Our Mission The Mission of First Baptist Church is helping people know, love and become like Jesus. The VERY BEST way for us to accomplish our mission is to live and love like Jesus in our everyday lives!

Jesus our Rabbi As his disciples, we strive to… Know what the Rabbi Knows Do what the Rabbi Does Be who the Rabbi Is

Genesis 1 “Let there be…” or some variation repeated over and over through creation. “Let us make mankind in our image…” – v. 26

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:20b-22 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from

Genesis 2:20b-22 the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Matthew 19:13-15 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Luke 4:40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Luke 5:12-16 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Luke 5:12-16 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses

Luke 5:12-16 commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Live and Love Like Jesus The foundation: Growing in intimacy with God produces a life of obedience and bearing fruit. Obeying and bearing fruit produces a deeper love for and greater intimacy with God.

Touch Like Jesus Jesus used touch throughout his ministry to express love, to heal and to encourage others. As his disciples, who carry on His mission, we should be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading in opportunities to do the same.

Problems With Touch We come from different backgrounds with different ‘norms’ when it comes to touch. I.e. A very affectionate family vs. a less affectionate family OR a French or Italian ancestry vs. Scandinavian

Problems With Touch In the ‘digital age’ that we live in, people are more physically isolated from one another in spite of having more ways to communicate and ‘stay in touch’ than ever before.

Problems With Touch Many of us have been deeply wounded by the ‘touch’ of someone close to us: -Physical abuse -Sexual abuse -Neglect

Problems With Touch “This is a touch-phobic society. We’re not used to touching strangers, or even our friends.” -Matthew Hertenstein (DePauw University Psychologist)

The Power of Touch Touch for babies: -Leads to increased brain development -Leads to better self-soothing when upset -Leads to increased weight -Leads to increased length

The Power of Touch The simple act of touching frequently reduces everyday anxiety and tension. Loving touch releases oxytocin, a powerful hormone, into our bodies which enhances a sense of trust and attachment.

The Power of Touch Touching eases pain, softens the blows of life, generates hope and has the power to heal, according to most experts.

Touch Like Jesus “A hug goes a long way.” – Pastor Bob Jonsson

A Good Guideline “Outside of your closest relationships, stick to the safe zones of shoulders and arms (handshakes, high fives, backslaps), and in the office, it's always better for a subordinate, rather than a superior or manager, to initiate.” - Peter Andersen, author of Nonverbal Communication: Forms and Functions

Touch Like Jesus As we live and love like Jesus, the Spirit will at times lead us to offer a loving, appropriate touch to some people so that they can be drawn in to the loving arms of their savior!