I apologize for the delay in getting "Life at First Baptist" to you this week! This week I had the second of three Executive Board Meetings for the Missouri Baptist Convention. For the past 4 years I have served on the Board on various different committees. This year I moved over to the SEND Missouri Committee serving Church Planters in our state through our partnership with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. It has been a really fun change for me as I have spent so much time in the Church Renewal world. This has allowed for me to see the unique challenges and blessings of starting a new church. It has been a joy to serve our conventions of churches in this way. Picture here are Brandon Freeman of Heritage Baptist Church, a church plant out of Liberty Baptist, Joseph Williams (son of Johnny Williams) of Central Baptist seeking to reach Somali people in Kansas City, Tyler Rosas of Northand Riverside, a church plan out of Northland Baptist Church, and Taylor DiRoberto of Northside Fellowship, a 5 year church plant in the city. Taylor also serves as the SEND City Missionary for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention. I was able to meet with these brothers, pray with them, and encourage them in their work as well as discuss ways the Missouri Baptist Convention can be partnering well with our new church plants in the state and specifically in the Nortwest, MO area. Pray for these brothers, their churches, and the kingdom work they are engaged in across the city!

On top of my time in Jefferson City this week our website builder was having issues so I wasn't able to get this out until I returned. Thank you for your patience!

Be sure to make note of updates regarding all things "Life at First Baptist" below!

This past week the students and families of the First Baptist Church Youth Ministry gathered to enjoy good food, good fun, good friendship, and good fellowship as we jump back into the school year. Thank you to the Duryea Family for hosting. If you have a student in grades 6th-12th we would love to have them join us on Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. at the Sands Residence. 

Join us Saturday mornings at 7:00 a.m. for a weekly walkthrough of "Disciplines of a Godly Man" by R. Kent Hughes. 

The Sands' will be hosting a new Bible Study beginning August 12th. The time runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a meal. The study will utilize Midwestern Seminary's For the Church Institue's dive into Church History. The first leg of the study will span the next 10 weeks and cover the early church up to the Reformation. Then, in the Winter we will study the Reformation forward.  Contact Pastor Ricky and join us at the Sands Residence this Wednesday if you are interested in jumping in! 

Every month the men at FBC Weston gather for a time for fellowship around the word and a meal. Join us! 

Join us Sunday, August 30th for Baptism Sunday. Following service we will have a special celebratory Potluck Meal. Please bring a dish to share! 

Baptism Candidates please plan to attend a Special Baptist Class during the Sunday School Hour on Sunday, August 23rd. If you have not spoken with Pastor Ricky prior please do so to plan accordingly!

Isaiah served as God’s mouthpiece to the nation of Judah but also to the surrounding nations. His message echoes into our lives today as we read his call to rely on the Lord. Using the genres of poetry, narrative, and prophecy, Isaiah communicated clearly that followers of God could trust in Him.

As you study the chapters Isaiah wrote—from his challenging words to the nation of Israel to his prophecies of the Messiah to come—learn to rest in God's promises and grow in trust. Unpacking Isaiah’s words will reveal that you can trust God more than your own human effort or the counterfeits the world suggests. You won’t be striving harder, but instead trusting more deeply the Faithful One who is so worthy of our utter dependence. In Him you'll find the comfort and peace you need to sustain you.

From the opening chapters of Genesis through the final verses of Revelation, God is known by many names—names that reveal who He is, what He does, and how He relates to His children. He is El-Roi, “the God who sees me.” He is Jesus, “the Lord is salvation.” He is the Spirit, your Comforter and Counselor. And you? You have a name, too. You are His beloved child, a Christian, one who bears His name.

In this 8-session Bible study for women, teachers Kristi McLelland, Caroline Saunders, Blair Linne, Jennifer Rothschild, Kelly Minter, and Elizabeth Woodson will walk you through the pages of Scripture. Together, you’ll examine names for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and you’ll discover the impact each of God’s names has on your relationship with Him. Each name you encounter will inspire you to worship God for who He is and challenge you to consider how your life can be transformed in light of His character.

We accidentally scheduled this on the weekend of Applefest. We will get out a new date soon!

Join us for this year's Chili Cook-off! We will be gathering at the Pospisil residence for a time of good fun, good food, and good fellowship. Entries into the Chili Cook-off must arrive by judging time at 4:30 p.m.