Elder Conversation (Page 4)

August 24, 2022Discover TCBC And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… Acts 2:42 When we read about the early church in the book of Acts, one of the things that stands out about their pursuit is the word “devotion.” They were devoted to Jesus, and devoted to pursuing Jesus alongside Jesus’ people, the church. We live in a cultural moment where it has become normalized for our pursuit…

July 20, 2022The Promise of StewardshipElder Letter by Gene Mermilliod You may be surprised to learn that as a young man in my twenties, even in the early years of my service to the Lord as a youth pastor, I was a thief. Another way to put it biblically is that I was a God robber. In the book of Malachi, the Lord speaks to His people and asks a question, then immediately pronounces a startling accusation. He asks, “Will…

August 17, 2022Equip And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… Acts 2:42 When we read about the early church in the book of Acts, one of the things that stands out about their pursuit is the word “devotion.” They were devoted to Jesus, and devoted to pursuing Jesus alongside Jesus’ people, the church. We live in a cultural moment where it has become normalized for our pursuit of…

July 14, 2022We Promise To Equip You To Serve One Another… To Love YouElder Letter by Paul Mermilliod Sometimes a well-timed question can become an instrument used by the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out. When I was in college, the youth pastor at our church asked me a question that would end up leaving a permanent mark on the trajectory of my life. It was a simple question that on the surface seemed to be of…

July 7, 2022Membership PromisesElder Letter by Jeremy Bledsoe During my time serving in the military, I learned many valuable lessons. One of those lessons was that everyone must be committed to accomplishing the mission at hand. This means that everyone must be committed to fulfilling their assigned duty. A lack of commitment by anyone on the team could create a ripple effect that would affect the team’s ability to effectively carry out the mission. While the military carries out many…

June 30, 2022GO Make DisciplesElder Letter by Mike Laughrun Jesus said GO! Every Jesus follower is commanded, empowered, and commissioned by Jesus to GO and make disciples. That was made clear by Jesus at the beginning of His ministry in the gospel of Mark: and Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” – Mark 1:17 Jesus gave this same command to His disciples at the end of His earthly ministry: Go therefore…

June 23, 2022Update on the Southern Baptist ConventionElder Letter by TCBC Elders Last week, the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) took place in Anaheim, California. This year’s meeting drew extensive attention in large part because of the Sexual Abuse Report released just days before the meeting. Because TCBC is a cooperating SBC church, the proceedings and decisions of this annual meeting deserve our attention and consideration. What is the SBC?The SBC is made up of over 45,000…

June 16, 2022Equip The SaintsElder Letter by Jeremy Bledsoe I am very thankful for the investment that TCBC has made in my life over the past 11 years! I am thankful for the spiritual investment that our leaders and church family have made in my life and the life of my family. I cannot express how much I value the discipleship I have received. The discipleship that has taught me what it means to be a growing disciple of Jesus…

June 9, 20225 Difference Making Practices To Gather WellElder Letter by Daniel Broyles Be PresentI love the convicting simplicity of Prov. 4:7, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom…” The first step to gathering well: Gather! Gather with us on Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00. Be EarlyPrioritize the gathering with your time. Don’t be late. It is a distraction and hindrance to your worship and limits your connection and ministry to others. (Parents, consider the family of 6 who…

June 2, 2022Abide – Knowing and Following the Will of GodElder Letter by Gene Mermilliod “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do no lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” [Proverbs 3:5-6] The practice of abiding in Christ is to know and follow His will for our lives. Sometimes it may feel as if the will of God is hidden like a buried treasure chest with relatively…

May 26, 2022Very Thankful!Elder Letter by Larry Durham Philippians 1:3 – 6 (ESV)“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” As I reflect on this…