Page likes: 738
First Baptist Church, Wellsboro, PA
(opens in a new tab)"Gathering, Growing, and Giving to Glorify Christ"
FBCW Covenant of Membership Reflection #4 – Expectation 3: I Will Serve ChristHow has your week been? Have you been growing? I hope so, considering we talked about it last week. This week we’ll contemplate our third expectation of membership.As a member of First Baptist Wellsboro, I will fulfill the following expectations:3. I will serve Christ through the mission work of First Baptist Church. I am created to serve others through good works (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10). I am commanded by God to make disciples of every nation, tribe, people, and language through the local church (Matthew 28:16-20; Revelation 7:9). I will support the church's mission to go to the ends of the earth to share the gospel (Acts 1:8).Did you know that we are all called to be on mission? No, I’m not saying you need to move to the Dominican Republic. However, Jesus does command us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19), and John tells us that “a great multitude that no one could number” from every nation, tribe, and language will be worshiping around the throne (Rev. 7:9). This might sound impossible, but allow me to break it down for you. We naturally gravitate towards elevating those who are doing extraordinary things (e.g. missionaries in China, or Nigeria). These things are great, however this is often done while neglecting the mission field we live in. Our mission work for Christ should begin in our local church and then go out to all the nations. Foundations are important. Whether you are building a physical building, or trying to reach the entire world it is important to be built from the ground up. It is by grace that we have been saved through faith that has been gifted to us by God (Eph. 2:8). We are to be built on the foundation of the Word, and we are joined together through love into a holy temple (Eph 2:21). God has prepared us for good works through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, so we ought to boast in God’s workmanship before one another. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Pet. 4:10). As a church we should actively find ways for people to put their gifts on display. Not only should these gifts be on display within, but we should also send people out to proclaim God’s workmanship. Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, says it best in Romans 10:13-15: “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Being witnesses for Christ in our community, county, country, and the world is difficult. However, when we are faithful inwardly it enables us to be faithful in what we send outwardly.Brother Samuel JacobsenMember of FBC WellsboroNext Week – FBCW Covenant of Membership Reflection #5 – Expectation 4: I Will Give Joyfully
Sunday ServiceEn Garde!Colossians 2:4-15Pastor Joshua Bankston
"Are you wiser than Cain?"Sermon Clip from Sunday, October 18th, 2026The Treasure Hidden For Ages Colossians 1:24-2:3 Brother Sam Jacobsen
Ever bowled a pumpkin? Putted into a jack-o-lantern? Played pumpkin tic-tac-toe? We have plenty of games, candy, warm cider, and friendly faces to greet you as you stop by First Baptist Wellsboro this Saturday!
FBCW Covenant of Membership ReflectionsReflection #3 – Expectation 2: I Will Grow SpirituallyToday we continue our walk through our Covenant of Membership here at First Baptist Church of Wellsboro by looking at expectation two.As a member of First Baptist Wellsboro, I will fulfill the following expectations:2. I will grow spiritually through regular engagement with groups and classes at First Baptist Church in addition to regular personal devotion. I understand the purpose of these groups and classes is to grow in spiritual discipline, gospel motivation, and to cultivate community and accountability with other believers under God's Word (Acts 2:44-47; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).The best practical example of expectation one from last week is found in Acts 2:42. The early church was worshiping God in spirit and truth by “devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers”. How can we replicate this? I believe that we find the answer to our question in the description given in Acts 2:44-47. All those who had heard the gospel proclaimed by Peter immediately began to pursue unity of mind and action. They all cared for each other by "selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all [who had need]” (v45). Day after day they would commit to physically gathering at the temple and joining for meals in the homes of fellow believers. They received everything generously and recognized their blessed state by praising God and living joyfully among the people around them. At FBCW we have connection groups that meet together to do exactly what we see described above. We have also begun to have a Belonging Meal every first Sunday of the month. As our covenant states, these events and groups serve as a means to grow spiritually. To grow in our understanding of the Word of God; to grow in encouraging and unifying fellowship with other believers; and to grow our affection for God through our prayers. There are many things in this world that attempt to draw us out into the darkness, but the church stands as a lighthouse among the wreckage of this world. How are you being drawn out into the darkness today? What sin is currently growing its vines around you? Be alert and cry out to your fellow church members to hold you accountable and to help you remove the wickedness that is ready to ensnare you. Let them shine the light of God’s Word upon your sin and there receive your needed teaching, reproof, correction, or training. Be made complete and fully equipped for every good work by this grace shown through the church (2 Tim. 3:16-17).Brother Samuel JacobsenMember of FBC WellsboroNext Week – FBCW Covenant of Membership Reflection #4 – Expectation 3: I Will Serve Christ
Sunday Service, Oct. 18, 2026The Treasure Hidden For Ages Scripture: Colossians 1:24-2:3 Brother Sam Jacobsen
"He Ripped Himself From Eternity"Sermon Clip from Sunday, October 11th, 2026Christ Over All ThingsColossians 1:13-23Pastor Chris Osterbrock
FBCW Covenant of Membership ReflectionsReflection #2 – Expectation 1: I Will Worship RegularlyLast week we talked about the first line of our church’s membership covenant, and how we have been called to be members of the body of Christ. We also talked about how we are individually equipped with different gifts and that should primarily be used to benefit those who are a part of the body.This week we are going to walk through the first of seven expectations that the members of First Baptist Church of Wellsboro have agreed to fulfill:"As a member of First Baptist Wellsboro, I will fulfill the following expectations: 1. I will worship the one true God with other First Baptist Church members for as long as I am physically able (Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 12:1). The goal of my regular weekly worship is to give God glory and magnify Christ in His assembly (Romans 11:36; Hebrews 13:15)."True worship, according to Jesus, is not about the physical acts we commit. Instead, we are to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23). In spirit by presenting our “bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1). Doing so with affection and gratitude. In truth by putting to death the deeds of the body by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). It is by these that God molds us farther into his image. We can worship rightly because Jesus entered the holy places by means of his own blood (Heb. 9:12). We are freed to pursue God without the hindrance of our sin because his blood was a perfect sacrifice. “Therefore,… let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering… and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together…” (Heb. 10:19-25). As long as I am physically able I will gather with the saints, because to neglect the gathering willingly is to “trample underfoot the Son of God,” and to profane “the blood of the covenant” (Heb. 10:29). Therefore, let us instead through Jesus Christ “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” together (Heb 13:15). If you are a member at FBCW and you have been failing to meet this expectation, would you reach out to a fellow member and ask them to hold you accountable? If you know someone who has been willingly (not because of health or otherwise) missing Sunday morning service, would you reach out to them and lovingly call them back into the sheep pen? Now “from [Jesus] and through [Jesus] and to [Jesus] are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom 11:36).Brother Samuel JacobsenMember of FBC WellsboroNext Week – FBCW Covenant of Membership Reflection #3 – Expectation 2: I Will GrowSpiritually