The old saying is “failing to plan is planning to fail”. I surely do not want to fail when it comes to becoming more like Jesus. Ok then, what will be my plan for growing more like Jesus in 2026?
This year, I will start my 2026 Teaching Series on the topic of Spiritual Disciplines: The Habits Every Believer Needs to Grow. Spiritual disciplines are spiritual habits. They are the intentional things we do that allow the Spirit of God to shape us as we become more and more like Jesus. These include spiritual habits like prayer, Bible Study, Worship, rest, etc.
The firs six weeks of the year will be given to helping us build a strong foundation or strengthening the foundation that we already have. Think of spiritual disciplines/spiritual habits as spiritual “workouts” or spiritual “training.” It is what we do to get stronger, better, more holy (in a good way not in a “holier than thou” way).
It is the transforming work of God we sometimes refer to as sanctification. In Philippians 1:6 Paul says it this way: “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus.” This is one way He continues His good work in us.
I am 70 years old. A physical trainer once asked me my goal for working out and lifting weights. He kindly suggested I had to deal with the reality that I would never again “bulk up”. I assured him I was not going after the Arnold Schwarzenegger look with 22” guns. I just wanted to be able to carry my own luggage on vacation, keep my balance and have a healthy heart and always be able to outrun Janie if I needed to! Exercise to keep me physically and mentally healthy. Spiritual disciplines help keep us healthy, spiritually, emotionally, even physically. At the end of 6 weeks, let’s see if we can develop a plan to help us become more like Jesus!
See you Sunday, good Lord willing,
Pastor Tom
“You gotta let the big dogs eat!” This is a phrase used by a professional football player for motivation. It means you are going to perform at a high level and give it your best. That is the way I feel when Pastor Kyle and Pastor Logan preach for us at JIBC. When I am gone on vacation or am away from the pulpit teaching ministry for some reason, I usually say “It is time to let the big dogs eat.”. Both Logan and Kyle are very good pastor/teachers…what many refer to as “preachers”. I am usually the one in the pulpit bringing the message. There are times, though, when I feel like “letting the big dogs eat”…letting them do what they love to do and both of them do at a high level. We are blessed to have two such gifted men on staff. When I am away, I do not hesitate to ask either of them to fill in for me. I know they both will do an excellent job, giving it their very best, with rock solid theology presented in an interesting way. The other side of that saying is “Let the old dog sit one out!” It is probably a good idea for me to take a break…and give you a break!
“ALL HAIL KING JESUS” has been the theme for this 2025 Advent Season. I have found it interesting to remember the baby Jesus was the “born king of the Jews”. Prophesied over 400 times in the Old Testament; born in a manger as the serpent crusher Lion King; showing all a different kind of King and then remembering Jesus is coming back. This time, not a babe born in Bethlehem but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All Hail King Jesus! This Sunday we will look at the promised second advent of Jesus. The King is coming…again.
Christmas Eve we will have a more traditional Carols, Communion and Candle Light worship experience. I so hope you can make it to the 4:00 or the 6:00 service. It looks like this will be a beautiful Christmas Eve Celebration.
See you Sunday, Good Lord willing,
Pastor Tom
Just like presents under the tree, missions come in all different shapes and sizes. Some missions are big…I mean really BIG. For instance, it has been a year since the JIBC family joined in with over 50 other churches to be a part of “Pray Charleston”. Each church took one day a month to pray 24 hours that day for Charleston. JIBC took the 10th of every month and so for 12 months, we were committed to praying “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in Charleston as it is in heaven”. We had 168 people commit to praying and interceding to cover every 15-minute period of the 24 hours and then some. We even had our partner church in Romania join us in this prayer mission effort! Thank you, Father.
The second package is just as amazing. Asked to provide 300 Christmas toys for children in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, you crushed the effort! We quit counting after 400 toys. I don’t think “Santa’s” sleigh could carry this many toys in one trip, so we rented a UHAUL! We packed 30 XL boxes full of every kind of toy you can imagine; 2 XL boxes of candy and 300 little stockings (to be filled by the Greenville, Tennessee High school ROTC and the BETA club, an international honor society for students in the 4th through 12th grades.) In addition, we are sending 6 boxes of potato chips for the party they will be having on Saturday, December 19. Our members, full-time volunteer missionaries, Charles and Judy Dillon, will be there as Santa and Mrs. Claus to tell the children the Christmas Story about baby Jesus. Thank you all for crushing the goal of 300 toys! Yay God and Yay JIBC!
The third mission present is “unwrapped” on Wednesday, December 17. Everyone is invited to go Christmas Caroling at the Bishop Gadsden Rehab Center. Note, it is the “Rehab Center, Gadsden Glen”. Our worship pastor, David Martin, has put together the best caroling booklet I have ever used. You get the words to the Christmas songs and a brief and informative story about the songs. It is a fun event that carries a lot of potential for making the season bright!
See you Sunday, good Lord willing, as we continue this year’s advent theme, “All Hail King Jesus”. He is a different kind of King!
Pastor Tom
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