4401 BRECKENRIDGE LANE,LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 40218SERVICES EVERY SUNDAY AT 9:00, 10:30 AND 12:00
It’s Monday of Passion Week, Jesus’ Final Week, and what can he be found doing? Is he checking the last things on his bucket list? He does something completely unexpected! What are the events of cursing a tree and cleaning out the temple supposed to communicate to us about Jesus? Pastor Adam discusses in today’s devotionable.
College & Singles Outside Worship Night and Cookout:
On April 10th at 6 pm, the College & Singles BFGs will get together to share a meal together and worship the Lord together! This will be a great night of fellowship and an opportunity to get to know more people in our church. Pastor Philip will be providing hamburgers and hotdogs, the Singles BFG will be providing the sides. Contact Melanie Cox if you would like to bring a side dish. The cookout and worship session will be located on the church lawn.
Good Friday:
Good Friday – April 15 at 6:30 & 8:00 pm REGISTRATION is required.
Easter:
Easter is a holiday of hope. Experience Easter at Ninth & O as we consider the most game-changing event in history that can give us all hope. We’ll enjoy vibrant worship, and Dr. Cook will tell us how a cross and an empty tomb from more than 2,000 years ago can give each of us hope today.
Easter Sunday – April 17 at 9:00 & 10:45 am (NO Registration required. Please attend the service you usually attend.)
There will be no College or Singles BFGs on Easter!
Business Meeting:
The first business meeting of the year will be on Wednesday (TONIGHT), March 30, at 6:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall (114).
Great Commission Offering:
The GCO is a missions-giving campaign that begins in December and culminates on Easter Sunday. Through the GCO, we support an array of missions efforts occurring locally, nationally, and globally.
The GCO provides us great flexibility in how we allocate our missions dollars by allowing us to support missions efforts historically important to us as Southern Baptists (i.e., Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering) while also giving to other missions efforts our congregation is specifically passionate about (i.e., Reaching & Teaching, Love the Ville, 5 Loaves, SOS Ministries).
Our 2022 GCO goal is $106,000. Give TODAY!
Areas of Service:
If you are looking to serve the Church in any way, we have lots of openings OR we will make an opening for you! Please talk to your BFG leader or an intern in your Singles/College group if you would like to be connected to areas of service!!
Singles Group:
No Wednesday activities on April 6th.
No BFG on Easter- April 17th.
College Group:
No College Night this Sunday- April 3rd!
No Wednesday activities on April 6th.
No BFG of College Night on Easter- April 17th.
College BFG End of the Semester Cookout and Games!
On May 1st at 6 pm, we will have our College BFG end-of-the-year party!!! We will have food, outdoor games, and fellowship. This is not just a “College Night” event. Everyone from the College BFG is invited! Invite all your friends to come as well!! We are hoping to play sand volleyball, spike ball, frisbee, gaga ball…etc. We can’t wait to have a night to have fun and reflect on all the memories made and lessons the Lord has taught us this past year.
Our Week in the Word comes from Gabe Hinerman, Ninth & O’s Communication Pastor.
We Don’t Talk About …You Know
In a house full of girls, we listen to a lot of Disney songs. I mean, all day, every day. The latest craze is the Encanto soundtrack which even those without kids undoubtedly have heard. One track on the album is the song called, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Bruno is the black sheep family member who supposedly is the source of family trouble and drama. So, the family has decided not to talk about him rather than work through the family issues. It’s a fun song that quickly becomes an earworm.
If this song were to become a church parody, the title would be We Don’t Talk About…You Know. Far too many of us live by this mantra in our church communities.
We give our brothers and sisters the holy stiff-arm avoiding relational vulnerability, content to be known only at the surface level or through our social media pages.
In our prayer groups, we ask for prayers regarding our upcoming Greek vocab quizzes (or Hebrew – Dr. Howell!). Perhaps we may request prayer for Aunt Frieda’s cat Audrey, but to unveil something going on deeper in our hearts is, well, we don’t talk about…you know.
As our Discipleship Groups have been working through Ed Welch’s book, Side by Side, one thing the Lord continues to impress upon me is my need to be more open and vulnerable with others. I don’t like it. It often is awkward and uncomfortable. But, the Lord wants to help us grow, and one of the primary helps he gives us is each other! Yet, if I don’t open up, how can I possibly receive the help the Lord is offering? I’m trying to make a greater effort at revealing my heart so that others may walk side-by-side with me. Hopefully, by my example, they will be more willing to share with me. And maybe we’ll get to be a church that we can talk about…you know, with grace and truth. Let’s be willing to bear one another’s burdens, and share our burdens with our brothers and sisters (Galatians 6:2).
We begin a ten-part series on the final week of Jesus’ known as Holy Week or Passion Week. The amount of space each gospel author gives to this week only highlights its prominence. The week begins with the event known as the Triumphal Entry. Jesus is in complete control, and no longer is obscuring his identity as Israel’s Messiah-King but announces it for all in this overt and open act as the one who comes in peace ready to save. How will the people respond? Hosanna, the King, is here! What is your response to Jesus?
You and I are in great need of mercy. Thankfully, the Lord is rich in mercy. He has an abundance of it! And the good news is that he is not stingy but lavishly bestows it upon all who cry out to Him in faith.
Take The Step:
Sharing the gospel is an important aspect of the Christian life. Yet, taking that step out of our comfort zone to share isn’t something we are always quick to do. The purpose of the Take the Step class is to help you feel more confident to have faith conversations. The class is designed to help you share the good news naturally in your daily conversations. Our next offering is THIS SUNDAY, March 27, at 10:30 am. Register now at naobc.org/takethestep.
Vacation Bible School:
Are you interested in serving in VBS at NAOBC this year? If so, join us on Sunday, March 27, to hear more about the vision for VBS and how you can be involved. You will also get a FREE lunch. Register HERE!
1916 Shop:
The 1916 Shop is open this Sunday in room 106. This room is right off the Main Lobby as you head toward the offices. Pastor Cook’s new book, Jesus’s Final Week, will be available and some new apparel.
Business Meeting:
The first business meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, March 30, at 6:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall (114).
Easter and Good Friday:
Easter is a holiday of hope. Experience Easter at Ninth & O as we consider the most game-changing event in history that can give us all hope. We’ll enjoy vibrant worship, and Dr. Cook will tell us how a cross and an empty tomb from more than 2,000 years ago can give each of us hope today.
Good Friday – April 15 at 6:30 & 8:00 pm REGISTRATION is required.
Easter Sunday – April 17 at 9:00 & 10:45 am (NO Registration required. Please attend the service you usually attend.)
Great Commission Offering:
The GCO is a missions-giving campaign that begins in December and culminates on Easter Sunday. Through the GCO, we support an array of missions efforts occurring locally, nationally, and globally.
The GCO provides us great flexibility in how we allocate our missions dollars by allowing us to support missions efforts historically important to us as Southern Baptists (i.e., Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering) while also giving to other missions efforts our congregation is specifically passionate about (i.e., Reaching & Teaching, Love the Ville, 5 Loaves, SOS Ministries).
Our 2022 GCO goal is $106,000. Give TODAY!
Areas of Service:
If you are looking to serve the Church in any way, we have lots of openings OR we will make an opening for you! Please talk to your BFG leader or an intern in your Singles/College group if you would like to be connected to areas of service!!
Singles Group:
College Group:
Our Week in the Word comes from Blake Ring, our Missions Pastor at Ninth & O.
If you’re reading this and you are a human, I know something about you. I know this something because I’m human too. I know that you are waging a war against a sin in your life. I also know that you’re not currently engaging one of the greatest weapons at your disposal to slay this sin.
What is this unused weapon that’s deliberately left on the table? It’s the weapon of intercessory prayer, which is the act of other Christians praying on your behalf.
A few weeks ago in my Wednesday discipleship group, we were working through the book Side By Side and the following words jumped off the page, “Asking people for help makes calling out to the Lord seem easy by comparison. The Lord already knows we are weak and needy, but other people? That’s a different story.” The author’s wisdom encapsulated a wrestling match happening within my heart. I knew I needed others praying for me regarding this something but I was struggling to be vulnerable.
My pride stood between me and Christian common sense.
I’m happy to report that I did share this something with my BFG community group several weeks ago. My pride took a hit, which was a good thing, but now I am engaging the power of intercessory prayer. I leave you with a verse God has pressed upon my heart and perhaps He will use it in your life as well. James 5:16 reads “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
You’ve probably heard it said that money is the root of all evil. This phrase is misapplied to the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy. Paul told his young friend that the “love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil. Oh, how one word can make a difference! Why did Paul write this to Timothy? What did he mean, and how can we rightly apply it to our lives today?
Jesus makes several wonderful promises in the Gospel of John. One of which is found in chapter 12, where he says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” What does Jesus mean by this statement? David Christensen helps us to consider the passage faithfully within its context.
It’s not uncommon to hear people pray the promises of 2 Chronicles 7:14 for their nation. It’s right, and we are commanded to pray for our governing authorities. We should pray for our countries often. Let’s frequently pray that God would give wisdom to our leaders and that they would execute their responsibilities with righteousness and justice. Let’s pray for God to save sinners. Let’s pray that churches would lead the way in our communities. However, we must remember that the specific context of this verse is for Israel–the people of God.
One of the most beloved themes that run through the Bible is God’s promise of his presence. The believer takes immense joy and comfort knowing that God is with us! Not only can we have confidence in the general principle of God’s presence with us, but Jesus also encourages us that he will be with us at specific times and in challenging circumstances
Take The Step:
Sharing the gospel is an important aspect of the Christian life. Yet, taking that step out of our comfort zone to share isn’t something we are always quick to do. The purpose of the Take the Step class is to help you feel more confident to have faith conversations. The class is designed to help you share the good news naturally in your daily conversations. Our next offering is Sunday, March 27, at 10:30 am. Register now at naobc.org/takethestep.
Men’s Ministry:
Men, come Saturday (March 19th) and enjoy breakfast with a devotional at 8 am, and then we’ll have our spring workday from 9-Noon. These workdays are a great community builder and will help us get things looking good around here for the spring as we head to Easter.
Business Meeting:
The first business meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, March 30, at 6:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall (114).
Great Commission Offering:
The GCO is a missions-giving campaign that begins in December and culminates on Easter Sunday. Through the GCO, we support an array of missions efforts occurring locally, nationally, and globally.
The GCO provides us great flexibility in how we allocate our missions dollars by allowing us to support missions efforts historically important to us as Southern Baptists (i.e., Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering) while also giving to other missions efforts our congregation is specifically passionate about (i.e., Reaching & Teaching, Love the Ville, 5 Loaves, SOS Ministries).
Our 2022 GCO goal is $106,000. Give TODAY!
Areas of Service:
If you are looking to serve the Church in any way, we have lots of openings OR we will make an opening for you! Please talk to your BFG leader or an intern in your Singles/College group if you would like to be connected to areas of service!!
Singles Group:
College Group:
Our Week in the Word comes from Dr. Howell, one of our College BFG Leaders!
Proverbs 3:21–24
21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
We talk a lot about wisdom, but we don’t often meditate on the value of wisdom. In Proverbs 3:21–24, Solomon encourages his son to keep “sound wisdom and discretion,” but then continues, explaining (1) what wisdom will be for him, (2) a quasi-promise for keeping wisdom and discretion, and (3) the restful sweetness of the wise life.
So what is the payoff for keeping wisdom and living with discretion? First, these are the very things that “will be life for your soul.” This is not just having good days. This refers to the flourishing of your soul, the deep-rooted delight in who God is for you rather than the wishy-washy emotions of life circumstances. This kind of deep-seated joy is “adornment for your neck” so that the rest of the world will see the holiness and grandeur of God in your wise living. Keeping sound wisdom is, to some extent, evangelistic. Others will see the resulting joy of your wisdom and wonder why you are so contented all the time.
In verse 23, you get somewhat of a promise. We’ve mostly been taught that Proverbs are not promises and we can’t “name it and claim it.” However, I wonder if sometimes we sell God’s word short by dismissing quasi-promises like verse 23. If you keep sound wisdom and discretion, “then you will walk on your way securely.” In other words, wisdom and discretion are the God-given means by which he keeps us on the narrow path. If, by God’s grace, your fear of God drives you to wise living, then you are living out the God-ordained means of keeping your foot from stumbling. Don’t be surprised then when God sustains this promise by filling you with the Spirit such that beauty of God, in Christ, allures you to live wisely. This doesn’t mean that you will never stumble; but it does mean that wise-living is the God-ordained means to keep you from stumbling.
Lastly, wise discretion gives us sweet, restful sleep. I often find myself waking up in the middle of the night with the worries of tomorrow on my mind. I can confess that this is because I feel like I need to accomplish my agenda for the day or else the world will not be able to carry on. To be fair, we all have responsibilities we must fulfill. However, part of living wisely is living in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit sustains us in our efforts. Hence, when we sleep at night, we can know that God will not only empower us for tomorrow, but he will keep the universe spinning while we rest. Keeping sound wisdom and discretion, in some sense, reminds us that we are not God. He will keep the universe in order apart from our laborious responsibilities and we can rest easy at night.
While there is more that could be said about the benefits of living wisely, Solomon only addresses a few here. But take some time to meditate on these images of beauty, adornment, sweet rest, the straight path, life, etc. Solomon intentionally chose these pictorial outcomes so that you would be allured to pursue (and keep) sound wisdom and discretion.
