Thirsty?

The weather forecast claims that we are in for a HOT weekend ahead. 

Nothing reminds us of our bodies' desperate need for water like a hot, sunny day. 

When my thirst kicks in on a sweltering day, I'm reminded of my spiritual thirst and how thankful I am to be constantly and overwhelmingly drenched in Christ's never-ending love. 

We're thirsty beings, all of us desperate to be filled. 

Often we reach for other things to fill us. Spouses, earthly relationships, steady jobs, family and friends may fulfill us for a time, but their effect is fleeting. 

The only true source of soul hydration is found in the deep well of Christ's mercy and grace. 

"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." - John 6:35

The first step is to recognize your thirst - a thirst that is quenched by only One, and then, COME. Approach the throne of God often to drink in His love. Turn to nothing else for satisfaction and fulfillment. He is the only one who promises us a spiritually thirst-free life!

Tonight is our last MidWeek Worship for the summer while we take a break for Life Groups and our Discovering Membership class. Come out and join us! Worship starts at 6:30 PM after dinner at 5:30 PM! 

Come thirsty. Drink deeply. We'll see you tonight! 

Priorities.

This past week I saw a story in the news about a woman who was pulled over for having a gas can strapped into a car seat.  You may be thinking, “Why would she be pulled over for that?” Well the problem was that her baby was out of the car seat with no seat belt on. 

As I read this story I thought about how crazy it is that you would think it would be more important to protect your gas can than to protect your baby. It’s obvious to see in this story that this woman had her priorities mixed up. She was putting too much emphasis on the wrong thing. I wonder how often in your own life this happens… not specifically caring more about your gas can than your baby, but you putting emphasis on things in your life that really don’t matter. 

Proverbs 21:2-3 says:

“People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.”

What Solomon is saying here is that God sees past what every one else sees and in the end, He is more concerned with what’s right than the sacrifice or what is seen on the outside. This verse speaks so loudly to me because so often in my life I get it backwards. I put much more emphasis on the sacrifice or what is seen than what is actually right and in my heart. What starts to happen in my own life is I begin to become like that woman with her gas can; I start to take what’s important and set it aside for what’s less important. What in your life matters most? Is it seeking after God, doing what is right, and protecting your relationship with him at all cost? Or are you more concerned with how people perceive you than how God actually sees you?

Proverbs 8:17 says:

“I love all those who love me; those who search will surely find Me.”

He promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him. The problem is that it’s hard to seek after him if most of our time and energy is being put into seeking after the approval and acceptance of those around us.

Which matters most to you, what God sees in you or what those around you see in you? 


- Brad Snipes
Middle School Pastor, BCC

Prayers for Guinea-Bissau Team

Charles Shook and I appreciate your prayers for us as we had the opportunity to engage the Manjaku People Group in Guinea-Bissau a few weeks ago. The Manjaku are the People which Brevard Community is helping to sponsor the translation of the Scriptures into their heart language. They are also one of our adopted Unreached People Groups. 


Pictured below are the four books which are already translated into Manjaku; Jonah, Luke, and 1&2 Timothy. We were able to meet a Manjaku brother who is proofing the ongoing translation for accuracy.

While we were there, we engaged the Nouakchott Evangelical Church, a small group of Manjaku believers who are interested in multiplying house churches in their area. So Charles and I will be going back to teach them how to share their testimonies and teach them a few stories they can share to bring others into a relationship with Christ. We will 
depart this Monday, June 18th and return on June 27th.

     

As we go, we appreciate your continued prayers for us, for those we will be teaching, and the many "divine appointments" we will have as we go. A good prayer model for us is Colossians 4:2-4:

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I (we) may make it clear in the way I (we) ought to speak."

Thank you for you continued partnership in the Gospel through your prayers and encouragement.

Grace and Peace,

Alan Perry

Missions Pastor, BCC

Just Because.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16

In the final days of Jesus' life, He had dinner with his friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. By the end of the week, He would be experiencing horrific torture, humiliation, and abandonment on the cross, but on this evening, He was feeling the love of friends. 

"Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house." - John 12:3

Some of the disciples saw this as a waste. This perfume and the jar itself was so incredibly valuable! Why not sell it and spend the money on something else? But Jesus saw Mary's heart and saw this as a compassionate gesture of extravagant, overwhelming, all-consuming love. A dear friend surrendered her most treasured gift. 

We are surrounded every day by people who need a demonstration of God's love.

You never know what kind of impact your time invested and your heart poured out can have on someone.  

Let it be our goal to daily do something for someone else without expecting anything in return. 

Work done with no complaints. Coffee made before your spouse wakes up. Encouragement for your child through a thoughtful gift. 

Jar broken. Perfume spilled. Just because. 

Precious Lord, set a fire in us for people who do not know You. Let Your compassion and brokenness for these people consume our souls. 

Let us pour out love as You do.... just because. 


Just a reminder: We will not be having our MidWeek service tonight because of VBS! Enjoy a restful evening with your loved ones! 
And join us this Sunday as we lift up and give thanks for our earthly fathers while we glorify our Heavenly and Eternal One on Father's Day! See you at 9:30 or 11 AM!

At War!

As a young boy, I can remember playing war in the woods with my friends. We would split up in teams and build forts for protection. Our goal was to sneak over to the other team’s fort without being seen or shot at. As boys, it is built in our DNA to want to pretend to shoot at things, play army, and get dirty.  Playing war as a kid was so much fun, but it was cool because no one got hurt. 

However, the reality that I realized after becoming a father is that our kids are in a war! Everyday kids are in battle over who they are going to follow. When they are young we don’t pay much attention to it because they are so cute and lovable. As they get a little older, we give them rules to follow so they won’t get hurt.  We all have good intentions for them like making good grades, being the best athlete, a great musician, Eagle Scout, or just fitting in. But soon we realize our influence is fading and the world’s influence is growing. Our kids are in a serious battle for who they’re going to follow!

Sending a soldier into battle unprepared would result in a definite casualty.  A soldier needs to be prepared with armor, the ability to fight back and the knowledge to know the enemy’s tactics. The same goes for our kids: they must be ready for a spiritual war. As Christ Followers in Brevard Community Church, God has given us the responsibility to equip the people under us. 

Here's some instructions in the Bible on how to be prepared for a spiritual war:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”

Ephesians 6:10-18

Next week is an example of our church taking the opportunity to equip those under us. At “SKY” VBS, we get to invest in 200 or more kids and share the Gospel of Jesus with each of them. This is just one step in preparing the ones who will come after us to be prepared for war.  Here are a few things you can do: pray for VBS, get involved, and encourage parents to be the example of Jesus to their kids. Oh, one thing to remember: God has already won the war, but let's not send our kids into battle unprepared.

- Marty Burgess

College Pastor, BCC

Rain or Shine, Baptism is Still On!

We are praying that the sun makes an appearance but either way, we're celebrating Baptism this evening! Bring a sweatshirt and a hearty appetite and come fellowship with us! See you soon! 

Washed by the Water.

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 28:19

It's easy to see the importance of that first command: "Go and make disciples." That makes sense, right?

The significance of that second part is sometimes unclear for people.

But Jesus emphasized baptism for a reason. 

Baptism itself isn't salvation; it's the proclamation of it. 

Baptism is the public declaration of a switched mindset - from allegiance to self to submission to the reigning lordship of Christ. 

It's through baptism that we testify that we know we're messed up, and we've found the only One who can cleanse our sin-stained soul. It's an opportunity for love-stricken Believers to shout to the world of the glorious things God has done in their lives. And it's a chance for God's love, mercy, and saving grace to be high and lifted up. 

Jesus, whose only goal was to glorify the Father, believed deeply in radically changed, passionate hearts shouting proclamations of God's goodness and glory, not just one time through baptism, but with every single breath. 

Let us live every day in a baptismal mindset with a desire to make God and His grace known through our lives. 

Today, we're celebrating with believers who want to make their faith and devotion known! Praise God! 

Join us this evening at Sycamore Flats for a picnic and baptism celebration! We'll start eating at 5, and the baptism will start at 6:30! Park at Sycamore Flats, or hop on a shuttle from the church to the forest! We'll see you at the river! 

My Love/Hate Relationship

I must admit as your Worship Pastor that I’m about to be in the thralls of a love/hate relationship.

Again.  

It happens to me this time every year. 

The object of both my affection and loathing?  

Summer.  

Really?  Let me explain. 

On the one hand I’m a huge fan of summer.  I love the beach.  Hot sunny days. Warm breezes. Cold watermelon.  Lots of cold watermelon please.  Camping trips, outdoor baptisms and picnics like we’ll have next week, long hikes, vacations and Vacation Bible School.  (by the way, our VBS happens June 11 through the 15^th and promises to be over the top!)  Just getting outdoors is like medicine in so many ways.  In fact, God provides us healthy doses of mood enhancing Vitamin D when we soak in the sunshine, so get outdoors if you can!  And I think it’s safe to say I’m not the only person on the planet who enjoys a break from the daily and weekly routines of life.  Summer helps us with all of that.  

But then there’s the other side of this season, the side that I have no affection for.  In this search for all things fun and different, there seems to be a growing trend to take a break from God and the church family when summer arrives.  I’m always amazed at how churches go through what are called “summer slumps.”  Across America - from June to September - church attendance goes down.  Giving goes down.  Serving goes down.  I would venture to say that time spent reading the bible goes down as well.  And this is what I hate about summer.  I know we sometimes need breaks from the monotonous routines of life – but some routines are really good for us.   Being outside and enjoying God’s creation should make us all want to join with others to worship the ONE who created it!  It’s very common for people to go into a spiritual swoon this time of the year and many never recover from it.  They don’t realize that being “away” from God by not reading His Word and worshipping together with other believers really hurts us spiritually.  And when we’re lacking spiritually, it affects every aspect of our life.  

So in these next few months, enjoy all that summer has to offer, but don’t take a break from God.  In fact, how about spending even more time in scripture?  Make sure your two weeks away from church doesn’t turn into three.  When God says “forsake not the gathering of the believers,” He means it!   Then, when school starts back and autumn rolls around – you’ll find yourself in a stronger relationship with God – ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead.    

Until next time I’ll see you on the hiking trail and at the ice cream stand – and at church as well!

Scott Limerick

Worship Pastor and Watermelon Eater