Pastor's Newsletter
March 2010
Birth of a
Ministry
On Valentine’s Day we saw the birth of a new
ministry. More than
twenty children and adults from our church (along with a few guests)
went down the road to visit, sing, and pass out gifts and snacks to
the residents of Berwick Estates.
It was an enjoyable afternoon.
By important measures, the afternoon was a
success. Residents were
remembered and cared for.
New friendships may have started (my son has an open
invitation to join Val for a game of chess).
Young children practiced service as they brought food and
gifts to each table. We
increased our relationship with the local assisted living home.
Friends who do not attend our worship service also joined
this event. We even
shared the Good News through hymns that celebrate God’s love.
Those who ministered received as much as those who were
served.
I want to use this ministry as an example of how
ministries can begin in our church.
To understand the birth of this ministry, we need to look
back at its conception and gestation.
Perhaps I sometimes go
overboard in my newsletter analogies.
Conception
The concept for this ministry came out of a small
group. This is one of
the best places for new ministries to start.
A small group instantly becomes the team which provides
support, encouragement, and the variety of gifts needed to
successfully start a new ministry.
Notice that the pastor wasn’t needed, nor were any existing
ministry teams.
This ministry came out of the small group
wrestling with material from “The 40 Days of Love.”
Studying God’s Word and saying, “So.
What do we do with this?” is a great way to begin a new ministry.
This ministry also had a leader, someone who felt
called to see it through to completion.
Dawn LaPierre took responsibility for organizing and
coordinating this event.
She had a dozen or more serving with her, but she was the go-to
woman.
Gestation
As the group developed its ideas, they contacted
me to share their plans and seek pastoral advice or direction.
I quickly understood their vision and saw that it fit well
with our church’s desire to serve and grow relationships within our
community. Checking-in
helped to make the ministry a coordinated effort of our church.
Two small groups came behind this event.
Angel Food cakes were baked, supplies were purchased, gifts
were made, and a large core group committed to come on the
fourteenth. As the date
neared, this group made sure that the wider church family was
informed about the event through personal invitations and Sunday
Morning announcements. More
people weren’t needed, but many more were able to join, including children from a
number of families.
Other Examples
This isn’t the only ministry born this way.
Other groups and individuals serve in many ways including
visitation and food pantry.
What is great is that ministries are tailored to people’s
gifts and passions and do not depend on the initiative or gifting of
certain leaders.
An example of this is the upcoming (2nd
Annual) three-on-three basketball tournament started by Gano and
Marcia Adair to raise money for La Romana.
When they suggested this to me last year, I encouraged them
to go ahead even as I thought, “What?!
How in the world will that work?”
It’s nothing I would have decided to do, and I wondered
whether it could be effective.
It turns out it was a successful fundraiser, it gave our
church exposure to a different group in the community, and others
were able to use their skills and gifts to partner with the Adair’s.
Final Thoughts
As you or your small group consider opportunities
for ministry, let me share a few more thoughts.
Prayer:
Go to
God throughout the process…the conception, gestation, and the birth
of the ministry. Prayer
is about us responding to God’s initiative, not asking him to
respond to ours.
Coordination:
If
something is going to be a church ministry it should be started with
the understanding and approval of the pastor.
In most cases this means checking-in with me as you develop
your ministry idea. I
want to be able to support you, pray with you, and link your work
with what others are doing in the church.
Ministries that take significant resources (financial, time,
people) will need greater preparation and coordination.
Gospel Focus:
We are a
church are called to know, live and share the
Good News. This does not
mean that all of our ministries have to include overt sharing about
Jesus Christ. But as
Christians we should look for opportunity to build relationships
that may lead to opportunity to share more about Christ.
However you serve, remember these words, “Always be prepared
to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for
the hope that you have.” [1 Peter 3:15]
Small is fine:
If you or your small group have a
vision of a new ministry, it may make sense to start small.
It is okay to start with one
or two and wait and pray to see if God directs more to join.
Many of the “super-ministries” that we read about (Celebrate
Recovery, MOPS, VBS, etc.) started small and grew over time.
“Failure”:
Did the ministry seem to flop?
Did no one show up?
Did it start big and fizzle fast?
Were you prepared to share and no one came to listen?
That’s okay! I
hate to feel like something I have done has “failed” but I have
begun to understand that not everything will feel like a success.
The first small group I led in college had an average
attendance of one and some weeks there were none.
It was hard, but God used it to humble and grow me and make
me a better leader in the future.
And just because something didn’t “work” doesn’t mean God
didn’t want it to be done.
We learn from “failures.”
Sometimes a ministry grows greatly the second or third time
it is tried because of the lessons learned in the past.
There are literally thousands of ministry
opportunities. We can’t
do everything, so how do we decide what God wants us to do?
As you grow in your relationship with God, continue to ask
him (as an individual, as a small group) how he wants you to serve.
Look at existing ministries and consider if he wants you to
start something new.
Looking forward, Pastor Travis
February 2010
The seminary I
attended, Gordon-Conwell, is not affiliated with any specific
Christian denomination.
However it is “pro-denominational,” meaning it recognizes the
benefits that come with churches joining together to form a larger
organization. One
advantage of being part of a denomination is that it provides a
sense of a wider mission.
Our church is an
American Baptist church, meaning we voluntarily associate with the
5,500 churches (1.3 million
members) that make up The American Baptist Churches, USA.
Probably the most important mission we do together is
supporting international missionaries.
As a wealthy nation with a strong Christian heritage, we have
responsibility to partner with Christians throughout the world by
sharing the Good News and serving those most in need.
Before the January
earthquake in Haiti , we already had two missionary families active
in that country along with many other missionaries in the
surrounding area. These
missionaries are currently on the ground coordinating efforts to
bring medical care and food to survivors.
They are providing leadership and spiritual help to the
Haitians who have lost so much as well as to those who have arrived
to help.
With our contacts
in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, we have been able to send our
financial gifts where they are needed most.
And our missionaries in the Caribbean will still be serving
after the world’s attention turns away from Haiti.
In the years to come we will still have opportunity to send
aid to this devastated country.
And because we have missionaries on the ground, some of you
will have an opportunity to travel to that region of the world to
share the compassion of Christ first hand.
Eight (or more)
members of our congregation have taken part in building the Good
Samaritan Hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic.
This same hospital and its staff are coordinating teams who
are now traveling to Haiti to provide food, medical care, and
spiritual help to a devastated people.
We really are a part of the
mission in Haiti.
Thank you for
sending over $1,100 in January through our special offering.
But please do not stop with this financial help.
I encourage you to also take on the real work of prayer.
Stay informed about those who are serving.
Learn about the needs of the church in Haiti, and pray daily.
Our church
web-site [www.fbcsouthberwick.org] will continue to have updates,
and we will try to have information available in Sunday morning
handouts as well.
I close with an
excerpt from an e-mail written February 1st by Bob
Beaumont, a retired American Baptist pastor from Maine.
He was involved with food distribution, but they kept running
into problems as crowds surrounded their truck and it became too
dangerous to continue the work.
Bob’s experience reminds us of the real tragedy of the
situation and the great needs that will be present for months to
come:
We tried again that night but sensing the inability for the truck to
exit in a quick way distribution was aborted.
Early on Saturday morning we were again summoned for
distribution. … I
decided not the handle the boxes on this day since I was the only
“blanc” present. … I met
another man, Stanley, who spoke English and was a Haitian who had
come to give some assistance.
… A Haitian woman
came up to me speaking Creole and I said, “No Creole.”
She said “I speak a little English.”
I thought I heard her say she had lost a child in the quake
but Stanley standing close by said she had lost three children in
the earth quake. I put
my arm around her with an attempt to comfort her.
At first she cried and spoke in Creole.
I could feel her pain so I put both arms around her and held
her close to me. She
began crying louder and louder as the wails of grief flowed from
her. I attempted to speak words of comfort to her as she rocked back
and forth in agony.
After what seemed like a long time she stopped and took from around
her waist a printed cloth which she held up.
It was one of her daughter’s dresses. She held it up to show
me a hand embroidered name of her child,
“Ernesthe”. Once
more she cried as she saw her name.
That child’s death in a pan-caked building came searing
across my brain. From
her grief she quickly switched to be sure she received food.
I told her I could not give her a box of food right there
because it would not be safe, I assured I would work on seeing she
got a box before we left.
She hung around to be sure I kept to my promise.
Things seemed to go smoothly with a box for each family but
slowly ten then twenty, then fifty people began to crowd the back of
the truck in a matter of seconds.
Suddenly someone said something and within seconds they began
to queue up behind the truck.
One of our team slowly motioned to me to get into the truck.
I got into the truck, started to close the window and saw
that grief stricken mother yelling to me, “You promised me… you
promised me.” The
Haitian driver stepped on the gas and began to plow through the
dozens of people already standing in front of the truck as if to
prevent us from leaving.
As we drove away I could hear that mother’s words ringing in
my ears. Again I cried.
Each of us
standing alone may feel overwhelmed by this tragedy, yet as we come
together we recognize the great resources God has given us.
American Baptists (like many others) are providing financial
help. We have
experienced short-term and long-term missionaries on the ground
leading relief efforts.
We must remember our call to take part in the work of prayer.
Pray to our Heavenly Father for the missionaries.
Pray to our Heavenly Father for the volunteers.
Pray to our Heavenly Father for families who have lost so
much. As we give and as
we and pray, we follow the example of His church throughout history.
To God be the
glory,
Pastor Travis
[Click Here for a series of articles on our American Baptist relationships]
January 2010
In the mid 1500’s a Polish mathematician and astronomer published a book that challenged the commonly held view of an earth-centered universe. Up to this time, astronomers believed that the sun and stars orbited the earth. With careful study of the stars and planets, Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the radical concept that the Earth revolves once daily on its axis and circles the sun along with other planets. This model much better described and predicted the motions of the stars. Even so, his work was resisted strongly. The idea that we are not at the center of the universe was unsettling. Some in the church argued that as God’s greatest creation, we (mankind) must be at the center of it all.
Copernicus’ work so greatly influenced other scientists (Galileo and Newton, for example) that this radical shift in understanding our universe is called “The Copernican Revolution.”
The Copernican Revolution happened centuries ago. Each of us has grown up knowing that the Earth is a small planet orbiting a medium-sized star on the outskirts of one of many billions of galaxies. I think few Christians today are threatened by the idea that God did not place us at the center of the physical universe. We recognize this as a sign of God’s great creative power. Earth not at the center of the universe? I’m okay with that.
We are not so backward to suggest that the Earth must be at the center of the universe. Even so, we are in need of a kind of spiritual “Copernican Revolution.” It is easy (and natural) to fall into the pattern of thinking or acting like we are the center of everything. I’m not implying you think you are more important than God or even other people. I’m not suggesting that, as Christians, we don’t look to the needs of others. I am proposing that we can be so in tune with our own needs, trials, desires, and feelings that we become frustrated when “the universe” does not behave in the manner we desire.
We want relief from our physical pain, we want solutions to our employment struggles; we want peace in (all) our relationships; we want future financial security; we want happy children who make no mistakes in judgment; and healthy parents who avoid the pain of growing old.
I doubt what comes next is a fully accurate description of your thoughts, but can you relate at all to the following words? “God, I’m going to church, I’m serving others, I’m in a small group, I’m reading your word, I’m even trying to diet and exercise. I’m doing what you want me to. Now, why aren’t you taking care of my problems and giving me what I need?” In a way, this is saying, “God, why don’t you revolve around me?”
God knows real peace and joy comes when we recognize we have been created to orbit Him, to be caught in the gravity of his love. [Yes, I’m waxing a bit poetic!]
This is the “secret” to the great truth found
in Romans 8:28-30:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God
foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those
he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified;
those he justified, he also glorified.
All things work “for good” (not “for easy,” not “for comfort,” not even “for happiness”). All things work for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Or to put it another way, when God is the center of our universe (loving and obeying him) we trust he is working good in all things. A God-centered attitude says, “God may not be doing what I want him to do, and I may not see why the “thing” that is happening is good, but I believe he is doing what is best.” And the extraordinary thing is that even though God is the center and we are not, we can celebrate that God knows us, loves us, has a plan for us, and takes every step with us! [Psalm 139!]
Our “model of the universe” doesn’t line up with reality when we think God exists to cater to our needs. However, the correct “model of the universe” (as found in our Bible!) points to the Creator-God who knows, predestines, calls, justifies, and glorifies those who orbit around him. It is natural to want to be the center of the universe; to have a God who orbits around us. By God’s grace we can have a Copernican revolution, to live with God at the center of our universe.
-Pastor Travis
December 2009
Christmas Bells, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Cookies, Christmas Ribbon, Christmas Parade, Christmas Toys, Christmas Vacation, Christmas Shopping, Christmas Nativity, Christmas Rush, Christmas Lists, Christmas Trees, Christmas Wreath, Christmas Bells, Christmas Candy, Christmas Traditions, Christmas Music, Christmas Spirit, Christ, Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Candles, Christmas Santa, Christmas Miracle, Christmas Angel, Christmas Greetings, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Sales, Christmas Cards, Christmas Holly, Christmas Party, Christmas vacation, Christmas Sleigh, Christmas Services, Christmas Fairs, Christmas Shopping, Christmas Traffic, Christmas Pageant, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Stocking.
When you read the above words, did you miss Christ? He’s there, if you look carefully. In the midst of the fun, excitement and traditions of Christmas, a lot of people do “miss Christ.” During this Christmas season, the purpose of our Church remains the same, “Together, helping people Know, Live & Share the Good News.” Perhaps God will use you to help someone slow down enough to see Christ this Christmas season. Is there someone you can invite to join you at church in December? We have “invitation postcards” available at church for you to hand deliver or send in the mail.
In the Sundays leading up to Christmas, our worship service will include…
-
Music, including favorite songs of Advent and Christmas
-
Children’s Lesson & Decoration of our Christmas Tree
-
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
-
Children’s Church for those grade three and younger (during the message time)
-
Messages “acted out” from the first person perspective. Hear from Joseph, a shepherd, Herod and others.
Let’s enjoy the activity, excitement, and family traditions of the Christmas season! Let Sunday mornings in December be a time to join together to remember Christ.
Looking forward to Christmas,
November 2009
Listen to the words Jesus shared with those who knew him best in this world:
“I've loved you
the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my
love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home
in my love. …This is my command: Love one another the way I
loved you…You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put
you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. …But
remember the root command: Love one another.”
Notice
Jesus’ repeated use of the word “love”:
Jesus to disciples…Father to Jesus…disciples to Jesus…
disciples
to each other. This
shows the high value God places on relationships.
As we’ve said during our 40 Days of Love, “Nothing is
more important than relationships.”
These
relationships are joined together with “bearing fruit,” or living in
a way that impacts others for God’s good.
As a church, our purpose is to encourage people to bear
fruit.
Our Church Purpose
“Together, helping people Know, Live & Share the Good News.”
Our
purpose says almost nothing about relationships (except, perhaps the
“together” part).
However, we have another statement called our process that
explains how we go about
fulfilling our purpose.
Our Church Process
Connect, Gather, Group, Serve
Our
process is made up entirely of
four
relationship
words.
What we do as a church is all about relationships!
God places the highest value on relationships and so do we.
CONNECT
Every one
of you is an essential part of this first step.
A person first connects with our church when they
connect with an individual in our church.
We hope most “first connections” will take place outside of
our church building.
When you show care to a classmate or co-worker, you are helping them
connect with a follower of Jesus Christ (you).
When you spend time with a young person who lives on your
street, you are building a relationship.
When you invite a neighbor to come with you to church, you
are helping them make a connection with our church family.
GATHER
We strongly believe that when ready, a person should learn about God and have opportunity to worship Him in a Christian community. Once a person has made a connection or two, we expect they will be more likely to gather on Sunday mornings. You show that you value gathering as you join in song and participate in the Lord’s Supper; as you listen to the sermon and visit after the service; as you participate in prayer and in general make Sunday morning a priority for your family. We seek to make our Sunday Worship service a welcome place for both visitors and regular attendees.
GROUP
40 Days
of Love is all about moving past surface relationships into deep
ones. This takes time,
effort, and a certain amount of risk.
It’s not possible to have deep relationships with everyone,
so we encourage small groups as a place where people will have
opportunity to get to know each other in a deeper way.
Our goal is for these groups to be a safe place to study, ask
for help, share life, and encourage & challenge one another.
These groups are the organized way our church encourages
closer relationships, but they are not the only way these
relationships take place.
You help our church to grow as you give time and attention to
these relationships.
SERVE
Service is a powerful way to love others as Christ has loved us. As Christians, we represent Christ as we value those in our communities by caring for them. We want each one in our church to be an influence in their school, workplace, neighborhood, or family. There are also many opportunities to serve others through one of our many church ministries. If you are looking for a place to serve, ask me or talk to someone who looks busy J.
Jesus never let his ministry tasks take priority over relationships. That is our goal as well. I pray God continues to challenge and encourage you during our 40 Days of Love.
Looking forward,
October 2009
As the Father has loved me, so
have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as
I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. … My
command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
–Jesus to his disciples just prior to his arrest and crucifixion [John
15:9-10,12]
There is no
purer love than the love of God expressed within the Trinity—the
eternal Father, Son and Holy Spirit in perfect relationship.
Jesus compared this perfect love to his own love for his
disciples:
“As the Father has loved me,
so have I loved you.”
We know that Jesus’ love was patient, sacrificial,
forgiving…perfect! [See
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 for a more complete description of his love.]
This example
of perfect love is supposed to extend one further step—to our
relationship with each other: “Love
each other as I have loved you.”
Jesus didn’t say, “Love each other the best that you can.”
He said, “Love each other as I have loved you.”
How perfect
is your love?
Sometimes I
get discouraged when I recognize the size of the gap between the
quality of my love and the quality of love Jesus commands me to
live. And I’ve been more
than discouraged when I’ve seen pride, impatience, or lack of
forgiveness ruin a relationship.
On the flip
side, my heart swells when I get the opportunity to see Christ-like
love in action: a
marriage restored or a friendship saved because of a willingness to
forgive; a sacrifice of time gladly made; or a humble willingness to
place other’s needs above one’s own.
40 Days of
Love is about doing what we can to encourage perfect love in our
lives and in our church.
Jesus actually shared the secret to being able to love in this
manner. Would you like
to know that secret?
[It’s not really a secret.]
“I am the vine; you are
the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much
fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” [John 15:5]
40 Days of
Love is about staying close to (“remaining in”) Jesus by following
his example and listening to his words.
We’ll focus on the subject of Christ-like love in our Sunday
morning messages, in our Small Group gatherings, and with a daily
reading. And we’ll put
what we learn into practice in our own relationships.
Starting
October 11th, I encourage each one of you to make the
commitment to weekly worship attendance, participation in a small
group, and daily reading from “The Relationship Principles of Jesus”
book (available at church).
Looking
forward to the fruit!
-Travis
Additional Information: 40 Days of love schedules
September 2009
Jesus went on to say that his followers would be recognized by their
ability to love in the same way he loves them.
I will be sharing six Sundays about what it means to love with a
sermon series focused on “the love chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13.
2) Weekly Small Groups
Our small groups will spend six weeks going through a video-based
study, “We Were Made for Relationships.”
Each week will have a thirty minute teaching by Pastor Rick
Warren of
3) Daily
We will have available copies of the book, “The Relationship
Principles of Jesus” by Pastor Tom Holladay of
August 2009
Before you read this article, go
through this list and write or think of names that are appropriate
for each blank (okay not to fill in all blanks).
| Spouse | |||
| Parent | |||
| Child | |||
| Brother | |||
| Sister | |||
| Friend | |||
| Co-Worker | |||
| Classmate | |||
| Neighbor | |||
| Christian Brother | |||
| Christian Sister |
Faith produces fruit[1].
Or, to put it another way: The relationship we
have with our Lord impacts the relationship we have with each other.
Or, to put it another way: If you know Jesus, it
will be obvious to others.
Jesus went as far as to
say that the way we treat each other is the primary evidence that we
are His followers: “A
new command I give you: Love[2]
one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By
this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another.” [John 13:34-35]
Notice that Jesus did not
just say, “Go out there and love each other.” If he simply
said that, I think the task would be completely impossible.
What Jesus said was, “As
I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
The first part is the key. We love others like Jesus did only
as we comprehend the manner and the degree to which he has loved us.
This is the beauty of the
letter of Ephesians which we have been examining during our Sunday
sermons. The first half of the letter, again and again,
focuses on the love God has shown us through Jesus. I have
been praying for you using the words from this letter.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may
strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that
you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together
with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
[Ephesians 3:16-19]
The second half of the
letter calls us to respond by allowing God’s love to impact how we
treat each other. We’ve looked at attitudes / actions such as:
humbleness, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love,
unity and peace. We’ve been called to tell the truth, have
right anger, work & give, use good words, be kind, and give thanks.
Can I be completely honest with you?
I can not do these things on my own. With some relationships,
these things do not come naturally. For example, with my
children I do not always have great patience[3].
And when I do lose my patience, I am not treating them the way God
treats me. I am not loving as Jesus loves me.
Go back to the list of
names you wrote at the beginning of this article. I imagine
some names brought you a smile and other names brought you some
regret. It is clear that Christians wrestle with relationships
just like everyone else. We have good ones and worse ones.
The difference is that we have been called by Jesus to love others
as he has loved us. That means we are called to do what we can
to heal broken relationships.
I encourage you to
celebrate relationships that bring you easy joy. Spend time,
call, e-mail, hug and enjoy one another. But also consider
those relationships that are hurting.
Your first response may be, “How can I love
them?”
Well, how has Jesus loved
you?
[4]
,
(write your name here)
-Jesus
May God’s love for you,
shown through Jesus, help you to love others, even when it means
sacrifice. God’s grace to you,
[1] Jesus spoke about fruit (the recognizable acts of those who know him) at the end of his famous Sermon on the Mount. If you reread the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), you will notice that most of it has to do with how people treat one another.
[2] The “love” used here comes from the Greek, agape, which indicates a chosen, unconditional love.
[3] Don’t misunderstand. My children are not perfect (surprise!) and they sometimes act in a way that needs correction. What I am talking about is my natural tendency to get grumpy when people don’t do what I want them to, when I want them to, and how I want them to. Even if my children are in the wrong, God calls me to be patient, and to bear with others in love. When I succumb to instant grumpiness I do not reflect God’s love to my children.
[4] All of the following comes (roughly) from the first three chapters of Ephesians. If you are seeking to grow in love for another, especially if you are working to heal a relationship, I encourage you to spend every morning reading a portion of the first three chapters of Ephesians. Underline what God has done for you in Christ and how he feels toward you. Let this knowledge help you to love others as Jesus loves you.
July 2009
I See A Wave
At the start of the book, “The Purpose Driven Church,” pastor Rich Warren talks about surfing “spiritual waves.” Here’s a short excerpt:
If you
take a class on surfing, you'll be taught everything you need to
know about surfing: how to choose the right equipment; how to use it
properly; how to recognize a "surfable" wave; how to catch a wave
and ride it as long as possible; and, most important of all, how to
get off a wave without wiping out. But you'll never find a course
that teaches "How to Build a Wave." Surfing is the art of riding
waves that God builds. God makes the waves; surfers just ride them.
I see a wave. [And I want to ride it all the way!]
If I had to give a name to this wave I might call it “more.” I am convinced that God is speaking to me and to many of you, and he is saying things like…
·“I want you to know me more.”
·“I want you to experience more of my love.”
·“I want you to love me with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength.”
·“I want you to experience the joy of ‘more’ …a life surrendered to my leading.”
·“I want to show you how seeking more of me will change your work, your family and your church.”
Let me ask a few questions to see if you may have also sensed this wave. If any of these questions strike a chord in your heart, perhaps God is also calling you to more.
·Have you hit a ‘speed bump’ in life? Perhaps God is saying, “slow down and pay attention to me more.”
·Are you unsatisfied with your own “spiritual status quo?” Perhaps God is calling you to more in your relationship with him.
·Are there situations or relationships you know are beyond your ability to fix? Perhaps God saying “you can rely on me more.”
I am personally in a season of my life where God is calling me to take the next step of greater commitment and obedience to Him. It means letting go of some bad habits, and trusting that what he has planned for me really is for the best. It is not easy, but I know it is for my good, for my joy, and will benefit those that I love. From my conversations with many of you, I know that I am not alone.
As I look at this wave coming toward shore, I don’t think God is asking us as a church to just get busier for him. I think that would be a tragic mistake. I believe he is telling us to remember what he has done for us in Christ, and to carefully consider how to live in response to his love.
Rick Warren talks about the church leadership being responsible for helping others ‘catch the wave.’ Here are some things I suggest for July (and perhaps beyond).
PERSONAL TIME
Many of us sense a renewed calling by God to pray and spend time in his Word on a daily basis. Once again, I suggest “Our Daily Bread” which can be found in the back of the church by the sound booth, or at “www.odb.org”. Each day includes a short passage along with a one page devotional reading.
GROUP PRAYER
Each Sunday morning from 9:45 – 10:00 we will gather in the sanctuary to seek God in prayer. In this brief yet focused time, we will pray for each other, and for those who do not yet know the love of God in Christ. And we will seek God in preparation of our group worship.
GROUP WORSHIP
No schedule change here. We will continue to meet for worship at 10:30 each Sunday. However, at this time, let us commit to come to worship seeking an encounter with the living God.
OTHER FORMAL AND INFORMAL GATHERINGS
You can talk about more than sports or the weather. Don’t be afraid to mention the ways God is challenging you to greater love and commitment. Perhaps you can share your fears or hesitation to respond to God 100% in a given situation, or your excitement at trusting God and finding he helped you through a difficulty. Ask how others are doing and look for ways to encourage their walk with God.
There’s a wave on the horizon. Let’s ride.
It has been my joy to share messages on
Ephesians with you over the past few months. I have been
thankful as God has challenged me through my study of this book. If
you missed some of these sermons, I hope our website will have a
number of them available by mid-July.
They are about 30min each in length, and you can listen to them on
your computer, on an mp3 player, or burn them to a CD to listen in
the car. You can check them out at www.fbcsouthberwick.org.
June 2009
VBS: Part of Something Great.
For we are God's workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do. [Ephesians
2:10]
Last month, in the stretch of four short days,
the hopes of
Why are we drawn to watching the home team
when they make a run for the championship? I think there is a
desire inside of each of us to be a part of something great.
Merely watching a sports event can give us a bit of that feeling
(think of the Olympics).
July 13-17 (and the weeks leading up to it)
give each one of us an opportunity to be part of something great.
Here is the great thing we can be a part of:
God
calling people to the life-transforming joy of knowing Him.
-
God greatly values the children of our
church and community.
- Many
children have not yet clearly heard the Good News of God’s love
in Jesus Christ.
- Children
from our church and community will spend a whole week focused on
knowing, living and sharing the Good News about Jesus.
- God has
blessed us with the space and resources to host a VBS.
-
The past three years have shown that God
has blessed us with the wide range of people gifts & skills to
joyfully host a VBS.
-
Seek God in prayer.
God is the one who will make this something
great.
We rely on God by seeking him in prayer. Pray for coordinator
Misty Lowe, for other volunteers, for new children to attend,
for God’s Spirit to open hearts and minds to the Good News about
Jesus. As God to enable us all to serve with love and humility.
-
Invite someone new.
If you have a child (grandchild, family friend) who are in K-6th
grade, invite them to bring a friend to VBS. Perhaps you can
offer to take the children to and from church each evening. You
can even pick up an application form at church during June and
July.
-
Find a place to plug in.
If you haven’t signed up already, there’s still many ways to
serve: snacks, assisting teachers, video/photo work, set
building, shopping. Ask Misty Lowe where you can help out.
-
Come and see.
Come by one of the evenings to see what is happening. Better
yet, plan to come Friday night, July 17th
around 7:15 to watch the final program.
May 2009
In and out in less than a week.
Our time in the
Over the past two decades, God has been leading
thousands to come from the
On Thursday our group poured a cement roof for a second, one-room school building in one of the bateys. It is being built so children can continue beyond the fourth grade. Toward the end of the day, I took a break to rinse the cement from my work gloves. Sayarita [I may have her name wrong] took the gloves right out of my hand. This eleven year old girl dunked and scrubbed and wrung them again and again. I kept on telling her they were fine, but she wouldn’t stop until they were clean. When she finished, they looked like they had on Monday before the first day’s work. She peeked up at me and I could tell she was pleased with her hard work. I was thankful. I never would have made them that clean. I didn’t know they could get that clean. “muchas gracias.” (She probably speaks Creole, but I tried.)
Sayarita is the right age to benefit from the teaching that will take place in that new school building. Now that the building is almost completed, we have been asked to pray for a teacher. A few lives impacted for good. Thank you, God.
The needs are great, but thanks to faithful obedience to God’s call, the Haitian church in La Romana has powerfully responded to these needs. I encourage you to continue to pray for and support our brothers and sisters in La Romana. They know what it means to know, live, and share the Good News. They are being used by God to serve in the name of Jesus.
Looking forward,
Travis
April 2009 warning, this is a much longer article than usual ;-)
"Together, Helping People
Know, Live & Share
What?!"
-First Baptist Church of South Berwick Mission Statement
Okay. That’s not exactly our mission statement. Our mission statement is really: “Together, helping people know, live, and share the Good News.”
Sometimes, though, when we think we’re sharing the Good News, people are actually thinking, “What?!” Many of the words and phrases we use are quite difficult to understand. When you think about it, some of the things we say sound quite strange to modern ears.
Here is one verse that I use in our teen / adult baptism class to describe a part of the Good News. It is a verse about Jesus and what he had done for those who have put their faith in him (that’s what it means to be a Christian): “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”Romans 4:25
Some of us will look at this verse, and say, “Alright! Amen! That’s great.” But many (most?) will look at these words and say, “What?!”
Do you understand the message of Romans 4:25? If so, how would you explain it to a seven year old? How would you explain it to someone who hasn’t been going to church very long? We shouldn’t automatically expect that someone can understand these words without explanation. I don’t assume that just because you’re reading this church newsletter that you understand these words.
So, let me take a little of your time to try to better explain the good news found in Romans 4:25.
FIRST, THE BAD NEWS
In order to understand the good news, we have to face the bad news.
The Bible claims, ““…for all have sinned…”Romans 3:23
I don’t think I really have to introduce you to the concept of sin. I’m pretty convinced you already know about sin. You know this world is messed up because of greed and selfishness. Just consider our environment, our courts, or the news you hear on TV. Closer to home, I bet you can think of a relationship that has been harmed by someone’s selfishness, or carelessness. How about you? Have you ever done something you know you shouldn’t have done? Or not done something you know you should have? If so, you’ve sinned. And, you’re not alone.
The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death…”Romans 6:23 A wage is something you earn for doing something else. For example, my wife Mari earns about $20 when she teaches a music lesson. The wages for teaching a music lesson is $20. The Bible says the wage you and I earn for sinning is death.
This might take a little more convincing. Let me tell you about the first people who sinned, and what happened t them. There was this guy named Adam and his wife, Eve. They were tight with God. They hung out with him, face to face. God made an entire world for them to live in and rule over. God only had one condition…one rule for them to follow. He said, “You are free to eat from any tree; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
Perhaps you’ve heard about what happened next. They met a serpent; a crafty creature that wanted to pull them away from God. The serpent said to Eve, “Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?” It went downhill from there. The serpent convinced Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. He told her she wouldn’t die. Eve convinced Adam. They did what God told them not to do. They ate the fruit. They sinned. The first sin. They royally fouled things up. But I wonder if you or I would have done anything different? When they sinned, they hid from God. Sin does that to you. It messes up your relationship with God.
The odd thing is, they didn’t immediately keel over. God didn’t send a lightning bolt hurling from the sky. Was the serpent right? Did God lie? Did eating from that tree not bring death? Unfortunately for Adam and Eve, God told the truth. You see, there was another special tree in the garden. The tree of life. Anyone who ate from the tree of life would live forever, never facing death. God never said Adam and Eve couldn’t eat from the tree of life. In fact, he designed them to live for eternity. But after they ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God kicked them out of the garden so they could not eat from the tree of life. It took a few years, but Adam and Eve eventually grew old and died.
For Adam and Eve, the wages of sin was death.
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS
Let’s return to Romans 4:25.
“He was delivered over to death for our sins.” Now we can begin to talk about what it means to say, “[Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins.” Our sins (my sins, your sins) do bring death.
This doesn’t change when we become a Christian [“put our trust in Jesus,” “become born again,” “get saved,”…more difficult to explain words]. God does not say, “Oh. Alright. You have put your trust in my son. Your sins don’t need to be punished. No death deserved for you!” The wages of sin IS death. However, God worked it out so that someone else received the death we earned.
Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins. We sinned. He died. God poured out his punishment on Jesus. Jesus did not sin. Not once. So, he didn’t need to die for his own sin. He was able to die for ours. Not only that, Jesus is also God. [That Jesus is fully man and fully God is one of the fundamental truths of the Christian faith.] God, himself, was delivered over to death for our sins.
Let’s make this personal: You’ve sinned (lots, really) Your sin earned death. Jesus took your death.
By the way. You may have noticed that people (even Christians) still die. Yes, we still are living under the consequence of Adam’s sin. As playwright George Bernard Shaw said, “the statistics on death are impressive; one out of one dies.” However, the second half of Romans 4:25 shows that it is the both the death and resurrection of Jesus together that really gives us something to celebrate.
…and was raised to life for our justification Jesus didn’t remain dead. He was raised to life for “our justification.” Justification is a legal term meaning that a judge decides in favor of a defendant. Legally that person is now considered “just” or without guilt. When someone is justified before God it means that in God’s eyes it is as if that person had never sinned.
When Jesus rose from the dead [THINK EASTER] this proved that he no longer carried our sin or the “wage” of our sin…death. He took care of all of that, once and for all. The message of Romans 4:25 is that, because of his great love for us, God had Jesus do all of this for us as well. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”Romans 4:25
Here’s why this is really, really important. The Bible states that on the last day (sometime in our future) all people, living and dead, will be resurrected and stand before God to be judged. Only those without guilt (the “justified”) will go on to eternal life with God. The rest will experience the “second death” (a scary sounding term) and be thrown into the “fiery lake of burning sulfur.” [Revelation 21:8]
Let me review the options. In the future, everyone will receive either: a) eternal life with God b) getting dumped in the fiery lake of burning sulfur
The death and resurrection of Jesus is why you can select “a).” This is good news.
My intention was to write a short article that better explains the Good News found in Romans 4:25. Looking back, I recognize that I failed in writing a short article. What about the other part? Does this help explain the good news? I tried. One thing I am learning is that it can be very had to explain the Good News in a way that can be understood by those new to church or to the Bible. I want your feedback. What made sense? What questions do you still have? Do you have a suggestion for more clearly sharing the Good News? Give me a call or send an e-mail, or join a discussion on our church’s facebook page.
-Pastor Travis
January 2009
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
-2 Corinthians 5:17
In the middle of last week we made that transition from December 31, 2008 to January 1, 2009. We know choosing a certain date to mark the start of our “new year” is an arbitrary human invention. Even so, when we put up a new calendar we often consider how this new year provides a chance for a fresh start. Perhaps you even have a few “new years’ resolutions.” (I’ll keep them this year!).
When it comes to having a fresh start, nothing can beat the words found at the top of this page. The Bible says that in Jesus, we are new creations. Brand new. Something totally different. “The old has gone.” “The new has come.”
Later on in this chapter, Paul explained that Jesus receives our sin and gives us his righteousness. In Jesus we have our fresh start with God. We are new creations. These simple words contain deep spiritual truth. Because of what God has done for us in Jesus (made us new creations free from sin and in right relationship with him), we have an opportunity to live in a new way.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
-Ephesians 4:22-24
This is what I want. I want it for me. I want it for my family. I want it for you. I want it for our church. What God has done for us is too much for us to remain the same, untouched, or ordinary. He has made us new creations. I want us to live it!
What do you think it should look like for us to be individuals and a church that has been “made new” in Christ? What should our priorities be? What should our relationships look like? What does worship look like? How does God want us to live?
We explore these questions together during our Sunday services and in our small groups. Explore them as well in your families and as you take time alone with God.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
-2 Corinthians 5:17
I am looking forward to spending 2009 together with you as part of God’s New Creation!