Church guide

Agape Baptist Church Constitution Preamble Placing our faith wholly in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation by for the more certain preservation and security of the principles of our faith, that this body shall be established as a Southern Baptist Church, carrying out Christ’s commission, Matthew 28:19-20, and cooperating with the Southern Nevada Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention; governed in a democratic manner consistent with the accepted doctrine common among Southern Baptist Churches and for the purpose of preserving the liberties inherent in each individual member of this church; and for the freedom of action of this body with respect to its relation to other churches of the same faith and order, we do declare and establish this constitution. Article I This body shall be know as Caliente (Agape) Baptist Church of Caliente, NV. Article II - Character Section 1. Polity The government of this church is vested in the body of believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Southern Baptist churches. Section 2. Doctrine This church believes in the infallibility and inerrancy of the Holy Bible and will always use it as the sole authority in matters of faith and practice. Article III Articles of faith This church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of the “Baptist Faith and Message” as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention. Article IV Church covenant Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; To strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; To promote its prosperity and spirituality; To sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; To give it a sacred pre-eminence over all institutions of human origin; To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations. We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; To religiously educate our children; To seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; To walk circumspectly in the world; To be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; To avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; To abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our savior. We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; To remember each other in prayer; To aid each other in sickness and distress; To cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; To be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliations, and mindful of the rules of our savior, to secure it without delay. We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of Gods word. Article V Some beliefs we cherish 1. We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior. 2. We believe that the Bible is Gods word to man and that it is the only sufficient authority as the rule of doctrine and practice. 3. We believe in a regenerated church membership and that the conversion experience is a prerequisite to church membership. 4. We believe in immersion only as answering Christ’s command of baptism and that it symbolizes the heart of the gospel message - death, burial and resurrection. 5. We believe in the New Testament order of baptism and the Lord’s supper. 6. We believe in the right of each member of the church to a voice in government, plans and discipline. A Baptist church is a true democracy at work. 7. We believe in the freedom of the individual conscience, in the voluntary principle, not the coercive principle, in the church relationship. 8. We believe in the total independence and ape ration of church and state. 9. We believe the only officers of the church are pastors, deacons and trustees; they are servants of the church. 10. We believe the financial plan of the church shall be supported by tithes and offerings. 11. We believe in absolute religious liberty for all. Article VI Amendments Section 1. Amendment procedures Amendments to this constitution shall be made at a special business meeting called for that purpose. The announcement of the meeting shall be made at the public worship services on the Lord’s day preceding the meeting. The proposed amendment(s) shall be made available in written form to church members at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting. Section 2. Required vote to amend Amendments to this constitution shall require three-fourths vote by the active members of this church. Absentee votes will be accepted prior to the vote. THIS CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED ON THE 15th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1986, AND WILL NOW SERVE AS OUR BASIS FOR CONDUCTING GOD’S WORK IN CALIENTE, NEVADA.

Church meeting Sunday the 9th after potluck lunch. Please plan on staying for this planning meeting.

Our scripture lesson for Sunday June 2nd: For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Supremacy of the Son of God 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

Today's scripture lesson was Luke 10:38-42. Happy Mother's Day. At the Home of Martha and Mary 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Today's scripture, for Easter Sunday, was John 20:1-18. The Empty Tomb 20 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the [a]handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not [b]know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to [c]Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the [d]disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Our scripture lesson for today was Luke chapters 19 through 23. It was a wonderful Palm Sunday. It took 10+ readers to cover it all. Join us next Sunday for our Easter Worship Service.

Today's scripture lesson, Romans 12:3-8 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Our scripture lesson today. Matthew 12:46-50. 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”[a] 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus[b] replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

5th Sunday singspiritation is this Sunday afternoon at Agape Baptist Church in Caliente at 5pm. All are welcome attend.

Pastor Russ should be released from the hospital on Tuesday. Thank you all for your prayers for Pastor Russ and Cathy. They have been greatly appreciated.

This week's scripture 5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access[b] to this grace in which we stand; and we[c] boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we[d] also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Last week's scripture 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

TIBBETTS UPDATE: Dad is home!!!! He is feeling good and his pain level is reducing every day. He is restricted from lifting anything over 10 lbs. for the next 6 weeks to allow his incisions to heal. We will now begin the process of follow up visits with the oncology team at Huntsman’s Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City and also have him seen by his urologist in St. George. Continued prayer is welcomed and much appreciated. Our family is indebted to this community. We are overwhelmed by the amount of support we have received. Thank you just doesn’t seem adequate but again the Tibbetts family extends a grateful thanks to all of you. We are truly blessed to live in beautiful Lincoln County.

UPDATE for John Tibbetts: 3/15 8:00 am: The Doctor ordered Dad’s discharge early this morning which should happen around noon. We will stay at UUHC Patient and Family Housing for one more night and if there are no problems through the night then we will travel home tomorrow 3/16. He will be on oxygen for a month or so and will have a catheter for a few more days. He will need to see his urologist in St. George as soon as possible for follow-ups. As for now we are expecting another trip to SLC in a couple weeks for follow up and consultation. Again, thank you all for your support. Dad says he is overwhelmed by the amount of prayers, well wishes and financial support he has received. We have also reconnected with our cousin (Dads nephew) Eric Tibbetts and his wife Leona and their granddaughter Samantha. They have been here to visit several times and it has been great.

Update on John Tibbetts: Surgery went well yesterday. Today he has been out of bed for several hours and walked for 100 yards. He even was able to climb the stairs which is one of the check offs for PT. If he keeps progressing as he has we are hopeful for a release tomorrow 3/14 but looks like a Friday discharge for sure. He is quite sore as is to be expected. They removed his right kidney and tumor. The left kidney is healthy and functioning really well. Thank you to all who have offered prayers and support. He is in great spirits and is his usual joking self.

Update on Pastor Russ. He was moved to rehab today and is improving. Thank you for your prayers for Pastor Russ and Kathy.

Sunday morning worship at Agape Baptist church in Caliente Nevada