NBCB Weekly Newsletter 02/04/2025

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.  -Acts 1:12-14

 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,  who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’

 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.  And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,  while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.  -Acts 27-31

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). 

The early church prayed a lot!  We are instructed in Scripture to pray a lot.  Are you praying a lot?  Are you taking advantage of opportunities to pray?  This past Sunday evening we joined as a Family of Churches to pray. We had a wonderful evening breaking up into group after group and simply praying with each other.  It was beautiful to be able to pray with people from our own congregation but also from NBC @Wando Woods, NBC@Greenridge, and NBC-Reconcillion.  Each pastor shared some needs from our individual congregations. We also had a time for anyone needing prayer to come forward and entire group prayed for those individuals.  This past Sunday we had the least in terms of representation of the four churches. Next time let’s take advantage of this opportunity.

Speaking of prayer, we start a new devotional series during our Great Commission Prayer Meeting.  I will be teaching a series called “Songs in the Key of Life.”  This series will come from selected Psalms.  Join us at 6:00 p.m. in in the white Gethsemane building as we pray together.  This meeting is always one of the highlights of my week. Children and youth are welcome to participate because they need to witness prayer and need to be taught prayer from an early age.

Finally, don’t forget that on the 23^rd of every month our church is joining Northwood Baptist @ Wando Woods to pray. It’s not too late to sign-up to pray at prayCharleston.com.    You can pray in thirty minute or hour-long increments.  

This Sunday, February 9^th.  We will hold another Connect to Northwood Berkeley class following the 11:00 a.m. worship service.    We will feed you and your family. If you are interested in church membership or just finding out more about our congregation, please let me know by Thursday of this week that way we can plan for food.

This Sunday New Orleans hosts another Super Bowl. Every Super Bowl should be played in New Orleans.  Since a lot of people are interested in watching the Chiefs vs. Eagles or are interested in watching commercials, we are shifting our Sunday evening activities to 5:00 p.m.   There is no way we should cancel because of the Super Bowl but I think it is a good idea for one week for the Crave Student Ministry, our Kingdom Kids Ministry, and our discipleship classes to meet at 5:00 p.m. instead of 6:00 p.m.