Children's Easter Activities

Remember, this Saturday...at 10:00 AM will be the Children's Easter Activities!   In the fellowship hall there will be games, prizes, crafts and an Easter devotion with a special guest the children will love!!  Then outside there will be an Easter egg hunt for children of all ages.  Lunch will follow in the fellowship hall.

Church family is encouraged to bring a dessert Saturday and if you would like to donate a bag of wrapped candy, please have it to the church by Friday. 

Teenagers are welcome and will be hiding the Easter eggs for us!  Come out and bring a friend as we enjoy a great Easter celebration!

Things God Won't Ask...

Things God won't ask on THAT day

1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove.
    He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2. God won't ask the square footage of your house.
    He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet.
    He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4. God won't ask what your highest salary was.
    He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5. God won't ask what your job title was.
    He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6. God won't ask how many friends you had.
    He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived.
    He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8. God won't ask about the color of your skin.  
    He'll ask about the content of your character.

Brotherhood Spring Cook-Out/Meeting

Tuesday night at 7:00 PM, all men and boys are invited to a Brotherhood meeting which will feature a kick off to Spring cook out!  This event will be at the home of Kevin and Tammy C. and will be a time of fellowship, food, relaxing and enjoying a time of encouragement together in the Lord.  Food will be provided and will be a full meal of hamburgers, hot dogs and the fixings!  Come hungry and bring a friend!  Any questions, contact Buddy H. or Pastor Dave.

Developing A Heart For God - Part 2

Recently we heard of some things that can destroy a heart for God. Here are some ways we can develope a heart for God:

1. Be humble in spite of success:  Humility is recognizing God's grace and mercy in our successes, not our own achievements.  It has been said that prosperity is the greatest test of our character.

2.  Be mindful of the Shepherd:  An antidote to selfishness is the exaltation of God.  Reflecting on Him and how we can serve Him.

3.  Be available in service:  This is an antidote to slothfulness - being busy and mindful of ways to serve others. This opens the heart to allow the flow of God's love from our heart into the lives of others.  His Living Water flows in and out of us and we are a channel of blessing and service.

4.  Be repentant of sins:  All have sinned...but God's forgiveness turns our life around and makes us usable.  

5.  Be trusting in the Savior:  This is the remedy for stress.  The battles of life will rage, but the strength of God is limitless.  God is our fortress and strength.  As we face the pressures of life, may they draw us toward the Savior rather than away from Him.

Easter Sunday

We are anticipating a glorious Easter Sunday on April 4 as we celebrate our Lord's ressurection.  The events of the day will begin with an Easter Sunrise service followed by a light breakfast.  

There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL this morning, but our services will begin at 10:00 AM and will include an Easter celebration in music and drama presented by the Antioch choir. You are encouraged to make plans to be a part of this glorious celebration.

Developing A Heart For God

I Samuel 16:7 tells us that God does not look on the outward appearance of man, but that He looks on our heart.  The heart is the central orgin of the body where our qualities are first formed.  Everything we are springs forth from the heart.  

Can we develop a  heart for God? Yes, we can!  But we need to be mindful of the distractions and attitudes that can destroy a heart for God.

1.  Success:  Success can crowd a heart, puffing it up with our own accomplishments.

2.  Selfishness:  This shrinks our heart to think only of ourselves, restircting the ability to think of others.

3.  Slothfulness:  This dries up the heart with laziness and negligence resulting in a lack of service.

4.  Sin:  Sin hardens the heart to what is important and seperates us from God.

5.  Stress:  Stress puts unneccesary demands on the heart.  Can consume us with anxiety and worry. 

Stay tuned to some ways to counteract and develop a heart for God.

Children's Easter Activities

We are planning a fantastic time for our children on Saturday April 3.  Beginning at 10:00 AM at the church, there will be games and fun for the children.  An exciting devotion will be shared as we reflect on the true meaning of Easter.  Following the devotion the children will go outside for a huge Easter egg hunt. We will enjoy a lunch together to complete the fun filled celebration.

We are asking for donations of wrapped Easter candy and prepared desserts for the lunch.  If you are available to help with the activities or games, your help is welcome! 

Children In Action/Mission Friends Banquet

The Children In Action and Mission Friends held a parent's banquet to show the things they have been learning in class.  A delicious dinner was prepared and followed by children sharing about missions and what they like about coming to learn about missions.

Thank you kids for a wonderful evening and thank you leaders for your faithfulness and diligence in teaching our kids the importance of missions. 

The Love Of Christ Is Manifested...

When we fill our minds with a determination to follow the Lord and are diligent in godly disciplines of reading the Bible and prayer, God's love and power is reflected in our lives.  One of the ways is through the way we love:

• With Full Strength Love - By giving all that we have. Loving completely and giving completely of ourselves.
• With Forgiving Love - Love which covers a multitude of sins through loving each other and having a heart ready to forgive.
• With Family Love - Having a heart ready to welcome and make a place for others.  Desiring to make others feel comfortable and welcome at church. 

 This love expands into our actions as we begin to live a life with grateful service.  God has equipped us with talents and abilities.  God saved us to serve.  You may have heard before(!!), We are not saved to Sit, Soak and Sour!  There are numerous opportunities to serve in our church.  Practical places to serve - nursery, kitchen helpers and all the way to leadership opportunities - Sunday School Director or Vacation Bible School Director.  May we be encouraged and open to ask the Lord where He would have us to serve Him.

When our minds are focused and our hearts are committed, acts of service will freely flow. 

*taken from a recent sermon.

Class of 2010

Each year Antioch recognizes the graduating seniors for their accomplishments.  Graduate Recogntion Day will be May 23 this year. 

To help us plan a successful service to honor the graduates, if you have a graduate that you would like recognized, please let Bro. Dave know as soon as possible.

Upcoming Activites

Spring is a beautiful time of year full of opportunities and activities.  Here is a quick look ahead at some upcoming events to mark on your calendar and several opportunities for you to serve.

April 3 ~ Children's Easter Activites - 10:00 AM at the church.  Watch for more details.

April 4 ~ Easter Sunday - Easter Sunrise service with breakfast

**No Sunday School** Morning Worship will begin at 10:00 AM and will include Easter Cantata

Vacation Bible School will be July 5-9 but planning is going on NOW!  If you would be interested in teaching, kitchen help, working in any way, please see Pam G or Georgette R..  This year VBS will be from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Monday through Friday.  Watch for more details!

Children's Camp - Camp week is June 21-24 for children who have completed 2nd - 6th grades.  We are currently seeking camp workers.  Please see Bro. Dave if you would like to be a part of Camp Sonrise. 

Children In Action/Mission Friends Parents Banquet

Saturday night at 6:00 in the fellowship hall, all parents are invited to share a delicious meal together followed by a time of sharing by the children from Children In Action and Mission Friends.  The kids learn each Sunday and Wednesday nights about missionaries, mission projects and the important role they play in our world.  The kids will share some of what they learned through the year along with providing some great entertainment!  You won't want to miss this banquet. 

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Through the month of March, Antioch will be receiving an offering for Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  This offering goes to support missions in the United States and Canada.

•Why Give to Annie Armstrong? Because three of four people in North America are lost. One hundred percent of dollars given to the AAEO go to support over 5,000 missionaries and their ministries in the United States and Canada.


•Don't Miss it!

During the month of March, our church will be celebrating the North American Missions Emphasis through (video segments, special prayer emphasis, special worship/message). Don't miss out of this special time of learning how Southern Baptists are living with urgency and sharing Christ the U.S. and Canada.

•North American Missionaries

Though their stories and methods are different, they share a common urgency for sharing the gospel with North American. Whether it is starting a new church, meeting the needs of the homeless, leading worship at a ski resort, or leading Back Yard Bible clubs, missionaries depend on the faithful prayers and generosity of Southern Baptists. Please pray for our missionaries and give generously to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®

Live With Godly Discipline

From Sunday's sermon:

How we live and serve God today will determine how we will be judged of our actions one day as we stand accountable before the Lord. 

How to Live With Godly Discipline:
1.  Be determined in the mind to live for Jesus. 

This begins with a commitment to spend time in God's Word. 

2.  Be watchful and disciplined in our prayers.

Be committed to pray and be consistent in prayer. 

Be conformed - to God's will.  Instead of asking God for our things, may we ask what He wants for us.  His words will become our words.

This leads to a God honoring life which speaks to a lost world through our actions and words.

A God honoring life doesn't happen by chance, but by godly discipline.

3.  Live with generous compassion.

When our mind changes, our heart changes.  The path of God's power travels from the mind to the heart. 

A committed mind to seek the Lord through God's Word and prayer will conform our will to His and enable Him to shine brightly through our lives.

Stay tuned for the love of Christ shining through us:

Youth Working the Bikers Rest Stop

Antioch was recently offered the opportunity to be a bicycle rest stop!  A bicycle group from Valdosta was planning a long bike ride and our church was the mid way point through the ride.  The group asked if Antioch would be interested in providing a place for the bikers to rest and provide some refreshements.  Our youth accepted the challenge to provide rest and refueling.  The youth prepared snacks with encouraging Scripture verses attached and served the bikers as they arrived.  

Several youth and adult helpers were there to serve and many provided snacks to be served.  Thank you to each one who had a part in being a blessing and representing Antioch in such a beautiful and practical ministry.

How To Live In the Last Days

Sunday mornng our church heard a powerful sermon on "How To Live In the Last Days".   Through this sermon, we were challenged to strive for godliness according to God's Word.  The points brought out are wonderful reminders for us as Christians to live a life of holiness and godliness and brought us back to the basics of Christian living - reading God's Word and prayer.  Through the week we will highlight some of these admonitons. 

May we reflect on God's Word this week with a heart open to His leading:

II Timothy 3:15: 

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Back in the days of the early Christians, they lived in expectation of the Lord's return.  This verse reveals some of the heart attitudes of the last days.  Do these sound familiar?  May we purpose to live watchfully for the return of the Lord and live a lifestyle that is distinctly different from the world that offers grace and hope while pointing the way to the Savior.

Check the blog this week for a continutaion of this subject.

This Weekend

This is just a reminder for our youth to come and share encouragement and offer refreshment to the Azalea City Bikers as they travel by bicycle and make our church a rest point. Youth will be passing out bottled water and snacks beginning at 10:45 AM or so.  

Then at 1:00 PM at the church, the family of Ida D. will have a birthday celebration for Mrs. Ida and the church family is invited.  Mrs. Ida is a beautiful woman of God and a blessing to our church. Come on out Saturday at 1:00 and let her know how special she is!

Six-C Method For Self Control

The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live self-controlled in this present world.  Is there a habit in our lives that needs to be captured by the grace of God?  To practice self control there is a Six-C Method:

Determine to bring every thought and habit under CAPTIVITY to Christ.
CONFESS it to God in a specific prayer of repentance.
CLAIM the victory from God on the basis on His great and precious promises.
CONFIDE this matter to a trusted friend who will serve as your accountability partner.
And CONTINUE, no matter what - don't give in or give up, even if you have failures along the way.
God's grace is stronger than your weakness, and His blood not only forgives you, it CLEANSES from all sin.

from Captured By Grace by David Jeremiah

Prayer Requests and Upcoming Events This Week

Here are a few of our church family prayer requests for you to be in prayer for this week:

Kitty P. had teeth removed and has faced complications and is still having some pain.

Janet W.'s mother is still in the hosptial, with several health issues they are working on.

Abigail K. took a fall off a horse this weekend and is ok, but pretty sore.

Elizabeth O. had an anut pass away and her family will travel to the funeral this week.

Felton and Mary Lou's daughter Lori, will have a cancer treatment this week.

Kathy F's sister received a liver and kidney transplant yesterday (Sunday).  The sugery went fine, but the next 48 hours are critical.  Please keep her in your prayers.

Remember the Family Meal and Prayer Wednesday night.  Please bring the family and a covered dish meal to share and enjoy a great time of fellowship.  The meal begins at 6:00 PM.