Thankful for what the "Lord" is Doing!

So far this year the "Lord" has really blessed us at ETBC.

Some of the things "God" is doing:

1. Giving
Our church body has given over 1 million dollars for the 3rd straight year!
-thru our budget we give over $200,000 to missions. We support local and international ministries.

2. Going
Members of our Church have been literally "Across the Street and Around the World".
Some of the places we have been this year alone: Montana, Honduras, Peru, China and Haiti. Not to mention local ministries in Alexander County and in North America.

3. Growing-We have had the privilege of welcoming 61 new members to ETBC this year. This is great considering you can't "walk the isle" and join ETBC. You "must" first attend a New Members Class before you can join. In the New Members Class we explain our beliefs and expectations of New Members, then we ask those wishing to join to take time and seek the Lord to see if this is the place for their family to minister and be ministered to. We don't beg, plead or proselytize. We already have 1,700 members we don't need more people "on the roll".. everybody said AMEN!

We have also baptized 41 people this year with 4 more to be baptized Sunday. The average Baptist church in North Carolina baptizes 6 or less in any given year! I say praise the Lord. This may change next year higher or lower depending on the "Spirit and will of God".

4. Glorifying

God has been glorified at ETBCthru: Worship, Witness and the Word.

Jesus said this about the Word:
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Tim Keller states:
Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you—it’s about him.
Preach the Word and Jesus will be glorified and your Church will grow, one way or the other!!