Archive for November, 2009
The Power of Service
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat on November 25, 2009
Here’s an extremely effective and touching video about the power of service. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Movie Review: “The Blind Side”
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Movie Reviews on November 24, 2009
Laura, Lauren, and I recently saw “The Blind Side” starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. This rivoting, must-see movie is based on the true story of Michael Oher who now plays football in the National Football League for the Baltimore Ravens.
Oher was virtually homeless, but was able to overcome his situation after a wealthy Christian family took him home to live with them. After a short, but successful high school career, he went on to play at the University of Mississippi where he became a first-team All-American. After graduation, he was drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens.
I promise you’ll laugh out loud and then wonder if you laughed TOO loud for the setting. I also encourage you to take a hanky in case your allergies “act up” like mine did throughout the whole blasted movie!
World’s Greatest Sermon
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Discipleship, Sermons on November 23, 2009
This morning I read the Sermon on the Mount from the gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. One day an unusually large crowd gathered to hear Jesus, so he gathered them together on the side of a mountain. There He preached the greatest sermon that has ever been preached throughout all history.
In the sermon, Jesus addresses some difficult topics like the following:
38″You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.’” Matthew 5:38-42
Does Jesus mean this literally? Do you know of anyone who has actually practiced this in real life? I encourage you to read through this sermon–it will challenge you in your thinking and in your walk with the Lord.
How to Finish Well
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Discipleship on November 12, 2009
Jimmie Johnson is close to winning his 4th Nascar Sprint Cup Championship in a row. The last 4 years he raced well throughout the season, but what separated him from all the other drivers was the way he finished the season. The last few races of the past 4 seasons were some of his best races.
One of these days, all of us who are Christians, will be welcomed home to Heaven. Our race will be complete. I imagine that God will pull out all the stops. No earthly event, regardless how spectacular, will compare to that moment when we first see Jesus! All that will matter at that moment is that we are in His presence and that we have finished well!
5 Keys to Finishing Our Race Well
1. Be sure we are racing for the correct team. Jesus said that He is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6), so we must be certain that we are on His team. In the end, His team is the only one that will win!
2. Find our driving style. God made each of us unique. We did not come off an assembly line — we were handcrafted by the Lord. Because of this, we all have a unique design or SHAPE. In order to finish well, we must discover God’s design and purpose for our lives and live accordingly.
3. Remember who owns the car. God is the author of life. We are simply stewards, so we should follow His race instructions.
4. Stop for regular pit stops. Even the most finely-tuned $200,000 race car cannot run without regular pit stops. Throughout a race, drivers stop for fresh tires, fuel, and minor adjustments. We must stop regularly for Bible study, prayer, worship, rest, etc. if we want to finish well.
5. Race to the line. We should never quit. We should never give up. We should keep racing all the way to the finish line. So often, I see people give up on the race before the race is completed. We should pace ourselves in such a way that we can race to the end.
Prayer: God help us connect with You through Your Son, the Lord Jesus. Help us discover how You put us together and help us run our race according to Your plans. Help us race with integrity , with consistency, and with other teammates in mind.
Learning from a Pig
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Funny, Life Happens on November 6, 2009
The Hatfield and McCoy feud started over ownership of one lone pig. In the late 1800′s it was common for Eastern Kentuckians to turn their swine loose to forage freely until time to round them up for slaughter. Each porker sported a distinctive family
“brand” that identified him as a “Jones, McCoy, Hatfield, Rice, etc.” The long-lasting feud began because one family believed the other family had killed and eaten one of their pigs.
For an entire decade I had the privilege of pastoring smack-dab in the middle of the feud area with several Hatfields and McCoys as active members of my church. The thing that many do not understand about “The Feud” is that it lasted for many years. The hatred
and bitterness brewed with killings happening after long periods of dormant feud activity.
The Bible instructs us not to let little things brew and fester. Matthew 18:15 says, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.” Don’t let things build up over time or you might find yourself “feudin’ over pig’s feet”
(Interpretation: fighting over insignificant matters.)
New Shelbyville First Baptist Website
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat on November 4, 2009
We have been working closely over the last few months with an awesome design team from 524 Concepts to design and launch our new Shelbyville First Baptist Church website. The site is now live and you will discover a different look and feel. Roam around the site, push a few buttons, and let us know what you think.
We will be adding a lot of items to the site over the next few weeks. For example, we will soon add our Sunday messages that can be heard on a standard media player or through a Podcast.
I want to personally express my sincere appreciation to Sue Gray and others who helped so much to maintain our past site. As a new pastor, I simply wanted us to have a new look and a new approach to communicating through our website. Be sure to tell others church members and friends to check out the new website.
