February 23, 2025 IN-PERSON SERMON

Dr. Ronny Raines, Senior Pastor

Lessons from the Psalms: The Stakes are High!
Psalm 78:1-8

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

I. God Unveiled His Divine Revelation (Psalm 78:1-5a)
1. The Bible is Authoritative
2. The Bible is Nourishment 

II. God Explained Our Daily Responsibility (Psalm 78:5b-6) 
1. The Bible is Filled with Commands, not Suggestions
2. The Christian Faith is Personal, not Private
     i. Teach about the Works of God
     ii. Talk about the Word of God

III. God Revealed His Desired Results (Psalm 78:7-8)
1. God Wants the Coming (Now) Generation to Know Him
2. God Calls the Next (Now) Generation to Obey Him

February 23, 2025 STUDY GUIDE

Lessons from the Psalms: The Stakes are High!
Psalm 78:1-8

God loves to use young people. Name a few young people whom God used in the Bible. Talk about their stories, explaining their strengths and weaknesses. How is the Lord using young people in your church? A healthy church consists of multiple generations. What's the future of a church when the youngest member is in his or her sixties? 

This week's sermon and study come from Psalm 78. How is the Lord using you and your church to reach the coming generation? Take a moment and talk about the following two verses: Galatians 6:7 and Judges 2:10. When it comes to reaching, teaching, and unleashing the coming generation, the stakes are high. 

Who is Asaph? What is a Maskil? What's the biblical challenge of Psalm 78? God is calling His people to pass the spiritual baton to the coming generation. How are you and your church obeying God's call? Share a story or two about how you see young people being used by God to advance His kingdom. 

Here are three biblical principles from Psalm 78:1-8: 

1. God Unveiled His Divine Revelation (Psalm 78:1-5a). God reveals His ways, will, and Word. What do the following words mean (give ear, teaching)? The Psalmist is talking about the Bible. Discuss in your group what you believe about the Bible. Is God's Word inerrant and infallible? How has the Bible changed your life and walk with the Lord?

2. God Explained Our Daily Responsibility (Psalm 78:5b-6). God expects His children to live responsibly. Believers need to grow in Christ, share the gospel, lead their families, and participate in a local church. What happens when God's people ignore their responsibilities? How are you teaching the works of God? When do you talk about the Word of God? Seize every teachable moment.  

3. God Revealed His Desired Results (Psalm 78:7-8). How does God bless obedience, and how does He handle disobedience? It's clear in Psalm 78 that God wants the coming generation to know and obey Him. If you have kids or grandkids, do they know Him as Savior? How are you teaching them to follow Him as Lord? There's a battle for the souls of the coming generation. 

Pause in your group for a time of prayer. Pray specifically for the following groups of people: 

• Your kids and grandkids

• Parents and grandparents

• Young people in your church

• The unreached coming generation

• Student pastors and leaders

Take a few minutes and discuss the final three questions: You may want to share your answers with your senior pastor and/or student pastor.  

1. What are the potential consequences if parents, grandparents, and the church fail to reach the coming generation?   

2. How can we as a church create a culture where Scripture isn't just studied but lived out?  

3. How can the church support parents and grandparents in their role as primary spiritual influencers in the lives of their children and grandchildren?  

We're praying for a great weekend of Bible study and worship. We hope you'll join us. 

Grace and Peace!                

View all of the "Lessons from the Psalms" Sermon Series Study Guides at fbct.org/psalms.   

WEDNESDAY NIGHT GROWTH GROUPS

Check out our Midweek Growth Groups on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:15pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow in Christ together!

PRAYER CONFERENCE WITH DR. HAYES WICKER

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 1 | LAIDA FELLOWSHIP HALL

Join us February 28-March 1 for a Prayer Conference with Dr. Hayes Wicker in the Laida Fellowship Hall.

SCHEDULE
Friday, February 28
5:30pm: Dinner
6:00-7:00pm: Session 1
7:00-8:00pm: Session 2

Saturday, March 1
8:30am: Light Breakfast
9:00-10:00am: Session 3
10:00-10:15am Break
10:15-11:15am: Session 4
11:15am-12:15pm: Lunch
12:15-1:00pm: Session 5

The cost for this event is FREE! Please let us know that you are coming so we can have food prepared. Learn more and register at fbct.org/prayerconference.

MARRIAGE MATTERS MARRIAGE CONFERENCE

March 30 | 4-6 pm | Laida Fellowship Hall

Join us on Sunday evening, March 30, from 4-6 pm in the Laida Fellowship Hall for our “Marriage Matters” Marriage Conference, where we will welcome our Guest Speaker, Bob Russell.

SCHEDULE:
3:00 - 4:00 pm: Session 1
4:00 - 4:15 pm: Cookie and Coffee Break
4:15 - 5:00 pm: Session 2

LOCATION: Fellowship Hall

CHILDCARE: Provided upon reservation

COST: Free (reservation for event not required)

FIRST STEPS CLASS

UPCOMING CLASS: April 6, 2025, 12-2 pm

LOCATION: hope BUILDING, original fellowship hall

Our First Steps class is designed for new members and guests. We invite you to join our Senior Pastor, Dr. Ronny Raines, and our ministry team for our next membership class. We'll treat you to a delicious lunch and then help you discover how God wants to use you at First Baptist Church. As you attend the class, we'll cover the following subjects:

• A personal relationship with Jesus Christ

• Meaning of church membership

• Biblical baptism

• The Lord's Supper

• The church's beliefs and vision

• Opportunities to give

• Ways to serve in the church

• Ministries at First Baptist Church 

• Meet our ministry team

• Time for Q&A

• Tour our church facilities

We hope you'll join us for our next First Steps class. You can register by filling out the online form HERE or contacting Dana in the pastor's office at 931.245.0000 or dana.abee@fbct.org.

FIRST BAPTIST MUSIC

Check out all of the First Baptist Worship Team videos from our online worship services at fbct.org/music.

THE VOICE - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Stay up to date with all that is going with our monthly newsletter, the Voice! Visit fbct.org/voice!

MEMBERSHIP AND GIVING TOOLS

Fellowship, Worship and Discipleship are fundamental to an obedient life in Christ. First Baptist Church maintains several tools to help us stay connected, share and offer the sacrifice of praise, and grow together. Scroll to the bottom of the home page at fbct.org and click on "app" to see options for adding these tools to your phone or other device. You can use these tools to stay connected to your discipleship group, contact the church, watch past worship services and sermons, as well as support the FBC financially as the Lord directs for you and your family. There are even instructions for how to access these tools using your web browser.

Using these apps, updating your profile information to share with the church is easy. When changes occur in your family life such as a move to a new home, change in email address, etc. you can update your information to be sure that our communication with you is efficient. You can even add a picture to make it easier for your church family to put a name with a face!

Information about any groups that might be of interest to you, such as Connect Groups, teams, committees, etc will be available as well.  Group Leaders can use the tools to take attendance online and access other features.  You can contact the church through the app, read messages from group members/leaders and browse the church directory.

Check out fbct.org/app  for instructions on how to get the app and reach the membership and giving website.

LOVE the time of worship through song today? You can follow us on Spotify and listen to our playlist each week! Follow us on Spotify “First Clarksville” and sing along!