First Baptist News. First Baptist Church. Church Office Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 2:30 pm Friday

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1 First Baptist News Knowing God, Making God Known, and Becoming like His Son, Jesus Christ, through Worship, Bible Study, and Ministry INSIDE THIS ISSUE: R O C K Y Pastor s Article 2 Church Staff 2 Conferences 3 Upcoming Events 4 Global Missions 5 Calendar 6 First Baptist Church 200 S. Church St. Rocky Mount, NC Church Office Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 2:30 pm Friday Church Office (252) Fax (252) Website 24-Hour Prayer Request Line (252) First Baptist Child Care Center (252) M O U N T, N C A P R I L

2 P A G E 2 WORLDVIEW It s Importance and Consequences Rev. Dennis Darville MINISTRY TEAM Dennis Darville Preaching & Leadership Tim Griffin Education & Discipleship Mike Avery Family Ministries Larry Curtis Pastoral Care Tom Jones Missions & Evangelism Stephen Weeks College Students Jack Heim Music & Worship Louis Griffin Music & Worship Bob Britt Homebound Visitation OPERATIONS & ADMIN TEAM Beth Thompson Operations Director Jewell Pullen Financial Administration Faye Strickland Facilities Administration Mary Helen Batten Receptionist/Admin. Assistant Kayla Dozier Administrative Assistant Nina Daughtridge Music Assistant Jane Clark Food Service Administration The late James Orr, a Scottish theologian of no small renown, had this to say about a Christian Worldview: Christianity is neither a scientific system, nor a philosophy, however it has a Worldview of its own, to which it stands committed, alike by its fundamental postulate of a personal, holy, self-revealing God, and by its content as a religion of redemption which, therefore, necessarily brings it into comparison with the other Worldviews. It has, as every Worldview should and must have, its own peculiar interpretation to give of the facts of existence; its own way of looking at, and accounting for, the existing natural and moral order; its own idea of a world-aim, and of that one far-off Divine event to which, through slow and painful travail, the whole creation moves. Between this view of the world involved in Christianity, and what is sometimes termed the modern view of the world, there exists a deep and radical antagonism (emphasis mine). Pay close attention to those italicized parts in the Orr quote above. I am trying to call attention to the most fundamental fact about the Christian World and Life View. In a Christian World and Life View there stands, to quote Orr, a radical antagonism between it and the Western-secular (modern or postmodern) or Eastern views of the world. It might seem like a gross overstatement to make such a sweeping claim, but is it? Let s drill down a bit and tease out the six questions that every world and Life View attempts to answer. Hopefully, and eventually, you should see that on each of these questions, the Christian view of things is antithetical to the competing views. First, I will simply list six questions that every Worldview seeks to answer. Of course, there are other questions, but these six are fundamental to all perspectives. Then, in this month s newsletter and over the next few installments, I will attempt to back up my bold claim that there is an ideological incompatibility between Christ s view of reality and other would-be-monarchs-of-truth. Before I proceed, let s remember a rough and ready, working definition for a Worldview. A Worldview forms a mental picture that organizes our basic beliefs about ourselves and the world in which we exist. It addresses, at the most fundamental level of human existence, the following issues: 1) what is true; 2) what is right; 3) what is beautiful; 4) what is real; 5) what we value. In other words, a Worldview is a framework, a frame of reference, a web, a matrix consisting of the beliefs we ve adopted and through which we view the world. To begin this endeavor, I will merely ask the questions that a Worldview must answer. They are as follows: 1) What is our view of God? 2) What is our view of the world? 3) What is our view of knowledge? 4) What is our view of ethics? 5) What is our view of history? 6) What is our view of humanity? Starting with this article and continuing in future installments, I will seek to give distinctively Christian answers to these pivotal questions. We will begin with quick responses, enlarging upon them in future newsletters. For this month, let s begin by responding to the first two questions. A Worldview forms a mental picture that organizes our basic beliefs about ourselves and the world in which we exist. 1. What is our view of God? Answer: A Christian view is a Trinitarian Theistic View. God is the infinite, immutable, eternal, morally perfect, tri-personal being, transcendent, sovereign sustainer of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, Creator. Therefore, we would then by logical necessity reject impersonal gods. We would also reject such notions as finite god-ism, open theistic views (i.e., a god who is subject to human whims), and the ideas found in Islamic monotheism. Notice the biblical view, by force of logic, requires the Christian to hold to certain views about the nature of God that repudiate competing claims. 2. What is our view of the world? Answer: The world is a time, space, matter, and energy continuum. It has a beginning. It is expanding. It is contingent. It is derivative. It is distinct from God. It is ordered. It is designed. It is currently under a curse. It is not F I R S T B A P T I S T N E W S

3 P A G E 3 what it once was paradise lost. It is not what it one day will be paradise regained. It was created ex- nihilo (i.e., out of nothing). It is a medium of communication from God. It is real, not an illusion; subordinate to God and in God s service. Consequently, we reject the idea of an infinite universe. We reject the idea of an impersonal beginning to the universe. We reject the idea of a universe that is self-explanatory. We reject the idea of a meaningless universe. We reject the idea that the universe is all there is. Again, see how it works? If we are committed to a Christian view of the world, then by the irresistible force of rational thought, we must reject all other claims that conflict with the biblical picture of the world. Orr has rightly argued, He who with his whole heart believes in Jesus as the Son of God, is thereby committed to much else besides. He is committed to a view of God, to a view of man, to a view of sin, to a view of redemption, to a view of the purpose of God in creation and history, to a view of human destiny, found only in Christianity. This forms a Weltanschauung of a Christian World and Life View which stands in a marked contrast with theories wrought out from a purely philosophical or scientific standpoint. He is committed to a view of God, to a view of man, to a view of sin, to a view of redemption, to a view of the purpose of God in creation and history, to a view of human destiny, found only in Christianity What are some possible take-aways from this month s newsletter? Let me suggest three: 1) We are to demonstrate, over against the popular slogans of modern culture, that Christianity is on a collision course with all other competing world and Life Views. That is, all religions are not the same. 2) We must demonstrate that, for Christianity to make sense as it relates to Christ and His crosswork, we have to establish the broad contours of the Christian World and Life View. That is, Christ on a cross dying for the sins of believers only makes sense in a world that was created and subsequently brought under a curse as a consequence of the high treason of man. In short, Christ and His cross-work presuppose the reality of Creation, Fall and a future Restoration. 3) We must return to the idea that Christianity is public truth; not merely religious truth. That is, we must reestablish the notion that Christianity is not merely some private position held by well-meaning, but ultimately, credulous do-gooders. Christianity is the true-truth about the whole world. CALLED CHURCH CONFERENCES Sunday, March 22 the church affirmed (by 81%) moving forward with the process to amend the church bylaws to implement an elder led, deacon served, and congregationally governed church polity. The amendment process will include separate called church conferences on: 1. Sunday, March 29, 6 pm (FBC sanctuary) for the purpose of presenting the proposed amended bylaws without discussion. 2. Sunday, April 12, 6 pm (FBC sanctuary) for the purpose of discussing the proposed amended bylaws. 3. Sunday, April 19, 2015 during morning worship services for the purpose of voting on the proposed amended bylaws. Graduate Recognition Sunday, June 7 During the 11 am Service Please submit pictures of High School or College Graduates to Mike Avery (mike@fbcrm.org) by April 29.

4 P A G E 4 DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE June Team 252 High School 23 & 25 ABCS FOR GIRLS Rising 2nd 5th Grade July PowerZone 3yrs. through 5th grade 27-Aug. 1 Camp Merriwood Middle School

5 P A G E 5 A PERFECTP INJUSTICE LOCATION: Uganda MISSION: August 21-31, 2015 OBJECTIVE: FBCRM s team will serve resettled street children and their parents/ caregivers during a week long camp, focusing on their physical, educational, spiritual, social and emotional needs. The camp will be a means of showing and teaching the love and hope of Christ. COORDINATION: Team Leaders, Louis ( ) and Jordan Griffin ( ), and Global Mission Committee Coordinator, Jennifer Crumley ( ). DETAILS: Information meeting is scheduled for April 22 at 7 pm in the Alice Temple Room. More information on A Perfect Injustice can be found at FBCRM now has a Missions Blog, where you can stay up-to-date on mission trips as they are happening (provided the team has access to the internet). As we receive updates from the Mission Teams, we will post these on the blog for our Congregation to be aware of specific prayer needs and to know how the Gospel is being spread throughout the world, locally and internationally. Please go to to subscribe to updates and read the latest report from Ecuador. If you have any questions, please call Kayla in the church office or her at kayla@fbcrm.org. We are excited about this opportunity to include all of FBCRM in the mission of Making Disciples of all Nations. E C U A D O R C H U R C H P L A N T Mission trips are planned for July 3-11 (application deadline May 3) and November 6-14 (application deadline September 6). If you are interested in participating in either of these trips, please contact Guy Tutterow ( or gttut@aol.com).

6 REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULE Sundays 8:00 am Televised Morning Worship (WHIG Channel 17) 8:15 am Contemporary Worship Service 9:00 am Church Library open until 10:00 am 9:30 am Bible Study 11:00 am Worship Service Mondays 10:45 am Inspiration Singers (Choir suite) 7:00 pm Praise Team Rehearsal Tuesdays 6:30 am Women s Prayer Groups 9:00 am Staff meeting Women s Bible Study 10:00 am Women s Prayer Group 1:00 pm Stephen Ministry (1st & 3rd Wks M103) 6:00 pm Handbell Rehearsal 6:30 pm Trail Life USA & Am. Heritage Girls (FMC) Wednesdays 10:00 am EQUIP for Interns (E200) 3:00 pm Church Library open until 6:00 pm COOL Kids (FMC) 5:00 pm Fellowship Meal 6:00 pm Nursery for Birth 1 yr. (M105 & M101) Mission Friends for 2 yrs. 3 yrs. (M102) Cherub Choir for 4 yrs. K (E202) Sonshine Choir for Grades 1 &2 (E201a) Music Makers for Grade 3 (E300) Young Musicians for Grades 4-5 (E307) Crossroads for Grades 6-12 (M301) Prayer Meeting for adults (Fell. Hall) 7:10 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal Thursdays 6:30 am Men s Prayer Group (Choir room) 12:30 pm Prison Ministry 3:00 pm COOL Kids (FMC) 7:00 pm Divorce Care 7:30 pm The Bridge (Wesleyan College) April 2015 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 29 Palm Sunday Conf. (6 pm Sanct.) 5 Easter Sunday, Regular Worship Service Schedule Breakfast at 9:30 am 12 Deacons Meeting (4 pm M201A) Conf. (6 pm Sanct.) 19 EASTER Conf. During Morning Services Forever Young Luncheon (11:30 am F.H) 20 Influencer Lunch (1 pm M103) 14 MOPS (7 pm F.H.) NO Regular Evening Activities Tami Fitzgerald NC Values.org 15 Uganda Mission Report Meals on Wheels Ecuador Mission Report API Info Meeting (7 pm AT Room) 2 Maundy Thursday Service (6:30 pm Sanct.) 3 Office Closed Good Friday Service (Noon Sanct.) Meals on Wheels MOPS (7 pm F.H.) w w w. f b c r m. o r g