A Picture of Health

Have you ever wondered what a healthy Church looks like?

I have, not only because I am a Pastor and hope to lead a healthy Church, but I also long to see God glorified here on earth.

One of the chief ways He has chose to do this is through His Church.

I am afraid that many of us have heard too many horror stories about Churches splitting and fighting and closing.

I can hear the critics now; saying that the church is dead and is not needed in today's society.

I would have to disagree, the church is needed now more than ever.

The world has lost sight of truth, The church should be a beacon of truth, and a defender of that truth.

The world has lost sight of morals, The church should be an example of how to live a right life in the Spirit under the loving hand of grace.

The world has lost sight of people, We as a church should be known by how we love each other and look on each other with integrity and respect.

So when it comes to thinking about a healthy church, it's easy to see how important this subject is.

Mark Dever has given the church a great gift with his short but powerful book, "What is A Healthy Church?", Crossway books.

Mr. Dever has a great passion for God's church.

He has a ministry called 9marks that focuses on the church and it's needs.

Mr. Dever has given us a great model for a healthy church. He admits that its not an exhaustive model, but I think it's a wonderful one.

He breaks his thoughts down into 9marks of a healthy church...hence the name 9marks.

lets look at these marks:
I. Expositional Preaching
II. Biblical Theology
III. A Biblical Understanding of the Gospel
IV. A Biblical Understanding of Conversion
V. A Biblical understanding of Evangelism
VI. A Biblical understanding of Membership
VII. Biblical Church Discipline
VIII. Biblical Discipleship and Growth
IX. Biblical Church Leadership

If our Churches would set these as our marks, I think that our communities would truly begin to see our God glorified through His church.

Great Book

I'm reading a wonderful book on Evangelism.

The book is The Heart of Evangelism by Jerram Barrs, Crossway publishers.

This book has breathed a breath of fresh air into my life.

Evangelism can be confusing and scary when we look at all the methods.

Then we begin to think about the reactions that we may or may not get.

Wow! this can be overwhelming.

These things above, I feel, are a few of the reasons that a lot of us don't evangelize.

We want to, we understand that God's work commands us to, but its just not a part of our lives.

Before I move on..I want to clarify what evangelism is.

We will do this by looking at what it is not.

Evangelism isn't necessarily just inviting someone to church.

inviting someone to church is wonderful outreach....but it's not evangelism.

I know that may seem kinda harsh, but we must not cop out of our responsibility to spread the the Gospel of Jesus Christ by simply inviting someone to church.

Evangelism is simply telling someone the good news of Jesus Christ, introducing them to the Savior.

This is done allot of ways, here are just a few:

• Telling someone face to face about Jesus.
• Handing out Gospel tracts
• Living your life before folks in such a way that draws them to the Savior

In his book Mr. Barrs wipes away the fog and fear and challenges all of us to make evangelism a normal part of our lives.

When evangelism becomes natural to us as holding a conversation about the weather, we can be used by our awesome God to do His work.

This is a great book and a must read for anyone who wants to glorify The Lord in evangelism.

Its been a while

Sorry that I haven't written in a while. I have been pretty busy at church and of course with the twins being born have really been busy at home. It is great to be back in the swing of things and hope to continue with the blogs as regularly as possible.

I have just recently began taking classes at Southern Theological Baptist Seminary. I am taking most classes online or at the extension center in Greenville.

I will occasionaly have to travel to Southern to take a class. This will be tough, but I'm looking forward to seeing the campus.

Enough about the past, lets talk about now.

I have had the Joy of leading our Church through the book of Ephesians over the last few months. The Study has been great and the folks have responded well.

We are currently in Chapter 5:3. Paul in this section calls for believers to eliminate certain behaviors from their lives.

Things like:
Immorality
Greed
Impurity
Obscenity
Dirty Jokes
Useless talk

I think most of us would agree that Paul's request isn't unreasonalble.
and yet even in our agreement we struggle.

We struggle perhaps, because to often we lose sight of Why we eliminate these things.
We like the folks outside of Christ sometimes feel that our Christian walk is only a bunch of do's and don'ts.

We forget that Christ told us that His burden was light and His yoke was easy.

We need to look again why Paul tells us to get rid of these; Paul tells us in verses 3 and 4 that these things are not fitting for the Believer.

Not fitting!

Paul challenges the heart of every believer, These things are not You he says emphatically.
Christ has made you a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come.

No longer do the clothes of our sin and flesh fit.....are do they?

• Have we let ourselves become conformed to this sinful world?
• Have we let the enemy lure us into his web of lies and lust?
• Have we began to move to the beat of this world instead of being in step with the Spirit?

If you would have to say yes, yes I get my cues from the world and not the Lord.

Today turn from this and cling to your loving, forgiving, redeeming Savior who can restore you to righteousness.