Archive for category Ministry
Be Encouraged
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Fellowship, Ministry on December 18, 2009
”So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
The Apostle Paul told those who were members of the church at Thessalonica to encourage each other and to build each other up. Here are 50 Ways to Praise people which should accomplish both these tasks:
That’s incredible! How extraordinary! Far out! Outstanding performance! I can’t get over it! Great! Amazing effort! Unbelievable work! Wonderful! Marvelous! Phenomenal! You’ve got it going on! Superb! Cool! Excellent! You’re special! Your work is out of sight! First rate! You’ve outdone yourself! Thumbs up! Your help make a difference! It couldn’t be better! Bravo! Awesome! Breathtaking! You’re a great example! Dynamite! What an imagination! Well done! You’re sensational! A+ work! Super job! Take a bow! Hooray for you! Top of the class! You’re #1! Very impressive! Wow! Beautiful! You’re super! What a genius! Very brave! You’ve earned my respect! Spectacular work! Got it going on! Yes! That’s it! Keep it coming! Homerun! Ooooohhhhh Yeeeaaaahhhh!
Since you read my article today, let me give you a big You’re a “10” in my book! God bless!
Favorite Bible Translation
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Book Reviews, Ministry on December 5, 2009
Lately, I’ve been thinking a great deal about different Bible translations. As most people my age, I cut my teeth on the King James Bible. The last decade or more I have been reading and preaching from the New International Version. I love both translations, but they are very different. The King James takes a word-for-word (formal equivalence) translation approach while the New International Version is a thought-for-thought (functional equivalence) translation.
In the last few years, two new, scholarly translations have been published. One is the Christian Holman Standard Bible. This Bible is a combination of a word-for-word and a thought-for-thought translation. I have read quite a bit from this translation and I find it a refreshing and accurate approach to the Scripture.
Another recent and excellent translation is the English Standard Version. The ESV is a word-for-word translation in the tradition of the King James Version. It has quickly become a highly accepted translation by scholars and casual readers alike.
Check out these translations and let me know what you think? Let me complete this post by asking the following question:
Which Bible translation do you prefer?
Here’s a link to a great radio broadcast by Dr. Albert Mohler about the best Bible translations.
Ordering Your Private World
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Discipleship, Ministry on March 18, 2009
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed.” Romans 12:2 (Phillips)
Gordon MacDonald’s book, Ordering Your Private World, is one of the most helpful books I have ever read. I highly commend this Thomas Nelson Publishers’ book to you. Listen to what MacDonald writes about this passage:
The apostle set forth an ageless truth. He was directing that a right choice be made. Are we going to order our inner worlds so that they will create influence on the outer world? Or will we neglect our private worlds and thus permit the outer sphere to shape us? This is a choice we have to make every day of our lives. (Page 24)
This is the absolute key to being used by God! If we want to change our outer world, we have to change our private world. If we want to make a difference we have to be different. If we want to leave a mark we have to mark some boundaries. We must schedule our priorities, and our number one priority MUST be God!
Where are you in this? How is your private world?
Mary Slessor was a young single woman who left Scotland at the turn of the century to go to a part of Africa that was infested with disease and indescribable danger. But she had an indomitable spirit and kept going when lesser men and women broke down, ran, and never came back. Once, after a particularly draining day, she found herself trying to sleep in a crude jungle hut. Of that night she wrote:
I am not very particular about my bed these days, but as I lay on a few dirty sticks laid across and covered with a litter of dirty corn-shells, with plenty of rats and insects, three women and an infant three days old alongside, and over a dozen sheep and goats and cows outside, you don’t wonder that I slept little. But I had such a comfortable quiet night in my own heart. (Underline added)
That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about when I address the question of order in our private world. There must be a quiet place where all is in order, a place from which comes the energy that overcomes turbulence and is not intimidated by it. Don’t let the world fit you into its mold! Instead, mold your world for the glory of God!
Also see the post A Leader’s Real Test.
Are Leaders Born or Made?
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Discipleship, Life Happens, Ministry on March 13, 2009
During my reading over the last few years, I have read dozens of books on leadership. Allow me to summarize a few of the things that stand out to me from those books.
First, leadership is defined as “the ability to influence others.” Leaders can lead people for noble purposes or for evil purposes. The question often comes up, “Are you born a leader or do you learn to be a leader?” The answer to the question is “yes” and “yes.” Some people are born with natural leadership abilities, but leadership can be learned as well.
The model of leadership demonstrated by Jesus was servant leadership. People will follow leaders who do not ask their followers to do something that they would not do. By serving others as leaders, we earn the right to lead. People “vest” us with true authority as a result of our service to them.
“The greatest among you will be your servant.” Matthew 23:11
The real test of leaders is in their private life. Image is what people think we are; integrity is what we really are! Leaders need to be people of integrity—honest, genuine, consistent, and transparent. They need to have strong spiritual disciplines in the areas of Bible study, prayer, and church attendance.
Leaders need to carefully guard their time. Elton Trueblood wrote, “A public man, though he is necessarily available at many times, must learn to hide. If he is always available, he is not worth enough when he is available.” Gordon MacDonald asked one of the most profound questions a leader must face, “Are we going to order our inner worlds so that they will create influence on the outer world? Or will we neglect our private worlds and thus permit the outer sphere to shape us?” This is the choice we have to make every day of our lives. That’s what Paul seemed to say in Romans 12:2.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this [outer] world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
“Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” Romans 12:2 (Phillips)
10 Things I Love About Being A Pastor
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Life Happens, Ministry on February 18, 2009
Here are ten random things I love about being a pastor. The list is not exhaustive and in no particular order. Here we go.
“One thing I love about being a pastor is . . . . “
- Walking through life with people you know and love.
- Encouraging members when they’re going through difficult times.
- Preparing to preach each week.
- Working closely with fellow staff members.
- Watching church children be children.
- Seeing people become passionate about Jesus.
- Being passionate about Jesus.
- Helping a church refocus for effectiveness.
- Leading.
- Following.
Let’s See You Smile
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Funny, Life Happens, Ministry on January 3, 2009
According to a recent study, the way we look has a direct bearing on our paycheck. Researchers analyzed employment data from 7,000 adults. They divided the group according to their looks and then compared what those working similar jobs were paid. Those who were rated lower in the area of appearance earned less than those who rated average or above.
Appearance includes many things. The style and neatness of your clothing, the shine on your shoes, the crease in your shirt, your choice of colors, the way you fix your hair, your makeup, and all the elements of your personal grooming. However, the biggest factor is the smile on your face, followed closely by your attitude and sense of humor. A good sense of humor and a positive attitude are particularly important as you move into the upper echelons of business.
I encourage you to attend to your attitude, sense your sense of humor, and smear your smile. People do not want to be around an ol’ stiff, stick-in-the-mud! In case all of this talk sounds less than spiritual, remember that we are ambassadors for Christ. As wise, conscientious ambassadors we want to improve our “abilities.” Let’s improve our respectability, approachability, and likeability. In this way we can draw people to us in order to point them to Christ!
Denying Jesus
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Discipleship, Evangelism, Ministry, Sermons, Worship on December 22, 2008
This morning I read Luke 22 as a part of my daily devotion. In the chapter, the Apostle Peter bragged that he was ready to die with Jesus if need be. Jesus told Peter that he would deny even knowing him before the next morning.
This whole scene made me start thinking about ways we deny Jesus in our daily lives. Can you think of ways we deny Jesus?
Pray for Persecuted Christians
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Discipleship, Ministry on November 12, 2008
Several members of the First Baptist staff attended the Kentucky Baptist Convention Annual Meeting yesterday in Lexington, Kentucky. One of the highlights was hearing David Platt speak during the final session. David is Senior Pastor of the The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama.
In his sermon, David spoke about our sisters and brothers in Christ who worship in fear of their lives because of persecution. Although he could not mention them by name, he told of two young men he recently saw baptized in an underground church where he was teaching. The men knew that taking such a stand for Christ could cause them to lose everything, including their lives, but they wanted to be obedient in baptism.
QUESTION: Are there areas in our lives where we are not obedient?
Pastoral Prayer: Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Protect them, empower them, and encourage them. Father, help us here at Shelbyville to be willing to sacrifice for your cause and for your glory in the same spirit of our brothers and sisters there. AMEN.
