Bravely Onward!

 Are you a new believer? Have you been a Christian for a long time, but you've never received basic instruction in the faith? Are you a believer who wants to be able to reach and disciple others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will want to sign up for FBC Harrah's Spring New Christians Class.  Mark your calendar for 6-8 PM on the following Sundays: March 27, April 3, 10, 24, May 1, 15, & 22. This class will walk you through beginning steps to help you grow in Christ. It will also equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to start obeying Jesus as Lord. This class will be a good review for even experienced believers. There will be a track for K-5th graders and childcare for pre-k kids. Students (6th-12th) are welcome to join in the main class. Be sure to bring a pen, notepad, and Bible. We will hold the class in M04 in the upstairs education building. We will provide class material at no cost to you.  Scan the following QR code to register:

So many of our families are struggling. We struggle to get along with each other. Our family members make choices which are not pleasing to the Lord. It's difficult to feel that our families are growing close to Christ and to one another.  We go to church and listen to sermons and Bible teachings, but often we feel it makes little difference in our families, especially as we face so many powerful influences elsewhere.  What do we need to do to see our families benefit from a growing faith in the Lord? God's answer to this question is in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." God taught the Israelites that ...

  It's estimated that 1,380,000 Oklahomans are Dechurched . This means they attended church at some point in their lives, yet they have not been a part of a church for a long time. These are people who often hold beliefs consistent with Christianity, but they don't have an accurate view of the gospel or a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. These are people who are either not yet saved or believers who have not yet been discipled.  There is another group called the Nones . These are those with no religious affiliation of any kind and they have never attended a church. It's estimated that 920,000 Oklahomans fit this description (that's 23.5% of the population of OK!).  Taking a broader view, there are 366 million people in North America. Missiologists estimate that 275 million of these do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  The need is clear. We need churches, faithful Christians, and missionaries who are willing and able to communicate the gospe...

 This weekend is Impact Weekend for our students! By Sunday they will have had a weekend full of fun, food, and looking into the Scriptures. As with all of our youth ministry events, it is important that the students have the support of the rest of the church. Certainly, the church family supports them through our giving which funds the youth ministry. We also support by volunteering in a variety of roles in the youth ministry. Today, however, I want to invite you to support them in one of the best ways, with prayer. Here are some things you can pray for as students participate in Impact Weekend 2022! Pray that some of the students attending to hear the gospel and trust their lives to Christ and be baptized. Pray for Pastor Tim and his family as this is his first big youth event here at FBC Harrah. Pray that our students will learn to love the Word of God.  Pray they will make the connection between the Word of God, how He wants them to believe, and how He wants them to live....

  One of the things that happens when we follow Christ is that our worldview becomes different from those around us. As we study His Word, our perspective aligns with the Lord's. Our affections and interests change. A lot of the time this creates distance between us and our families. It can cause our friends who do not follow Christ to reject or even mock us! Jesus taught us that people would reject us because of Him (John 15:18-25). Sometimes being a Christian can be a lonely road. This is one of the big reasons for the local church. Church members share a common view of Scripture and have a shared belief that Jesus Christ is Lord. We come to realize just how important it is to be with people who share our most treasured beliefs, who see the world with a similar world-view.  The Bible uses the term fellowship  to describe this affinity and friendship between fellow church members. Though Christians may not share the same DNA or background, there is a kindred spirit ...

 Last week my family read a fictional story about children who visited a palace in ancient Egypt. The children were stunned by the wealth and magnitude of the home. Seeing the luxury that the wealthy Egyptians enjoyed, they asked one another, "Would you wish that you could live here in such extravagance?" One of the children replied, "Not at all." The others were surprised at the response and asked, "Why not?" The child who answered spoke up and said, "Have you seen the sad faces of the Egyptian children? They have everything in the world, but it's still not enough. They never lift a finger. Only servants tend to their clothing and belongings. The servants cook all their meals. The children look bored and dissatisfied."  Christians today can suffer in the same way as these Egyptian children. Many Christians see their faith as a religion where God exists to give them what they want. They see the church as a place to go to receive goods and ser...

2021 was a fruitful year in the life of our church. So many in our congregation were bold for the gospel and took leaps in their obedience to Christ (e.g. 83 people in our church shared the gospel 918 times). Looking to 2022, there is another opportunity for dramatic growth as we serve the Lord together.  For the sake of Christ and for our spiritual growth, I want to give you a big ask. Would you commit to do the following list with me? For many, this list will be uncomfortable and probably unpopular. For others, it may be one of those lists that we will give a nod to, but then hope everyone forgets about it. Yet, those who commit to reach for it will likely experience profound growth in Him.  Living out the lifestyle outlined below will only be possible by the power of God in us through Christ. We will need each other and accountability for the items listed below to become habits and convictions. But will you try with me? Will you commit to live this out with me? I hope you w...