Ashburn First United Methodist & Ashburn First Baptist Combining our Easter FUN!

Hop on over to the Ashburn First United Methodist Playground
On Wednesday, March 29th at 4:00 PM
For an “Egg”-ceptional Egg Hunt, snack, and Easter Craft time!

*Please bring your basket.

Then join us at First Baptist Church for a time of worship.

7 FOR 7 PRAYER CARDS

Remember to continue praying for your seven different people or families. Remember, each week, we desire for you to pick a different person or family and pray for them leading up to Easter. Of course, we hope you always remember your church family in prayers, but we desire you to pray for someone who does not attend church regularly or a member who has become inactive. Please commit to praying for this person or family every day.

Besides putting the seven people or families down on your prayer list, fill out the yellow prospect referral cards in your Sunday School class and turn them in. There are extra prayer cards outside Nikki’s office and on the back table of the sanctuary.

Don’t forget to invite them to church.

Giving as of March 21, 2023

Budget for 2023 . . . . . . . .  $348,707.00
Tithes Needed to Date . . . . . $80,470.92
Received to Date . . . . . . . . . $54,406.12
Needed for weekly budget . . .  $6,705.91
Tithes Received this week . . . . $3,104.00

MID-WEEK DEVOTION

Don’t forget to check out Brother David’s Mid-Week Devotion in the book of Psalms. They are uploaded each Wednesday on the sermon page.

From Our Pastor

What difference does salvation make in everyday life?  We usually think of salvation in terms of eternity.  We focus on its impact after death.  While salvation is the determining factor in our eternal destiny, it also completely changes our lives now.  The Christian life is a completely different life than the non-Christian life. 

The Christian life is a life of truth.  The Lord Jesus Christ is “…the Truth…” (John 14:6).  He is the source and standard of truth.  Everything about Him and from Him is true, real, genuine, and authentic.  The Christian life is a life based on truth and reality.  This is why Paul’s prayer for believers is to be “…filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Colossians 1:9).

How different from the non-Christian life!  The non-Christian is part of Satan’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13).  Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44).  His system is a system of lies.  Every part of it is fake, unreliable, undependable, and counterfeit.  Every part of the non-Christian life is false.

The Christian life is an ongoing relationship with God.  It is not mere religion.  Again, Paul’s prayer was for believers to be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Colossians 1:9).  That speaks of personal experience.  Paul wrote these pressing goals of His life was to know Christ (Philippians 3:7-14).  The Lord Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God (John 17:3).  The Christian life is a relationship with God.

The non-Christian does not know God.  He is spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:3).  He is part of Satan’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13).  The non-Christian is alienated from God and hostile toward Him (Colossians 1:21). 

The Christian life is a life that displays the wonderful goodness of God.  The Bible refers to this as fruit.  It is seen within our character and conduct (Galatians 5:22-23).  It is also seen in our ministry toward others (John 15:8).  The Lord Jesus promises that if we abide in Him, we will produce fruit (John 15:1-8).  Paul prayed for this to be experienced in the lives of believers (Colossians 1:10).  As the Christian walks with God, the wonderful life-changing reality is seen in his life.

The Christian life is a life of Spiritual power.  None of these things are brought about by the believers’ own strength.  Like Paul, we lack the ability to change our lives (Romans 7:14-24).  However, God, through His Spirit changes us from within (Romans 8:11).  It is by His presence and power that habits are broken, sin is purged, and fruit is borne.  We can bear “fruit in every good work” as Paul prayed in Colossians 1:10.

Last, the Christian life is a life of inner richness.  Our Lord said, “…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b).  Paul prayed that believers would joyously give thanks to God who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (Colossians 1:12).  God gives His children a life of His wonderful richness from within.

How different from the life of the non-Christian!  Their lives are actually a living death.  They lack the love, joy, peace, and fullness that God gives to His people.

How blessed are we who know Christ!  He completely changes our eternity and our lives today.