Christmas Traditions

I remember when Laurie and I were first married, she was very concerned that we establish some traditions for our family.  I always sort of scratched my head at this, because I never thought that traditions were something that you planned. I always just figured they just happened...and then continued to happen...then poof! You have a tradition!  To be honest I don't know which is right. But I know that I like our Christmas traditions.

Our Christmas traditions begin the weekend after Thanksgiving when we put up the tree.  Pulling out all of the boys' ornaments--remembering what each one means and when and why we got it. We don't really do outside lights, but we hang a wreath on the door.  We also have a Nativity scene that we set up on the piano. We are still using the FischerPrice set--that way baby Jesus doesn't get broken!

Then there is the never-ending flow of sappy Lifetime/Halmark Christmas movies. I "get" to sit through a couple of those with Laurie.

I always look forward to the cookie baking day, where Laurie and her friend bake and decorate about 600 Christmas cookies.  I look forward to it, not because I like baking or decorating..... (I think you know where this is going). Yummmm.

The past few years we have been trying to do some kind of daily "Advent" focus with the boys. Taking each day in December and looking to the Bible about the true meaning of Christmas, but we haven't seemed to find one that we like that really works for us.

Christmas Eve service.Although I never grew up attending Christmas Eve services, I've grown to enjoy them and look forward to them. I'm looking forward to celebrating with Solid Rock this year.

For the past 14 Christmases that Laurie and I have shared to together we have visited all four sets of parents for some Christmas celebration and exchanging of gifts.  It is a whirlwind road trip but good to see everyone.

I'm looking forward to this Christmas, and I hope you are too!

Christmas Tree of Memories

I can remember the first tree that Laurie and I had for Christmas together. While I always grew up with "fake" trees, Laurie always had real, and I was excited to have a real one.  I can still remember the look, feel and smell of it.  It was so big (or maybe our apartment was just that small) that it took up half the living room and blocked the front door! One problem though, we didn't have any ornaments.  Laurie had some ornaments from her childhood, and I had some too, but it they looked so sparse on our spruce!

Fast forward 13 years...

We now have a pre-lit artificial tree. (I can have my fill of pine needles and sap on Wilderness, without the mess in my living room!)  Sometime along the way we decided to buy an ornament whenever we went on a vacation. Also, we get each of our boys an ornament that reminds us of something significant in their lives over the past year.  We plan to give the boys their box of ornaments to hang on their tree when they move out and start their own families.

So as I sit and look at my Christmas tree—I don't just see a tree—I see our family vacations to Myrtle Beach, Tennessee, and Chicago. I remember the year Jack loved to make sand castles, or the year he was in love with trains.  I remember when Josh water skied for the first time, or when he caught his first fish. I remember the twins’ first Christmas and how crazy life was. I see a tree full of memories, reminding me how blessed I am. I hope you have a memory-making Merry Christmas this year!  

Thankful...

I want to thank God for his love for us, especially his love demonstrated though Jesus Christ.  That even in my rebellious sin, he saved me. Not because of any thing that I had done or by any worth on my own, but because of his love and mercy. Through Jesus Christ my sins are forgiven because he paid the penalty of my sin by dying on the cross, and through Jesus Christ, I can stand before God as righteous because he has applied the righteousness of Christ to me.

I want to thank God for my wonderful wife who loves and cares for me and our family. She is an example of a godly woman, full of grace, love, and hospitality.  She is one of the hardest workers I know. She both encourages me and challenges me.  She sees my faults and loves me anyway. She is my partner in ministry. She laughs at my jokes (most of the time). She is my best friend.  Thank you, Laurie. You are an image of Christ to me.

I want to thank God for my four beautiful boys.  J1, J2, J3 & J4.  I cannot imagine what my life would be like without them. (Well, quieter and calmer, I suppose, but certainly not as fun!) I am thankful that they are my sons, but also thankful that I am their dad. Fatherhood is a responsibility that consistently stares back at me challenging me to be a better man, and I'm thankful for that.

I want to thank God for giving me the ministry of being a pastor. I am thankful for Evangel Baptist Church in Taylor, MI, where I first knew God was leading me to be a pastor and for the opportunities to experiment with my gifts for ministry. (Thank you Bud, I miss you my friend.) I am thankful for First Baptist of Flat Rock where a handful of teens called me pastor for the first time. I am thankful for Ridgewood Baptist in Wadsworth OH, where Laurie and I first served side by side as a married couple. I am thankful for South Baptist in Flint, where for 10 years God gave me a fruitful ministry to teens, where I grew through ups and downs, where I fell in love with wilderness, where our family tripled in size, where I forged deep friendships in the trenches, and where God prepared me to be where I am today. I am thankful for Solid Rock, where I have seen the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ take root and begin to open eyes and change hearts, where I have had to rely on God more than ever, where daily I feel the weight of responsibility of being a shepherd, where my faith has grown, where I get to boldly proclaim the Word of God every week, where I'm beginning to find my own voice and style in preaching, where I'm ever-encouraged by the support and participation in new ideas (Good Friday Service, wilderness, Lake Ann, Biblical Counseling, etc.), and where I know God has great things in store for our future.

I am thankful for many other things and people as well, but I'll save that for another time.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

“How do you pick what to preach on?”

Someone asked me recently “How do you pick what to preach on?  Is there a calendar or a website that tell you? How do you know what your messages are supposed to be?”

It’s a valid question. Much of what a pastor does is a mystery to many, so I thought I would take the opportunity to share with you what goes into picking a message series.

First, there is the idea of a series.  I do not like, what I call, “hit and run” messages. I like to be in a series of messages for a few reasons. One, there is often too much information to cram into one message that it requires multiple Sundays. Two, I like the idea of giving each message in the context of other messages, so if someone missed last week, they haven’t missed everything on that topic or passage. Three, I can’t imagine having to come up with fresh topics, passages, or ideas every week. Being in a series lets me know where I’m going next. I like to have my preaching plan laid out for about 6 months.  I don’t have all the messages written, but I know generally on what topic or from what passage I’ll be speaking.  For example, I know what I’m going to preach on through June 2014.

So how do I choose what I’m going to preach on?  Well, it is a combination of factors to consider…

First I look at the needs of the church. Is there some bit of truth that they need a better understanding of?  Is there a challenge coming in the future that they need preparation for?  Is there some action they need to take or behavior they need to change? In what areas of Scripture or doctrine do they need to be fed?   However, I will not do, what I call, “manage from the pulpit.” This means that I won’t preach a message to address one person’s comment or behavior, or react to rumors through the Sunday sermon. There are times when it is appropriate to switch something up at the last minute due to major cultural or news events, or a significant crisis or circumstance in the church, but for the most part, it is best to plan your work, then work the plan.

I also consider what I’ve been learning.  Either through my own personal study of God’s Word, a book I’m reading, sermon I listen to, or conference I attend, I always like to preach something that is both meaningful and impacting to me personally.

Lastly, I listen.  I listen to what people are saying in the church to get a sense of the need, I listen to people I’ve asked to critique my preaching and I listen for God’s leading. I don’t listen for God with my ears as much as with my spirit. Through prayer, silence and much thought, I settle on a plan for the next preaching series.

What would you like to hear/study in a Sunday or Wednesday message?

"Thanks for taking time out of your schedule, Pastor..."

One of my loves as a Pastor is the opportunity to help people with real issues in their lives.  It could be helping a married couple that is going through a difficult time, or a person struggling with a certain gripping sin in their life.  Whatever the issue, I get to apply the Word of God to their life. God’s Word has the key to healthy relationships, victory over sin, a life filled with joy, and in general God’s design for our lives.

 Unlike the ever-changing world of psychology and secular counseling, the Bible is unchanging. Though being written thousands of years ago, it speaks throughout all generations to the very best way for humanity to live and interact. In fact, that is one of the reasons I believe in the Divine authorship of the Bible. Only the Creator of humanity would know how they would best function in all time and situations.

 James chapter 1 refers to the Bible as a mirror. It allows us to see blemishes and blind spots and then shows us how to correct it.  It teaches us the root of sin is found in our own hearts and points us to the forgiving, delivering, transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 After I attended the Biblical Counseling Training Conference at Faith Church, in Lafayette, IN, my confidence in the Bible’s ability to address issues and my ability to apply it to people’s lives greatly increased. I’m looking forward to attending again in February with Laurie. In fact, I am hoping that others from Solid Rock with join us. We (Solid Rock) are so committed to the value of Biblical counseling and its potential to impact our church and our community that we (Solid Rock) are willing to cover the cost of the conference ($445) for anyone that wants to go. (Each will have to cover their own cost of lodging, food, and travel.) For more information on the conference click here.

 But that’s not really what this post is about.  I love the opportunity to help people through counseling. However, many times, probably most of the time, after I am done meeting with someone they say, “Thanks for taking time out of your schedule, Pastor”

I’m not taking time out of my schedule, this is my schedule. I wish I had more meetings like these in my schedule (there certainly is no shortage of problems, struggles, and issues).  So please, let this be an invitation to any and all who read this, it is not a burden for me to meet with you and minister to you with the Word of God, it is a joy.

What are we Doing with Kids?

Over the past few months I've been able to observe, talk with leaders, research, pray over, and evaluate our kids ministry. Solid Rock has had a long history of good kids ministry. What I found were loving, faithful leaders who give of their time and energy to teach and care for kids. I found a commitment to teaching the kids about God and his love for us and a desire for kids to have fun! Needless to say, I was generally pleased with what I found. But, as we move forward, I felt it was time to clarify exactly what we are trying to accomplish with the elementary children--not only for ourselves, but for parents and the rest of the church too. So we came up with a list.  A list of goals or marks or checkpoints for our ministry. They are divided into two parts: what we will do and what we won't do. I though I would share them with you...

In the Kids Ministry at Solid Rock

We will…

Teach the kids who God is and what He’s done for us through Jesus

Teach the kids how they should respond to who God is and what He’s done for us through Jesus

Teach the kids what the Gospel is and how it affects their life

Use the Bible as our main source of teaching content

Ensure kids feel loved and safe

Create an atmosphere of fun and excitment so kids desire to return

Set an example for the kids to follow by our life and testimony

Support, encourage, and equip parents to be the spiritual guides at home

Be good stewards of the gifts God has given and prepare well for our ministry responsibilities

Glorify God in all we do

We won't…

Expose kids to sin or worldliness

Jeopardize the emotional, physical, or spiritual health/safety of the kids.

Stop short and only teach the kids principles or rules to follow.

It's still a work in progress, but I am excited for what the future will bring as we focus on these.

Book Recommendation: What is the Gospel, by Greg Gilbert

Book Recommendation: What is the Gospel, by Greg Gilbert

About six months ago I led the men of Solid Rock to read and discuss this small (120 pages) book by Greg Gilbert. For 7 weeks we read a chapter, highlighted parts and came together to discuss what we were learning.  Even though the group was made up of mostly long-time believers in Jesus, this book proved to have a great impact on our understanding of who God is and what He has done for us thought Jesus.

In my years of ministry I, like the author, have heard many different attempts to explain God's means of salvation of man, or the Gospel.

...many Christians would answer with something far short of what the Bible holds out as "the gospel of Jesus Christ." Maybe they'd answer, "the gospel is that God will forgive your sins if you believe in him." Or they'd say something like, "The good news is that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." Or, "The gospel is that you are a child of God, and God wants his children to be abundantly successful in every way." Some would know that it's important to say something about Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection, but then again, how does all that fit in?

An Important Question...

The Gospel is not just for unbelievers or for children or baby Christians, but it is foundational. "It's what we intend to found our lives upon and build churches around" Getting it right is of crucial importance. So how does Gilbert answer the question he poses?  The way the Bible answers it.

Gilbert outlines four vital components of the Gospel. To explain the Gospel leaving out one or more of these is to not communicate the Gospel.

God: God is not Santa Clause or our personal genie in a bottle obeying our prayer commands. Nor is He the old senile Grandpa type who is kind and will give us an inheritance one day.  God is our Creator.  He gave us life and breath.  Creation answers to Creator... we answer to God.  In that relationship God is our Judge.

Man: We don't like that.  We like to talk about rights, freedom, and liberty.  We don't want to answer to anyone, we want autonomy!  Perhaps we desire those because we know that we have rejected God.  We have walked away from His design, His intention, His law and done it Our way. This is not just a breaking of moral rules, it is a rejection of God Himself. This act of divine treason comes with no small price. Death--physical and spiritual.

Christ: "The Bible is the story of God's counteroffensive against sin" God saw us on our rebellious state, enslaved by sin, and following after it's unsatisfying pleasures...and He did something about it. That's right, the King set out to rescue the rebels. God entered into humanity (the same way you and I did), he was born as the God-man Jesus Christ. Being human he lived our life, but without rebellion.  Being God, he was perfect. On a cross and at the hands of his own creation He died a human death in our place.  As God He paid the debt of treason--He became the perfect sacrifice for sins finally. This is the Good News...

Response: ...but only if you and I can get in on it. Is the payment for sins available to me? Can Jesus' payment be applied to my account? If so, how?  God requires a response of faith.  Genuine faith that saves us from judgment and wrath is a turning to Jesus, away from sin, and trusting that Jesus is the only means of escaping the penalty of sin.

God. Man. Christ. Response.

Gilbert takes a complex subject and simplifies it while retaining all of the the power and influence that the Gospel contains.  I highly recommend this book for anyone. Whether you are searching or have been walking with Jesus for many years, this will be of great encouragement and benefit.

Doctrine Matters

Why spend 11 weeks preaching about doctrine? People are coming to church, not a seminary class!

We are in our eighth week in our series DOCTRINE: What the Bible Teaches, What We Believe.  So far, we have covered God's Revelation to us, God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), Spiritual gifts, the Church, Man and Sin.  This week we will study Salvation.  I am very pleased with how it is going. It has given me the opportunity to summarize my study of scripture and theology into several succinct "We believe..." statements. These statements will eventually become the doctrinal agreement for all members of Solid Rock. 

Furthermore, it has given me the opportunity to really dive deep into these areas of doctrine and show how they all fit together into the greater Gospel Story. Also, it has given me a chance to answer questions from the people of Solid Rock.  On our final Sunday of the DOCTRINE series I will be answering questions that have been submitted.  Here is just a sample of what I've received so far...

• Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship and serve the same God?

• Does God have our lives all planned out?

• How could a loving God send people to hell?

• Is the method of Baptism really important (immersion vs. sprinkling vs. pouring)?

I am excited to answer these and other questions on that day. But more that all those reasons I am excited and committed to teaching sound doctrine, because I believe doctrine matters.

Knowing Doctrine Keeps you Grounded

Ephesians 4:14 instructs us to grow in our knowledge so we will "no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching [doctrine] and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming." having an understanding of what the Bible teaches about doctrine or theology equips the Christian to distinguish between truth and error. We are constantly bombarded with philosophies and ideologies [doctrine] from movies, TV, publications, ads, conversations, even our own sin natures. The Christian with a firm understanding of true, sound, Biblical doctrine will be able to quickly reject the false teaching and reinforce the truth in their heart.

Sloppy Theology Leads to Sloppy Living

Our behavior and the choices we make are a direct outgrowth from what we believe. If we believe that God is good and trustworthy, we will trust Him. If not, we will doubt and choose our own way. If we believe that through Jesus we are completely forgiven and set free from sin, we will walk in freedom, confidence, and peace. If not, we will walk in guilt, shame, and doubt. Doctrine matters because it has a direct impact on how we live and the choices we make.

I hope that you have been able to join us for the Doctrine series. If not you can catch up what you missed by going to www.solidrockbc.com and clicking on the "Listen Online" icon toward the bottom.

Are You the Boss of This Church?

"Daddy, are you the boss of this church?"

The question came innocently from my 4 year old son. My boys know I'm a pastor, and they know that I work at the church, but they are still figuring out just what it is that I do as a pastor. Hence, the question...

It was a good question. A question that I have to ask myself. As a new solo pastor of a relatively small church, I had found myself over the past few months making several executive decisions, and seeing many changes take place.  People looked to me for direction, answers, permission, and approval. Does that make me the boss?

"No, Jesus is... and I work for Him",  I replied.

The answer seemed to satisfy my son, but does it satisfy us?  What does it really mean that Jesus is the boss of this (and the) church?  Scripture says clearly:

Colossians 1:18 "And he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church..."

Matthew 16:18 "...I [Jesus] will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

But what does that look like nearly 2000 years later? Here are some thoughts.

Keep the Word at the Forefront of the Ministry

To acknowledge Jesus as the Head (or "boss") of the church is to faithfully present His Word. John 1:1 & 14 reveals that Jesus is the Word incarnate. Keeping the Word at the forefront of the ministry puts Jesus in His rightful spot at Head. Following the Word in our governance and operations submits to Jesus as Head. Looking to the Word for wisdom and guidance acknowledges Jesus as boss. When we think that we have a better solution, a more relevant approach, or a less offensive method we diminish Jesus' Headship in our church. 

Give them Jesus

Too often people who come to church walk away with something other than (and less than) Jesus. They might leave with a slick four-step plan to better their life, or a sense of awe in the pastor's ability to communicate, or how smart he is. They might leave uplifted by the music... but without Jesus it is all empty.  Jesus makes the difference in people's lives. We don't need to  try to make Jesus look better. We don't need to accessorize Jesus with popular psychology. We don't need to hook people with current entertainment trends and slip in a little "Jesus" when their not expecting it. Any such attempt would be to deny his Headship and strip Him of His authority over and in the church.  We need to give them Jesus, straight up.

"No, I'm not the boss of this church, Jesus is, and I work for Him"