First Presbyterian Church

Members of First Presbyterian Church invite friends, visitors, and the community to join them at First Presbyterian Church, 543 E. Freeman Street in Duncanville to celebrate a 4th of July choir concert and Dixieland band on the lawn.

Each year First Presbyterian Church shares its lawn with the community for “front row” seating at Duncanville’s 4th of July fireworks show. This year our choir, under the direction of Dr. Steve Innis, will host special guests, including the choir from Hackberry Creek Church in Irving, and a professional Dixieland band to entertain the community with an outdoor music extravaganza just prior to the fireworks at 8:15 p.m. This concert will include choral, patriotic, and Dixieland music arranged by Steve Bayless, a well-known Dallas musician and band leader.

Following the performance of the choirs and the Dixieland program, we invite other performers in the community to participate with the band. Bring your instrument and join our “all of a sudden fireworks band.” The community band will play Sousa marches during the fireworks.

The First Presbyterian Church and Hackberry Creek Church choirs have performed together before. These community liaisons are important because “community” is an important aspect of the Christian faith.

First Presbyterian Church takes advantage of a tremendous pool of local musical talent in the Duncanville area, including choir members who have performed in local and international opera and theater, as well as professional jazz musicians.

Music begins at 8:15 p.m. on July 4th. The “All of a Sudden” community fireworks band plays at 9:05 p.m. For more information about this event, call the church office at 972-298-3043, or Steve Bayless at 214-371-9665 or 214-808-1109.

Sunday begins our summer study of Galatians. As we begin, it helps to know a little about who wrote the letter, so we will look at the conversion of Saul, who became Paul. Believed by many scholars to be Paul’s first letter, Galatians lays the deepest foundations of Paul’s theology; its theological truths are incredibly important. It wasn’t written as a doctrinal treatise, however; it was written as a letter to help believers in the province of Galatia, who had drifted away from the truth.

As we know from our past messages, the Holy Spirit called the apostles, deacons, and early believers to move out and share the gospel to bring others to faith in Christ. But with Paul, it was Jesus himself who called him to faith. Sunday’s Scripture is certainly the most famous conversion story in the Bible. As we read it let’s consider what we know of Paul the apostle and compare the “before” and “after” pictures of his life. It was an amazing turnaround. And looking at it will help us grasp the meaning of the book of Galatians because Galatians explains all about that turnaround.

As you prepare for the message, read the Scripture of Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road in Acts 9:1-9, and also read Galatians 1 to hear Paul’s commentary on that event. Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned here, what do you think was the role of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s conversion? What about the role of the Holy Spirit in his later call?

• Put yourself in his shoes. What if you encountered Jesus in the same dramatic way (perhaps some of you have!). What things have changed in your life because Jesus Christ is a part of it?
• What hope does this passage bring to you?

Sermon: A Jew, A Promise, and God