Whether you are a member or a guest of Rocky Creek, we want to keep you informed during this time of transition in the Fall of 2018. Rocky Creek continues to celebrate spiritual and numerical growth, and the church must provide space for current growth and plan now for continued growth in the future. As we look forward to our future, here are some helpful pieces of information to keep you informed and equipped.
Ministry
Empty Chairs
Whether you are a member or a guest of Rocky Creek, we want to keep you informed during this time of transition in the Fall of 2018. Rocky Creek continues to celebrate spiritual and numerical growth, and the church must provide space for current growth and plan now for continued growth in the future.
Open Doors
Whether you are a member or a guest of Rocky Creek, we want to keep you informed during this time of transition in the Fall of 2018. Rocky Creek continues to celebrate spiritual and numerical growth, and the church must provide space for current growth and plan now for continued growth in the future.
The Danger of Ministry Overcompensation
The problem in ministry is when leaders overcompensate a weakness so much that it creates another weakness.
Write God Your Letter of Excuse
Determining God’s will is a challenging endeavor. Ascertaining whether your potential leading is self-inflicted or divinely-prompted is a serious task.
Oftentimes, we have a hunch about a direction but we stop cold in our tracks. Either the challenge seems too daunting or our inabilities are too obvious for us to proceed. Feeling led to do one thing, we resist the urge and come up with numerous excuses of why we shouldn’t continue.
The Disciple’s Job Description
As the crowds increased around Jesus, He intentionally drew closer to fewer people as He appointed twelve disciples to be His apostles. As Jesus called the original Twelve to specific tasks, He calls us to follow Him in the same way today.
Open Your Home for Ministry
As Jesus gathered disciples, He befriended sinners in home settings. Acknowledging the needs of those around us, we should open our homes and open our hearts to minister to those in close proximity to us.
Who Are the Pharisees in the Southern Baptist Convention?
It is true that in any arena of life, people have the capacity to position themselves intentionally or inwardly hope that they will rise to a certain platform. While we wish that was untrue in relation to ministry, it unfortunately exists there as well.
As a pastor, I see the attempts around me and notice the trends inside me to advance our personal agendas. But as someone who teaches the truth for a vocation, obviously, I should beyond such trivial pursuits. When I teach from the Bible, I should be able to come from a grounds of moral and leadership superiority and yet I often discover that quite the opposite is true.
Sometimes the religious leaders are the problem.
Ministry Can Happen Anywhere
Jesus ministered at religious gatherings and at relational gatherings. If we understand the power of God, we will live in such a way that acknowledges that ministry cannot be hindered by a time, place, or situation.
The Gospel of Mark [Sermon Series Overview]
I chose to preach through the Gospel of Mark because of the book’s two main focuses:
- Christology
- Discipleship
Our world is in need of a higher view of both of these concepts. We need to know who Jesus is and we need to know what discipleship is.
Preaching Can Be Expository and Engaging
As hundreds of teenagers spilled into the auditorium, I was going through last-minute preparations to preach. As I went to get my microphone, a pastor introduced himself to me and wanted to chitchat before the service began.
“So which one are you?”
“Umm…I’m not sure what you mean.”
“We come to this event every year, and there are only two types of preachers that they invite to speak. Either they are very theologically sound or very engaging to our students. The theologically sound ones are painfully boring and must think it is a sin to be engaging. The guys that are very engaging often struggle in their theology and I have to clean up after them. So, which one are you going to be?”
Honestly, I had a difficult time thinking of how I wanted to respond because I was so brokenhearted about his perspective and my fear that he was correct.
You Can’t Make It On Your Own
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 …
3 Vital Components of a Staff Member
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 …
Do They Believe You Believe It?
I’ve often heard: It’s not what you say but how you say it. Well, yes and no. It’s most important what you say. But if you have something good to say – something true to say – shouldn’t it alter the way you say it? David Hume, a well-known Scottish philosopher and historian in the 18th Century, who was also …
Can a Church Have Polished Programs and Personable Pastors?
Can a church have polished programs and personable pastors?
2017 Sermon Series Recap
As 2017 comes to a close, here is a list of the archived sermon series for the year at Rocky Creek. I have loved our time in the Word together and can’t wait to continue in 2018. For Such a Time as This January 22, 2017 1 Sermon Jonah February 12 – March 5, 2017 4 Sermons Titus March 12 …
2018[ish] Sermons
As I began to plan for the 2018 preaching calendar, I asked the church to pray that I would receive clear direction. I set aside Sept. 26th as a day to fast, pray, and study. My specific prayer was to receive a good portion of clarity regarding 2018, but we all know that God does exceedingly abundantly above all we …
November’s Focus: Budget
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 …
How You Wish Someone Would Describe Your Church
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 …
3 Key Areas for the Church Volunteer
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 …
I’m Unsure of the Way [But Sure of Who’s Leading]
I was at a place where I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life. The choice before me was never one I anticipated making. Moving churches, homes, and cities was not on the radar for our family. If God was in this transition, why was it so hard? It seemed apparent that God was pointing …
10 Ways to Welcome Your New Pastor
All churches go through times of transition. When a pastor has to leave a church (whether for a good reason or a bad reason), the church has to navigate through an interim time and work through the process of finding a new pastor. When a new pastor has been selected, how should a church welcome him and his family? I …
Survival After Youth Camp
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 …
Student Pastors Aren’t in the Bible (And Neither Are the Rest of Our Church Positions)
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.
Titus Series Recap
Listen to some snippets from our 8-week sermon series through the Book of Titus. Get the entire series here.
2017 Sermon Series
I’ve been asked where we were going after the Titus series at Rocky Creek. As of right now, I’ve got a plan for the rest of the year – series by series, week by week. While I am open to change, I believe that through the time in the Word and prayer, I am really excited about what is coming up. …
Never Forget How Far You’ve Come
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 …
Working While Waiting
Working While Waiting (Titus 2:11-15) People tend to drift to either passively waiting on Christ’s return or actively working while ignoring his return. We are to show zeal in our work while we wait. Salvation (Titus 2:11) The grace of God appeared. It was not summoned, warranted, or earned. Salvation by grace knows no concept of merit. Sanctification (Titus 2:12) The gospel will produce godliness. God’s grace enables us to say “no” to …
Just Do Something
I often talk with people who are waiting on that perfect situation before getting involved. Believing that they would thrive in a certain role, they refuse to get involved until that moment comes along. Instead of waiting on that perfect something, just do something! Don’t sit around – get involved in any part of God’s Kingdom process. I planted the …
Jonah: God’s Relentless Pursuit
So excited to start first sermon series at Rocky Creek this Sunday at 10:30! I will begin preaching Jonah: God’s Relentless Pursuit and if you don’t have a church home and are in the Greenville area, we would love to have you! Series Overview Jonah was a prophet on the run but discovered quickly that he could not outrun God. …
Ministry Has No Promotions
Since we announced last week that God has called our family to serve Rocky Creek Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, we have been overwhelmed with love and support. From those at Rocky Creek, those at North Side, and those on the outside, we have been so encouraged by those who have offered prayers and supportive words. Among all the kind …
If the Lord Wills
Preached at North Greenville University – January 30, 2017 Sermon Notes Are you so worried about God’s will down the road that you are missing his will right in front of you? We can focus on the future so much that we neglect the present. You can be so concerned with God’s will then that you miss God’s will now. …
Thank You, Rocky Creek
I sent this letter to the membership of Rocky Creek Church this week, but I’ve also realized in recent days that many people in the area are interested in what is next for this church. Our family has been overwhelmed with the support, messages, prayers, and interest you have shown this journey. If you are without a church home in Greenville …
Remove Divorce From Your Vocabulary
In certain situations, divorce may be permitted but it is never promoted. Main Points Matt. 19:8 – Moses permitted divorce Eph. 5:32 In certain situations, divorce may be permitted but it is never promoted. 1. Study God’s Word for Direction 2. Pray with Your Spouse 3. Seek Biblical Counsel What do you have to lose by one session with a …
For Such a Time As This
Main Points Two Extremes: 1) God could never use me, 2) Of course God will use me. Do you believe that God wants to use you for his Kingdom purposes? Do you acknowledge that God is not dependent upon you for his Kingdom purposes? Even when God seems behind the scenes, his plan is always front and center. Levels in the Bible: …
3 Reasons for Ministry Detachment
If careful, people who lead people in ministry can detach themselves from those people they are called to lead. The fact that detachment is detrimental to ministry is obvious, but the reason why people detach can differ. Elitism – Some people detach due to elitism. They think they are simply better than others. Our American Church culture bucks against the …
Be Disciplined Before You Discipline
Parents must discipline themselves before they discipline their children. Main Points Eph. 6:4 – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Parents are called to disciple their children. Parents are also called to discipline their children. Parents must discipline themselves before they discipline their children. Hostile parents produce …
Clear the Path
As the prophet Isaiah attempted to bring God’s people back to obedience, he challenged the spiritual leaders. God appointed watchmen to watch over the people and to pray for them continually (Isa 62:6). In addition to praying for the people, he also gave them very specific instructions: Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build …
Here I Am – Send Me
“Near, far. Near, far.” One can easily picture Grover from Sesame Street running back and forth in front of the camera. The closer he gets to the camera, the bigger he gets. The more steps he backs up, the smaller he becomes. Or does he? Obviously, Grover’s size isn’t changing, but our perception of him does. In walking with the …
You must be logged in to post a comment.