Action Plans 2025

Engaging in Church Life

Definition:
Being rooted in church life: daily Bible-reading, attending worship, involved in a BFG, and serving regularly.

Action steps for this year:

  • Set an attendance goal (like 40 Sundays this year), and track your worship attendance.
  • Join a BFG or talk to you BFG leader on how you can help
  • Serve on a ministry team: fbcdenison.org/serve
  • 150th Celebration: September 28th

Acorn schedule:

  • Newcomers classes: May 3, August 16, October 18
    Basics of Christian Life:
  • Launch BFG:  February 22-March 29
  • Sunday evenings, August 23-October 4

Serving God and Others

Definition:
Turning away from a self-serving mindset and looking for ways to seek the good of others and of God.

Action steps for this year:

  • Sign up to Serve on a ministry team: fbcdenison.org/serve
  • Serve during Block party/fish fry: May 16
  • Serve during VBS: June 14-18
  • Serve on a Love Out Loud ministry team (December)
  • Love Out Loud service fair: November 1
  • Church work days: March 21 (dumpster day), April 18 (missions rummage sale pricing)

Acorn schedule:
Shape and Calling:
Men:  Saturdays, March 21-May2
Women:  Sundays, March 22-May3
Other Suggestions:
 - Adopt the spiritual discipline of service:
   - Refuse to hurry others; choose to wait; look to serve rather than be served with others.

Denying Self to Obey God

Definition:
Choosing the will of God and the good of others above getting your own way; doing God’s will, even when you don’t feel like it.

Action steps for this year:

  • Men’s and Women’s Bible study groups: Tuesday mornings (Women), Tuesday evenings (Men).
  • Spiritual disciplines course or book (ask Steve for recommendations)

Acorn schedule:
Intro to Spiritual Disciplines:

  • Fall study (TBA): August 23-October 4

Other suggestions:

  • Begin tithing—give a set portion (aim for 10%) of your income each week.
  • Begin fasting - choose one day per month to fast for 24 - 36 hours, using meal times to seek God.
  • Pray a daily offering prayer:
  •  - “Lord Jesus, today I offer my thoughts, my feelings, and my body to you. Lead me as you will.”

Seeking God

Definition:
Understanding and regularly practicing spiritual disciplines and habits that open your life to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Action steps for this year:

  • Choose a Bible-reading plan (go to fbcdenison.org/bible-reading-plans or look in our resource center)
  • Spiritual disciplines course (spring)
  • Men’s and Women’s Bible study groups: Tuesday mornings (women); Tuesday evenings (Men)
  • Sunday night studies:  Sundays, 4:30-6:00 pm
  •  - Spring:  March 22-May 4
  •  - Summer (ladies): June 7-July 19
  •  - Fall:  August 23-October 4

Acorn schedule:
Intro to Spiritual Disciplines:

  • Fall Study option: August 23-October 4

Shape and Calling:

  • Men: Saturdays, March 21-May 2
  • Women: Sundays, March 22-May 3  

Other suggestions:

  • Utilize the key beliefs prayer guide (resource center)

Living in Victory

Definition:
Living free from habitual sin and free from trauma and pain from the past. Emotional health.

Action steps for this year:

  • Spiritual Disciplines study
  • Men: Conquerors BFG (focuses on these issues).
  • Written and online resources (ask Pastor Steve)
  • Healing prayer session (ask Pastor Steve)

Acorn schedule:
Intro to Spiritual Disciplines

  • Fall Study option: August 23-October 4 

Breakthrough (Encounter):  Course will be offered in 2027. Ask about mentoring options for 2026.

Other suggestions:

  • Utilize the key beliefs prayer guide (resource center)
  • Look online for resources (podcasts, books, etc.) from Pete Scazzero.

Praying Effectively

Definition:
Praying persistently as a son/daughter of God, with increasing intimacy, consistency, and power.

Action steps for this year:

  • Join the prayer team
  • BLESS app (launch in spring/summer)
  • Spiritual disciplines course

Acorn schedule:

Intro to Spiritual Disciplines:

  • Fall Study option:  August 23-October 4

Other suggestions:

  • Utilize the key beliefs prayer guide (resource center)
  • Pray a daily offering prayer:
  • - Lord Jesus, today I offer my thoughts, my feelings, and my body to you. Lead me as you will.”
  • Develop a habit of morning, mid-day, and evening prayer.

Openness

Definition:
Being honest with God about your struggles and joys. Letting other Christians know you well and love you.

Action steps for this year:

  • Go on a retreat.
  • Share your testimony in your BFG, in worship (live or video), or in another small group.
  • Invite someone to be your prayer partner.
  • Participate in fun events: block party, 4th of July, game days, men's and women's outreach events, etc.—and invite others.

Acorn schedule:
Go on a retreat:

  • Camp:
  •  - Students (June 1-June 5)
  •  - Big kids (July 6-10)
  • Men & Boys weekend:  September (TBA)
  • Women’s retreat: October 9-10
  • D-Now (students): November (TBA)

Give a public testimony:

  • Contact Pastor Steve or Ryan to schedule a testimony in worship; contact your BFG leader or small group leader to give testimony there.

Hospitality

Definition:
Letting people in, sharing your life and your resources to welcome and shelter others.

Action steps for this year:

  • BLESS app (launch in spring/summer)
  • Serve with Laundry Love (second Saturdays of the month)
  • Host a BFG gathering in your home.
  • Invite neighbors or non-Christian friends for a meal in your home.
  • Launch BFG: monthly BFG meetings in homes.
  • Participate in fun events: block party, game days, men’s and women’s outreach events, etc.—and invite others!

Other suggestions:

  • Serve on the hospitality team or on the Wednesday night meal team, taking time to get to know visitors.
  • Visit artofneighboring.com for more resources and ideas.

Peacemaking

Definition:
Working as an agent of unity rather than conflict, across dividing lines, working for reconciliation in the world.

Action steps for this year:

  • BLESS app (launch in spring/summer)
  • Become a  neighborhood chaplain (https://baptistworld.org/acts2-movement/neighborhood-chaplain
  • Serve with  Wednesday night outreach ministry

Acorn schedule:

Breakthrough (Encounter):

  • Course will be offered in 2027. Ask about mentoring options for 2026.

Other suggestions:

  • Refrain from sharing political views or articles on social media.
  • Reduce time watching the news, especially partisan opinion programs.
  • Reduce social media consumption, particularly anything that stirs up contempt or envy for others.
  • Read authors like John M. Perkins (see Pastor Steve).

Sharing Christ

Definition:
Openly speaking about Jesus to others. Confidently and consistently sharing the gospel with those who don’t yet believe.

Action steps for this year:

  • READY evangelism/apologetics series with Eric Hernandez (February 15-March 1)
  • Participate in Laundry Love (second Saturdays).
  • BLESS app (launch spring/summer)
  • Utilize outreach events to invite unchurched friends: Block Party (May 16); VBS (June 14-18); July 4th fellowship; Men's Weekend (September), Women's retreat (October 9-10); and Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (December 24).
  • Participate in Love Out Loud

Acorn schedule:
 Share training:  weekend seminar

  • November 6-7

Go on a mission trip:

  • Domestic mission trip: June 26-30
  • Mexico mission trip: July (TBA)

Other suggestions:

  • Choose at least one unchurched friend to pray for regularly to come to know Christ.
  • Speak openly about your relationship with Jesus to others.
  • Share the weekly sermon/clips or service on social media with a thought about what God spoke to you.

Disciple-Making

Definition:
Teaching others what you know—how to follow Jesus, ways to grow, how you serve. Passing on what God has taught you.

Action steps for this year:

  • Volunteer to mentor a new believer.
  • Women's ministry mentoring program (see Carolyn)
  • Serve with  Wednesday night outreach ministry

Acorn schedule:
Share training:​  weekend seminar

  • November 6-7

Be a mentor:

  • Mentor​ a new believer (ask Pastor Steve).

Basics of Christian Life

  • Take a new believer through the book, meeting one-on-one 6-7 times to talk about each chapter..

Other suggestions:

  • Befriend/mentor a younger married couple (if married)
  • Befriend/mentor a younger single person (if single)
  • Recruit someone to your area of service and show them how you do it.

Faith-Filled Risk-Taking

Definition:
Stepping out from what’s comfortable and into the unknown, trusting Jesus with what comes next.

Action steps for this year:

  • Go on a mission trip!
  • Participate in Laundry Love (second Saturdays).
  • Volunteer with the student or kids ministry.
  • Become a  neighborhood chaplain (https://baptistworld.org/acts2-movement/neighborhood-chaplain

Acorn schedule:
Go on a mission trip:

  •  Domestic mission trip: June 26-30
  •  Mexico mission trip: July (TBA)

Be a mentor:

  • Mentor a new believer (ask Pastor Steve).

Shape and Calling:

  • Men: Saturdays, March 21-May 2
  • Women: Sundays, March 22-May 3

Other suggestions:

  • Begin tithing—give a set portion (aim for 10%) of your income each week.
  • Pray a daily prayer:
  •  - “Lord Jesus, set me free today from my fears. Show me where you are working and I will join you. I trust you, because I know you love me.”