03.12.10
Posted in Newsletter at 12:26 am by Administrator
Be sure to be in Sunday School during March and April to study with us the “5 W’s & an H of the Gospel”. This special study began last Sunday and will go through Easter Sunday, April 4th . This Sunday School study is for all Adult, Youth and Children’s classes.
This five week Sunday School Bible study is designed to answer six different key questions about the Gospel: Who? What? Where? When? Why? And How?
Each week a different “W” will be explored, as well as one way the “How” question could be answered. We will study the biblical foundations for every believer’s involvement in sharing the Gospel, as well as provide five different simple strategies for witnessing to those who have not yet come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The design is that every participant would come to grips with God’s mandate to speak about what God has done for them. Too many Christians have never even attempted to share the good news about salvation with a lost person. Our goal is that every person who goes through this study would share their faith with others on a regular basis.
Some of the questions we will be answering in the course of this study are:
** Who are the major players in the Gospel?
** What is God’s role in salvation? What is the believer’s role?
** What is the Gospel? If we were to boil down the Gospel to its essential components, what are they?
** Where is the Gospel to be shared?
** When is it appropriate to share the Gospel?
** Why should believers witness about the saving power of the Gospel?
** How can we share the Gospel without memorizing a long presentation?
** How can we effectively share with those who are hard to reach?
Please begin praying now that God will use these lessons to help us all become more consistent and effective in sharing with others what God has done for us?
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Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Bill at 12:17 am by Administrator
Sunday we had a really great service. If you stayed home, you missed a blessing! First, we celebrated baptism for our newest member, Lawrence Johnson. Lawrence heard God’s call in his life and answered, “Yes.” He has started reading his Bible and I am so proud of him.
Then we had an ordination service. Josh Morris heard God’s call in his life and answered, “Yes.” Josh has already started to serve and I am so proud of him.
During the ordination service I had the real privilege of giving Josh the “Charge” of office. To give a charge means to appoint or to assign a duty, a responsibility, or an obligation. I wanted to tell Josh some of what to expect and some of what would be expected of him as a Deacon. Although I issued the Charge to Josh, the charge just as well could have been given to Lawrence as a new Christian. The Charge could have been given to any member of our church. It is a Charge for all God’s people.
As I thought about that I figured I might as well give that Charge to all of us. So here goes…
Christian, you have been called by God to a life of service, to lay your life down and to live out Christ’s life from this point forward. My Charge is simple, just two words…Be Ready.
Be ready to Serve Others for Christ. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:13-14)
o In our world of “me first”, you are being called to be a servant. As Jesus told Peter – “If you love me, feed my sheep.” Christian, I charge you to serve.
Be Ready to Speak for Christ: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
o You are being called to defend the Faith-to be a warrior in the Kingdom and a leader in His Church. Christian, I charge you to proclaim Christ boldly.
Be Ready to Meet Christ. “For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matthew 24:44 (NASB77)
o Live every day ready for His return. Serve every day as if your master were returning today. Reach out to the lost like this was the last opportunity. Because one day soon, it will be.
Finally, let me charge you
Be ready for Attack because of Christ. 1 Peter 5 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
o Satan would like nothing better than to destroy Christ’s church by destroying its leaders. Christian, I charge you to pray.
There you have it. Your charge. Christian, you are called. You have been chosen.
Ephesians 2:8-10 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Pastor Bill
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Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Greg at 12:12 am by Administrator
If you missed Sunday School last week here is a recap of our first study of “the 5 W’s and an H” of the Gospel. I find it to be a wonderful study. I hope you do too.
During March and on Easter Sunday during our Bible Study at 9:45am we will be learning more and more about the gospel. We will also be learning how to share our faith with others. This first lesson is important, so take time this week to read and study the “WHO?” of the Gospel. Then take the time to do the HOW – I think you will find it very rewarding and beneficial to your Christian walk.
The WHO? of the Gospel
Most Christians would heartily agree that witnessing is important. But sometimes, we have made witnessing too complex and difficult. It shouldn’t be that hard to share our faith. Encountering the Who? of the Gospel is where we can begin to understand God’s amazing grace.
So WHO? Is involved in the gospel?
GOD—the Father - John 6:44, HCSB “‘No one can come to Me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.’” God the Father’s role is to draw—to tug or attract by inward power—the lost person to Himself. Sometimes that drawing may be very subtle, but at other times it may be extremely vigorous.
GOD—The Son - Luke 19:10, HCSB “‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.’” Jesus Christ not only seeks the lost, but He saves them as well. He Himself bore the penalty for our sin on the cross, suffering and dying on our behalf. Then three days later He rose from the dead demonstrating His power over sin and death (1 Cor. 15:3-5).
GOD—the Holy Spirit - John 16:8-11, HCSB “‘When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.’” The Spirit’s role in the Gospel is to show or convince us of our fault or error. He shows us who we are and summons us to repent.
MAN—The Believer Although all three members of the Trinity are involved in the salvation process, man is involved in this process as well. The saved believer has a distinct role to fulfill according to Scripture. Jesus spoke of the believer’s role just before He ascended to heaven.
Acts 1:8, HCSB “‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” Here He was not giving a command, but He was stating what He expected to be true of them in the future. Matthew 28:18-20, HCSB “Then Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ ”
MAN—The Unbeliever Who else is involved in the Gospel? The unbeliever, of course. Romans 10:14, HCSB “But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?”
HOW?
It is not uncommon for every believer to have a bit of a struggle when it comes to sharing his or her faith with someone else. We sometimes think we must have a Gospel presentation memorized, or we may think we just aren’t polished enough. Well, here’s one way to share the
Gospel where we let the Word of God speak for itself.
Purchase or create a marked New Testament. A marked New Testament has salvation verses underlined – plus, the page number for the next Scripture is listed at the bottom of the page. The idea is that anyone—even a brand new believer who isn’t familiar with how to find verses in Scripture—can use this New Testament to share the Gospel with someone else. Not only that, you can give the New Testament to the person with whom you have shared. That way he or she will have the Word of God present at all times to continue speaking to his or her heart about the need for a Savior.
You may also want to prepare your own marked New Testament. Inside the front cover of the New Testament, put the first reference from the outline below, as well as the page number where it is found. At each reference, include the big idea from the outline below in the margin, and then write the next reference and page number shown in the outline.
1. All people have rebelled (sinned) against God (Romans 3:23).
2. The price of rebellion (sin) is high (Romans 6:23).
3. God loves us in spite of our sins and sent Jesus to take our punishment (Romans 5:8).
4. Repent, turn toward God, and have your sins taken away (Acts 3:19).
5. By God’s generosity (grace) you can receive His free gift (eternal life) through faith which is also from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
6. Confess Jesus and believe that He was raised from the dead by God (Romans 10:9-10).
7. Call on the Lord in prayer and be saved (Romans 10:13).
I encourage each of you to mark your bible(s) with this information and then Be Ready to share the gospel.
Also – don’t for get to pray for the lost around us. Walk through your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors. Come up to the church and do prayer-walking though the neighborhoods around our church property. I did this with my son, Noah, last Saturday. What a joy it was to pray for people as we walked through a neighborhood adjacent to our church.
I hope to see all of you in bible study and worship this Sunday morning.
May God Bless – Pastor Greg
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03.04.10
Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Bill at 12:29 pm by Administrator
I wrote this article back in early February – before Atlanta had gotten any snow. Last Sunday, Barry said in talking with Amy that she had talked about the theology of snow covering everything. I knew I wanted to resurrect this article and send it in… hope you enjoy it.
The other week I was up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I love Chattanooga. That’s where I went to college and earned my first degree. That’s where I met my wife Piper. That’s where I have some really good memories. And I got to add one more…
While we were there, the weather turned cold and wet and… SNOW. Big fat flakes began falling. I got to stand and watch everything get covered in snow. Cars were covered – you couldn’t tell what kind of cars were parked, only a big “lump” of snow. The parking lots were covered – they became flat white fields.
Regardless of what was outside, it all became the same – white. Covered. It was spectacular and beautiful. The oily spots in the parking lot were covered with white snow and became beautiful. The garbage cans were covered with snow and looked great. The scraggly bushes down the street were transformed into beautiful sculptures – mounds of white fluffy snow.
Grace covers our sin. Psalm 85:2 says, “You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.” Psalm 31:1-2 says, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” {Paul later quotes this in Romans 4:6-8} Elsewhere God says, “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Everything ugly in my life was covered at the Cross. My scraggly works become heaps of His mercy. The oily spots of my sins are covered over with a layer of His grace. The Place where my iniquity was parked has become a dazzling field of His forgiveness.
Jesus came to forgive sins. Not just to cover them over, but to remove them. At His “last supper” Jesus said, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
Listen to some of these promises:
• But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
• Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19
• “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
I don’t know how you’re feeling about yourself today, but let me tell you – you’re beautiful. In Christ you’re a giant mound of His grace and mercy. You’re forgiven. You’re so valuable that God did that for you!
Do you have someone in your life that’s feeling down – at the end of their rope – getting beat down by the world? Maybe share with them the wonders of God’s snow, His grace that covers everything.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24
With the love of Christ,
Pastor Bill
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Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Greg at 12:23 pm by Administrator
As I write this article I am reminded of a phrase I learned many years ago.
Life is short; death is sure.
Sin is the cause; Christ is the cure.
Over the past two weeks, two friends have been diagnosed with seemingly incurable cancer. They and their immediate families are way too young to have to deal with this, but nonetheless the cancer is still very present, very real and very serious. Both, I am happy to say, are true believers in Jesus Christ. Their lives are sealed in Christ Jesus and their future is assured for all eternity.
As pastor, my prayer is that every member of Rock Bridge Baptist Church knows for sure, without a doubt, that when they die and leave this earth they will be welcomed into the presence of Almighty God for all eternity. During the month of March, we will be studying together the “5 W’s and an H of the Gospel” during our Sunday school hour each Sunday morning. This will be a great time for every member to make sure, to know without a doubt, that they have truly trusted in Jesus Christ and Christ alone for their salvation.
This will also a great time for every believer to learn how to share the gospel in their own words. To be able to speak freely about what God has done in their own life and to be able tell others what God will do for them if they will place their trust in Jesus. This is what Across GA 2010 is all about: Every Believer Sharing / Every Person Hearing. This will be our focus in March – all leading up to Easter on April 4th.
I hope you will join with us Sunday morning at 9:45 for this special 5 week Bible study. If you aren’t currently involved in one of our Bible studies this will be a great time to get active. We have classes downstairs and upstairs. We have classes for all ages. We have a class just for you – so come and be a part of what God is doing at Rock Bridge. I think you will truly love studying God’s Word with other believers at 9:45 each Sunday morning.
I hope you will join with us on Saturday, March 6th, for breakfast that the Men’s Ministry will be preparing. The food and fellowship is always delightful. Following the breakfast you can join us for some work around the church or you may want to do some prayer walking in the neighborhoods adjacent to our church property. Or – you may want to do all three – eat, work and pray – that’s a great way to start the weekend.
Then on Sunday, March 7th, we will celebrate what God is doing as we have a Deacon Ordination service for Josh Morris. Following the service, we will have a church-wide covered dish fellowship lunch. Don’t miss out on anything this weekend. It’s going to be great. I’m going to be there – I hope you will be there too.
May God Bless, – Pastor Greg
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02.25.10
Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Barry at 6:38 pm by Administrator
Several weeks ago Pastor Greg challenged our church members to individually pray with the guidance of a Prayer Guide. Some of you might have noticed that there was a section on fasting. This will be my third week having one day of fasting and prayer, only drinking water. I have chosen Wednesday as my full day of fasting because it seems like the Baptist Holy Day. Wednesdays are special in the Baptist church because the evening church activities help us spiritually through the remainder of the week. Skipping one day from eating was not as difficult as I had anticipated. On my fasting day, whenever tempted about eating, I quickly remind myself that I should be in prayer. Naturally, this occurs many times on my fasting days. The skipped breakfast at home gives me a little more free time in the morning. I sit in a quiet room and meditate on spiritual things during my lunch break at work. I go to church to help with AWANAs after work and skip my evening meal. During the time I would normally be eating, I sometimes think about the previous Sunday sermons or Bible study topics. Other times I work on Bible studies. The spiritual fast is not for loosing physical nourishment to reduce weight, but for increasing in spiritual nourishment to grow character. I recommend every one reading this column start a regular fasting routine. You will feel better physically and spiritually.
Pastor Barry
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02.22.10
Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Bill at 10:41 pm by Administrator
This last weekend I went to a youth conference over in Conyers at a place called “Church in the Now.” All over there were banners that said “EACH”. I wondered what that was until I saw one that had writing around the outside – it said, “Everyone Attending, Contributing, and Helping.”
That is a bold call for the church. EVERYONE. That means…everyone. Every person attending every week. Every person contributing to the wellbeing and work of the church. Every person helping somewhere. EVERYONE.
Sunday afternoon Rock Bridge held our first new members orientation class. I thought it went really well. We had some good discussion. Pastor Greg talked about the uniqueness of our church and how we came from the merger of two great churches to be a stronger force for Kingdom work in our area. Pastor Barry talked about what makes Baptists different from other kinds of Christian churches.
One of the areas I got to discuss was opportunities for service. When the Pastors got together to discuss what to present in the class we said we wanted to make a bold statement – we expect everyone to serve. Some churches are afraid to ask for anything – so they develop weak Christians. We expect everyone to serve to develop strong faith and commitment to prayer.
So during the class Barry talked about the priesthood of all believers – how we are all individually connected to God and we don’t need to go through a Pastor or Priest. Greg talked about the importance of the mission of Rock Bridge. And I said everyone must be a part to achieve the mission. We are the body of Christ. A body with parts that do not work is not a healthy body. We told our new believers that we expect them to serve because Christ called them. But that call is not just for new believers or new members. Everyone must serve. EACH.
Everyone Attending. Are you a regular participant in our church activities? By regular I don’t mean do you show up every couple months 
. We’re in a battle against dark forces. We want you to attend for your own good. An ember kicked away from the fire soon looses its glow and grows cold. We want you to attend for your good. (Hebrews 10:25).
Everyone Contributing. Our church was formed to be a stronger force for kingdom work. But to carry out Christ’s mission, it must be funded. Again, this is not something to be done to help the church – God will take care of His church. We tell you to tithe because it is a command of God for your good! Philippians 4:17 says, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” Your giving teaches discipline and results in God pouring out gifts to you – credits it to your account. Everyone should contribute financially at least 10 percent of what they make.
Everyone Helping. Have you ever had your hands full and tried to get out your keys and open the door? You juggle and bobble and often drop things. We say things like, “I wish I had another hand.” That’s how it is in Kingdom work. You are that other hand for someone. If everyone helps, the work is easy. Mom used to say, “Many hands make light work.”
Will you be part of “Everyone”? We need you. Christ calls you. Everyone.
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02.17.10
Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Greg at 9:55 pm by Administrator
Prayer: What a powerful word!
Prayer: What an incredible concept – to be able to converse directly and personally with the Creator God.
Prayer: What a wonderful expression of love – to be able to carry our own concerns and the concerns of others to our Heavenly Father.
Prayer: What a joy to know that our Friend will listen and He will answer.
Shortly after Rock Bridge Baptist Church was birthed, I asked you to begin praying for Carsyn, a little baby cousin of one of my co-workers. In May 2009 you began to pray. Many of you have asked over the months about how he was doing. Today I’d like to share with you a letter that Carsyn’s mom, Lauren, recently sent to the AJC:
“I am a single mother of a beautiful baby boy. In May of 2009, I moved with my parents to Atlanta. Our first week in Georgia, my son was diagnosed with Congenital Infantile Fibrosarcoma in his heart. We spent months in the CICU at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. This is where we met our “Angel in Scrubs,” Marybeth Fasio-Norwood. Never have I felt so much love and compassion from a complete stranger, the first day we met. During our stay at Egleston, we met a number of different nurses all with different personalities. Marybeth had more fire, passion, and faith than any other! My world was falling apart and she held me close numerous times as a mother would. My son was not supposed to survive, as he was in such uncharted territory. He is the only person in the world to be registered with cancer in the heart. As the Doctors were rolling the dice, Marybeth was there. She would call or come check on us on her days off. Carsyn, my son, had never been sick before we moved here. I do not believe he would have survived had we stayed in Florida. Doctors did not think my little man would make it to a year old. I am blessed and proud to say he is almost 15 months! I believe it was divine intervention and that God sent us here so we would receive Marybeth and her amazing care. She is now family to me and mine. Here is a little poem I wrote to express my respect and love for this wonderful woman…”
“An angel in scrubs is what I received.
A shoulder to cry on as I sobbed and grieved.
I was given a gift that made my life worthwhile.
God was testing my strength, turning this journey into a trial.
She taught me strength, as I felt so alone.
Turned the room of beeping machines and wires into a home.
There was a three-way connection between my angel, baby, and me.
I am blessed to say my baby is now cancer-free.
How I would of made it through without my angel? I will never know.
A hug, a blessing, and a Thank you, I will always owe.”
We can celebrate Carsyn’s successful surgeries and his recovery. We need to continue to pray for him to grow into a healthy young boy that can play and run and laugh and do all of the things that little boys should able to do. You, Rock Bridge Baptist Church, were a part of that. You prayed. You intervened on his behalf. You expressed concern to our Heavenly Father for a little child that you didn’t even know. My coworker said, “Lauren, wanted me to personally thank each and every one of you for your thoughts, prayers, and support even though you’ve never met her or Carsyn. Lauren stated “they’ll never know how much it meant to us, thank you!””
In this newsletter and in our Sunday morning bulletin you will find our weekly prayer list. Take time to pray for these concerns. In our Sunday evening Bible Study the LORD (Jesus) said to Abraham: “Is anything too difficult for the LORD?” Our standard Sunday school answer is “No – Nothing is too difficult for the LORD.” If that’s the case (which it is) then we should be praying like we truly believe that.
Some folks need healing – miraculous healing. Is miraculous healing too difficult for the LORD? No! So pray for miraculous healing – complete and total healing – pray for a wholeness and fullness of health for those who are sick. Some folks need employment – they need a job. We are in hard financial times in our country and times are tough for all of us. Is providing employment too difficult for the LORD? No! So pray that the LORD will bless each and everyone in our congregation, not only with a job, but with a good and rewarding job. Others are experiencing all sorts of difficulties and challenges. In every case – pray big. Pray with certainty. Pray with joy. And pray with thanksgiving.
May God Bless – Pastor Greg
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Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Bill at 8:50 pm by Administrator
Alright, if you haven’t seen the movie “The Book of Eli” and you still think you might – don’t read this column. I’m going to talk about the movie and I don’t want to spoil the key plot twists for anyone. If, on the other hand, you’ve already seen it or you don’t intend to see it…read on. {I’ll apologize in advance – I had so much to say, this is going to take a while to read.}
For my birthday Piper and I went out to the movies and we saw “The Book of Eli.” It is a bloody movie with plenty of foul language, so I can’t recommend anyone see it. However, it had a couple of great messages that I thought I’d try to write about. First, here’s the basic plot to the movie:
Eli (Denzel Washington) has been on a journey for 30 years, walking west across America after a cataclysmic war that turned the earth into a total wasteland. The world has become a lawless civilization where people must kill or be killed. The barren roads belong to gangs of cutthroats who rob and kill for water, a pair of shoes, a lighter, or just for fun. Eli is a peaceful man who only acts in self defense, and becomes a warrior with unbelievable killing skills when he is challenged. After the war and the “Big Flash”, Eli was guided by a higher power to a hidden book and given the task of protecting the book and taking it to its final destination. Eli guards the book with his life, because he knows that the book is the only hope that humanity has for its future.
The book turns out to be the Christian Bible. After a nuclear catastrophe, the surviving world (for some unexplained reason) turns against the Bible and destroys every copy in existence. And the world spins into total barbarism.
The only hope for humanity
That’s my first point. Without the Bible, without the teachings God gives us in His Word, we are truly lost. In the movie we witness lots of killings, blood, rape, and decadence. At one point Eli recounts the world before the war saying, “We used to throw away things that we now kill people to have.” But would that really happen? Would the world really spin out of control without the Bible? Just read the newspaper. This morning I read an article about the shootings at a San Francisco area church. The article said this…
It was the latest shooting in the city of about 103,000 on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay that already has seen seven homicides this year, including a 23-year-old pregnant woman killed during a drive-by shooting while picking up her son from school. {The town has} garnered national attention after the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl outside a high school homecoming dance while as many as 20 bystanders watched without calling police. Seven people from 15 to 43 years old have pleaded not guilty in the attack. Police are also looking into a string of more than two dozen car arson fires that began last fall.
The movie says, “this book is the only hope that humanity has for its future.” I firmly believe that.
When there is no Bible
{Plot spoiler warning again} In the movie Eli has spent 30 years walking across the country to a destination God pointed him toward as the destination for the Bible. During that 30 years Eli had read the Bible every day. In the end, the bad guys – thinking that religion is power – steal his Bible to use in manipulating and controlling people. Even without the Bible, Eli continues walking. When he arrives at his final destination, he tells the people he has a copy of the Bible (I thought he was lying). Once inside Eli recites the entire Bible from memory, allowing the recovery of God’s Word for this society. Profound.
“Impossible”, you may be thinking. But it reminds me of story I read about Pastor Martin Niemoller, who stood opposed to Adolf Hitler during World War II. While interred at a concentration camp during the war Pastor Niemoller met an old rabbi. To Niemoller’s amazement the rabbi had memorized the entire Old Testament and worked every day from memory to do a daily recitation of scripture. Niemoller asked the man why he had done this, and the old rabbi replied, “The only Bible that you own is that which is in your heart.”
I know memorizing scripture is not easy. But if we believe the Bible is the only hope for humanity, then shouldn’t we do more with it than carry it around? When asked the condition of the Bible (which Eli had memorized), Eli says his Bible is ‘beat up, but will do the job.’ How’s your Bible? Mine needs a lot of work. I have a hard time memorizing verses, and particularly the address of those verses. Yet, when I am talking with someone about the deepest needs of life, my words mean nothing – until I begin to quote what God says. Then there is healing. Then there is change. Then there is hope. Try to memorize a handful of verses this month – it will be worth the effort. If you want some suggestions, come talk to me or Pastor Barry or Pastor Greg.
The 30-year walk
In the movie, Eli has been walking for 30 years to get from where he started to the west coast where God has sent him. 30 years of hardship. 30 years of struggle. During the movie I caught myself wondering if there wasn’t a faster way to get to the west coast. Particularly since the mission was so important. Shouldn’t God have given him a ride? Couldn’t he get there in less than 30 years?
Then, at the end of the movie, as Eli began quoting the Bible word-for-word to preserve the text, it became clear. God was doing a great thing by having Eli walk for 30 years. For in those years Eli memorized the text. In those years it truly became the “book of Eli”. And when I saw that I knew that the journey was part of the mission. God had not left Eli alone. God had given him a great gift so Eli would be equipped to give a great gift – God’s Word. Have you been praying for a faster route to get to where God has called you? Remember, the journey is the mission.
Now I’ve been on this Christian journey more than 30 years. Some of you have been on walking even longer. What have we done with the time? Are we equipped? “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) I am called upon every week to give an answer – sometimes with my words, sometimes with my actions. Am I ready to give to people the Word of God? Are you ready? If not, what will you do differently with your walk?
Without Equal
In the end, the world recovers the lost Bible – the message of hope – the Word of God. Eli recites the Bible for someone to write down. At the end of the movie we see the completed Bible being printed. After all that work. After all that walking. After all that struggle. Finally. But, the movie had an interesting twist. The completed Bible is…placed on a shelf. Ouch. What a tragedy that after all it took to deliver God’s Word, it is placed on a shelf. And I’m not talking about the movie – I mean in our own homes. Take that precious book down and read it, read it every day.
The movie’s ending really angered me. (I personally think it was a “politically correct” change in the ending from what I would have expected.) When the Bible is placed on a shelf, it is placed among other religious works such as the Muslim Quran. The movie took great pains to say God had called Eli, protected Eli, and preserved His Word. But we treat it as just another religious book. Do you think the Bible is “on par with” other religious books? Man, you’re wrong. This is God’s Holy Word. It is the Hope of the world. It is the source of Spiritual truth. It alone points out the path to salvation and reconciliation with our Creator God.
The Journey isn’t over
The movie closes with the final words of Eli’s last prayer, saying he has completed his job, won the race, and kept the faith, as we see the traveling companion of Eli start off on her own journey… to spread the word of hope that Eli brought; the words of hope for mankind’s future… and shepherd them to where they can learn of the hope they almost lost.
Are you ready to go on that great journey? It starts with prayer. It continues with daily reading God’s Word. But it must continue out into the World. At one point in the Movie Eli said, “I spent so much time protecting the Word I forgot to carry out what it said.” Let us not be in that position.
Our church is going to start the mission with “Across Georgia-2010”. Pastor Greg wrote about that in his column last week. Please join in. Agree to spend extra time in prayer for our community. Agree to walk a neighborhood every week to pray for the lost ones living there. Join in outreach so every home may have this Word of hope. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. If you can say that, won’t you help other blind people find hope in Christ?
Pastor Bill
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02.16.10
Posted in Newsletter, Pastor Greg at 3:54 pm by Administrator
Last Saturday our Church Council met to discuss plans for 2010. Many of the Ministry Teams shared upcoming plan and events that are now on our church calendar. It’s exciting to see God’s people working and serving and ministering together for His Glory. We’ve got a lot ahead of us – it will be hard work – but it will also be rewarding work.
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (NIV). One of the exciting works which I believe God has prepared in advance for us here at Rock Bridge Baptist Church is to participate in Across Georgia 2010. Below is a summary of the Across Georgia ministry. Take time to read through this and then begin to ask the Lord how you can be involved in carrying the gospel to those who need Christ in our community.
Did You Know?
Georgia’s population is 9.7 million. Approximately 6.8 million do not know Christ as Savior. There are almost 2000 lost people for every Georgia Baptist church
“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37b-38 NKJV
What If?
What if every Georgia Baptist church prayed and partnered together to saturate Georgia’s communities with the seed of the Gospel using their unique gifts and resources? What if the sowing occurred simultaneously to maximize the possibility that every member of the communities would hear the Gospel? That is what Across Georgia 2010 is all about.
The Plan
The North American Mission Board and the Georgia Baptist Convention are partnering together with Georgia’s associations and churches to navigate more energy toward reaching the lost. The plan is called God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS). Effectiveness in evangelism will occur as every church engages in:
** Praying for those who do not know Christ.
** Engaging believers in effectively sharing their faith.
** Sowing the Gospel so that the lost community hears the good news.
** Harvesting as congregations celebrate those who trust in Christ.
A Flexible Strategy
Georgia Baptists believe that there is only one way to a relationship with God and that is through Jesus Christ. They also understand that there are many ways to sow and share the Gospel so that unbelievers have an opportunity to trust Christ as their Savior. Every pastor, staff, and congregation possesses their own unique strengths and preferences. A “one size fits all” strategy of evangelism will never work.
Christians have one Gospel and we have many ways to share. Churches are challenged to implement the strategy that best utilizes its strengths and resources. Every church, new and established, contemporary, traditional or blended in style, North, South, East, and West can connect to this strategy.
Every Georgia Baptist church is challenged to engage their congregation in one or more of the following intentional evangelistic initiatives:
1. Prepare and host an evangelistic revival.
2. Implement a servant or community evangelism project.
3. Take the scripture to every home in its community.
4. Train every member to share the Gospel through their Sunday School or in small groups.
OR
5. Implement a personalized local evangelistic effort that you have found to be effective.
This sounds exciting doesn’t it? I hope each of you will want to be involved in saturating our community with prayer and with invitations to hear and receive the gospel. This Across Georgia 2010 ministry will help us to keep our focus on Kingdom work. Here’s a reminder of our Ministry and Mission Vision as we formed Rock Bridge Baptist church jut 10 months ago:
Ministry and Mission Vision
We believe combining to form a new church will provide the resources (property, people, and prayer) for successful Kingdom work in our area. We will focus those resources with a new vision for ministry (internal) and mission (external outreach).
Ministry vision
1. Focus on top-notch music and worship with a greater variety of styles including combined choirs and a praise band with modern worship songs.
2. Focus on Senior Adults, drawing on their spiritual maturity and strength while providing support and encouragement.
3. Focus on Biblical training (Discipleship) for all age groups.
Mission vision
1. Outreach to Children and youth. Virtually every student in the Norcross area will be functional with the English language. Reaching these students through Sunday School, AWANA, youth programs, VBS, etc. will provide an avenue to reach families in the community.
2. Partner with civic and social groups to provide life-changing programs on basic life issues (such as parenting classes, money management, language classes, etc.)
3. Outreach with community programs, such as a family life center, sports programs, etc.
Plan now to join with us in the exciting adventure of walking with Christ in our community.
May God Bless
Pastor Greg
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