We are called, often, to remember the past. In 1 Samuel 7:12, the prophet Samuel erects a stone between two locations – Mizpah and Shen – and names it Ebenezer (meaning “stone of help”) to commemorate God’s victory over the Philistine army. Samuel did this in order for the people of God to remember what the Lord had accomplished for them on that day. This memorial would be a way for the people of God, who were traveling through that location, to remember the day that the Lord subdued the Philistines and gave victory to His people.
Was the stone to be worshiped?
Absolutely not. Then what would be worshiped? God who supplied the victory for His people was the one to be worshiped.
Memorial stones and moments in our lives aren’t meant for us to worship the past, but to point us to the One who has orchestrated all things – Jesus. We don’t live in the past, longing for the days of the past.
Think about it, if the people of God were worshiping the past or desiring to go back to the past after the victory that God supplied, their desire would put them back into the situation that God had redeemed them from. The memorial stone was there to help the people to trust God in what He is doing for He is our help.
As followers of Jesus, we don’t live and long for the past. We remember the past to see what the Lord is going to do in the present and future.
The Lord is faithful, and He desires for His people to be faithful to Him.
Our goal at First Baptist Church Bowling Green is to help people trust and follow Jesus in every moment of every day. To do that and to do it faithfully, we build off the foundation that has been laid first by Christ and secondly by those who have gone before us.
To honor Christ – the One who has redeemed us from our sin and has given us an opportunity to proclaim His name among all people everywhere – our faith family sensed that the Lord was leading us to something fresh and new at the corner of 12th and Chestnut. This past June, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we embarked on a new journey. We did something that only the Lord Jesus can receive the credit for.
To reach new people, FBC launched a 9am worship service in the Recreational Outreach Center’s gym on the FBC campus. The service is geared to reach families, newer generations and even people who struggle or find it difficult to attend a more traditional worship service. “9 AM Worship,” as it’s called, is reaching into a new generation of people who are finding a home at First Baptist Church.
The beauty of FBC is that it now has something for all generations, and two very distinct worship styles. The 9am meets in the gym with a band leading, while the 11am worship service meets in the FBC sanctuary and is led by the Sanctuary Choir, piano, and pipe organ.
Even though FBC now offers two worship services, we are one faith family united under the banner of the Lord Jesus Christ to make His name known among the people of Bowling Green and around the world. Our desire is for you to plug into the spot that the Lord leads you to participate in and do so with a joyful noise, giving praise to God for what He has done and what He is doing!
And the beauty of it? It’s all done for the glory of Christ Jesus. Why? Because this is what He has called us to – to live for His glory and renown among all people, including all generations.
Is there something in your life that is keeping you from seeing the grandeur of what Christ is doing in this moment and what He desires to do in the future because your eyes are fixed on the past? By His grace, may we see His glory and experience His faithfulness that is new each day.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV).
His faithfulness is new every morning. Come and see what He is doing all for the renown of His name and the glory of Christ among the nations of the world.
-by Dr. Alex Watkins, Minister of Adult Discipleship and Missions
