Pastor Ricky Powell

Ministry and Unity Go Hand-In-Hand

We conducted a "Ministry Fair" yesterday as a part of the, "Imagine the fully devoted life" campaign and the results were amazing. Approximately 35 people who were not previously serving in a ministry signed up to join the team! Another 15 people signed up to serve in additional areas! I am so excited to see people stepping up and using their gifts and talents to help other people. It is not too late for you to find your place of ministry. Call the church office and volunteer or ask for more information. We need help in the following areas:

• Welcome Center Host.
• Building and Grounds.
• Lawn Maintenance.
• Ladies Ministry.
• Celebrate Recovery.
• Children's Church Monitor.
• AWANA.
• Life Group.
• Orchestra.
• Adult Celebration Choir.
• Pioneers (Senior Adult Ministry).
• Ushers.
• Children's Choir.
• Media Team (Power Point and Audio for Worship Services).
• Greeters.

Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). 

The "Prayer Walk" through our community on Saturday was great! I appreciate the many people who participated and prayed for the neighbors around our church. We covered 12 zones around the church! God heard our prayers because a young couple came to church last night. They are new to the area and are looking for a church home. They felt the Lord leading them to visit us. They live on one of the streets that we prayer-walked! As they left church last night they said, "We will definitely be back!"

Speaking of this young couple, do you know what really impressed them? It was that so many of our church members greeted them at the door and spoke to them before the service. They had tried a few other churches, but no one spoke to them or offered to help them find their place. They were so happy to meet friendly people who made them feel at home! Way to go folks! Keep up the good work by greeting everyone you meet, by offering to help them find their way around the church, and by inviting them to join your Life Group.

Let me also encourage you to go to our church website and listen to the sermon God placed on my heart last Sunday. It is titled, "The Work," from Ephesians 4. I was trying to help our members see that the ministry of our church is directly related to the unity of our church. Ministry and unity go together. We will destroy the effectiveness of our ministries if we allow petty differences divide us. Let us not major on minors, let us not give in to a spirit of grumbling or complaining, and let us not sabotage our ministry efforts by failing to do our part in building up the Body of Christ. Here is the sermon outline. Follow along as you listen to the message and ask yourself if you measure up.

1. The Goal of the Body: Developing Our Christ-like Character (Ephesians 4:1-3).
2. The Greatness of the Body: Discovering Our Commonalities in Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6).
3. The Gifts of the Body: Displaying Our Christian Love Through Ministry and Maturity (Ephesians 4:7-16).

Thank you for letting me be your pastor. I am honored to serve the Lord with you. I appreciate your support!

Imagine... the fully devoted life. Coming To FCBC Soon!

What is it?
"Imagine... the fully devoted life" is a church-wide spiritual growth campaign the Lord has placed on my heart. The material we will use was written by my friend Tim Passmore who is the pastor of Woodland: A Community Church in Bradenton, FL. Tim wrote the material for his own congregation to grow closer to the Lord. I had heard about the awesome ways God was blessing them during their spiritual growth campaign. The same day I was going to call and ask Tim if I could borrow his material, he called me! He said, "Ricky, God has placed you and your great church on my heart. I believe God wants you to take the study I led our church through and lead your church through it." Friend, God had my attention! The campaign includes coordinated worship experiences, video and discussion oriented LifeGroup studies, personal devotional-time, and impact events designed to help you grow in your walk with Christ. We will focus on growing in our relationship with Christ in four key areas:

1. Testimony: Imagine knowing where you stand in Christ, remembering where it started, and sharing your story openly.

2. Time: Imagine hungering for God and managing opportunities to live for Him.

3. Talents: Imagine the difference you will make in our community and world when you exercise concern for others.

4. Treasure: Imagine investing some of your resources in things that make a difference into eternity while also learning to conserve available resources.

When is it? August 2---October 4 (Sundays, 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.)

What will I need?
We will provide you with resources that contain biblical instruction, as well as practical exercises to assist you in growing as a committed follower of Jesus Christ. These resources will be available at the church before and after services. All you will need to supply is a hunger to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ!

Why are we changing the beginning time of the first Worship service and LifeGoup hour to 9 a.m.?
I truly believe that for us to get the most out of the worship experiences and the LifeGroup interaction that we need fifteen extra minutes. Otherwise we will be rushed and may not have the time we need to really focus on God and respond to His leading. Therefore, the deacons and I decided to begin the first service and LifeGroup hour at 9 a.m. instead of 9:15. The second service and LifeGroup hour will begin as usual at 10:30 a.m. I know that this change is a small inconvenience for many of you, but it will be worth it in the long run. Surely this is not too much to ask during this campaign in light of what our Lord did for us on the cross!

How can I get the most out of this spiritual growth campaign?
1. Join a LifeGroup. If you are not already attending a LifeGroup please join one. As your pastor, as the one God has charged with your spiritual growth, I am asking for 100% participation of our members. We will have sign-up cards available at church for you to get involved. Otherwise, you will be missing a MAJOR portion of this campaign and will not get the true impact of what the Lord wants us to do. You only have to join for the duration of the campaign, but you will not regret it.

2. Get a book. Everyone will need a book. You will use the book during the LifeGroup video teaching, and for your personal reading during the week. We will make the books available at church before and after services as soon as they arrive.Imagine…the fully devoted life.

3. Mark your calendar and plan on being in each worship experience and LifeGroup meeting.

4. Pray for God to work in a great way in our individual lives, our homes, our church, and our community.

A Sneak Peak At Tomorrow's Sermon

 

I am beginning a new message series tomorrow called, "It's Your Serve." I want to help you discover your place in ministry through God's Church. Here is the sermon outline for the first message. I look forward to seeing you in worship and Life Group! (And the entire parking lot is paved!)

Series: It’s Your S.E.R.V.E
Sermon: You Are Gifted! (Using Our Spiritual Gifts To Serve God and His Church)
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.   11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.   1 Peter 4:10-11 (NKJV)

 

S---Spiritual Gifts
E---Experiences
R---Relational Style
V---Vocational Skills
E---Enthusiasm

I. The Reception of Spiritual Gifts (4:10a)

A. Spiritual gifts are a manifestation of the Spirit.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)

There are five lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 12:28-30; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11

Since no one gift is on every list, and no list contains all the gifts, it is logical to conclude that the lists are suggestive, not exhaustive. It seems that spiritual gifts fall into one of two categories: speaking gifts, or serving gifts.

B. Spiritual gifts are not marks of spiritual maturity.

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (NKJV)

7 ...so that you come short in no gift… 1 Corinthians 1:7 (NKJV)

II. The Reasons for Spiritual Gifts (4:10b)

A. Gifts are given so we can minister to one another.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)

B. Gifts are given so we can manage God’s grace.

III. The Results of Spiritual Gifts (4:11)

A. The church is edified.

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 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; Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

B. God is glorified.

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)

Application Steps:

Discover, develop, and deploy your gift through observation, prayer, and ministry involvement. Fort Caroline Baptist Church needs your involvement.

For a FREE Spiritual Gift Analysis Visit http://www.churchgrowth.org/analysis/intro.php