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INTRODUCTION
Do you know how blessed we are? At FBC do you know how blessed we are?
Text today is Psalm 34:8: “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the
man who takes refuge in Him!” New Century: “Examine and see how good the Lord is,
happy is the person who trusts in him.”
2007 like any other year, was a year with many ups and downs - the ups because the Lord is
working among us, and downs because when the Lord is working so is the devil. We take both and
see God goodness in it all.
In the ups and downs of David’s life, specifically in a down time (1 Sam. 21 gives story)
David writes about God’s goodness in his life: “O taste and see that the LORD is
good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
Today and next Sunday is my Annual Pastor’s Report in verbal form. This Sunday looks at
the past - 2007; next Sunday looks at the future - 2008.
In 2007 - Do you know how blessed we are?
People: We were blessed with people - you...
- New people attending, added 11 new members, baptized 8 people.
- Sunday morning attendance is up, several years of incline. (If we would not count
summer it would really be up) - 8 Sundays 200 and above, and Dec. 23 had 256 here for
Kids Christmas program.
- Good leadership
- Proactive Trustees who got a lot done.
- We had a positive Deacon Board who encouraged the church.
- Deaconess always do a great job with thanksgiving and baptisms.
- Awana leadership, S.S. leadership, youth workers, etc.
- Missionary visits by Ted Warsavage, Eida Dunn
- We encouraged missionary JoAnn Franz when her brother died this fall
- 9 Youth took Mission trip to Chicago Albany Youth Center
- You are the people - the visible body of Christ at FBC Colfax.
- 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A
PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of
Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
So, do you know how blessed we are? “O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
- You the people can say, we have tasted and seen the Lord’s goodness.
Power: We are blessed by Power of the Word of God and Gospel of Christ
- Not power in ourselves but in God’s word and the message of Gospel.
- We are a church that stand firm on the Bible, boldly proclaim the gospel.
- Salvation decisions, personal discipleship going on
- I preached from Gospel of John - outstanding book, return later this year
- We had the Creation series with Ken Ham in S.S. and Evening Service
- Excellent Sunday School classes - 2nd coming - don’t by green bananas
- Mark IV ministries here in September - heart for youth, evangelism
- Uncle John in October - master at preaching alleritation style
- Two gospel concerts Higher Power and Headin Home - they have 3rd CD
- Many of you read the Bible through in a year - next week certificates.
- Romans 1:15: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God
for salvation to everyone who believes...”
So, do you know how blessed we are? “O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
- You the people have heard the Word, invitations to the Gospel, you ought to know that
when you take refuge in God, you are blessed indeed.
Possessions: We are blessed with many great resources.
- You have been generous in faithful giving and love offerings
- Received a gift of $73,000 from Elizabeth Husson Cooper Estate
- Parking Lot paved this summer after years of talking about it
- Fixed up several things around the church
- Church offices state of the art - computer network, internet
- Took the opportunity to purchase the house next door, gracious neighbor
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do
just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that
always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good
deed;”
So, do you know how blessed we are? “O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
- You the people care about this ministry, want to see it grow. The Lord is good, we are
blessed, and once again, we have personally tasted of His goodness and seen it with
our very eyes. Tonight exposition of text.
One of the reasons the Deacons and Pastors are wholeheartedly encouraging supporting the Cedar
Rapids Church plant is because we have been blessed, so may we bless someone else. Acts 20:35,
Apostle Paul reminds us of Jesus’ words which he heard: “It is more blessed to
give than to receive.” This is a Conservative Baptist Church plant, one with a firm
commitment of Noelridge Baptist Church and other CB supporting churches, proclaiming the Word
of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ, blessed with a remarkable opportunity for an excellent
piece of property. Great name “Imago Christi” = The Image of Christ.
#564 “We are so blessed”
We are blessed because of the cross of Calvary. The Lord’s Table is the visible reminder
of Christ’s gift of Himself to us on the Cross. Let come to worship our Savior and Lord
- the one who blessed us now and eternally.
#185 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
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