Foundations Class Weekly August 29 2026

Lesson Recap

SLOW DOWN, LOOK BACK — AND LIVE FREE

Our Galatians Summer Review

Galatians 5:22–23 • Foundations Class Interactive • Sunday, August 23

Last Sunday, August 23, Foundations took time to slow down and look back over our nine-lesson summer journey through Galatians, Freedom in Christ.

There was even a little fun in how we began. The previous week, Pastor Gregg had reached back into the vocabulary of our generation and used the word “groovy.” So what better background for a slideshow on the Fruit of the Spirit than Simon & Garfunkel’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)”?

Beyond the nostalgia, its reminder to slow down fit the morning perfectly. We stopped to consider Galatians 5:22–23—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—and asked: Where can I look back and recognize that the Holy Spirit has genuinely changed me?

The answers shared around the room became testimonies of God’s work—faithfulness through difficult circumstances, greater patience and kindness, praying for others, passing faith to the next generation, and responding with self-control.

Then a special Galatians Summer Series review video brought back key teaching points from each of our teachers. Different voices and passages pointed us toward one consistent truth.

Jesus Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Galatians Summer Series

The gospel is Christ—not Christ plus something else. We don’t work for God’s acceptance; because of Christ, we live from His acceptance. And our freedom in Christ is freedom to walk by the Spirit.

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The Application

Stand firm in Christ’s freedom. Walk by the Spirit. Look for His fruit in your life. Carry one another’s burdens. And let the cross—not our accomplishments—be our boast.

Slow down and look back at what God has done. Look within and recognize where His Spirit is working. Then look ahead—and keep walking with Him.

And maybe it’s still okay to call that groovy.

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Before You Go

Test Yourself

Forty-five flashcards covering all nine lessons. Click a card to flip it, then work your way through at your own pace—a simple way to keep this summer’s study close at hand.

This Sunday • Guest Teacher

INVITED INSIDE

Guest Teacher Gary Pate on Why I Don’t See God at Work Doing the Miraculous

Luke 8:51 • Gary Pate • Sunday, August 30

This Sunday, August 30, Foundations welcomes guest teacher Gary Pate for a special lesson: Invited Inside: Why I Don’t See God at Work Doing the Miraculous.

The text is a single verse. In Luke 8:51, Jesus arrives at the house of Jairus, whose daughter has just died—and He does something easy to read right past. He does not let everyone come in with Him. Only Peter, John, James, and the girl’s mother and father go through that door. Everyone else stays outside.

A crowd had followed Jesus all the way there. But only a few were inside the room when the miracle happened.

And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.

Luke 8:51

That detail raises a question worth sitting with. If you have ever wondered why you hear about God working powerfully in other lives and not so plainly in your own, this lesson is aimed squarely at you. Gary will walk us through what set those few apart, and what it looks like to be the kind of person Jesus brings inside.

Bring a friend. This is a good week to invite someone who has been meaning to visit—a single-verse lesson with a guest teacher is an easy Sunday to walk into for the first time.

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Join Us

Sunday, August 30

Gathering at 10:30 AM • Teaching at 11:00 AM

Rehearsal Hall • Houston’s First Baptist Church, Loop Campus

Plan to Join Us Sunday

Pastor's Message

Moving with God Together: Blessed

Numbers 6:22–27 • Pastor Gregg • August 23, 2026

Israel is packing for the wilderness. Pastor Gregg started with a backpack — water bottle, map, first aid kit, Astros hat — then made the point that the one thing they needed most could not be bought at Academy. What they needed was the blessing and favor of God. Moses said it plainly in Exodus 33:14: if your presence does not go with us, do not send us from this place.

The Priestly Blessing holds five gifts. Protection — being kept by God in the middle of difficulty, not spared from it. Presence — the sunshine smile of God turned toward you, not a scowl. Favor — grace that comes before a single step is taken, because it is easier to have the approval of God than the approval of man. Peace — shalom, the presence of Christ in the crisis. And identity — verse 27, the forgotten verse, where God writes His own name over His people.

Peace is not the absence of crisis. It is the presence of Christ.

Pastor Gregg

Two moments landed hard. The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls, uncovered outside Jerusalem in 1979, carry this exact blessing on a scroll dating to the 600s B.C. — roughly four centuries older than the Dead Sea Scrolls. Nobody made this up. And on the softball field, his daughter reached first base and immediately looked to third for her father's eyes: Is that good, Dad? Children should leave home from approval, not for approval. So should we.

Pray the blessing out loud this week — over your spouse, your children, your parents, yourself. Put the fridge magnet where you will actually see it. Then pick up a few of the blessing cards in the lobby and hand them to someone who needs one. The point is not to say I am so blessed. The point is to be a blessing.

Watch the Full Message

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From Our Friends

A NOTE FROM RICHARD AND TRISH

Open the card to read it in their own hand

A card arrived this week from Richard and Trish, thanking the class for the prayers, calls, texts, cards, and meals that have surrounded them through a difficult season. They write that those prayers have been a lifeline.

We’ve scanned all four panels so you can read it the way they wrote it. Tap the card below to open it, then move through the panels—the full note is there, along with the verse they chose to close it, Second Corinthians 9:8.

Answered prayer. Richard and Trish are back and doing well!

Men on a Mission

On the Trail Again: BBQ Trail Ride Recap

Old Hickory Inn • Trail Boss Richard Battle • Thursday, August 27, 2026

Trail Boss Richard Battle pointed the men toward Old Hickory Inn, and they answered the call. Good smoke, full plates, and the kind of conversation that only happens around a table.

Watch the recap above, then watch this space — the next stop on the trail is coming. If you have been meaning to ride along, this is your invitation.

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Coming This Fall

Faith Beyond Sight: A New Series Begins This Fall

Hebrews 11 • Foundations Class • Beginning Sunday, September 13

Galatians has carried us through the summer. This fall we turn to one of the most remarkable chapters in all of Scripture. Beginning Sunday, September 13, the Foundations Class opens a new series: Faith Beyond Sight: Lessons from Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith, and for good reason. It is a roll call of ordinary people who trusted God for things they could not yet see. Noah built a boat on dry ground. Israel walked between walls of water. Daniel spent a night among lions and came out to tell it. Jericho fell without a siege. Samson found his strength again at the end. None of them had the whole picture. All of them moved anyway.

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

That is the thread we will follow week by week. These are not legends kept behind glass. They are witnesses, and the chapter ends by pointing straight at us — their stories were written down so that ours could be lived out. Faith is not just seen. It is lived.

We meet Sundays at 10:45 in the Choir Rehearsal Hall, second floor of the Loop Campus, up the wide staircase from the foyer. Come as you are and bring a friend. There is a place for you here.

Join Us September 13

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Foundations Fellowship • Save the Date

We Love Our Sundays — But Have You Tried Our Sundaes?

The sundae truck is rolling back around — Friday, September 11!

Every Sunday, the Foundations Class gathers around something sweet — God's Word and great friends. But on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 PM, we're gathering around the other kind of sundae. Back by popular demand, our How Sweet It Is dessert fellowship returns, hosted by the Butchers!

Here's the plan — and it starts before dessert is served. Plan a dinner meet-up first! Gather a small group and head out for dinner together earlier that evening. Invite a class member you've been wanting to know better. Invite a guest or a friend — from church or beyond — who could use some fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to open a seat at the table and make room for new and growing Christian friendships.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

— Proverbs 25:11 (ESV)

Sometimes the sweetest word fitly spoken is simply, “Come join us for dinner.” Who will you invite?

Then, after your dinner meet-ups, everyone comes together at the Butchers' at 7:30 PM for a sweet after-dinner fellowship — sundaes, floats, toppings galore, and laughter in every room. If you were there last time, you already know. And if you missed it, here's your second scoop!

How Sweet It Is — Dessert Fellowship

Friday, September 11 • 7:30 PM

Hosted by the Butchers • Plan your dinner meet-up first!
Address and details on GroupMe

Our friendships aren't just for Sunday mornings. Start planning your dinner group now — because dessert is always better shared with friends.

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F

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Midweek · Every Wednesday

The Midweek Refreshment of Shared Prayer

Join our community as we pause together for the Sweet Hour of Prayer every Wednesday at noon. Please send your prayer requests to Karen at 713-204-8384 by Tuesday so they may be included.

★ ★ ★

Giving Opportunity · Family Camp

A Seat at the Campfire — Reserved by You

Every year, Family Camp gives single-parent and blended families at Houston’s First something the calendar rarely allows: a weekend to exhale. Three days to step away from the daily grind, strengthen relationships, grow in faith, and discover they are not walking their road alone.

Last year, nearly 50 families gathered around the theme Endure. They heard Philip and Elizabeth Varjas share how God carried them through hardship — and you could feel the room lean in. Kids tackled the ropes course, went fishing, and braved the putt-putt. Parents finally rested over an ice cream social. By Sunday morning, families who had arrived worn down left with renewed joy, new friendships, and one anchoring truth: God’s Word endures forever (Isaiah 40:8) — and through Christ, so can we.

This year, several families would love to come but can’t cover the cost. And here’s the part worth sitting with:

A scholarship of just $50–75 per person is often the only thing standing between a struggling family and a weekend that could change their year.

That’s the whole gap. We can close it.

Would our class sponsor one or more campers? Every gift — any amount — removes a financial barrier and hands a family a weekend they’ll carry home in their hearts. Your generosity can have an eternal impact.

Learn More or Give →

Read last year’s Family Camp recap →

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Ministry · Encore Activities

Connecting Through Encore Activities

For Encore information click here →

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Stay Connected · GroupMe

You’re in Control — Join or Step Back Anytime

We’ve created a Foundations Class GroupMe message center as a convenient, real-time way to share prayer requests, announcements, and encouraging messages. Join or leave anytime — no pressure. Mute notifications if you prefer silence, or jump into the conversation when something grabs your heart.

Sign up here: https://3zs8.short.gy/FoundationsGM →

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HFBC · Path to Membership

Click for Membership Information →

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Foundations Class Weekly August 22 2026

Q3 2026 Focus

Jehovah Jireh — The LORD Will Provide

This Quarter's Memory Verse • Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

We memorize one verse a quarter, and this is the one. Say it out loud this week until it comes without looking — in the car, at the sink, before you close your eyes at night.

It pairs with our Q3 focus on Jehovah Jireh, the name Abraham gave the mountain when God supplied what he could not. The same God who provided then is still providing now, and Romans 8:28 is His promise that nothing in your week is wasted.

Friends, if you're just joining us, there's still plenty of quarter left. Start today.

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Men on a Mission

Trail Boss Richard Sounds the Call: The BBQ Trail Rides Again This Month

It started with a song.  Trail Boss Richard stepped up and serenaded the class with his own barbecue-flavored spin on a certain country classic about life on the road — and just like that, the trail is calling again.

This ride comes with a tip from one of our very own. Ron Chow pointed the Trail Boss toward Old Hickory Inn Barbecue, a Houston institution that's been slow-smoking brisket since 1963. After six decades at its old spot, Old Hickory recently moved into a brand-new building at the corner of Hillcroft and Braeswood — and Richard, who personally scouted it on Friday, reports it may be the nicest barbecue joint the trail has ever visited. New building, same old-fashioned Texas barbecue: brisket, ribs, sausage, and all the fixings.

Next Stop: Old Hickory Inn Barbecue — Thursday, August 27 at 11:20 — 9601 Hillcroft (at Braeswood)

Trail Boss Richard is reserving the table — let him know you're riding along.

Brisket. Brotherhood. And a Trail Boss who knows where all the good smoke is. You've got a few weeks — consider this the bug in your ear. Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 27, and come hungry, friends. The trail rides on.

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Sermon Recap

Moving with God Together: Plan to Succeed

Numbers 1–2; Genesis 12:1–4 • Pastor Gregg • August 16, 2026

Pastor Gregg opened the book of Numbers by introducing it five different ways — once for each generation in the room, from Gen Z to the silent generation, who needed only one sentence and gave it a round of applause. The point underneath the fun was serious. Every generation has read this book, and one generation in it never reached the promised land.

Numbers takes its name from the two census counts that bracket it. The first counts a generation that will wander and die in the wilderness. The second counts their children, who will cross over. Leviticus covered one year of the journey. Numbers covers the next thirty-eight or thirty-nine, from Sinai to the edge of the Jordan.

God speaks to those who listen. Chapter one opens with the Lord speaking to Moses in the tent. All of Leviticus happened outside it. Now the purity work is done and the meeting can happen. Many of us plan to move as soon as we feel ready to have faith — but that's backward. Pastor Gregg also gave the order worth keeping: God speaks through His Word first, then His Spirit, then His people. We tend to reverse it, hunting for a good feeling and then a verse to confirm what we already decided.

God hits moving targets.

Pastor Gregg

The Lincoln photograph made it concrete. In the tent you get the plans; from the plans you go out and win the war.

God always has a plan. To see it, Pastor Gregg took us back to Genesis 12 and the covenant with Abram — a chosen people, a chosen place, a clear promise, and a clear purpose. That last one matters most: all the peoples of earth will be blessed through you. The plan was never only for Israel. It built toward one blessing, and His name is Jesus.

He addressed replacement theology directly and called it theologically incorrect, pointing to Romans 11 — Gentiles are grafted in, not substituted, and the promises of God are irrevocable. If God could break a promise with Israel, He could break one with anybody. And he named the heart behind it plainly: this isn't politics, it's the same desire Paul carried, that Jewish friends and Gentile friends alike would come to know Jesus as Messiah.

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Applications

Take inventory of your life. Moses knew his people, tribe by tribe and leader by leader — men whose very names pointed to the character of God. An unexamined life isn't worth living. Are you walking with God right now, honestly?

Arrange your life with God at the center. Israel camped around the tent of meeting, each tribe in its assigned place. God is not the fringe of your life. Seek first His kingdom, and the rest gets added.

Trust instead of complaining when life isn't what you expected. The complaints run through Numbers 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 21, and 26 — always some version of it was better in Egypt. That generation missed the promised land for two reasons: unbelief and ingratitude. So we come back to our own hearts and say, I'm going to believe, and I'm going to be grateful.

Pastor Gregg closed with Susan Barnett, who believed the vacant land across from the Sienna campus belonged to the church and walked it seven times in prayer, the way Joshua circled Jericho. The staff joined her. People park cars on that ground today. His final call was simple — more people coming to the altar than to the exit.

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Lesson Recap

A Call to Live in Freedom

"A Call to Live in Freedom" • Galatians 5:1–6:18 • Don Sweat • August 16, 2026

Don Sweat closed our summer study by covering two chapters in one morning, opening right where Paul does: "For freedom, Christ has set us free." Paul finally names circumcision head-on — not because the act is wrong, but because taking on one requirement of the law to earn standing with God obligates you to all of it.

The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is control.

Don Sweat

That line reframed the lesson. Falling away from grace isn't a dramatic collapse; it's quietly taking back the wheel. Quiet time and journaling are good things — until they become a box to check or a scoreboard against the person next to you.

The clearest point of the morning came from Galatians 5:19–23. The works of the flesh are entirely mine to own. But I cannot manufacture fruit. It grows only as the Holy Spirit works through me — which leaves nothing to boast about.

Chapter six turns warm. The letter that opened with a scolding now calls them brothers. Restore gently. Bear one another's burdens, Don said, because when we carry a friend's load we are being Christ to them — carrying ours to the cross is exactly what He did.

Paul closes in his own hand, in large letters, boasting in nothing but the cross.

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Takeaways

Freedom is the point. Adding anything to faith subtracts from what Christ already finished.

Check the motive, not just the habit. Are you doing it to know God better, or to measure well against your neighbor?

Carry someone's burden this week. Grace creates faith, and faith produces obedience.

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Series Review

Pop Quiz, Friends — No Grades, No Pressure

Galatians Series Review • Galatians 1–6 • Sunday, August 23, 2026

This week we look back. Before we set out on a new path in September, we're taking a Sunday to review what a summer in Galatians left with us.

Some of it was the big theological turns. Some of it was the illustrations that made us laugh and then stuck around all week anyway — a drone on the porch, a courtroom verdict, a letter written in oversized handwriting by a man who could barely see.

Underneath all of it, one verse.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore.

Galatians 5:1

Here's a little insight into where we're headed Sunday. Take a few minutes with the ten questions below, reveal the answers as you go, and see what surfaces. No grades, friends.

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Galatians Series Quiz: Freedom in Christ

1. Who were the Galatians originally?

• A) Roman legions stationed in Syria
• B) Celtic Gauls who migrated to north-central Anatolia in 278-277 BCE
• C) Greek merchants living in Ephesus

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

The Galatians were originally Celtic Gauls who migrated to central Turkey, making them a "Celtic Island in a Roman Sea."

2. Why did Paul confront Peter (Cephas) to his face in Antioch, as described in Galatians 2?

• A) Because Peter insisted that Paul was not a true apostle since he was not one of the original twelve.
• B) Because Peter acted like a "chameleon" by withdrawing from Gentile fellowship due to fear of the circumcision party.
• C) Because Peter refused to help collect the offering for the poor in Jerusalem.

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Paul publicly opposed Peter for his hypocritical behavior, showing Peter was "not in step with the truth of the gospel" due to peer pressure.

3. What is the "vivid portrayal" Paul refers to in Galatians 3:1 that he uses to challenge the Galatians' move toward legalism?

• A) The specific list of 613 commandments in the Talmud.
• B) Jesus Christ publicly portrayed as crucified.
• C) The sacrifice of Isaac on Mount Moriah.

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Paul challenges them by reminding them that they had already received a vivid portrayal of Christ crucified, demonstrating that work on the cross was complete.

4. What did Paul suggest about his physical condition in Galatians 4 and 6, and how did it affect his writing?

• A) He had a paralyzed arm, making it impossible for him to write anything himself.
• B) He had poor vision, possibly resulting in his use of "large letters" when writing in his own hand.
• C) He suffered from severe malaria, which prevented him from traveling.

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Paul notes the Galatians would have "plucked out their eyes" for him, and points out the "large letters" he used to write with his own hand.

5. In Lesson 6, Jeff Pennington used which modern metaphor to describe how the Holy Spirit works, challenging the idea that the Spirit is just a static "package"?

• A) A self-driving electric car steering our path
• B) A Walmart drone delivering a package to our doorstep
• C) A streaming service with an endless queue

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Jeff used the Walmart drone delivery metaphor to emphasize that the Spirit is an active, living force initiating new life, not just a dropped-off cardboard box.

6. According to Don Sweat's teaching in the series finale, what is the true opposite of faith?

• A) Doubt and intellectual skepticism
• B) Control
• C) Fear of physical persecution

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Don taught that trying to justify or perfect ourselves through rules is ultimately an attempt to maintain control rather than trusting God.

7. Which theological analogy did Don Sweat use to illustrate the stages of salvation (Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification)?

• A) A three-stage SpaceX Starship rocket blasting off, traveling, and landing
• B) An accounting ledger balancing sin debts and infinite righteousness credits
• C) A legal courtroom with a judge declaring a pardon

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: A

Don likened Justification to the dramatic rocket blast-off, Sanctification to the journey through space, and Glorification to the final touchdown.

8. What central distinction did Rand Wall make in Lesson 7 to separate Christianity from all other world religions?

• A) "Sacrifice" vs. "Sovereignty"
• B) "Do" religions vs. "Done" religion
• C) "Written Law" vs. "Oral Tradition"

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Every other faith tells humanity what they must "do" to reach God; Christianity is built on what has already been "done" by Christ on the cross.

9. According to Butch in Lesson 1, where did the very first attack on the Christian church originate?

• A) Outside the church, from Roman political authorities
• B) Within the church itself, through false teachers distorting the gospel
• C) From secular Greek philosophical schools

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Butch opened the series by warning that the earliest and most dangerous threat to the gospel came from inside the community (the Judaizers).

10. Which verse serves as the core "Freedom Theme" anchor of the entire Galatians summer series?

• A) Galatians 2:20 ("I have been crucified with Christ...")
• B) Galatians 5:1 ("For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore...")
• C) Galatians 6:8 ("For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption...")

Reveal Answer

Correct Answer: B

Galatians 5:1 is the theological apex of the letter and the anchor of the series' "The Well-Worn Path" branding and tri-fold materials.

Foundations Fellowship • Save the Date

We Love Our Sundays — But Have You Tried Our Sundaes?

The sundae truck is rolling back around — Friday, September 11!

Every Sunday, the Foundations Class gathers around something sweet — God's Word and great friends. But on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 PM, we're gathering around the other kind of sundae. Back by popular demand, our How Sweet It Is dessert fellowship returns, hosted by the Butchers!

Here's the plan — and it starts before dessert is served. Plan a dinner meet-up first! Gather a small group and head out for dinner together earlier that evening. Invite a class member you've been wanting to know better. Invite a guest or a friend — from church or beyond — who could use some fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to open a seat at the table and make room for new and growing Christian friendships.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

— Proverbs 25:11 (ESV)

Sometimes the sweetest word fitly spoken is simply, “Come join us for dinner.” Who will you invite?

Then, after your dinner meet-ups, everyone comes together at the Butchers' at 7:30 PM for a sweet after-dinner fellowship — sundaes, floats, toppings galore, and laughter in every room. If you were there last time, you already know. And if you missed it, here's your second scoop!

How Sweet It Is — Dessert Fellowship

Friday, September 11 • 7:30 PM

Hosted by the Butchers • Plan your dinner meet-up first!
Address and details on GroupMe

Our friendships aren't just for Sunday mornings. Start planning your dinner group now — because dessert is always better shared with friends.

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Fall 2026 Series Announcement

Coming This Fall: Hebrews 11 — The Hall of Faith

Every great story deserves a great trailer, and our next series just got one. This fall, Foundations begins a 14-week journey through Hebrews 11 — the Hall of Faith — walking the chapter’s roll call of ordinary people who trusted an extraordinary God: Noah building before the rain, Abraham answering before he knew the destination, and walls that fell because somebody kept marching.

And if the movie-trailer-style announcement looks a little familiar… let’s just say one of our own may have been spotted on set alongside the heroes of the faith.

Share the trailer with a friend, a neighbor, or anyone looking for a Bible study home this fall. Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith isn’t reserved for spiritual giants — it’s for everyone willing to take the next step without seeing the whole staircase. Full schedule and details coming soon.

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Midweek · Every Wednesday

The Midweek Refreshment of Shared Prayer

Join our community as we pause together for the Sweet Hour of Prayer every Wednesday at noon. Please send your prayer requests to Karen at 713-204-8384 by Tuesday so they may be included.

★ ★ ★

Giving Opportunity · Family Camp

A Seat at the Campfire — Reserved by You

Every year, Family Camp gives single-parent and blended families at Houston’s First something the calendar rarely allows: a weekend to exhale. Three days to step away from the daily grind, strengthen relationships, grow in faith, and discover they are not walking their road alone.

Last year, nearly 50 families gathered around the theme Endure. They heard Philip and Elizabeth Varjas share how God carried them through hardship — and you could feel the room lean in. Kids tackled the ropes course, went fishing, and braved the putt-putt. Parents finally rested over an ice cream social. By Sunday morning, families who had arrived worn down left with renewed joy, new friendships, and one anchoring truth: God’s Word endures forever (Isaiah 40:8) — and through Christ, so can we.

This year, several families would love to come but can’t cover the cost. And here’s the part worth sitting with:

A scholarship of just $50–75 per person is often the only thing standing between a struggling family and a weekend that could change their year.

That’s the whole gap. We can close it.

Would our class sponsor one or more campers? Every gift — any amount — removes a financial barrier and hands a family a weekend they’ll carry home in their hearts. Your generosity can have an eternal impact.

Learn More or Give →

Read last year’s Family Camp recap →

★ ★ ★

Ministry · Encore Activities

Connecting Through Encore Activities

For Encore information click here →

★ ★ ★

Stay Connected · GroupMe

You’re in Control — Join or Step Back Anytime

We’ve created a Foundations Class GroupMe message center as a convenient, real-time way to share prayer requests, announcements, and encouraging messages. Join or leave anytime — no pressure. Mute notifications if you prefer silence, or jump into the conversation when something grabs your heart.

Sign up here: https://3zs8.short.gy/FoundationsGM →

★ ★ ★

HFBC · Path to Membership

Click for Membership Information →

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Foundations Class Weekly August 15 2026

185 Years. One Unchanging Message: JESUS SAVES.

The message that once lit the Houston skyline still shines today.

For decades, two glowing words stood watch over downtown Houston: JESUS SAVES.

Mounted high above the downtown home of Houston’s First Baptist Church, the illuminated sign became a fixture of the city skyline. As office towers rose around it and a frontier town grew into one of America’s great cities, the sign offered something the skyline couldn’t — a clear, unashamed declaration of the Gospel.

And it was a message our church had already been proclaiming for generations.

Founded in 1841 with just 16 members, Houston’s First has now ministered to this city for 185 years. The skyline has changed. The church has moved. Ministries and methods have evolved. But the message has not changed by a single word.

When the Houston Chronicle marked our 175th anniversary in 2016, the historic JESUS SAVES sign was remembered as a beloved landmark of 1960s downtown. But the story wasn’t really about a sign — it was about lives transformed, and a church looking not backward at its history but forward to its mission.

Those two words were never merely lights on a building. They were — and remain — our message to the city.

That may be the sign’s greatest legacy.

The same Jesus who saved then saves today. And after 185 years, it’s our generation’s privilege to carry those two words into Houston and beyond.

Yesterday’s message. Today’s mission. Eternal hope.

JESUS SAVES.

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Sermon Recap • Leviticus 26–27

Holy: Jesus Is Our Path

A message delivered by Pastor Gregg

This Sunday, Pastor Gregg brought our five-week journey through Leviticus to a powerful close with a question that cuts right to the heart: Do you believe in God, or do you belong to God?

He opened with the story of a nerve-wracking day spent driving a friend’s borrowed pickup through a Houston rainstorm — white-knuckled the whole way, because it wasn’t his. That image carried the entire message: we are not the owners of our lives. We are stewards. Like that borrowed truck, everything we have and everything we are belongs to Someone else, and that changes how we drive.

Leviticus 26 opens with thirteen verses of blessing after blessing — rain in season, fruitful land, peace, security. But tucked into verse 11 is the greatest promise of all: “I will place my residence among you… I will walk among you and be your God.” Pastor Gregg reminded us that the ultimate blessing isn’t provision or protection. The ultimate blessing is God’s presence. As Max Lucado puts it, “His greatest gift is himself.”

“You’re either going to be humble or get humbled.”

Then the chapter turns sobering. When God’s people choose hostility over humility — the Hebrew word keri, meaning defiance or walking in opposition — they forfeit the blessing of walking with Him. Pastor Gregg pressed the question home: Will we be hostile or humble?

But grace gets the last word. Leviticus 26:40 shows that when hearts are humbled and sin is confessed, God remembers His covenant. Jesus is the path of our restoration. Sin makes us at odds; Christ makes us at one — that’s atonement: at-one-ment.

The whole arc of Leviticus points to Him. In Leviticus 1:1, God speaks to Moses from outside the tent. In Numbers 1:1, from inside the tent. And in the New Testament? We are the tent — the Holy Spirit dwelling in every believer (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). “You are not your own. You were bought with a price.”

The service closed with a consecration moment drawn from Leviticus 27, where Israel gave everything — families, livestock, land — over to the Lord. Pastor Gregg challenged all campuses to come to the altars, not the exits: to stand right where they were and say, “God, this is Yours. The job, the diagnosis, the kids, this chapter of my life — I give it to You.”

Takeaway

Obedience isn’t how we earn redemption — it’s how we enjoy fellowship with God. When we believe, we belong. And when we belong, we walk in the blessing of His presence.

Missed Sunday, or want to hear it again? Watch the full message below:

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Lesson Review

No Longer a Slave, but a Son

"Freedom Through Faith" • Galatians 4:1-31 • Bill Wright • August 9, 2026

Handed all thirty-one verses of Galatians 4, Bill Wright set the table by reminding us who Paul was writing to. The traditionalists of that day had multiplied the Ten Commandments into six hundred thirteen rules, and their message to new believers was simple and deadly: Jesus is good, but something else is necessary. Bill called it the doctrine of "Jesus plus," and noted it did not die in the first century. Paul's answer was blunt — adding requirements to Christ's sacrifice ruins the whole idea of free grace and makes a man a partner in his own salvation.

Then Bill said the thing that made the room go quiet: he knew about legalism because he used to be one. Years ago he measured his salvation by attendance, once going to church or a church event twenty nights in a row. Later he was convinced no one was saved unless he had walked the aisle — and prayed the right prayer, in the right order, at the right time. Every revival, up he went. This time I'll get it right.

"It's hard work being a legalist. When you finally dump that, it's the greatest relief."

Bill Wright

That opened the passage itself. In verses one through seven, Paul pictures an heir who is still a child — on paper he owns everything, in practice he lives like a slave until the date his father sets. Then came the fullness of time, the Son, and redemption. Bill pressed the word past "bought back": redeemed means restored to the standing God intended all along. Verse seven is the hinge, and he told us to underline it. To make it land, he described a late-night corporate meeting where the chairman's grown son burst in without knocking — Dad, we're all going to dinner, join us when you're done. He needed no permission. He was the son, and he knew it. That is the confidence behind Abba, Father, a word closer to "Dad" than to anything formal.

So why would anyone go back? Not because of Satan, Bill said — that is the easy answer. It is control. Rules let a man keep score and rank himself above his neighbor, and a ritual repeated long enough becomes mindless. Rule-keeping also produces an aroma, and not the sweet one Paul described. He told about a friend he calls a spiritual predator, always circling for lost people, quietly judged by church folks for befriending the very people he is trying to reach. If every believer joins the holy huddle, Bill said, we will never win the world.

The chapter closes with Hagar and Sarah, two women standing for two covenants — one bearing children into slavery, one into promise. Bill landed it on a question we can all answer honestly: how many times have you launched plan B because plan A was taking too long? Quoting Tim Keller, he reminded us that if you want God's grace, all you need is grace — but that humility is hard to muster when we keep arriving with a list of what we have done. Paul, if he were here, would say it plainly: quit listening to false doctrine, and keep your eyes on Jesus.

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Takeaways

Redeemed means restored. Christ returned you to the standing God planned from the beginning — not a servant waiting outside the door, but a son with the run of the house.

You cannot add to a finished work. The moment performance becomes the proof, grace stops being a gift and starts being a wage.

Be a sweet aroma. Rules push people away; a life freed by grace draws them in. Build the relationship first.

Don't settle for plan B. Sarah could not wait, and neither can we. The life God planned is better than anything we can arrange on our own timetable.

Our friends can watch the full lesson above. The study in Galatians continues this Sunday at 10:45 in the Rehearsal Hall with Don Sweat.

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Men on a Mission

Trail Boss Richard Sounds the Call: The BBQ Trail Rides Again This Month

It started with a song. Sunday morning, Trail Boss Richard stepped up and serenaded the class with his own barbecue-flavored spin on a certain country classic about life on the road — and just like that, the trail is calling again.

This ride comes with a tip from one of our very own. Ron Chow pointed the Trail Boss toward Old Hickory Inn Barbecue, a Houston institution that's been slow-smoking brisket since 1963. After six decades at its old spot, Old Hickory recently moved into a brand-new building at the corner of Hillcroft and Braeswood — and Richard, who personally scouted it on Friday, reports it may be the nicest barbecue joint the trail has ever visited. New building, same old-fashioned Texas barbecue: brisket, ribs, sausage, and all the fixings.

Next Stop: Old Hickory Inn Barbecue — Thursday, August 27 at 11:20 — 9601 Hillcroft (at Braeswood)

Trail Boss Richard is reserving the table — let him know you're riding along.

Brisket. Brotherhood. And a Trail Boss who knows where all the good smoke is. You've got a few weeks — consider this the bug in your ear. Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 27, and come hungry, friends. The trail rides on.

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Set Free — A Summer Study in Galatians

Free at Last: 

The Galatians Finale Arrives 

This Sunday

"A Call to Live in Freedom" • Galatians 5:1–6:18 • Taught by Don Sweat • Sunday, August 16

Every journey has a destination — and this Sunday, our summer walk through Galatians arrives at Paul's final, passionate appeal.

On August 16, Don Sweat brings our "Set Free — A Summer Study in Galatians" series to its conclusion with "A Call to Live in Freedom" (Galatians 5:1–6:18). After a summer spent tracing Paul's defense of the one true gospel — salvation by faith, not law — we now hear the Apostle's closing charge to the Galatian believers: reject the soul-killing legalism of the Judaizers and live as free men and women according to the Holy Spirit.

But what does Christian freedom actually look like in daily life? Paul answers with three marks of the true walk of freedom — service, fruitfulness, and fellowship — and a final warning to anyone tempted to trade grace for a checklist.

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

Galatians 5:1

Friends, don't miss the finish line. Sunday, 10:45 AM, Rehearsal Hall.

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Foundations Fellowship • Save the Date

We Love Our Sundays — But Have You Tried Our Sundaes?

The sundae truck is rolling back around — Friday, September 11!

Every Sunday, the Foundations Class gathers around something sweet — God's Word and great friends. But on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 PM, we're gathering around the other kind of sundae. Back by popular demand, our How Sweet It Is dessert fellowship returns, hosted by the Butchers!

Here's the plan — and it starts before dessert is served. Plan a dinner meet-up first! Gather a small group and head out for dinner together earlier that evening. Invite a class member you've been wanting to know better. Invite a guest or a friend — from church or beyond — who could use some fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to open a seat at the table and make room for new and growing Christian friendships.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

— Proverbs 25:11 (ESV)

Sometimes the sweetest word fitly spoken is simply, “Come join us for dinner.” Who will you invite?

Then, after your dinner meet-ups, everyone comes together at the Butchers' at 7:30 PM for a sweet after-dinner fellowship — sundaes, floats, toppings galore, and laughter in every room. If you were there last time, you already know. And if you missed it, here's your second scoop!

How Sweet It Is — Dessert Fellowship

Friday, September 11 • 7:30 PM

Hosted by the Butchers • Plan your dinner meet-up first!
Address and details on GroupMe

Our friendships aren't just for Sunday mornings. Start planning your dinner group now — because dessert is always better shared with friends.

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Encore Ladies · Women Helping Women

Every Gift Wraps Up Hope

There’s a baby shower coming — and here’s the beautiful twist: the guest of honor isn’t one mom. It’s every mom who walks through the doors of Houston’s Pregnancy Help Center needing a little help getting started. Some showers celebrate one arrival; this one celebrates dozens we’ll never meet this side of heaven.

Taking part is simple: open the invitation below for the full gift list — everything from diapers and onesies to strollers and car seats — then pick something, wrap it, and bring it on the 18th. Can’t attend? Wrapped gifts can be dropped off at the office, Room 256.

“Women helping women — one wrapped gift at a time.”

Benefitting Houston’s Pregnancy Help Center

Baby Shower — Women Helping Women Mission Project
Tuesday, August 18 · 1:00–3:00 PM · Loop Campus, Room 132 (Reception Room)
Please bring a wrapped gift · Can’t attend? Drop off at Room 256

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Fall 2026 Series Announcement

Coming This Fall: Hebrews 11 — The Hall of Faith

Every great story deserves a great trailer, and our next series just got one. This fall, Foundations begins a 14-week journey through Hebrews 11 — the Hall of Faith — walking the chapter’s roll call of ordinary people who trusted an extraordinary God: Noah building before the rain, Abraham answering before he knew the destination, and walls that fell because somebody kept marching.

And if the movie-trailer-style announcement looks a little familiar… let’s just say one of our own may have been spotted on set alongside the heroes of the faith.

Share the trailer with a friend, a neighbor, or anyone looking for a Bible study home this fall. Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith isn’t reserved for spiritual giants — it’s for everyone willing to take the next step without seeing the whole staircase. Full schedule and details coming soon.

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Midweek · Every Wednesday

The Midweek Refreshment of Shared Prayer

Join our community as we pause together for the Sweet Hour of Prayer every Wednesday at noon. Please send your prayer requests to Karen at 713-204-8384 by Tuesday so they may be included.

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Giving Opportunity · Family Camp

A Seat at the Campfire — Reserved by You

Every year, Family Camp gives single-parent and blended families at Houston’s First something the calendar rarely allows: a weekend to exhale. Three days to step away from the daily grind, strengthen relationships, grow in faith, and discover they are not walking their road alone.

Last year, nearly 50 families gathered around the theme Endure. They heard Philip and Elizabeth Varjas share how God carried them through hardship — and you could feel the room lean in. Kids tackled the ropes course, went fishing, and braved the putt-putt. Parents finally rested over an ice cream social. By Sunday morning, families who had arrived worn down left with renewed joy, new friendships, and one anchoring truth: God’s Word endures forever (Isaiah 40:8) — and through Christ, so can we.

This year, several families would love to come but can’t cover the cost. And here’s the part worth sitting with:

A scholarship of just $50–75 per person is often the only thing standing between a struggling family and a weekend that could change their year.

That’s the whole gap. We can close it.

Would our class sponsor one or more campers? Every gift — any amount — removes a financial barrier and hands a family a weekend they’ll carry home in their hearts. Your generosity can have an eternal impact.

Learn More or Give →

Read last year’s Family Camp recap →

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Ministry · Encore Activities

Connecting Through Encore Activities

For Encore information click here →

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Stay Connected · GroupMe

You’re in Control — Join or Step Back Anytime

We’ve created a Foundations Class GroupMe message center as a convenient, real-time way to share prayer requests, announcements, and encouraging messages. Join or leave anytime — no pressure. Mute notifications if you prefer silence, or jump into the conversation when something grabs your heart.

Sign up here: https://3zs8.short.gy/FoundationsGM →

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HFBC · Path to Membership

Click for Membership Information →

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