Pastor's Corner

Pastor Abel Garcia

Communication Is what Counts!!!!

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

 Over the past 20 years in Ministry, it has been very clear that the deep within the roots of all relational problems is bad communication. In order to be a good communicator you must give up three things. I encourage you to begin using the principles and see the difference it can make in your life and those around you!

Abel G

You must give up your assumptions.

We get into trouble when we start assuming we understand the meaning of what people say to us. The truth is everything you hear goes through a filter. Your filter is determined by your past experiences and your unique personality.

You may not be hearing what the other person is really saying. Therefore, it’s smart (and safe) to ask for clarification. There are  possible messages every time you speak:

What you mean to say and what you actually said.·

What they heard and what they think they heard.·

What they say about it and what you think they said about it.

Proverbs 18:13 (NLT) says, “What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!”

You must give up your accusations.

You never get your point across by being cross. Anger and sarcasm only make people defensive and that kills communication.

Here are four common forms of accusation:

· Exaggerating – Making sweeping generalities like “You never” or “You always.”

· Labeling or derogatory name calling – Labeling never changes anyone. It only reinforces the negative behavior.

· Playing historian – Bringing up past failures, mistakes, and broken promises.

· Asking loaded questions which really can’t be answered, like “Can’t you do anything right?”

You must give up your apprehensions.

 Fear prevents honest communication. It causes us to conceal our true feelings and fail to confront the real issues. The two most common apprehensions are the fear of failure and the fear of rejection.

But real communication can happen when you face your fear and risk being honest. Freedom is the result of openness.

Jesus said, “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NLT).

Pastor Abel Garcia
First Baptist Church, Freeport
979-299-9125
www.fbcfreeport.org

How to Join First Baptist

If you are interested in joining our church family, we invite you to come forward during the Invitation at the end of the service.

The following will help you in communicating your intentions:

  • Commit your life to Christ. (This means you have accepted or want to accept Jesus Christ as yor Lord and Savior)
  • Join our church by baptism. (If you are coming as a new Christian who has not been baptized or if you are coming from a church of another denomination)
  • Join the church from another Baptist Church. (If you want to transfer a membership letter from another Baptist Church)
  • Join or church by statement. (If your church membership record is not available for transfer, or if you were once, though not presently, a Baptist church member.)

"The People's Church"

Join us as we walk through the scriptures seeking out God's timeless truths for today's families.

Christ reached out to people of all ages and backgrounds. At our church we desire to do the same. You will discover ministries here geared to various life stages and needs. We have a place for everyone to study the Scriptures, fellowship together, and minister to others through various opportunities.

We want you to experience the blessings of God in the life of our church. We would like to share with you what is happening at our church and how Christ is making a difference in the lives of people.

Benefits of Good News

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
 
The good news is you're able to enter into a relationship with God through an attitude of trust in Jesus Christ; not through religion, rules, regulations, or rituals.
 
When we trust our lives to Jesus Christ we're given three incredible, fabulous,  benefits. So, when we tell others about the good news, we can let them know: God forgives your past; he gives you purpose in the present; and, he offers you a future.
God forgives your past.  
None of us are perfect. Everybody’s made mistakes. Everyone has skeletons in the closet – things he or she wishes had never happened. God comes along and says, “When you trust Jesus Christ with your life, I take everything you've ever done and wipe the slate clean. You get to start over with a brand new life.” Now, is that good news?
God gives you purpose in the present. 
You are not an accident. God created you for a purpose. But you're never going to know God’s purpose for your life until you first get to know God. When you get to know God, you're going to know who you are. When you figure out God, you're going to figure out yourself.
I meet people all the time who say, “I'm just trying to find myself.” You know what – you probably aren't going to like yourself once you find yourself!
 
These people say, “There’s something missing in my life.” God’s missing! You weren't made to live and go through life just on your own power.
God offers you a future. 
God gives you a future, a home in heaven. Most people hope they're going to heaven, but they're not sure. Most people think if you do more good in your life than bad, maybe God will grade on a curve and say, “Okay, you can come in.” Wrong! It doesn't work that way.
 
You won't get into heaven on your own power because you're just not good enough. The Bible says that heaven is a perfect place, free of sorrow, suffering, and sin. That means only perfect people get to go there. If he let imperfect people into heaven, it wouldn't be perfect anymore. And that leaves me out and it leaves you out, too.
 
There’s only one way we can get into heaven – on somebody else’s ticket. Since none of us are perfect, God came to earth in human form as Jesus. Jesus lived a life of perfection. He died on the cross, paid for our sin, and then went back to heaven. Now you get into heaven on his ticket, if you trust him.
 
Romans 6:23  says, “God gives us the free gift of life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It’s a gift.
 
That means you can't earn it, you can't work for it, and you can't own it in any way.
 
God says, if you trust my Son with your life, you get forgiveness for your past, a purpose for living in your present, and a home in heaven in the future.
 

Is that good news? Do you think anybody you know would be interested in that? The world is hungry for good news.

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