GREEN Team serving @ KARM, this Thursday @ 4 p.m.

City View U Coffee House Mtg., Thursday Feb. 23, 7:45 p.m.

Men’s Breakfast, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 9:00 a.m.

March: Spring HIGH ATTENDANCE Month

I am reading about Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the Old Testament. It is always interesting to think about who God uses to serve Him and how He uses them for His glory. Joseph, even as a young lad, was blessed by some fairly significant gifts: he was gifted at interpreting dreams and in administrative management. Early on, God let him know He was going to place him over his family in a mighty way. But God’s ways are not our ways. And so, God took the next 40 years to shape Joseph for the role He would give him as the second most powerful person in the entire civilized world at that time – second in Egypt.

The story of Joseph is encouraging. It gives me hope that God is not done with me. God used several young people for His purposes: Samuel, David, Daniel, Mary, the disciples: John and James, the Apostle Paul, and Timothy (to name a few). Our students can learn from these people and prepare courageously for a life of service to God. God will bless them and shape them. They in turn are to take courage, live faithfully, and obey even when the world appears to have turned against them. God will use them and accomplish His purposes.

Now many seasoned citizens may think God only uses the young. They may think it is too late for them to be used of God; but that’s not true. God uses people at all phases in life.

Abraham and Sarah didn’t start their fantastic journey with God until Abraham was 75 years old and Sarah was 65. God blessed and used them in wonderful ways. Noah appears to have been 500 years old when God told him to build an ark. Then finally at age 600, God had Noah take his family and the animals on the ark.

Then there’s Caleb. God used him as a young man. Moses sent Caleb and 11 others to spy out the Promised Land. Caleb came back with the good report. He was ready to go to battle. But the Children of Israel rebelled against God, so they spent the next 40 years wandering through the wilderness. After the 40 years of wandering, the Children of Israel were able to go and possess the land. If you will remember, they had to battle the inhabitants, and Caleb was very instrumental in this time of war.

Finally, after Israel had waged war and taken the Land of Promise, Caleb was free to go with His family to a land of His choosing. Caleb, at age 85, chose a land he would still have to fight for to possess (Joshua 14:6ff). Caleb trusted God and God blessed him in return.

Bottom Line: God is able to use His people to serve Him at any age and at any juncture in life. Our response just needs to be “Yes God! I’m ready and listening. Send me, oh God! Send me.” So how will God use you?

Pastor Luckey

• van drivers
• security
• Sunday School leaders
• homebound members praying for City View
• pastors
• worship leaders in prayer
• worship leaders in scripture
• worship leaders in song
• pianist
• organist
• praise band
• nursery workers
• extended session workers
• children’s church workers

We also need to pray much for the precious souls that have been baptisted recently and today.  Praises to God!

Middle Schoolers – Destination Unknown this Saturday @ 3pm

Lord’s Supper during Morning Worship next Sunday

GREEN Team serving @ KARM on Thursday, Feb 23

March is Spring’s HIGH ATTENDANCE Month

More details may be on the Events page.

As usual, check out the City View Baptist Church Student Ministries – Blog Site for all their awesome happenings!

For years now it has been the practice of our church to collect for missions all year long. We call it our World Missions Offering. We are still at the beginning of the year of 2012, so I thought I would take a moment to encourage you in this direction, just as the Apostle Paul wanted to prepare the church at Corinth for the collection of a missions offering in 2 Corinthians 9:5-7:

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (NKJV)

The church at Corinth already knew the need. The offering was to help minister to the church in Jerusalem that was undergoing persecution.  They had promised to give. And so Paul was sending messengers to make sure they were prepared.

Our World Missions Offering addresses 5 concerns:

1. Through our Lottie Moon giving, we help our international missionaries to start churches and purchase supplies, equipment, and land.
2. Through our Annie Armstrong giving, we are able to help our missionaries in North America in much the same way.
3. As we participate with the Golden State offering, we are able to help the missions efforts across the State of Tennessee.
4. Then as we give to Pioneer Missions, we help the Metro Baptist Association in Iowa as they reach the lost and start new churches.
5. Lastly, we give to Camp BaYoCa, to help disadvantaged kids go to camp.

As a church we have committed ourselves to give. We have made a promise. Last year we were able to give a total of $10,113.05 to missions.  This year, even with a down economy, I want to encourage us to go beyond. I want us to sow bountifully.  I want us to give cheerfully.  I want us to prepare for and give a most generous offering to God for the work of His Kingdom.

Challenge:

Let us set a goal of $15,000 for our World Missions Offering.

1. Children what can you do?
2. Students how will you respond?
3. Parents and young adults how can you sacrifice?
4. Seasoned citizens what more can you give?

To the Corinthians, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:7:

But as you abound in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us – see that you abound in this grace also.  (NKJV)

Church, let us abound in this grace; let us give generously.

Pastor Luckey

– A year ago today was my first Sunday as your pastor.  I must say that it has been a wonderful year for my family and for me.  We love you dearly.  Thank you for bringing us into your midst to serve.  You have been so good to us.

We came to you and found you already serving and growing.  You have been producing fruit for the Kingdom of God.  And yet, as I look back over the year, I consider that together we have worked much like the vineyard keeper in Luke 13:8 – together we have been engaged in digging and fertilizing around the fig tree.

God has been so kind to us as a church.  He is the One who sends the increase; and He has. Today we have more people engaged in ministry; we have more children and students coming; we have experienced salvations and the increase of adult leaders.  God is the One who has blessed this church. He deserves the credit.

And yet, God works in and through His people. And as I think about you, I compare you to the people of Judah who willingly pitched-in to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem in the Book of Nehemiah. They worked so hard, even as they were being threatened and ridiculed. They trusted in and prayed to God. And He blessed.

At City View, we are not facing trials and persecution from without (or within for that matter), but I do see people committing themselves to serve, taking responsibility for projects and ministries.  I do see a church that trusts in the Lord and expects great things.  I am so proud of this congregation, as a member and as your pastor.  Thank you for your labor.

As we continue forward, let us continue pleading for God’s blessings that we may grow spiritually, numerically, and financially.  Let us continue praying for God to send revival both to us as a church and to our community.  Let us continue praying for God to increase our unity so that we may stand in the inevitable adversity that will come.  And then let us continue laboring for Christ and the expansion of His Kingdom, as we stand side-by-side in the trenches.

 Pastor Luckey

• Young at Heart luncheon on Thursday with Them Holders entertaining @  11 a.m.
• Next Sunday – Soup-er Sunday/Winter Bible Study
• YAH Valentine’s Banquet, Saturday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m.
• March is Spring’s HIGH ATTENDANCE Month

As usual, check out the City View Baptist Church Student Ministries – Blog Site for all their awesome happenings!

Dr. Crutchley is an excellent teacher and preacher, serving as an interim pastor in several churches.

If you will remember our Soup-er Bowl Sunday celebration involves 2 morning sessions, a soup lunch, and another afternoon session.  Please make plans to join us for all 3 sessions as Dr. Crutchley preaches through God’s Word.  And remember, please bring cans of soup to donate to the Baptist Center.

Pastor Luckey