Newsletter for September 10, 2025

Join us for Family Night as we begin our new sermon series,
"Unshakable: Lessons from the Prophets."

Start your Wednesday evening with a delicious supper at 6:00 PM, followed by a powerful lesson on finding strength in God during life's trials. We will offer a special breakout class for young people, allowing the whole family to participate.
Come discover how to stand firm, no matter what.

Roast Pork Loin, Assorted Sides
Rolls, and a Secret Dessert 

First Baptist Church is honored to host a Retirement Celebration for Michael Gibbs of the Turner Baptist Association. Join us on Sunday, September 28th in the Fellowship Hall as we celebrate his years of faithful service.

If you would like to help by preparing finger foods for the reception, please contact Vickie Brown.

Once again, we will be collecting items for the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home in Baxley. The trailer will be loaded on Sunday, October 12th during the Turner Baptist Association Meeting at Bethel.

If you are unable to take your donations to Bethel, please place them on the round table in the Fellowship Hall entrance, and we will make sure they are delivered.

Items Needed: Gift cards, Canned fruit, Cans of Sweet peas,
Paper towels, Paper plates, 16 oz Plastic cups, 
Toilet paper, Kitchen & Bathroom cleaner, 
Snacks, Cookies, and Chips

We are excited to begin collecting items for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes!
For the month of September, we are focusing on toys and school supplies.

Suggested Toys: Small dolls, stuffed animals, jump ropes, balls, cars, puzzles, card games, musical toys (like harmonicas or recorders).

Suggested School Supplies:
Crayons, markers, colored pencils, small notebooks, rulers, erasers,
or pencil sharpeners

 Please Do Not Include:
Toy guns or weapons of any kind
War-related toys

 Drop-off boxes are located outside the church office.

Let’s join together to bless children around the world with the love of Christ through a simple shoebox gift!

The following men have been nominated to serve as deacons for the term ending in 2028. The church will vote on them at the regular conference on Sunday, September 21.

John DeSimone, Tom LaRocca, Allen Whitehead

Don’t miss Brother David’s Mid-Week Devotions in Psalms!
New messages are posted every Wednesday on our media page—take a midweek moment to be encouraged and refreshed in God’s Word.

Budget for 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $329,624.00
Tithes Needed to Date . . . . . . . .  $228,408.84
Received to Date . . . . . . . . . . . .  $193,496.96
Tithes Needed for Weekly Budget   $6,338.93
Tithes Received this week . . . . . . .  $9,735.48

Yes, God is good. But sometimes God goes far beyond good. There are times when
God unexpectedly blesses us in a way that overwhelms us.

David had such an experience in 2 Samuel 7. He had wanted to build a house for the
Lord. God sent Nathan to tell David that it would be Solomon who built the temple and
that God would build David a dynasty that would last forever.

This was more than David could ever imagine, dreamed, or hoped. He was
overwhelmed by God’s goodness. How David responded is a wonderful example of
responding to God when He pours out His blessings upon us.

David first shows humble gratitude. In verse 18, David went in and sat before the Lord.
David was the king, but his action showed that God was David’s King. It also showed
his deep gratitude unto God. When God pours out His goodness upon us we need to
respond in humble gratitude.

David then shows the need to acknowledge God’s grace. David continued in verse 18
by praying, “…What is my house, that You have brought me this far?” David knew he
had nothing to offer God. God had poured out His goodness upon David out of the
goodness of His heart. David acknowledged the blessing was only by God’s grace. We
must remember that every blessing has been given only because of God’s grace.

David then dedicated God’s blessing to God’s glory. Verse 26 begins, “That Your name
may be magnified forever…” David knew that every part of our lives is to glorify God.
This includes His overwhelming, out-of-the-blue blessings. We must be careful to direct
those to His blessing.

Last, David committed himself to obeying the Lord. In verse 29 David referred to
himself as the Lord’s servant. He was committed to walking in obedience unto the
Lord. God’s blessings ought to enhance our desire to obey the Lord.

Think about God’s blessings especially those overwhelming, out-of-the-blue blessings.
They must not be an end unto themselves that should lead us to seek God all the more.