You can gather with other believers Every single chance you find You can walk through religious doors Every time they’re open wide You can slip in and slip back out And yet still be barely known For all the good you think you’ve found You can’t make it on your own You can read your Bible daily And think how …
Colossians 4:7-18 You Can’t Make It On Your Own In Paul’s concluding remarks to the Colossians, he provides personal comments regarding specific ministry partners. Within these comments, Paul models the type of friends that a disciple will need to continue towards maturity. Why Mention These People? A commitment to Jesus is a commitment to His people. Our beliefs and our …
An effective job has so much to do with what we do, how we do it, and who we do it with. While we are much more than what we do, a significant portion of our lives will be spent in the 9-5 realm. That’s why how we approach work is so vital to our overall outlook in life. Most …
Billy Graham has preached to over 215 million people in more than 185 countries in his lifetime. His impact for Kingdom work is significant. Have you ever wondered what he would have done if he served as a local pastor instead of an evangelist? He was asked that question years ago and his response was recorded in Robert Coleman’s masterpiece, The …
Can a church have polished programs and personable pastors?
It’s a new month and that means it’s time for a new focus for the leadership at Rocky Creek. Each month, we are focusing on a specific area to really develop as a church body. Just to catch you up, here’s what we have been focusing on at Rocky Creek: January: Pastor – I am so thankful you allowed me …
Every church has a reputation. The community has an opinion about the people in your church. How do you wish someone would describe your church? I came across a writing from Aristides the Philosopher from around 125 A.D. He had been converted to Christianity and later wrote The Apology of Aristides. It was a way to express the differing people of …
The Word The Daily Church (Acts 2:42-47) As the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples, the early church was born. This body of believers met together daily and saw God do amazing acts in their midst. CONTEXT Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection changed everything. As Jesus commissioned the disciples in his heavenly ascent, he told them to wait for the gift …
Every church has to prepare a church budget every year. Before the congregation receives it, a substantial amount of time and a significant amount of people have prayed, talked, and worked hard to prepare it. So, how should the process work? While there are many logistical tasks to be done, this endeavor is truly a spiritual exercise. In preparing a …
Churches struggle with recruiting and retaining volunteers. While it is challenging enough to recruit a sufficient amount of people to meet the needs, there is another problem that comes when you get them: What expectations do you have of the church’s volunteers? I’m not talking about what time they show up and what job they perform. I’m talking …
During the summer months, teenagers all across the United States fill up church vans to trek to their favorite student camps. My testimony contains personal pivotal moments I experienced along my journey while I was at church camp. That’s why I loved serving at Fuge Camps while I was in college and even now by preaching a couple of weeks …
While I admit that some aspects of student ministry need to be evaluated, edited, or eliminated, I am not one who desires to get rid of the entire paradigm. I believe that there is biblical teaching and cultural wisdom that shows the need for the home and the church to partner together for the discipleship of the next generations.
One day, as I was engaging in some yard work, I came across a curious display of foliage surrounding a small tree in the back. These growing sprouts were covered with lush leaves around the base of a tree. Plants normally have a difficult time growing around a tree since the larger arboreal structure steals the water from the smaller plants by …
It’s a new month and that means it’s time for a new focus at church. Each month, we are focusing on a specific area to really develop as a church body. Just to catch you up, here’s what we have been focusing on: January: Pastor – I am so thankful you allowed me to be your pastor! February: Website – …
There is a major difference between an inspired book and an inspiring book. Scripture is the only book inspired (literally, breathed out) by God (2 Tim. 3:16). While other books may be inspiring, they are not inspired. One is written by God and the others are written by men and women. In the same way, there are inspiring speeches, music, …
Ministry has gotten comfortably uncomfortable. One of my greatest prayers and passions as a Christian is to be salt and light within a community (Matt. 5:13-16). While many churches either do missions very well locally or very well globally, I have always believed that a church should be involved both here and there. At our church, we have an Acts …
Church culture is always a funny thing. Every so many years, a new church trend comes along and everyone starts jumping on a bandwagon while criticizing the bandwagon they just jumped off. Right now, I feel like the bandwagon for many is to decry anything that is a church “program.” While I would agree that much of our church experiences have gotten …
It’s hard to believe that my family has been at Rocky Creek for 2 months now. So much has happened in these initial weeks that I feel like I have been here much longer than that! So thankful for how God planted us here in this wonderful church. While the first few weeks were spent getting my feet under me …
Titus 1:1-9 Churches can easily drift from the biblical mandate. God’s Word provides specific directions to bring order within a church family. God wants his church discipled. I serve God; I’m sent by God – not the other way around. Election can either become a nuisance, an avoidance, or an obsession. The most foundational element of election is being in …
Biblical Church Growth is a great resource by Gary L. McIntosh. He addresses what the Bible says about church growth versus what current cultural trends can be within the church. Many people hold that the church growth movement is a bad thing, but church growth is a biblical thing. Favorite Quotes I use the word biblical to make the point that, …
Scripture commands believers to meet together (Heb 10:24-25) for mutual edification. Regardless of what you call the group, meeting together with a group of believers smaller than what you probably experience in church worship is essential for growth. In order to have successful groups, your group must focus on having the right elements: THE RIGHT LEADER. It is imperative to place …
The Book of Hosea is the account of when God asked a preacher to marry a prostitute to illustrate how he loves his people. We should not be amazed at what Hosea the preacher did for Gomer the prostitute – we should be amazed that God did that for us. God revealed that not only had Gomer been a prostitute, …
For months we have been talking about updating our church covenant. Today, we took time in our services to highlight the need for us to take church membership seriously. Service Order Reading – Psalm 115:3 Open Up the Heavens – Meredith Andrews Break Our Hearts – Billy Foote Cornerstone – Tim Neufeld Discipleship Video One Size Doesn’t Fit All – …
As a pastor who leads worship, I am well aware of every type of argument on every side of the worship wars. One important discussion is regarding the decrease of congregational singing. In a majority of congregations, people are lamenting the fact that people just don’t sing as much as they used to sing. While I have read many reasonings on why …
When the school year begins, we send off many college students to other cities who are searching for the perfect church. We also meet college students invading our community looking for the same thing. If I actually found a perfect church, it would no longer be perfect once I joined it. In reality, I know and you know there is …
Caring for souls within a local church can cause anxiety for its leaders. Rely on God’s power to change your church, and don’t settle for what you can do.
I woke up with a heavy heart this morning. After reading about the removal of Perry Noble as pastor of Newspring Church, I was simply heartbroken. I am heartbroken for him, for his family, for his church, and for all those close to him. Besides meeting with Perry once, I really don’t know him. We have mutual friends and what …
I’ve been preaching in Charleston which has been great, but I hate not being with the people of North Side today. I guess I just don’t know how to deal with a Sunday without a Lethco because we went to hear Jeff’s brother preach today. Eric Lethco is the pastor at Old Fort Baptist Church in Summerville, SC. We had a wonderful …
Due to having to deal with abusive situations in my years as a pastor, I learned a lot by asking questions of friends who deal with such issues in their professions. I decided to pull together an expert panel who could help churches and ministries navigate through the legal requirements concerning abuse. David Stumbo – Greenwood County Solicitor Charlotte Ehney – Children’s …
We finished up our “Everyday Church” series today as we focused on “Everyday Evangelism.” I have loved how this series has started some great conversations and hearing some incredible stories of what God is doing. Service Order Reading – 1 Pet. 3:13-15 Prayer Time Christ Is Risen – Matt Maher Because He Lives – Bill Gaither He Will Hold Me …
I learned a lot in seminary, but there are some things they don’t train you for in seminary. One of those issues is concerning how pastors are to handle situations relating to abuse. Many pastors believe a myth that they don’t have to report something that is shared in a counseling session. That is simply untrue. Some pastors and churches …
The question is not if we have been called. It is where will we be going? Week 4 in our Everyday Church series was powerful. All across the board. It was such a pivotal focus for our church family. Service Order Reading – Luke 9:23-25 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus Build Your Kingdom Here – Rend Collective I Have …
We had our 3rd week in our “Everyday Church” series. Powerful time watching the light bulbs come on in our services. People are starting to get this truth: We don’t come to church – we are the church! Service Order Reading – 1 Peter 2:9-10 You Are Good – Israel Houghton Build Your Kingdom Here – Rend Collective Baptism (9:30) …
In week 2 of our “Everyday Church” series, we talked about what the biblical community of a church is supposed to look like. Service Order Reading – 1 Peter 1:13-16 Lay Me Down – Chris Tomlin Lord I Need You – Matt Maher Confessional Prayer Time VBS Prayer Time Offertory Prayer Time Reading – John 10:27-29 He Will Hold Me …
I can’t even begin to put into words what God was up to within our church family today. I felt like an army was receiving a set of instructions to go to battle. The eagerness in the room was noticeable. I cannot wait to see what Jesus does in the next 5 weeks. Service Order Scripture Reading – 1 Peter …
Our elders read Everyday Church a few months back. The book, by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, is a fantastic, eye-opening read on who we are called to be as the Church of Jesus Christ. We are starting a series with the same title this week, and many of our members have already begun to dissect the book. I am …
It was a great privilege to serve the people of Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. I preached for the DNOW and then the Sunday morning services. This sermon, “As for Me and My House,” was from Joshua 24 on family discipleship. Travis Agnew from Northside Bapt. Church from Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church on Vimeo.
Serving as a pastor in the Bible Belt comes with quirky challenges. As a pastor, one of my greatest burdens is watching how churches compete with one another. You would think we would realize we are on the same team. You would think we would grasp that there are enough unchurched folks out there to fill every congregation. You would think we would …
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping, and flannel abounds everywhere you turn. While there are many favorite events and experiences associated with the Fall season, one of my favorites is North Side’s annual Fall Festival. For years, this event has been a great night for people inside and outside of our church …
I had the privilege of worship with North Side at 9:30 and preaching at First Mount Moriah at 11:00! Great to be able to celebrate what God is doing in both congregations. At Mt. Moriah, they had a Family Day and I got the honor to preach from Joshua 24. Love Pastor Bryant Sims and Youth Pastor Zack Little and …
You must be logged in to post a comment.