Church Under the Tent Celebration Service

This past Sunday was incredible! I cannot describe how much I enjoyed our church body worshiping under the tent. It was a beautiful day, and I cannot think of a better way to begin our Envision 20/20 Campaign.

I began thinking through all the people who helped, and I don't think I could name every person who helped make this weekend happen. I would like to thank all the men who came out Saturday to help us erect the tent, all those who helped prepare and serve food, the ones who showed up early Sunday to set up chairs, and everyone who stayed after the service to help take down the tent and put the chairs away. This truly was a team effort, and it reminds us of what we can do when we all work together.



I included a few photos of the weekend starting with the tent crew on Saturday morning. I wish I had space to include every picture, but I believe these capture what took place over the weekend. My favorite photos are the ones of us gathering in circles to pray about what God wants to do through us. I encourage you to continue praying that prayer. As I said Sunday, prayer is the key to what God wants to do through us. If we don't take time to ask Him, how will we know how He wants us to respond.

Again, it was a wonderful weekend, and I thank all of you who served in a variety of ways to make it possible.

On a different note, I want to remind you that this is the final Sunday to bring shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Please remember that shipping and handling has increased to $9.00 this year.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Church Under the Tent

I wanted to send out a quick reminder about this upcoming Sunday, November 5. As we begin the Envision 20/20 Capital Stewardship Campaign, we will have worship outside under a tent at 10:30. The service will end around 11:30, and then we will eat lunch together. I am excited about us worshiping outside, and it reminds me of Psalm 19:1-2, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." Being outside for worship is truly special.

A couple of practical things to keep in mind about Sunday. We want everyone to be a part of this special occasion, and this means we will not have nursery or childcare. Don't panic! If your child needs to get up and walk around, you can take them behind the tent, and you will still be able to hear. I have been keeping an eye on the weather, and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful day. I would still bring jacket/coat just in case you get cool.

In addition, we had a minor miscommunication, and something in the bulletin this past Sunday was incorrect. Prayer is imperative in the upcoming process we are moving through. If you want to receive the prayer guide daily by text, you need to text 81010. The message part should be "@fbcjpray." You will then be prompted to answer a couple of questions. They are simple questions; like your name.

One more quick note. We are partnering with several churches this year to be part of the Community Thanksgiving Meal. If you want to volunteer to help, you can register at www.onecity.city. Registration begins November 1, at 8:00am.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Things Coming in the Next Month

It is hard to believe that we are almost to the end of the summer break. I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to remind/inform you of a few things that will happen in the next month:

First, our quarterly business meeting is next Wednesday, July 19, at 5:30pm in the sanctuary. We will be voting on two special committees. Here are the committees and those nominated for them:

Stewardship Campaign Committee:
Annabelle Davis, Angela Ergle, Sharon Fielding, Thad Gray, Lynda Martin, Mary Price, Jane Tallent, and Julie White

Building Committee:
Glenda Brown, Stephanie Cain, Joe Douglas, Daniel Gray, Thad Gray, Katrina Hastings, and Chuck Winer

Second, on August 10, we will be distributing backpacks for children at Pinewood Elementary School. This will be in conjunction with their open house from 5-7pm. They will have a brief meeting with parents/students, and then release the children to pick up a backpack, eat hog dogs, and play on inflatables. We need your help on that night, and we will have sign-ups lists available soon at the information center in the lobby of the church.

Third, at the beginning of the year, the staff shared with the church that we believed God was calling us to become a church who makes disciples who make disciples. We started a few connect groups early this summer to allow us to train leaders, and we will officially launch our connect groups on August 13. We will have more information coming soon, but I wanted to give you a heads up if you are interested in joining one of the small groups.

Fourth, I am taking a group to Israel January 8-17, 2018. I had a meeting a couple of months ago, but I wanted to remind everyone that I need to know within the next month if you are planning on going. If you were unable to attend the meeting, please contact me. I have a flier and other information I can share with you.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville

Calling All Men

I learned many years ago that prayer does not work; it is God who works. The idea then is that we pray (the vehicle) to God (the One who works). Prayer has played a central role in both the Old and New Testament, the early church, and has been the catalyst for every revival. It is not just something we are commanded to do, but it is a vital part of the church and our walk with the Lord. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world." Our fight is not one with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). It is a spiritual battle, and our greatest weapon is the same it has always been, prayer. Prayer is a powerful weapon that can accomplish the incredible. Remember what James tells us about Elijah? "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crop" (James 5:16-18). Incredible!

Obviously prayer is powerful and important. So, we are having a men's prayer breakfast this Saturday, June 17, at 7am in the Fellowship Hall. Paul Murphy is organizing our time together. We will spend time together eating breakfast, listening to a brief devotional, and then devoting the majority of our time to prayer. Men, let us do what Paul commands young Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:8,  "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor FBC Jacksonville, AR

Israel Trip: Walk Where Jesus Walked

This past January I had the incredible opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime. I was able to tour the Holy Land and walk where Jesus walked. Words cannot even begin to express how that trip has impacted my life. One of the most significant is how it has transformed the way I study the Bible. Whenever I read the Bible, I can visualize the places because I have been there.

The trip had such an impact that I would like to take a group January 8-17, 2018. I cannot express the excitement I feel preparing to spend several days "Walking Where Jesus Walked" with you. The journey will be educational, informational, but most of all inspirational! I assure you, nothing will do more for your spiritual growth than this time in His Land. Here are some of the places we will visit: Caesarea, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Old City, Wailing Wall, Temple Mount, Southern Excavations, Masada, Qumran, Dead Sea, Garden Tomb.

If you are interested in this trip, I will host an informational meeting on June 11, at noon in fellowship hall. During this meeting, I will cover schedule, cost, and any other questions you have about the trip. I hope to see you there.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

What's Around the Corner?

I wanted to take a few moments to make sure you know what is coming in the next few months. As we approach the summer, many things are happening.

Backpacks
I hope you will continue to pray and give for our backpack giveaway at Pinewood Elementary for their Open House. We are asking you to give $11 per backpack to help those who need it. Since we are buying in bulk, we need the donations by the end of May. At this point, we have received enough to purchase 30 backpacks. We have a lot of work to do, but I know our church will come through.

Vacation Bible School
VBS is right around the corner. The theme this year is Galactic Starveyors, and the dates are June 11-15 from 6:00-8:30pm. You can register by clicking here.

M-Fuge
M-Fuge is a camp for our students, and it isn't too late to sign up. Please talk to Tim if you are interested. He is hosting a meeting this Sunday, May 21, after at noon.

Children's Camp
This is our first year taking children to camp. The dates are June 23-26, at Camp Paron. It is for children who have completed 3rd-5th grades, and the cost is $40 per child. Registration deadline is May 28, so please see Kerry if you are interested.

Wednesday Meal
Due to the kitchen staff's inability to consistently be here during the summer months, we will not have the Wednesday Night Meal June 14-July 26.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Annual Backpack Giveaway

Over the past few years, we have collected backpacks filled with supplies to give to families as they start back to school. Last year we made a couple of changes for the better in how we organize our annual backpack giveaway. First, we adopted a local elementary school so we could specifically help one school. We are doing the same thing this year, but we will be at Pinewood Elementary School. We have begun a partnership with them, and this would be a blessing for them. Second, we collected money instead of individuals purchasing backpacks and supplies because we can order in bulk and have twice as many backpacks to give away. As we approach the Fall, we will let you know how you can specifically help at the event. Right now, we need to begin collecting the funds for the backpacks. To order in bulk, we need to place our order by June 10. I hope and pray you will consider giving for this opportunity. Each backpack you donate for costs $11.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Modern Worship Pastor Update

If you were unable to be here on Sunday, I wanted to update you on our search for a Modern Worship Pastor. Jonah Bynum was here in view of a call. He sang the special music in the first service, and then he lead the modern worship service. The vote was 68-0 in favor of calling him to serve with us here at FBC. Jonah accepted, and his first Sunday will be May 21. We look forward to his serving alongside us, and I hope you will be in prayer for him.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor FBC Jacksonville, AR

Modern Worship Pastor Search Update

If you have been unable to be with us the past few weeks, I wanted to bring you up to speed on our search for a new modern worship pastor. Jackson Barton had his last Sunday with us on April 2. We are thankful for his service as he was instrumental in helping us launch our modern worship service. In our search to find someone to fill this position, we were pointed to Jonah Bynum. He is currently a student at UCA, and he leads worship for the BCM. After several conversations with him and listening to him lead worship, we are convinced God is leading us to call Jonah as our next modern worship pastor.

Jonah will come in view of a call on April 23. We want to give those who attend the first service an opportunity to listen to him, so he will sing the special music during the first service. He will then lead worship for the modern worship service. At noon, we will have a luncheon in fellowship hall to give our members the chance to ask Jonah questions. He will share his testimony and call to ministry as part of the meeting. We will then transition into a business meeting and vote by secret ballot. I hope you will be here to help us be a part of this process.

In Christ,

Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Disciples Making Disciples: Shepherding

This past Sunday we learned how discipleship cannot happen without relationship. God has designed us to be in relationship with Him, but we were also created to be in relationship with one another. We saw how Rules - Relationship = Rebellion, while Rules + Relationship = Obedience. We are called to Grow in our walk, or another way of describing this is that we are to become like Jesus. Becoming like Jesus means we have to live out (obey) His commands (rules). Without relationship we will merely rebel. I also shared our vision for creating Connect groups that are centered around relationship. These groups will meet in homes and will not exceed 12-14 people. Once a small group grows beyond those numbers, it is no longer a small group. When a group grows to that size, people can't be known relationally in a way that encourages them to grow into mature disciples of Christ.

This coming Sunday will be the final sermon about discipleship. We will talk about the role of shepherding. This is the idea of us taking care of the needs of one another. This was modeled by the early church in Acts 2:42-47. In fact, lost people were attracted to them because of how they loved one another. We will look in Ezekiel 34:2-5 and understand the failure of the religious leaders because they weren't good shepherds. Then, we will study 1 John 3:16-19 and see that we all have a responsibility to shepherd (take care of) one another. This is rarely effective in a large group. Shepherding (taking care of each other) happens best in small groups where through relationship we grow to love one another.

In Christ,

Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Disciples Making Disciples: Relationship

This past Sunday we spent our time together looking at the stages of spiritual growth. Where am I in terms of spiritual maturity? Am I ready to be a person who makes disciples who makes disciples? We learned that our words and actions reveal where we are in our spiritual growth process. The five stages are Spiritual Death, Spiritual Infant, Spiritual Child, Spiritual Young Adult, and Spiritual Parent. If you were not able to be here this past Sunday, I encourage you to go to our website, www.fbcgo.com, and listen to it.

This coming Sunday we will see that discipleship cannot happen without relationship. God has designed us to be in relationship with Him, but we were also created to be in relationship with one another. Often in church, we lack depth in our relationships with one another that lead to discipleship. We will also see that Rules - Relationship = Rebellion, while Rules + Relationship = Obedience. We are called to Grow in our walk, or another way of describing this is that we are to become like Jesus. Becoming like Jesus means we have to live out (obey) His commands (rules). Without relationship we will merely rebel. We will understand that the type of relationship we were intended to have can only happen in small groups (less than 14). As a part of this sermon, I will explain in greater detail what we feel God is calling us to do long-term. I hope you will be here.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Disciples Making Disciples: Stages of Spiritual Growth

Last week we asked how Jesus made disciples. We saw from the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 that Jesus did not make disciples in a classroom or use any curriculum--at least not how we would define classroom and curriculum. His classroom was life and happened wherever He was. With Zacchaeus the classroom was on the road and in a house. The "curriculum" was based on the needs of the individual because each of us is unique, and we cannot put people in a box to learn how to follow Jesus. Remember, we cannot separate the results of Jesus from the methods of Jesus. Therefore, disciple making has to be done the way Jesus did it. It happens through relationship as we intentionally model what it means to follow Jesus.

This next Sunday we will look at the stages of spiritual growth. Where am I in terms of spiritual maturity? Am I ready to be a person who makes disciples who makes disciples? We will understand that our words and actions reveal where we are in our spiritual growth process. We will delve into the five stages of spiritual growth, and you will have the opportunity to evaluate your life to see where you are. This will not be designed to discourage you, but I hope you will learn where you are spiritually and what needs to happen next to become a spiritually mature parent who makes disciples who make disciples.

Disciples Making Disciples: How Did Jesus Make Disciples?

For the past two Sundays we have looked at what a win is and what a disciple is. Jesus defines winning as making disciples who make disciples. We also saw Jesus' definition of a disciple from Matthew 4:19:

• Know - to follow Jesus ("Follow me")
• Grow - to become like Jesus ("I will make you")
• Go - call others to do the same ("fishers of men")

This leads us to another question. How did Jesus make disciples? I have learned/been convicted in my studies about discipleship that "you cannot separate the results of Jesus from the methods of Jesus." We cannot expect to make disciples, the result of Jesus' work in John 17:4, unless we use the same methods He used. This will be the heart of the question we will ask on Sunday. Are we using the same method Jesus used to make disciples? We will be looking at the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-10. This is just one example of how Jesus made a disciple, and the Gospels are filled with others we could use. I hope you will take time to read this passage before Sunday and ask yourself three questions. Where is the classroom? What curriculum did Jesus use? How did He make Zacchaeus a disciple? Another way to ask the last question is, what was the method of Jesus to make disciples? For the final question, it might help to think through the entire scope of the Gospels. Here is a bonus question. Am I making disciples the way Jesus did?

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Disciples Making Disciples: What is a Disciple?

This past Sunday we began talking about disciples making disciples by asking the simple question, "What is the Purpose of the Church?" To help us approach this differently, we asked, "What is a win?" How do we define winning as a church? If our church sees ______________ happen, then we know we are winning. We talked about the importance of our church being on the same page and how we need to align winning with Jesus' definition. We studied the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20 and learned that Jesus defines winning as people "who make disciples who make disciples." The impact of that means we need to align individually, as well as a church, into people who make disciples who make disciples. We also looked at John 17:4, and we learned that Jesus had work He needed to complete in addition to the cross. That work was making disciples who were ready to make disciples. He spent three years modeling, teaching, and preparing the first disciples to make disciples. So, we are going to define winning as making disciples who make disciples because that is what Jesus did. Obviously, this will impact our church in too many ways for me to list here. We will begin unfolding some of those in the weeks to come.

This coming Sunday we will ask a second question. What is a Disciple? Just as it is important for our entire church to be on the same page in regards to what a win is; it is equally important that we all operate with the same definition of what a disciple is. Imagine a church where we all define what a disciple is differently. We need to have the same definition so we all know what the target is. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." This verse is how Jesus defines what a disciple is. I figure using his definition is better than any you or I can come up with. It has three parts to it:

• Know - to follow Jesus ("Follow me")
• Grow - to become like Jesus ("I will make you")
• Go - call others to do the same ("fishers of men")

On Sunday, we will dive into what all of these mean and begin to discover if we are disciples the way Jesus defines disciples.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR

Disciples Making Disciples: What is the Purpose of the Church?

In early January, I always preach a sermon where we celebrate the things God has done the previous year. At the conclusion of that sermon, I always add what God is stirring in my heart for the upcoming year. A couple of weeks ago I shared that we are going to become a church who makes disciples who make disciples. I realize that for most of our congregation this is the first time you have heard that statement. I want to assure you this is not something that happened overnight or on a whim.

Let me briefly explain how we arrived at this point. During the Fall, I preached a series titled, "God's Design for the Church," and one of those sermons was about discipleship. During that sermon, I admitted that we are not doing a very good job of making disciples, and I also confessed that it was my fault. As a result, several of our staff attended a conference about discipleship, and then our ministerial staff spent two months completing a study on discipleship. We realize that our staff have had time the past few months to process and study this while discipleship is still a fresh concept for our church.

To help our congregation better understand what we mean by becoming a church who makes disciples who make disciples, I will spend the next six weeks preaching on discipleship. Our hope is to get our entire congregation on the same page in regards to discipleship. This coming Sunday, January 29, we will begin by asking, "What is the Purpose of the Church?" I hope you will take some time to think through these questions before Sunday. Let me ask it in a couple of different ways to get you thinking. What is a win? How do we define winning as a church? What can we point to and say that is winning? Try to fill in the blank. If our church sees ____________ happen, then we know we are winning. To further complicate the matter, what happens if everyone in our church comes up with a different definition of what winning is? Wouldn't that make it near impossible for us to win if we have competing ideas of what winning is?

I hope to see you Sunday.

In Christ,
Mark Smith, Pastor of FBC Jacksonville, AR