Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: A Word From… Forerunner Front Page News

All front page Forerunner articles.

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 5

    Coming up at the end of the month, we will be having our week of prayer for North American Missions. This week of prayer coincides with our Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, where 100% of what is given to this offering goes directly to the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

    I wanted to share with you why it is so important for us to be praying for and supporting NAMB. According to a study by the Hartford Institute in 2010, there were 338,000 Christian congregations. The US population then was about 309 million, which makes the church to population ratio roughly 1:1000 (one church for every one thousand people).

    In the last 10 years, our population has grown by 19 million people. Projecting forward, by 2050, there will be over 400 million people in the United States. In order to maintain that 1:1000 church to population ratio, we will need to start 76,000 new churches.

    The good news is that church planting is being emphasized by NAMB. In fact, according to Lifeway Research, there were 4,000 churches that were planted last year. That sounds great! It sounds like we are well on our way to maintaining or even exceeding that 1:1000 ratio. However, those 4,000 new church plants are only part of the story. Sadly, while there were 4,000 new churches started last year, 3,700 closed their doors.

    That means, in actuality, we only had a net gain of 300 churches last year. In order to have that net gain of 76,000 churches, we need to be starting about 1,900 churches a year! We are falling woefully behind the curve.

    So, what is that we can do about this issue? First, and foremost, we pray. We pray that God will send workers into the harvest. We pray for revival. We pray for established churches to grow and for new churches to be started. We pray for God to move and work in our nation!

    Additionally, because of the cooperative program of the Southern Baptist Convention, we can partner with other churches and send out church planters to start new churches all over North America. We partner with our Baptist Association here in St. Louis and support new churches. Also, everything that we give through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering will go to help the North American Mission Board.

    As a church, we have set a goal for $13,000 for Annie Armstrong. Would you join me in praying about what God would have us give so that we can meet this goal?

    The need is immense. We need more churches in North America. Let’s all prayerfully support NAMB as they lead the way in helping us reach the lost in our neighborhoods.

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 4

    If you grew up in church or have been going for a while, most of us know the answer to this trivia question: What is the shortest verse in the Bible? It’s John 11:35 – “Jesus wept.”

    However, did you know that this is only one of two places in Scripture where our Savior cried? The other place where He wept was in Luke 19:41. The passage says, “As He approached and saw the city, He wept for it…”

    It is actually really interesting to contrast these two passages. In John 11, Jesus is going to visit Lazarus’ tomb. We know that He is going to raise Lazarus from the dead. And yet, though He knows that miracle is coming, He still weeps. On the surface, it might seem like Jesus has the same reaction to Lazarus’ death that He does to Jerusalem. However, when we dig a little deeper, we see there is a stark difference between how Christ “weeps” in these two passages.

    In the original Greek, there are two different words used for “wept.” In Luke 19, the word used for weep is klaio. This type of weeping is best described as crying aloud in anguish. Interestingly enough, this is the type of weeping that we see Mary and others have in Luke 11:33 as they mourn the loss of Lazarus. Jesus is mourning over Jerusalem because He knows, in AD 70, that Jerusalem will be sieged and overthrown.

    In John 11, the word for “weep” is dakryo. This words means that He wept silent tears, best described as tears of compassion. In other words, it seems like in John 11, Jesus is crying not out of anguish, but He is full of compassion for the grief that Lazarus’ friends and family are dealing with. Jesus cares about them, so He weeps. However, His crying isn’t marked with anguish. Instead, He knows what is going to happen with Lazarus. He knows that a resurrection is coming!

    Why was Jesus’ weeping so different in these two passages? Because, in both situations, Jesus knew what was coming. In Luke 19, Jesus is in anguish over Jerusalem because He knows that the city is full of people who will not repent and trust in Him. When the city is destroyed, He knows the eternal implications of its residents. He is heartbroken over their impending demise.

    When it comes to Lazarus, Jesus has compassion for those who are mourning. He knows that they are heartbroken for Lazarus in the same way that He was devastated for Jerusalem. However, He isn’t heartbroken Himself. He knows that Lazarus will be restored to life and that the mourning of his family and friends will turn to joy.

    So Jesus wept…twice! But He was only truly heartbroken for those who didn’t have the hope of eternity with Him.

    Let me close with this last question. What breaks your heart? It is evident by contrasting these two passages that Christ’s heart breaks over the lost. Will you join me in praying that we have the same burden for the lost in our city?

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 3

    At this time last year, I had a bit of an issue. I had just gone in for my annual physical and I found out that I had pretty high cholesterol. I had never had that issue previously, but I immediately knew the cause: the keto diet.

    You see, I was looking forward to going on a cruise with Jill that February, and I wanted to get in better shape. I jumped on board the fad diet of keto. While the food was delicious, my body just couldn’t handle it. My cholesterol suffered.

    After getting those results from the doctor, I had to make a shift in my mind. I had been looking for a quick way to lose weight. And, honestly, it worked. I lost 20 pounds on the keto diet. However, it became apparent that this quick fix had some pretty terrible unforeseen consequences. I remember the nurse telling me that I needed to get off that diet immediately.

    At that point, I realized I had to make changes that would actually be sustainable (and wouldn’t shoot my cholesterol through the roof!). I started having a more balanced diet and made a commitment to running more regularly. It started off slowly. I didn’t see change right away. But incrementally, month by month, I started being able to run farther and I just felt healthier. Now, a year later, I weigh the same that I did when I was on the crash diet, without the negative side effects.

    Why do I share that story with you? I think we often want a keto-quick fix when it comes to our relationship with God, when the discipline of getting in his Word and spending time with him daily is the true recipe for long-term success.

    Can God miraculously transform our lives in just an instant? Of course! But a strong, healthy relationship with him happens by regularly spending time with him. Eugene Peterson argues that following Jesus is long obedience in the same direction. It is allowing Jesus to mold us and shape us and transform us more and more into his image. It is developing spiritual disciplines and displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

    In John 15:4, Jesus says, “Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.”

    Instead of looking for quick fixes, let’s commit to remaining in Him. I want to encourage you to stay the course with our Grounded reading plan and allow His Spirit to slowly transform you, day by day.

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 2

    By the time you read this article, we will be well underway in the book of Luke as we read through the New Testament through our Grounded initiative. I pray that the reading you have been doing has been both challenging and encouraging to you!

    As you sit down to do your reading on February 1 (Luke 19-21), there is one specific passage that I think is important for us to reflect on. You see, Luke 21:12-19 directly brings to mind the 2021 World Watch List by Open Doors. This report deals with persecution in the church. In Luke 21, Jesus is talking about the end of the age. He says, “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name…You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. By your endurance, gain your lives,” (Luke 21:12, 16-19; CSB).

    Jesus warns his followers that persecution is coming. The 2021 World Watch List shares the reality of that in the global church. Open Doors is an organization that tracks persecution around the world. Here are some of the alarming statistics from Open Doors that show persecution against our brothers and sisters in Christ.

    Every day:

    • 5 Christians are abducted.
    • 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned.
    • 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked.
    • 13 Christians worldwide are martyred because of their faith.

    Those statistics are staggering. Every day 13 martyrs see Jesus in glory because of their faith. Can you imagine your life being at risk because of your faith?! Open Doors shares that there are more than 340 million Christians who live in places where they experience high levels of persecution. That is one out of every eight Christians! In 1 Corinthians, Paul says that we are all part of the body of Christ. When one part suffers, every part should suffer along with it. I want to challenge you to include praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters when you do your daily New Testament reading, especially when you read Luke 21 on February 1.

    Here in America, we are blessed with religious freedom. We can gather together to worship without fear of persecution. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case around the world. Many of our brothers and sisters are in extreme danger because of their faith. Open Doors shares that the 10 most dangerous countries for Christians to live in are North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Yemen, Iran, Nigeria, and India. Would you join me in praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world, and specifically those believers in these 10 most dangerous countries?

    In addition, you can go to opendoorsusa.org and download their 2021 World Watch List Report, which includes information about the 50 places around the world where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.

    It is heartbreaking to know that some of our fellow believers won’t make it to tomorrow just because they are Christians. Let’s not forget to pray for the persecuted church worldwide!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 1

    I want to start off 2021 by letting you know that I am praying for you. I am praying that you are reading through the New Testament with us during our Grounded initiative. Also, I am praying that you are part of a virtual transformation group to discuss God’s Word with others. I think God’s Word is something that we need more of this year!

    Besides God’s Word, I’d love to pose a question to you: What is something else that we need more of in 2021?

    I think there are a lot of pretty good answers. I bet a lot of you thought we need more vaccines, and you’re not wrong! However, our staff just finished reading a book together that gave me a different perspective on what we need more of in 2021. That book, Christians in the Age of Outrage, shares some challenging statistics as the author, Ed Stetzer, encourages the church to be a positive influence in our increasingly divided culture. The final chapter of the book begins with these two alarming statistics:

    1. Only 14% of people with no friendships with evangelical Christians describe Christians with one or more of these positive descriptors: compassionate, principled, charitable, and/or ethical.
    2. Only 46% of people who have friendships with an evangelical Christian describe evangelicals with one or more of these same positive descriptors.

    What does that mean? Simply put, the majority of lost people don’t see Christians as being kind. Over 80% of lost people who don’t have a friendship with a Christian don’t see us as being kind. And, maybe even more alarming is the fact that over 50% of lost people who have a friendship with a Christian still don’t see us as being kind. That leads me to what I think we need more of in our country this year: kindness!

    It breaks my heart that the majority of lost people, even those who have a friendship with an evangelical Christian, don’t see believers as being compassionate or charitable. We know that Scripture tells us that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance! I think that His church showing kindness to others could make a huge difference in 2021.

    We all know that last year was incredibly challenging. And while there might be a light at the end of the tunnel, it is still going to be quite some time before this pandemic is behind us. So what can we do in the midst of this storm? I think we can start by simply committing to being kind to others around us.

    For my family, one of our goals for 2021 is to do six different “random acts of kindness” during this year. We want to set aside specific times where we will intentionally be kind to our neighbors and our community.

    We know that Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. What do you think our church can do this year to show God’s love for others and to demonstrate kindness to the lost world around us? It’s my prayer that our church will be full of kindness this year!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 25

    2021 is right around the corner. After what we have endured this year, I know many of us our ready to put 2020 in our rearview mirrors! With the new year coming, it is always a great time to set some goals for the new year. While we often talk about losing weight or exercising more, I’d love for you to consider what spiritual goals you would like to set for the next year.

    How would you like to have 228% higher odds of sharing your faith in 2021? How about having 231% better odds in discipling others? Or how about 407% better odds in memorizing Scripture this year?

    What if I told you that academic research has been done and has shown that those percentages to be true, based on one particular factor: reading Scripture at least four days a week!

    The Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) calls it the “power of 4.” The study they conducted found that reading your Bible at least four days a week increased your chances of sharing your faith and discipling others and memorizing Scripture by those incredible percentages!

    Also, when it comes to changing negative behaviors, reading Scripture at least four days a week made a huge difference as well. It lowered the odds of getting drunk (by 57%), sex outside of marriage (by 68%), pornography (by 61%), and gambling (by 74%).

    However, and this is key, they found there was NO statistical difference in behaviors between Christians who read or listen to the Bible two to three days a week and those who do not engage Scripture at all or only once a week. In other words, there is astronomical change at 4 days a week, but not much change at all if you read the Bible any less than that.

    This study is a reminder to all of us about the importance of reading God’s Word! It is going to be a major emphasis for our church in 2021. We are having a special initiative to kick off 2021. We are calling it Grounded: A Study through the New Testament. We have developed a reading plan where we will read through the New Testament together over 18 weeks. There will be daily readings every weekday (Monday-Friday), and the weekends will be a grace period where you can catch up on your reading. What better goal is there to set for 2021 than to read through the New Testament with your church?!

    We are committed to providing resources and accountability to help as we take this challenge together. We have a free digital devotion that goes along with the daily reading that we can send to you. We are starting virtual transformation groups where you can have accountability and share what God is teaching you. We are providing weekly family devotions so discipleship can happen easier in the home. I will be preaching through the New Testament as we read through it together as well.

    The key is engaging with Scripture at least 4 days a week. The studies show how that can revolutionize your spiritual life. Would you commit to joining with your church in doing that this year?

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 24

    As I write this, I think about how many things are going to be so different with Christmas this year at our church. Every time I walk into the sanctuary, there is a stark reminder of how different things are just based on what isn’t there…we don’t have our massive Christmas tree and we won’t have our Singing Tree performance this year. It’s going to be a big change.

    However, rather than lamenting what we can’t have, I want to take a second to praise our staff and volunteers for their adaptability. Sure, the Singing Tree is quite conspicuous in its absence. But we are still going to have an incredible Christmas performance. I am so thankful for all of the hard work that has been put into our Christmas presentation which will have a combination of virtual and live elements. Our staff and volunteers have worked really hard to get things prepared for this performance. I am confident that whether you are watching here, in person, or tuning in online, you are going to be entertained by this year’s performance.

    What is much more important than being entertained, however, is the reminder that God loved us enough to send His Son to rescue us! The cradle has so much meaning because it led to the cross. God made a way for us to be in right relationship with Him!

    I want to invite you to join us for our Christmas performance. It’s called Christmas: Night of Angels, and it will be on Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20. On both dates, the performance will start at 3:00 p.m. There are two ways that you can watch the performances. First, you can go online to our website and reserve your spot. Since we are at 25% capacity, we need everyone who is planning on being here physically to make a reservation. It doesn’t cost anything, but we need to make sure we stay within the county’s guidelines. Or, you can always watch the performance online. It will be shown on our website and also streamed on our church’s Facebook page.

    Besides our Christmas performance, we will also have a Christmas Eve service. You will need to reserve your spot for this special service as well if you are coming in person. However, we will also stream this service online. Finally, our deacon body is leading a Christmas morning service in our chapel. We’d love to have you come to this as well.

    Finally, as we are on the subject of Christmas, I want to remind you to prayerfully give to our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Our church has set a goal of $25,000 for this special offering. 100% of your gift will go directly to supporting missionaries around the world. Please pray for our missionaries and that God will use them to reach the lost with the truth of the Gospel!

    For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

    John 3:16

    Christmas might be different this year, but the message is the same: God loves us and sent His Son! Let’s praise Him for that! I’m praying you have a great Christmas!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 23

    Well, by the time you are getting this edition of the Forerunner, Thanksgiving has passed. With that being said, it is now officially appropriate to start listening to Christmas music! While you know that I am advocate for not listening to Christmas music too early, that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy it. I love Christmas music (as long as it is played AFTER Thanksgiving!).

    Speaking of Christmas music, do you have a favorite Christmas carol? I like a lot of different carols, but my favorite is probably “Silent Night.” Not only does it clearly proclaim and celebrate Jesus’ birth, but it is the carol that always reminds me of Christmas Eve services. All growing up, I loved when we turned down the lights and lit our candles on Christmas Eve as we sang that song together as a church. Whenever I hear that song, I think of those services and their significance.

    Silent Night! Holy Night!
    Long ago, minding our plight
    God the world

    from misery freed
    In the dark age of

    our fathers decreed:
    All the world is redeemed
    All the world is redeemed.

     

    -Joseph Mohr, 1816

    Since carols are such a big part of the Christmas season, I have decided to do something a little different for our Christmas series this year. During December, I am going to be preaching the Christmas story using passages that were the inspiration for famous Christmas carols. From Psalm 98 (which inspired “Joy to the World”) to Luke 2 (which inspired “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”), it is going to be a fun and different way to approach the Christmas story.

    Along with reflecting on the Christmas story and the great carols it has inspired, it is my prayer that we would respond to Christ’s birth in tangible ways this Christmas season. It could be as simple as checking in on a fellow church member or neighbor and making sure they are doing alright throughout this pandemic. Or, it could be getting an angel off of our tree and providing gifts for a child of a family in need.

    Another way to respond to Christ’s birth is by giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. As you heard our guest missionary share about the Great Commission and Lottie Moon, I hope it reminded you about the call that God has placed on each of us. We all need to be a part of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

    This year, our church is setting a goal of $25,000 for our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. That might seem like an audacious goal, but we are committed to making sure that the Christmas story is shared in every corner of the globe. Would you pray about helping us reach this goal?

    I love Christmas. The fact that God loved us enough to send His only Son to live a perfect life and die in our place is astounding! Let’s sing about that story this Christmas season and let’s make sure we are spreading the truth of the Gospel in our neighborhoods and the nations!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 22

    2020 has been quite a year. With the pandemic and everything that has been going on this year, it is really easy to only focus on the negatives. However, as Thanksgiving comes closer, it is a good reminder that we need to reflect on the many blessings that God has given our church.  I love 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, which says, “Be joyful always, pray continuously, and give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

    We need to make sure we are in the habit of giving thanks to God. A few months ago, we had a Sunday where we intentionally celebrated ways that God was moving and working in and through our congregation and community. We talked about the importance of building “Ebenezers” in our church and in our lives to point out how “up to this point, the Lord us helped us.” The idea of an Ebenezer comes from 1 Samuel 7:12. After God miraculously delivered the Israelites a victory over the Philistines, Samuel erected a stone monument that he named Ebenezer. The purpose of the monument was to ensure that the Israelites remembered that it was God who gave them the victory that day. Samuel wanted to make sure that the Lord was the one who got the credit, and the Israelites wouldn’t be celebrating their own strength.

    In that same vein, we want to take time to acknowledge different times that God has moved and worked in powerful ways in our church. We just recently had another such “Ebenezer moment” here at Fee Fee. A few years ago, we took out a loan to help cover the costs of the renovation of our sanctuary. Well, I am so excited to report to you that the note has been paid off and we are debt-free!

    In the midst of a pandemic, you have been faithful in your generosity to the Lord, and it is remarkable that we have been able to so quickly pay off this debt. Thank you for your faithful giving! To be able to pay off our debt during this pandemic is an indication of your generosity and God’s faithfulness. This is definitely an Ebenezer moment for our church!

    Besides that specific instance, I want to challenge you to take a look back over the last few months and count your blessings. What has God done in your life recently? How has He demonstrated His faithfulness to you and your family?

    It is my prayer that we wouldn’t fall into the negativity that seems to surround this year. Instead of just thinking about the pandemic, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus! God is still moving and working in our lives, in our church, and in our community. This month, let’s make sure we give thanks to God for what He is doing and what He has already done!

    Will you join me in counting your blessings and giving glory to God this Thanksgiving season?

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 21

    What does it mean to set your heart on something? I’m not talking about a small desire. I’m talking about the relentless pursuit of something. If you really set your heart on something, it means that you are going to dedicate your time, energy, and passion to making it happen.

    We see people set their hearts on a wide variety of different things. Sometimes it’s all about getting in shape. Currently, there is a lot of focus on getting a certain candidate on one side of the aisle or the other elected. Sometimes it’s a job or promotion. Whatever it is, I believe that humans are innately wired to want more. Because of this desire, we are constantly setting our hearts towards visions or goals and working to see those things come to pass.

    The sad part about it all, is I believe most people set their hearts on things that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. When our goals are self-focused only, we are probably missing the point. What if we set our hearts on something better than a promotion or a new diet or anything else that doesn’t have eternal ramifications?

    In Ezra 7, verse 10, it says that Ezra devotes himself to study and observe the law of the Lord, and to teach it to Israel. I love this little snippet buried in this Old Testament book because I think it gives us the key to learning how to set our heart on Him who is eternally significant.

    So how do you set your heart on the Lord?

    Obviously it starts with studying the Word. However, what is great about this passage is Ezra doesn’t just study the Word and become an intelligent hypocrite. Besides just studying, secondly he actually observes the law!

    Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

    Ezra 7:10

    Why are Christians so often labeled hypocrites? Because we know the law (study) but we use our knowledge to judge and point out sin. By doing this, we often forget about actually living out what we have learned. The more you study, the more you should see God’s extravagant love and grace for you and this should paint how you interact with others.

    Finally, he doesn’t just study and observe the law, he then teaches it! As he uncovers God’s incredible truth, Ezra doesn’t stay silent about it. He teaches it to others!

    Do you want to live a life that counts? Then you have to set your heart on the Lord. Learn the Word, live the Word, and look for every opportunity to share its truth with others!

    Let’s pray that we all set our hearts on the Lord, church!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach