Bay Cities Blog

Praises Shared | Promises Fulfilled

Church family! 

As we enter into the week of Thanksgiving, we have much to be thankful for. Beyond the personal blessings we’ve uniquely enjoyed this year, our church family experienced a most meaningful and memorable year. We fully embraced our plan to live as a blessed people who bless people.

Beginning last January, we narrowed our focus to encourage and equip one another for mission. Through BLESS boxes, family parties, memorable worship, Bible studies, and intentional care, we can now see the increase in both our health and happiness. As the year progressed, we turned our focus outward to BLESS those where we live, work, and play. From the excitement of Back to School Splash to the simplicity of sharing meals, we used our time, talents, and treasure to reach people where we live, work, and play with the good news of Jesus. As we enter into the last month of 2019, let’s finish strong what we prayerfully started. 

First, let’s fulfill what we’ve promised missionally. December will be our month to emphasize sharing. We will equip you with strategic resources to fuel your sharing efforts. What better season than Christmas to share the good news of Jesus with our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family! 

Secondly, let’s fulfill what we’ve promised financially. In January 2019, we unpacked our vision for this year that included the financial strategy to achieve these goals for BLESS. You prayerfully and intentionally set personal and familial goals for giving. Based on your collective responses, we establish a giving goal of $176,800. As of last weekend, we’ve received 89% ($157,498) of our yearly budget. For those of you who turned in a ministry plan response card, you’ll receive a reminder of the commitments you made for 2019 of your time, talents, and treasure. Thank you so much for giving faithfully and generously! Your sacrificial giving has not only blessed countless of people where we live, work, and play, but also provided for the Allamon and Thompson families. 

Finally, let’s fund a plan to send our very own missionary! Garrett Messineo is working with the International Mission Board to go on a five month trip to Nepal (see below for more information). As you’re well aware, Garret spent a week in Nepal this past July. Currently, Garret still feels called by God to declare the gospel to the unreached people groups of south Asia. Consequently, I believe our church has a divine opportunity that will take the good news of Jesus to reach the people of Nepal.

When we pass our established goal of $176,800, our leadership prayerfully desires to use any additional giving to fund Garret’s trip as well as contribute towards the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through the SBC. Since the cost for Garret’s trip is $5,000, we believe it in our capabilities to reach this amount and even beyond. Many of you established a systematic giving plan based of your 2019 commitment. Would you prayerfully consider how you could uniquely bless Garret and fuel the spread of the gospel beyond your current giving? 

As you celebrate Thanksgiving and anticipate Christmas over these next few weeks, please pray that God would bless our financial resources to multiply the efforts to delight in, display, and declare the good news of Jesus in Tampa Bay and in south Asia.

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. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

God Bless,

Pastor Ken

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Listen Intentionally

September BLESS Emphasis | Listening With Intention

Two ways to fulfill this goal:

Discover Your Neighbor | Discover Your Neighbor Worksheet

Over the next few weeks, use the “Discover Your Neighbor Worksheet” as a guide to connect with those where you live, work, and play. This simple tool creates a path for deeper conversation and meaningful prayer. Even if you already can answer many of the questions on the worksheet, consider taking time to learn more about those around you over a cup of coffee, a meal, or even a just passing conversation. (Click here to download worksheet)

Bless Your Neighbor | BCF Birthday Gift

On our BCF Birthday Celebration (9/29), we want provide you with a gift to give. Ideally, you would take these next few weeks to learn more about someone where you live, work, or play, and then use this gift to bless them. We will provide the materials and resources for you to show and share the good news of Jesus. 

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Sharing The Good News Of Jesus

June Emphasis | Sharing The Gospel & Your Story

Three ways to fulfill this goal: 

Read | “What Is The Gospel?” Booklet

In your box, you’ll find a booklet entitled What is the Gospel?. The greater we understand and believe the gospel the more comfortable we will be to share this good news with others. This short and poignant resource will give you an opportunity to dive into a healthy explanation of the good news of Jesus Christ. You will also be given a tool to help you collect your thoughts and to reflect on what you read. Please make time to utilize this dynamic resource. 

Write | Your Gospel Story 

After you’ve read through the booklet, access the worksheet again to write out the gospel in your own words and how the gospel is changing you. This will be a helpful means of gaining clarity in both your understanding of the gospel but also in your ability to share what God has done in your own life. 

Share | Your Gospel Story & A Meal

Finally, use the Chick-Fil-A gift card to share a meal with someone in our church. When you meet, share what you’ve written in your worksheet. This experience will not only strengthen your faith and love for God but also will prepare you for future opportunities to share this good news with others. 

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Serving One Another

May Emphasis | Serving One Another

Two ways to fulfill this goal: 

  • Serve One Another Spiritually | Bearing Burdens (Galatians 6:2)

Once you’ve picked up your BLESS Box materials, you will be assigned a household in our church to serve spiritually by the pastors. Then, you will be given the pertinent information necessary to can connect with the household you’ll be serving in May. Your first step in this process should include a phone call or email to connect with the family you will be serving. Consider asking how you can pray for specific needs in their lives, physically or spiritually. Take time to document your conversation and then make plans to pray. Depending on how well you are acquainted, you should also make time to learn more about their story to inform your prayers. Creatively make the time you need to spend time in prayer throughout each week of May. Also, throughout the month, check in with the household you’re serving. See how God is working in their lives through the power of prayer. 

  • Serve One Another Physically  | Giving Gifts (Philippians 4:14-20)

As you get to know the household you’ll be serving, plan to create a BLESS Box specifically designed for their encouragement. You could include a gift card to a restaurant or Amazon, coupons for babysitting or housework, encouraging notes for each member of the household, a resource for their spiritual growth, or a practical item for their daily needs. Please limit your spending on this box to $25. These BLESS Boxes should serve as small encouraging gesture, not an extravagant, over-the-top gift. The more personal and tailored you can make your BLESS Box, the better. Pray that God gives you the insight to supply a gift that touches the household you are serving. Make plans to bring your BLESS Box on Sunday, May 26. If you will not be in town or unable to attend, please make arrangements otherwise. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Ken at ken@baycitiesoldsmar.com or 813.551.2735.

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Begin With Prayer

February Emphasis | Begin With Prayerfor one-another

Three ways to fulfill this goal:

Read—“Beginning A Praying Life”

Beginning a Praying Life is a booklet based on the bestselling book A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. This handy, pocket-sized primer is an easy way to inspire someone who is new to prayer, or to reignite passion in someone who is stuck in attempts to develop a consistent prayer life. It identifies six cures for cynicism in prayer, and each one becomes a bit more challenging: (1) Be warm but wary, (2) learn to hope again, (3) develop a childlike spirit, (4) cultivate a thankful spirit, (5) practice repentance, and (6) develop an eye for Jesus. Personal stories are woven throughout, and often the author showcases his own lack of faith to prove his point. Beginning a Praying Life makes for a practical handout to begin a lifelong change of heart about why and how to pray (taken from the website).

Write—BCF Prayer Journal

You’ve been given a journal to accompany your journey in prayer. Use this journal to jot down what the Lord is teaching you, to scribble thoughts that come to mind throughout the day, and to incorporate names of people that God leads your way within our church. Even if writing is not a strong suit of yours, make time to put down how God is using this emphasis on prayer to change you.

Pray—Personally & At Prayer Gatherings

Consider starting and ending your days in February with prayer. Use your prayer journal to pray over people in our church that God brings to mind. Consider asking and then praying for the following:

    • Where is pain? Pray for healing and grace to endure
    • Where is brokenness? Pray for restoration and reconciliation
    • Where is a lack of resources? Pray for faith and provision
    • Where is sin? Pray for confession and forgiveness.

Also, make your plans for the following Payer Sessions:

    • Facebook Live Sessions: 2/6, 2/13, 2/20 @ 8:30 pm
    • Prayer Gathering: 2/27 @ 7:00 pm. Location TBD

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21 Days of Prayer | The First Seven Days

We just finished our first seven days of the 21 Days of Prayer. This first week, we focused on asking God to transform us. Each morning and evening, we spent time together on Facebook Live, seeking God for the change only He can create. Below are the posts from each day reflecting on your theme verses for the week from Hebrews 4:14-16. If you’d like to read more or stay connected during our 21 Days of prayer, click here.

Day 1 | You Have Help
Our theme verses for the week come from Hebrews 4:14-16. In verse 14 we read that “since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” I want us to consider for a moment the nature of this promise. In the Old Testament, men such as Moses, his brother Aaron, and the Levitical priests possessed the role and responsibility of representing the people before God. These men came before the Lord in places and with sacrifices designed to make amends for the sins of Israel. Ultimately, the priests functioned as representatives to maintain the collective relationship with God in behalf of the people. Yet, the nature of their sacrifices and their own lives as well was always temporary.

However, in Hebrews 4, we witness a different type of high priest. This high priest, Jesus, fills this role and fulfills His responsibility as high priest permanently. The text says that Jesus makes His way to an exalted place next to the Father (Acts 1:9; Philippians 2:9-11). Through His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus can serve as an intercessor (high priest), eternally advocating before the Father (1 John 2:1-2).  Consequently, the author of Hebrews tells us to “hold fast our confession.” Your prayers now should be formed and empowered by the wonderful truth that the death-defying and death-conquering Son of God represents YOU before the Father AS forgiven, righteous, and as family. Jesus, the true high priest, makes sure that “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God…” (Romans 8:37-39).

So, when you pray today, cling tightly to this truth: you have help. 

Day 2 |Jesus Knows
In Hebrews 4:15, we learn that Jesus possesses a truly unique ability. We saw yesterday in verse 14 that Jesus functions as our high priest. He makes intercession and advocates for us. The author of Hebrew further unpacks this role in verse 15 by demonstrating the great ability Jesus possesses.  The text says that “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are.” We learn that Jesus, our high priest who is interceding for us next to the Father (Hebrews 4:14), knows our struggles. This knowledge Jesus possesses is both transcendent and yet very personal. Jesus holds a divine awareness of our sins yet maintains the knowledge of what our temptations feel like. You see, when Jesus took on the form of man, he experienced strong temptations and struggles just like you and me (Matthew 4:1-11). Consequently, the intercession Jesus makes for us comes from authentically wrestling through real struggles. However, where we often fail, Jesus never does. Unbelievably, Jesus does not hold this against, though. Instead, Jesus uses His victory over sin to give us the mercy and grace we need each and every day. So, instead of turning away from Jesus because you feel guilty or like a failure, run daily and directly to someone who truly knows. The One who knows exactly how you feel is the One who knows exactly what you need AND can give it to you (Matthew 7:7-11).

Let’s rejoice and pray today with the confidence that Jesus knows!

Day 3 |”Yet Without Sin”
Hebrews 4:15 leaves us with a truly amazing thought: Jesus did not sin. Even though we learned that Jesus was “one who in every respect was tempted as we are,” He was “yet without sin.” Consequently, our Mediator possesses not only a knowledge of what our temptations are like but also an experience of never giving into them. You see, where we are tempted and then fail, Jesus never fails. Fortunately, though, Jesus does not hold this against us. His obedience actually provides for us righteousness and redemption. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tell us that “for our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus, the one “who knew no sin” even despite great temptations, provides for us the righteousness we could never earn. 1 John 3:5 makes this clear as well by stating “you know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.” When we believe we are innocent, we often use that belief to gain an advantage. However, Jesus uses His innocence and perfect obedience for our advantage. Jesus not only sympathizes with our weaknesses, but He also redeems us from our sins (and subsequent weaknesses).

As we go to prayer today, let us proceed humbly in light of our sins yet boldly on account of our sinless Savior and Advocate.

Day 4 |Go Boldly
After describing the greatness of Jesus as our mediator, the author of Hebrews gives us a command. Verse 16 says “let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.” Instead of being fearful or intimidated by God, we find that we can have a posture of confidence and boldness in approaching Him. Author Peter O’Brien explains that “the challenge to approach God’s throne of grace is an admonition to persistent, confident prayer that is based particularly on Jesus’ own experience of sufferings and trials, and his consequent ability to empathize with our weaknesses.”  Jesus has provided the means and the way for us to come before God. Our “persistent, confident prayers” do not go unheard. We do not need to worry if God is listening to us. We have the hope and promise to access God directly. So, my question is, “what are we doing about this?” Knowing that based on the work and the role of Jesus we can directly access God, do we take full advantage of this glorious opportunity? How “persistently” and “confidently” do we seek after God?

As we pray today, let us not wonder if God hears us or feel our requests are insignificant. Instead, let us confidently approach knowing we have a place before Him.

Day 5|Our Needs
Hebrews 4:16 provides for us the hope of and the reason for approaching God. So far, we’ve seen the hope. Based on the work of Jesus, we can approach the Father confidently. Today, we will focus on part one of the reason. The text says we can approach the throne of grace confidently so “that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Today, I would like for us to focus on the mercy we receive from God. This mercy is defined as “kindness or concern expressed for someone in need.” I italicized “need” because I believe this is the main point of the mercy we receive. When we approach God, we are not coming with our lives all figured out and put together. Actually, it is just the opposite. The great needs that we have not only necessitated approaching God but also caused God to approach us in Jesus the Messiah. Now, instead of the Father condemning us, He welcomes us before His throne to receive the mercy we need for all of our needs. You possess the hope from God’s Word based on the work of Jesus to approach God confidently for the mercy you need. So, what is keeping you from going before God right now, once again, for this mercy? The path to finding your mercy is right in front of you. You can receive exactly what you need from God today as you boldly ask, seek, and knock.

Let us begin this day with a renewed confidence that God will give us the mercy we crave for our needs.

Day 6|Amazing Grace
Based on what we have witnessed in Hebrews 4, we can approach our Father confidently looking to receive mercy and also find grace. The verb “find” carries the idea of an attained state of or an obtained object in pursuit. Meaning, the grace we need has been obtained by Jesus and is available for us. Matter of fact, the very grace resides at the “throne of grace.” The “exceptional favor” of God belongs to us through Jesus Christ and we can access this grace confidently. Normally, offers like this are too good to be true. There is a catch that accompanies them. Then, the actual product does not even pan out to be that good. In this instance, we experience the complete opposite. God offers us what we could never earn and then invites us to enjoy His gift freely, confidently, and frequently. Whatever struggle you are facing today, please know that Jesus provided an eternal and overflowing amount of grace needed for obedience, joy, happiness, and peace.

So, let’s go before our God today asking and believing to find grace for all that we need.

Day 7|In Need
Hebrews 4:15 ends with a comforting conclusion. After learning about the role of Jesus interceding for us, we discover the privilege of confidently coming before God for mercy and grace. God’s provides mercy and grace “to help in our time of need.” Specifically, this help is “timely assistance offered to meet a need.” We experience all kinds of needs: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Often, I believe, we view those needs as obstacles that keep us from God. Instead, these needs should drive us to God. We have become too independent and self-sufficient to realize how much we actually need God. When I think of my children, especially Nolan, he constantly asks for help. Whether it is assistance using the bathroom or wanting a snack, he intuitively knows that Megan and I can and will help. We should run to God with any and all of our needs. He has made that way possible. His throne is characterized by grace and mercy. The mercy we receive and the grace we find will meet our needs in a timely, divine manner. Let us conclude this first week of prayer by humbly going before our God with our needs knowing He will give us exactly what we need.

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Easter with Bay Cities Fellowship

Gather with us at Forest Lakes Elementary School (301 Pine Ave N, Oldsmar) at 10 am on Easter Sunday, April 1, for breakfast and a special time of worship. Breakfast will be free and for all ages to enjoy. Just let us know that you’re planning to join us by clicking below.

https://baycitiesfl.com/event/easter/

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