Jackson Brown

It’s not how we start… #FinishWell

VBX 26 IS COMING!!! • Vacation Bible Xperience (VBX) 26 is coming for ALL KIDS (PreK-5th Grade) and YOUTH (6th-12th Grade) June 7th-11th, 2026 from 6:00pm-9:00pm each night! ALL Kids and Youth are welcome! ALL Adults are welcome to SERVE with us, regardless of where you attend church! This is a phenomenal week of FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP, and FAITH for ALL! Come EXPERIENCE the Body of Christ together with us! • VBX 26 June 7th-11th, 2026 6:00-9:00pm Nicholson Baptist Church and East Jackson Park Kids (PreK-5th Grade) Youth (6th-12th Grade) Special Needs Adult Servant-Leaders • Theme: Foundation Matters “Jesus is our firm foundation.” Theme Verse: “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” (Luke 6:47-48) Daily Topics: Session 1: The Bible Matters - The Bible describes our firm foundation. Session 2: God Matters - God provides our firm foundation. Session 3: Jesus Matters - Jesus is our firm foundation. Session 4: Love Matters - Love is the reason for our firm foundation. Session 5: Faith Matters - Faith is our response to our firm foundation. • Mark your calendars! Save the date! Plan to come! Plan to serve! BEGIN TO PRAY! • #LovingGod #MakingDisciples #EquippingSaints #ServingOthers #VBX26 #FoundationMatters

"The church is the Body of Christ and not a building" is never used as an excuse in God's Word or early church history not to gather on the Lord's Day. Matthew 18:20 (where 2 or 3 are gathered), which is contextually about church discipline, is never used as an excuse in God's Word or early church history not to gather on the Lord's Day. If you claim to follow Jesus, stop looking for excuses to avoid His people. His body. Go gather with the church today. Go love on and encourage the Body of Christ today. Go worship the King today. Be the church. Gather with the church. Love the church. Choose church. If you don't have a place to gather, I'd absolutely love for you to be my guest today at Nicholson Baptist Church. 8:30am or 10:30am. Let's go.

Pastors consistently overestimate what they can accomplish at a church in 5 years and underestimate what they can accomplish in 20. - JD Greear Fellow pastors… God is in this for the long haul. Are we?

Love to see God moving in the lives of young people. May it never get old. Glory to God.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) The chief end (ultimate purpose) of mankind is to fear God and honor and glorify Him by keeping his commandments. In everything. Everything. That’s it.

Anything we put before God, no matter how "good" it is, by definition, is an idol. Anything we promote or support, directly or indirectly, at the expense of obeying God is, by definition, an idol. We must choose today, and every day, whom we will serve. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. (Psalm 135:15-18) Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord . And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:14-15)

The nature of service is sacrifice. We will not be able to serve God without sacrifice. Especially during busy times and holiday seasons. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

The faithful Christian ministry is not very glamorous. It consists of baptizing, preaching, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. It is about pointing people to a God on a cross whose strength, like that of his followers, is made perfect in weakness. Of course, none of this quite compares to engaging in an apocalyptic culture war or crushing one’s opponents or seizing worldly power by worldly means. So weak is it that it’s not even as glamorous as fantasizing about such things online. But that’s the problem with Christianity. It is routine. It is by turns foolish and offensive to those who look on from outside. Its weapons look ridiculously weak to the watching world. To repeat: The sun also rises and life continues for ordinary people at the local level, with all of its joys and its sorrows. People are born, marry, grow old, and die. And the gospel remains the answer. - Carl Trueman

Left lane is for passing people. Not riding beside them.

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. Always. Kill it.

What you and I need is usually not a brand-new teaching. Brand-new truths are probably not truths. What we need are reminders about the greatness of the old truths. We need someone to say an old truth in a fresh way. Or sometimes, just to say it. - John Piper, The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

GHSA Region 8A D1: Honorable Mention Offense @TateKirk2 (QB) @LaydenBryson_15 (RB) @jacksonbrown08 (OL) @Braden_Jolley50 (OL) @brennang08 (WR)

@masonrbrown08 of GHSA Class A @Commerce_Hoops had a big game, recording a double-double, last night 🆚 GHSA Class 6A Mountain View getting the W 66-43, and helping the Tigers begin the season with a 3-0 record.

Christ Followers: Grief is a part of loss. However, we do not grieve as others who have no hope. Rather, we grieve with hopeful expectation and certainty that we will see our loved ones again and our Lord. Even during the Holidays. It’s ok to grieve today. It’s ok to grieve tomorrow. It’s ok to grieve through Christmas. But, don’t grieve as those who have no hope. Grieve with hopeful expectation of a glorious reunion with Christ and our lost loved ones. What a day that will be. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Glory to God.

Salt and light don’t have to announce themselves as such. When they’re real and present, they are noticed. They leave no doubt.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-16) One of the most difficult things to do is focus on the present and make the most of the time we are given. We are taught, trained, and conditioned from birth to constantly focus on the future and prepare for what may come. Yet, in reality, we often focus on the past and let it affect and even define our present and future. The ultimate truth is today is all we have. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come. We are called and encouraged to make the most of every second we are given here on this Earth. To make the most of the present. How do we do that? By constantly, consistently focusing on Christ and living a life (walk) that honors and glorifies Him. By not being foolish and understanding and submitting to the will of God. By understanding and appreciating the brevity of life and the gift of today. If you knew for certain that today was your last day on Earth, how would you live differently? What would you do that you haven’t done? What would you say that you haven’t said? Who would you forgive that you haven’t forgiven? Who would you love that you haven’t loved? Who would you tell about Jesus that you haven’t told? Pay attention to how you live (walk) today and make the most of every moment. The days may be evil, but God is good, all the time. If no one’s told you they love you today, let me be the first…I love you. Have a terrific Thursday.

Be zealous for what is good… So that when (not if) you are slandered… Your good behavior in Christ will prove your character… The key to good character and a good reputation is good behavior, as defined by God’s good Word. Do not fear nor be troubled by your “haters.” Honor Christ the Lord. Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-17)

Every question humanity struggles with today is just a different form of the same question that was presented to Eve in the Garden… ”Did God actually say…?” (Genesis 3:1) It’s a question of existence. It’s a question of knowledge. It’s a question of truth. It’s a question of trust. It’s a question of authority. It’s a question of obedience. Do you know the answer? Are you sure? And, most importantly, does it matter enough to you to make a difference? Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) Love you all, and hope you have a terrific Tuesday.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) In the beginning Before anything else existed Before atoms and forces and explosions Before stars and planets and solar systems Before water and earth and elements Before plants and animals and humans In the beginning, there was God One God in three persons God the Father who initiated creation God the Son who was with God and was God God the Holy Spirit who was hovering over creation In the beginning, the very beginning, there was God And nothing else Wow Don’t you think you can praise Him today? Don’t you think you can worship Him today? Don’t you think you can trust Him today? I certainly hope so. Love you all, and hope you have an awesome week.