Fall Sermon Series

Books I'm Currently Reading.

Not a Fan for Summer Sermon Series.

Be Patient for Thursday Small Group.


Shepherding the Small Church - Practical ministry insight.


What are you currently reading?

Lack of Blogging.

Sorry for the lack of Blogging. Been pretty busy from Camp to church to family events. Hope to get back more to it. Keep following.

Tournier Quote.

“We are nearly always longing for an easy religion, easy to understand and easy to follow; a religion with no mystery, no insoluble problems,no snags; a religion that would allow us to escape from our miserable human condition; a religion in which contact with God spares us all strife, all uncertainty,all suffering and all doubt; in short, a religion without a cross”
― Paul Tournier Reminds me of being not a fan; being a follower.

Belt of Truth

So at Campfire for a small group of 1st and 2nd grades I talked about the Belt of Truth. Their theme was the Armor of God.

From Ephesians 6:10-13a. NIV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,


We talked about what belts used for: Holding pants up, police officers for gadgets (Batman reference) and even Karate belts.

Interesting is in the Bible days, the belt was the first listed for a reason. Why ? Because it held everything in place ..from the breastplace up to holding the sword of truth.

Putting on the Belt for the Christian is to surround ourselves with God's truth. All truth is God's truth. We are told in Psalms that God's word is truth. In John 17:17 Jesus prays "Your Word is truth" In Proverbs 6?:21-23 we are told by one of the wisest men who ever lived that we need to take God's truth and bind it in our hearts, tying it around our necks, think about it when we walk, sleep and wake up.

We put on God's truth by putting on the Word of God. Knowing what it says and doing it.

Jesus knew the Bible. In defense against the Devil. (Think the wilderness temptation)

In order to be God's people and have the belt of truth -we are to know God, know what He says, and apply it to our lives. Be truthful and honest in all we do. Let's not be like the devil and deceive but be holy.

Fear No Evil Camp.

I was last week at Oak Hill Camp with 3-5th Graders and loved it. The theme of the week was "Fear No Evil" ..I had the chance to speak at Vespers on Monday Nite. The daily theme for that day was something we don't hear about much "Fear God."

My Text was from Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 (NIV) "Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
Now all has been heard;here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,including every hidden thing,whether it is good or evil."

I asked what things they were afraid of. I mentioned the thing I had in common with David Crowder - our dislike of squirrels.

And then told the story of Elisha and the Two bears ....

2 Kings 2:23-24
King James Version (KJV)
23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

So Why Fear God?

I. He is to be fearful. Romans 1 .... and story of Elisha and everytime Angel appears and says "fear not"

II. He is Fabulous. The wonder of God. Exodus 3 - Burning Bush - "I AM" sent you.


III. He is our Friend. Prov.17:17 Rom. 5:8 A Friend loves at all times. God demonstrating His love for us.


Why fear God?

Matthew 10:28
New International Version (NIV)
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Church Membership N Thoughts

“Church ‘membership’ is not addressed in the Bible. In the times the Bible was written, there was typically one church per region, as opposed to dozens today. Back then, the shepherds (elders and ministers) knew who was a Christian and who wasn’t, and who was under their care. When you place membership today you are putting yourself under the shepherd’s care, identifying as a brother or sister in Christ, and committing yourself serving Christ with an established group of believers. Membership gives you a voice in church matters as voting ministers and budgets.
Any immersed believer in Christ who is living for Him is welcome to place membership. We ask before you do so to speak to with an elder or minister. This would allow us to answer your questions and explain the responsibilities every Christian should have in His Church.


Article on Church Membership


LeRoy Lawson's book: The Family of God (The Meaning of Church Membership)

Hachi

Story of a dog

In Defense of the Small Church.

Recently I've heard phrases such as:

"If a church isn't growing; its dying"

"Small Churches need to die"

"Some small churches should merge"

"Why invest in a small church - its just a waste of God's money."

While there are reasons some churches are dying and small; there also is a need for small churches and big ones. To think that God only needs mega churches is illogical.
God needs the church. Whether Big or Small.

We need to quit with the whole Middle school attitude of comparison. (So how big is your church or youth group?)

With over 85% of churches in the national less than 150 - small churches make up a big part of the Kingdom.

So why small churches?

1. Family Atmosphere

2. Intimacy

3. Discipleship

4. Opportunity for service.

(Not to say there isn't in Big Churches - just small churches get the rep of not doing anything but they are)

Small churches, despite what others say, do want to grow. There are a variety of factors that hinder this ....

1. Lack of resources.

2. Location of church.

3. Stage of Church.

4. Leadership.

5. Spiritual make-up of people. (See Revelation and the 7 churches)

Do small churches make an impact?

You bet.

From sending Timothys in the ministry to supporting work abroad.(Bob Russell's home church comes to mind) I've known some small churches that have helped be "Big" churches across the seas by supporting missionaries and the growth of the church a world away. Planting seeds and God giving the increase.

Some of these "Small Churches" have supported such work as our "Bible Colleges", Camps, conventions, church planting, and fellow sister churches. (I think of CRA's Recycled Riches program)

I wish fellow ministers that are so easily to dismiss the small church -see the impact she is making. When one attacks and criticizes the small church - they are attacking and throwing mud on the Bride of Christ. One assumes since the church is small it is small for a reason and is dying. And that isn't necessarily true. Sometimes the church wants to grow but has brought in as many as some leave ... and helps plant seeds and God giving the increase.

I love the church - Big or small. I just wish others saw that the Kingdom of God is bigger than any one congregation and help each other rather than tear down each other.