Matt.5:1-2) "When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying:"
Last Saturday we began a new chapter in the life of Pleasant Hill Baptist church, as men. We began meeting to study God's Word, pray, and time for a light breakfast! I know in the past there has been other pastors who has set out in such an adventure. As a pastor meeting with our men and praying is a "giant" step I believe in the right direction for the Lord's church at Pleasant Hill. I believe this will strengthen the men of the church spiritually and thus, strengthen their homes and ultimately strengthen the church as a whole.
All through the New Testament you see and read of Jesus pouring Himself into other men. Lets face it, rarely did Jesus teach a "large" assembly of believers. He (Jesus) faithfully taught other men who were able to teach other men (2 Tim.2:2). Jesus sets forth the bar for all leaders especially pastors to follow in disciplining God's people. My desire for PHBC is to be a church which is built on the solid foundation of the Word of God and it must begin with our men.
Last week we had a total of 4 men and a pre-teen to show up for our time together. We stated our goal is to take the book of Romans and read one chapter a week and to meditate on it several times. We are going to write down our observations, our thoughts, and most importantly how this applies to us as men. We have a few more men who are planning on coming tomorrow. Lord's willing it will be a good way to begin our day in the Word of God with some of God's people. I am looking forward to our time together.Until the next time "look unto Christ the author and finisher of our faith!"
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
"Discipleship 101" (pt.1)
2 Timothy 2:2 "and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and forgiven of all your sins. When God brings a person to the genuine knowledge of his sins and then reveals to him it was all of His grace it causes him to truly worship the Creator of the universe. When the individual sees that God has led him to repentance and faith it causes him to see there was absolutely nothing he did to earn this forgiveness in Christ (repentance and faith are both gifts from God). When a person is saved it is purely from the graciousness of the Lord and for His sovereign purpose.
Unlike salvation, after one is forgiven and has been born again that person has a responsibility to "grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)." I believe this is one of the chief failures of the local church today. I see we get alot of numbers and people who profess to know Christ but is the church disciplining these "new" believers or "old" believers as far as that goes? Often we boast in the numbers of baptisms and additions to the church but where do they go? Why can we not find them a month later, a year later, or 5 years later? Why is our churches full of people who has sat in the pews for years and never has been challenged to "grow in their faith?"
I have been a pastor for 6 years now. I have served two local churches and have been blessed by both in my ministry. I have been burdened as a pastor of how I can pour my life into the church, primarily through the men of the church. If you look at the ministry of Jesus, he was constantly pouring His life in the men he had with him. Jesus knew he was going to depart from these men and He knew they would pave the way for the continuance of the local church. Day after day, Jesus taught, prayed and discipled these men. As I look at the local church today we do not have much of this anymore (a pastor pouring his life into the men). I know personally, I never had anyone to pour themselves into my spiritual life and encourage me to grow to be a leader of the Lord's church.
I tell our people, "the church will only be as strong as the men of the church." That is the reason I am beginning to meet with our men this coming Saturday morning. We will meet for a very pointed time of bible study, prayer, and accountability. I am convinced men in pray and their bible is the way Christ will grow His church. As the church grows spiritually God will take care of the numbers. These men are not required to come, only if they have a desire to come.
I thought what a blessing it would be to the church for them to know there were spiritually minded men coming together to pray and study God's word together on a weekly basis. What an encouragement to the church to know that we got men who love the Word of God and knows God will not bless His church or His people apart from the Word of God. As the pastor of the church, I am excited to be allowed the privilege to disciple these and prayerfully them disciple me.
I believe for the church to get where she needs to be we must start with the men of the church. I look forward to our time together this Saturday morning with these men. I will post again to let everyone know how it goes. Please do pray for our time together.
There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and forgiven of all your sins. When God brings a person to the genuine knowledge of his sins and then reveals to him it was all of His grace it causes him to truly worship the Creator of the universe. When the individual sees that God has led him to repentance and faith it causes him to see there was absolutely nothing he did to earn this forgiveness in Christ (repentance and faith are both gifts from God). When a person is saved it is purely from the graciousness of the Lord and for His sovereign purpose.
Unlike salvation, after one is forgiven and has been born again that person has a responsibility to "grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)." I believe this is one of the chief failures of the local church today. I see we get alot of numbers and people who profess to know Christ but is the church disciplining these "new" believers or "old" believers as far as that goes? Often we boast in the numbers of baptisms and additions to the church but where do they go? Why can we not find them a month later, a year later, or 5 years later? Why is our churches full of people who has sat in the pews for years and never has been challenged to "grow in their faith?"
I have been a pastor for 6 years now. I have served two local churches and have been blessed by both in my ministry. I have been burdened as a pastor of how I can pour my life into the church, primarily through the men of the church. If you look at the ministry of Jesus, he was constantly pouring His life in the men he had with him. Jesus knew he was going to depart from these men and He knew they would pave the way for the continuance of the local church. Day after day, Jesus taught, prayed and discipled these men. As I look at the local church today we do not have much of this anymore (a pastor pouring his life into the men). I know personally, I never had anyone to pour themselves into my spiritual life and encourage me to grow to be a leader of the Lord's church.
I tell our people, "the church will only be as strong as the men of the church." That is the reason I am beginning to meet with our men this coming Saturday morning. We will meet for a very pointed time of bible study, prayer, and accountability. I am convinced men in pray and their bible is the way Christ will grow His church. As the church grows spiritually God will take care of the numbers. These men are not required to come, only if they have a desire to come.
I thought what a blessing it would be to the church for them to know there were spiritually minded men coming together to pray and study God's word together on a weekly basis. What an encouragement to the church to know that we got men who love the Word of God and knows God will not bless His church or His people apart from the Word of God. As the pastor of the church, I am excited to be allowed the privilege to disciple these and prayerfully them disciple me.
I believe for the church to get where she needs to be we must start with the men of the church. I look forward to our time together this Saturday morning with these men. I will post again to let everyone know how it goes. Please do pray for our time together.
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