FBCTLH: 1st Baptist Tallahassee

I’m on sabbatical  and we are in Florida, and it’s not been a bad gig to be gone from the winter blizzard and snows in Chicago this winter. We do miss the chatter we all loved in talking about how bad the weather is! I’m working on a commentary on Colossians and Philemon (NICNT). But First Baptist Tallahassee invited me to do a weekend with them on gospel and kingdom so Kris and I drove up to Tallahassee (first time) and what an encouraging time we had. #fbctlh

But first thanks to Bill Shiell, pastor (and NT scholar) and Josh Hall, plus all the others who made the path smooth from Friday night into a full day on Saturday, and then two services Sunday. I did talks on gospel, Jesus Creed, kingdom realities for a local church, and then preached Sunday on Acts 10:34-45 (Peter’s gospeling of Cornelius).

Kris and I drove up past Tampa the first night and spent an evening, night and morning on Cedar Key (spotted a few birds) to relax. Some of you will know of Cedar Key.

A few highlights:

We enjoyed walking twice from the church area all the way down to the football stadium at Florida State University — a very impressive campus.

Great conversations with Bill Shiell, who specializes in performance and rhetoric. I will be posting about one of his books.

The (old) Florida state capitol — pristinely restored rooms for the senators and representatives.

The music on Sunday was beyond special. It began with an experience that surprised both Kris and me: a wonderful choir. What surprised is how long it has been since we heard such a noble choir. When commenting on the choir, someone said to me, “Welcome to the south, brother!” The second service had an amazing worship band and a young man on the piano that drew us all into worship. Glorious, I have to say, glorious.

We met so many wonderful people who have served God through a local church for their entire life — and it was splendid to learn the story of some of these folks over lunch and dinner conversations.

I value the local church, none less than 1st Baptist Church Tallahassee — and they appreciated my “Anglican tie”!