Serving New Bethel Baptist Church as pastor affords many wonderful new found friendships to my family and I. Our relationship with the Alabama Baptist Children's Home and Family Ministries (http://www.abchome.org/index.html) has been a blessing. Each year we have Bro. Steve Sellers preach for us and tell us what is happening with Abchome&fm.You can count on tears flowing. You can rejoice in the hope God provides to children through this wonderful ministry.
If you haven't had someone from your local Children's Home visit your church I encourage you to ask your pastor if it is ok with him if you do a little research and get the contact info. If you are in Alabama I am happy to help you with that info.
When Steve preaches at New Bethel we always take up a love offering for him to take back to the children's home. The service they provide to tomorrow's leaders is worth every penny you can give, each drop of sweat you can put into them and all the prayers you will offer up on their behalf.
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
No Fire in the Pulpit Means Ice in the Pew
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
In 2010 we are sure to see more of the same from pulpits across America. Many today fear offending congregants. Following such fear is the preaching of watered down versions of sermons. The Bible is plain, true and powerful. If we are to see transformed lives we are going to have to preach the transforming truth without compromise.
Things called sin in scripture should be called sin by the pastors around the world. Subjects covered in scripture should not be detoured by pastors. Our churches are supposed to be places offering hope to the hopeless and help to those in need. The Gospel is Hope. The Gospel is Help. But when it is not presented in truth it lacks power. The True Gospel message is the power of God unto salvation.
If we are to see transformed lives in 2010 we will have to see transformed pulpits. All who are called by God to preach the Gospel should not be ashamed to do so. Opinions are not the Gospel. Politics are not the Gospel. Preach the Bible with love. The Holy Spirit will lead the preacher, convict the sinner and save lost.
My appeal to all the preachers; let us not forget to enter the pulpit having already repented of our own sins.
May God bless you in 2010. My prayer is for real revival to begin in all Bible believing churches this year.
(Title taken from a statement made by a member of First Baptist Church Dallas Texas during W.A. Criswells pastorate)
http://www.wacriswell.org/Search/videotrans.cfm/sermon/180.cfm
In 2010 we are sure to see more of the same from pulpits across America. Many today fear offending congregants. Following such fear is the preaching of watered down versions of sermons. The Bible is plain, true and powerful. If we are to see transformed lives we are going to have to preach the transforming truth without compromise.
Things called sin in scripture should be called sin by the pastors around the world. Subjects covered in scripture should not be detoured by pastors. Our churches are supposed to be places offering hope to the hopeless and help to those in need. The Gospel is Hope. The Gospel is Help. But when it is not presented in truth it lacks power. The True Gospel message is the power of God unto salvation.
If we are to see transformed lives in 2010 we will have to see transformed pulpits. All who are called by God to preach the Gospel should not be ashamed to do so. Opinions are not the Gospel. Politics are not the Gospel. Preach the Bible with love. The Holy Spirit will lead the preacher, convict the sinner and save lost.
My appeal to all the preachers; let us not forget to enter the pulpit having already repented of our own sins.
May God bless you in 2010. My prayer is for real revival to begin in all Bible believing churches this year.
(Title taken from a statement made by a member of First Baptist Church Dallas Texas during W.A. Criswells pastorate)
http://www.wacriswell.org/Search/videotrans.cfm/sermon/180.cfm
Friday, November 6, 2009
ATM Christianity (not what you think)
When you open a checking account you put money in. It is your money. Your ATM card comes in the mail. On it is a number to call and activate your card. Once your card is activated you can begin using it to make purchases through your account. When you were saved you were given a Heavenly Account. It is your duty now to follow through.
First you must look at your statement to find what you have in your free account. The Bible is your statement. All sins are wiped off the ledger and you have been given everything that belongs to Christ. If you have not read the statement (Scriptures) you have been missing out on the Heavenly Account awarded you at Faith in Christ!
Your account must be activated. You have a Father with your best interest in mind. He activated it for you. This took place on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Ghost was given to all who believe. You received this personal account administrator on the day you believed. Your account has been activated. You now have access to all the Father has gifted to you. But maybe you didn’t know this. Probably because you haven’t been reading your statement (Bible)!
Now you have the account. You are aware of its activation. What are you waiting on? Now is the time to spend some Heavenly money. It is yours, but it is for a specific purpose. As believers we belong to a faraway place called Heaven. Our account is for the purposes of Heaven. We are given all we have for the work and enjoyment of the place where we will spend eternity. We are not given our resources for poor stewardship in earthly purposes.
Believers are of a far country. The place is Heaven. Our home is eternal. We are to be workers for the Kingdom of God. All we have is for that purpose. Our Father leaves us without need when it comes to our service to and fellowship with Him. Until we open His record of our account we don’t know what we have to accomplish what He has planned for us to do. If we were account managers in any worldly firm and had this record we would be fired immediately!! Thank God we serve a forgiving and merciful God!
First you must look at your statement to find what you have in your free account. The Bible is your statement. All sins are wiped off the ledger and you have been given everything that belongs to Christ. If you have not read the statement (Scriptures) you have been missing out on the Heavenly Account awarded you at Faith in Christ!
Your account must be activated. You have a Father with your best interest in mind. He activated it for you. This took place on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Ghost was given to all who believe. You received this personal account administrator on the day you believed. Your account has been activated. You now have access to all the Father has gifted to you. But maybe you didn’t know this. Probably because you haven’t been reading your statement (Bible)!
Now you have the account. You are aware of its activation. What are you waiting on? Now is the time to spend some Heavenly money. It is yours, but it is for a specific purpose. As believers we belong to a faraway place called Heaven. Our account is for the purposes of Heaven. We are given all we have for the work and enjoyment of the place where we will spend eternity. We are not given our resources for poor stewardship in earthly purposes.
Believers are of a far country. The place is Heaven. Our home is eternal. We are to be workers for the Kingdom of God. All we have is for that purpose. Our Father leaves us without need when it comes to our service to and fellowship with Him. Until we open His record of our account we don’t know what we have to accomplish what He has planned for us to do. If we were account managers in any worldly firm and had this record we would be fired immediately!! Thank God we serve a forgiving and merciful God!
Monday, August 3, 2009
We serve a Jealous God
A lukewarm ministry is a withering blight. It is an iceberg in the Church. It
freezes and deadens. But can lips be cold which speak of heaven—of hell—of
never-dying souls—of God's everlasting love in Christ!
Henry Law, Beacons of the Bible, 1869.
Henry Law wrote the words above in 1869. They still hold true in 2009. God will spew out of His mouth the lukewarm church. That is from His word which is forever settled. It never changes. Why is it so important for believers to be serving with a sense of urgency accompanied by unmatched diligence? Because the God we serve is a jealous God?
God tells us through His giving of the Ten Commandments He is a jealous God. We should have no other god before Him. We are warned in the New Testament we cannot serve two masters. We will love one and hate the other. Everything we do must be for and toward one master. The right master is the Heavenly Father who is a jealous God.
We are not without instruction as to how to live a life of diligent service to our Lord. Countless examples are also given to us showing what happened to those who did not serve God (a jealous God) with their whole heart. Israel as God's chosen people often sought pleasure and went after false gods. Nineveh, a Gentile people, repented after Jonah preached only to later return to former sins. Both groups were not given a free pass. We read in Nahum chapter one what happened to the Gentile people. God told them He is a jealous God. Why jealous over a Gentile people? Because they were called to God. Through repentance they belong to God.
All who come to God by faith in Jesus Christ are made His. He is jealous when it comes to His own. Just how deep is His jealousy? So deep He has fixed a gulf between the prepared place of His people so no one can cross. Only Christ can take Gods people across. So deep He uses His word to rebuke and chastise His own children when we step outside His will. So deep He will one day destroy all who do not trust Jesus Christ as savior.
Our God will not share His Glory with another, He will not accept partial worship, He casts out all who do not accept His Son and He will one day right every wrong done toward Himself and His people. Why? Because He is jealous.
freezes and deadens. But can lips be cold which speak of heaven—of hell—of
never-dying souls—of God's everlasting love in Christ!
Henry Law, Beacons of the Bible, 1869.
Henry Law wrote the words above in 1869. They still hold true in 2009. God will spew out of His mouth the lukewarm church. That is from His word which is forever settled. It never changes. Why is it so important for believers to be serving with a sense of urgency accompanied by unmatched diligence? Because the God we serve is a jealous God?
God tells us through His giving of the Ten Commandments He is a jealous God. We should have no other god before Him. We are warned in the New Testament we cannot serve two masters. We will love one and hate the other. Everything we do must be for and toward one master. The right master is the Heavenly Father who is a jealous God.
We are not without instruction as to how to live a life of diligent service to our Lord. Countless examples are also given to us showing what happened to those who did not serve God (a jealous God) with their whole heart. Israel as God's chosen people often sought pleasure and went after false gods. Nineveh, a Gentile people, repented after Jonah preached only to later return to former sins. Both groups were not given a free pass. We read in Nahum chapter one what happened to the Gentile people. God told them He is a jealous God. Why jealous over a Gentile people? Because they were called to God. Through repentance they belong to God.
All who come to God by faith in Jesus Christ are made His. He is jealous when it comes to His own. Just how deep is His jealousy? So deep He has fixed a gulf between the prepared place of His people so no one can cross. Only Christ can take Gods people across. So deep He uses His word to rebuke and chastise His own children when we step outside His will. So deep He will one day destroy all who do not trust Jesus Christ as savior.
Our God will not share His Glory with another, He will not accept partial worship, He casts out all who do not accept His Son and He will one day right every wrong done toward Himself and His people. Why? Because He is jealous.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Great Commission
Bloggers are having fun with the Great Commission Resurgence called for by leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention. Some are writing favorably and some not so favorably concerning the document laying out ten commitments believed to be necessary for a Great Commission Resurgence. The manuscript mentioned can be viewed here, http://greatcommissionresurgence.com/
Regardless where you stand concerning the GCR effort we are still called to fulfill the Great Commission. May we join in prayer concerning the Church and the Great Commission. When the United States are among the top three in most lost souls we should be greatly disturbed as believers. The Great Commission begins at home, but that is never a reason to not evangelize the people of the world. We should not strive to stop world missions because of our sin. The goal should be to repent of the sin, get it right at home and be vigilant in spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Their is a Great Commission still before us. It has not been removed. May we be active in the commission, reliant upon the Commissioner and ready to go where commissioned!!
Regardless where you stand concerning the GCR effort we are still called to fulfill the Great Commission. May we join in prayer concerning the Church and the Great Commission. When the United States are among the top three in most lost souls we should be greatly disturbed as believers. The Great Commission begins at home, but that is never a reason to not evangelize the people of the world. We should not strive to stop world missions because of our sin. The goal should be to repent of the sin, get it right at home and be vigilant in spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Their is a Great Commission still before us. It has not been removed. May we be active in the commission, reliant upon the Commissioner and ready to go where commissioned!!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Another Sunday Rolls Around
For many Sunday is a day of rest. Not everyone thinks of the day of rest the same way. Some think it is the day to sleep in, go from bed to couch and do as little as possible all day long. Others view Sunday as the day to wake up early, get out of the house to play and not return until bed time. What is your plan the next time Sunday rolls around?
God said Sunday was a day of rest. A rest from regular work and activity. A day for refreshing. Not only physical rest and replenishing, but for spiritual revitalizing. To go farthar it is not simply for your individual stimulation, but Sunday is for both you and the entire community of faith. Hebrews 10:25 happens to be one of the most quoted verses in scripture by pastors. It says; "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. " What is often overlooked is the verse before verse 25. Verse 24 says; "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" To overlook verse 24 is to overlook the full meaning God intended for His people. We are to be active in the lives of all believers. Workin together for the spiritual benefit of one another is part of our purpose when we assemble together on Sunday.
When Sunday rolls around will you reject the command to observe the Lord's Day? Will you conciously decide to decline the privilge of being strengthened by God's People.
Not only do we need to provoke others to love and good works we have the privilege of being provoked when we may not feel like doing good works and loving the way Christ did. I pray you will take advantage of what God has provided to His people through His Word and promises. Another Sunday is rolling around. Why not get up, get ready and Worship the Lord in the company of other believers today?
citations
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Hbr&c=10&v=25&t=KJV&sstr=0
God said Sunday was a day of rest. A rest from regular work and activity. A day for refreshing. Not only physical rest and replenishing, but for spiritual revitalizing. To go farthar it is not simply for your individual stimulation, but Sunday is for both you and the entire community of faith. Hebrews 10:25 happens to be one of the most quoted verses in scripture by pastors. It says; "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. " What is often overlooked is the verse before verse 25. Verse 24 says; "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" To overlook verse 24 is to overlook the full meaning God intended for His people. We are to be active in the lives of all believers. Workin together for the spiritual benefit of one another is part of our purpose when we assemble together on Sunday.
When Sunday rolls around will you reject the command to observe the Lord's Day? Will you conciously decide to decline the privilge of being strengthened by God's People.
Not only do we need to provoke others to love and good works we have the privilege of being provoked when we may not feel like doing good works and loving the way Christ did. I pray you will take advantage of what God has provided to His people through His Word and promises. Another Sunday is rolling around. Why not get up, get ready and Worship the Lord in the company of other believers today?
A new survey released by The Barna Group, which has been tracking America’s
religious behavior and beliefs since 1984, reveals that one out of every three
adults (33%) is classified as unchurched - meaning they have not attended a
religious service of any type during the past six months. While that figure is
considerably higher than the one out of five who qualified as unchurched in the
early Nineties, it is statistically unchanged since 36% were recorded as having
avoided religious services in the company’s 1994 study.(The Barna Group of Ventura, California; www.barnagroup.org)
citations
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Hbr&c=10&v=25&t=KJV&sstr=0
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