Pastor Ricky Powell

MyStudyBible.com

I recently purchased the new HCSB Study Bible (Holman Christian Standard Bible). I have enjoyed getting acquainted with its features. It has lots of helpful articles, notes, Bible book introductions, and even Hebrew and Greek word studies. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn about the on-line version of the study Bible. You can check it out by visiting www.mystudybible.com or by viewing the video below. If you are in the market for a study Bible then you should definitely check this one out.

Jesus Turned Water Into Wine (audio sermon)

Water Into Wine Oct 10 2010

Saving Your Pastor From Spiritual Disaster

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you…for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." Philippians 1:3, 5

Words cannot express how touched I was while reading all of your notes and cards given on "Pastor Appreciation Sunday." Reading your kind words made me laugh, smile, and even weep (I know that shocks you) as I reflected on our journey together. I often tell my preacher friends that Fort Caroline Baptist Church is a pastor's dream. Those are not idle words. Your love, prayers, friendship, and support are overwhelming. Your love for the lost, your hunger for the Word, your wiliness to embrace change for the Gospel's sake, and your ministry to one another inspire me. You make me want to be a better pastor!

I wish that I had time to take each of you to Starbucks for a cup of coffee so I could tell you what you personally mean to me. There is not enough time for that and even I could not drink that much coffee! So let me share a few things with you now.

I hope you know that I truly love you. When I stand to preach each week I feel like I am standing in a room full of friends. When I minister to you at a hospital, in counseling, at a funeral home, or here at church it is because I want to, not because I have to. God has knit our hearts together. What I do is not a vocation. It is a holy calling that God has placed on my life. How could I ever thank Him enough for entrusting you to me as pastor?

I also want you to know that I appreciate the way you have followed my leadership. Many things have changed in our church over the years. These are challenging and exciting days in which to lead a church. But you have always demonstrated a willingness to follow the Lord's will for our church even when it meant change or getting out of our comfort zone (music, buildings, schedules, ministries, just to name a few). As a result we are seeing more people reached with the Gospel than ever before, we are one of the top missions-giving churches in the Florida Baptist Convention, and we are making a difference in our community through practical ministries that demonstrate Christ's love. Let me assure you, however, that there are some things that will never change as long as God allows me to be your pastor. I will never compromise the preaching of the Holy, inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. I will never forget that this is Christ's church, not mine and that I will give an account to Him one day. I will never stop loving you. And I will never stop challenging our church to do whatever it takes to reach the lost.

I also want to say that I could not do my job without the support of the pastors and staff members God has placed in our church. I am honored to serve with such a godly team of people who truly love God and God's church. They are extensions of my ministry to you. Thank you for loving and supporting them in your prayers.

Of course, I would not be the pastor I am without the support of my dear wife, Donna. The greatest debt of gratitude I owe this side of heaven is to her. You will never know how much she has sacrificed in sharing me with you. Vacations have been canceled, days off have been interrupted, and family plans have been scheduled around church activities. This is part of pastoral ministry and she never complains. She knows that I am a servant to Christ and to His church. Donna has been the heart of our home. She makes our home a safe place for me to come home to. She supports my ministry plans and helps me as I complete my seminary studies. She is the shoulder I cry on when I have no one else to talk to. She is my confidant when I need godly counsel. She is my best friend. She is the one who knows me best and loves me anyway! Thank you for understanding when there are times that I must say "no" to church activities so I can be with my wife and children. Under God, my family has to come first. I cannot be the pastor that you need if I am not the husband and father my family needs.

Years ago someone gave me a book titled, Saving Your Pastor From Spiritual Disaster, by Sam Bailey. He offered three suggestions for churches who want to support their pastor. As I read these three suggestions again I realized that this is exactly what you already do. Thank you!

• Relieve the Pressure: by encouraging your pastor, by sharing the ministry load, and by prayer.
• Resist the Detractors: by supporting and encouraging your pastor and by confronting those who are overly critical.
• Restore the Joy: by actively working to relieve him of people's unrealistic expectations.

Tim Hawkins On Greeters and Hand Sanitizer

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).