The Next Step

In this life we will never reach maximum spiritual maturity. We will never reach 100% Christ-likeness. But that is our goal. That means that a key aspect of the Christian life is growth -- growing in Christ-likeness; becoming more and more like Jesus in how we think and in how we act.

Growth involves a series of next steps. In order to grow, through the power of the Holy Spirit we must take the next step. Then we take the next step and the next and on and on. So growth continues. So here is a question we need to ask often: What next step(s) do I need to take?

In my prayer life, what is the next step to grow deeper and closer to the Lord in prayer? In Bible study, what is the next step to gain more knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures? In service, what is the next step to serving more selflessly and more effectively? In witnessing, what is the next step to more consistently sharing the gospel with those who are missing Jesus? In worship, what is the next step to more thoroughly demonstrating praise and thanksgiving to God? In loving others, what is the next step to more purely expressing God's grace and mercy?

In every area of the Christian life, what is the next step I need to take? With God's help and the encouragement of one another, let's determine to take that step!

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church: Summary

Quote from the 9Marks website: In identifying and promoting these nine marks, we are not intending to lay down an exhaustive or authoritative list. There are other significant marks of healthy churches, like prayer and fellowship. We want to pursue those ourselves as well, and we want you to pursue them with us. But these nine are the ones we think are most neglected in most local churches today, with the most damaging ramifications. Join us in cultivating churches that reflect the character of God.

For further discussion click here to go to the 9Marks website. Let us hear your comments.

Mark #9 of a Healthy Church: Biblical Understanding of Leadership

What eighteenth-century Baptists and Presbyterians often agreed upon was that there should be a plurality of elders in each local church. This plurality of elders is not only biblical, but practical — it has the immense benefit of rounding out the pastor’s gifts to ensure the proper shepherding of God’s church.

For a discussion of this topic click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Mark #8 of a Healthy Church: Promotion of Christian Discipleship and Growth

A pervasive concern with church growth exists today – not simply with growing numbers, but with growing members. Though many Christians measure other things, the only certain observable sign of growth is a life of increasing holiness, rooted in Christian self-denial. These concepts are nearly extinct in the modern church. Recovering true discipleship for today would build the church and promote a clearer witness to the world.

For a discussion of this topic click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Mark #7 of a Healthy Church: Biblical Church Discipline

Church discipline gives parameters to church membership. The idea seems negative to people today – “didn’t our Lord forbid judging?” But if we cannot say how a Christian should not live, how can we say how he or she should live? Each local church actually has a biblical responsibility to judge the life and teaching of its leaders, and even of its members, particularly insofar as either could compromise the church’s witness to the gospel.

For a discussion of Biblical Church Discipline click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Mark #6 of a Healthy Church: Biblical Understanding of Membership

Membership should reflect a living commitment to a local church in attendance, giving, prayer and service; otherwise it is meaningless, worthless, and even dangerous. We should not allow people to keep their membership in our churches for sentimental reasons or lack of attention. To be a member is knowingly to be traveling together as aliens and strangers in this world as we head to our heavenly home.

For discussion of the Biblical Understanding of Membership click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Mark #5 of a Healthy Church: Biblical Understanding of Evangelism

How someone shares the gospel is closely related to how he understands the gospel. To present it as an additive that gives non-Christians something they naturally want (i.e. joy or peace) is to present a half-truth, which elicits false conversions. The whole truth is that our deepest need is spiritual life, and that new life only comes by repenting of our sins and believing in Jesus. We present the gospel openly, and leave the converting to God.

For discussion of the Biblical Understanding of Evangelism click here to go to the 9Marks website.

God Breaks In to Save

God does what only He can do, when and how He chooses to do it. Many of us were reminded of this awesome reality Sunday morning during our 9 AM worship service. As I was about to begin the third point of my three point sermon I noticed out of the corner of my eye someone coming toward me. As I looked I saw a young man almost to the platform. My voice had been a little scratchy, so the only thing I could think of was that he must be bringing me a cough drop or something of the sort. I wasn't sure what to do so I said something like, "Buddy, what do you need?" What he said let me know immediately this was a holy moment. He said, "I need to ask Jesus into my heart." I guess the Spirit let me know immediately that this was genuine conviction and we just needed to stop the service and welcome this young man into the Kingdom. I invited him up on the platform and he prayed to ask Christ to forgive his sin, save his soul, and be his Lord. The congregation erupted in applause as he returned to his seat.

It was one of the most unusual things that has ever happened in the middle of one of my sermons, but also probably the most awesome moment I have been a part of during one of my sermons. We somehow went on to finish the sermon, but the message had already been preached, and I certainly wasn't the one who preached it.

It was just amazing to experience God breaking into the normal routine to do the supernatural. God spoke to this young man, calling him from spiritual death to eternal life. He simply responded to that call in repentance and faith. God allowed us to be a witness to it.

Father, thank you for reminding us so vividly of Your presence. Thank you for a new soul in the Kingdom. Thank you for breaking into our routine. Please break in as often as You would like. We thank you for doing what only You can do. In Jesus' saving name, amen.

Mark #4 of a Healthy Church: Biblical Understanding of Conversion

The spiritual change each person needs is so radical, so near the root of us, that only God can do it. We need God to convert us. Conversion need not be an emotionally heated experience, but it must evidence itself in godly fruit if it is to be what the Bible regards as a true conversion.

For discussion of a Biblical Understanding of Conversion click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Mark #3 of a Healthy Church: Biblical Understanding of the Good News

The gospel is the heart of Christianity. But the good news is not that God wants to meet people's felt needs or help them develop a healthier self-image. We have sinfully rebelled against our Creator and Judge. Yet He has graciously sent His Son to die the death we deserved for our sin, and He has credited Christ's acquittal to those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus' death and resurrection. That is the good news.

For discussion of a Biblical Understanding of the Good News click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Mark #2 of a Healthy Church: Biblical Theology

Paul charges Titus to "teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Our concern should be not only with how we are taught, but with what we are taught. Biblical theology is a commitment to know the God of the Bible as He has revealed Himself in Scripture.

For discussion of Biblical Theology click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Mark #1 of a Healthy Church: Expositional Preaching

This is preaching which expounds what Scripture says in a particular passage, carefully explaining its meaning and applying it to the congregation. It is a commitment to hearing God’s Word and to recovering the centrality of it in our worship.

For more about Mark #1 - Expositional Preaching click here to go to the 9Marks website.

Note: You may not agree with everything Pastor Dever says as we go through these nine marks of healthy churches, but it's great food for thought and consideration. This material should cause us to wrestle with what we believe and why.

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

Mark Dever is the pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. He asks the following questions: Have you ever considered what it means for a church to be healthy? Have you ever thought about how that health is nurtured and sustained? If so, have you reflected on why you answer those questions the way you do? In response to these questions Pastor Dever has written a book entitled Nine Marks of a Healthy Church and developed a ministry called 9Marks. He goes on to say: Contrary to much popular wisdom, we think that God has spoken clearly in the Bible regarding the purpose, leadership, organization, and methods of the local church. So we want to challenge you to join us in reconsidering the clarity of God's Word when it comes to the healthy growth of local congregations. We believe God designed the church to be fundamentally a display of His own glory and wisdom (Eph 3:10). And we think He has deliberately structured that display in the shape of a loving community that illustrates for a watching world the close fellowship of the Trinity and the redemption that He has accomplished for us in Christ Jesus (John 13:34-35).

Pastor Dever describes the purpose of 9Marks this way: Our goal is not simply to point out all the problems with the church; nor do we intend to suggest a fresh approach to "doing church". In fact, there is nothing really new or innovative here at all. Rather, our goal is to point the way back to healthy church life by calling attention to the timeless Biblical priorities, principles, and methods that God has ordained for the maturity of the local church - God’s work, God’s way. Whether you read as a concerned member or as a vocational pastor, we hope that what you discover here is not just a plug-and-play method, but a God-centered mindset.

I certainly want our church to be faithful in doing God's work God's way, don't you? Over the next several days (or blog posts, as a new post may not come everyday) we will take a closer look at the nine characteristics of a healthy church as described by Pastor Dever. Please feel free to read ahead by going to the 9Marks website.

Sunday Night Worship

I would like your input regarding our Sunday night services at First Baptist Petal. (If you are not an attender of FBP, please feel free to comment regarding your feelings about Sunday night worship services.) Here are a few facts in case you don't know. Our PM service is different in content from our AM services. By that I mean the songs we sing and the message that is preached on Sunday nights are different from the music and message on Sunday mornings. (Some churches now have a repeat of Sunday morning on Sunday night.) Year to date, our average attendance on Sunday night has been 34, compared to 227 on Sunday mornings. That means that roughly 15% of our Sunday morning folks show up on Sunday night. (If you'll allow me some commentary, by almost any measurement that's not a good percentage.) Time and effort are put in by the staff in preparing for Sunday night -- it's not just shoot from the hip.

What are your thoughts about this? Do you consistently attend Sunday PM worship? If so, why? If not, why not? If Sunday night is not a part of your usual schedule, are there any changes that if made would cause you to become a Sunday night participant? Is Sunday night pretty much a "dead" time for worship services? Should we designate Sunday nights as a time for small groups and family rather than coming to the church building? Do you think that a Sunday night worship service is the very best use of our time and energy? Would you say that we need to just stay the course as is?

By asking these kinds of questions I do not mean to imply that those who show up on Sunday nights are not important. Of course they (you) are. The staff is not trying to get out of work. We're pretty much wide open either way. We just want what is best and don't want to be blinded by tradition or habit. If Sunday PM worship services are what God wants (which means the very best) then let's carry on full steam ahead!

Again, you input is needed. Let me know what you think.

Loving the World

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

1 John 2:15-16 (ESV)

A potentially painful, but critically important question we as Christ-followers need to ask often is, "Do I love the world?" Never before in history has there been so many temptations to worldliness. And because of the bombardment, we are susceptible to falling in love with the world.

You may have heard the song "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns. The words speak of the slippery slope toward love for the world:

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

I fear that we have become desensitized to the lure of the world and the ungodliness around us. Just think for a moment about the entertainment world. Who and what do we invite into our homes via the airwaves? What kind of language is involved? What about immorality and blatant sexuality and extreme violence? It's the world, isn't it? Most of it is certainly not of God.

Sometimes we deceive ourselves by saying things like, "Well, I can watch that stuff and it doesn't affect me." Not true according to Scripture. We need to be very careful about what we "feed" our minds and hearts. We need to "feed" our love for God and "starve" our love for the world. Philippians 4:8 (ESV) should be our guide: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Partnership in the Gospel

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you...because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3, 5 ESV)

In the radically individualistic culture in which we live, we tend to forget that we need each other in order to most effectively take the gospel to the world. Going at the Great Commission alone, either as individual Christ-followers and/or individual churches, will not reach the world, nor is it what God intends. We need to partner together. If the greatest missionary ever, the apostle Paul, needed partners how much more do we!

The Missions Mobilization department of the Mississippi Baptist State Convention, under the direction and leadership of Ken Rhodes, is doing an outstanding job of helping Mississippi Baptist churches partner with churches, associations, and missionaries around the world in taking the glorious good news to the lost. The goal is for churches from our state to partner with at least one work internationally and one nationally.

With Ken's and his staff's help, the youth ministry of First Baptist Petal, led by our Student Pastor Rocky Pugh, has adopted an unreached people group in Southeast Asia and has entered into a partnership with those who are on the field trying to reach them. In April I hope to travel to a meeting of the Frontier Baptist Association in western New York state to investigate partnership possibilities in that part of the U.S.

I strongly encourage you to get involved in missions partnerships. Contact Ken for more information. Also, we invite you and your church, association, and/or group to network with First Baptist Petal in the areas of work we are currently pursuing. Please don't hesitate to contact us about this most important of all endeavors -- taking to the world the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Bible Totin'

I'm not sure if it's a trend or not. I have no scientific data. I haven't taken an official poll. But my "feeling" is (pastors get "feelings" every now and then) too many people do not bring their Bibles when they come to church events. Primarily I'm thinking about worship services. If they do bring them, it seems that too many aren't looking at them during the message time. As I read from the Scriptures I will occasionally look up at the congregation and I see far too many people looking at me and not at their Bible.

There is much to be said for putting your own eyes on the text. For one thing, simply reading along helps you remember. We forget almost all of what we hear. But when we add seeing to hearing our retention gets much better. After all, what is the message about anyway? It's about God's word.

I'm convinced this is not a minor issue. We need to be Bible totin' Christ-followers. Not just for show, but because the Bible is the very word of God. What better companion could you have with you? Get in the habit of carrying your Bible with you, especially to any and all church functions (worship services, committee meetings, small group, fellowships, etc.). I also recommend taking it with you to other places as well (like work). In the least it can be a great conversation starter.

If you're wondering about what translation, I can recommend the English Standard Version (or ESV for short). It's the version that I use to study and preach from. It's very reliable and faithful to the original manuscripts. (Remember that when the Bible was first written down it was not written in King James English.)

We Baptists claim to be "people of the Book." Let's be just that. Let's be Bible totin' folk. And even more importantly, let's be Bible believing and Bible obeying folk.