Ferguson Avenue Baptist Church 10050 Ferguson Avenue v Savannah, Georgia 31406

Bob Dimmitt Pastor 912-398-4363 bob@fabchurch.com

Tim Wade Assoc. Pastor/Youth 912-231-7199 tim@fabchurch.com

Church Phone: 912-355-0949 Church Fax: 912-355-4869 www.fabchurch.com

Announcements Where Christ Is Exalted and the Fellowship Is Exciting

If you have any questions concerning the message from today, or are interested in obtaining information about church membership, please see the Pastor after the service, drop a note in the offering plate indicating your desire to talk with the Pastor, or call the church office.

500th Anniversary of Protestant Reformation We are celebrating this historic event with special services all month. Please see details on page 6. Congregational Meeting Our regular quarterly congregational meeting is tonight, Sunday, October 15, at 5:00 p.m. New Directory A new directory is just around the corner! Please let Dawn in the office know of any corrections to your entry asap! Send a picture to dawn@fabchurch.com if yours is old or missing. Senior Saints They will travel to Pooler to shop and have lunch at Cheddar’s on Tuesday, October 17. Sign up and meet at the church at 9:15 a.m. Ministry Opportunity Pat Beatty is seeking help with the fleece blankets being made for A Touch of Hope Ministry for the displaced kids in the school system. She will be in the Fellowship Hall on Thursdays, October 19, and November 2 and 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. She will also be working on Saturdays, October 21, and November 18, from

October 15, 2017

FABC Deacons

Shawn Champion 433-0098 Bobby Deloach (CH) 667-8867 Mickey Fell 920-4557 Ron Fowler 901-409-8628 Jimmy Kicklighter 355-5616 Jack Moore 547-5000 Billy Morris, Sr. 398-1038 Joe Morris 398-0125 Steve Posner 704-5617 Kelly Stanford 441-2151 Michael Walker 655-2497 Ric Zittrouer 210-0344

Continued on p. 5

This Week at FABC

Today Coffee Fellowship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Christmas Choir Practice 4:00 p.m. Adult Choir Practice 4:25 p.m. Congregational Mtg. 5:00 p.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Dinner: Chicken Fingers 5:45 p.m. Youth & Awana 6:30 p.m. Prayer & Bible Study 7:00 p.m.

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10:30 a.m.

Welcome and Announcements

* Opening Chorus & Greeting “Majesty”

Words are on the back of the bulletin

* Call to Worship Ephesians 5:18-19

* Hymn #55 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”

Scripture Reading & Prayer Jay Rowe

Acts 4:1-17

Special Music

Receiving of Tithes And Offerings

* Hymn #228 “My Faith Has Found a

Resting Place”

Message Bob Dimmitt

The Dark Night of the Soul, Part 2 Ecclesiastes 2:18-23, Ecclesiastes #9

* Hymn, to right “Doxology”

October 15 , 2017

* All those who are able, please stand.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

6:00 p.m.

The Reformation at 500 Sola Fide

Welcome and Announcements

* Hymn, bulletin pp. 8-9 “Reformation Hymn”

Prayer

Receiving of Tithes And Offerings

Hymn #257 “’Tis So Sweet to

Trust in Jesus”

Hymn, bulletin pp. 10-11 “By Faith”

Message Travis Peacock

(New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond Hill, GA)

Sola Fide Romans 3:21-28

* Hymn, bulletin p. 12 “Glory Be to God Alone”

Stanza 3 only

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A .M. Notes

The Dark Night of the Soul, Part 2 Ecclesiastes #10 Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 Existential crisis: a moment at which an individual questions the very foundations of their life: whether life has any meaning, purpose, or value. The reason the dark night is difficult and disturbing is not because God is absent or inactive in a person’s life, although to some it can feel that way. The reason that the dark night is distressing (I believe) is precisely because God is working—in a power-ful, deep, and transformative way. The experience of the dark night is not an easy process to endure. The feeling that God is not at work in the dark night is the source ______________ ______________________________________________________________________ 1 Peter 5:6-7; Deut 31:8; Philippians 4:6-7 Psalm 34:15; Matthew 6:26 Why would God choose to purify the soul or grow the believer in this manner, es-pecially since the experience is so painful and frustrating? In the midst of this darkness the soul simultaneously experiences two devastating feelings: it feels forsaken by God and an awareness of its deep poverty and wretch-edness. This is how growth must occur because_____________________________________ 3 trials from God First, Satan uses this transition to stir a spirit________________________________ This can lead to the second sign ___________________________________________ The final sign is Spiritus Vertiginis or ________________________________________ Isaiah 19:12-15

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P.M. Notes

Sola Fide Romans 3:21-28

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

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Weekly Catechism Question

Question #22: What is the sinfulness of that condition into which all mankind has fallen? Answer: The sinfulness of the condition into which all mankind fell is the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the lack of original righteousness, and the corruption of our whole nature (which is commonly called original sin), together with all actual transgressions which come from this nature. Scripture: Romans 5:19; 3:10; Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 51:5; Matthew 15:19. Comment: The Bible says that "in Adam all die" (1 Cor. 15:22) and that "one transgression yields condemnation for all men" (Rom. 5:18) and that "one man’s disobedience made many sin-ners" (Rom. 5:19). These statements lead us to conclude that God, in a way beyond our comprehension, established a unity between Adam and his posterity which makes it just for us to receive the imputation of his guilt and corruption. He was in some sense our representa-tive head. We sinned in him and fell with him

Continued from p. 1

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Come join her! If you have any questions, please call Pat at 596-6922. Youth & Family Series Tim Wade will conduct the next of his Youth & Family seminars on Saturday, October 21, at 5:00 p.m. Activities will include a meal, and a bonfire. Young Adult Bible Study Thursday, October 26, 7:00 p.m., at the Sheffields’. Church-wide Movie Night We’re showing Luther, the 2003 film starring Joseph Fiennes, on Saturday, October 28, at 7:30 p.m.

Membership Conference Begins October 29, during Sunday School time. See page 7 for info. After Church Lunch There will be a covered dish lunch after morning worship on October 29. Meat will be provided, but bring a dish to share! Wises and Creeches will serve. Work Day for Homecoming Work Day, Saturday, November 11, 8:00 a.m.

49th Annual Homecoming!

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Coffee Fellowship 9:45 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Special Speaker:

Tony Gould

Dinner together afterwards

No Sunday School No Evening Worship

Invite family and friends! Barbecue, Sausage, and Brunswick Stew are provided. Bring side dishes and

desserts to share! This is always a blessed time to get together and

catch up.

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The Reformation at 500 1517 – 2017

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. When Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, he forever changed the landscape of Christianity. His actions, and the subsequent actions of many more faithful men and women, broke the oppressive tyranny of the Roman Catholic Church and rekindled zeal throughout Europe for the true faith once and for all delivered to the saints.

In the years that followed, wars were waged, heretics were condemned, and many faithful saints were expelled from their communities, thrown in prison, and murdered for their refusal to compromise the truth of the gospel. Luther and others like him stood on the foundational principles contained in God’s word and refused to be moved. This year we will celebrate this remarkable anniversary in a way that would be consistent with the ideals of the Reformation and the wishes of the reformers themselves. We will turn to the word and celebrate the principles of the Reformation that were discovered therein. These principles are often referred to as the 5 Solas. They are: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone).

Starting on September 24, we will dedicate our entire worship service on Sunday evenings to each of the 5 Solas with the hymns and message aligned together to worship God through understanding these timeless truths better. These 5 services will lead us up to Reformation Sunday on October 29. On that Sunday morning, we will have a special worship service followed by communion that hearkens back to the style of worship of the reformers. Please make plans to join us for all six of these special services as we seek to honor our legacy and rejoice in our God who has preserved the truth of His word.

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Beginning on Sunday, October 29th during the Sunday School hour, we will be conducting an 8-week conference on church membership. During this conference, every Sunday School class from third graders up will be meeting in the sanctuary for the sessions. During the con-ference, we will cover such topics as what a church actually is and what church membership means, church discipline, the importance of the ordinances, congregationalism and elders, our statement of faith and church covenant, among others. Our aim is to instill within the church a uniform understanding of how our church is supposed to function and the role of our members in every facet of the life of the church. It is vitally important therefore that you make every effort to attend as many sessions of this conference as possible. Our church will only be effective in fulfilling our mission to the extent that we all have the same basic understanding of how our church is to function, beginning at the level of membership. This is an incredible opportunity for us to grow together as a church and we look forward to sharing it with you.

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Music

9

10

By F

aith

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Glory Be to God Alone Tune: Austrian Hymn (“Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”)

1. Only Scripture leads and binds us, Not traditions, creeds, or man, Tells of wrath yet loving-kindness Joined in God’s redemption plan. Knowledge, wisdom without measure, Comfort and delights unknown, Perfect, all-surpassing treasure, Found in this, God's Word alone. 2. Only grace can save the sinner, Not the righteousness of man. All our efforts only hinder From the favor we demand. Free and sovereign, in defiance Of the wrath we should have known, Not in merit, nor through penance— We are saved by grace alone.

3. Only faith in God’s provision Of a perfect substitute Can repair the grave condition Of a sinner destitute. Christ has come to bear our burdens, For transgressions to atone, And to make us clean and righteous By the gift of faith alone. 4. Only Christ has paid our ransom, He alone can mediate, God and man in perfect union, Holy blood to expiate. Suffered, died, in triumph risen, Interceding for his own, At his word we are forgiven, So we look to Christ alone. 5. Only glory to the Father— Not to creatures he has made; Honor, blessing, strength, and power Fully in the Son displayed. By the Spirit's work we see Him, Seated on his mighty throne. This our hope and firm foundation— Glory be to God alone. By David L. Ward © 2015 ThousandTongues.org, admin by Thousand Tongues

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Articles

Cont. on p. 14

Ten Lasting Fruits of the Reformation by Joel Beeke God sent forth the power of his Word in the Reformation of the sixteenth century. The Reformation served as a dynamic motivation and catalyst for change and pro-gress wherever its influence reached. Many would credit Martin Luther as the driv-ing engine that propelled the Reformation, but Luther said, “I did nothing; the Word did everything.” How did the Reformation change the church and the world? Here are ten lasting fruits in which the Reformation made a significant difference. 1. The Word of God - The Reformers recognized the Bible as God’s written Word, and the supreme rule of faith and life for both the individual believer and for the life of the church. Here is the great starting point for understanding the aims, dynamism, and achievements of the Reformation. As part of the revival of learning connected with the Renaissance, the Western church recovered the knowledge of the original languages of the Bible. For the first time in many centuries, her scholars and teachers were able to read the Hebrew OT and the Greek NT, and examine the extant Latin translations of the Bible in the light of the original. If you want to call yourself an heir of the Reformation, then you must be a student of the Bible. Read the Word of God and meditate on it daily. Cultivate a systematic understanding of the Bible’s teachings. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Never walk away from private devotions, family worship, or a sermon without taking hold of some particu-lar truth and applying it to your soul. 2. The Gospel of Grace - The Reformers recovered the authentic gospel of salva-tion by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, and proclaiming it to the ends of the earth through zealous evangelism. They taught that sinners are saved as Christ graciously works in them by His Word and Holy Spirit, convincing them of their sin and misery, and leading them to faith in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, offered once for all, as the only ground of their salvation. Justi-fication from the guilt of sin is not the distant goal, but the beginning of life in Christ. Good works are fruits that accompany justification, and only serve to con-firm it. Justification is by faith alone, through Christ alone. Salvation is the gra-cious, free gift of God, “not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:9). What Lu-ther and the other Reformers discovered was that Rome had exchanged the true gospel for a false one. According to Rome, salvation was achieved by slow degrees and hard work, by receiving the sacraments and by doing such good works as the church required or directed. Sinners must atone for their sins by doing penance in this life and suffering the fires of purgatory in the next, calling on saints and angels for help, and cherishing the hope of full salvation only in the far distant future. Some degree of comfort was afforded to the faithful by the sale of “indulgences,” promissory notes issued by the church forgiving or “indulging” some part of the debt of sin owed to God. This “gospel according to Rome” was a message to in-spire fear of wrath, not faith in Christ.

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3. Experiential Piety - The Reformers enlivened the church worldwide with a deep conviction of the fatherly sovereignty of God through Christ, which results in a deep, warm, sanctifying, experiential piety or godliness that moves believers to commit their entire lives to His praise. Generations of Reformed pastors and teach-ers took up this concern and developed it, as Christian experience and the strengths and weaknesses connected with it, received close scrutiny, careful analysis, and thorough exposition. 4. Old Paths - The Reformers preserved, exposited, and defended the ancient Christian faith through preaching and sound literature as the system of doctrine taught in God’s Word. The Reformers found support for their formulations of the Christian faith in the writings of the ancient church fathers. They saw themselves as the true heirs of historic Christianity. The Roman church had added to the biblical faith and obscured the gospel of justification, but there remained many essential truths of true Christianity as summarized in the Ecumenical Creeds. Though mired in layers of corruption, the gold of apostolic Christianity had not been utterly lost. The Reformed faith was given to the world not as something new, but only a return of the faith, worship, and order of the apostolic church. It is popular today to cast off all tradition in order to cultivate a religion based on “me and my Bible.” Much contemporary Christianity is superficial and without deep foundations, and so very unstable. However, this is not the Reformation principle of Scripture alone, but a corruption of it. We do not reject tradition in itself, but tradition that is not subordi-nate to the Bible. 5. The Head of the Church - The Reformers reasserted the crown rights of Christ as King over the nations and the only Head of the church. This resulted in a church where all is done in subjection to God’s Word and in relation to the triune God rather than in subjection to man’s desires. The Reformers soon found themselves at odds with the hierarchy of the church, and in particular with the Pope. Over the centuries, the Papacy had advanced its claim to dominion over the worldwide church and over the kings and princes of Christian Europe. In a similar way, these kings and princes often claimed dominion over the church within their realms. Not infrequently, these divergent views led to fierce and bloody conflicts. The Reform-ers found themselves fighting a two-front war, as the Pope used all his power to suppress the Reformation, and hostile kings and princes resisted and punished at-tempts to reform the church in their territories. Against both, the Reformers exalted Christ as the only Head of the church in heaven and on earth. Where they pre-vailed, the church was delivered from the twofold tyranny of the Papacy and the state. 6. Christian Freedom - The Reformers established the freedom of the Christian from tyranny in the church, the rights of citizens under the rule of law, curbing the powers of kings and nobles, and enabling the rise of representative democracy in the form of constitutional monarchies and republics. Upholding the supreme au-thority of Scripture, they dealt a deathblow to the medieval theory of the divine right of kings. All estates of the nation, including the king, are subject to the law of God and the laws of the state. Each citizen lives under the law’s protection, enjoy-ing the liberty secured by subjection to God and to Christ. None but God has power over the conscience, and the calling of magistrates is to “do justice for the helpless,

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the orphan’s cause maintain; defend the poor and needy, oppressed and wronged for gain.” This idea of kingship broke upon sixteenth century Europe as a revolu-tionary thunderbolt. A long struggle ensued to curb the excesses and abuses of kings, free the church from interference by the state, and establish the rule of law in Protestant Europe. It is no coincidence that representative democracy flourished best in lands and nations where the Reformed faith was most deeply rooted. The habits of democratic self-government were acquired by many citizens in meetings of congregations, consistories, classes, sessions, presbyteries, and synods. We should cherish our political freedoms and use all lawful means to preserve them. The rule of law, rights of all human beings, and covenantal accountability of leaders to God and the people are precious biblical principles. However, we should also remember that no political freedom has a stable foundation unless the church remains grounded in its freedom in Christ. Unless Christians walk in our blood-bought free-dom from the dominion of sin, we cannot expect society around us to preserve civil liberty. Moral degeneration corrupts political freedom into a mask for any tyranny that promises to gratify a people’s passions. 7. Vocations for the Common Good - The Reformers recast the state as a com-monwealth, promoting the dignity of labor, encouraging commerce, and increasing wealth among all classes, while curbing the excesses of unregulated capitalism and providing for the care of the sick and the poor. In the view of the Reformers, a well-regulated state ought to provide for the common good. All should thrive together, walking agreeably in decency and good order. Everyone has a stake in the life and well-being of the nation. No man is granted freedom to do as he pleases, without regard to the laws of God and the state. Such is the idea of the state as a common-wealth. Reformed Christianity played a major role in the eradication of serfdom and the abolition of slavery, though, sadly, for some Reformed Christians these measures seemed too radical to be endorsed. According to the Reformed idea of vocation or calling, the common laborer came into his own as an image-bearing servant of God. Reformed doctrine sanctifies all of life, and resists attempts both ancient and modern to draw a line between the sacred and the secular. Men of wealth are called to use their wealth for the good of others and for the cause of Christ. The communion of saints, each one employing his gifts for the advantage and salvation of the others, welded Reformed communities together as forces for benevolence, civic improvement and social progress. 8. Marriage & Child-rearing - The Reformers established the Christian home on the principles of Scripture, in which marriage is understood as a reflection of the Christ/church relationship; where husband and wife covenant with each other to walk in God’s ways; and parents, to rear their children, who are loaned to them by God. Casting out the medieval cult of celibacy, the Reformers embraced and ex-alted marriage in the Lord as the norm for the Christian life. The Christian family is counted as the basic unit of the church and the foundation of society. In no better way can the mystery of Christ and His church be honored and enacted before the world. The children of believers once more became the heritage of the Lord, loved and nurtured, called to faith and repentance, confronted with Christ’s claims upon their faith and obedience, and schooled in the “true and perfect doctrine of salva-tion” taught in the Reformed churches. Cont. on p. 16

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9. Arts & Sciences - The Reformers rekindled the spirit of inquiry, founding schools, academies, and universities; disseminating knowledge; encouraging re-search and exploration; enabling many discoveries and producing many valuable inventions. Exalting God as Maker of heaven and earth, believing that man was created in God’s image, and valuing the creation as God’s handiwork, Reformed Christians have been stirred to seek out the laws of the universe and to realize much of the great potential built into the world as God created it. Believing that knowl-edge is essential to life and happiness, Reformed Christianity fostered the develop-ment of universal education. A large chapter in the history of Reformed Christian-ity in the United States is the history of the founding of schools, school systems, and institutions of higher learning wherever Presbyterian and Reformed immigrants and settlers established their new homes and churches. 10. The True Worship of God - Perhaps, above all, the Reformation promoted true worship. For them to worship God, whether privately or publicly, was to bow down before His majestic glory, and in spirit and in truth to bring Him, in and through Jesus Christ and in accord with Scripture, the honor and praise that belong to Him alone. Calvin said that the Christian faith turns on two main hinges: how we are saved, and how we should worship God. Reformation worship turns away from the saints as heavenly mediators and encourages people to draw near to God the Father through the sole mediation of God the Son by the power of God the Holy Spirit. It simplifies the sacraments (from seven to two), purges the service of unbiblical rituals and imagined sacred objects, and restores the people to their func-tion as a holy priesthood. It makes the Holy Scriptures both the rule of worship and its content as the church reads the Word, prays the Word, sings the Word, preaches the Word, and sees the Word in baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Conclusion: Soli Deo Gloria - Here then, we have ten crucial ways that the Refor-mation—contra Rome—has blessed our world. What is the one great reality that all these things reflect? The diamond of the Reformation is the glory of God. The Ref-ormation was about the centrality of God—the supremacy, sovereignty, holiness, goodness, and mercy of God in His triune being. The spirit of the Reformation, if you boil it down to its distilled essence, is to love God by faith in the grace of Christ, as He is revealed in the Scriptures.

The Task of Responsible Christian Communication by Scott Swain “God gave us not a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind/discipline” (2 Tim 1:7). What is “a spirit of a sound mind”? Oliver O’Donovan argues that we should not follow the standard English translations of “sophronismos” as “self-control/discipline” or “sound mind” and instead that we should translate the word according to its common usage in first-century Greek, i.e., “the teaching of prudence”. According to this translation, the person endowed with the spiritual gift of prudence is endowed with the gift of “a certain type of speech: instruction, warning, and cor-

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rection, intended to make its hearers, intelligent and discerning agents” (O’Donovan, Entering into Rest, p. 194). This translation of “sophronismos” seems to fit the context well. In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul encourages Timothy to fulfill his pastoral vocation—in which speech is central (see 2 Tim 4:1-5)—by stirring up the gift that was given to him through the laying on of hands. This translation also opens up interesting horizons for thinking about the task of Christian teaching and communication. If the Greek word refers to “the teaching of prudence,” then the ends of Christian teaching must include the cultivation of prudence in the minds of learners. Prudence plays a primary role in Christian moral reasoning. Prudence refers to the capacity for testing and discerning the will of the Lord in a given setting (Rom 12:1-2), for approving what is the most excellent course of action in a given situa-tion (Phil 1:8-10). Though prudence depends upon contemplative wisdom regard-ing God and his ways in order to orient itself before God in the world (Rom 11:33-36), prudence is a species of practical wisdom, aimed at human action. By discern-ing the will of the Lord, prudence illumines a path for Christian obedience, direct-ing us to the “good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). Paul further unpacks his understanding of “sophronismos” in 2 Timothy 2:23-26, with specific reference to speech toward those who are outside of the Christian community: “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” Christian teaching and communication, according to Paul, is “not … quarrelsome but kind.” Though it corrects its opponents, it does not pick fights. Christian teaching is gentle and patient. It waits on the Spirit to do his indispensable work of leading its oppo-nents on the path of repentance into “a knowledge of the truth.” Christian commu-nication is “able to teach.” It is skilled at imparting prudence to its hearers. In sum, Christian teaching aims at prudential ends (the cultivation of Christian moral rea-soning) by pursuing prudential means (kindness, gentleness, patience). If the spirit of Christian teaching is a spirit of “sophronismos”, then responsible Christian communication will involve more than “rallying the troops” to a cause. Responsible Christian communication will have little if anything to learn from the political punditry of the right or the left that floods our screens and fills our earbuds. Responsible Christian communication will commit itself to the slow but fruitful work of evangelizing outsiders and of equipping the saints to act as responsible moral agents under the kingship of the triune God. In doing so, Christian commu-nication will manifest its union with Christ, its participation in the anointing and eloquence of “the servant of the Lord” who does not “cry aloud” or “lift up his voice … in the street” (Isa 42:2-3) but who possesses an “ear to hear as those who are taught” and therefore knows “how to sustain with a word him who is weary” (Isa 50:4). All of this is important to remember in a Christian culture where being loving in our speech is sometimes reduced to being courageous in our speech. Christian speech is courageous speech, to be sure, but its courage is moderated by love of God and neighbor and therefore guided by the desire to impart the mind of Christ, which is the mind of wisdom, to those who will listen. God has not given us a spirit of fear “but of power and love and the teaching of prudence” (2 Tim 1:7).

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Missionary of the Week

Pascal & Becky Grenade Mauritius

Pascal and Becky Grenade are missionaries to the island of Mauritius, Pascal’s home country. They are raising three young sons, Liam , Adrien, and Ashlen. Becky is expecting another child in Janu-ary! We just got this update from them last week, so it is included here: Dear friends, We are doing well as a family; we are expect-ing our 4th child. Becky is 5 months pregnant, and the baby’s due date is January 30th. We saw the gynecologist a few days ago, and she mentioned that the baby is a bit behind with its weight gain. She encouraged Becky to increase her protein in-take. We also took Ashlen to have an ultrasound on Monday. The results seem to be normal, but we will see what the surgeon says when we see him next week. Ash-len had his surgery 6 months ago, and he seems to be doing very well. Liam and Adrien are also doing well. Our boys will turn 5, 3 and 1 this month. The ministry at the church in Rose-Belle is going well. Becky is still active with the ladies’ ministry and the children’s ministry. We are reminding the people at church the importance of faithfully being a witness of our Lord and of proclaiming the Gospel. Becky was encouraged by how some of the ladies responded to her challenge of visiting the lost. Opportunities abound, but at times we forget how needy people really are of the Gospel and how powerful the Gospel is. Pray with us that people will continue to be receptive to our reminders and that we in turn will be faithful in setting an example of faithful witness for our Lord. We would also appreciate your prayers for a young man named Steve Perrine. He was in a car accident back in July. Doctors had said that he would not survive, but God was merciful to him, and he has recovered very well from his injuries. However, he will be in a wheelchair for the foreseeable future. I have visited him a few times in the hospital, and have had an opportunity to share the Gospel with him. Pray with us that he will respond to God’s mercy and to the Gospel with re-pentance and faith. We appreciate those of you who take the time to read through our updates, respond to them and pray for us. We have gotten a bit behind lately with respond-ing to emails, but we sincerely enjoy hearing back from you. Thank you for your faithful partnership in the ministry of the Gospel. Blessings, Pascal and Becky Also pray for Pascal’s father, who just had emergency quadruple bypass surgery here in the U.S. on October 10!

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Sunday School Classes & Descriptions

Adult “Revelation” - Organ Side Overflow

Room: Matt Coleman “Chronological Survey of the Bible” -

Fellowship Hall: Bob Dimmitt “The Gospel of Luke” - Youth House:

Steve Posner Students & Children Babies - Room 3: Kay Stanford &

Saundra Bridges 1s & 2s - Room 24: Michael & Ruth

Kleinpeter/Danny & Kamee Roberson

3s & 4s - Room 25: Emily Wise, Susan Su, Donna Martin

Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade - Room 200: Jimmy & Angie Creech

3rd-6th Grade Boys - Room 202: Ric Zittrouer & Richie Mills

3rd-6th Grade Girls - Room 204: Mary Ann Fowler, Amy Horton

Youth Guys - Room 206: Tim Wade, Bobby Deloach, & Nick Herring

Youth Girls - Room 207: Sona Bailey, Jessica Dimmitt, & Lauren Wade

Bible Reading Schedule October 2017

1 Revelation 11-15

3 Revelation 19-22

4 Galatians 1-3

5 Galatians 4-6

6 Ephesians 1:1 - 4:14

7 Ephesians 4:15 - 6:24

8 Philippians

9 Colossians

10 1 Thessalonians

11 2 Thessalonians

12 1 Timothy 1-4:8

13 1 Timothy 4:9-6

14 2 Timothy

15 Titus - Philemon

16 Hebrews 1-5

17 Hebrews 6-9

18 Hebrews 10-11

19 Hebrews 12-13

20 James

21 1 Peter

22 2 Peter

23 1 John

24 2 John, 3 John, Jude

25 Proverbs 1 & Psalms 1-5

26 Proverbs 2 & Psalms 6-9

27 Prov. 3 & Psalms 10-16

28 Prov. 4 & Psalms 17-18

29 Prov. 5 & Psalms 19-22

30 Prov. 6 & Psalms 23-25

31 Prov. 7 & Psalms 26-30

2 Revelation 16-18

I f there is no God and we live in a strictly material, evolving universe, violence and suffering are just a part

of the natural world with no inherent morality attached to them. In this case violence would not be evil; it would sim-ply be a part of the evolutionary process. Without God compassion for others is nothing but chemical changes in the brain. Suffering is meaningless, violence is meaningless. There is no such thing as good or evil.

Bob Dimmitt

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Nursery October 15 10:30 A.M.

Babies: Mary Fowler, Kay Stanford

Toddlers - 4 year olds: Jimmy & Tammy Kicklighter/

Mike & Elinor Morris 6:00 P.M.

Janice Donaldson, Ceci Sheffield/ Sharon Boaen, Kathlyne Creech

Nursery October 22

10:30 A.M. Babies:

Shelma Lewis, Jeanie Groover Toddlers - 4 year olds: Lisa & Addisyn Rowe/

Kaitlyn & Lauren Rowe, Myri Hymon 6:00 P.M.

Jim & Heather Schraeder/ Trisha Sumner, Bethany Humphrey

Ushers October 15 10:30 A.M.

Buddy Bacon, Billy Waters, Reggie Brown, Bucky Lanier

6:00 P.M. Joe Morris, Jimmy Donaldson

Ushers October 22 10:30 A.M.

Jimmy Kicklighter, Kelly Stanford, Jack Moore, Mike Morris

6:00 P.M. Ron Fowler, Dean McCraw

Sunday Greeters - October 15 Jeanie Groover, Janice Donaldson

October Lock-Up Deacons Shawn Champion, Bobby Deloach

Majesty

Majesty, worship His majesty, Unto Jesus be all glory, power and praise. Majesty, kingdom authority Flow from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise. So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. Magnify, come glorify Christ Je-

sus the King. Majesty, worship His majesty. Jesus, who died, now glorified,

King of all Kings.

For Hearing Impaired If you have difficulties hearing, we have listening aid devices available. Ask any of the ushers, or the technician in the sound booth, if you are in need of one of these devices.

Video and audio recordings of the messages are available for listening or

downloading from www.fabchurch.com/sermons

W hen a person becomes our god, we lose our sense of self; we conform our identity to his or

her demands and expectations in order to keep the relational dynamics in place. This is nothing less than idolatry--and in the end it serves us up to what we often fear the most—loneliness—idolatry is a breeding ground for loneliness.