admin, Author at Foundations Bible Church

Spiritual Ministry Team Letter By Makayla Nepp

Posted on Aug 22, 2025 in BLOG |

Deuteronomy 32:1-6

Then Moses spoke the world of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel:

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?”

An apologetics segment on Deuteronomy 32:6:

One of the three distinct yet coequal persons within the Trinity, God as Father surfaces in the OT as a title or in reference to His relationship with Israel:

Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O Lord, you are our Father.”

Jeremiah 3:19 “And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me.”

Jeremiah 31:9 “I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

When Jesus appeared, both He and the NT writers referred to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit much more distinctly. The phrase God the Father occurs between 15 and 20 times in the NT, depending on which translation is used. In many instances where God the Father is mentioned, Jesus Christ is mentioned in the same verse.

God the Father and the Trinity. The coming of the Son, prophesied in the OT and fulfilled in the NT, highlights the distinction between Father and Son in the Trinity. The revelation found in the NT allows us to see God the Father with greater clarity in the OT. In the NT, God most often means “God the Father”-where He is seen as the authority or creative force behind the work on the Trinity. The creation story illustrates this in the division of labor between Father, Son, and Spirit. God (the Father) spoke the creation decrees (“Let there be”‘ Ps. 33:6) while God the Spirit hovered over the unformed earth (Gen 1:1,2). But God the Son was the agent of creation who carried out the Father’s decrees (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1,2).

God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Father’s authoritative role is also made clear in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” The Father put in motion the activity needed to grant redemption to sinful humanity; the Son came to earth to carry out the plan. After that work was accomplished, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those who embraced the offer of redemption: “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name” (John 14:26).

In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul confirms that Christ was “in the form of God” and possessed “equality with God” but willingly took on “the form of a servant” and “the likeness off men.” Christ “humbled himself by becoming obedient” to the Father by dying on the cross. The Son’s obedience and loyalty to the Father are pictured also in the temptation experience in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11) and in Christ’s absolute submission to the Father during His earthly life and ministry (John 4:34; 5:19, 30; 6:38; 8:28, 42; 10:37, 38; 12:49; 14:10, 31; 15:10; 17:4). Christ’s humble obedience to the Father’s will provides an example for how Christians should relate to God, their heavenly Father.

God the Father and Christians. The Fatherhood of God is about more than just obedience; it highlights the love of God as well. Jesus was the first to refer to God as “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36), Abba being an Aramaic word of endearment. The apostle Paul picked up Jesus’ reference to God as Abba, saying that every Christain enjoys the intimate privilege of calling God “Abba” (Rom 8:15). The idea that Christians have been “adopted” by God into His family, as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, further deepens our understanding of God as Father (Rom. 8:15, 23,29; Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5).

The same God who spoke the world into existence and sacrificed His only Son is the same Father who knows and meets the needs of all of His adopted children.

Pastor’s Pen by Pastor D.L. Barnett

Posted on Aug 15, 2025 in BLOG |

WHAT YOU BELIEVE JESUS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE!

Galatians 1:6-10 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Now, it may be a blinding flash of the obvious, but that is not the same with everyone who calls themselves a Christian. Paul was facing a confrontation dilemma of eternal necessity. Some men were twisting around the good news to fit what they thought, not what God was telling them through Paul. People were skipping out left and right when some men started to proclaim something more, perverted, wrenched and distorted from the simple devotion to Jesus Christ and the good news of His coming, His death, His burial and His resurrection…. Why is it always the case – people complicate the simplest of things. Religious people add and surmise and bring into the Bible and the Truth so many things that just take away from the fact that all have sinned, all fall short, all need saved, and those that call on the name of Jesus will be saved.

I have been reading and studying other denomination’s and cult’s material that they add to the Bible, as equally authoritative. You wouldn’t believe, and I hope you never do, the crazy things they claim about Jesus who they think He is – things Jesus never would have said or it never would have entered His mind.

One false-work states that Father God was once a man and became a God. Another stated that Jesus’ body and blood are literally present in the bread and the wine. Others state we will one day become god’s and goddess’s just like the Father… co-creators of our own worlds and planets.

I read of rituals for “sealing” forever marriages, and baptisms for the dead, Michael the archangel became Adam, and ordinances of special endowments to be priests and vows and the list goes on…. None of which are in the Word of God.

Yet, by the thousands, and millions – people that once turned to Jesus turned to these extras, these twisted “prophetic” revelations that supersede Jesus’ Words. Many have claimed “angels” came and showed them golden tablets in the 1800’s, others in the 1900’s claimed God is an alien, even another claims they got “angelic” messages regarding moon rocks, and today – the legalists claim they are better Christians because they adhere to the laws of Moses, and still others claim you cannot eat certain foods, marry those not approved by the hierarchy or outside their denomination, some consider their denomination or cult like organization the true restored church, and all others between the 1st century until 18th century are apostate. Even one says they are the mother church. Today we have one claiming angel feathers fall on them and gold dust does too, as they worship.

Paul was right – people follow “their Jesus” – and others exploit that! I was pondering a question asked, regarding working with or interacting with the types of individuals Paul described – here is question: What would Jesus say to them about what they think about Him, and about those who compromise to please men rather than God?

How about you? What would Jesus say about what you believe about Him? Does it line up with what He says about who He is? And how much do you compromise to please men rather than God?

August Upcoming Events

Posted on Aug 1, 2025 in Newsletters |

5th – Stewardship Meeting 7 pm
10th – Time for Prayer during fellowship
12th – CED Meeting 7 pm
16th – Men’s Breakfast 8:30 am
19th – Spiritual Ministry Meeting 7 pm
31st – Medical Missions

For full calendar click here.

Pastor’s Pen by Pastor D.L. Barnett

Posted on Aug 1, 2025 in BLOG |

Yep – we are in the full swing of summer…. heat,
humidity, storms, rain and repeat. Many are in vacation
mode and looking forward to much needed rest, but as
you know with vacations – preparation and planning,
traveling and coming home all take a toll. This time of
year, I always think of the day ahead when we all are
gathered together with Jesus, and the realization of all
the heat of work, the humidity of heart, the storms of
life, the raining downpours of low points, and the
repeating cycle of ups and many downs.
I want to give you all the word of encouragement the
LORD gives me each summer, when the vacation time
seems to take forever to get there and the saying “I
need a vacation from vacation” is real!
Too many times, we feel the guilt of rest. It is difficult
for us to be still, to rest, and not feel bad about it,
because of the fallacy of believing a busy person makes
one valuable. BUT – that is not God given guilt, it is a
satanic attack!
Think about it – at least for me, when I take time away,
it takes me two or three days to declutter my thoughts
and just enjoy the “going up to mountain” moment I
have before me, after travel and the vacation
destination is reached. Without fail invading concerns
and yes worries about what I am going to come home
to, preoccupy me. Almost like I feel I can’t let them go
or everything will fall apart.
Maybe it’s a prideful thing, or a savior complex, or just
the reality of this life on earth, but it robs me of rest,
relaxation, and refreshing. I know it is cliché’, but hey –
the LORD did say through Peter, “stay casting ALL your
anxieties (distractions soliciting your attention, cares,
disunited thoughts) on Him, because He cares for you”.
Jesus Himself after ministering daily “And after he had
dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by
himself to pray. When evening came, he was there
alone.” “And after he had taken leave of them, he went
up on the mountain to pray.”
If even Jesus took time to rest, pray, be away – and
never sinned, there can be no sin in taking time away….
So, this encouraged me to not feel guilty about setting
things down and aside in the proper times.

BUT, are we to remain at rest, never re-engaging, to have life
of ease, pain-free, not at work, not serving? NO, a thousand
times NO!! Too much time away – one gets used to being idle,
slothful, lazy, unproductive…. Didn’t Jesus say, “I chose you
and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that
your fruit should abide”? And doesn’t His Word say through
Paul “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should
walk in them.” And not to mention “For we hear that some
among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but
busybodies”, “that if any would not work, neither should he
eat.”
This to encouraged me – after the vacation get back to the
vocation. We are told to rest, and we are told to work.
Nowhere does it say we are to remain on permanent vacation
on this side of heaven.
What are the common areas people seem to take “permanent
vacations”? That’s easy – it is usually not from a job when they
need money, though that seems to be rising these days…. It is
often from serving, giving, ministering. It is rarely from hobbies
and habits; but rather of the very works God has for us that
produce fruit, that are spiritually productive, and most often it
is from knowing what God wants us busy about not what keeps
us to busy and distracted from the things of God and even
sometimes from God Himself.
Anway, remember – take your rest when God says and it is
needed; BUT don’t forget get back to work when God says and
it is needed.
Learning to Vacation so I can Bless in Vocation,
Much Love and Prayer,

July Upcoming Events

Posted on Jul 4, 2025 in Newsletters |

July 08 – CED Meeting @ 7pm
July 15 – Spiritual Ministry Meeting @ 7pm
July 19 – Men’s Breakfast at FBC @ 8:30am
July 27 – Medical Ministry
July 29 – Servant Leadership Meeting @ 7pm

For full calendar click here.

Time ~ By Ann Krause, Spiritual Ministry Team Member

Posted on Jul 3, 2025 in BLOG |

Focus…yes, I need to…squirrel! What was I doing? No, I have to do this instead…I’ll be her in a minute. When I have time – if I have time…I’ll think about it…not today but maybe later…as soon as I finish this, I’ll come help…I’ll get there as soon as I can…

Time – how many times each day do we mention time, or our lack of, or the quickness in which is passes or how much we have to do within the time limitations we have? And on and on….

When we are young, our time passages are related to events that occur at certain times – Christmas, the weekend, the summer, the start and end of school, our birthday…but as we age, and more time passes, those markers of time change: our children sleeping through the night changes to us not sleeping until they get home; their first day of school changes to graduating to adulthood and managing themselves; find a job that can comfortably support a family to retiring and being able to support a comfortable life.

The amount of time in each day, month and year never changes – just our focus for that time – whether outward or inward, forward or reviewing – we have what we have, and what our Lord ordains.

So…now that we have our allotted time, just what are your plans to utilize that time? To whom will you focus your time? To what will your efforts of time be used for? Where will you spend your time? Why have you chosen what you have chosen to expend you time on?

Some key scriptural principles:

Prioritize God’s will – Matthew 6:33

Be mindful of time – manage it well – Ephesians 5:15-16

Live intentionally – Psalms 90:12

Recognize God’s sovereignty – Psalms 31:15

Avoid worry – Matthew 6:34

Utilize time effectively – Colossians 4:5

Serve God with diligence – Proverbs 16:3

Practice Godliness – 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Lord, God, thank You for each moment of each day. Help me to utilize my time to best serve Your plans in my life. Help me to take time to listen to Your leading and to work to follow Your call. May I be generous with my time to others in need and gracious as I tend to needs before me. Help me not to rush through my tasks, but to rejoice in the opportunity and ability to perform those tasks. Thank You, Lord, for the time You have given to me today, now, at this moment. Amen

Upcoming Events for June

Posted on May 31, 2025 in Newsletters |

01 – Potluck

03 – Stewardship Meeting @ 7 pm

08 – Time for Prayer during Fellowship

10 – CED Meeting @ 7 pm

14 – Men’s Breakfast @ FBC 8:30 am

17 – Spiritual Ministry Team Meeting @ 7 pm

22 – Movie Night @ 6 pm

29 – Medical Missions during Fellowship

For full calendar click here.

Spiritual Ministry Team Newsletter By Mitchell Jenkins

Posted on May 23, 2025 in BLOG |

We should strive, in our Christian life, to reach a point where we share the happiness of God, regardless of our
circumstances – whether good or even tragic. We can have an inner peace and happiness based on our
knowledge and wisdom of what God has for us both now and in eternity. So, whatever our circumstances are,
we have a full realization that it’s in His plan and He has it well in hand.

God has giving us many promises in the Scriptures starting with John 3:16 – “for God still love the world. They
gave his own only begotten son that whom believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Those promises go beyond that which, in our finite minds, can claim such as: “all things were together for
good for those who love God and those who were called according to his purpose” found in Romans
8:28. These are not empty promises, as they are from His character / essence, that is His omniscience (allknowing), omnipresence (all present), omnipotence (all powerful), absolute justice, and righteousness, immutability (unchangingness), veracity (truthfulness and truth), and love. God cannot tell lies, cannot tell halftruths: everything that’s in the His Word (Scripture) is an absolute.

We quite often claim one of the hundreds of promises that’s in the Scripture without fully grasping the wonderful power behind it…. But if we are as a song says, “standing on the promises of Christ, our Lord” daily, we
can achieve that higher level of happiness that we seek.

Pastor’s Pen by Pastor D.L. Barnett

Posted on May 16, 2025 in BLOG |

OK – so I heard a statement this week…. It really got me to thinking, honestly it made me think about how I think. The
statement was made in light of hearing a fellow pastor expound upon his study the following passage of Scripture:

So, Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness
overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.” (John 12:35)

The statement he made was this: “too often Christians curse the dark, rather than shine the light”…. He then quoted
the following saying: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”. This quote has been attributed to
Eleanor Roosevelt, Confucious, John F. Kennedy, and several others.

Roman 13:11-12 says “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our
salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the
works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.”

And Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In
the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven.”

Well, like I said, I got to thinking about my thinking regarding light and dark, each of their respective powers, and
whether or not Christian are more dark oriented than light illuminating. What do I mean?

I am glad you asked!! By and large, we go around talking all about the darkness of the day, and rightfully so, but do we give as much attention to the light that expels that darkness? More than that, do we really live like the light of the world, like a bright city on a hill, or do we hide ourselves under a basket by living in or with the darkness that needs expelled?

What I am getting at is – do we talk too much and not walk enough? Do we curse about the darkness and do nothing
to bring the light into it? Do we shine a dark light or a bright light? It is so easy to point out the darkness in others,
and the darkness around us, that we forget our darkness emanates too. Before I go onto another point, I want to
make a challenging request…. For one week, rather than scourer the news and the happenings for the darkness that
is so readily noticeable – look for what God is doing in the midst of it…. And the second part of that challenge, take
the time to assess your own talk and walk, asking “what AM I showing the world around me…. the light or the dark?”
I am reminded of the dark Pharisee and the light sinner in Luke 18:10-14:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by
himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God,
be merciful to me, a sinner!’

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Even in prayer, the dark Pharisee noticed the sinner’s sins more than his own. In today’s language it would be “I know
I have my issues and my sins, BUT that isn’t the only side to this” or “I am the first to admit I got my sins, BUT….” or it
comes out as one has done nothing as bad as the others and I have done so much good compared to others…
However, on the right side of things, the truly repentant light sinner only recognized his own sins before God – no
excuses, no self-justifications, no shifting the blame, but just the shame and ownership of his own sin and a plea for
the mercy of God on his soul….

This is stepping into the light…. Ownership, despite anyone else’s involvement< no pity party, no self-preservation, or
making less of the sin, no trying to keep it quiet – just simple straight forward, I have sinned… God have mercy please….

Now, the second point, the Bible does tell us “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things
the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time
you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that
is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14)

This means people use empty, false, masked words and build partnerships with the same ilk…. And God considers this
disobedience and it makes Him angry enough to bring down the wrath. If you’re a believer, you used to walk and talk in
darkness, but as a believer it is unbecoming and should no longer be part of your life, nor should we be taking part in
those dark things anymore. Rather we should not cover them up, but tell the truth and share the issue and problem, or
expose the fake and phony that wants it to remain hidden so they can stay indulging in it, while putting on the façade of
faith… In fact, it says people do disgusting things in secret – we should not have hidden secret sins, they are the shameful
proverbial skeletons in the closet that need removed. So, if your serious about following Christ, it is high time to wake
up! Quit sleeping in sinful spiritual slumber and let Christ’s light shine on you to reveal the darkness so it can be eradicated and expelled! Of course this is the amplified Barnett paraphrase commentary, but I think it sheds the light, yes pun intended, on the dark situation and hearts at hand.

What can you do next – if the LORD has been exposing you, be honest, humble yourself, don’t hide or pretend anymore,
mercy is found for the honest sinner not the self-righteous man.

There are extraordinary promises from the LORD for those with enough integrity really tell the truth and deal with the
darkness…. His Word is that “He will humble the prideful and exalt the humble”.

In this day of darkness, for the world, for our nation, for us individually, it is time to let the light expose the reality of our
walk and talk. If the light of the fire of revival is to ever burn bright, we must let the LORD consume us and ignite our
hearts. Let Jesus burn away the chaff and stubble of our lives and refine the gold and silver He has made us to be….

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If
we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all
sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a
liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:5-10)

Upcoming Events for May

Posted on May 3, 2025 in Newsletters |

May 4- Potluck
May 6- Stewardship Team Meeting 7pm
May 11- Mother’s Day
May 11- Time for Prayer during fellowship
May 13- CED Team Meeting
May 17- Men’s Breakfast @ FBC 8:30am
May 18- FBC Women’s Group during fellowship
May 20- Spiritual Ministry Team Meeting 7pm
May 22- Deadline for church newsletter
May 23- Genesis Graduation @ FBC 6:30pm
May 25- Medical Missions during fellowship
– Movie Night 6pm
May 26- Memorial Day
May 27-Servant Leadership Meeting 7pm

For full calendar click here.