Can A Christian Be Divorced?

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I am currently preaching a Summer Sermon Series called Hot Topics. This week’s sermon is entitled, Can A Christian Be Divorced? Several of my pastor friends believe that this week’s “divorce sermon” will be the most difficult message to deliver in the entire series. I suppose they’re correct, but all that I know to do is to explore what the Bible says on the subject.

During this series, I have been reminded over and over that most people want to hear the truth. They want a preacher to stand with a heart full of love and share straight from God’s Word. Even if the topic is difficult, they want to know what God has to say! Well, this summer, I’m desperately trying to share what God has to say on each of these hot topics.

If you would like to hear any or all of the sermons from this series, you can listen to them on our website at http://www.shelbyvillebaptist.com.

“Hot Topics”

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Through the summer I’m opening up a can of  worms at Shelbyville First Baptist Church! I’m wading in waters where I might just drown! I’m going out on a limb!  I’m biting off more than I can chew! I’m waking up several sleeping dogs! I’m swimming with the sharks! I’m taking a stick and hitting a hornet’s nest. For the entire summer, I’m going where very few preachers will dare go!

On Sunday, June 5, I will begin a sermon series called HOT TOPICS! I will address some of the most difficult and sensitive questions in life today. Here’s the list:

  • June 5: What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?
  • June 12: Is Laziness a Sin?
  • June 19: Is Sex a Four-letter Word?
  • June 26: Can a Christian Be Divorced?
  • July 10: Is Osama Bin Laden in Hell?
  • July 17: Is Abortion Always Wrong?
  • July 24: Is It a Sin to Be Rich?
  • July 31: What Music Is Real “Christian” Music?
  • August 7: Are We Prejudiced in Shelbyville?
See what I mean? I’m not sure if I’m really thinking straight, but we’re going to just go for it. We’re going to cut to the chase, shoot straight, get down to brass tacks, hit the nail on the head which may go over like a lead balloon. You may be able to say a lot of things about your pastor at the end of the series, but you WILL NOT be able to say that he is unwilling to tackle difficult subjects. Please use this series of sermons to invite your family and friends to church. Give them one of the Hot Topics Invite Card….who knows, they might just come.

Record Attendance on Easter 2011

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We had a BIG Day on Easter 2011 as we kicked off our new sermon series called The Life You’ve Always Wanted. Since 2007, we have been carefully tracking worship attendance and last Sunday’s attendance was a record for that time period. Thank you for all your hard work toward making Easter at Shelbyville Baptist a huge success.

This Sunday we will continue our sermon series with a message entitled Life with Meaning. We will study King Solomon and his quest to find true meaning and purpose in life.

Luke Wisely, our new contemporary worship leader, will be leading our 8:30 am service and Gene Wright, our worship pastor, will be leading our 11:00 am service. See you there!

The Kind of Person God Uses

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Have you ever wondered why God uses a particular person or a certain church?  Have you ever looked at them and wondered what they had that you did not have?  I believe there are at least four observations we can make about people or churches that God uses….

  • God uses the person who is following His mission. As Dr. Henry Blackaby said in Experiencing God, most of us pray “Lord, bless what I’m doing” when we should be praying “Lord, help me to do what you are blessing!”  God will bless those who are focusing on HIS mission instead of focusing on THEIR mission.
  • God uses the person who is willing to risk failure. Following Jesus is not for the faint at heart.  Acts 15:26 reminds us that Paul and Barnabus “risked their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Erwin McManus says that we have become domesticated Christians, unwilling to risk anything for the cause of Christ.  The truth is, that our lifestyle is far-removed from the Book of Acts.  I’m not saying we should simply take foolish risks for no reason, but we should be willing to go anywhere God leads and attempt anything God says we should attempt, even if there’s no guarantee of success.
  • God uses the person who expects to be used. Jesus told the two blind men, “According to your faith will it be done to you”  (Matthew 9:29).  Rick Warren says that there is one consistent ingredient he sees in every church where God is working — people who are willing to believe God.  In other words, the faith factor.
  • God uses the person who never gives up. Paul reminds us to “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).  Most people miss the harvest simply because they quit too soon.  The harvest takes time, but God’s timing is always perfect.  We should NEVER give up.  Sometimes the game is won on a last-second shot….on a two-out blast….on a hail-Mary heave.

This past week my mom’s youngest brother went home to be with the Lord.  As I sat and heard his children, my first cousins, talk about what a wonderful father he was and what a Godly example he was, I was reminded that we should serve God passionately.  We should serve Him daily.  We should serve Him to the very end of our life.  We should finish the course and keep the faith.  THAT is the kind of person God uses.

Change Is Good

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If something is not changing then it is DEAD!  I have served of senior pastor of Shelbyville First Baptist Church for 2 1/2 years now and we’ve seen a lot of changes.  I’m especially excited about changes that are happening now and changes that are just around the corner.  This is an exciting time to be at Shelbyville FBC.

Our student ministry is EXPLODING under the Godly leadership of Pastor Andy McDonald.  God is blessing as students are coming to faith in Christ and growing to be more like Jesus.  Our children’s ministry is also growing by leaps and bounds.  Pastor Dave Menser is doing a marvelous job leading the children’s ministry with a fresh, creative approach.

Without going into detail, expect to see changes in both morning Worship Services over the next few weeks.  Now, repeat after me, “change is good…..change is good…..change is good!”  I would add, “change is of the Lord!”