Blessed Day

Sunday, March 11 was the ordination for our associate pastor, Jeremy Mollenkopf.  During the morning worship, Jeremy’s brother Daniel read Scripture for us.  Then Jeremy proclaimed the gospel of God’s amazing grace from Judges 6.  
   
In the afternoon the ordination council met to examine Jeremy.  He answered a variety of questions from the men who were gathered.  The ladies of our church put together a fruit and vegetable tray, as well as cheese and crackers for the encouragement of the council. 

During the ordination service, Brother Jeremy shared his testimony and call with the gathered church.  Brother Fred, one of our deacons, read Scripture, as did Pastor Mike Sutherland, First Baptist Church Ashville. 

 Dr. Rich Halcombe delivered the charge to the church.  Dr. Rich reminded the church of three responsibilities to her pastor.  First, he exhorted the church to pay the pastor (from 1 Corinthians 9).  Second, he exhorted the church to obey or respect her pastor (from Hebrews 13).  He reminded the church that if any individual had a concern about the pastor, that individual is required of God not to speak to anyone except for the pastor.  Third, he exhorted the church to pray for her pastor (I did not write down the text he used, but Hebrews 13:18 teaches this).    

 I had the privilege of delivering the charge to the candidate.  I used three passages to touch on three areas of the pastor’s life and ministry.

 From Isaiah 66:2, I spoke of the Minister’s Character – humility, a contrite heart, and a man who trembles at God’s word. 

 From 1 Timothy 3:4, 5, I spoke of the Minister’s Family.  Pastors tend to make one of two errors. Either they rob the church – always away with their family; or they rob their families – workaholics who shortchange their families in the name of the ministry.  I asserted that the pastor is married to his wife while the church is the bride of Christ; one Son was sacrificed for the church, Jesus Christ our Lord, the pastor’s son or daughter need not be. 

 From John 12:21, I spoke of the Minister’s Mandate.  The request of the Greeks captures what the minster needs to deliver – Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

 After this, Brother Jeremy knelt before the congregation, and the members of the ordination council passed by one at a time praying over him. 

 To conclude, Brother Roy, our chairman of deacons, presented a Bible to Jeremy on behalf of our church. 

 After the service, our church enjoyed a cake and punch fellowship in Jeremy’s honor. 

 It was truly a blessed day.

Unity in the Church

Not long ago I preached an overview of Romans. It was a quick walk through the book. We noted the provision of the Gospel – that God in His mercy sent His Son Jesus Christ. We noted our need for the Gospel – we are sinners. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We saw the result of believing the Gospel is that we would be justified – and being justified we are not condemned. The invitation to the Gospel is given indiscriminately – the old Puritans said, “promiscuously.” Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. That leads to a call to be individuals who live the Gospel. Being Gospel-living individuals in turn leads to a church that is shaped and molded by the Gospel.

A short time after preaching that message I was asked how we can become a church like that – how can we become a church united together around the gospel.

Like with many great questions, I had an answer – three days after the question was asked.

The goal is not to be a united church. The goal is to be a gospel proclaiming, gospel living, gospel shaped church. Unity is not the goal of the church. Instead, unity is a by-product of the gospel. When the church is focused on the primary issue – Jesus Christ, then and only then will the church experience gospel unity.

Will we be united? Yes. But not if our primary goal is to be united. We will be united if our primary goal is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever in and through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why Do I Believe In Missions?

Like many Southern Baptists I grew up hearing many mission appeals. Most of the appeals I heard were based on the Great Commission at the end of the Gospel According to Matthew. But I must confess none of those appeals made a dent in my soul.

Then one day, my world changed. I heard a message from the opening verses of Genesis 12. The preacher demonstrated that God’s heart had always been inclined toward the nations. That a world-wide perspective was not something new, rather, that was God’s plan all along. All of a sudden I was confronted with a new question.

If God’s passion was the nations, could my passion be any less global?

I knew the answer before the question was formed. No. God is concerned for the nations. Jesus died to redeem fallen men and women from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. The gospel of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed to all of those for whom Christ died – every tribe and tongue and people and nation must hear. That has been God’s intent from the time He called Abram and told him that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him.

To be faithful to God and the gospel of Jesus Christ, my passion for the nations must match God’s passion for the nations.