Daniel Nicewonger - Spiritual Formation Catalyst

Trunk or Treat

October 27, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

It was a little windy and the cotton candy machine got a little out of control…but besides that it was a fantastic day! The Christian Education Board of First Baptist Church put together a Trunk or Treat event that took place right after the Kennett Square Halloween parade. People finished watching the parade and came right on up to join in the fun with trunks filled with treats. We saw lots of families we recognized from church, daycare, and vacation bible school…but we saw many more new faces.

We had a lot of fun and I enjoyed spending time with Captain America…even though she kept eating “extra” cotton candy.

Can’t wait until next year…

Advent Workshop

October 7, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

The women of the church are invited to our Advent Morning Retreat, Consider Mary.

On Sat., December 6, from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm we will meet here at church to prepare our hearts for the season of Advent. This event will give each woman a time to enjoy breakfast and lunch with friends as we listen to the Christmas story brought to life with music, art, poetry, devotions and reflection.

Nancy Nicewonger will speak about the joy and trials of the ministry of Mary, the mother of Christ. You will be amazed at the details of this story you may have missed over the years. Space is limited, so please register soon.

Tickets will be available on Sunday mornings for $5, or send an email to Nancy Nicewonger. Scholarship help is available as needed.

Feel free to invite others as we share this wonderful chance to take a break from the hectic holiday pace
and spend time thinking about how we each have a special place in God’s plan.

“A Beautiful Picture of Christianity at Work”

October 6, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

There are a lot of times a pastor has the opportunity to hear words of thank you that really should be spoken to the entire congregation. Today was one of those days. I was making my way across the welcome center when one of the many people who attends the Midday Miracles AA group stopped me, “Are you the pastor here?” It was an honest question…I was traveling incognito wearing my blue jeans and polo shirt. “Yes, I am the pastor.” “Hello, I just want to say thank you for letting us meet in this space, it is a beautiful picture of Christianity at work.”

“A beautiful picture of Christianity at work.” I started to think about that for the rest of the afternoon. What does Christianity at work look like? In the mind of the young woman I was talking with it has something to do with gracious hospitality. Opening your doors to people who are seeking to improve their lives, working to overcome addiction and who are supporting each other as they take it one day at a time. There is something very Christ like in the way our church is continually open to multiple AA groups, providing them space to do the work they need to do as they pursue sobriety and peace in their lives. Thank you for being a people who share the space God has blessed us with, you bear witness to graciousness of God with your hospitality.

My mind started to wander to several other conversations I have had over the past few weeks. As we have pursued a deeper understanding of the Mission, Vision, Values of FBC several people have shared these thoughts…

“Pastor, this is not easy”

“Pastor, I believe I may have been selfish with my gift”

“Pastor, You are not making it easy for me”

I want to assure you that as I prepare these messages each week I am wrestling with what the scriptures are calling us to. I agree with many of the thoughts shared in response to the messages each week. Living as a “Mature Follower of Jesus” is not easy. It takes work. It is a journey. Praise God we do not have to accomplish it relying upon our own strength…we have the Holy Spirit alive and well at work inside us helping us mature and grow each and every day. Praise God we do not have to accomplish it alone. We have the privilege of journeying together as a community of faith: learning, encouraging, supporting and speaking honestly with each other as we journey towards spiritual maturity. Praise God we have the promise shared by the Apostle Paul, “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

My prayer is that as we continue to grow in our ability to live out our Mission, Vision and Values we will hear more and more people stop us and say, “This is a beautiful picture of Christianity at work.” At this point we will give God all the praise, honor & glory and thank Him for allowing us to have some small part in being an answer to the prayer we are so familiar with, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.”

Pastor Dan

Companions in Christ

September 30, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Empowering People to Become Mature Followers of Jesus

Part of our vision is that FBC would be a community that empowers people, young and old, to continue their spiritual journey and grow into mature followers of Jesus. Companions in Christ is a spiritual formation group that helps people focus on questions such as:

How is God working in my life?
How am I being formed in the likeness of Christ?
What practices will open me to God’s leading?

Our first Companions in Christ group, “Embracing the Journey” will meet for six weeks starting in late October.

We will meet at First Baptist Church, Kennett Square, 7pm – 9pm

October 28, November 4, 11, 18, December 2, 9

Each participant will get a guidebook that will direct our conversations. ($8.00)

If you are interested in participating you may sign up in the Welcome Center, talk with Pastor Dan, or email me at fbc.pastor.ks@verizon.net

Space is limited, so if you are interested please be sure you can attend most meetings and sign up soon.

Pastor Dan

A time of Celebration and Looking Forward

September 29, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Yesterday First Baptist Church of Kennett Square held an installation service which marked the end of their search for a settled pastor and the official start of my ministry in this community we are quickly growing to love. It was a great time of celebration as we looked back at the way God guided both the church and our family to the place where we were united for this season of ministry together. Pastor Jim Olsen, the intentional interim who served before me joined us and challenged us to speak the truth with love and continue to purse what it means to be the true church in this day and age. After the service was over we celebrated with a time of fellowship in the social hall and had a huge cake to mark the occasion. Cassandra captured this moment as Nancy and I cut into the cake before everyone had an opportunity to share a piece. We are looking forward to see how God is going to work in and through us in the days and months ahead.

You can see more pictures of the service below.

Thanking Pastor Jim and his wife Arden for their years of service to FBC.

Conversation with God

September 22, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Today I started reading Hearing God by Dallas Willard. It is one of those books that has been sitting in a pile…on the “to read list” for some time.

As I opened it up and began to read this is what I started with…

“Hearing God? A daring idea, some would say – presumptuous and even dangerous. But what if we were made for it? What if the human system simply will not function properly without it? There are good reasons to think it will not. The fine texture as well as the grand movements of life show the need. It is not, in fact, more presumptuous and dangerous to undertake human existence without hearing God?”

I am excited to see where the book goes. I have lived some of my life while hearing clearly from God…it has set me free from doubt and allowed me to take bold steps, confident that God would provide and protect me and my family. I have made decisions based upon my own wisdom and strength and have lost many a nights sleep as I wondered if I had made the right decision. I have lived both sides of the fence…in my moments of wisdom and maturity I have learned to be still and listen for God’s leading, guiding and directing. My sense is that it will continue to be a struggle until the day that Christ calls me home to be with him.

All I can do is echo the words of the apostle Paul from Philippians chapter 3, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

I will share with you some of my insights from the book in the coming days.

If you want to get a copy for yourself you can find it here.

835690: Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God By Dallas Willard / Inter-Varsity Press

Our United Mission (September 7, 2014)

September 7, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Matthew 28:18-20

This message is the first in a series that deals with the Mission, Vision and Values of First Baptist Church.

When I use the word Mission I am talking about something that is God given…something that is held in common by all churches and individuals who call upon Jesus as Savior and Lord.

When you hear me talk about Vision I am referring to how a particular individual or congregation lives out their God given Mission in a specific place and time.

Vision is a picture of a preferable future…if your vision for your life or for the congregation already exists…then it is not a vision…it is a description of reality…a vision should stretch…it should challenge…it should demand growth…a God given Vision will take your breath away as you think about how the world will be transformed as it becomes a reality.

Values, values are those characteristics of the individual or community that you hold so sacred that you will not sacrifice as you pursue the Mission and Vision.

Some people like to refer to Mission as our sense of purpose…but when it comes to the church, to the things of God I believe we have something bigger than a purpose…we have a God given Mission.

When Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life will find it.” (Matthew 16) he is declaring that his disciples have a mission, are on mission…our lives go beyond purpose.

Jesus very clearly gives the Mission when he says,

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20

This has been the ongoing mission of the healthy and vibrant church seeking to follow Christ since the day Jesus spoke it.

Jesus invites us, no calls us, to partner in what was his Mission…to draw people to God.

This is our mission…the only question is whether we chose to accept it

Take Up Your Cross (August 31, 2014)

August 31, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Matthew 16:21-28

In our scripture reading this morning we hear Jesus

Interacting with Peter
Teaching the Disciples what it means to truly be a follower of Jesus…someone who is growing as a disciple and offering themselves to help build the Kingdom of God.

Remember that this is the same Peter who just a few verses earlier, when Jesus asks, “who do you say that I am?” confesses with a boldness that comes from his Journey with Jesus…

“You are the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus has praised Peter for his discernment…he has talked about the building of the Kingdom of God and has shared how nothing, not even the gates of Hell will get in the way of the growth and advancement of God’s Kingdom.

It is this same Peter who is now listening and talking with Jesus…

Jesus begins to reveal the truth of how the Kingdom of God will be ushered into this world.

It is not what Peter or the other disciples had expected…not what they were looking forward to.

Jesus talked of suffering, struggle and even death. He spoke of sacrifice, offering Himself so that others may know “life to the full”.

This does not compute with Peter…it does not make sense…it was not what he was expecting…so he pulls Jesus aside, and quietly begins to rebuke Jesus…

“Never Lord, This Shall never happen to You!”

“You are the Christ, the anointed one, the Son of the Living God!”

Jesus turns to Peter…the person he has just praised for truly and honestly recognizing who he was…and says,

“Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

In short Jesus says to Peter…”My Father’s kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world!”

I love Peter…he so desperately and passionately wants to follow and serve Jesus…

yet he is blinded by the ways of this world…

held hostage by the ideas of this world….

Does this sound like anyone you know?

This truth of the Kingdom of God is in conflict with our American way of doing things…this idea of sacrifice, willing giving of ourselves…to the point of death flies in the face of the grab and hoard all you can life philosophy that we have been taught and teach our children from the day they very young.

If Jesus was here today he would not change the message…in fact he would speak it even stronger and louder…

My sheep…the ones I came to seek and save…you put your hope in things that cannot save you…you spend a lifetime chasing…accumulating wealth in the hopes that it will provide you the life you so desperately want…and yet you find yourself slowly dying on the inside.

To find your life you must be willing to lose it…To be my disciple you must be willing to sacrifice yourself (your will, your dreams, your desires, your agenda) on behalf of the Kingdom of God.

For way too long we have tried to put Jesus into the box of 21^St century American culture…it is time to let Jesus speak…hear what he has to say about the Kingdom of God and decide…are we willing to be the kind of disciples who will “pick up our cross and follow Him”

Upon This Rock (August 24, 2014)

August 24, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Matthew 16:13-20

This passage of scripture reveals Peter’s confession of Christ and then Jesus speaks truth and power about building of the kingdom of God.

Jesus begins with a question for his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

He has referred to himself as the Son of Man many times and so when he asks the questions the disciples correctly hear Jesus asking, “Who do people say I am?”

They are not sure…they believe you are a resurrected, reincarnated prophet from old…they believe you are the resurrected John the Baptist. The people are confused and not clear on who you are.

Then Jesus asks the million dollar question… “Who do you say I am?”

He calls for a decision among his disciples…his closest followers.

It is Peter who calls out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

When Peter says, “You are the Christ” he is giving Jesus a title.

Christ – comes from Greek term “Christos” which is a translation of the Hebrew term for “anointed one”

In the Old Testament it was a term used to talk about Kings, priests, prophets.

When Peter says, “Son of the living God” he is contrasting God to all these other things people worship in the surrounding area.

Living God…unlike the mythical, superstitious figures etched in stone that people worship…Jesus you are the Son of the Living God.

Where does the boldness of Peter’s confession come from?

Peter saw Jesus provide food for over 5,000 people with just 4 loaves and 2 fish.
Peter watched Jesus interact with a woman who came seeking healing for her daughter…a woman who was willing to settle for a scrap from the table.
Peter was in a boat tossed about by the wind and waves and he watched as Jesus spoke and the winds and waves calmed down.
Peter accepted Jesus invitation to step out of a boat and he danced upon the water with anointed one…with the Son of the Living God.
Peter felt the hands of Jesus reach out and rescue him as he began to sink beneath the water after walking on the water with Jesus.

It was Peter’s Journey with Jesus that enabled him to say, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Our journey may not be as dramatic as Peter’s…we may not have had the privilege of walking the streets of Jerusalem or the hillsides of Galilee with Jesus…

But…Jesus walks with us each day. We can celebrate the way God has been present in our lives through times of celebration and in times of loss. We can point to times of God’s provision for us as individuals and as a community.

Like Peter Jesus is inviting us to get out of the boat and dance upon the water and experience “Life to the Full” so that we too can pronounce with joy and boldness…“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

Jesus hears Peter’s confession and replies…

“Blessed are you Simon, Son of Jonah for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. I tell you that you are Peter and on this Rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.”

Scholars may debate what Jesus meant by “this Rock” (was it Peter, Peter’s confession or Jesus himself), but there is no debating who will be doing the building…“I will build my church”.

Too often we begin to think we will build…we will work harder, we will spend more time, we will exhaust ourselves and that will build the church…when Jesus is pretty clear… “I will build.”

Our responsibility is to BE in relationship with Jesus…to BE obedient to his Call upon our lives and to listen clearly to the invitation to work where the Spirit is already at work.

The resurrection of Jesus is proof that even though life may get difficult…there is victory in the end.

A Matter of the Heart (August 17, 2014)

August 17, 2014 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Matthew 15:10-28

It is very easy for us to become distracted by outward things, very easy to allow rules and regulations to guide our lives…even our spirituality, our relationship with God. In this passage of scripture Jesus interacts with two very different kinds of people…and with these two interactions Jesus reminds us that he is more concerned about the content of our hearts than anything else.

Jesus encounter with the Pharisees:

Disciples come and report… “The Pharisees do not like what you are saying.”

Why? What is it about Jesus teaching that the Pharisees do not like?

Well the Pharisees had built this complex web of “purity codes” that people were to follow that demonstrated spiritual purity. They were good things, but things added to the message of the scriptures and people often felt the burden of trying to keep these purity codes.

Jesus has no patience for spiritual leaders and religion that burdens the people he has come to set free.

Jesus is clear…Spiritual Purity…it is a matter of the heart.

It is not a matter of keeping a long list of man made rules…it has to do with your heart…it is the heart that we need Jesus to redeem, restore and renew.

Now the Canaanite woman…lifted up as a person of great faith.

She comes and is turned away…she is persistent…she will settle for “only a crumb” from Jesus table because she believes that crumb has the power to heal her daughter.

Jesus, who has just got done correcting and chastising the Jewish religious leaders is excited to see the depth of faith within this woman…

“Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

How does Jesus know her faith? … By what comes from her mouth…which flows from her heart! Her heart is revealed to Jesus by what she said…NOT by her maintaining legalistic religious practices.

A question to carry into the week:

ABBA Father,where have I allowed tradition, legalism and the rules of man to get in the way of truly encountering you?