GETTING READY FOR 2014!

 

It's hard to believe that God brought us to Rolling Fork Baptist Church fifteen years ago. Looking back, there are so many incredible memories of how God has blessed us in so many ways. I remember praying when I first came here and asking God to let me serve as RFBC's pastor for at least twenty years and at that time, that sounded like such a long time but now, it doesn't seem that long at all.

I am very thankful for the people that God has surrounded my family with at RFBC. I can say without hesitation that we have been loved by our church family and I am so grateful for the people who have served with us to make the things happen that God has called us to do. The relationships that we have built over the years have been so encouraging.

As RFBC's pastor, I look back and see how our strengths and our weaknesses have determined where we stand today. There were many things that we did right and there were also several things that we should have handled better. So as we begin this new year, here are some of the areas that we need to be totally committed to.

PRAYER- We have seen so many changes in our nation lately and our churches are being attacked in lots of different directions. We need to be praying for each other on a continual basis... praying that we would live lives that please God and accomplish what He has called us to do. Praying that we would endure the attacks that we face and that we would remember that we are not alone. God is with us and filled us with His Spirit... not a spirit of fear but of "power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7).

REPENTANCE- Too many of us are allowing sin to enter into our lives too easily... not resisting it like we should. In fact, many of us are inviting sin into our lives. Instead of aiming to please God, we are trying to please ourselves. Instead of living for eternity, we are living for the moment. Instead of asking God to forgive our sins, we are asking God to ignore our sins. And instead of turning from our sins, we are continuing in our sins through open rebellion towards God and His Word.

INTEGRITY- 1 John 1:6-7 (ESV) 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

When people see the way that we live our daily lives, are they seeing what they are supposed to be seeing? We are supposed to be living lives that reflect Jesus Christ... lives that honor God. The problem is too many "Christians", which means "Christ-like", are living lives that are not Christ-like at all. If Christians are no different than those who are not Christians, then why should we expect anyone to become one?

These are three areas that we all need to focus on as we begin this new year. What would happen if all of us were totally committed to prayer, repentance and integrity? Are you ready to find out? 

WHAT IS THE 'LEADERSHIP TEAM' AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

This chart illustrates how our leadership team has worked for the last 14 years. The blue arrows represent the flow of leadership as the Trinity leads the pastor who then leads the other leaders of the church and then the pastor and the leadership team lead the congregation.

 

The red lines are very important because they show the fact that everyone is accountable to everyone. The pastor is accountable to God, to the leadership team and to the congregation. The leadership team is accountable to God, to the pastor and to the congregation. The congregation is accountable to God, to the pastor and to the leadership team. If any of those lines of accountability are broken, serious problems will arise quickly.

 

The leadership team is made of the various leaders in the church (some paid staff and some volunteers) and was established to enable the various ministries of the church to work together instead of being separate functions of the church. This creates better communication between the leaders and eliminates the extra meetings. For example, since the finance team is present when the building and grounds team is making a suggestion, we don't have to wait until another meeting is held in order to see if that suggestion is feesable at the present time.

 

Because of their position of leadership, there are some things that they have been empowered to do within certain guidelines. Because of the integrity and faithfulness of these leaders, we have been well taken care of as a church. If something comes up that cannot be handled by the leadership team alone, then they make the necessary preparations to present it to the church during a members' business meeting.

 

I am very, very thankful for the folks who are serving RFBC through the leadership team. I have seen how they care about the welfare of our church and our church family. God has richly blessed us with this group. Would you join me in thanking God for putting such caring people together as we celebrate 225 years of minstry this fall? God bless you.

NO MAGIC ERASER FOR SIN

If MAGIC ERASER ever had a Hall of Fame for people who loved their product, my wife would be one of the first enductees. She loves those little white sponges that can clean anything! And I do have to admit that I have been impressed with them too. I used one on my car's headlights one night and I was amazed how much brighter the lights were.

 

While Mr. Clean's MAGIC ERASER is very powerful in many areas, there is one area it cannot touch. Sin. No MAGIC ERASER or any other product can clean away the sin in our lives. In fact, there is nothing that we can do on our own to remove the sin from our lives. Only God can do that through the blood of Jesus.

 

No matter how much we try to be a better person or try to stop falling into the traps that temptation lures us into, we are hopeless without Jesus. The old hymn is correct when it asked a question, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

 

The Bible is very clear that we are going to held accountable for our actions and we will be rewarded or punished accordingly. If you want to hear the Lord say, "Well done, My good and faith servant..." (Matthew 25:21), then we have to stop relying on our own will power or resources and start relying on God to forgive us as we repent and confess our sins to Him.

 

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV) 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.



"WHAT KIND OF DIRT ARE YOU?"

Last night in our Bible study, we discussed the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 and the question was 'Of the four examples in this text, how many of them illustrate someone who is a born again Christian?'. Here is the passage that we were discussing...

Matthew 13:3-9 (ESV) 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6  but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

Here is the question that really got interesting in that discussion, 'Obviously the good soil represents someone that is a Chrsitian. But since the seed also sprouted up in the rocky soil and among the thorns, wouldn't they be Christians too?'. So read this passage where Jesus explains the parable and we will go from there.

Matthew 13:18-23 (ESV) 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

In order to answer the questions from above, it is important to remember what the seed represents which is the 'word of the kingdom' or the Word of God. It is the seed that springs up in the rocky soil and the thorny soil in spite of the bad conditions of the soil which represents the condition of our hearts. The rocky soil receives the word 'with joy' but has no depth which enables us to endure the testing of our faith. This describes the people who get excited when they first hear about Jesus but their emotions are not enough to carry through the hard times in life.

The seed sown among the thorns hears the word but allows the 'cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches' to choke out any possibility of endurance. Again we see a group of people who appeared to have received God's Word but were distracted by the things of this world so they didn't last very long either.

So back to the last question 'since the seed also sprouted up in the rocky soil and among the thorns, wouldn't they be Christians too?'. The answer is no. And you might say, 'But they sprouted up too, why aren't they Christians?'. To anwer that question, you have to go back to what the seed represents... God's Word, not us. God's Word is alive and will take root when given the opportunity to do so but if our hearts are not willing to receive it and live by it, then we are the problems.

How did Jesus say that we would be able to recognize the false teachers?

Matthew 7:15-20 (ESV) 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Obviously the good soil in the parable represents the person that receives the Word of God and lives by it which produces 'fruit' or proof that they are Christians. We are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9) but the 'fruit' proves that we are Christians. This fruit is symbolic of the obedience that God is looking for in each of us.

Did the rocky soil and the thorny soil produce fruit? No. In both cases the plant didn't last very long at all. It wasn't the seed's fault because it was the same seed in all four soils. It was the same sower of the seeds in all four scenes as well. The only difference was the condition of the soil in each scene so make sure that your soil is good (that your heart is open to the Word of God and that you receive it and live by it which will produce much fruit). Got it?

'I NEVER SAID WE WERE PERFECT'

There has never been a time that I have experienced that the church has been under attack. We as the church have been called judgmental, haters, bigots, and so much more but we shouldn't be surprised. Look what God said in His Word through Paul's letter to Timothy...  

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV) 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

As the church, we have a serious choice to make, one that should be very obvious but it will take a strong commitment to Jesus Christ. So many people are telling the church that we have to adapt to the new way of thinking but the Bible commands us to remain true to His Word. Society is trying to convince us that the new way is better but the Bible has already warned us about those who will try to lead us astray. Even God is being discussed in this new way with thoughts like "God wants you to be happy" or "God would never judge you for doing that". But let me remind you that the Bible is filled with warnings that we are to repent or else face the consequences.

So when we stand up for what is right, we have to endure, no matter what. Yes, there will be lots of ridicule, but we must be consistent in our speech and in our actions. No, we are not judging others. No we are not against anyone. WE STAND UP FOR WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. Period.

"ARE YOU ACTING LIKE OUR PRESIDENT?"

I knew that title would get your attention. Look at this picture and then I will tell you why I entitled this post like that.

If this is actually our President shooting this rifle, then he is sending out mixed signals since he is pushing for a ban on guns, isn't he? It's one thing to say you stand for or against something but when people see you doing the exact opposite, then you have got problems.

If you say that you are a Christian, then you have the whole world watching you closely to see if your actions match what you say. If you tell somebody they shouldn't be doing something, then why should they catch you doing the same thing you told somebody else not to do? Your character and integrity suffer greatly when your words don't match your actions.

I pray that we will follow the words that the apostle Paul gave us in 1 Corinthians...
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT"

If you know anything about me, you know that sometimes what I mean to say doesn't come out right and when that happens, it usually produces a laugh for those of you who are around to hear it.

For example, one Sunday at the close of our worship service at Rolling Fork Baptist Church, I felt prompted to share about how grateful that I am to God that He would allow me to serve as a pastor of His church. Not only that, but I wanted to say how blessed I was to have people around me to help me grow as a pastor and a leader. So here is what I meant to say, "I know that I have made many mistakes while serving RFBC all of these years and I wish that I had know then what I know now so that I could have done a better job. But I understand you have to start at one level and start growing from there. I am thankful that God is teaching me and developing me to be a better leader in the future." But that's not how it came out.

What I actually said (and yes, Rhonda quickly corrected me) was ""I know that I have made many mistakes while serving RFBC all of these years and I wish that I had know then what I know now so that I could have done a better job. WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TAKE WHAT YOU KNOW NOW AND START SOMEWHERE FRESH?"

Several folks began to question me about that statement and asked if I was leaving RFBC. I told them no and tried to explain what my statement was supposed sound like. I began serving as pastor at RFBC in January of 1999 and I look back and see many areas that I should have handled things differently... but you learn as you go, right?

This year, I really feel the need to look at my role as a pastor and the church as a whole and ask, 'What are we doing that is really pleasing God and what are we doing that is causing us to fall short of what God wants for us to be?'.

As a pastor, I am having to rethink a lot of things because after pastoring for the last 17 years, I see many ideas and practices in the past that have not been effective in leading people to maturity in Christ. At the time, I thought I was doing what was right, but now I look back and see that things didn't always go like I thought they would. I see some areas where I should have taken action but I didn't for whatever reason. I see some areas where I should have stayed away from something but got involved because I wanted to help someone.

SO PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AND ALL OTHER PASTORS because the day is getting closer for each one of us to leave this world and come face to face with Jesus Himself. I want to be ready. I want to hear 'Well done, My good and faithful servant.', don't you? Let us read this passage below and use it as a prayer as we live out our days in 2013...

Philippians 3:12-15 (ESV) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

'WHAT IF I WAS A 'YES MAN'?'

What would happen if I walked around and told everyone how perfect they were just like they were and that there is no need to ever worry about their eternity? "It doesn't matter if you do that kind of thing, it's going to be alright." "So what if it gets you into trouble later, at least you get to have fun now." "Don't worry about it... who is going to know that you act that way?"

What would happened if people had treated me like that all of my life? "Bruce, keep telling those dirty jokes, you are great at it." "It doesn't matter that you cuss like that, everybody does that." "Yes it is fun making fun of her, let's do it some more."

If we don't have people in our lives who love us enough to tell us the truth, then we will never see ourselves as we really are. We will only see ourselves as we think we are and that is totally different.

And if we don't see ourselves as we really are, then we will never see the need to repent of our sins and turn towards a holy God who loves us and wants us to live for Him. There is a common misconception going around that believes that since God loves us, He will let us do whatever we want. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Jesus died upon the cross because we did do what we wanted. If you want to go to heaven, you will not be going as you are or as you were but as you will be after God recreates you by giving you a new life. Not the life that you were living for yourself, a new life where you will be living for Him.

Sometimes it won't be easy but never give up. Some people will criticize you and call you names but it is not their opinions that need to be your top concern. You should only be concerned with what God says about you because if you are pleasing Him, He will take care of the rest.

However if you are not pleasing Him, realize that He will send people your way to help you see your sin. When they do this for you, remember to ask God if what they are saying is true and if it is, ask for forgiveness and be freed from whatever was holding you in bondage.

Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV) Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

'I AM SO GLAD THEY DIDN'T SHUT UP'

This week, I have been called 'hater', judgmental and so much more. Why? Because I use Facebook as a method of sharing God's Word and guess what? Jesus was right when He said in Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

If I really was a hater, I would shut up and let people face whatever they face based upon their actions but that is not what we are told to do. Look what it says in Ezekiel... Ezekiel 33:2-6 (ESV) “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

I hope you see the importance of sharing God's Word to those you come in contact with each day. Yes, we must speak it with love, but again, we must speak. What would happen if I did shut up? For that matter, what would have happened if everyone in my life had shut up instead of telling me what I needed to hear regardless of whether I wanted to or not?

I am very thankful today for everyone that God has used to speak truth to me. Though I may not have received it the right way then, I see now why I should have...

I am thankful for my mom and dad who raised in church. As far back as I can remember, I remember going to church.

I am thankful for Charlie Flenor who was the first pastor I remember and he was the one who was preaching at New Salem Baptist Church on Bethany Lane when I got saved by God. It was 'Bro. Charlie' who would sometimes call on me to pray in church even though I was just a little kid but he said he saw that God was working on me and that one day I would be a preacher.

I am thankful for all of the pastors that have taught me over the years, Bill Steeger, Gene Crowder, Greg Abercrombie, Drexel Rayford, Bob Gray, Jim Doyle and so many more.

I am thankful for the friends who warned me when I was about to mess up and for the ones who lovingly corrected me when I did mess up.

If all of those folks had been quiet, I would still be in the same sin I was back then. And so I continue to speak... praying that God will continue to use me as a voice of truth... praying thtat I will have the right motive and the right approach. What about you? Will you keep speaking?

VIDEO- 'HOW CENTERED ARE YOU?'

MY FACEBOOK PEEVES FROM 2012

Last night, I started a list of 'facebook peeves' on facebook in order to try a new approach to initiate some conversations this week that will help people see the difference between what we do and what we should do. These 'peeves' are not random complaints but are to be used as teaching moments. I have no idea how many peeves will be listed but last night's posts got a lot of attention so I put the first part of the list together in this post...

FACEBOOK PEEVE #1: PEOPLE WHO USE FACEBOOK TO BRAG ABOUT THEIR SINS, INSTEAD OF CONFESSING THEM TO GOD AND REPENTING OF THEM. ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE CHRISTIANS BUT POST PICS AND COMMENTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE BY SOMEONE WHO IS STRIVING TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST.

FACEBOOK PEEVE #2: PEOPLE WHO TRASH THEIR EX ON FACEBOOK. You may think your ex is a 'loser' but trashing them on facebook doesn't make you look like much of a 'winner'.

FACEBOOK PEEVE #3 (since the first two created some interesting conversations): PEOPLE WHO WHINE ABOUT MONDAYS. After ministering to five separate families in funeral homes the last six days, I am sure that those families would love to have one more Monday with their loved ones. Every day, including Mondays, is a gift from God. Don't waste it. Live for Christ.

FACEBOOK PEEVE #4: PEOPLE WHO GIVE US THE DAILY REASONS WHY THEY HATE THEIR LIVES OR THEIR JOBS OR THEIR HOMELIFE. Your attitude is a major factor in determining how your day will go. Give yourself a chance to enjoy the day by renewing your thought process. Instead of fussing about what you dont' have, realize what you have been blessed with and then tell God 'thank You'.

So as we wait for the next peeve to appear, please use this time to examine yourself to see how you are living your life. You only have one shot at life, don't waste it. Use it to make an impact in this world.