Congregation Appreciation

“3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Philippians 1:3-4

Dear Beloved,

Thank you so much for your generous appreciation this past Sunday. I am so grateful that the Lord has called me to serve you here at Park. I praise God for the privilege of being counted among you. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. It is a true blessing to be your pastor.

Since you have shown your appreciation to me, please allow me to share some of the things that I appreciate about you. There are many things that I appreciate about this church and here is only a sampling:

I appreciate your love for the Lord Jesus Christ. I appreciate your desire to make His Name known among the nations. I appreciate your steadfast love and perseverance for Park Baptist Church. I appreciate your generous and giving spirit. I appreciate the countless hours of prayers offered on behalf of Park Baptist Church. I appreciate your love for me. I appreciate your love for my family. I appreciate your smiles and hugs. I appreciate your words of encouragement that strengthen my faith. I appreciate your heart for the sick and hurting in our midst. I appreciate your faith and prayers for our inactive members. I appreciate your joy to serve the church: everything from the nursery to visitation to fellowship. I appreciate your welcoming and friendly spirit. I appreciate your willingness to change for the sake of the gospel. I appreciate your food (y’all can cook). I appreciate your love for the Word of God. I appreciate your love for your own families. I appreciate your honesty and vulnerability in sharing your heart. I appreciate your faithfulness to Triune God.

Beloved, I love you and thank God for this church. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel. I am confident that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the Day of Jesus Christ.

3-2-1 Gospel Presentation

Great Video. Enjoy!!

All is Well

Earthly life is temporary.Our souls are eternal. Read the words below of a hymn written about a Christian's coming death.

                                            "All is Well"

What's this that steals, that steals upon my frame? Is it death, is it death?
That soon will quench, will quench this mortal flame, is it death, is it death?
If this be death, I soon shall be from ev'ry pain and sorrow free,
I shall the King of glory see, All is well, all is well!

Weep not, my friends, my friends weep not for me, All is well, all is well!
My sins forgiv'n, forgiv'n and I am free, All is well, all is well!
There's not a cloud that doth arise, to hide my Jesus from my eyes,
I soon shall mount the upper skies, All is well, all is well!

Hark! Hark! My Lord, my Lord and Master's voice, calls away, calls away!
I soon shall see—enjoy my happy choice, Why delay, why delay?
Farewell, my friends, adieu, adieu, I can no longer stay with you,
My glitt'ring crown appears in view, All is well, all is well!

Christian, what a hope we have to look forward too!!! If you are not a Christian, do you have hope in death? If not, run to Christ. Run, do not delay.

The Love Displayed of the Imperishable Seed

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.” 1 Peter 1:22-23

Beloved,

There is tremendous truth held in those two verses. First, we are purified by obeying the truth. All of our sin has been cleansed as we have responded to the truth of the gospel. All of our sin has been nailed to the cross. All of our past sin, present sin and future sin will no longer be held against us as we have been cleansed through the blood of Christ. As we are in Christ, God now looks at us as pure, holy and blameless. When He sees us, He sees us through Christ. We are pure because Christ is pure and we are in Christ.

Secondly, one of the marks that we have been purified is that we have a sincere love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is interesting that Peter encourages the church that already has a sincere love for the brothers to love one another more deeply. We are never hit the bottom of the well in our love for one another. As we grow in the knowledge of the truth, we should also grow in love for our brothers. Our love for each other is a sign that we are Christians. If we do not love each other how do we know if we have obeyed the truth? If we have not obeyed the truth, how do we know if we have been purified?

Our love for others doesn’t bring the new birth, but our love is a sign of our new birth. Beloved, we must be born again. God does not want only to change our behavior; He wants to change our hearts. He plants a new seed in our hearts and that seed grows to reflect the reality that we have been born again. So how is one born again? We are born again through the living and enduring Word of God. When we hear the Word and respond in faith to the Word, the Lord plants the imperishable seed of the Holy Spirit. And that seed will continue to grow until it reaps eternal life.

So Beloved, if we are saved through the living and abiding Word of God, let us share that Word with our world. Pray that God would open a door for the ministry of the Word in our community. Pray that God would use us to help people experience the new birth through our love for each other and through our sharing of God’s Word.

Look with Compassionate Eyes

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38

Beloved,

Do we have the eyes of Jesus? Do we have the compassion of Jesus? Jesus traveled from town to town preaching the good news and healing many people. When he looked at the crowds and saw that they were harassed and helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd. Everyone without the Good Shepherd is helpless.

Christian, we know what it is to be harassed and helpless. We know our lives when they were dead in our sins. Although people may  happy and content without Jesus as their Shepherd, they are helpless and hopeless. There is no hope without Jesus Christ because without Jesus people are still in their sins. Let us not be deceived in thinking that our family and friends are “ok” without Jesus. They are helpless, like a sheep without a Shepherd.

Jesus sees. He sees the world as helpless and harassed, like a sheep without a shepherd. And He not only sees, He sees with compassion. Jesus saw people’s need and responded to it. Beloved, we need to see like Christ and respond like Christ. We need to see with compassion.

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. We need to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. We need God’s workers in our schools, in our workplaces and in our homes. Beloved, I am praying that God sends you out into this world with the eyes and compassion of Jesus Christ. Go into the world, the harvest field, armed with hope. The only hope for eternal life is the forgiveness of sins through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead. Be a worker. Help the sheep meet the Shepherd. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.

Do Not Weary in Doing Good

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10

Beloved,

It is very easy to feel weary. We often labor and do not see the fruit of our efforts. It is easily to be

disappointed and discouraged. I know that some of you may be discouraged with the lack of growth you see in the church, but I want you know that the Lord is in charge of the harvest. Our job is to continue to do good to all people and especially to those who belong to the family of believers; for if we do not give up, we will reap a harvest.

The Lord has his hand on Park Baptist Church. He hears our prayers. He knows our desires. He is in control. His plans are never thwarted. Trust the Lord of the Harvest with our church. “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations,” (Psalm 33:11). Let us not grow weary in doing good for the church, but let us serve the bride of Christ for we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I am so excited in what I see the Lord doing at Park. I can see him moving in our midst. He is preparing us, a people of his own possession who are zealous for good works, to reap a harvest. The Word of the Lord stands firm forever. Hear the promise of God: we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. The Lord is in control.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

The Way of Life for Marriage

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12; 16:25

Beloved,

Where do you go for advice? When problems arise in your life, where do you turn? There are many voices in our culture and many places to find “answers.” The answers that our culture gives seem plausible and even appear wise. Although they may “seem right” to us, in the end they lead to death and destruction. We must be careful not to be taken captive by the hollow and empty philosophy of our age, but rather hold on to the truth in the Word of God. There are many ways that seem right to a man, but in the end lead to death.

Over the next several weeks, we are going to be looking at what God says about our marriages, our parenting, and our work. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” God has given us everything we need to discover the path which leads to life.

What does God say about marriage? What is a wife’s primary role in marriage? What is the husband’s? Are there different roles? God wants us to walk in a manner worthy of him and to please him in every way which includes in our marriages.

Beloved, be praying about your own marriage and the marriages of your friends and family this week. Come Sunday ready to hear and receive what God says about marriage. Let us trust God’s Word about marriage over the way that seems right to us.

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

Thankful Serving

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Beloved,

Do you ever feel unappreciated? Do you ever feel that your labors are not being valued? Do you ever get tired of serving? There are always moments when we feel unvalued and under-appreciated in our service. I wanted to take a moment and thank all of you who serve Park Baptist Church. I am continually overwhelmed with the labor of love that I see expressed week in and week out in your service to Christ’s bride.

We had a wonderful homecoming celebration this past Sunday and I wanted to particular thank all those who had a hand in making it turn out so wonderful. Thank you for setting up and making the gym look so beautiful. Thank you for all those that cooked such wonderful food. Thank you for all those that stayed to help clean up afterwards. Events, like Homecoming, take a lot of work from a lot of hands and I am sincerely thankful for all your labors.

I also wanted to particularly thank all of our volunteers that faithful serve in the children’s ministry. As a parent, it is so encouraging to know that my children are going to be loved and taught the precious promises of God’s Word. Children’s ministries are hard, but know that you are doing the Lord’s work. I am so thankful for all of you who sacrifice your time and energy to care for the little ones.

There are so many others that serve this church in ways unseen. Whether it is through the power point, Sunday school, building and grounds, visitation, audio or prayer, I want to thank you for serving this church. For in your service, you are joining great company. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. So continue to serve for the Lord for you are good company and for your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:6).

Continue to serve others and to use your gifts to faithful administer God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10). God is pleased when His people serve His Church. Our church always has needs so if you are not actively serving, let me encourage you to use the gifts that God has given you to build up the body of Christ at Park.

In thankfulness,

Pastor Dave

Pass it On...

“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.” Psalm 145:4-6

Beloved,

It is time for Homecoming. It is a very exciting time for our church as we reflect and meditate on how God has worked and is working at Park Baptist Church. God has been very gracious to Park. It is amazing to think about all the people who have been impacted by this church. Listen to how God has used Park: People have found Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, people have been strengthen and encouraged in their faith, people have covenanted together in marriage, people have publicly declared their faith in Christ through baptism, and people have sent dear loved ones home to be with the Lord Jesus. God has used Park to change lives.

Can I encourage you to think and reflect on the wonderful works that God has done at Park Baptist Church? God has been faithful to show his mighty power and his glorious splendor in this place. It is so encouraging to reflect on what God has done in this place and how He has sustained its ministry for 104 years.

Older members, I encourage you to share stories of God’s faithfulness throughout this weekend. Young members, I encourage you to listen and learn how God has used this church for his glory. Inactive members, I encourage you to use this Homecoming as a reminder of how God has used this church in your life and as an opportunity to reconnect with Park.

We reflect on God’s faithfulness to this church so that our faith can be strengthened in how God will continue to use this church in the future. Reflection should not leave us in the past, but should encourage us to look forward for how God will continue to show the power of his awesome works in the days ahead. Do you believe that God is moving at Park? I do and I am, “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

Wait Eagerly on the Lord

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28

Beloved,

There are many things that we look forward to in this life. God is a giver of good gifts. As parents, many of us have been eagerly waiting for our children to start school. As football fans, many of us have been eagerly waiting for the college and pro football seasons to start. As sportsmen, many of us have been eagerly waiting the start of hunting season. But are we eagerly waiting for Jesus?

As a Christian, we should be eagerly waiting on the salvation given to us in Christ. As Christians, we do not fear judgment because Jesus Christ has already been offered once to bear our sins. So we do not wait in trepidation, but we eagerly wait for him to save our souls. I love that promise that the Lord has given us that he will not come again to deal with our sin, but to save those of us who are eagerly waiting for him.

Beloved, is Jesus our greatest hope and expectation? Are you eagerly waiting for Him? It is easy to get excited with the good things God has given us (children, sports, activities, etc.) while minimizing that which is best: our glorious King, the Lord Jesus Christ. So let us rejoice in the things that God have given us, but let us rejoice even more so in the salvation given to us in Christ Jesus. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24).”

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

The Lord Delivers

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.19A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:17-19


Beloved,


We live in a fallen world. The one thing our world guarantees is pain and affliction. Everyone will face heartache and trials throughout their lives. Although we will all face troubles, the Lord will

deliver the righteous from every one of them. The Lord uses our trials to shows us our desperate need for him and for his grace. “The brokenhearted and the crushed in spirit” is a Hebrew expression which shows when the pride and stubbornness of the heart is being humbled. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. The Lord does not promise to deliver everyone from trials, but only the righteous; the ones whose hearts have been rooted from stubbornness and pride. For the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

So in our trials do we call out to the Lord in a humble spirit for help and mercy or in our pride are we embittered against Him? The Lord does not promise that his children will not experience troubles, but he does promise to deliver them from them all. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). Troubles and afflictions are part of this world. I know many of you are battling through trials this very day, but take heart, the Lord hears the cries of the righteous and he delivers them from all their troubles. Christian, listen to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2). We must wait on the deliverance of our Lord either in this life or in the life to come.


Friends, do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God. Trust in the words of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord is faithful to his word. In the midst of trial take refuge in the Lord and his precious promises. He is Faithful and True (Rev 19:11).

Good Intentions

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23

Beloved,

Earlier in my marriage, I lived in a world of good intentions. I thought and talked often about the things that I wanted to do for my wife and family. Unfortunately, I showed very little follow through on my good intentions. In Sunday School Done Right, Allan Taylor says, “Good intentions are as good as no intentions unless you are intentional about your good intentions.” The Lord is not pleased with good intentions resulting in only mere talk. The Lord wants us to follow through in obedience to His Word for His Glory.

What are the things that you have been merely “talking” about? Where have you stopped short of following through? What areas are you struggling with delayed obedience? Where do you need to be intentional with your good intentions?

It is easy to talk about how you are going to grow in the Lord. It is easy to talk about how you are going to be more active in serving the church. It is easy to talk about how you are going to be more consistent in your church attendance. It is easy to talk about how you are going to reach out to your neighbor or co-worker.

Beloved, we are not called to mere talk, but to walk with Christ. It is hard work to follow through in obedience, but all hard work brings a profit. Join me in fighting to fulfill our good intentions for God’s Glory. “Fight the good fight of the faith.” Draw a line in the sand and fight to be intentional about your good intentions.

In Christ,



Pastor Dave

Upheld By His Righteous Right Hand

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Beloved,

A dear saint shared this Scripture with me this week and it is a sweet and precious promise. We have no reason to fear for the Lord is with us. Worry and anxiety can often overtake us, but we have to remind ourselves of the truth of God’s Word: Do not fear, for the Lord is with you. You are not alone. Our God honors His Word.

We do not have to fear because God, the one who is with us, will strengthen and help us and uphold us with his righteous right hand. He is not just the God, He is our God. And our God is a one of strength and power. We can trust him, “For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37) He is trustworthy. But do you trust him? Do you believe that God will do what he said he will do? Do not waver in disbelief regarding the promise of God, but be strengthened in your faith fully persuaded that God has the power to do what he has promised (Romans 4:20-21).

Let us not fear, but trust in our great God for He will strengthen us and help us and uphold us with his righteous right hand.

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

Reconciliation

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:17-20

Beloved,

Life can be so busy. It is interesting how easily things can fill up our schedules. We look back at our weeks and we often ask ourselves, “Where did the time go?” We need to take back our schedules. We need to re-prioritize what fills our days because the Lord has given us a job to do. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

To reconcile means to reestablish a close relationship and/or to restore to harmony. There are many of our members that need to be reconciled the church and need to be restored to harmony to our Lord. He has committed to us the ministry and the message of reconciliation that in Christ, God, will not count men’s sins against them. Beloved, let us fill our schedules with the ministry of reconciliation as we implore our friends and family to be reconciled to the Lord and His Church. We are Christ’s ambassadors, His representatives, making His appeal through us. So we should implore people: Be reconciled to God.

Join me in prayer as we labor together in the ministry of reconciliation. God is gracious to us in Christ, not counting our sins against us. Therefore let us not count other’s sins against them, but let us open our arms wide embracing people to reestablish a close relationship with God and with Park Baptist Church. God has given us this ministry of reconciliation. Let us be faithful ambassadors of our Lord.

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

Unity

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1


Beloved,

There are many things and events that bring people together. Typically, our culture is unified around common interests such as sports, music or hobbies. It is extremely exciting when a stadium full of people joyfully shout in unison for touchdown or goal. It is good and pleasant when people are unified. There is something that just feels right about unity. If our world can understand unity in athletic contests, how much more should God’s people understand unity as we live together as the church?

The psalm says how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. God is pleased when there is unity and harmony in the Body of Christ. He cares about our unity. Listen to the prayer of our Lord:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

God wants his people to be unified in Him. He wants us to experience how good and pleasant it is when we are unified. But he also wants us to be unified so that the world may believe in Jesus Christ. Read the above passage again. Our unity is not an option. One of the gifts that the Lord has given his church for unity is the Lord’s Supper. Prepare your hearts through careful examination this week as we come to celebrate our unity in Christ through communion this Sunday.

Beloved, how good and pleasant it is when we live together in unity!!

In Christ,

Pastor Dave