Tag: faith

Practical Steps to a Safe Church

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

As Kentucky Baptist pastors and leaders, one of our sacred responsibilities is to care for the flock God has entrusted to us. That means preaching, praying, and shepherding spiritually—but it also means protecting our people physically.

Just as we lock our homes at night or install smoke detectors, we take precautions in our churches because we love the people God has placed in our care. With that in mind, here are some practical, common-sense steps every Kentucky Baptist church can consider.

1. Strengthen Your Welcome Team. Your greeters, ushers, and volunteers are the first line of awareness. Train them not only to warmly welcome guests, but also to be observant. A kind handshake and a watchful eye can both happen at the same time. If something looks or feels off, then report it.

2. Control Building Access. Once services begin, it’s wise to limit how many doors are open. Lock side or back entrances and funnel guests through monitored entry points. Post clear signage so visitors know where to enter. Consider cameras or door monitors if your budget allows.

3. Develop a Safety Team. Even small churches can benefit from a few trusted members who are prepared for emergencies. Look for men and women with calm spirits and sound judgment (law enforcement, military, medical backgrounds are a plus). Establish a simple chain of command so decisions can be made quickly. Provide radios or communication tools so the team can respond without disrupting worship.

4. Prepare for Medical Emergencies. In many churches, medical emergencies are more likely than security threats. Being ready can save a life. Keep first-aid kits in visible locations. Install an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Train volunteers in CPR and basic first aid. During one of my pastorates, two heart attacks happened right in the middle of the church services. Fortunately, trained medical responders handled the situation immediately and effectively.

5. Partner with Local Law Enforcement. Your sheriff’s office or police department can be a valuable ally. Invite them to tour your facilities and point out vulnerabilities. Ask for advice on evacuation routes and emergency procedures. Let them know your service times so they can include your church in patrol routes.

6. Communicate and Train. A plan only works if people know it. Walk your team through drills—fire, weather, intruder, medical. Share emergency exit routes with your congregation. Keep communication clear, calm, and simple.

7. Keep the Balance. Our churches should always be places of warmth and welcome. Security must never overshadow hospitality. Done well, it will mostly go unnoticed—ready if needed, but invisible during worship.

In Summary, Pastor, now is the time to prepare. You don’t need a massive budget or an army of volunteers. Start small. Pray. Gather a few trusted leaders. Put simple, practical steps in place.

The people who sit in your pews week after week are precious souls made in God’s image. Protecting them is part of shepherding them. Let’s be faithful in this calling—not out of fear, but out of love.

Is God A Kill-Joy?

Posted in Life Happens, Ministry, Preaching, Uncategorized, WorshipLeave a comment

Sad

Many people think that God is some kind of cosmic kill-joy, but NOTHING could be further from the truth. The truth is, God is the happiest being in the universe! C.S. Lewis said “joy is the serious business of Heaven.” Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Luke 10:21 tells us that “…Jesus, (was) full of joy through the Holy Spirit” and we can be also.

God is the happiest being in the universe!

Keep in mind that joy and happiness are not the same. You can be happy without being a Christian, but only a Christian can experience the joy spoken about in the Bible. You can be happy when . . . 

  • You make good grades.
  • Your team wins the Regional Tournament.
  • You get engaged.
  • Your baby is born healthy.
  • You get a promotion at work.
  • Your checkup goes well.
  • Your portfolio is doing well.

Happiness is not wrong or bad, but happiness depends upon happenings! Happiness depends upon circumstances and is temporary at best. On the other hand, joy transcends circumstances and is eternal. You can be full of joy, even when . . . 

  • Your grades disappoint you.
  • Your team doesn’t play well.
  • Your relationship ends.
  • Your baby has health challenges.
  • You lose your job.
  • The doctor says, “I’m sorry, but it’s cancer.”
  • The market crashes.

Walk closely with the Lord as a believer and experience His amazing joy! Jesus desires that our joy is “complete.” God is full of joy and the Holy Spirit desires to produce the fruit of joy in our lives each day.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  John 15:10-11

 

Love is FIRST!

Posted in Life Happens, Ministry, Preaching, Uncategorized, WorshipLeave a comment

Berries.2

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

Recently I’ve been preaching a sermon series on the fruit of the Holy Spirit from Galatians 5. When I addressed the fruit of love, one of my points was that “love is first on the list.” After a casual reading of the text, you might be tempted to say “duh.” “Brother Steve, that’s so obvious! You went to seminary for that? And don’t you have a doctorate?” Look, I know it’s listed first, but it’s not just listed first, it IS first.

“It’s not just listed first, it IS first!”

In the New American Commentary, Timothy George wrote, “It is significant that love heads the list of these nine graces of the Christian life. Paul might well have placed a period after love and moved on into the conclusion of his letter, for love is not merely ‘first among equals’ in this listing but rather the source and fountain from which all of the other graces flow.’”

3 Key Conclusions about LOVE:

God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 teaches this marvelous truth. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8   

The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is mentioned by name is the second verse of the Bible and referenced in the first verse because He is part of the Trinity. He fully participated in the creation of the world. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2

The Holy Spirit is love. Since God is love and since the Holy Spirit is God, the Holy Spirit is love. He wants to produce the fruit of love in our lives above everything else. He wants to produce a love for God, a love for fellow believers, and a love for those who are lost without Christ.

Love is FIRST on God’s list. Is love first on our list and first in our lives? When we’re full of the Holy Spirit, the answer to both those questions will be YES!

    3 Marks of a Godly Leader

    Posted in Uncategorized1 Comment

    Nehemiah was one of the greatest, most Godly leaders in the entire Word of God! We can learn much about modern-day leadership from his stellar example. You remember his story. When King Solomon died in 930 B.C., he left the kingdom of Israel teetering on collapse. As a result, the Kingdom of Israel divided.

    In 722 B.C., 208 years after the kingdom divided, Samaria, the capitol of the Northern Kingdom, fell to the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom hung on another 136 years until 586 B.C. when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. The walls of Jerusalem were utterly destroyed along with Solomon’s famed temple. Many of the Jews were captured and carried off to Babylon to live in exile.

    In 538 B.C., Cyrus, king of Persia, defeated the Babylonians and became the new world power. In His sovereignty God led Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to their homeland and to rebuild the temple. The Books of Ezra & Nehemiah (originally on one scroll) stretches chronologically from 537-433 B.C. and recounts their story.

    Ezra 2 tells us that 49,897 Jewish exiles returned to their homeland. Zerubabbel led them to rebuild the temple which was finally completed in 515 B.C. But, for the next 70 years after the temple’s completion, the walls and gates of Jerusalem still lay in ruins. Can you imagine how that made the Jews feel? Surely they knew they were in jeopardy. Surely they felt deep shame and longed for a better future.

    Into this hopeless, dire situation stepped Nehemiah! In spite of the rocky road (pun intended) that ensued, he led them to accomplish in 52 days what they had not been able to accomplish the past 70 years. His Godly leadership made all the difference!

    I believe that the most important factor in a church experiencing revitalization is leadership. But, not just any type of leadership—Godly leadership! Churches experiencing revitalization are led by pastors who walk closely with God and lead the church in the way He instructs them to lead. In the Book of Nehemiah, I see three marks of a Godly leader:

    3 Marks of a Godly Leader

    1.  Godly leaders are called by God. When Nehemiah heard the tragic news about his beloved people, he immediately had a burden for them. As he prayed for them, God issued a call to Nehemiah to lead in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

    2.  Godly leaders live an exemplary life. Nehemiah was not perfect, but he was exemplary. The Bible tells us that he personally worked hard on the wall and that he paid his own expenses and the expenses of his servants. Although it would have been normal protocol for him to receive allowances as the governor (Nehemiah 5), he did not take them because he did not want to be a burden to the people. Now that’s an exemplary leader!

    3.  Godly leaders give priority to prayer. There are 12 instances of pray in the Book of Nehemiah. Dr. Billy Graham is quoted as saying “there are three secrets to living a successful Christian life: prayer, prayer, and prayer!” Nehemiah discovered that truth as do ALL Godly leaders.

    Many members of our KBC churches share similarities with the Jews in this story. They are discouraged, they know their church is in jeopardy, and they desire a better future. Thank God for pastors all across our state who are striving to lead in a Godly manner. Pray with me that even more men of God will rise up and say “by the grace of God, I will be a Godly leader where God has placed me!”

    5 Barriers to Church Growth

    Posted in Church ChatLeave a comment

    Growth

    Is your church growing? Are people regularly coming to saving faith in Jesus as a result of the outreach of your church? If not, then why not? In the early days of the church it was common to see people come to Christ that resulted in growing churches. Look at Luke’s description of what took place:

    47….And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 (NKJV) 

    It seems clear that the Lord wants the church to grow because the Lord loves people! Standing in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus told the disciples, “I will build my Church”  (Matthew 16:18, NKJV) and the Apostle Paul reminded us that Christ is, in fact, “the head of the church” (Ephesians 5:23, ESV).

    Instead of focusing on what I can do to help my church to grow, it may be better, in light of Scripture, to focus on what is keeping my church from growing. In other words, what barriers exist that are holding my church back from the natural growth God desires and intends?

    Nelson Searcy says:

    Your job is not to force growth. When you think growth is your responsibility, you will inevitably make bad decisions. Church growth is ultimately not about what we can do in our own power; it’s about God’s power and His choice to work through us. Refuse to settle for anything less than God’s vision for your church.

    5 Barriers to Church Growth

    1. The Gospel is not presented clearly. Every sermon and every church service is an opportunity to present the Gospel message to those in attendance. The Gospel is a beautiful reminder to believers of the grace of God and the only hope for those who are unsaved. We should present it clearly and consistently.

    2. The Gospel is not presented passionately. The Gospel is not merely a business transaction between God and us–it is the “Good News”! We don’t need to fake an over-the-top presentation, but surely we can present the Gospel with a tender heart and sincerity.

    3. The focus of the church is entirely inward. Having an inward focus is not wrong, but having an entirely inward focus is sinful! Yes, those of us who are believers also need the teaching and ministries of the church. We often refer to that as discipleship! But, a healthy church also focuses on evangelism and ministry. People need to be saved and we have the saving message.

    4. The church does not pray earnestly. In Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV), Jesus says “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Jesus clearly connects prayer to a bountiful harvest. The church must pray earnestly!

    5. The church is not friendly to guests. People are not merely looking for a friendly church; they’re looking to make friends at church. We should be very intentional about getting to know guests. We should invite them to lunch and invite them to attend again. Every church should have a systematic way of guest follow-up, but sometimes the most effective efforts are those that are organic.