives, touching the lives of others because we are PEOPLE-FOCUSED.
COMING EVENTS Ladies Sunset Dinner September 18 Uncle Ernie’s Restaurant St. Andrew Marina
Back to Church Sunday September 20
Family Canoe Trip September 26 Econfina Creek
Men and Boys Breakfast “Comeback Boys Bible Study” October 10
Salvation Sunday October 18
Foreign Missions Sunday November 15
I am grateful to God for what I sense is an awakening in our church family of people who sense the urgency of the work of missions, and I pray that God will replicate in our church family, the things that make a mission church as found in Acts 13. A CHURCH WITH PEOPLE LEADING. Five men are listed in the beginning of this passage who were the clear leaders in the church of Antioch. God used them to push open the door and send out the first missionaries from that church. These men were diverse—coming from different pasts and places with different personalities. These men were serving in the church as prophets and teachers. They were committed to the Word of God, and teaching the members of that church. They were leading that church to hear from God through His Word. A CHURCH WITH PEOPLE LISTENING. There should be no leader in the church who is not first a follower. Leaders should be following the Lord themselves before they can lead others to follow Him. Leaders do not just need mouths, they need ears—ears that are listening to the Spirit of God. As these men were ministering and fasting, they heard from God. If one is not a faithful part of the ongoing life and work of the church, one should not be surprised if it has been a long time since one really heard anything from God! The Spirit must be the one to answer to the listening hearts of the people. Are you interested and listening to what Jesus wants from you? A CHURCH WITH PEOPLE LEAVING. Normally, people leaving a church is a bad thing. I must confess, it hurts me when people leave the church. But, in Acts 13, we find people leaving the church for a good reason, and one that the whole church should celebrate and appreciate. A mission church must be willing to give up members of its body for the sake of the gospel. We must be a body of believers who are willing to send people with our support of prayer and fasting, encouraging them in their work.
SNAPSHOTS AT CENTRAL
Leading, Listening, Leaving… from page one Do not miss whom it was the Holy Spirit was moving out of this church. He called them to separate to Him Barnabas and Saul. These were two of the key leaders in that church. They had been instrumental in the growth of that church and they were integral to the ministry there. Yet, when the Spirit called them, the church at Antioch had to be willing to give them up. They had to sacrifice these men being with them for the sake of them being where Jesus had called them. Are we willing to do this? As a Pastor, am I willing, should the Lord say so, to gladly pray over a key leader in our church that is being led away from this church to serve Him? Are we willing to gather around a faithful, key family and pray, “Lord, go with them and help them as they leave us and their ministry here?”
Three John Bartons (Bruce, Ted, Nelson)
Parents, could you put your hands on the heads of your own children and say, “Lord Jesus, as they no longer worship with me—as they leave my presence to serve your purposes, I pray Your blessings upon them?” A mission church is willing to give up parts of their own body in order to see the gospel of Jesus furthered in places where His kingdom needs to be advanced. Truthfully, if we understand the gospel we claim to believe, a church that sacrifices like this is only replicating that very gospel.
s and n o t r Ba
June it in s i v to ome c s y lurle McC
RC Cola and Moonpie Breezeway Fellowship
A mission church recognizes that as Jesus was sent into this world, so now He is sending us into the world. Perhaps you are the one He is sending? Are you listening for that kind of call? My prayer is that Jesus will, through His Spirit, call more and more people within this family of believers. My prayer is also that when those He calls respond, we will, like the church at Antioch, be willing to send them off and let them go for the glory of Jesus. A mission church is willing to be poured out for the sake of Him who poured out His life for us. May we be this kind of Church! Excerpted from a message preached on Wednesday, September 2, 20i5
Dr. Tom Wallace preaches “Please Him” on his 85th
Our 2015 Theme
His four children and mates were all present
Memorial Day Sunday
Join us for our next meeting!
Children’s Sunday Singing with Pastor
LifeStage Bible Classes, Sunday @ 9:30a Morning Worship Hour, Sunday @ 10:30a Mid-Week Meeting, Wednesday @ 6:30p
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
1104 Balboa Avenue ~ Panama City, FL 32401 850.769.6000 ~ www.centralbaptistpanamacity.org Dr. Bruce Barton, Pastor
CentralConnection
Connecting Members and Friends to Central Baptist Church in Panama City, FL September 2015
Making of a Missions Church Recognizing the Call of God on our Members Make your plans to join us for our 60th Anniversary Weekend — June 10-12, 2016!
Now is the Time. This is the Place. Our city needs a church like ours. Not because we are anything special or important, but because He is. In a time, when today’s church—even Baptist churches—are turning to the world for their methods and their messages, our city needs a church like ours. In a time when today’s government—even though founded upon God and His Word—is turning away from our heritage, our history, and our God, our government needs a church like ours. In a season when today’s culture—heavily influenced by starlets and superstars—finds its place without the only Lord and the only God, our culture needs a church like ours. Now in my fifties, I am resolved with a greater determination to make an impact in our world, fortified together with the Central Baptist Church membership, remaining fundamental in doctrine and faithful in practice. Now is the time, more than ever, to stand for righteousness. This is the place more than any place, to be a lighthouse in a stormy, tumultuous world. Church, join me in remaining GOD-CENTERED, living TRUTH-DRIVEN lives, touching the lives of others because we are PEOPLE-FOCUSED.
COMING EVENTS Ladies Sunset Dinner September 18 Uncle Ernie’s Restaurant St. Andrew Marina
Back to Church Sunday September 20
Family Canoe Trip September 26 Econfina Creek
Men and Boys Breakfast “Comeback Boys Bible Study” October 10
Salvation Sunday October 18
Foreign Missions Sunday November 15
I am grateful to God for what I sense is an awakening in our church family of people who sense the urgency of the work of missions, and I pray that God will replicate in our church family, the things that make a mission church as found in Acts 13. A CHURCH WITH PEOPLE LEADING. Five men are listed in the beginning of this passage who were the clear leaders in the church of Antioch. God used them to push open the door and send out the first missionaries from that church. These men were diverse—coming from different pasts and places with different personalities. These men were serving in the church as prophets and teachers. They were committed to the Word of God, and teaching the members of that church. They were leading that church to hear from God through His Word. A CHURCH WITH PEOPLE LISTENING. There should be no leader in the church who is not first a follower. Leaders should be following the Lord themselves before they can lead others to follow Him. Leaders do not just need mouths, they need ears—ears that are listening to the Spirit of God. As these men were ministering and fasting, they heard from God. If one is not a faithful part of the ongoing life and work of the church, one should not be surprised if it has been a long time since one really heard anything from God! The Spirit must be the one to answer to the listening hearts of the people. Are you interested and listening to what Jesus wants from you? A CHURCH WITH PEOPLE LEAVING. Normally, people leaving a church is a bad thing. I must confess, it hurts me when people leave the church. But, in Acts 13, we find people leaving the church for a good reason, and one that the whole church should celebrate and appreciate. A mission church must be willing to give up members of its body for the sake of the gospel. We must be a body of believers who are willing to send people with our support of prayer and fasting, encouraging them in their work.
SNAPSHOTS AT CENTRAL
Leading, Listening, Leaving… from page one Do not miss whom it was the Holy Spirit was moving out of this church. He called them to separate to Him Barnabas and Saul. These were two of the key leaders in that church. They had been instrumental in the growth of that church and they were integral to the ministry there. Yet, when the Spirit called them, the church at Antioch had to be willing to give them up. They had to sacrifice these men being with them for the sake of them being where Jesus had called them. Are we willing to do this? As a Pastor, am I willing, should the Lord say so, to gladly pray over a key leader in our church that is being led away from this church to serve Him? Are we willing to gather around a faithful, key family and pray, “Lord, go with them and help them as they leave us and their ministry here?”
Three John Bartons (Bruce, Ted, Nelson)
Parents, could you put your hands on the heads of your own children and say, “Lord Jesus, as they no longer worship with me—as they leave my presence to serve your purposes, I pray Your blessings upon them?” A mission church is willing to give up parts of their own body in order to see the gospel of Jesus furthered in places where His kingdom needs to be advanced. Truthfully, if we understand the gospel we claim to believe, a church that sacrifices like this is only replicating that very gospel.
s and n o t r Ba
June it in s i v to ome c s y lurle McC
RC Cola and Moonpie Breezeway Fellowship
A mission church recognizes that as Jesus was sent into this world, so now He is sending us into the world. Perhaps you are the one He is sending? Are you listening for that kind of call? My prayer is that Jesus will, through His Spirit, call more and more people within this family of believers. My prayer is also that when those He calls respond, we will, like the church at Antioch, be willing to send them off and let them go for the glory of Jesus. A mission church is willing to be poured out for the sake of Him who poured out His life for us. May we be this kind of Church! Excerpted from a message preached on Wednesday, September 2, 20i5
Dr. Tom Wallace preaches “Please Him” on his 85th
Our 2015 Theme
His four children and mates were all present
Memorial Day Sunday
Join us for our next meeting!
Children’s Sunday Singing with Pastor
LifeStage Bible Classes, Sunday @ 9:30a Morning Worship Hour, Sunday @ 10:30a Mid-Week Meeting, Wednesday @ 6:30p
