In 2011, we will explore the nature of

truth, study the biblical answers to

some of life’s most basic questions,

and return to the basics of our

faith. In addition to these themes,

Jerry Poteet will be teaching a course

on the Book of Philippians in the

Sanctuary, the women’s ministry will

host a Beth Moore study in the

Fellowship Hall, and the men’s

ministry will host “We Band of

Brothers, Part 2” in the mancave. All

three of these offerings will begin on

Sunday evening February 13. Also

starting on February 13 is the

children’s choirs and the student

choir, Proclamation.

Sunday Mornings in 2011

At the beginning of 2011 we will take

on some of life’s most difficult

questions. We will make some

efforts to give cogent, reflective, and

most importantly, biblical

answers. Questions such as “Can I

know God?” “Can I trust God?”

“Does God love me?” “Can I trust

the Bible?” “Is there life after

death?” “Does it really matter how I

live my life?” The Bible addresses

these most basic issues. We will take

some time (twelve weeks) to think

through the implications of God’s

Word as we ask these questions.

After this apologetic study, we will

turn our attention to a study of the

basic truths of our Christian

faith. We will study the basic

doctrines about Jesus Christ, His life,

ministry, death, and resurrection. We

will explore the basic truths from

Genesis, Exodus, and the history of

Israel. We will study the theological

and historical material of the Old

Testament prophets, with special

attention to their predictive statements

about the coming Messiah. We will

explore the foundational truths

concerning the work of the Holy Spirit,

the purpose of the church, the Second

Coming of Jesus Christ, and the nature

of salvation. This was not part of my

original plans for 2011. However, in

preparing for one of the pastors’

conferences in Mexico, I wrote ten

sections of material entitled “What

Every Believer Should Know

About…” When discussing this

material with individuals here at

Matthew Road, there was some interest

in our church working through these

same basic truths in a systematic

way. Though this is not my preference

for preaching, as I prefer to work

through a book or a single passage for

months, there is certainly a place for

systematic theology in the preaching

ministry of the church.

Sunday Nights in January:

Does Truth Matter?

Is there any such thing as objective

truth? Have we become sophisticated

to the point of replacing objective truth

with our own opinion? Opinion, TV,

news, radio news, blogs, and a variety

2011 at a Glance

Matthew Road Baptist Church

Home Page

JANUARY VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Daniel’s Article 1

Young @ Heart 3

Children 4

20Something 5

Students 5

January Events 6

(Cont’d on pg 2)

of other venues have taken a democratic worldview to a place not originally envisioned by such champions

of this type of freedom. Each and every vote counts equally in an election. The unfortunate post-modern

leap is to say that each and every opinion counts equally in the realm of spiritual and moral truth. In post-

modern thinking, all ideas are of equal value but not all people are of equal value. In biblical thinking, not

all opinions are of equal value but all people are of equal value. We will take five weeks to explore these

issues of objective truth in a world of subjective thinking. The children will take up a parallel study on the

issue of objective truth and knowing the difference between right and wrong.

The Cooperative Program and the Local Church on Mission

In 2010, over 100 members of Matthew Road Baptist Church travelled on a dozen mission trips in Texas,

Mexico and to six other nations. The trips varied in scope from mercy ministries like medical and dental

trips to Mexico, and a medical clinic in Nagaland, India, to construction work on the orphanage in

Constitucion, Mexico, to construction of a school in Haiti and construction work by our students in La

Marque, TX. The students also hosted VBS for the La Marque community. There were several trips for

evangelism, bible translation, and pastors’ training to India, Papua New Guinea, Nagaland, Mexico, Japan,

and Romania. These trips have kingdom impact both on our church and on people throughout the

world. Beyond the travel, there is the direct support of specific ministries such as the orphanage and church

planters in Mexico as well as support for bible translators and bible colleges. Matthew Road has been able to

partner with these specific ministries, churches, and missionaries in ways that make good use of our dollars

and time. In 2011, we already have four trips on the calendar. In January, we will host a pastors’

conference in Valle Harmoso, Mexico and in March, we will host the same conference in Huasteca,

Mexico. In February, Kimberly will be leading the medical team to Nymlal, Sudan where over 500 orphans

are living in a Make Way Partners’ facility. This summer, our students will take another VBS, service

oriented mission trip. They will assist a church plant in the Denver area. Other trips will likely be scheduled

soon, allowing us to use our gifts and resources to share the love of God and the truth of His Word with the

nations.

Beyond this is the continual work of Southern Baptists throughout the world through the Cooperative

Program. Our budget giving includes 7.5% support of other Baptists serving in local, state, North American,

and international missions. We also continue to collect special offerings like the Lottie Moon Christmas

offering. This year our goal is $7,000. Monies given to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering go directly to

support over 5,000 missionaries serving all over the world. Just this week I met a couple and their two

daughters as they prepare to serve in Krakaw, Poland in January as appointed missionaries with the

International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. God uses our giving through our budget

offerings and Lottie Moon Christmas emphasis to provide for couples like this. Remember to pray for these

brave servants, especially during Christmas, as many of them will not leave their posts to return home for the

Holidays.

I am so excited about what God is teaching us. I want to be in the center of His will, with eternal

perspectives trumping my temporal mindset. May He graciously lead us in that way, for His greater glory

through our ever exalting of His Son for our greater joy.

~ Daniel

Page 2

Daniel’s Article Continued...

Page 3

Young @ Heart

Happy New Year from the Senior Adult Department. We have some great new Sunday night class's

coming in February and Daniel has lined out a marvelous new message series. You will not want to

miss out on these, so invite a friend and make plans to attend. Psalm 122:1

Plans for our Summer tour to Branson are beginning to fall into place. The date for this trip is June 13,

2011 through June 18, 2011. We will leave on Monday morning, June 13th and return on Saturday,

June 18th. We are planning on two shows a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. On Friday we

will tour the campus of the College of the Ozarks "Hard Work U" as it is called. We will also have

lunch on campus and tour their great museum. We will travel via a Dan Dipert 55 passenger tour bus.

Hurry and get your deposit in, you don't want to miss out on this tour. A $100 dollar deposit will save

you a seat and the deposit is refundable up to Sunday, May 15th. More details and information on

shows and total cost of tour to follow when all the shows are posted. If you have any questions contact

Sid at 972-641-2717. Until then, come and grow old with us; the best is yet to be!

Page 4

Children

AWANA Club meets on Wednesdays from 6:30-8pm. Each week, kids work on scripture

memorization, participate in Bible study, and have a game time! The goal of AWANA is

“to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him.”

Cubbies– Three and four year olds

Sparks– Kindergarten through second grade

Truth &Training – Third through sixth grade

January Bible Study

On Sunday nights for the month of January, our children will be learning how to make right choices. We will be studying God’s word and using Josh McDowell’s book “Truth Works” to find out how we can make choices that please God. You won’t want to miss out as we apply what God says to everyday situations that kids face!

Sunday nights in January. 6-7pm. Upstairs, Education Building.

I’m a Christian Now! We will begin a New Christian’s Class on February 27th. This class is for kids

who have recently made the decision to follow Christ or those who are thinking about making this decision. We will be using the book “I’m a

Christian Now” to answer questions about salvation, baptism, The Lord’s Supper, and what it really means to be a Christian.

February 27-March 27, 9:45am Teal Room, Education Building

Area 56 Mini– Mission Trip

On Saturday, February 12th, Area 56 will be taking a trip to Mission Arlington. There, we will have the opportunity to serve in many different ways. After our hard work, we will go to CiCi’s for lunch!

Meet at the church at 8:30am. Return at 1:30pm.

Cost: $6 for lunch

Parents are welcome to join us!

Permission forms must be turned in by February 5th.

Page 5

Student Ministry

This Month in the Student Ministry...

This January we are doing a four week

series in Collide chosen by you called “You

Asked for It”. The four topics taught on this

month will all be submitted and voted on by

you. This series is going to be really good,

so don’t miss out. 6:28pm every Wednesday

starting January 5.

Discipleship in the month of January will look a

little different. Instead of separated classes for students, all students will meet in the sanctuary with the

adults for a discipleship class called Truth Matters. Here we will discuss if there really is something called

“The Truth,” does it matter, and how “The Truth”

affects our belief system, morality, and how we live life. Spring discipleship will begin

Sunday Feb. 13 @ 6:00pm.

This Month in Collide...

For Parents Discipleship There will be a parent meeting regarding our

Mission Camp for Summer 2011 on Sunday Night, January 9 @ 7:00pm after evening discipleship. This meeting will be a

big informational meeting where we will lay out in great detail what our mission camp this next summer will look like.

I highly encourage as many of you to be there as can be so

that you can be as informed as possible about camp for next summer. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the parent

newsletter if you haven’t been receiving it. Contact Ryan for more info.

Third Thursday replaced

by Forth Saturday Capture the Flag and Bonfire at the Lankford’s

First game of sheer physical domination - may the best

team win, followed by hot dogs, smores and worship by

the bonfire.

Who: 20something

When: January 22nd, 3:30

Where: The Lankford’s

Cost: Free

Cost $149

April 1 - 3

Ft Worth

Deadline

To Sign up

01.26.11

to get the $149 rate

Contact Rachel

972.641.2717

TwentySomething

20Something Retreat Plan now to attend this weekend!

Bring work clothes, because Satur-

day we will work at a mission project

all day, then come back to worship

around the campfire. under the cedar

trees.

Who: 20something

Where: Mt. Lebanon

When: March 11-13

Cost: $45.00

Be the change!

Page 6

January 2nd: Sunday Evening Bible Study Series

January 6th: Young @ Heart, 8:30am, Outlaws Bar-b-que

January 8th: Fry/Halsell Sunday School Class Party, 6:00pm, SMAC

January 9th: Deacon Meeting, 5:00pm, Fellowship Hall

B & G Committee Meeting, 7:00pm, Conference Room

January 13th - 15th: Valle Hermosa Pastors Trip

January 16th: Childrens SS teachers Meeting, 12:00pm, Fellowship Hall

January 22nd: 20Something Bonfire, Lankford’s Home, 3:30pm

January 23rd: Finance Committee Meeting, TBA

January 26th: AWANA Family Appreciation Dinner, 5:30pm, Fellowship Hall

January 30th: AWANA Family Appreciation Recognition Service, AM services

Quarterly Business Meeting, 7:00pm, Sanctuary

January 2011 Events & Activities For more information, please see our website, www.matthewroad.org, or call the church office at 972-641-2717.

If you have an event not listed, please contact the church office at christy@matthewroad.org.