First Notes: Because God is Good, We Have Good Days Ahead

Dear First Baptist Family,

One of the most discouraging circumstances God’s people can face is when they suspect that the best days are behind them. What if all of your major victories, accomplishments and successes are in the past?

When we’re young, we have a youthful energy and imagination that gives us optimism for the future. We anticipate the days ahead. 

But as time passes, like a boxer in the ring, we take some body blows. Friends let us down. Enemies attack us. We’re humbled. We may even get a little hardened. It dawns on us that there are probably more years behind us than ahead. Is there any significant challenge ahead that we can still undertake?

When it comes to church, we may wonder: are our best days behind us? We believe on a mental level that God can do all things — God can do a new thing — but on a heart level, we are resigned that it isn’t likely to happen. 

So what do we do? Some people fixate on the past. They look back to some glory days. Some people say, “It’s time to sit back and let others do the work.” 

Some people get into a mode of managing all that God has given and done in the past. The job is to protect the legacy. And God knows we want to honor our history and be faithful to God and all those who have gone before us. But there really isn't an expectation in management mode that God will open up the heavens anytime soon. 

I don’t believe we’re here to stay stuck in thinking that our best days are in the past. I believe that we’re here because we believe that God has a new chapter in store for First Baptist Church. 

God said through Jeremiah, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

If you look on our “new member” wall (near the church library), you’ll see that during this year we have welcomed more new members than any previous year since the pandemic. There are lots of young faces, but also many older couples and mid-life congregants. It’s exciting to see God’s church expand!

We also can be excited that God continues to hone our mission: We Help People Find and Follow Jesus. Pastor Paul Bagai is working with the Discipleship Council to develop our discipleship process through what we call “The Trail.” It’s a leadership/discipleship model that helps people grow through the stages of Neighbor —> Friend —> Disciple —> Leader —> Multiplier. 

Lastly, I wanted to mention that we have some big decisions ahead. We have a strong offer on one of our property assets, a nearby surface parking lot. We will discuss this offer in a business meeting on Wednesday, November 19. I hope you can be present for that meeting, or voice your prayerful opinion in some other way (you can email me: bmcdougal@fbcknox.org) or call me at 865-850-2167).

God is so good to us, and God has more in store for the FBC family! I’m glad to be on the journey with you as we follow Jesus together. 

With love,

Pastor Brent McDougal

P.S. Don't forget about our church-wide Thanksgiving meal this week after the 11am service (we call it the Love Feast). It's a great opportunity to fellowship with the family of faith and give thanks for all the good things God supplies. Also, you can invite a friend or family member to join us for the special day. Hope you can make it!