Disciple Fast Track Bible Study Beginning Soon

The Bible is the bestselling book of all time, but most of us haven’t had time to read it in depth. The Bible is the cornerstone of our faith yet it’s hard to understand. Our world swirls with Biblical opinions piled upon opinions. It’s time for us to read the Bible for ourselves and figure out how it fits into our modern lives today.

Join Rev. Zack Martin on an exciting journey through the Bible called “Disciple Fast Track”. The Disciple Fast Track Bible Study is an adaptation of the older, bestselling Disciple Bible Study. Fast Track features shorter daily readings (3-5 chapters) and shorter weekly sessions (90 minutes). Our weekly meetings feature lively and engaging video presenters as well as insights from your pastor and each other.

Our Disciple Fast Track groups will meet for a total of 12 weeks beginning in September. We have two opportunities to take this class—Wednesday Mornings and Monday evenings. The orientation sessions are Wednesday September 4th at 10:00am in the Epworth youth building and Monday September 9th at 5:30pm in the Asbury Gathering room.

Watch the video below for more information.

https://youtu.be/kZzFMXUZAhE

Cost of the book is $15.00.  Scholarships available just ask Pastor Zack

Sign Up Here!

Wesley Heritage Tour | May 2025

Join your fellow church members on a trip to merry old England! Rev. Zack Martin is organizing a journey to England in May 2025 that features the history and heritage of our United Methodist roots. It’s called a “Wesley Heritage Tour”. The tour is a well-traveled path that explores the origins of Rev. John Wesley’s Methodist beliefs as well as give you a great tour of England. Come to an information session on Sunday August 4 th at 5:30pm in the Asbury Gathering room. Tentative plans for this tour will have us traveling 9 days starting May 7 th , 2025. The cost is around $4,500 including airfare. Come to this information meeting to see what this trip will look like. Contact Zack@madisonfumc.com or call him at 706-342-3325 with any questions you may have.

Learn more about the trip online here!

Griefshare

Are you or someone you know grieving the death of a loved one? The journey of grief is a painful process, and you do not need to walk it alone. We will soon begin a special seminar and support group here at Madison First UMC called GriefShare. This program provides extremely helpful materials that specifically address topics and issues for those who are grieving the death of a loved one. Our GriefShare group will begin Thursday September 5th from 6pm-8pm and will meet for 13 weeks. We will end the series with a special worship service call “the longest night service on December 19th”. The content is Christ-centered, biblical, and lead by professional counselors on video. You will find this group to be diverse and powerfully understanding the pain of your loss. You will be prayed for and learn valuable information that will help you through this difficult season of your life. For more information check out griefshare.org or call the church office at 706-342-3325.

REGISTER HERE

The Good News by Pastor Zack

The Handbook

School starts next week, and Leigh and I are thrilled. I’m sure you are, too. My kids say they never even had a break, conveniently forgetting the grandparent cruise, weeks at Camp Glisson, spend the night parties, and the dozens of days they slept until lunchtime. Anticipating the arrival of her students, Mrs. Sigler, the High School Principal, sent parents a Welcome Back letter last week. It was great letter!

Mrs. Sigler reminded us about attendance, computers, and health requirements. She dedicated the remainder of the short letter to highlight a few rules from the Student Handbook. I can fairly summarize them as the “3 C’s”: Cell phones, Clothing, and Contraband (i.e. vape cartridges, alcohol, drugs). There are other rules about cheating, fighting, and infamous “PDA’s” (Public Displays of Affection) in the handbook but the principal wanted to emphasize the “3 C’s”.

This got me thinking. We all live by a handbook, of sorts, in life. Biblical laws, church doctrines and practices, secular state and national laws, and common-sense wisdom. We literally live by 1000’s of laws, rules, and regulations. It’s our personal student handbook. If you had to write a letter to our community, which ones would you pick to emphasize in your letter.

You might choose one of three lists of the 10 commandments in the Old Testament. Take a moment to read and study the similarities and differences between these lists. (Exodus 20; Exodus 34; or Deuteronomy 5). Even the Biblical writers had a difficult time summarizing the most important 10 commandments of ancient Israel.

If I wrote a letter to the community, I think I would start with the Exodus 20 commandments. The first four commandments are more subjective, so I would probably summarize and focus on the last 5 commandments:

  • Honor your parents: Honoring parents and being an honorable parent is important. Functionally, teachers become an extension of parenting and need to be honored, too.
  • Don’t murder: Well, bluntly put we need to avoid the language, hatred, and violence that leads to someone to even conceive of murder.
  • Don’t cheat on your boy/girlfriend: Yes, I expanded adultery to cheating on the promises in teenage romances. Besides, cheating leads to all kinds of violence and drama.
  • Don’t steal: If it’s not yours don’t touch it! This applies to each other’s bodies as well our material things.
  • Don’t lie: Integrity and honesty create a trustworthy environment. Also, doing our own work and not cheating helps the teachers help students where they are weak.
  • Don’t covet: If it’s not yours, don’t think greedy and lustful thoughts for it. (See the adultery commandment)

Jesus was once asked by a lawyer, “Which commandment is greatest in the law?” Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind…and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:26-27) The details of how to do these greatest commandments is where we get bogged down.

What would your letter to the community summarize from your personal student handbook. Give it some thought and let me know.

Peace,

Zack@madisonfumc.com

Mini Marriage Retreat

Better Marriages Retreat August 24th at 9AM-5PM

Join the Revs. Leigh and Zack Martin in Stone Mountain for a mini marriage retreat hosted at Mountain Park UMC. There will be workshops on communication and how to have fun in your marriage! $100/couple

Click here to register today!

First Kids Dog Wash

Bring your friendly pup to the Wesley lawn on August 18 at 5PM for a fun bath!
All washes are free, but monetary and other donations are welcomed to benefit the Morgan County Animal Control!

A Letter to the Congregation

Dear Madison First UMC Congregation,
I’m writing a brief note to you all about the changes that happened at the General Conference last week. In short, the 40-year ban on homosexual ordination and homosexual weddings in the United Methodist buildings was lifted. At the same time, there is specific language about allowing clergy and churches to decide for themselves about these issues. In other words, there is no mandate at all to perform homosexual weddings or to hire homosexual clergy.

As we all know, there are a wide variety of opinions on these issues in our church and our community. Some are wanting to move forward to full inclusion and others would like to move more slowly or not at all. I have been praying a lot the last few days trying to clear my mind on this issue…again. My short answer is: our church has been through enough change in the last 10 months. I’m not making any more changes to how we run our church. We are just going to keep doing what we have been doing. In the words of John Wesley, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.”

While many in our congregation may be ready for something new to happen – I’m trying to keep us all together. Our congregation is still healing from the split last summer. We don’t wave the pride flag out front, nor do we beat people up with the anti-homosexual passages in the Bible. We are graceful and accepting here, perhaps not as affirming as others may want. In the Bishop’s words, “Local churches can continue to serve and operate the way they have always done. There is no move to force the local church or clergy to do anything they are not prepared or willing to do.”

I don’t think any of us want to be on the front page of the paper again. Social media will always be full of people who mock and ridicule our church, but I am encouraging you to refrain from online debates. Like Jesus said, “if anyone strikes you on the cheek, turn the other also.” And lastly, just pray that whatever path those people have taken will work out for them.

If you would like to talk with me further about these issues, please give me a call or let’s have coffee. I think our future is bright as we hold the center on these issues.

Peace,

Rev. Zack Martin

Zack@madisonfumc.com 

YOGAFAITH ~ GENTLE YOGA with Eddie Burden ~ Wednesdays at 6PM

Madison First United Methodist Church
296 South Main Street
P. O. Box 350
Madison, GA 30650
Email: office@madisonfumc.com
Phone: 706-342-3325

Church Directory

Give Online

Facility Usage Request Form