The Notes

This Wednesday night, March 11, 2026, we are looking at the warnings from Jesus that even the disciples didn't understand.  Join us at 6:00 p.m. for some mid-week encouragement for the soul!  

If you can't join us in person, you can always participate through our Facebook page - we go "live" at 6:00 p.m., and you will have a front row seat.  If you can't join us live, there are 3 ways to watch the message later - on Facebook, on YouTube, or here on our website.  Messages are posted the following day and you can watch a replay of any message anytime!  

If you want to keep some notes from a message, you can download the notes for a specific message from the "Past and Future Messages" page of our website.  There are many ways to be spiritually fed and encouraged.

This past Wednesday night, March 4, 2026, we celebrated 16 years of F&M Worship.  This was not a journey we intended, it was the plan God had for us, and we willingly opened the door to His will and said yes.  F&M Worship [FMW] grew out of the need to feel the support and love of Christian friends when the door to one church closed.  We wanted a church where manmade rules did not control, where encouragement could be found, worship was important, and the church space offered a safe place to connect with God and others.  We wanted a place where life didn't feel lonely.  FMW was born on the first Wednesday night in March, 2010. 

Genesis 2:18 - NLT says: “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

God is the creator & designer of families.  God did that because didn’t want us living alone and feeling lonely.

He created us to be dependent on Him . . . and each other.

The Church is often referred to as the “family of God.”

It's made up of small communities of believers.  The local Church.  Church is where we come for hope . . . to know that all things work for good to those who love God.   It’s where we learn there is a God who is He’s bigger than our problems, bigger than the mountains before us, and the giants we face in life. 

It’s where we come together for holy matrimony . . .  and it's where we say our  final goodbyes.  It’s where we are reminded that life has problems, but Jesus gives us peace.

It’s where we discover we’re never alone.   

It’s where we understand how and why the Potter has shaped us - for a divine purpose.

It’s where we commit to serving God by being servants to each other and using our talents for the Lord.

It’s where we to learn to love like Jesus loves us.

The Bible says: “two are better than one.”  Ecc. 4:9.  “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” – Ecc. 4:10.   

In this family of believers - FMW - we have people to help us.  Here, in this family of believers, we grieve together – pray together -- heal together.  Here, as we gather together, we feel the presence and power of God.  Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” There is power in the name of Jesus, so there is power here in this place of worship.  And there is a sweet spirit as the Spirit of God fills our worship.

It’s nothing we do . . . it’s simply that we gather together to worship the one true God.  Thank you, God, for FMW.

Sometimes we leave a church because of disagreements. . .  or it's become too uncomfortable to worship there.  Sometimes we leave because we’ve been hurt.  Maybe there were unkind people, or people told you that you can’t serve there.  In those moments, that is God pushing us to move on - but not quit.  Those things that have happened are not Christ-like; Jesus would not tolerate them.  But God allows them to bring us to where we need to be . . . where we can serve Him completely . . . where we can grow to be more like Him.  It wasn’t intended to be a permanent break from God or His people.  It’s a new beginning.  A new start.  That is so because we weren’t meant to live in isolation.  We were meant (designed) to be helpers for others and dependent on each other.  So we must find ones who are “just right” for us.  If you don't find a local church which is "just right" for you, then let FMW be that place.  Come join us for in person worship.

We were designed and called upon to “carry one another’s burdens” – Galatians 6:2.  But we can’t do it if we don’t interact . . . if we stay at home.      We are to love as Jesus loved us, but we can't do that if we never see each other.  We are to “encourage one another and build each other up” – 1 Thess. 5:11.  But we can’t build up what we don’t connect with.  Truth is, we're more "connected" than ever before, but more unconnected with each other!

FMW isn’t made of perfect people, but people who worship a perfect God.  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” – Prov. 27:17

We make each other better - just like the salt we talked about last week.  We sharpen each other and help get rid of rough edges.  That's what happens when God's people come together with a sincere desire to become more like our heavenly Father.

FMW exists to provide encouragement; to be a reminder to focus on God, not on the size of the problems you face in this world. 

“Exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” – Heb. 3:13.  The call to "exhort" emphasizes the importance of mutual encouragement and accountability within the Christian community.  And we need to meet regularly for fellowship, teaching, and prayer; that's why scripture says "daily" . . . we need constant vigilance and support.  Today's news will harden our hearts as all we hear is sin, greed, hate, and violence.  But God's word softens it with the message of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  So we need Christian encouragement to remain steadfast in our faith. 

“Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Heb. 10:25.   It's so easy to stay at home . . to get busy and push God off to another "more convenient" time.  But that is the Enemy, seeking to separate us from the love of God.  And when we do gather together, it is such a blessing!

Colossians 3:16 says: “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”  

That’s what we do here at FMW.  Come join us!   Be a part of this family.  Worship and love with us.