Enjoying the Journey
Church Ministry
The State of the Church
Typically in February the President of the United States addresses a joint session of Congress and delivers the traditional “State of the Union.” This year’s address was much different. In a symbolic way it reminds us that the state of our union is somewhat uncertain at this moment. There is always plenty of political maneuvering and rhetorical gymnastics associated with such speeches. However, at this time in our nation there exists an increased division and dissension. O how we need a spiritual awakening in our land! My greatest burden is not just for the state of our union politically or economically but for the state of the church spiritually. You see, the condition of the nation is deeply rooted in…
Read MoreThe Gospel Answer to Racial Prejudice
Born in the 1970’s, I just missed the civil rights movement of the previous decade. My friends and I read about the injustices and racial tensions in our history books but, gratefully saw little of it in the area where we were raised. I thank God that my parents and those who influenced me modeled a love and respect for all people. Now, as my son is approaching adulthood, it seems that the racial divide has become prominent again in so many places. Our world is full of a hatred that could only be fueled by the devil who came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). And only the love of God can cut through that hatred. When Jesus…
Read MorePreachers Need Preaching Too!
It was only after I went into full time evangelism that I began to appreciate how much good preaching I had been privileged to listen to…and how much I still need to hear it. Those of us in full time ministry are almost always the ones doing the preaching. While this is a tremendous privilege, it is also a great danger. If you keep giving out and never take in you will soon run dry! I am not just a preacher; I am a Christian. Every Christian needs to hear exhortation, reproof, and doctrine. Every Christian. There are many reasons for this: God chose to use preaching! 1 Corinthians 1:21 tells us the priority God places on preaching and its…
Read MoreGod’s Word and Work – A Look Ahead
Every year that I can remember my dad has conducted a special meeting at the beginning of the year for those who labor in our home church. For the last thirty years he has tried to begin with a challenge for those who lead to keep following, growing in their own faith and walk with Christ. Here is an excerpt of what he shared with our church a few days ago: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:18). In the first place, the word “vision” as used here has to do with the Word of God. Please notice the rest of the verse: “but he that keepeth the law, happy is…
Read More4 Stages In A Prayer Meeting
Recently I saw where a prominent Christian leader suggested that perhaps this would be a good time for churches to begin having prayer meetings again. The real question is: why did we ever stop having them at all? Even the churches that advertise a weekly “prayer meeting” typically do more talking about prayer or rehearsing of prayer requests than actual praying. When believers are not living in an attitude of prayer it is difficult to get them excited about the action of prayer. The loss of the prayer closet has caused the death of the prayer meeting, because corporate prayer has no power when we are never alone with the Lord. Public prayers become cliche, stiff, and formal when we…
Read MoreCONTINUE!
Everyone’s favorite verse to quote in recent times has been, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). While this is absolutely true and evidently happening I would encourage you to read the next verse: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Timothy 3:14). We must never use the condition in our world as an excuse for our own faithlessness and fruitlessness. When the Lord said that wickedness would abound more and more He did not say that His power would wax less and less! CONTINUE! As we begin a new year this must be…
Read MoreThe Last Few Days and the Days Ahead
My heart is full of the goodness of the Lord to us! Over the last few days it was a privilege to gather with so many pastors and Christian workers in Walkertown, NC. As we planned and prepared for this year’s Southwide Baptist Fellowship none of us knew if it would be possible for friends to actually make it to the meeting. This has been a year where many conferences have been cancelled or forced to move to a virtual format. How thrilling it was to see people come together for a few days of prayer, preaching, and fellowship. Several folks commented how hungry everyone seemed to be just to be with other laborers. It was a reminder to me…
Read MoreRegathering the Flock
Sometimes God scatters His people. This is seen in the early church when believers were scattered because of persecution (Acts 8:4). But there is a huge difference between the scattering of persecution and the scattering of neglect. When God scatters a flock He does it to multiply and reproduce the flock in other places. If sin, fear, or the Devil scatters a flock it is always to divide and conquer. We may soon see scattering because of persecution in our land but we are already witnessing the scattering of neglect. It is time to regather the flock. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments God’s people are repeatedly referred to as sheep…prone to their own wanderings and the attack of…
Read MoreExciting News to Share
One of the great joys of serving the Lord is watching Him work in ways we could never have planned. Yes, we are “laborers together with God” and He has graciously allowed us to be participants, partners in His mission. But, in the end, all of us recognize that we are just along for the ride. He is doing the work and we are witnesses of it. Recently I told someone that it has been thrilling to see that the most blessed things I have been privileged to be part of were those things that were not my idea at all! God has a way of doing the unexpected and producing the unexplainable. Only He gets the glory. This is…
Read MoreDear Church Member…
What if you received a letter from the Founder of the church? In fact, you have it in your hands each time you hold the Word of God! The Lord has written in black and white exactly what He designed and desires for His church to be. The New Testament is the divine manual on the local assembly. In our day the church is being minimized and marginalized by society. Satan and his minions are on the attack. Many Christians have taken a passive, take-it-or-leave-it approach. This is not the time for believers to take a step back from church! We live on the edge of eternity and now is the time for every church member to find their place…
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