Pastor Ricky Powell

7 Ways I Protect My Marriage

My wife Donna is the greatest gift God has given me outside my salvation. I cherish her more with each passing day. Recognizing that Satan attacks marriages because he hates God and the relationship between Christ and the Church pictured in marriage (Ephesian 5:21ff), I have taken steps to protect my relationship. Here are seven of them.

Is Mormonism True?

This 21-minute video from www.TrueLife.org and Watchman Fellowship answers the question by examining the claims of Joseph Smith and the Mormon Gospel of works. The host, Cari Andreani, describes her own story as a young Mormon who had begun to struggle with doubts about her faith. The video is respectful and thoughtful. It touches on a topic that is very much in the news with Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. Take a moment to view the video and share it with others. 

Untitled from TrueLife.org on Vimeo.

What Is the Population By Age Around Our Church? (And Why It Should Break Your Heart)

According to the North American Mission Board (NAMB) Center for Missional Research:

The Population by Age within a 3 mile radius of Fort Caroline Baptist Church is as follows:

• O-19 years old: 28%

• 20-54 years old: 54%

• 55 & Up: 16.3%

Note: 82% of our community within a 3 mile radius is below the age of 55.

The Population by Age within a 6 mile radius of Fort Caroline Baptist Church is as follows:

• 0-19 years old: 29%

• 20-54 years old: 53.7%

• 55 years old and up: 15.7%

Note: 83% of our community within a 6 mile radius is below the age of 55.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population and Housing. ESRI forecasts for 2005 and 2010. 

NAMB Comments:

Based on your knowledge of the ages of people in an area, what evangelistic approaches might best communicate the gospel? A characteristic of growing churches is flexibility in methods of communication. They understand that different groups of people respond to different forms of communication.

In areas where there are large numbers and/or percentages of children and youth, ministries geared toward children and youth will be an important part of strategy for church growth and planting.

Among younger adults, new congregations must be responsive to developmental needs such as selecting a mate, learning to live with a marriage partner, starting a family, rearing children, managing a household, and getting started in an occupation.

The church will have to compete for the time and attention of middle adults. Many middle adults will respond to nontraditional styles of worship and programming. These may include alternatives for Sunday school or Christian education; practical, life-centered preaching and teaching; and contemporary music.

New churches in communities dominated by older adults may need to emphasize traditional programs, styles of worship, and familiar music. 

Questions:

1. Did you know that 80% of our community is unchurched? That means 80% of our neighbors do not attend a church of any kind! Does this fact break your heart? People need the Lord. What will we do to reach them?
2. Are you willing to live as a missionary right here in our own neighborhood as we partner through the church to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
3. Did you know that God is blessing our church's renewed focus on reaching our community? We are seeing more people saved, baptized, and attend worship and Life Groups than ever in the history of our church. Praise the Lord, but we are only scratching the surface of the need in our community.

Why I Am Saying "No" to Mission Trips

¹⁹ Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law —to win those under the law. ²¹ To those who are without that law, like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. ²³ Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.  1 Corinthians 9:19–23 (HCSB)

 Question: What motivates my decisions and leadership as your pastor? Answer: I want to bring glory to God through a Gospel-centered ministry whereby we live as missionaries in our community and world. Living as a missionary in your community and through your church means you are willing to put aside your preferences in order to take the Gospel to the culture you are in. A few years ago I had the privilege of traveling to Cochabamba, Bolivia in order to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage missionaries. During my visit in the city, as well as my travels in the Amazonian jungle, I tried to show sensitivity to the culture I was in and to the people I was trying to reach. I ate local food. I "tried" to learn the language. I adapted my attire to fit the people I was trying to reach. I used the local musical style and instruments in worship. I had a translator with me to communicate the Gospel in the heart-language of the people. I even adapted my sermons to the culture because I quickly discovered that many of my "tried and true" illustrations or jokes would not translate well in Bolivia. I have used similar missionary methods in Brazil and Haiti. My only caveat was I would not compromise Scripture in adjusting my methods. I am flexible in my preferences, but I have no right to disregard God's precepts. I must confess that some of the changes from my usual way of doing things were uncomfortable. I was out of my "comfort zone". Sometimes I felt silly, frustrated, exhausted, afraid, lonely, disoriented, and homesick. But I kept reminding myself that every sacrifice on my part was worth it if I could just reach one person with the Gospel. Besides, any sacrifice I made was not worthy to compare with the sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ made when He stepped out of eternity into time and went to a bloody cross. How could I grumble to my crucified Saviour about being out of my comfort zone? He endured all the sin and suffering of this world in order to save me. As His follower He calls me to take up my cross, deny myself, and follow Him. There is no comfort zone for the Christ-follower except the peace that comes from obedience to Him.

A few days after I returned home from the mission trip to Bolivia I had the opportunity to share my experiences with our congregation. My fellow believers endured the requisite slide show. They laughed at my self-described bumblings in a foreign land. They wept with me as I recounted the stories of witnessing to indigenous peoples in the jungle, preaching to young people in the city, and sharing the Gospel with a wealthy Englishman at the pre-Inca ruins of Tiahuanaco. And when the last image from my slide show faded from the screen the people stood and applauded my efforts and sacrifices. It was a moving moment that signaled the completion of the trip. Now it was time to get back to "normal"; the normal routine...the normal way of doing church.

Over the last few years God has been working into my heart a holy discontent with my understanding of "missions". For too long, I viewed missions as something we do in "other" places. I was proud of how our church supported missionaries through our generous giving. I was proud of how our church went on "mission trips" to other parts of the world (Bolivia, Brazil, Australia, Wales, Mexico, Belarus, Italy, Haiti, the Dominican Republic) or to other parts of America. A haunting question, however, kept echoing in my mind: Why are we not living like missionaries right here at home? After all, God had only one Son, and He made Him a missionary. And Jesus calls us to be missionaries, too! He said that just as His Father sent Him into the world He was sending us (John 20:21). We are to be on mission in our everyday lives with the goal of sharing the Gospel as we go (Matthew 28:18-20). Missions is not just about crossing the sea with the Gospel. It is also about crossing the street with the Gospel. Living as missionaries in our community and through the church is to be the normal way of doing things. 

A warning is due at this point. It is not always comfortable or easy to adapt missionary methods here at home. Try changing the way you do things in your church and you will discover what I am talking about. Adapt the music to best communicate the Gospel in a language this culture understands, and get ready for a little discomfort. Adjust the church schedule and get ready for some pain. Adapt your attire to the people you are trying to reach, and prepare to be uncomfortable. As I have made changes in my ministry methods I have discovered that those same feelings of fear, frustration, loneliness, and homesickness that I experienced in a foreign land followed me home. They resurface every time I get out of my comfort zone. To adapt my methods of doing church or sharing the Gospel is to invite that uneasiness. Even I don't like some of the changes I've made! This discomfort is not a bad thing. First, it reminds me to check God's Word lest I go beyond what Scripture allows. Second, it reminds me to be sensitive, loving, and patient with other believers who also might be struggling with change. Third, getting out of my comfort zone reminds me of the sacrifices our Saviour made when He came to save us. 

Missionaries have always been willing to get out of their comfort zones to reach the lost. Lottie Moon, the great Southern Baptist missionary to China was willing to do whatever it took, short of sinning, to reach the Chinese. She moved to China, adapted to their customs, wore their clothing, ate their food, lived in homes like theirs, learned their language, and used their musical styles and instruments. We rightly celebrate her life and ministry to this day. Millions of Chinese Christians today owe a debt of gratitude to her legacy. Shouldn't we be willing to follow her example right here in our own setting? Americans without Jesus are just as lost and Hell-bound as anyone else! Lottie was only doing what the Apostle Paul did in his lifetime. He adapted his missionary methods to the culture he was trying to reach. He was willing to do whatever it took, short of sinning, to reach people with the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:19-23). May we be found just as faithful! I call on every member of our church to accept God's call upon your life as a missionary. No more mission "trips," just mission living! Let's join together and reach this community world with the unchanging message of Jesus Christ! Our methods will change from time to time, but our message never will!

Welcoming the King: The Triumphal Entry of Jesus

2/19/2012 from Fort Caroline Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Ten Qualities To Look For In A Pastor

1. One who is called by God. 2 Timothy 1:6–7 (ESV)

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2. One who realizes that his family is a microcosm of his ministry. 1 Timothy 3:4–5 (NLT)

He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

3. One who is a servant-leader. Mark 10:42–45 (ESV)

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

4. One who preaches the Word. 2 Timothy 4:1–4 (ESV)

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

5. One who serves with integrity. Titus 1:7–8 (ESV)

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

6. One who loves people. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NLT)

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

7. One who loves the lost and who shares the Gospel in his private life and pulpit life. Romans 1:16–17 (ESV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

8. One who sets an example for the congregation. 1 Peter 5:1–3 (ESV)

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

9. One who does not try to do all of the ministering by himself, but equips the saints to serve.  Ephesians 4:11–12 (ESV)

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…

10. One who never forgets that he will give an account to Jesus for his ministry. 1 Peter 5:4 (ESV)

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*Now you know how to pray for your pastor! What are some other biblical qualities expected of a pastor?

Your Annual Check Up

These words of Ben Rogers are worth thinking about! 

When you go to a doctor for your annual check-up, he or she will often begin to poke, prod, and press various places, all the while asking, “Does this hurt? How about this?” If you cry out in pain, one of two things has happened. Either the doctor has pushed too hard, without the right sensitivity. Or, more likely, there’s something wrong, and the doctor will say, “We’d better do some more tests. It’s not supposed to hurt there!”

So it is when pastors preach on financial responsibility, and certain members cry out in discomfort, criticizing the message and the messenger. Either the pastor has pushed too hard. Or perhaps there’s something wrong. In that case, I say, “My friend, we’re in need of the Great Physician because it’s not supposed to hurt there.”

- Ben Rogers

 

Have You Attended The Membership Class of Fort Caroline Baptist Church?

NextSteps 1 (Membership) is a basic introduction to our church – what we believe, how we are structured, our history, our vision and other essential information. It is a required step in the membership process. At FCBC, we have people from many different church backgrounds or with no church background, and we have found that this class plays an important role in introducing the specific dimensions of life at FCBC and helping us to continue to be a unified family of faith. The class is offered once a month on a Sunday afternoon.

• We are offering NextSteps Membership this Sunday, February 19, 2012. The class is offered for adults, students, and children (students and children must sign up by contacting the church office).
• I teach the adult membership class in room B-113. 
• Classes are from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. 
• For more information about joining the church or to schedule your baptism, contact our Membership Secretary, Lori Gray, in the church office at 904-642-2288, ext. 14. 
• To register for the NextSteps 1 (Membership) class, please call Kirsten Montenari at 904-642-2288, ext. 25 or email her at [email protected].
• Church membres are encouraged to attend with their family and friends who are considering joining our church! 

 

The Vow of Purity (A Marriage Vows Renewal Ceremony)

Here is the video of last Sunday's renewal of vows ceremony and message. We are indebted to The Church on the Move for the skit idea and video, and to LifeChurch for the series idea and resources.

2/12/2012 from Fort Caroline Baptist Church on Vimeo.

A Book Review of "Believer's Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ"

Schreiner, Thomas R. and Shawn D. Wright. Believer's Baptism : Sign of the New Covenant in Christ, Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2006. 358 pp.

Schreiner and Wright are to be commended for setting forth a contemporary restatement of the biblical doctrine of baptism. Their work is based upon a high view of Scripture that takes into consideration the full scope of God’s revelation and church history. In a day in which many believers either downplay the importance of baptism, refuse to be baptized, call it a minor issue, or argue over the proper mode of baptism, this book is a welcomed voice. It will be a helpful resource to anyone, especially church leaders, who wish to recover or maintain a proper view of the role of baptism in the Christian life and in the church. Believer’s Baptism will also serve as a good tool for those who wish to defend the doctrine of believer’s baptism by immersion. It is helpful to have such a thoughtful, biblical, and scholarly work to which to refer when addressing this debate with others. While the authors reject the practice of paedobaptism, they do so only after carefully and accurately considering the paedobaptist’s position. Their arguments are well-reasoned and balanced and they fairly represent the opposing view. The authors go to great lengths to remind the reader that good evangelical believers can and do disagree on these issues and that the opposing views of reformed paedobaptists should not be considered heretical.

The full review can be read below.