Posted on February 02, 2021 at 08:34 AM in Baptism, Church, Fort Caroline Baptist Church, Religion, Salvation, Sermons, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Posted on December 28, 2020 at 08:26 PM in Church, Salvation, Sermons, Video, Witnessing, Worship | Permalink | Comments (0)
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1. Encouragement.
Life is filled with challenges and troubles. You can feel overwhelmed and lonely. But, when you show up for church you are surrounded by people who love and care for you. You make new friends. You will leave with gratitude that you came. At Fort Caroline Baptist Church, we don’t judge. We help you live the best life God has for you!
2. Community.
God wired you for relationships. When we gather at church we hang out, have fun, grow closer to God, and do life together. We are better together!
3. Practical Bible Teaching.
God has a word for each of us to encourage us and help us. At Fort Caroline Baptist Church we teach and preach the Bible in a humorous, understandable, and practical way.
4. Champions for your children.
When your family comes to Fort Caroline Baptist Church your kids will hear the voices of loving adults who are encouraging them to live by the same practical truths and values you teach at home. Our kid’s ministries are on YOUR side as a parent!
5. Involvement in making our community and world a better place.
Our community and world can be better when we come together to MAKE it BETTER. This is why we care for orphans, feed the hungry, bless the homeless, fight human trafficking, provide for disaster relief, visit widows and those who are homebound, care for the sick, put marriages back together, share the Good News of Jesus, and SO MUCH MORE! We need you. We are better together! You are part of something bigger than yourself when you come to church.
What benefit do you receive when you attend? Leave me a comment below!
Posted on February 15, 2018 at 02:38 PM in Church, Family, Fort Caroline Baptist Church | Permalink | Comments (0)
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I am blessed to have a group of prayer partners who lift me and our congregation up in prayer during the Sunday worship service. I shared with them seven ways they can pray for me. I would be blessed if you could pray for me, as well.
1. Pray for me to model the qualifications of a pastor.
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:1–7, ESV)
2. Pray that I will serve as a good pastor (shepherd) of God’s flock.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,” (Ephesians 4:11–14, NKJV)
3. Pray that our church members will follow my leadership as their pastor.
“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17, NKJV)
4. Pray for me to lead our church with wisdom, biblical convictions, and integrity.
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” (1 Timothy 5:17, NKJV)
5. Pray that I will preach the Word of God no matter what people think.
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:1–4, NKJV)
6. Pray for me to be serious about the things of God, willing to endure afflictions, evangelistic, and faithful to the ministry.
“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5, NKJV)
7. Pray for God’s people to respect the pastors of the church and to be at peace.
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, ESV)
As you think about these prayer needs, what would you add? What do you pray for when you pray for your pastor?
Posted on July 07, 2017 at 12:28 PM in Church, Church Unity, Fort Caroline Baptist Church, Prayer | Permalink | Comments (0)
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I preached a message last week at Ousley Baptist Church in Valdosta about the kind of members every church needs. The message is a character study of Barnabas from the Book of Acts. I will post the outline and Scriptures below.
A Few Good Members
Acts 4:32-37 and selected Scriptures
Our Church is looking for a few good members who are…
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts 4:36-37 (NKJV)
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:26-27 (NKJV)
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. Acts 11:22-25 (NKJV)
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26 (NKJV)
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. Acts 13:2-5 (NKJV)
36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. Acts 15:36-40 (NKJV)
11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11 (NLT)
Posted on July 06, 2017 at 04:27 PM in Church, Fort Caroline Baptist Church | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The Barna Research Group just released a study of the top 100 post-Christian cities in America. Sadly, Jacksonville made the list at number 74. Barna introduces the results of their survey this way:
It may come as no surprise that the influence of Christianity in the United States is waning. Rates of church attendance, religious affiliation, belief in God, prayer and Bible-reading have all been dropping for decades. By consequence, the role of religion in public life has been slowly diminishing, and the church no longer functions with the cultural authority it held in times past. These are unique days for the church in America as it learns what it means to flourish in a new “Post-Christian” era. https://www.barna.com/research/post-christian-cities-america-2017/
Does this break your heart? It does mine. While the results are heartbreaking, they are not surprising. I have noticed for quite some time that the rates of church attendance in our city are on the decline, along with religious affiliation, belief in prayer and Bible reading. This is all the more startling when you realize we are located in the proverbial Bible-Belt. Yet even to the casual observer our community is more unchurched and post-Christian than ever before.
I agree with Barna in that our church must learn what it means to flourish in a new post-Christian era. We cannot put our heads in the sand and assume that what worked in the past will work today. We must be willing to step back and recommit ourselves to the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ and the mission of taking that message to the world. But we must not allow man-made methods or personal preferences to get in the way of communicating the Gospel to our community in a way they will understand.
Before the world was post-Christian, it was pre-Christian, and the early church went out with the Gospel message in the power of the Holy Spirit, and turned their world upside down for Jesus. I believe our church can be a part of a new revival among God’s people, and a new outpouring of God’s grace upon sinners who turn from their sin and believe in Jesus. I do not believe we need to give up on our city. Instead we must love our city enough to do whatever it takes to claim it for Jesus Christ! Many of the decisions we have made as a church that shape how we do things here have been influenced by our desire to reach a new generation with the gospel of Jesus. I’m going to ask you to join me in body, mind, and soul in doing whatever it takes, short of sinning, to reach one more person for Jesus! We must have the mindset of a missionary. America is one of the largest mission fields in the world. And like the
Many of the decisions we have made as a church that shape how we do things here have been influenced by our desire to reach a new generation with the gospel of Jesus. I’m going to ask you to join me in body, mind, and soul in doing whatever it takes, short of sinning, to reach one more person for Jesus! We must have the mindset of a missionary. America is one of the largest mission fields in the world. Like the Apostle Paul, we are going to use whatever methods we have to in order to relate the Gospel to people who are far from God in a way that they will understand. This will include everything from music styles, attire, church structure, and communication methods.
Before you push back on my suggestion, please consider what the apostle Paul did in his own ministry.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19 – 23)
Paul meant that he was willing to change methods to reach different groups of people for Jesus. He was willing to do what ever it took, short of sinning, to reach people for Jesus. May we be willing to do the same!
What are some ways Jesus related to different types of people with the message of God's love? What are some of the ways Paul adjusted his missionary methods to reach different groups of people? What are some ways missionaries like Lottie Moon or J. Hudson Taylor sought to be relevant to the people they were trying to reach? Leave me a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
Posted on June 28, 2017 at 04:09 PM in Church, Church Unity, Fort Caroline Baptist Church, Lottie Moon, Missions, Salvation, Witnessing, Worship | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Some say the defining characteristic of Christians is a cross. Others say it is a certain style of worship music. Some say it is a denominational name.
What did Jesus say?
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
The badge, the identifying characteristic, the mark of Christians is not a cross on a steeple, it is not a specific denominational name, nor is it a certain style of worship music or attire.
The defining characteristic of what it means to be a Christian, a genuine follower of Jesus, is love. We are to be known for our love of God that is expressed in love for one another. All people will know that we are truly living for Jesus when we are loving like Jesus.
So let's stop arguing about these other issues where good people can disagree, and let's love like Jesus!
Posted on June 26, 2017 at 02:59 PM in Church | Permalink | Comments (0)
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A pastor will face many challenges and demands as he serves the local congregation. He will be expected to prepare and preach weekly sermons, conduct weddings and funerals, make hospital visits, organize outreach efforts, raise funds for ministry, manage conflict in the congregation, conduct business meetings, counsel church members in crisis, oversee staff and volunteers, and attend to the legal issues facing the church. These are but a few leadership tasks that confront the pastor. It is obvious to the objective person that one individual cannot do the work of ministry alone. Pastors have limited time, skills, gifts, energy, and knowledge that hinder their ability to accomplish the work of ministry alone. However, pastors and parishioners often assume that it is the pastor’s job to do all the work of the ministry. Church members may feel that they pay the pastor to do all of these things. Pastors may feel that it is their responsibility to perform all of these tasks.
While a pastor in such a role is to be commended for his good intentions, there are dire consequences if he does not learn to delegate responsibility for certain ministry tasks. First, he will burn himself out by trying to do too much with too little help. Tasks will not get done, or they will not get done with excellence. The pastor will become frustrated and fatigued because he has too much to accomplish. He will feel overwhelmed and stressed as he tries to determine what his priorities for the moment ought to be. He will typically manage by crisis, giving his attention to what is most urgent at the moment. Many important tasks will go undone. The stress of competing demands will affect him personally and professionally as he struggles to manage his time. The second consequence of the pastor’s failure to delegate is the burnout his leaders and congregation will experience. They will become frustrated with the pastor over the inadequate spans of attention and care given to the issues of ministry. Members will complain that the pastor did not care for them during a time of need. Leaders will complain that the pastor is not moving the church forward through executing plans.
The situation described above is paralleled in the experience of the Old Testament leader, Moses. In Exodus 18:14-23, Moses is described as spending most of his waking hours dealing with the issues of leadership among the Hebrew people. He sat all day as the people brought their complaints, dilemmas, and questions to be settled by him. His father-in-law, Jethro, saw that Moses was wearying himself and his people by trying to do too much alone. Jethro keenly advised Moses to focus his time and energy on representing the people before God, instructing them about the statutes and laws, and on teaching them how to live for the Lord in daily life. Jethro advised that other leadership needs could be addressed by delegating them to qualified persons to assist Moses. The leaders, Jethro noted, could be set over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. These leaders would handle the daily tasks of serving the people, they would be accountable to Moses, and would bring major issues to Moses that needed his attention. Jethro noted that in following his advice Moses would be released from bearing the burdens of the people alone, and that the people would be satisfied as their needs were met.
The principles Jethro advised Moses to adopt are equally applicable to the pastorate. A pastor must recognize that he cannot bear the burdens of leadership alone. Instead, the pastor must devote his best time, attention, and energy to his primary calling which includes overseeing the congregation, representing the people to God in prayer, teaching people the Word of God, and helping them apply the principles of Scripture to their daily lives. Even the Apostles had to recalibrate their ministry in the early days of Christianity in order to maintain their focus on the priorities of prayer and the Word of God (Acts 6:2–4).
The pastor must select qualified persons to assist him. He should consider their character, competency, and giftedness before entrusting them with responsibility. These people may be volunteers, paid staff, or a combination of the two. As the leaders are organized to best serve the congregation, they must have clear instructions on their part in accomplishing the task. An effective leader will help a ministry partner understand the vision of the work, who is responsible for the overall project, what specifically needs to be done by the partner, deadlines for tasks, measurements of success, parameters of authority, and means for providing feedback to the project leader. For example, a pastor may need to organize the congregation into small groups for pastoral care. He could then assign these groups to deacons who are trained to care for the membership’s pastoral needs as an extension of his ministry. The deacons would have a chairman who oversees their daily work and routinely reports back to the pastor how the work is going. The pastor would offer guidance for the major issues facing the deacon ministry. The pastor should organize the church and delegate responsibility for all of the areas of need outside his primary calling. These areas include, but are not limited to, worship planning, financial oversight, the education ministry, fundraising, hospital visitation, and outreach. In doing so, the pastor is not refusing responsibility for these tasks, but is fulfilling his responsibility through oversight (Ephesians 4:11-12).
If a pastor will strategically implement the Jethro principle of delegation the church will be strengthened as communication is maximized, conflict is minimized, and ministry effectiveness increases. The pastor’s load will be lightened as he is freed to do what only he can do as the God-called leader of the church. The people will be satisfied because their needs are being met and they have the joy of serving in ministry. The transformation to delegated ministry will not occur overnight. It will take effort and grace for the pastor and the people to adjust. However, most people will come to see the value of this biblical approach to ministry.
Posted on October 13, 2015 at 08:48 AM in Church, Church Administration, Fort Caroline Baptist Church | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The Church is not a building for weddings and funerals. The Church is the body of Christ. It is the community of the redeemed for which Christ died. Believers gather together for worship, for ministry, for building one another up, for confession of sin, for prayer, and for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We gather to celebrate baptism as people trust Christ as Savior. We gather around the Lord's Supper table to celebrate His death which made possible our union with him and with one another. The Church is made up of imperfect people who have experienced the redeeming grace of God. The Church is on mission in this world to tell everyone the Gospel of Jesus and to make disciples. Jesus loved the Church and gave Himself for her on a bloody cross. Therefore, I love the Church and will dedicate my life to playing my part in the local expression of it. Will you?
“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.” (1 Corinthians 12:12–26, NLT)
Posted on September 12, 2015 at 12:58 PM in Church | Permalink | Comments (2)
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1. It identifies you as a genuine believer.
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” (Ephesians 2:19, ESV)
“…in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:5, HCSB
2. It provides a spiritual family to support and encourage you in your walk with Christ.
“Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1–2, HCSB)
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25, NLT)
3. It gives you a place to discover and use your gifts in ministry.
“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7, NLT)
4. It places you under spiritual protection of godly leaders.
“Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.” (Hebrews 13:17, NLT
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” (Acts 20:28–29, NIV84)
5. It gives you the accountability you need to grow.
“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21, NLT)
NextSteps Membership Class will be offered August 17, 2014 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Childcare is provided. Call the church office (904-642-2288) to register or use the Communication Card in your Sunday bulletin. Take the Next Step in your spiritual journey by becoming a member of this congregation.
Posted on July 29, 2014 at 03:22 PM in Church, Fort Caroline Baptist Church | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
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