Pastor Ricky Powell

Don't Forget To Set Your Clocks Back Tonight

Daylight savings time is coming to an end. Remember to set your clocks back one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday or before you go to bed Saturday night. It is also a good time to check your smoke detector and make sure the batteries are still good and it is working properly.

http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=11419562

I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Encourage One Another (Hebrews 10:19-25)

Encourage one another 20091025am

Here is the sermon outline and audio of last week’s message on encouragement. We can all use a little encouragement once in a while!

 Encourage One Another (Hebrews 10:19-25)

1. Let us encourage one another about our access to God. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
2. Let us encourage one another about our attitude toward the future. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
3. Let us encourage one another about our assembly together. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

 

Can Anything Good Come Out of My Pain?

I once was called upon to preach the funeral of a small child who had died in an accident. The child's parents came to trust Christ as their Lord and Savior during those dark days of grief. They were deeply moved by the outpouring of love they received from our church family. A few weeks later I performed the funeral of a baby who had died at birth. Our church provided a meal for the family after the graveside service. As I led the second grieving family through the doors of our church I was amazed to see the mother whose child had died a few weeks earlier greeting them as they entered. She hugged their necks, helped them find their seats, brought them their food and drinks, and stayed close by to help in any way she could. I asked her later why she did it. She said, "Ricky, how could I not be here for this family? God has comforted me and now I want to comfort them." She had learned a profound lesson: God comforts us so we can comfort others.

There is no denying; we all suffer at times in this life. Look around and you will see people in the midst of a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or going into one. It is not a matter of if we will suffer, but when. Thankfully, we can experience comfort through our faith in God and through the loving care of other people.

I will preach a message this Sunday about our need to comfort one another when we suffer. We will study 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Paul wanted the Corinthian Church to know that he had been comforted by God during his great afflictions so that he could comfort them in theirs. That is the lesson for us as well: God comforts me so I can comfort you. I can recycle my pain and use it as a platform for ministry to you.

Here is a sermon outline that I developed as I studied 1 Corinthians 1:3-7 this week. I am not going to use the outline for the sermon because God gave me another one. I hope, however, that it aids you as you spend some personal time in this passage.

A Rx For Total Body Health
“Comfort One Another”
2 Corinthians 1:3-7

I. God’s Comfort Is Total.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort... 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NKJV) 
A. He is the God of redemption. the father of our Lord Jesus Christ
B. He is the God of compassion. the Father of mercies
C. He is the God of consolation. the God of all comfort

II. God’s Comfort Is Purposeful.
...who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4
A. I experience God’s comfort.
B. I am to express God’s comfort.

III. God’s Comfort Is Proportional.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 
A. We can recognize the source of our suffering.
B. We can rely on the sufficiency of our consolation.

IV. God’s Comfort Is Profitable.
Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:6-7
A. It teaches them endurance.
B. It gives them confidence.

6 Qualities of An Ideal Leader

I've been thinking about what it takes to be a good leader. Here are a few quick observations. The list is certainly not exhaustive, but it is suggestive of what the ideal leader looks like. What would you add?

1. The ideal leader has a clear, compelling vision that will benefit all people and will uphold the principles of morality, humility, decency, and godliness. The world has enough leaders who are consumed with their own ego, bank accounts, and power.
2. The ideal leader will be a servant of the people. He will not be a dictator. Jesus warned His disciples of this in Mark 10:42-45 when He said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
3. The ideal leader will be a person of integrity. Psalm 78:72 says of King David, “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” Proverbs 20:28 states “Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.” (from THE MESSAGE)
4. The ideal leader communicates his vision with consistency, creativity, and clarity.
5. The ideal leader is willing to change the organization while helping people see themselves in the new paradigm. Have you ever been a part of a group photo? The first thing we do when the photo is displayed is to look for ourselves in the picture. Most people are fearful of change if they feel like they are being left out of the "picture." A good leader knows this and helps people see themselves in the new "picture."
6. The ideal leader enlists a winning team of the right people in the right roles.

On the political front, I would call Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan among some of our greatest leaders of recent memory. In religious matters I would call Billy Graham a good leader of the evangelical movement. Of course, the greatest leader of all is the Lord Jesus Christ. May He be our example of servant-leadership.

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."Philippians 2:5-11 (NLT)

Five Benefits of Aligning The Sermon With the Small Group Study

Did you know that 19 of our adult Life Groups have chosen to align their weekend study with the Sunday morning message series, “A Rx for Total Body Health”? Pastor John Shultz wrote curriculum to follow my sermons. So on Sunday morning many of our groups are focusing on one main idea from the Scriptures in the small group time and worship time. Each week I hear from enthusiastic Life Group members who are enjoying this focused approach to Bible study. Here are five benefits of aligning the sermon with the small group time.

Forgiven People Are To Be Forgiving People

I am posting the audio in case you missed last Sunday's message on forgiveness. Why should I forgive? What if the person does not ask for forgiveness? Why can't I forgive and forget? I pray that you will be encouraged as you listen to this message. God bless you! I hope to see you this weekend as we discuss the importance of encouraging one another.

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Somer Thompson: I'm Praying For Justice

Investigators return to scene where Somer Thompson disappeared to search vacant home: FDLE vans, other law enforcement on scene at 1080 Gano Avenue; five sex offenders still being sought

BY MATT SOERGEL, JIM SCHOETTLER STORY UPDATED AT 5:34 PM ON THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2009 ORANGE PARK — Authorities investigating the death of Somer Thompson are seeking evidence in a vacant house and surrounding property, including a full Dumpster, at 1080 Gano - the area where the 7-year-old was last seen, said Mary Justino, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.

The house was damaged in a fire a about three months ago, Justino said. The owners of the house have given deputies permission to go on the property. A neighbor said three men had been living on the property before the fire.

The home, which has missing person fliers of Somer taped to a window, was being refurbrished. The Dumpster on the property appears full of construction debris. FDLE investigators in white suits are picking through the Dumpster piece by piece. From inside the home, several flashes were seen.

The street has been roped off with yellow police tape. Authorities began convening at the scene across from the Orange Park Athletic Association's ballfields around 3:30 p.m.

Somer disappeared at that location about 2:45 p.m. Monday while walking home with her brother from Grove Park Elementary School, which is less than a half mile away from the current activity. Her body was found Wednesday in a Folkston landfill. Justino said the medical examiner in Savannah positively identified Somer through dental records.

Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said he believes Somer was abducted and murdered on the way home from Grove Park Elementary School. He indicated there were no suspects and warned area residents to be on guard.

"There is a child killer on the loose," Beseler said at a 7:15 a.m. news conference. "I fear for our community until we bring this person in."

via jacksonville.com

I am praying for Somer Thompson’s mother and family. I cannot imagine the pain and grief they are experiencing. But I am also praying for the authorities who are diligently looking for the monster who killed this innocent child. Whoever did this must be caught. The person deserves the death penalty (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12). 

I know this may sound strange coming from the lips of a Christian. Yes, I preach forgiveness (Matthew 6:15). As individuals we are called to forgive and to not retaliate. Vengeance is the Lord’s (Romans 12:19-21). But one of the ways God exacts vengeance and brings justice to criminals is through the government. I believe God has authorized the government to use capital punishment for heinous crimes such as this one. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval. For government is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.” Romans 13:3-4 (HCSB) 

The government is God’s servant and has been given the power of the sword for the purpose of punishing evil. If ever a case called for evil to be punished, it is this one. I can forgive a person as a Christian, but there are still consequences to a person’s actions. This person must pay the consequences.

Atheists ask: Are you good without God? Some Scriptures To Consider

The atheists are on the move in New York.

Beginning next week, The New York Times reports, a coalition of local groups will run a monthlong advertising campaign in a dozen Manhattan subway stations with the slogan “A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?”

The campaign, funded with $25,000 from an anonymous donor, follows a similar but unrelated monthlong campaign on buses by New York City Atheists in July, The Times reports. Jane Everhart, a spokeswoman for the New York City Atheists, told The Times that that campaign brought in many new members, and the group is trying to raise money to do it again.

via weblogs.baltimoresun.com

What Does God Say About Atheism?

The fool hath said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalms 14:1 (KJV)

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psalms 10:4 (KJV)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. Psalm 19:1-4 (HCSB)

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6(HCSB)

The Pastoral Counseling Service of Fort Caroline Baptist Church

The Pastoral Counseling Service at Ft. Caroline Baptist Church was established to assist individuals, couples, families, and groups in dealing with difficult life experiences.

Each of us will occasionally have concerns that bring about questions or conflicts.  Some of these may cause us emotional stress or make it difficult to function as effectively as one would like.

Pastoral Counseling is unique in that it uses not only psychological understanding, but spiritual resources to bring healing and growth to those who are experiencing difficulties with living, working, or relating.

Guidelines To Regulate Church Announcements In Worship

Every pastor has experienced someone coming to him during the worship service with a hand-written announcement that “must” be made today. Every pastor knows what its like to be reprimanded because he did not make a certain announcement. Every pastor has questioned at times if he should not be called, “The Minister of Announcements.” Church announcements have their place. Good communication is vital to a healthy congregation. However, spoken announcements can get out-of-hand if not properly managed. Here are a few helpful guidelines to regulate church announcements.