IBC Blog

Posts by Barry Jones

  • A Reflection on Black History Month
    eLetter

    A Reflection on Black History Month

    In recent weeks at IBC, we’ve been discussing the importance of wrestling with our own personal past—our life story—to better understand our present and God’s intentions for our future. This is a vitally important part of our ongoing spiritual growth and development. God has made us who we are through the formative experiences and relationships of our lives: though our heritage, our heroes, our high points, and our hard times.

  • Onward and Upward
    eLetter

    Onward and Upward

    The first time I stepped on stage to preach a sermon at IBC, I was so nervous. It was 2007. I was a first-year seminary professor. This was the church I loved. And my preaching hero, IBC's pastor Andy McQuitty, was in the audience. I was scared out of my wits. But I was also so incredibly grateful.

  • Not Just Ourselves
    Faith & Belief

    Not Just Ourselves

    Years ago, a simple phrase guided IBC’s effort to share our resources and help fund local and global mission projects: Not Just Ourselves. As we continued to use the phrase to describe externally focused initiatives, we came to see that Not Just Ourselves shouldn’t be limited to special projects at a special time of year. We realized the Not Just Ourselves mindset should shape our ministry and sharpen our focus all year round. Everything we do at Irving Bible Church is ultimately for the sake of others, for the sake of the world—not just ourselves. As a church, Not Just Ourselves calls us to serve our congregation and our neighbors. Not Just Ourselves calls us to make missionary disciples—Christ-followers who are living out their purpose by abiding in Jesus and joining God’s mission in the world.

  • Pastoral Staff Update
    Announcements

    Pastoral Staff Update

    Barry provides updates on our pastoral staff team and children's ministry.

  • Pastoral Staff Update
    Announcements

    Pastoral Staff Update

    Barry provides updates on our pastoral staff team and Women's ministry and Amy Aupperlee has a message for our congregation.

  • People of Light
    eLetter

    People of Light

    Yesterday, January 6th, was what the church has historically referred to as the Feast Day of the Epiphany. Throughout the church’s history that day has been associated with the visit of the wise men who had come from a far-off place to visit the baby Jesus. It’s a day that celebrates the reality that, in his incarnation, Jesus came not only to be the messiah of Israel but the light to the nations, the savior of the world. For the church, Epiphany is a day of light.