First Baptist Church, Stillwater – Newsletter for the week of Sept. 14, 2025

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17 (NIV). 

 

“Remember, you represent the Lord Jesus!” This was a frequent refrain that a teacher or chaperone would tell us grade school students crammed in a bus for a field trip. At El Toro Baptist Christian School, we were constantly reminded that our actions reflected what we believed about God. My first job out of high school would be working as a campus supervisor at that school and chaperoning many field trips. I employed that reminder of being representatives for Christ often to the young boys and girls. Sometimes we lived up to that standard. We always tried to leave the place cleaner than we found it (litter is a federal offence in my book). Sometimes we didn’t. One time, a group of fifth grade boys decided to use the bus window to make obscene gestures to passing cars. That didn’t represent God well. 

 

We don’t have to look too hard for either positive or negative examples of Christians living for Christ to the utmost.  Positively, we have examples of Christian love and charity during times of disaster. Negatively, we have examples of hateful rhetoric toward others. The teaching that Paul encourages us to live out is the idea that we do everything in Jesus’ name. With His authority. Representing Him. 

 

  What if the invitation to do all things for Jesus – in our words or deeds- includes our shortcomings? What if messing up, admitting our sin, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation, can all be done for Jesus’s name? 

 

I believe often when we read verses like Colossians 3:17, we tend to think “only the areas of my life that are good and successful can be used for God’s glory.” But what if Jesus invites us to show His redeeming authority and capabilities through our foul-ups? This takes a level of humility and self-reflection that can make us squirm, but even in Jesus’s teachings we see examples of how a person messed up, realized their sin, repented, and God’s goodness was glorified (see the Prodigal Son).  

 

If I could re-do my time as a chaperone, I would put more emphasis on how a wrong choice could be used to reveal the repenting, reconciling, and redeeming nature of our faith. Maybe this week, we can ask God to use our brokenness to help us give glory to His name.  

May the LORD bless us and keep us.

Matt 

 

 

Announcements and Other Thoughts: 

 

Wednesday Night Gathering – I hope to see you this Wednesday night for our prayer and bible study time in the fellowship hall at 6pm! 

 

Choir rehearsal and Cantata – To join the sanctuary choir, all you got to do is talk to Brant and show up Wednesday nights at 7:00pm for rehearsal. And if you’re one of those people who start dreaming of sugarplums and candy canes once August ends, then you should pray about joining our Christmas cantata. Rehearsals start 

BUILD NIGHTS – Also, mark your calendars for the first ever BUILD NIGHT at FBC. The purpose of Build Nights is to honor the foundation and legacy of FBC by seeking God’s future for FBC together. These sessions will be designed to help us begin charting a way forward for our church as we seek to be the church God wants us to be. Our first Build Night will be Sunday, Oct. 5. at 4:30pm and will last approximately 1 hour. The reason for this time is to leave a chance for those rehearsing for the choir or Christmas program to participate. We intend to serve a meal, if you’d like to contribute a dish, please sign up here:  https://forms.gle/xfHPQeZzbjmZd9Td6