Sunday, December 27, 2015

Scripture Memorization Plan


          The Scriptures are a great Gift we have been given. It leads us to Salvation through a presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that He died for our Sins, was Buried, and three days later Raised from the Dead (1 Corinthians 15) to make our Salvation possible. They give us everything we need to live life and live it godly. To write God’s Word upon your heart is a tremendous tool for the Christian, for it is God’s word that brings comfort, confidence, and courage in the face of troubling times. The Scriptures are what all mankind will be measured by.

             The most deep philosophical question that has been asked is, “What is truth?”  It is a question that the most ancient of men have asked in one form or another.  And it is the one in the day in which we live that most confounds men.  Many in our time speak of truth as being relative, “your truth is okay for you, and my truth is okay for me.” But, what good is truth if it is never known as it is revealed by the one who is truth, God.

             Pilot asked Jesus the question in John 18:38, “What is truth?” Jesus had attempted to give him the truth but he was unwilling to accept it.  Jesus had earlier declared it to those who would hear….

           In John 8:31-32, Jesus proclaimed to Jews who had believed in Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Again Jesus confessed in John 14:16,I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  And once more in a prayer for the disciples Jesus announced what truth was and is and will always be in John 17:17 17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

             I challenge you this year to begin to take the word of Truth and write it upon your heart through memorization.  It is not as hard as you might think.  Perhaps you’ve tried and believe you failed, any attempt to memorize God’s Word is not failure.  I would ask you to try to memorize one scripture a week.

How to Memorize Scripture:

  1. Write the verse(s) on a 3x5 card with chapter and verse; carry the card with you everywhere
  2. Say, out loud, the chapter and verse before and after each attempt to say the Scripture, out loud
  3. Stair step the Scripture---learn the Scripture a little at a time example:
          John 3:16 For God John 3:16
          John 3:16 For God so loved John 3:16
          John 3:16 For God so loved the world John 3:16

  1. As a new Scripture week begins start the process (step 1-3), over with the next Scripture verse
          Continue the previous week’s verse along with the new verse.
          This will continue until you don’t even need to think about the older verse(s) anymore.
          Then you will only need to review them periodically—dailyàweeklyàmonthly

     5. Keep your Scripture Cards in a 3x5 index card box as you finish each week
         or a use a 2-ring 3x5 index card binder (Office Max or Depot keep these in stock)

v  Don’t be in a rush to get to the next verse at the expense of the one your working on
v  Don’t waste time on a verse you have learned, if you know it move on

Some people can learn several verses in a week with no trouble

 You will get out of your Scripture Memorization, What you put into it!

 Use the Bible translation you feel most comfortable with, it is best to stay with the same translation throughout.

God Bless,
Pastor Eric

 Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

  1. Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You
  2. Romans 3:10 as it is written, there is none righteous, not even one
  3. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
  4. Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
  5. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  6. Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
  7. Romans 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation
  8. Romans 10:13 WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED
  9. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me
  10. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
  11. John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
  12. Heb 9:27 it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment
  13. Mark 1:15 The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
  14. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  15. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit
  16. Romans 14:12 each one of us will give an account of himself to God
  17. Acts 4:12 there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved
  18. Matt 11:28-30 28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
  19. Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth
  20. Eph 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
  21. Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you
    But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
  22. Psalms 82:3-4 3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked
  23. John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
  24. Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form
  25. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come
  26.  2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
  27. Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
  28. Gal 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law
  29. John 10:27-30 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 "I and the Father are one
  30. James 2:10 whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
  31. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly
  32. Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  33. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name
  34. 2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline
  35. Matt 12:36-37 36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak , they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
  36. 2 Tim 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
  37. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
  38. Matt 4:4 MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
  39. Luke 11:28 blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it
  40. Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ
  41. 1 Peter 5:7 cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you
  42. Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation.
  43. Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
  44. Romans 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
  45. 1 Peter 1:13 prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
  46. 1 Cor 6:9-10 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate , nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
  47. Rev 21:8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death
  48. 2 Cor 5:15 He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf
  49. Romans 8:28-29 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren
  50. Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him
  51. Matt 22:37-40 YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets
  52. Matt 28:18-20 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age."
BONUS VERSE
Matt 23:11-12 11 "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

31 Day Reading Challenge


            Two chapters a day, can you give God two chapters a day?  This Reading Challenge is designed to help you begin the process of daily reading and studying God’s Word.   

As you read, write down any questions you may have and share them with your pastor, Bible study teacher, or mentor. A Reader’s goal is to discover what God is revealing about Himself and about the one who is reading, to include how God expects us to behave in relation to the world and His Church.

If life happens and you miss a day don’t be discouraged, just pick up where you left off. The point is not to force your way through it just to say you did it, but to spend some quality time in God’s Word.  It is better for you if you read a small portion and get much from it than to make up for several days of missed readings and get little if anything from it at all.

            Do you believe what you believe because you’ve been told to? Or do you believe because God showed you in His Word?

Expect God to change you in this process; don’t be surprised at how He confronts you in how you think and what you believe. Remember, His purpose for your life is to be just like His Son, Jesus.

Hebrews 4:12-13 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Day 1- John 1… Proverbs 1  Day 17- John 17… Proverbs 17
Day 2- John 2… Proverbs 2 Day 18- John 18… Proverbs 18
Day 3- John 3… Proverbs 3  Day 19- John 19… Proverbs 19
Day 4- John 4… Proverbs 4  Day 20- John 20… Proverbs 20
Day 5- John 5… Proverbs 5  Day 21- John 21… Proverbs 21
Day 6- John 6… Proverbs 6 Day 22- Ephesians 1… Proverbs 22
Day 7- John 7… Proverbs 7 Day 23- Ephesians 2… Proverbs 23
Day 8- John 8… Proverbs 8 Day 24- Ephesians 3… Proverbs 24
Day 9- John9… Proverbs 9 Day 25- Ephesians 4… Proverbs 25
Day 10- John 10… Proverbs 10 Day 26- Ephesians 5… Proverbs 26
Day 11- John 11… Proverbs 11 Day 27- Ephesians 6… Proverbs 27
Day 12- John 12… Proverbs 12 Day 28- Colossians 1… Proverbs 28
Day 13- John 13… Proverbs 13 Day 29- Colossians 2… Proverbs 29
Day 14- John 14… Proverbs 14 Day 30- Colossians 3… Proverbs 30
Day 15- John 15… Proverbs 15 Day 31- Colossians 4… Proverbs 31
Day 16- John 16… Proverbs 16 Happy Blessed Reading

Monday, December 21, 2015

The Pony Express, a Pastor's Ministry, and God's Church


            I love Old Western Movies and have always been fascinated by the young men who were part of the Pony Express. The courage and boldness (and maybe a little craziness) it took to ride their steeds across dangerous country to deliver messages for what often amounted to very little pay. 

          Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “what in the world does a Pastor’s Ministry and the Pony express have to do with each other?”  And “Where in the world did you come up with this?”  Give me just a moment to explain how I view a pastor’s ministry in God’s Church.

          Many years back when I was speaking with a Pastor Search Committee, a dear sweet woman who had served alongside her husband for many years planting churches up in Maryland was serving on the Search Committee.  She asked me the following very pointed question, “Do you see our church as a stepping stone for your ministry?” 

         I wasn’t necessarily caught off guard by the question, because I understood and had seen before what concerned her heart regarding “Ministers” seeking a church.  There are some men seeking to serve God’s church, with the best of intentions I’m sure, who have lost sight of their purpose in serving the Church.

         I quickly answered Mrs. Lucas’ question, “Churches are not stepping stones for pastors, but pastors are stepping stones for God’s Church.”

         As I have continued to ponder my view of ministry over the years and have seen the best and the worst in both “ministers” and “churches,” I believe the Pony Express is one of the best examples to use to explain a Pastor’s role within God’s Church.

         The Pony Express was made up of a very unique group of young men.  Many were mere boys, some starting out just in their early teenage years.  The Pony Express job descriptions often read;

          “WANTED. YOUNG, SKINNY, WIRY FELLOWS. NOT OVER 18. MUST BE   
           EXPERT RIDERS.  WILLING TO RISK DEATH DAILY. ORPHANS PREFERRED"
           -California newspaper help wanted ad, 1860


These were a different breed of adventurers.  Many were living a life of hardship with little to no prospect of a future, roaming from one job to the next, and working for room and board.  The Pony Express promised an opportunity for a change in their life if they survived.  Most of the areas they worked in were filled with bandits, scoundrels, and angry natives who were not fond of strangers passing through their land.

         The idea of the Pony Express is very simple.  You have:  the Author of the Message, the Message, the Horse, the Rider, and the Recipient of the Message.  The Author wanted to get a message to someone (Recipient of the Message).  The Author would hire the Pony Express Company to convey said message(s).  The message(s) where given to the Rider by the Pony Express company branch at one location to be delivered at a set Pony Express branch at another location.  Often times, these branches were far from railroad stations and the Pony Express would be able to deliver the message faster.


        The Rider was obligated in most cases to remain with his assigned message(s) until he delivered it to the Pony Express branch at the destination.  This prevented loss or confusion as to where the Message was to be sent and who was responsible if something went wrong.  The Rider was given a Horse, and along the often lengthy route there were way stations where the Rider could eat, rest briefly and saddle a fresh horse before continuing his journey.  Through inhospitable and dangerous lands these courageous few drove their horses and themselves to exhaustion to fulfill their duty and obligations. Never ceasing until their message reached its destination.

        Please allow me to give you my understanding of a Pastor’s Ministry using the Pony Express as my example. 

 God is the Author of the Message.
John 3:16 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

The Message is the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

And to receive that Message, to have an eternal relationship with our Creator and Savior, to be saved a person must;

Romans 10:9-11 9 ….confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

            The Church is the Rider carrying the Message of God.

Matthew 28:19-20 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

            The Pastor is the Horse.

Ephesians 4:11-12 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

The World is the intended Recipient of the Message.

Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Hebrews 9:27 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

1 Peter 3:18 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

         As the Pastor, my role is to carry God’s Church (His People) and God’s Message (His Gospel) as far as I possibly can.  When I can no longer carry the load, when I have given all I have to my God and to His Church it is time for the Church to saddle a fresh Horse.

         Better men have served before us and better men will follow after us.  Let us build upon the firm foundation of God’s Word that has been laid and strengthen the people of God to stand strong and serve with conviction and commitment.

1 Peter 2:4-6 4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

           Pastor, you are the noble Steed, your day will come and your day will end.  God’s Message and God’s Church will go on.  Serve them well with all the heart and love you can muster for the sake of the lost and lonely waiting for the hope we carry and for the Name of our Lord Jesus. 

Blessings, Pastor Eric

Thursday, July 30, 2015

A Vision for the Church

            In recent days and decades many churches have clamored for warm bodies to fill pews and fill the church coffers by “buying” into the “Consumer Mentality of Church,” but at what cost.

            Large Churches (the term mega-church is relative) have the means, resources and manpower many times over to create a program driven church, meeting every age group's wants and desires.  Books have been written by convention leaders expounding on the greatness of these programs in bringing in and bringing up numbers.  Leaders create research groups and sales teams to study and package what large churches are doing and then sell the concepts to smaller churches who seem to be plateauing or declining.  “If you will just do this, then God will bless you and everything will be okay.”

            But, not everything is okay. When you look deeper into the issue, are we meeting the people’s needs or are we meeting the people’s wants?  What people need isn’t always what they want.

            The Church since its inception at Pentecost thrived and grew without a “40 days to a better you” or “12 steps to a deeper meaning of life” program.  It simply did church, simply.  The Preaching of the Word was paramount, Discipleship was all consuming and Evangelism was a part of every ones daily activity.  It was not enough to do church, it was everything to be the Church.  This isn't to say everyone matured into "super-Christians,"  always growing and always obedient to the Word, all Believers in all times have struggled with complacency and the dangers of compromise.  

            The Church has been given a Great Commandment, to love God and to Love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40) and a Great Commission, to worship Jesus and as we are living life in this world we are to make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Holy Trinity and to teach them all that we have been commanded (Matthew 28: 16-20).  This is what God has commanded, if we do not do these things we have no right as a church to exist.  To ignore this is to be disobedient to our God and partial obedience is still disobedience.

            Church has become far too complicated and we have lost our Love for Christ and our love for one another.  We have segregated ourselves from one another in the common time of worship by creating artificial divisions within our church by creating programs that separate us from one another.  A Professor of mine in Seminary once explained the tragedy of breaking up our Worship of God by segregating our Youth from our adults.  The Youth bring fire with their enthusiasm and boldness. Our Maturing believers in Age bring stability and groundedness in faith.  One without the other brings tragedy to the Body of Christ.  Without the Stability of faith of the older congregation our Youth will burn out quickly and leave.  Without the fire of the youth the older will simply smolder out and grow cold.  We need both to thrive as a body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.    
 
            I believe a vision for the Church is one where the body on the Lord’s Day celebrates together in common worship.  Sunday Mornings the Children remain with their parents until the last special song is sung, then they are released to Children’ Church.  The Children will learn reverence for a Holy God and how to Worship Him in the presence of God’s People.  The Youth should be involved where ever possible within the Worship service to assure them the Church is as much theirs as anyone else’s.  Sunday evening Worship, is to be family time; parents with their children and youth and Mentors alongside the Mentored, a Common body in Worship together.  Sunday is to be a day of Family Worship and rest. 

            Wednesday Night services would be open for Children and Youth Bible studies.  Adults not serving the children or youth will be in prayer and preaching service.

            I believe that people can be saved and make commitments to the Lord regarding Baptism and Church Membership just as much on Sunday and Wednesday evening as Sunday Morning.   I have an invitation to respond to God’s Message at all three services.

            I believe every Church Member should have one Primary Ministry that their greatest efforts are poured into because they know this is what God has assigned for them.  They should have a Secondary Ministry in which they step into and/or assist someone else’s Primary Ministry when needed and a Third Ministry could be to help set up, take down or clean up with others when needed.   Statistically 20% of the people in Church are doing 80% of the work done in the Church.  I believe this is being far too generous and more than likely it is closer to a 10% of people to a 90% work ratio in many Churches.  This often leads to burn out and members quitting all their ministries and fading away right out the back door of the Church in frustration.  We must ask ourselves is it better to do a few things well and for the glory of God or do a whole lot and accomplish little. What is more valuable in the economy of God? 

I believe in these Last Days we need more Worship, more Fellowship, and more Church.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

"What Do You Believe?"

This is a pretty broad question, but often times when people ask this question they are focused on one of several key issues affecting our churches today.  So,  in no prioritized order I give you my Statements of Belief. 

This list is by no means comprehensive of what I believe, but it touches on key points to establish where I stand on issues affecting Southern Baptist Life today.

Statements of Belief

Personal Mission Statement and Philosophy of Ministry

 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

As a Pastor my role is to minister to the ministers of the body of Christ; seeking their full maturity in Christ Jesus; that they may learn to love their God with all their heart, soul, and mind; that they may fulfill their mission to make disciples of a lost and dying World in need of a Savior; that they too may grow a disciple to full maturity.

I believe the best way to accomplish this is through the expositional preaching of the full counsel of God’s Word. Expositional preaching is the preaching of a complete book of the Bible from beginning to end.  This type of preaching forces the pastor to preach topics that often make both the pastor and congregation uncomfortable due to the subject matter but necessary for personal growth in the Lord.  Expository preaching protects the congregation from missing the life transforming Word of God and protects the pastor from the accusation that he chose a topic to personally attack members of the congregation.

The Great Commandment in Matthew 22:36-40 tells us what is most important and who we are to love, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” 

 The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 tells us how we can fulfill that love, “they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.  And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We show our love to God through our Worship and our obedience to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a World in need of a Savior. We show our love to our neighbor by preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
 
Philosophy of the Family in Ministry

I have been married to my wife Tracy since 1993, she is a woman who openly confesses that she loves her God more than she loves her husband and because she does she can love her husband better.  We have two beautiful blessings from the Lord, my son Elias born 2002 and my daughter Erin born in 2005. Our ministry is a family ministry and I have the full support of my wife as we seek the Lord’s will together. 

As a minister of God’s Word I am obligated by God to care for my family, scripturally if I am found lacking as a husband and as a father I am unqualified to serve as a pastor of God’s Church.  As such, my Scriptural priorities are first my God, second my family and third my service to God’s Church.  Keeping these biblical priorities in their order allows me to serve the Lord’s church even better with full confidence in the blessing of the Lord and a clear conscience before God.   

Personal Statements of Belief

I affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a confession of statements of faith regarding Biblical doctrines of truth found in Scriptures.

 
I am in full support of the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention.  I believe the Cooperative Program is the great envy of all other denominations and is the best program for supporting Southern Baptist Agencies; it has served the SBC and State Conventions well since its inception.  It has been preparing young men and women for ministry and for reaching a lost and dying world for Christ both overseas (IMB) and at Home (NAMB), I believe any plan that reduces the Cooperative Program to one program among many shall eventually reduce the effectiveness of the Southern Baptist Convention as a whole.  

 
I believe the Bible is the inerrant (free from error) and infallible (incapable of error) Word of God. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the only safe and infallible revelation of God to man.  Thus, it is the infallible rule for a believer’s life and practice.  The authority of the Bible is based in that it is “inspired (God-breathed) by God,” because its authority is God.  It is necessary for knowing the Good News of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:17), for maintaining spiritual life (Deuteronomy 32:46-47) and for knowing God’s will (Romans 12:2).  It is sufficient for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4), it will guide you through life’s difficult choices and draw you to God’s purpose and expectations for you.  By learning who God is, His character, and expectations we are able (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to become more like Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).  We as God’s people are called not only to be hearers of His Word but doers of the word (James 1:22-25) for blessed are those who hear and observe it (Luke 11:28).  The Bible needs neither our opinion nor our vote only our obedience.  God’s Word is not to be voted on for approval by the Church.

           
The Church exists to Glorify God, Edify the Body of Christ, and Evangelize the Lost.  If we are unwilling to fulfill this call we lose the right to exist as a body.

Any vision for God’s church, whether personal or corporate, must be guided by the fulfillment of the Great Commandment in Matthew 22:37-40; 

37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

And the fulfillment of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20;

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
God’s vision is for His people to love Him and to love those for whom He died.  We accomplish this only through fulfilling the mission for which we remain in a sin-sick world, to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  If we do not fulfill that for which we have been called what right do we have to exist as a church of the Living God or as individual servants of the Most High God.

           
I am not a Calvinist. I do not believe God predestines some people to a right relationship with God against their will and I do not believe God predestines the rest to hell with no hope of ever an opportunity to repent and believe in the Gospel.  God is no respecter of persons and to believe such is to call God a liar. 

God does not predestine who comes to Him, but how one may come to Him.  “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will (Ephesians 1:4-5).”

I can break bread in fellowship and work together for the common good of the Kingdom’s work with my brothers and sisters in Christ who are Calvinist, but I would draw the line at their teaching within the confines of the Church I am accountable to God for.  I do not condone nor do I allow Calvinistic distinctives to be taught within the Church I Pastor

As a Bible Believing Baptist I neither adhere to the Calvinist nor the Arminian argument of God’s sovereignty vs. man’s freewill.  The argument is a fight within reformed denominations and should hold no place in Biblical beliefs of the Christian faith.  God is Sovereign and man is free to either accept or reject the Grace of God through Jesus Christ, it is not an either/or argument but a both/and truth.


I believe in the eternal life of those who place their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  “Once saved, always saved.”  This is not a license to sin, but the freedom to live and serve God. 


Regarding Eschatology (Study of “Last Things” in the Book of Revelation) I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church (God’s removal of His people prior to the Tribulation) and the pre-millennial reign of Christ Jesus (a literal 1,000 year reign of Jesus on earth).  I believe the Jewish people still have a role to play in God’s redemptive history, but they too must be saved by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ.


I believe in the literal six 24 hour days Creation by God as is clearly expressed in the Scriptures.

 
The Church is Christ Ruled, Congregationally Governed, Deacon Served, and Pastor Lead.


Priorities in Life and Ministry;  My God, My Family, and My Ministry in Church.  Specifically in that order.


So if you were asked, "What do you Believe?"  What would you say? 

Be ready, we live in a world that is looking for answers.  It may not like the answers, so know why you believe what you believe and what you base your answers upon.
 
 
Blessings,
Pastor Eric
Galatians 2:20