The Grace of Faith

“The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.”

— Second London Confession, 14.1

Wild and Wonderful.....General Council Meeting

 The SDB General Council meets this weekend at the Salem SDB Church. We begin year two of our adventure implementing the reorganization of our General Conference that was voted upon during the 2012 sessions. 

As we delve into the work of our second year, we are seeking God's guidance as we begin the work of planning and preparing for what He has in store for us now and in the coming years. We CHOOSE to be READY to FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.

 This weekend we will be:

• Reviewing the 2013 General Conference sessions
• Implementing plans to ensure the completion of action items from the 2013 General Conference sessions.
• Gauging the next steps in church development to plant new churches and revitalize existing churches
• Starting a NEW budget process for the 2015 Denominational Budget
• Setting goals to help us take the next step in God's more preferable future for SDBs
• Praying for our churches, boards/allied societies, executives, and staff
• Discussing many other topics

We covet your prayers for our travel and for our decisions as we seek God the Holy Spirit's guidance on how SDB's can best glorify God and advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

If you have anything that you would like the General Council to discuss, pray about, or hear about or if your church would be interested in hosting one of our meetings, please feel free to contact me at john.j.pethtel AT gmail DOT com.

Ways that YOU can Pray for Colorado

Ways that YOU can Pray for Colorado:

-Pray for safety for people and property of those who own or rent homes in the affected areas. Most flood insurance is offered by the government and is inadeqate. In addition, a lot of homes in the mountains are not in “flood plains” and not able to get insurance.

-Pray for the homeless. There are a lot of homeless people in the Boulder and Colorado Springs areas. They primarily rest in parks located near creeks and rivers or in highway underpasses. With flooding happening, these places are not safe to be.

-Pray for first responders. No matter how many preparedness drills you run there are still elements that cannot be predicted. Also in situations like these, first responders often have to work multiple shifts because the other workers are stranded or they can't go home.

-Pray for teachers and students. As they miss school days for this flood situation, it takes away days that are normally used for “snow days”. This places an increase of stress on administrators, teachers, and students to get in the mandated number of instructional days.

-Pray for our civil officials who are having to deal with the crisis of the moment and the recovery that happens in the aftermath (along with the criticism that accompanies these disasters)

-Pray for our National Guard men and women who are being activated to help deal with this crisis. They leave jobs that pay them much more than their public service and families who worry about them as they serve.

-Pray for the clergy who will proclaim the promises of God to people who are questioning: the promise that a “groaning creation” will be reunited with its Creator and the promise that this world will not be destroyed by floods. God's desire and Jesus' work assure us that it is possible for even His highest form of creation, humanity, to be reconciled to Him.

Pray to God for relief, for help, for strength, and for restoration for the people of Colorado through Christ Jesus. I believe in a God who can and will make ALL THINGS NEW!

The Vanity of Your Heart

A letter from John Brown, a 19th century pastor, to one of his apprentices:

"I know the vanity of your heart, and that you will feel mortified that your congregation is very small, in comparison with those of your brethren around you; but assure yourself on the word of an old man, that when you come to give an account of them to the Lord Christ, at His judgment-seat, you will think you have had enough."

...all of the hopes of our fallen race are centered in the truth of the Trinity.

From Jared Wilson today:

“If there were no Trinity, there could be no incarnation, no objective redemption, and therefore no salvation; for there would then be no one capable of acting as Mediator between God and man. In his fallen condition man has neither the inclination nor the ability to redeem himself. All merely human works are defective and incapable of redeeming a single soul. Between the Holy God and sinful man there is an infinite gulf; and only through One who is Deity, who takes man’s nature upon Himself and suffers and dies in his stead, thus giving infinite value and dignity to that suffering and death, can man’s debt be paid. Nor could a Holy Spirit who comes short of Deity apply that redemption to human souls. Hence if salvation is to be had at all it must be of divine origin. If God were only unity, but not plurality, He might be our judge, but, so far as we can see, could not be our Saviour and sanctifier. The fact of the matter is that God is the way back to Himself, and that all of the hopes of our fallen race are centered in the truth of the Trinity.”
– Loraine Boettner, “The Trinity”

My Quick trip to Seattle this Weekend

 The SDB General Council meets this weekend at the Seattle SDB Church. We continue to attend to the business of the General Conference while we seek to implement the reorganization that was adopted during our 2012 sessions. This weekend we will be discussing:

• a proposed amendment to our Statement of Beliefs from the Faith and Order Committee
• a review process for our Manual of Procedures
• a proposal for denominational endorsement of chaplains from the Council on Ministry
• upcoming Conference plans
• reviewing action items from last year's General Conference session
• church planting and revitalization
• a search for a new Financial Officer
• a new budget process
• results of the recent survey advertised through the SDBlog and Facebook
• evaluation of our Executive Director
• many other topics

We have picked a prayer focus our meetings and pray for our churches, our executives and SDB Center staff, and the people who serve on our Boards and Allied Societies. This meeting's prayer focus in on our pastors and seminary students.

We covet your prayers for our travel and for our decisions as we seek God the Holy Spirit's guidance on how SDB's can best glorify God and advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Investing for Eternity

This is an article I wrote for the March 2013 issue of the Sabbath Recorder. 

     The Bible has multitudes to say about leadership. From Joseph's integrity shown in his rise in Egypt, to Moses heeding the advice of his father-in-law to delegate, to David being fearless in following God's will before a giant, to the wisdom of Solomon, to the organization of Nehemiah, to the servant leadership of our Lord, and the frankness and direct approach of Paul, we see that while God wants us to follow Him first and foremost that He provides for us leaders who help and equip us to get there.

     Raising, developing, and unleashing new leaders is one of the most difficult things to do in the church today. It is the topic of many books and conferences. Most seminaries require courses in leadership for their students. It is most certainly a “buzz” word in Christian blogs and magazines. Yet, through all the talk and hooplah, how many churches are really applying this biblical principle of reproducing leadership?

     It seems, through looking at the examples of discipleship in the Bible, that one of the most important things that any Christian (or Christian leader) can do is to multiply themselves. Most people in today's society strive to do this by attempting to have themselves in multiple places at the same time. This never works. It makes much more sense to work with God to encourage and equip those He has gifted to help serve and lead His church in your midst.

     During the last six years of my pastorate, the most important (and one of the most enjoyable) things that I have been able to do is to invest the time given to me by God in others whom God has called into leadership. It was a privelege to have a few great mentors along my journey who invested knowledge, wisdom, time, money, and emotions in my development as a pastor and leader. To this day, those mentors are still investing in my development, as well as my peers, and the congregations I have served.

THE DIFFICULTY OF MORE LEADERS

     However, the reality of today's church is that raising, developing, and unleashing new leaders is one of the most difficult things to make happen. There are a few reasons for that.

     First, Satan does not want church leaders to proclaim the Kingdom of God. So, he lies to them and convinces leaders that they can minister by and to themselves. He causes pride to become a stumbling block in raising a generation of selfless, Kingdom centered leaders.

     Second, there has been too low expectations placed upon church membership. The church has become so happy with attendance that we have rarely required much else.

     This leads to the third reason. There has been too high expectations placed on church leadership. Our biblical picture of church leadership from Acts 6 shows the apostles gathering help so that they don't neglect their ministry of prayer and proclaiming the Word. The modern picture of church leadership has us struggling to get members to serve each other and our communities. This has not only the ministry of prayer and proclaiming the Word neglected but also has our members expecting the church leadership to do everything. This has created the consumer culture of church today where churches feel the need to cater to the perceived needs of the members and/or community (youth groups, children's ministry, worship shows, etc.) instead of their real need, Jesus.

WHO ARE THE LEADERS OF A CHURCH?

     When taking a look at the passages of Scripture concerning church leadership in Scripture, such as 1 Timothy 3, there is a clear indication of two offices of leadership in the New Testatment church: pastor or elder and deacon. Due to the importance of the local church as the agent of the Kingdom of God in the present age and SDB's historical use of a covenant membership structure and congregational polity, church member is also a level of leadership and responsibility in the local church.

WHY MORE LEADERS?

     Developing and discipling new and more leaders is of the utmost importance because the advancement of the Kingdom of God is at stake. Leaders should be raised, trained, taught, and guided to lead the mission of God not a program of the church. Programs (no matter how good they are) were not made to last forever. However, the Kingdom and reign of God through our Lord Jesus Christ will last forever.

     As we disciple and train more leaders, they will learn a culture of investing in and discipling others. The leaders that your church develops will develop more leaders. This is how movements are born.

If creating more local churches in more cities and countries is a priority for Seventh Day Baptists, then there is a need for more leaders. As we desire to advance the Kingdom of God with gospel-centered SDB “embassies” planted all around North America and the globe, the equation is simple: more churches = more leaders.

     In the operation of the local church, one person was never meant to shoulder the burden of leadership. With different gifts and different experiences, the leadership of the local church should be placed in the hands of biblically qualified people to shepherd, guide, and administrate it toward the mission of God. Churches that have a shared leadership structure are poising themselves for the growth that God will bring them.

Maybe the best reason for developing more leaders: Jesus did. It was His example to invest in the leaders of His church. He chose them. He dedicated His teaching and ministry on His disciples, primarily. He did this because He knew He would have to leave someone to carry on and lead the mission He was entrusted. His concerted effort was found in developing eleven men to develop more leaders.

WHERE ARE THE LEADERS?

      The leaders that need your investment are probably worshiping next to you every week. It is possible that they haven't even started attending your church yet. They might be in the youth group, or college, or in the senior citizens center.

      Leaders for the local church should not be developed because of the length of their membership or their expertise in the marketplace but rather for their passionate love for Jesus Christ and for His bride, the church. Take a look to the potential that God has given them and their spiritual trajectory.

     Qualities for potential leaders can be demonstrated in competency, character, caring, and responsibility. Potential leaders can be taught many things but they cannot be taught the fruits of salvation as demonstrated through their integrity, character, and love for others.

     Questions that you should ask of yourself when looking to invest in potential leaders:

Is this person qualified biblically (above reproach, repentant, participatory, etc.)?

Is this person teachable? Do they have a learning spirit? Do they strive to glorify Jesus in everything?

Can they be entrusted to be faithful in little tasks? Do they ask for help/guidance when needed?

Do they willingly serve others? Are they looking for ways to show the love of God to others?

HOW DO WE DEVELOP LEADERS?

     Leadership is lifelong learning. One of the greatest things that happens to a leader when they are investing in the lives of others is that God teaches them through those they are mentoring.

      The best way to invest and develop leaders is to let them take a look at what leadership of Jesus' church looks like through your perspective. Share your experiences with them. Let them participate in what you are doing. Let them see how you handle the great successes that God brings to your church. Let them see how you handle mistakes when you make them.

      Give those who will be leaders the opportunity to lead and learn and make mistakes while you are there. Let them do something. Let them fail. Let them try again.

      Allow your leaders to learn from others besides yourself. There are so many things for us to learn from others. Pick people whom God has gifted and you admire and spend the time to see how God made them into who they are.

      Encourage your leaders not just with praise but also with “constructive” feedback. Provide them with ways to evaluate and see the evidences of God's grace in their life.

      Your investment in raising more leaders will be an investment in eternity!

Thursday is for Theology: Theology Matters

We are all theologians. It's just a matter of what we believe about God is really true.



DugDownDeep_Carnahan.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

Thursday is for Theology: Confessionalism

Just a quick reminder that there is no need to be scared of confessions and creeds. While Baptists do not view themselves as creedal, they certainly do view themselves as people who have their faith and practice guided by the Bible. 

Confessions and creeds are just merely ways in which we can agree on what we believe (much like a statement of beliefs) and can be used to teach this theology to everyone. 

Take a look at this article from January's Tabletalk Magazine from Ligonier Ministries written by Dr. Douglas Kelly:

The Value of Confessions

"Out of this crucible of controversy came several confessions that, with general brevity and clarity, express the main thrust of the teachings of Holy Scripture on salvation and holy living. Because of their biblical teaching, they have the value of guiding us as much today as they did our forefathers centuries ago. It is a mercy for the church today not to have to reinvent the wheel. Through the creeds and confessions, we abide in the health and safety of “the communion of the saints.”

2012 turning to 2013: My Resignation

Dear Members of Metro Atlanta SDB Church:

     I will never forget that day a little over five years ago when I received a letter from the Pastoral Search Committee from this church. I was within sight of graduation from seminary and through the search process felt the Lord prompting my family to come and serve this congregation. I could not have ever imagined the journey, emotionally and spiritually, that God would have in store for us here. There are many reasons that I love this church, as friends and as the people of God. I am so glad that God led you to call me and that He led me to respond back in 2007.

     But God has called once again. It is with sadness and mixed emotions that I submit my resignation as an elder and Lead Pastor at Metro Atlanta SDB Church, effective June 1, 2013. I am fully confident that my departure will not hinder the work here. I also fully realize that God uses different men to move ministries to different stages at different times and that sometimes the man who leads from point A to point B is not the same man who will lead from point B to point C. I believe that our sovereign God in His divine wisdom is choosing to move me to another ministry so that another leader will step in to continue this ministry.

     After our Conference sessions this year, I received an email from the Pastoral Search Committee from SpringsLife Church in Colorado Springs, CO. After their committee and church had prayed for months about who God was calling to lead them in ministry after the resignation of Pastor Harold King, my name was their overwhelming first choice. I did not seek out this opportunity (and have never sought other opportunities). I was asked to consider moving to Colorado Springs to lead the ministries there. This was truly a struggle in faith, as other churches have contacted me in the past and the Lord has always made clear a “no” answer. However, the Lord could not lead me to say “no” to this opportunity. It has always been my intention to serve this congregation for a long term but my struggle with this issue became so preoccupying that I sought counsel and advice on the matter. Our Board of Deacons and Elders (and many others) recommended that I needed to accept the trip to candidate at SpringsLife in order to discern God's will in this matter. After preaching in view of a call at SpringsLife on October 6, 2012, their congregation voted unanimously to extend a call for me to become their next pastor on October 20, 2012. Through these months of prayer by myself, my family, my close friends, our Board, and the SpringsLife Church, God has led us to accept His call to move to Colorado Springs.

     Because of our deep integration into the lives of our church and community, we will not be able to move until late spring. However, we know and believe (as well as you) that God directs our steps and promises to never leave us or forsake us. Though I will transition out of my relationship with you as a pastor, our love for you will always remain. You have been and continue to be a blessing in our lives!

Submitted with our deepest love and respect,

The Pethtel Family