September 12, 2021
“Let's Be Honest” | Dr. Jim Baldwin

God is not pleased with half-hearted worship and mediocre love. He wants to give us more. God has some pretty strong words for the church of Laodicea.  He calls them “lukewarm”, “wretched”, “poor”, “pitiful”, “blind” and “naked”.  The most frightening part of God’s critique, however, is where God says, “You do not realize…” Only when we open our eyes to our shortcomings can we begin to experience God’s power to change.

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
  • What are the blind spots in my life that God wants me to see?
  • What are the blind spots we have as First Baptist Church?
  • Where do we allow pride to keep us from admitting our needs?
  • Are we willing to pray, “Lord, help us to see ourselves the way You see us?”
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God, your word commands to us, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Let us be eager to embrace the future you have ahead. Help us to be a church guided and directed only by you and filled with the Holy Spirit, open to love and serve one another and our community. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Letters to God
In the courtyard in front of the church on Market Street is a mailbox marked letters to God. In it you will find cards titled, Dear God, on which you can write your letters to God and leave them in the mailbox when you are done. There are also cards in the Connector Building and at the entrances to the sanctuary. While the letters will be removed periodically and ‘sent’ to God, you are welcome to read those still inside the mailbox when you leave your own. For each letter that you read, be sure to offer a prayer on the writer’s behalf and then return the card to the mailbox.  It is our prayer that a passersby will notice the mailbox and write their own letters to God.
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