First Baptist Norfolk.NE

What’s Happening at FBC ✝️

This Sunday we continue in our series through 1 Timothy 📖 with the message “The First Duty of the Church” from 1 Timothy 2:1–7 🙏

We hope you’ll join us as we look at the heart of a praying, Christ centered church ❤️

Upcoming Events 📅

Monday, June 22
7:00 PM – Prayer Meeting 🙏
A time to seek the Lord together and lift up the needs of our church family and community.

Wednesday, June 24
6:30 PM – Leadership Council Meeting 🕊️
Guiding the work of ministry with wisdom, unity, and prayer.

Thursday, June 25
5:30 PM – Leaving a Legacy of Faith: Honoring God Through Wise Planning 🏡
Please note that Sunday, June 21 is the deadline to sign up for this important event ⏳

Reminders 📌

Take a moment to write down your praises and prayer requests and place them on the cross ✝️ We are committed to praying intentionally for you and with you 🙏

Look for opportunities this week to encourage someone and invite them to gather with us on Sunday 🤝

And as you go, share the blessed hope of the Gospel with someone who needs it today 🌿

📖 What’s Happening at FBC?

Join us this Sunday as we continue our study through 1 Timothy with a message titled:

⚔️ “Fight the Good Fight”
📍 1 Timothy 1:12–20

There are battles in the Christian life that require faithfulness, courage, and steadfast hope in Christ. We invite you to worship with us as we open God’s Word together this Sunday.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Monday, June 15
🙏 7:00 PM – Prayer Meeting

Tuesday, June 16
☕ 10:00 AM – Coffee with the Pastor @ Downtown Coffee Co.
🏡 6:30 PM – Building & Grounds Meeting

Wednesday, June 17
🎶 7:00 PM – Worship Ministry Team Meeting

📢 Special Announcement
Leaving a Legacy of Faith: Honoring God Through Wise Planning

Join us Thursday, June 25 at 5:30 PM for a light sandwich meal followed by a helpful presentation from Pastor Robin Stoops with the American Baptist Foundation. Learn practical ways to thoughtfully plan and leave a legacy of faith for your family and future generations.

📝 Please sign up for the meal at the Welcome Center.

💡 Reminders & Encouragements
• Invite someone to church this week. Your personal invitation matters.
• Be bold and share the hope of the glorious Gospel with someone.
• Write down your praises and prayer requests and place them on the cross Sunday morning.

We look forward to worshiping with you this week!

Standing Guard: A Devotion on Resilience and the Wise Stewardship of the Soul

In the demanding rush of our daily callings, it is rarely a single, massive storm that takes us off course or shatters our resolve. Instead, it is the slow, quiet erosion of our daily margins that poses the greatest threat, as we gradually take on one more task, carry one more burden, and convince ourselves that because we possess the strength to endure, we must push forward without a moment’s pause.

Yet there is a profound, holy difference between being strong and being indestructible, and even the most resilient Christians among us must recognize that acknowledging our human limitations is not a failure of faith, but the very beginning of true wisdom.

When you feel the heavy weight of your responsibilities pressing in, God invites you to step back and employ a strategic checkpoint for your soul, which is a simple, intentional pause captured by the acronym H.A.L.T.

This is not an act of retreat or a concession to weakness, but rather a vital assessment of your operational readiness, ensuring that you do not leave yourself unnecessarily vulnerable to the quiet exhaustion that so easily entangles us.

H – Hungry
"He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." (Psalm 107:9)

We must never allow ourselves to become too hungry, whether we are speaking of the physical fuel our bodies require or the deeper, spiritual nourishment our souls desperately crave. When we run on empty for too long, our emotional bandwidth naturally shrinks, our patience wears thin, and we begin to operate out of a deficit rather than a place of abundance.

It is a profound truth that you cannot continually pour into the lives of others if you refuse to let your own vessel be refilled and taking the time to feed your soul with Scripture, silence, and meaningful fellowship is an act of essential stewardship. Be deeply encouraged today by the reality that God delights in filling the empty places of your heart, and He invites you to pull up to His table to receive the strength you need before the famine of exhaustion sets in.

A – Anger
"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger." (Ephesians 4:26)

We must never allow ourselves to simmer in a state of prolonged anger, recognizing that resentment acts like a warning light on a dashboard, signaling that a boundary has been crossed, a hurt has gone unaddressed, or frustrations have boiled over beneath the surface. Left unchecked, this lingering friction gradually hardens into cynicism, clouding our judgment, eroding our vision, and driving a wedge between us and the very people we are called to love and serve.

When anger flares, you do not need to condemn yourself for feeling the strain, nor should you attempt to bury it away; instead, you are encouraged to bring those raw, honest frustrations directly to the Lord. He possesses the broad shoulders capable of carrying your heaviest burdens, and He offers restorative peace that can de-escalate the tension in your heart before it burns down the good work you have labored so hard to build.

L – Lonely
" Two are better than one,because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Though high levels of responsibility and leadership can naturally create a sense of distance, we must never allow ourselves to remain isolated in the lonely valleys of our own thoughts. The enemy loves nothing more than to whisper that we are entirely on our own, which only serves to make our challenges look twice as formidable and our available resources look half as small as they truly are.

You were never intended to hold the line entirely by yourself, and reaching out to peers, trusted friends, and a shared support system is a demonstration of profound courage rather than a sign of weakness. Take comfort in knowing that God has deliberately placed people in your life to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, and breaking the silence of isolation allows His grace to flow through the community He has provided for your protection.

T – Tired
"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2)

While the world around us often treats chronic fatigue and constant busyness as badges of honor, we must never allow ourselves to become too tired, understanding that deep exhaustion is a massive liability to our spiritual clarity and emotional well-being. When we are thoroughly depleted, we easily misread situations, lose our capacity for genuine empathy, and forget the very identity and purpose that anchored us in the first place.

Rest is a holy, consecrated gift from your Creator, not a reward that you are required to earn only after finishing an impossible, never-ending to-do list. When the prophet Elijah was utterly spent and ready to quit, God did not meet him with a lecture on his performance but instead provided him with a nourishing meal and told him to sleep; similarly, you can rest in the beautiful assurance that the Lord is perfectly capable of running the universe while you close your eyes and recover your strength.

A Final Benediction of Encouragement
Beloved, when you are urged to HALT your vulnerability, it is a gentle reminder that you are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Divine, and acknowledging your human boundaries is exactly how you honor the Master Builder who designed you. You are fiercely loved, fully seen, and deeply supported by the One who called you to this journey, and He has no expectation that you should walk it in total self-sufficiency.

The next time you feel the unmistakable strain of the journey pressing against your spirit, do not simply dig your heels in an attempt to push through the pain. Stop, take a deep breath, and accurately assess the line; bring your hunger, your anger, your loneliness, and your fatigue to the Lord, and allow Him to renew your perspective, fortify your heart, and restore your strength for the victorious miles that still lie ahead.

Pastor Jason Owens: Sermon Title - 'Guarding the Household' Pastor Jason Owens: Sermon Title - 'Guarding the Household'

📖 What’s Happening at FBC?

Join us this Sunday as we begin a brand new sermon series through the Pastoral Epistles with a message titled:

“Guarding the Household”
📜 1 Timothy 1:1–11

What does a faithful church look like when it is shaped by the Word of God? As we begin our journey through 1 Timothy, we will explore how God calls His people to guard truth, pursue godliness, and live as the household of faith. We would love to worship with you this Sunday!

🗓️ Upcoming Events

🙏 Monday, June 8
6:00 PM – Mission & Outreach & Agape Team Meeting
Serving together as we seek ways to minister to others.

7:00 PM – Prayer Meeting
Come pray with us as we seek the Lord together.

🍲 Tuesday, June 9
Noon – Souper Tuesday
Join us for food, fellowship, and encouragement!

🌸 6:00 PM – All Church Gardening Session
Help us care for the beauty of our church grounds as we w**d and groom the flower gardens around the building.
📍 Meet at the Prayer Garden (west side of the building).

❤️ Thursday, June 11
Rescue Mission Meal
Thank you to all who help serve our community through this ministry opportunity.

📌 Special Event Coming Soon!

🌿 Leaving a Legacy of Faith: Honoring God Through Wise Planning
📅 Thursday, June 25 | 5:30 PM

Join us for a light sandwich meal followed by a presentation from Pastor Robin Stoops of the AB Foundation as he shares practical ways to honor God and leave a legacy of faith through wise planning.

📝 Please sign up for the meal at the Welcome Center.

📌 Friendly Reminders:
✅ Come ready to worship this Sunday
✅ Invite someone to join you at church
✅ Join us in prayer this week for our church family and community
✅ Look for opportunities to encourage someone with the hope of Christ

We’re looking forward to worshiping together this Sunday! ❤️
See you at FBC!

📖 What’s Happening at FBC?

Join us this Sunday for our Colossians 3:16 Service!

This special service is an opportunity for everyone to take an active part in worship as we encourage one another in the Lord. Have a Scripture passage that has encouraged your heart? A testimony of God’s faithfulness? We invite you to come ready to share an edifying word and be a blessing to the church family.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

🙏 Monday, June 1
7:00 PM – Prayer Meeting
Come pray with us as we seek the Lord together.

☕ Tuesday, June 2
10:00 AM – Coffee with the Pastor
At the Downtown Coffee Co.
A relaxed time for fellowship, conversation, and coffee!

📌 Friendly Reminders:
✅ Come ready to worship this Sunday
✅ Invite someone to join you at church
✅ Look for opportunities to share the hope we have in Christ this week
✅ Write down your praises and prayer requests and place them on the prayer cross

We’re looking forward to worshiping together this Sunday!

See you at FBC!

Pastor Jason Owens: Sermon Title - Equipped for Whats to Come Pastor Jason Owens: Sermon Title - Equipped for Whats to Come

📣 What’s Happening at FBC! 🙌

Join us this week as we continue growing together in worship, fellowship, and the Word!

📖 Sunday’s Message
“Equipped for What’s to Come”
Ephesians 6:10–18
As believers, we are called to stand firm in spiritual battle. Come be encouraged and equipped from God’s Word!

📅 Upcoming Events

🗓 Wednesday, May 27
⏰ 6:30 PM
Leadership Council Meeting

🗓 Sunday, May 31
⏰ 10:30 AM
🎶 Colossians 3:16 Service
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...”
This is a special opportunity to share a testimony or a passage of Scripture that has encouraged, challenged, or strengthened your walk with the Lord. We would love for you to participate!

✝️ Reminders
📝 Be sure to write down your praises and prayer requests and place them on the cross in the atrium.

💒 Invite someone to church this week. Let’s fill the pews and welcome others into fellowship!

📖 Keep your eyes open for opportunities to share the Gospel and point others to Christ.

We look forward to worshiping with you this week at FBC!