Ministry of The Wife

The bible is clear that there is nothing new under the sun. However, I firmly believe that we need to be reminded of some things from time-to-time. Now if I would have published this blog in the days of Spurgeon, Luther, or Whitfield they would have said, "well duh." But in today's culture the things I am about to write seem foolish.

I believe the bulk of the problems and sin in the modern-day church are the result of people being unbiblical in their homes. You see I am preaching through Ephesians 5:22- 6:4 and some things have occurred to me.

I just finished preaching on submission of wives to their husbands. You could see the lack of comfort on the faces of many of my people but I preached anyway. Most of us are blinded by feminism and we lack a proper understanding of this role and ministry of the wife. The thought that a woman should be subject to her husband is repulsive in our culture; a culture that is making men and women equal in all things. But we can't get away from the scripture! As I began to sink my teeth into the truth of God's Word something hit me......the lack of submission to God by the church is the result of the lack of submission in the homes. No wonder we have generations of people who think they can ride co-pilot with Christ; its because of a generation of men and woman who are trying to wear the paints together in their marriages. No wonder our children don't listen to and respect authority; they don't see their parents practicing biblical headship and submission at home.

I know this seems like mindless ranting but think about it! Pastor's and teachers can't undue what is being done at home. One or two sermons a week isn't a drop in the bucket compared to all the unbiblical actions or in actions taking place in the home. So I beg you wives out there to be biblical in your role and submit to a husband who shows biblical headship. It effects much more than your marriage...it effects the church.

Amazing....The Power of the Gospel!!!

This week I began some pre-marital counseling with a couple that has asked me to perform their wedding service. In session one I simple gave them some books to read (of course Family Driven Faith was one of them) and I hit the highlights of what we would be discussing. However, in session one I revealed to them that not one thing we would discuss in future meetings would matter at all unless they were both "born again."

I told them that I was not a "marring Sam"; just looking to marry anyone who asked me to perform a service. You could tell the brutal honesty was a little uncomfortable for them but they listened. I then proceeded to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I was covering the part where Christ was crushed for our sins the young man of this engaged couple became almost pail and quiet. He was no longer nodding his head and saying "yes sir" but he was listening to every word coming out of my mouth...not missing a single point.

Before I could call for repentance he stopped me and simply said, "To be honest I don't believe I am saved." This was huge because he knew that I would not do their service if they were "unevenly yoked". But he wasn't thinking about marriage to his fiancey but marriage to the Bride Groom, Jesus Christ.

If you are reading this please pray. I left this guy with the Gospel and his conscience that night. We will meet again in a few weeks and I pray he will have gottened saved.

Spurgeon's The Man!!

I want to be more like Spurgeon. If only the church would have listened to this. Things would be much different today. Take 6 minutes and let this hit you where you are.

All About Jesus

In recent weeks a revelation has hit me. All of Scripture is about Christ. Now before you say "amen" take a moment and think. What is the first thing you look for or ask when reading scripture? For most the answer is self. We look for the application or the meaning for us. What it teaches about God is usually a distant 2nd. Not only do we look for how the scripture is for us but we look specifically for the positive application not he negative.

As a minister I can definitely say much repenting has been taking place in my life. For years the first thing I looked for in sermon prep was the application for me and my audience; always looking to make me and the congregation "feel" better about our plight. What a load of garbage!!!

Scripture...from Genesis to Revelation...is all about Jesus Christ! It is all about His glory, nature and character. It is not about me and my preaching, praying and teaching should reflect that.

Now don't misunderstand me. I believe there is much to be applied from scripture but I thinkt he application will change when we start looking at it from the standpoint that its all about Jesus.

Just a thought for today.

The Bible and Parenting

I am preparing to speak at a church this Friday night to the men's ministry group and their wives. I wasn't given a topic so that means I am going to hit them with the truth that men and women in our churches are not living up to the expectations that the Bible places upon them. I will discuss multi-generational faithfulness. I will hit them with the idea that it is the parents job; not the youth pastors or Sunday school teachers; to disciple their children.

Basically I will speak about all the stuff that has caused some people and pastors to look at me funny or even label me as a man "on the other side of the spectrum."

But today I was looking at the most recent copy of the Christian Index. On page 18 there is an interesting article about the role of faith in parenting. What gets revealed is that men and women who claim to be Christian have no idea what the bible says about the role of the parent. When the 1200 people where asked what mattered most; being godly or having faith was only mentioned by 9% of the people. However, 77% of those interviewed identify themselves as Christians.

Why oh why are we so focused on the world? Revival and awakening will never happen in our churches until it first happens in our homes!!! Until we understand that the fall-away rate of our youth and the abscense of the 20-somethings is directly related to the lack of good biblical parenting things will never change.

Coffee House or Church

I am amazed by the ironic sometimes. Some might find it to be a surprise but I have some friends in ministry that I completely disagree with on certain things. One of the major differences is the methodology of church. Now don't get me wrong I don't care what building a church meets in because its just a building. I don't care what type of music is used during worship. I don't care how long we sing or pray or preach because the Spirit will lead in different ways. I don't care if you have "Baptist" in the church name or if you want to be non-denominational.

But here is some irony I have come across in recent months that just blows my mind. In this new church movement statements like "authentic", "genuine", and "real" keep getting thrown around in mission, vision, and value statements. The leadership in these churches (many lead by friends of mine)are directly or at least indirectly saying that their church is different and like no other. As a matter of fact some friends of mine are assuming that within their methods they are capturing the bare essentials of the true church found in Acts. But again we must notice the ironic.

Isn't if funny that these "new" churches are all using the same catch phrases (real, authentic, genuine)? How come everyone of them has to incorporate coffee in their plans? One friend of mine in Tennessee has a church that bought a building (an old Movie Gallery) that is right next to their church and they are putting in a coffee house. How come true or real worship in these "new" churches has to be played with a guitar? Let me point this out just in case you missed it. All these churches that claim to be different from all the rest are just like each other. Irony at its finest.

Just a thought I had today.

What The Peace of God Looks Like

Today, a few hours actually, there will be a funeral at my church for a member that passed away on Sunday. His name is Bobby and he died at age 55. He had a long fight with cancer. This week my "job" as pastor has to been to minister to and comfort his family, specifically his wife. However, this has been a hard task for his wife has been like a rock. Now I don't mean that she is cold and emotionally detached, that is certainly not the case. But she has been strong!! She has been at peace, with a calmness that can only be explained by the power and grace of an all-sufficient God that gives us what we need when we need it.

Her attitude and conduct has ministered to me more over these past few days than mine has to her. She is truly a woman of God and I am better for even knowing her much less being here pastor. She is truly a picture of the peace of God.