Life Matters

Can You Hear Me Now? (10 Ways Our Church Wants To Communicate With You)

Great things are always happening at Fort Caroline Baptist Church. We want to keep you informed and involved. Here are the top 10 ways we try to do that. I would love to hear your ideas for improving or adding to these methods.

1. Our Church Website. Our church website, www.fcbcjax.com, is filled with useful information for members and guests alike. You will find here the latest announcements, sermons, an on-line giving link, ministry activities, a church calendar, staff contact information, resources, forms and policies, and much more. 
2. Weekly Worship Guide. The worship guide (bulletin) is distributed to everyone who attends our weekend services. You can pick one up from the friendly greeters at the doors. The bulletins include the latest announcements, a list of the day's worship songs, the list of key volunteers who are serving, sermon notes, instructions on how to become a member of the church, and a Communication Card. The Communication Card is a tool for guest registration, prayer requests, and class/activities sign-up form. We also use the card to give people a way to indicate the spiritual commitments God leads them to make that day (trusting Christ for salvation, baptism, church membership, etc). Feel free to complete a Communication Card as appropriate and place it in the offering plate when it is passed down your row. 
3. Weekly e-Newsletter. Our office sends out an electronic newsletter near the end of each week to inform you of exciting events and opportunities coming up that weekend. The e-Newsletter is brief, but informative. Don't miss it! Contact Sheila Barber at publications@fcbcjax.com and tell her you want to receive the weekly e-News. 
4. Monthly Newsletter. The monthly newsletter is filled with articles and announcements from your staff and ministry leaders. It includes a monthly calendar of major events and services. You can also keep up with how your church is doing in attendance and finances. The monthly newsletter is sent directly to your in-box. (We make printed copies available to home-bound adults and others without access to a computer.) Contact Sheila Barber at publications@fcbcjax.com if you did not receive the February 2012 edition of the monthly newsletter. 
5. facebook. It seems like everyone is on facebook these days! Did you know your church has a facebook page? The staff and I post announcements, updates, prayer requests, etc. Facebook is a great place to interact with other church members. Visit us today on facebook and be sure to "Like" us! 
6. My blog. You are reading this on my blog, so I am positive that you visit "Life Matters" every day! I have not always been as consistent as I should in posting to my blog. I have been a little negligent during the holidays. I vow to do better. You never know what you will find here, but I try to post things that will speak into your life as you live for Christ. Marriage, finances, book reviews, sermons, my (humble, but always correct) opinions, thoughts on church and trends, are just a few of the things I have blogged about in the past. I am open to your ideas of topics you would like to see me address.  Comment below and let me know! 
7. Twitter. Follow me on twitter @pastorrickyp. I do not tweet every move I make, but I do like to give you a glimpse into what I am doing or thinking at times. 
8. Church Worship Announcements. From time to time we will make announcements in the worship services about upcoming events. Most of the announcements are printed in your bulletin. At times we display them on the screens prior to each service. It is impossible to verbally make all the announcements that people want me to make in the limited time we have on Sunday mornings. Besides, I don't have the spiritual gift of announcements. Read my previous post on my philosophy of church announcements here. 
9. Word of Mouth/Networking. There is power in social networking. We encourage everyone to invite their family and friends to church activities and services. We discovered that 80% of the first-time guests to our church came because one of their family members or friends invited them! Use facebook to invite others to our church. E-mail your friends about a class or message series that might benefit them. Encourage them to join you in your LifeGroup. Speak positively about how the church is impacting your life, family, marriage, relationship with God, or your understanding of Scripture. 
10. A Personal Visit From the Pastor. Well, on second thought, that won't work. I wish I could visit every member of our church in their home. I wish I could visit every member at Starbucks for coffee. But we have over 2,000 members now and even I cannot drink that much coffee! So help me think of how we can improve our communication to you. Drop me a note below. After all, true communication is a two-way street!

New and Improved!

It has been four years since we remodeled our worship center. We have truly enjoyed the changes. Our Church Finance Team recently approved repainting the interior of the worship center. While we are at it, we are addressing one of the complaints we have heard about the color scheme. Many felt that it was too monochromatic. We have, therefore, decided to incorporate two of the colors from our church logo as a way of creating interest and color without it being over the top. The side walls up to the lighting alcoves will be painted the light green of our logo. I have looked at color samples and believe it will be nice. The wall behind the choir would be the darker color. This will help with visual interest as well as providing a better background for the video cameras. The back wall as you exit will be left as is since it is covered with so many sound panels. The new color scheme will look modern and warm. It will tie in perfectly with the colors we already have in there. I have also asked that the speaker enclosure above the pulpit be removed in order to improve the sightlines. It is difficult to imagine or describe all these changes with words, but I think you will be please with the changes we are making this week. (Of course, I am well aware that you cannot please everyone when it comes to decorating).

NextSteps Church Membership Class

 "Why are we starting this new ministry?" "Are we really trying to reach those 'kind' of people?" "You mean the church really believes THAT?" "Do I have to be baptized to be saved?" "Why doesn't this church observe Communion every Sunday?" "Do you baptize babies?"

These are just a few of the questions I have been asked by members and prospective members alike. A lot of people have various answers to these questions; some have the right answers and some have the wrong answers. Without a clear communication of what membership means at Fort Caroline Baptist Church confusion invariably ensues.

Fort Caroline Baptist Church desires to make church membership meaningful. This requires that people truly understand and accept who we are as a church. Without a membership class people become full-fledged members possibly without knowing the basic doctrines and distinctive ministry objectives of our church. I teach NextSteps new member's class because it helps unify our members around four qualities of a healthy church.

1.    A Common Salvation (A Regenerate Membership)

Our church will never have unity of purpose until we have unity of faith. We must make sure our members start their journey of faith on the same starting mark – faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. This first segment of NextSteps Membership helps people understand the basics of what the Bible teaches concerning salvation. After focusing on how sin has disrupted God's original design for humanity – perfect communion with him – the class then shifts to the only possible solution to the sin problem: the death of God's own son, Jesus Christ. Many of the people who attend this class have never trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior. This class enables me to lead people to make this important commitment to Christ. Several people who have attended the class over the years have trusted Christ and followed Him in believer's baptism! We follow the lesson on salvation with the meaning of the two biblical symbols of salvation – baptism and the Lord's Supper.

2.    A Common Statement

Next, the attention of the class turns to the basic beliefs of the church, starting with the congregation's mission statement to "Love God, Love Others, and Serve the World." For many who are new to our congregation this will be their first introduction to what it means to be a part of a church with a clear mission. The class goes through all five purposes of the church (worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism) and explains how they impact our church's ministry. The class then focuses on the essential theological beliefs of our church, including what we believe about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, eternity, and more. Each participant receives a copy of The Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention. This is the official doctrinal statement of our church. Each person who desires membership at FCBC should read and agree with the statement. Finally, we take a look at the lifestyle expectations of church members, including their responsibility to be regular in worship attendance, to tithe, to join a Life Group, to serve in a ministry, and to share their faith.

3.    A Common Strategy

If our church members agree on a common salvation and common belief statements but not on a strategy, we will still be climbing uphill on our journey to fulfill our mission in our context. The NextSteps Membership class helps us explain our church's strategy for reaching our community and world. Included in this session is information on the concentric circles of commitment (Community, Crowd, Congregation, Committed, Core). Explaining our strategy to help people move in their commitment to Christ and His church helps members understand why we do the things we do as a church (and why we don't do other things).

4.    A Common Structure

This section helps unpack different metaphors the New Testament uses for the church, including the church as a family, as the Body of Christ, and as a flock. It then helps show how these truths shape how our church structures itself with Pastors, Deacons, Small Groups, and ministries. As a prelude to what attendees will learn in NextSteps (Discovering My Ministry)the class also teaches the biblical role of pastors as administers of the church and members as the ministers. This will help prepare our members for learning their spiritual gifts and abilities and using them to serve others in the church. Few other biblical truths can have such a transformative effect on the life of our congregation and free our church to reach its ministry potential.

We also include information on our denominational affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Florida Baptist Convention, and the Jacksonville Baptist Association. Class members receive information about our church's history, staff, and ministry opportunities. We conclude with a discussion of membership expectations.

Finally, those attending the class are urged to join our team as church members. Best of all, new church members will be on the same page and will be ready to go to the next stage of their spiritual journey with us!

Please call the church office at 904-642-2288 if you would like to attend NextSteps Membership. The class is open to everyone and there is no obligation or pressure to join the church. The class is 2^1/2 hours long and child-care is available. It is informal and fun! We are offering the class on May 22, 2011 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. I hope you will join me soon!

Sign Up for the Weekly E-Newsletter of Fort Caroline Baptist Church

 
The weekly e-newsletter started on Friday, March 18^th. This newsletter provides information about upcoming events, especially what will affect you during the next week. This will allow us to free up space in the bulletin to communicate items we are currently not able to provide. This will not replace the monthly newsletter. If interested in receiving this weekly e-newsletter, please check the appropriate box on the communication card and fill in your email address or email Sheila Barber at publications@fcbcjax.com. If you decide you no longer wish to receive the e-newsletter you can simply unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter. You can also forward it to your family and friends to keep them informed.

"Are we going to allow a church to be held captive to the personal preferences of a few in our attempt to bring salvation to the many?"

This morning I received a thought-provoking and convicting e-mail from Walter Bennett who is serving as the interim Director of Missions for the Jacksonville Baptist Association. I have posted the entirety of his e-mail to pastors below. I love and respect Walter more than he knows. He has spoken into my life in so many ways over the last few years. As I reflected on his question I realized that I have often been guilty of focusing more on those I am trying to keep rather than those I am trying to reach. I know there has to be a healthy balance between reaching out to the lost and ministering to the saved, but most of the time our church is too focused on the latter group. Try changing "the way we have always done it" (what ever "it" is) and you will raise the ire of many who care more about their preferences than reaching the lost. Don't misunderstand me. I am not one for railroading changes in the church for the sake of being trendy. I am not one who acts quickly without first trying to communicate the how and why of the changes. But I am increasingly convicted that the world is going to Hell too quickly for us to drag our feet before getting serious about reaching the lost. That is why I will never apologize for asking the members of Fort Caroline to remain committed to our common Master (the Lord Jesus Christ), our common message (the Gospel of Jesus Christ), and our common mission (to reach the lost by sharing the Gospel, and to disciple the saved so they will increasingly love God, love others, and serve the world). Here is Walter's e-mail:

??? A Penetrating Question???

Steve Furtick is lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. which has experienced an incredible blessing of God. In a recent article, he noted that people often ask him what he has done to be able to reach so many people.

Listen to his response: "I could tell you a lot of things that we have done. But none of it will help you until you make the decision we made in the early days of our church. That was the decision to be more focused on the people we are trying to reach than on the people we are trying to keep. As others have said, TO BE FISHERS OF MEN, NOT JUST KEEPERS OF THE AQUARIUM."

That response caused me to do some serious thinking. We talk about our desire to reach people, but are we more focused on keeping than reaching? When we look at our church calendar, budget, and what we enlist and train people to do, what does it say about our priorities? Is our vision and ministry shaped by the people we now have or by those we are trying to reach?

Furtick speaks to those who would pit evangelism against discipleship. He responds, "I believe true disciples should care more about making disciples than freeze-framing the church the way it was when they became a disciple.
...if the mark of Christian maturity is a bunch of people who want to create a museum glorifying and preserving their personal preference, and then sanctify it by calling it a church, count me out."

The penetrating question: "Are we going to allow a church to be held captive to the personal preferences of a few in our attempt to bring salvation to the many?"

Steve set me to thinking, and I know he does you. Wasn't it Reggie McNeal who said "the church does not have a mission, the mission has a church"? My prayer is that God will give each of us a compelling vision of His work in our lives and the passion for it that will ignite every person around us!

Walter Bennett, Interim DOM
Jacksonville Baptist Association

Have We Forfeited Our Right To Exist As A Church?

  "…He showed them His hands and His side…Then Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you'" (John 20:20-21).

 

 

The work of Calvary is complete, but the WORD of Calvary is not complete. There are untold millions yet untold! "…All authority has been given to Me…Go…make disciples of all the nations…" (Matthew 28:18-19). Out of His divine and sacrificial authority Jesus commissioned His disciples to their own mission in the world. Fort Caroline Baptist Church, hear your pastor well. We have a mission from Christ. Our mission is not to be a country club for comfortable Christians! Our mission is to be a lighthouse in a darkened world, a lifesaving station on the seas of sin, and a hospital for the hurting. God has called us to be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium! Every decision we make as a church must be motivated by a desire to fulfill our God-given mission to reach the lost! George W. Truett, the late pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas used to say, "A church that is not missionary does not deserve the ground upon which its buildings stand." (Building An Evangelistic Church, Paul Powell, p. 65). If we refuse to live as missionaries in our culture and community then we will forfeit our right to exist as a church! If we are not living as "sent-ones" in our daily lives then we have missed the imperative of the Great Commission.

Church, please hear my heart. I know that I do not always make decisions that please all of you. I have never intentionally tried to antagonize you or change things for the sake of change. I do not want to be trendy. I am not trying to make our church like some famous pastor's church. Every decision I make as your pastor is motivated out of a deep desire to lead our church to fulfill our mission of reaching the lost. Christ has called us to communicate the Gospel to our generation. Like a missionary who serves overseas, we must communicate the unchanging message of Jesus in a way that the people we are attempting to reach can understand. The MESSAGE never changes, but METHODS often do. Jesus did not die for our methods; He died for men. He did not hang on the cross for our preferences; He gave His life for people. He did not sacrifice His life for styles, but for souls! I know that you will not always like my methods, but at least you can appreciate my motives! A lady once complained to D.L. Moody, "Mr. Moody, I don't like your methods." Moody reportedly replied, "Well, my dear, I don't care for some of them myself. What are yours?" She replied, "I don't have any." Moody then responded, "In that case, I like the way I'm doing it better than the way you are not doing it." The point is, if I made all my decisions based on what I like or only on what Christians like then things would be a lot different. We would never change anything. We would do things like we used to in the "good-ole days." But Christ has not called us to turn inward and do things only for ourselves. He has turned us outward towards a lost and dying community! I have no problem calling Christians to sacrifice their preferences in the name of the One who sacrificed Himself for the world. Our church is trying to reach your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends, your family members and your grand-kids. Help me as I follow Christ on this mission!

Please Pray For The Families and Congregation of Northpoint Baptist Church In Arlington, TX

Pastor Found Dead in Arlington Church: MyFoxDFW.com

What Can Chick-fil-A Teach the Church?

I love Chick-fil-A. I don't just love them because of their awesome chicken sandwiches or waffle fries or sweet tea. I love that Chick-fil-A is a Christian company that wants to make a difference in the lives of people and communities. You can see it in their charitable contributions and their WinShape camps for children. I love them because they value people. You can see it in how they treat their customers. I go to some restaurants where the folks behind the counter barely look at you when taking your order. But at Chick-fil-a I have noticed the employees smile, they ask how they can serve you, and they say "thank you." I have often contemplated this difference between them and their competitors. Today I saw a video that helped me understand. Chick-fil-a trains their folks to see people as more than customers. Chick-fil-a employees are encouraged to see that every person is unique and every person has a story. We should treat people with respect because they come from a unique place in life and you never know what they have been through.As you watch the video consider how you treat the people you interact with at church and in the world. Are you kind, considerate, welcoming, patient, loving, forgiving, merciful, grateful, joyful, helpful...are you Christ-like? Do you welcome guests? Are you considerate of the feelings of others? Do you reserve the best parking spots for the guests? Do you speak to the people you pass in the hallway? I am not talking to just the greeters and ushers. This is not just for the staff. This is for every believer. Every life has a story!

Christmas Eve Services At Fort Caroline Baptist Church

 

I hope you and your family will join me on Christmas Eve for one of three Candlelight services. The service times are 4:00 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. No childcare is offered for the services. The church is located at 11428 McCormick Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225.

Merry Christmas!

What Does The Bible Say About The Church?

The church (from the Greek word ekklesia) is the assembly of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ both locally and universally. The church was founded by Jesus Christ and is being built by Him on the confession that He is the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16-19; Ephesians 2:20). Believers identify with the Lord and the church through their profession of faith by baptism (immersion in water). Jesus Christ loves the church and purchased it with His own blood (Ephesians 5:23-27). He is to have preeminence in all things in the church (Colossians 1:11-18) The church is the expression of the Body of Christ on earth Ephesians 5:22-23, 30; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Each local church is autonomous and is ruled by the risen Lord Jesus Christ through His people’s submission to His written revelation, the Bible (Romans 12:1-3; Ephesians 5:24).

The Church has two ordained offices; pastors and deacons. Christ calls out pastors (also called elders, bishops, overseers) to provide leadership, wisdom, and care for the church (1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17). The office of deacon is one of ministry and service to Jesus Christ through His church under the leadership of the pastor (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13). The New Testament does not support the notion of deacons as being over the pastor. Their primary role is to meet the spiritual, physical, and temporal needs of the congregation so as to release the pastors to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-7). As such, the pastors and deacons serve as co-laborers in the church. 

The church has two ordinances, baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:47-48) and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-38; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34) which symbolize Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and the new life He gives to all believers.

The Church is to meet regularly for worship, edification, ministry, and fellowship (Ephesians 5:18-20; Hebrews 10:19-25). It has been commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to take the Gospel to all people and nations (Matthew 16:19-20; 28:18-20).

Believers are called to assemble on a regular basis for worship, prayer, edification, teaching, fellowship, and ministry (Hebrews 10:25). Christ endows the members of the church with at least one spiritual gift for the purpose of building up the spiritual life of the church (1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 4:4-16). The church is called to warn erring believers and to exercise church discipline if required (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; James 5:19-20). The church ought to be generous in providing relief to poor fellow members and congregations (2 Corinthians 8-9; Philippians 1:15-18).