January 2016 Average Sunday School Attendance 119

Average Worship Attendance 125

Budget Offering Received $ 29,890

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering $ 11,383

Monthly Budget Requirement- $ 36,676.33

Church Office

Located behind the church at 204 West South Street

Monday thru Friday—9:00 am-5:00pm

615-643-4507 / www.greenbrierfirst.com

Nathan Washburn, Pastor nathan@greenbrierfirst.com

Art Anderson, Worship Leader art@greenbrierfirst.com

Patrick Brown, Student Pastor patrick@greenbrierfirst.com

Donna Heflin, Ministry Assistant donna@greenbrierfirst.com

Greenbrier First Baptist Church

P. O. Box 485

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Let’s Watch the Super Bowl!

Sunday, February 5 at 5pm

Bring a snack to share, your comfy lawn

chair and we will watch on the big screen.

Business Meeting takes place

before kick-off.

Monthly Newsletter of Greenbrier First Baptist Church

First Word

February 2017

Let’s Think Missionally - Pastor Nathan Washburn

The alarm clock sounds. Or maybe the rooster

crows. You open your bleary eyes, get your bear-

ings, lift yourself out of bed, and start another day.

You shower, get ready, sip your coffee, read your

Bible and pray for a few minutes, and you’re off—to

work, to school, to run errands. You will get things

done today. You will eat a couple times. You will

come and go. And while you may or may not en-

counter others, you will at least encounter your

own thoughts and desires. Perhaps at some point

you’ll ask yourself why you do what you do. Maybe

you’ll find comfort (and even a little release and

hope) in the oft-quoted mantra “You were born to

do more than just go to work, pay bills, and die.”

We were born for more. And it’s encouraging to

know that. But while it helps to know that we were

made for more, we might struggle to know exactly

what “more” we were made for.

We were made to glorify God.

The Bible is clear that we were born (and we live) to

glorify God. “Bring my sons from afar and my

daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who

is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, continued

WEDNESDAYS February 8 - March 15

5:30-6:15pm - Dinner in Fellowship Hall

$7 per adult; $3 per child; $20 family max

6:30pm - Youth & Children’s Classes

6:30pm - 3 Study Options for Adults

“GriefShare”

A grief recovery support group offering help and

healing for those who have lost a loved one.

Led by Mary Ann Partain

“Happiness” by Randy Alcorn

Uncover the indisputable proof that God not only

wants us to be happy, he commands it.

Led by Gary & Donna Heflin

“Onward” by Russell Moore

Reclaim the distinctiveness of the Christian faith that

sets it apart from the surrounding culture.

Led by Pastor Nathan

Youth News A central commitment that I have to our church is to

teach God’s Word faithfully to our students. I believe

in the power of the Holy Spirit to save, grow and ma-

ture our students through the reading and teaching

of scripture. My personality is not sufficient for the

talk. Neither is any program or method. God doing

God’s work through his appointed means is my only

hope for gospel-growth in our students. We have re-

cently started small groups for guys and girls on

Wednesday nights for the purpose of concentrated

Bible study and discussion. Sallie and I have been

pleased to hear how God is working in our students’

hearts as the students have been opening up more.

Pray for God to bless these Bible studies. Here are our

upcoming events:

February 25

Old Spaghetti Factory

& Laser Quest

5pm—Meet at church

Return 9-9:30pm

March 10-11

YEC; Cost $10

The Conference is in Nashville. Details to come.

Brentwood Baptist Church Transportation and Child Care Provided.

Meet in our church parking lot at 5pm.

Continued

whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:6-7). The ultimate pur-

pose of our lives is to find our ultimate in another, God Him-

self. We exist to bring Him glory, attest to His beauty, exult in

His worth. And none of this is in contrast to our own joy. In

fact, these two things—bringing Him glory and seeking our

own pleasure/joy—are one in the same. In beautiful irony,

we will find our ultimate satisfaction in finding satisfaction in

someone other than ourselves. We find our highest joy in

bringing glory to God.

Others were made for the same purpose.

This beautiful and fulfilling purpose is not only for those who

already believe. It’s also for those who don’t yet believe.

There are millions of people all over the world who will share

in this purpose. However, they don’t even know about God

or Jesus Christ or the gospel or grace through faith or sin or

forgiveness of sin. They don’t yet believe because they don’t

yet know.

We were made to connect others to this

purpose of glorifying and enjoying God.

This is the mission of the church. This is your mission. This is

my mission. Between our own beginning moment of belief

and our last breath in this life, our mission is to bring others

into this overarching, soul-satisfying, heart-pumping, fear-

calming, life-giving purpose of glorifying God by enjoying

him. The link between the gospel of Jesus Christ and those

who’ve never heard or believed are those who believe the

gospel currently.

So let’s think missionally. Let’s try to see how the everyday,

common occurrences of our lives can serve that purpose.

How can we not waste our days? How can we not waste our

relationships with our neighbors? How can we squeeze gos-

pel opportunities out of visits to the grocery store? How can

we exert a positive and Christ-centered influence on social

media when the trend is anything but that? How can you

(and I) use this life we’ve been given as a vehicle through

which the gospel moves from those who believe toward

those who don’t yet believe?

I’m excited about this time in the life of our church. I believe

we have some crucial (but rewarding) days ahead. Our cul-

ture is increasingly hostile toward the church and the gospel,

but let’s take heart: the gospel is relevant, His grace is suffi-

cient, His favor is strengthening, and our fellowship is being

stoked. We have been given breath in our lungs to live an-

other day, so let’s use our lives for the mission of taking the

gospel to the people so that they too might live and worship

Christ.

June 4-8; 6-8:30pm We are already gearing up for VBS 2017! Our theme is

“Galactic Starveyors, Discovering the God of the Uni-

verse!” Students and volunteers will have a wonderful

time exploring and learning together. There is a place for

anyone who wishes to help before, during and after the

week of VBS. Please call, text or email Annette Highley if

you want information or wish to be a VBS volunteer

(615-308-5211 or ahighley@bellsouth.net). There are po-

sitions available for crafts, teachers, prayer team, follow-

up team, missions, music , decorations, greeters and

more. Volunteer soon! Our church training meeting will

be here before we know it!

Thank You Notes

The family of Darkis Winborne acknowledges with deep

appreciation your kind expressions of sympathy.

The family of Hazel Mayo thanks you for your kindness and

sympathy at a time when it was deeply appreciated.

Thanks for all the kindness shown to me during my recent

illness. That a trip I have had! Each prayer, thought, food,

visit, phone call or just thinking of me—I appreciated it all.

It has been a long hard four weeks, but thanks to God, I

feel I am on the way back up. I still do not have energy, but

I am sure that will come in time. Thanks again and I love

each of you and God bless you all. Love, Ruth Ricks

Thank you so much for providing the meal following Jack’s

mother’s funeral. It was such a blessing to be able to have

the meal at our home. We appreciate all of your prayers

and sympathy offered during this difficult time.

Love, Jack & Carol Dotson

We want to thank Greenbrier First Baptist Church for their

prayers, cards and concern shown during the time Moody

was diagnosed having a brain tumor. We know prayers

and God will get us through this trying time.

Mickie & Moody Preston

(Moody is the son-in-law of Margueritte Holmes)

VBS 2017

VALENTINE BANQUET

Saturday, Feb. 11 Cost: $5 per adult at the door; kids free

Live music and lots of fun in Fellowship Hall.

Sign up on the hallway bulletin board by 2/5.

• “Women of Joy” registration due by Feb. 8th

($74 per person).

• Deacons’ Meeting Saturday, Feb. 4th at 8am and re-

treat on Friday, Feb. 24th-Saturday, Feb. 25th.

• Business Meeting before the Super Bowl party Sunday

night, Feb. 5 at 5pm.

• Nursery volunteers needed! Call Jennifer Washburn at

615-927-5306.