IN THIS ISSUE

Wisdom Seekers Page 2

Fearing GodPage 5

A Praying ChurchPage 5

First Baptist sevierville | june 2015

Volume 101 , No. 6

First Baptist Church of Sevierville’s Monthly Newsletter

Wisdom Seekers

Every spring high schools and colleges hold commencement ceremonies to celebrate the success of students who have completed their studies and earned their diplomas/degrees. After the students cross the stage, these graduates will enter a world that will challenge them. Just having academic knowledge won’t be good enough. The key to success in life will be in wisely applying everything they have learned.

Throughout Scripture, wisdom is celebrated as a treasure that is worth seeking. It is better than riches (Proverbs 3:13-18). Its source is God, who alone is perfectly wise (Romans 16:27). And it is found in the actions and attitude of Jesus, in whom “all the treasures of wisdom” are found (Colossians 2:3).

Wisdom comes from reading and applying the Scripture. We have an example of this in the way Jesus applied His knowledge when He was tempted (Luke 4:1-13). In other words, the truly wise person tries to see life from God’s point of view and chooses to live according to His wisdom.

What’s the payoff for this kind of life? Proverbs tells us that wisdom is like sweetness of honey on the tongue (Proverbs 24:13-14). “Blessed are those who find wisdom” (Proverbs 3:13 niv).

So seek wisdom, for it is more profitable than silver or gold!

Page 2 | First Baptist Church of Sevierville

Church Family,

For many years Brother Scott Carter has led a very effective outreach called “Judgment House.” While this annual Fall evangelistic event has been an effort of our Youth Ministry, many of our adults have been involved. Along with our students, they have shared the gospel in dramatic fashion with thousands of people -- and they have seen hundreds saved. Praise the Lord!

This Fall we are going to try something that will retain the evangelistic strength of Judgment House, and yet provide a fresh new way in which to present the Gospel to more people than ever. The idea and vision that God gave first to Scott Carter is a Corn Maze Outreach to take place on our Park Road property. You may be thinking, “A Corn Maze? Really?”

YES! And I believe it will reach a great many people for Jesus! The strategy is to invite our community to a free event that will include elements like a pumpkin patch, a hay ride, and a petting zoo -- things that will surely attract and appeal to families. But the centerpiece will be the corn maze, a fun activity with a spiritual point. After people go through it they will hear a strong Gospel presentation that will play off of the “maze” theme: life can be confusing like a maze; we all realize that we are lost and need direction to find our way safely home; and only Jesus can save you if you are lost.

I want to ask you to pray for this upcoming ministry. This is an opportunity to encounter lost people who would never come to our church facilities, but they will go to a field for an evening of family fun. I ask you to get behind this effort and be involved. We will need hundreds of our members to serve in different ways and to “Love Loud” on our community. Please seek the Lord as to how you can contribute your time and talents to this bold new effort. Let’s trust Him for a miracle harvest of souls!

I love being your Pastor!

Dan Spencer

UP 6th Grade WeekendApril 30th and May 1st

Sign up in Sunday Schoolor call the church office

Ps. 56:3

Sonrise SeniorsTuesday, June 2; 9:00am/Parlor

Triple L LuncheonTuesday, June 9; Noon/FLCAnnual indoor picnic. Bring a side dish.

Camp Read-a-LotJune 10 & 17July 8, 15, 29; 5:00pm/Library

Kingdom Kids Summer Fun ClubJune 10 & 17July 8, 15 & 29; 6:00pmAge 4 go to preschool areaKindergarten - 6th grade go to the Crossing

“Counter Culture”Steve Brewer invites everyone to thispowerful Bible study. The class will be held thesame Wednesday nights as Camp Read-a-Lotand Kingdom Kids Summer Fun Club; June 10 & 17 and July 8, 15 & 29 from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. in E220.

Children’s Church Sunday, June 21 on Father’s Day, 8:00am & 11:00am in the ChapelSpecial Father’s Day children’s church for grades K-6th.

VBS 2015 - “Journey Off the Map”June 22-26; 9:00am-12:30pmFamily Fun Night; June 28; 4:30pmAges 4 thru completed 6th grade. You can register online at www.fbcsev.org

Camp SmokyJune 28-July 2Completed grades 1-6July 12-17Completed grades 7-12Cost for FBC members is $65. Registration forms located at the Welcome Center.

Youth Panama City RetreatJuly 5-10Completed grades 7-12. Cost is $275. Sign upin Sunday School, at Youth Night or online atwww.fbcsev.org

SAVE THE DATE! Music Camp 2015“In The Big Inning”July 20-24; 9:00am-NoonPresentation Night; July 26Completed grades 1-6

Upcoming Events

Special AnnouncementsChurch Office Holiday HoursJuly 3rd - Closed

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June2015

Page 4

Dorothy Ownby Rex & Elizabeth

MansfieldMOTHER’S DAY My mother, Sallie Turner

& sister, Martha Gulf Jean WhiteBlanche Blalock Rachel BurkeKatie Morrison,Jerry Curtner David & Brenda

MorrisonNina Myers Jim & Jane BrackinsDonna Ogle,

Blanche Blalock Jo BlalockGrace Whaley Joan ThurmanGrace Frost Clark & Vicky ByramRuth White AnonymousFaye Ratcliff Keith & Ellen RatcliffWillie Koontz,

Hailey Turner, Gladys Cummins & Lisa Pickens

Mickey & Cindy KoontzFreda ClaboughMyrl Russell Ron & Brenda RussellGrace Whaley, Eula

Thurman Mike & Staci ClaboCharlene ClaboMargie McCarter Will ClaboOur grandmothers Gregg & Tracy PriceSara Beth Hardin Charles HardinMrs. Edgar Etherton Margaret EthertonJeffrey Lynn McMahan Mary Evelyn LargePat Justus Wesley & Linzie RobertsMrs. France Yoakum Pete YoakumRuth Byrd, Thekla Sauls Leslie & Saundra SaulsVee Rosser Jean AutulloMargaret Richie Jennifer BaldwinEula Allen

Janella KnightThelma Maples Judy HarrellBetty Lane Greg & Teena FernattMary Athcley,

Laurinda Ogle Ben & Connie OgleElizabeth Tarwater Helton

& Virginia Amburn Bill & Pam ThomasRue Styles McMahanEstalee Rudd, Mollie Manis Anna OgleEmma Jean McCarter

& Ruth McFarland Bob & Diane McFarlandMolly Manis, Estalee Rudd Paul & Brenda ManisDoris White, Dorothy

Hubbard Jim & Linda HubbardBrian Owens Jack & Pam HollifieldKathy Swafford,

Brenda Ownby Phil & Karen OwnbyInez Connatser Randy & Lillian CorradoRudine Yates Wanda & Johnny SmithGladys Allen &

Rheta Sutton Beulah SuttonEstelle Johnson Johnny & Myra SettlemirLillie Farris, Hazel

Hollenbaugh Gary & Ethel HollenbaughAnne Stoffle Doug & Trina ChastainMabel Connatser Lowe Ruby MaplesJosephine Osborne Josephine OsborneGlenda McCarter Charlie JohnsonJoAnn Gibson,

Marcella Mills Jerry & Yvonne GibsonOttilee Kohl, Annie

Baldwin Ben & Linde BaldwinSusie Dyer, Carrie

Livermore Charles & Alma CliftonDelpha Bruner Marc & Kim RobertsonDorothy Joines,

TribuTedGivinG

Attendance Report 3/29/2015 4/5/2015 4/12/2015 4/19/2015 8:15am Worship 599 1185 575 601 9:30am SS 1380 1330 1162 1292 10:45am Worship 1347 1545 1146 1052 6:30pm Worship 335 253 307 300

Biblical Stewardship 3/29/2015 4/5/2015 4/12/2015 4/19/2015 Total Weekly Needs $ 97,265.00 $ 97,265.00 $ 97,265.00 $ 97,265.00 Tithes & Offerings 76,672.93 104,160.07 76,438.32 82,652.08 Building Fund 936.00 511.00 686.00 615.00 Designated Fund 6,946.00 13,184.04 2,558.50 1,704.00

New MembersDonny, Doris, Donny Jr. & Carl RichmondElias BondJohnathan SnappNelson GurdielMark NicholsOlivia CopasMisty Nichols

Recently HospitalizedDelmar SextonChris MauterRandy SpurlockTerry SailorAnnette EmoryNancy LawsonDoris BanksLynn CaylorTammy JohnsonSherryl Linnert Linda HubbardRon RoweBill McClureSydney MyersGene HendersonCraig CourtneyBob Austin

• Bill Nelson in the passing of his grandfather

• Paul Parrott in the passing of his sister, Pauline Lindsey

• Barbara Parton & Tommy Bush in the passing of their grandson, Taylor Bush

• Nelson Gurdiel in the passing of his wife, Sharon

• Doris Banks in the passing of her brother-in-law, Jack Austin

• Rowena McFalls in the passing of her son-in-law, Richard Bales

• Phil Carney in the passing of his father, Phillip

• Susan Wolfe in the passing of her, Thelma Pitts

• Charles Lester in the passing of his son, Chuck Lester

• Benny, Chad & Bryce Pickens in the passing of their wife/mother, Lisa

• Karen Price in the passing of her sister, Tammy Venable

• Bryan Atchley in the passing of his sister-in-law, Susan Atchley

Sympathy to

Roberta Husted Gary & Barbara JoinesOur mothers Lamar & Wanda JoseyKate Cole Larry & Lou LafolletteIma Denton, Elzoria Cook Jack & Elizabeth DentonMary Lillie Watson &

Lillie Mae McMahan Beulah McMahanVillie Frank, Ola Mae

Roberts & Diane Frank Paul & Villie FrankHelen White Jan MohrJean Rodhouse Jan RodhouseBeatrice Scholz,

Jessie Davenport Tim & Melissa ScholzLois Ownby, Lela Branson Will & Janet JohnsonChuck Lester,

Margaret Lester Charlie LesterNora Jennings Cora HarrisMintha Cook Katie BlalockOur mothers Clell & Betty Jean KingHettie Stiles, Lisa Pickens Richard & Carol AtchleyJulia Mize, Mattie Headrick Norma HeadrickRosa Lee McMahan Brian McMahanMary Atchley, Lula

Atchley, Ruth Cole Frank AtchleyRuth W Murrell, Ruth M

Murrell, Ella Watson Dale MurrellAnnie Thompson Johnny & Mary ThompsonLIBRARY Sharon GurdielPeggy JacksonPhillip Carney, SrThelma PittsChuck LesterDorothy OwnbyTammy VenableLisa Pickens First Baptist ChurchPARK ROAD PROJECTBetty Sexton Woody Jackson

Lisa Pickens, Tiffany Hodge

Barbara BozemanMary George PaineBill Crowson Jo BlalockMISSIONSChuck Lester Chuck Sexton’s SS ClassBENEVOLENCELisa Pickens, Bill Crowson Curtis & Shirley KingANNIE ARMSTRONGMy parents, Lee

& Julia Mize Evelyn PhillipsSENIOR ADuLTSLisa Pickens Marye RoseCHRISTMAS STOREOur mothers,

Pearl Gardner & Estelle Parton

Jacquelyn HatcherRobert StoltenbergOur grandson,

Taylor BushFloyd Perry Frank & Barbara PartonLisa Pickens Kristie RussellCHILDREN’S DEPTSue Smith Judy Whaley Mr. & Mrs. LP Rawlings

iN HONORMOTHER’S DAY Jimmie Faye Trotter,

Joyce Morgan, Kay Justus

Jean WhiteTerra Blalock Rachel BurkeHelen Frost Clark & Vicky ByramLana Ogle Caleb Scott OgleHeather Moore Stephanie KnowlesPatricia Seehorn Keith & Ellen RatcliffKiki Knight Silas KnightVickie Renegar Mike & Debbie Lequire

Faye Turner, Tammy Webb, Joyce Koontz

Mickey & Cindy KoontzJoan Thurman Mike & Staci ClaboStaci Clabo Will ClaboGeorgia Freels,

Margaret Etherton Margaret EthertonDorothy Conner Max Edward ConnerCarol Tatam Jennifer BaldwinVonda Grantham Ray & Cynthia GranthamMr. & Mrs. Olin Watson Christine Watson PerryRuby Maples Judy HarrellHelen McKinnon Helen MeehanLois, Helen Robert & Leslie BlaesingJean Reed, Claudia Look Kent & Lora ReedBrenda Manis Danny & Melinda MaxwellHelen Ownby Phil & Karen OwnbyDarlene Corrado Randy & Lillian CorradoCarole Elmore, Joyce

Morgan, Jean Wilhite, Velma Williams & Mildred Williams

Jimmie Faye TrotterJill Allen Josephine OsborneSummer Laymon Frank & Barbara PartonAnna Kelsh, Heather

Johnson Charlie JohnsonBeulah McMahan,

Betty Berrier Mike & Linda BerrierJean Woods Martha DooleyJoyce Robertson Marc & Kim RobertsonLynn Mazurkiewicz Martha GilchristPaul Trentham’s graduation Hazel Taylor

IN MEMORYBuDGETHoney, Phil CarneyLisa Pickens, My

grandmother, Hazel Murrell’s birthday

Gregg & Tracy PriceElben White Jean WhiteLisa Pickens, Chuck Lester Jack & Patricia PalmerLisa Pickens Dave & Dink TinoTammy Venable Kara BurkettAlan Pease Elaine PeaseBeulah Sutton Preston AllenGladys Allen, Beverly

Saunders Eddie & Jeannie AllenHarold Clabough,

Jerry Newman, Lisa Pickens, Taylor Bush

JB & Shirley MatthewsTV MINISTRYLon Sutton Beulah SuttonGlenda Scott Katie Blalock’s SS Class Katie BlalockBuILDING FuNDLisa Pickens Leah Brackins George & Peggy Seaton Phil & Karen OwnbyHELPING HANDSRichard Michaluk Charlie Ownby’s SS ClassLisa Pickens, Gary Lawson Kay & Jim TarwaterLisa Pickens Joyce Robertson

Fearing GodMisty Hedrick

Fear originated in Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve

sinned. They heard God coming, so they hid. “But

the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’

And he said, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was

afraid…”” Fear is the first bitter fruit of separation

between God and man.

But notice what God did: He called Adam! He

knew where Adam was, what he’d done, yet He

sought him. Adam was hiding, afraid of

judgment, yet his loving God found him and

covered him with mercy.

Fearing God simply means understanding His

holiness—knowing He is holy, we are not, and our

sinfulness deserves His righteous judgment: death.

Death without mercy is scary. Matthew 10:28 says

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot

kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both

soul and body in hell.”

But we don’t have to fear death. Why? Mercy. God

loves us and doesn’t give us what we deserve.

Instead, He gave us Jesus.

Are you afraid? Why?

It comes down to what fills your mind. My

breakthrough began with turning off the news.

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Send questions or comments to newsletter@fbcsev.org

Read Acts. Read church history. Every great movement of God has been preceded by God’s people humbling themselves in awe-struck, repentant, thankful, Scripture-soaked, faith-filled prayer.

Our church has a fantastic Prayer Room Ministry where you can volunteer to come and pray for specific requests at a certain time each week. A group of men meet every Thursday morning at Shoney’s to pray together. I hope you’ll take advantage of those and other opportunities if you don’t already. For more information on how you can become part of the Prayer Room Ministry, contact Kristie Russell in the church office.

But if we will see Jesus Christ highly exalted in our midst, we cannot relegate prayer to one hour per week or to a specific challenge from me or Pastor Dan. Prayer must be in the DNA of all we do from working our jobs to raising kids to

“You can’t just bury your head in the sand & ignore

The News!” I’m not uninformed. I’m neither

running nor hiding from bad news.

Isaiah 8:12-13: “Do not call conspiracy all this

people calls conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear,

nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, Him you

shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear; let Him

be your dread.” Also read 1 Peter 3:14-15.

Even today the words ring true. Do you hear what

God says here? He says “Listen, there’s a lot of talk

out there—about wars, economic collapses, natu-

ral disasters, toppling kings and nations, the end

of the world and [insert catastrophe]—but do not

worry. FEAR ME! I am the only God. My holiness is

terrifying. I am the only One worthy of your fear.”

Fear takes our focus off God, and God refuses to

compete for our attention. Whatever you honor

above God is an idol. If you live in fear’s grip, you

are enslaved. It’s nearly impossible to serve bound

and paralyzed by fear.

God says that we are to give him our fears and be

free. “There is no fear in love but perfect love casts

out fear, for fear has to do with punishment...” 1

John 4:18

God’s people aren’t like everyone else. We

can’t fear what everyone else fears. Only God

deserves that kind of energy.

In the process of learning to “take every thought

captive” (2 Cor. 10:5), I realized I had a

consumption problem. What we consume

eventually consumes us. Instead of consuming

“the news”, consume The Word. Jeremiah 15:16:

“Your words came and I ate them. They were my

joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your Name

O Lord God Almighty.” As a Christian, I bear

Christ’s name. His Word is Good News. I can’t say

I never fear. But I can say I’m no longer enslaved

by my fears. I can have confidence in Christ—

He’s already taken my punishment. Hallelujah!

He broke my chains of fear. I’m free!

Do you want to be free from your fears? Turn off

the TV. Seek the Lord (Ps. 34:4). Trust His

provision; rely on His protection. He hasn’t given

you a spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7, Rom.8:15).

He is the only one worthy of our fear, yet in His

mercy and love He adopts us. That is when we

realize He is the only one worthy of our praise!

planning a church budget to teaching Sunday School.

In the coming days, I hope to provide several specific opportunities for you as a church to be equipped for prayer. But don’t wait on classes or prayer meetings. Obey Colossians 4:2 now. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

A Praying ChurchCraig MintzAssociate Pastor: Equipping

Do you want to really taste and see the abundant life Jesus promises for those whom are in Him? Do you want to walk in freedom from those old temptations that seem to still follow you around and nip at your heels? Do you want to see God revive our church family and completely empower us to reach our community and the world with the Gospel?

If you do, then we must be a praying people. There is simply no other way. We must be a praying church.

I don’t mean that we should just be a church with a designated prayer ministry that only a committed few participate in. I mean prayer must be the heartbeat of all we do.

Published monthly by First Baptist Church of Sevierville.Periodical postage paid at Sevierville, TN | 317 Parkway, TN 37862RETURN POSTAGE REQUESTEDPostmaster send form 3579 to “First Word,” 317 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862(865) 453-9001 | FAX (865) 428-3920 | fbcsev.org

(USPS 661-090)

Rev. Dan Spencer Senior Pastor

Scott AndrewsAssoc. Pastor of Worship

Jerry HyderAssoc. Pastor of Adults

Scott CarterAssoc. Pastor of Youth

Address317 Parkway Sevierville, TN 37862

Office HoursMonday- Friday8:00am - 5:00pm

Office Phone(865) 453-9001(865) 429-6309 (fax)

Craig MintzAssoc. Pastor of Equipping

Steve BrewerAssoc. Pastor of Discipleship

Clark ByramAssoc. Pastor of Stewardship/Administration Contact UsSenior Staff

fbcsev.org

info@fbcsev.org

facebook.com/fbcsev

twitter.com/fbcsev

Pastor on Call(865) 453-9257

Prayer Line(865) 429-PRAY