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

11 Practical Ways to Appreciate Your Pastor

I had the opportunity to preach at the Southeast Atlanta SDB Church as they celebrated their pastor, Barry Dailey. In my sermon, I shared these 11 practical ways to honor their pastor. I believe these may be useful for you as you consider the work your pastor does on behalf of your church and the cause of Christ. 

1. A Worker is Worthy of His Wages 

Paying a pastor frees him to provide for his family (which he must do) and to do gospel ministry (pray, preach, teach, mentor, counsel). I know that most churches cannot afford to pay a pastor what he is worth. Pastors do not accept their calling because of finances. However, there are ways to think outside the box for ways to honor him and his family such as year-end bonuses, extra vacation, inviting his family out to dinner away, having a gasoline or clothing or phone or book allowance, and many more things. Be creative!

2. Don't Treat Your Pastor Like a Hireling 

If you can pay your pastor, do not lord it over him and treat him as a slave.You may pay him but he does not work for you. You pay him with God's money to do God's work. He is accountable not ultimately to you but to God for his work.

3. Understand What Your Pastor Goes Through 

Your pastor makes lots of tough decisions (and often have to do so quickly). When you hurt, he does. When you rejoice, he does. When you sin, he is grieved. When you grow in grace and faith, he celebrates what God is doing. He does this in addition to the emotional, financial, and personal difficulties that him and his family go through as well. Encourage his participation in other groups of pastors who can uniquely understand what it is like to pastor a church.

4. Pastors Get Discouraged; Don't Participate in Discouraging Him 

Your pastor gets discouraged when you don't show up (to worship/bible study/men's group). Your pastor gets discouraged when he casts a vision that God has laid upon him and no one follows. Your pastor gets discouraged when he spends hours each week in preparation for a sermon and people play on their phones during church. So, say thank you. Tell him you enjoyed his sermon (and what exactly you enjoyed about his sermon) and tell him on a day other than your day of worship (i.e. Monday or Tuesday). 

5. People Who Visit Your Church See How You Treat Your Pastor 

If you want to be known as a loving church, then you will love the shepherd of your church. People notice how you treat your pastor when they visit. In churches where they have lots of pastoral changes, the problem is probably not the pastors.

6. Your Pastor Wasn't Always a Pastor

While your pastor does enjoy reading the Bible and listening to other people's sermons, he enjoys some of the same things you do too (TV, books, sports, etc.) Know if he is an introvert or extrovert. Know your pastor's hobbies and favorites. Consider this when you think about a gift for him. By the way, other people besides the pastor can pray at meals. 

7. Share Your Pastor 

Allow your pastor to serve in the community (school board, neighborhood watch, coach, etc.). Allow him to teach, preach, and pray in other churches when invited. Your pastor, your church, and your community will be blessed if you do. 

8. Don't Make Your Pastor Choose Between His Family and the Church 

If you do make him choose, you will be disappointed because he will pick his family every time (and he should). Spiritual leaders in the church and in the homes of church members need to fill the gap. Your pastor loves you so it is easy to abuse him by asking him to do every little thing. Guard him from doing too much and do your best to take care of his wife and family.

9. Watch Out For and Encourage Your Pastor's Spiritual Growth 

As much as your pastor grows spiritually is as much as the church will grow. Let him go to conferences. Encourage him to take retreats. Allow him time off to listen to others preach. Pray for him often and regularly. Follow Him as He follows Christ.

10. Lift Up Your Pastor's Tired Hands

When your pastor asks you to do something say yes. When you say yes, do it. When you don't do what you say you will do, guess who has to do it most of the time (that's right, your pastor). Lift up his tired hands by showing up (and on time) and giving to the church (both your money and time). Cooperate with him and God in the ministry of the church by having a teachable spirit and repenting of sin. Assume that your pastor has your best interests at heart.

11. Honor Your Pastor 

Address your pastor in the manner he prefers to be addressed but err on the side of formality. Teach your children to respect the pastor as an authority through your example. If you participate in the service, practice your part. If you lead a ministry, be prepared to serve. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list of how you should appreciate your pastor. Just remember that your pastor is a gift of God to your church. Treat His gift and His church that your pastor leads with respect. 

Leadership Lessons from Ted Engstrom, Part 4

At the encouragement of a few friends and fellow General Council members, I am reading through The Making of a Christian Leader by Ted Engstrom. This book was written in 1976 but still resonates with its insights to this day. Talk about retro!

Every week, I will share some quotes and gleanings from my reading for the week. I hope to use this time as an encouragement to myself and to others that being a leader is a calling from Christ and only possible through Christ.




CHAPTER TWO: THE OLD TESTAMENT AND LEADERSHIP

"...spiritual men can take ... [leadership] tools and use them for the glory of God, whether or not all the tools in the leader's arsenal are spiritual.", p. 25

[Joseph provides] "a magnificent example of organization in Scripture!", p. 26

"...authority flows from the higher levels to the lower in God's plan.", p. 26

 "Authority carries with it great responsibility.", p. 27

"Those entrusted with authority are divinely ordained to use it responsibly for His purposes.", p. 27

"...the complex nature of authority...depend[s] upon the attitude with which it is received...", p. 27

"...the people did not understand his [Moses'] role in their midst.", p. 29

"...he [Moses] knew it was time to train someone else for leadership.", p. 30

Six qualities of Moses' leadership found in Hebrews 11 (p. 30):                                          1. Faith (v. 24)                                                                                                                      2. Integrity (v.25)                                                                                                                  3. Vision (v. 26)                                                                                                                    4. Decisiveness (v. 27)                                                                                                          5. Obedience (v. 28)                                                                                                              6. Responsibility (v. 29)

"Behind David's accomplishments was the blessing of God.", p. 31

"The strongest reason ... that the Israelite tribes offered for wanting David to rule was that he was God's choice.", p. 31

"David...protect[ed] them as their judge in peace and their captain in war.", p. 31

Secrets to David's Success (p. 32-33):                                                                                 1. Wise Diplomacy                                                                                                               2. Recognition of the Lord God                                                                                               3. Constantly Seeking God's Blessing                                                                                  4. Not Ashamed to be Involved in Spiritual Exercises                                                                             5. Led His People in Praising God

"...the Christian leader ... must be willing to exercise spiritual means to mold, stimulate, and continually challenge his colleagues and subordinates.", p. 33

"His [Nehemiah] character was above reproach; he was a praying man; he displayed great courage in the face of much opposition; he had a deep concern for his people...; he did not shirk responsibility given to him." p. 33-34 

Join me in learning with the next post on Chapter 3 (Christ and Leadership in the Gospels) of this book.

Leadership Lessons from Ted Engstrom, Part 3

At the encouragement of a few friends and fellow General Council members, I am reading through The Making of a Christian Leader by Ted Engstrom. This book was written in 1976 but still resonates with its insights to this day. Talk about retro!

Every week, I will share some quotes and gleanings from my reading for the week. I hope to use this time as an encouragement to myself and to others that being a leader is a calling from Christ and only possible through Christ.




CHAPTER ONE: WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

"When God creates a leader, He gives him a capacity to make things happen.", p. 19

"...the closest we seem able to come to a broadly acceptable definition of leadership is, it is what leaders do.", p. 19

"...leadership development is the key to...the effective future of the Christian church..." p. 20

"There are three kinds of people in the world - those who don't know what is happening, those who watch what's happening, and those who make things happen." - Nicholas Butler, p. 20

"...swift and clear decision[making] is a mark of true leadership.", p. 20

"It [leadership] is an act by either word or deed to influence behavior toward a desired end.", p. 20

"Men of faith have always been men of action.", p. 20

"Leadership...demands faith.", p. 21

"...they [leaders] perform competently.", p. 21

 Leadership Principles: (p. 21-23)                                                                                       1. Determine your objectives.                                                                                               2. Plan necessary activities.                                                                                                3. Organize the program.                                                                                                    4. Prepare a timetable.                                                                                                        5. Establish control points.                                                                                                  6. Clarify responsibilities and accountability.                                                                     7. Maintain channels of communication.                                                                            8. Develop cooperation.                                                                                                      9. Resolve problems.                                                                                                          10. Give credit where credit is due.

 Distinctives between Leadership and Management: (p. 23)                                                          1. Leadership is a quality; Management is a science and art.                                             2. Leadership provides vision; Management supplies realistic perspectives.                     3. Leadership deals with concepts; management relates to function.                                 4. Leadership exercises faith; Management has to do with fact.                                         5. Leadership seeks effectiveness; Management strives for efficiency.                              6. Leadership is influence; Management is accomplishment.                                              7. Leadership provides direction; Management is concerned about control.                     8. Leadership is about opportunity; Management is about accomplishment. 

"...[A] leader [is]...one who guides activities of others and who himself acts and performs to bring those activities about.", p. 24

Join me in learning with the next post on Chapter 2 (The OT and Leadership) of this book.

Leadership Lessons from Ted Engstrom, Part 2

At the encouragement of a few friends and fellow General Council members, I am reading through The Making of a Christian Leader by Ted Engstrom. This book was written in 1976 but still resonates with its insights to this day. Talk about retro!

Every week, I will share some quotes and gleanings from my reading for the week. I hope to use this time as an encouragement to myself and to others that being a leader is a calling from Christ and only possible through Christ.




INTRODUCTION

"Crises...stem first from a lack of positive, constructive, dynamic, creative leadership...[sometimes] no leadership is being exercised at all."

 "The successful organization has one major attribute that sets it apart from unsuccessful organizations: dynamic and effective leadership."

"...with the requirement for leadership implicit in change, there are too few individuals with leadership qualities to manage the changes taking place."

"Christian organizations are different [from secular organization]-or at least they should be. They are different because they have a higher allegiance than the basic purpose of the organization."

"An organization may have a fixed, grand objective-to serve Christ, to serve mankind, or to care for the needy-but too often that purpose is not stated in terms of what we intend to do to accomplish that purpose. The goals and objectives are not clearly defined. A major sign of this malady is the large number of committees, department or boards [that exist in an organization]"

Join me in learning with the next post on Chapter 1 (What is Leadership?) of this book.

Leadership Lessons from Ted Engstrom, Part 1

At the encouragement of a few friends and fellow General Council members, I am reading through The Making of a Christian Leader by Ted Engstrom. This book was written in 1976 but still resonates with its insights to this day. Talk about retro!

Every week, I will share some quotes and gleanings from my reading for the week. I hope to use this time as an encouragement to myself and to others that being a leader is a calling from Christ and only possible through Christ.

The Making of a Christian Leader has eighteen chapters. I will share the table of contents today as my hope that this book might appeal to you as well and that you can follow along with me as I share.

1. What is Leadership? 
2. The Old Testament and Leadership
3. Christ and Leadership in the Gospels
4. The Epistles and Leadership
5. Administration is a Gift
6. Boundaries of Leadership
7. Styles of Leadership
8. The Personality of the Leader
9. The Price of Leadership
10. The Measurements of Leadership
11. Personal Traits in Leadership
12. Developing Leadership Skills
13. Motivation and Leadership
14. The Major Tasks of Leaders
15. The Leader Implements the Plan
16. A Leader must Effectively Control the Operation
17. Guidelines for Excellent Leadership
18. Marks of a Christian Leader

Join me in learning with the next post on the Introduction of this book.

Is Your Christianity Too Comfortable?

This is something that has been sticking in my crawl lately (mostly because it is convicting of me as well). Are we too comfortable with our Christianity? Have we lost any sense of fear, trepidation, expectation, or desire for God?

Brian Dodd shares these 10 signs in an article at ChurchLeaders.com. Review these and then repent with me:

1. You are not attending church with a high level of expectancy.

2. You no longer seem to be concerned about the spiritual condition of neighbors, family members, or your co-workers.

3. You haven’t had a spiritual conversation with a non-Christian in a long time.

4. The Bible seems like a history book.  It’s lifeless to you.

5. Your happiness on Sunday mornings is more important than what it takes to reach the unchurched.  As long as you get your parking spot, your seat, and hear the music you like, everything’s fine.

6. The plight of the poor doesn’t concern you.
7. Pictures of overseas suffering do not move you to action.
8. You do not give your financial resources sacrificially.
9. Your prayers don’t seem to be making it past the ceiling.
10. It doesn’t even dawn on you that God could do something incredibly radical in your life at any moment today.  It’s not even on your radar.

Are You Ready...for the Wedding?

*This is my article for the June 2012 President's Page in the Sabbath Recorder.

Letus rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of theLamb has come,

and his Bride has made herself ready;

(Revelation 19:7 ESV)

The Jewish wedding ceremony took place in three parts. Each part is symbolic of a much greater wedding.

It began with the betrothal period, which was preceded by intense bargaining between the father of the bride and the father of the groom. The price was generally very steep, even sacrificial. The price Jesus paid for His bride was also very steep. It was not silver or gold, but His own precious blood. As Christian churches, we have put our trust in that blood and we are betrothed. In the days of Jesus, this part of the ceremony symbolized a permanent commitment. It is the same with our church's relationship with Jesus. We have been purchased with a price and committed to Him alone.

In the next part, the groom went away in order to add a room to his father’s house. It usually took about a year but the actual time was determined by the father. It was the father who decided when things were READY. In John 14, Jesus said, “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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus will return to bring His bride to the place that He has been preparing when His father says it's READY.

During the time this room was being built, the bride would be preparing herself and her gown for the wedding day. This was a process that involved a lot of patience and intricate detail. As the bride of Christ, the church anticipates the great marriage feast when Jesus returns. As our churches clothe themselves in and for Christ, we realize our sanctification and anticipation in what we will become. However, rather than fine linen, the church's wedding gown is made of faithfulness to His mission and readiness for His return.

The third and final part of the marriage was the actual wedding and feast. This is a time of celebration of the eternal union of bride and groom. This is what the church is looking forward to upon Christ's second coming. A continual and eternal celebration of Him and those who abide in Him.

So while He is preparing a place for us, He is also yearning to sanctify us and make us Holy. Let us prepare ourselves for Him in faithfulness, commitment, and practice! ARE YOU READY?

When we gather every week in our churches, we get to celebrate a little, yet imperfect, foretaste of what our celebration in eternity will look like. This summer at our Conference session we get to celebrate (with a little larger crowd) the goodness that Christ is doing in and through us until He returns for us.

I am encouraging you all to register for this summer's Conference sessions to be challenged, to be refreshed, and to be encouraged to serve the Kingdom with more vigor with a renewed purpose and with a new perspective.

Our morning Bible studies, led by Matt Berg, Scott Smith, Ericessen Cooper, Matt Olson, and David Fox, will take us through the book of 1 Thessalonians. Our evening and Sabbath worship speakers, Steve Graffius, Nick Kersten, Dave Stall, John Pethtel, Steve Osborn, and special guests (Brian Croft and Dr. Howard Bixby) will inspire, convict, motivate, encourage, and edify you.

We are planning on having week-long courses on missions and evangelism, led by Patty Peterson and Miriam Berg. Of course, there will be the fantastic fellowship times and other activities that we have grown to love during that week.

We are placing an emphasis on church planting and revitalization during this year's session by having some specified teaching on how to revitalize your church and get it to participate in church planting. If that is an area of ministry that you are being called to explore or discover or have questions about, please contact the Center office, the Missionary Society, or myself so that we can be praying for you and include you in these discussions.

On behalf of myself, our denominational executives, our boards and agencies, and our Conference host committee, we want to invite you to join the ARE YOU READY? conversation at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV from July 29-August 4, 2012. 

Some Things John MacArthur Helped Teach Me Through My Study of Titus

These quotes from John MacArthur's Commentary on Titus and my experience from reading what folks have to say about our President and those who desire that office teach me that most Christians believe in the sovereignty of God with the exception of election season. Enjoy some wisdom from Dr. MacArthur!

To allow our thoughts, plans, time, money, and energy to be spent trying to make a superficially Christian America, or to put a veneer of morality over the world, is to distort the gospel, misconstrue our divine calling, and squander our God-given resources. We must not weaken our spiritual mission, obscure our priority of proclaiming the gospel of salvation, or become confused about our spiritual citizenship, loyalties, and obligations. We are to change society, but by faithfully proclaiming the gospel, which changes lives on the inside.

We must reject sin and never compromise God’s standards of righteousness. But we also must never engage in defamation and denigration of the lost sinners who make up our corrupt culture. When Christians become political, sinners become the enemy instead of the mission field.

When the church adopts a moralizing approach, its energy and resources are diverted and evangelization suffers. When Christians become hostile to government and to society in general, they almost inevitably become hostile to the unsaved leaders of that government and the unsaved citizens who live in that society. We cannot afford to weaken our spiritual mission or our priority of gospel proclamation and kingdom consciousness by getting involved in efforts to change cultural behavior. Even more important, we cannot become enemies of the very ones we seek to win to Christ, our potential brothers and sisters in the Lord. When people come to Christ, He changes them and they change the sphere that they influence. Really changing society starts when a Christian’s moral and spiritual concern is for his own virtue and godliness. It is our righteous attitude and conduct that make us not only more pleasing to the Lord but more pleasing to the unsaved. It is righteous living that makes the saving message of the gospel believable to the lost. If we claim to be saved from sin but still live sinful lives, our preaching and teaching, no matter how orthodox, is likely to fall on deaf ears.

 As followers and imitators of Jesus Christ, our calling is not to fight for our rights or privileges against the ungodly. Rather, as we live in this corrupt world in subjection and obedience to human authority, doing good deeds, maligning no one, and being uncontentious, gentle, and meek, we will thereby demonstrate the gracious power of God to transform sinners and make them like Himself.