In Plain View

Handbell Choir Christmas Concert

  Our very own Mae Tew Memorial Handbell Choir will be performing songs of the Christmas season at Lee's Chapel on Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.  Everyone is invited to attend.

The handbell choir has been working extremely hard on the music for this concert and it will be no doubt be evident.  Under the direction of Miss Amy Jackson, who has her music Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music from Campbell University, the handbell choir continues to rise to new levels of quality performance.

The group is available for bookings and has been performing for churches, rest homes and civic groups during the Christmas season.  Lee's Chapel is not a huge church and our worship style is less formal than most churches that have the benefit of a handbell choir.  Many are surprised to learn that we have a three octave set of handbells and chimes not to mentioned a well trained, talented and dedicated group willing to play; a testament to our people and the work God is doing.

Keep up the Good Work!

OCC Keeps Rolling

The Operation Christmas Child Ministry of our church has had another great year.  This past week the folks pictured here volunteered to work at the Charlotte Relay Center, where so far over 1 million shoebox filled gifts have been processed and shipped to children around the world.  Our OCC group is also excited about a  partnership recently formed with the eleven Food Lion stores in our area.  These stores will be collecting new toys for our church to use in filling shoebox gifts.  Toys too large for shoe boxes will be donated to local charities.  If you get a chance, say thank you to these local Food Lion stores for there partnership in this ministry.

The Joy of Giving

Sermon Outline for Sunday November 26, 2006
Scripture 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NIV)

The topic of giving is touchy for some people.  I guess the fear is that somehow judgments are being issued about the ability or willingness of others to give.  That is not the case with giving any more than it is with any topic.  The purpose of all messages, including messages on giving, is to present the word of God in a way that can be understood and applied to our lives in hopes that our lives will be enriched, now and for all eternity, as we learn to walk closer with the Master.

The Bible teaches that there is joy and blessing in giving.  If you are giving regularly, then I hope this message serves to confirm your decision.  If you are not giving regularly, then I hope this message will inspire you to begin making a plan that will lead you to know the "joy of giving" in the future.

We can be inspired by the giving nature of others. (v. 1)
The Corinthian church had a problem with a lack of giving.
The Macedonian church gave joyfully and sacrificially.
Paul used the example of the Macedonians to inspire the Corinthians to discover the power and the joy of giving.

Those who experience need often make more generous givers. (v. 2)
The Macedonian church was poor in money but rich in generosity.
The Macedonian church knew first hand of the pain and sorrow of want.
The were ready and willing to send help where needed, even outside their area.
The Corinthian church was more affluent yet they could not afford to support Paul’s ministry there much less the ministry in other places.

The joy found in giving inspires us to give beyond what seems logical. (v. 3-4)
We tend to put our money where it brings us the most comfort and joy.
In an effort to gain comfort and joy, we sometimes spend more than we are able.
The Macedonians enjoyed giving and were inspired to give more than they were able.
We should be careful about over spending, but we need not worry about over giving.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV).

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God" (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NIV).

God gives good gifts to the generous so that they can be more generous.

Failing to give is an indication that something is spiritually wrong. (v. 5)
Problems in the Corinthian church.
Problems with personal consecration.

Giving is something that we should teach and encourage in others. (v. 6)
Paul had sent Titus previously to organize a collection for the distressed church in Jerusalem.  The collection from Corinth had not been completed.
If giving is a blessing that brings joy, then we should encourage giving in others.
Rather than giving up on the untapped joy available to the Corinthians, Paul sends Titus back a second time.
We need to encourage giving.

Giving is something that cannot be ignored. (v.7)
If we excel at everything except giving, then we fail.
If we fail to give, it is due to some spiritual trouble in our church or individual life.
If we fail to give, we rob God of what is His and we rob ourselves of the joy of giving.

Application:
Pray and ask God to forgive us of keeping His money for ourselves.
Pray and ask God to give us hearts that are receptive to the blessing of giving.
Take account of where our money goes. - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21 NIV).
Agree with God on a plan to restore our finances to God’s authority.
Agree with God on the amount we should be presently giving, and by faith begin now.

Reasons Why We Forget to Say Thank You

Sermon Outline for Sunday, November 19, 2006
Scripture:   Luke 17:11-19

We tend to find comfort in living by certain rules.

We tend to allow our requests to degrade into demands.

We forget the simple principle of personal responsibility.

We fail to take accurate account of our changed circumstances.

We exhibit a degree of thanksgiving in life in reverse proportion to the amount of blessings we have received.

What Cause Is Worth Dying For?

Sermon Outline for Sunday, November 12, 2006

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 5:14-15

At the end of Star Trek II: 'The Wrath of Khan' the character totally logical Mr. Spock realizes the ship and its crew is doomed to destruction unless he goes into the radioactive engine room to make repairs.  He chooses himself because he recognizes that he was one of only a few capable of doing the job and that he could not ask anyone else because the laying down of ones life for another is a choice that one must be willing to make for ourselves.

With the job complete, the ship safely away, and Mr. Spock dieing from radiation poisoning, the stunned Captain Kirk bids an emotional farewell to his dearest friend Mr. Spock. You need not mourn, says Spock, for his sacrifice was logical. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one" he says as he dies.

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/MOV/002/synopsis/82.html

But all is not lost.  In the sequel, Captain Kirk discovers that Spock is alive and risks his reputation, career, ship and crew to rescue Mr. Spock, who questions why the captain and crew risked their lives and careers to rescue him. Then his friend Captain Kirk reminds him, sometimes the "needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many."

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/MOV/003/synopsis/83.html

                           

I.       Logic and popular thinking does not always bring us to the right answers in matters of the value of life and death.

A.     Often we think of the heroic solider who gives up his life to save his platoon.  Is this action right?  Is his action logical?

B.     We are all inspired by movies like “Saving Private Ryan” where an entire platoon is called upon to save one man whose mother has lost all her other sons in battle.  Is this action right?  Is this action logical?

C.     Both can be right, but both cannot be logical because they are fundamentally the opposites of each other.

D.     So in the matter of the value of life and death, we cannot depend on logic and popular thinking to lead us to the right answer.

II.    We are willing to die for only that which we value and we value only that which we love.

III. The “love of Christ” is worth dieing for many times over.

A.     The phrase “love of Christ” has a possible double meaning.

1.      The love that Christ has for the world.

2.      The love that the church has for Christ.

3.      One love convinces us and the other love controls us.

B.     The love that Christ has for the world conveniences us.

^{RO 5:8} But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (NASB)

1.      The love that Christ had for us compelled Him to die for our sins so that we might live.

2.      Christ’s death demonstrates to us His love for us.

3.      By Christ’s sacrificial death we are convinced:

a.       We are convinced of His love because we know that only love is worth dieing for.

b.      We are convinced of our need. Christ would not have died for all if all were not in need.

c.       We are convinced to accept the free gift of Christ’s love.

d.      We are convinced to live for Christ.

C.     The love that we have for Christ controls us.

^{RO 6:5} For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

^{RO 6:6} knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

^{RO 6:7} for he who has died is freed from sin. (NASB)

1.      To live for Christ is to die to our old nature.

2.      As Christ died because of His love for us, we die to self because of our love for Him.

Keep up the "good work" Lee's Chapel

It has really been an eventful week.  In addition to the normal stuff around the church, this week we have seen the wheel chair ramp installed at the ministry house, dedicated and relocated over four hundred shoe boxes for the OCC Ministry, prepared for my duties as parliamentarian at the upcoming Cape Fear Conference, set up the Phone Tree calling list to remind the churches of the upcoming area Mount Olive College Dinner, finalized the plans for the coming audio visual systems from Acoustic Engineering, and met with some wonderful families who are now attending our church.  As I type these words, there are people in the church setting up for the Handbell Choir party tonight, then the Adult Choir party will be tomorrow night.  The highlight of the week would have to be when I had the privilege of helping a church member lead a friend to Christ.  WOW! As I pause to reflect on all this activity, I realize that I am blessed to pastor a church where God's people are excited about joining God in the work He is doing.  I realize that many pastors would love to serve such a church, but I also realize that many are happy with a slower pace.  As for me, though I can't be everywhere and do everything that I would like to do, I feel truly blessed to be a part of it, and I am so grateful to everyone who works so hard here for the Glory of God.  Keep up the "good work" Lee's Chapel.

The Call to Spiritual Self-Examination

Sermon outline for Sunday, November 5, 2006
Scripture:  Psalm 19:12-14 (NIV)

Honest and accurate spiritual self-examination is difficult for most of us and for some of us it is almost impossible.
It involves admitting we are wrong and dying to self which is in opposition to human nature.
It involves a process that easily becomes an over simplified exercise in comparing ourselves to others.
It involves submitting to our individual consciences which can be varied and flawed.
1Co 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. (NIV)
It involves doing battle with the old flesh nature that remains with us even after we are saved.
Gal 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (NIV)

Honest and accurate spiritual self-examination is expected of us by God.
The excuse before God that “I didn’t know” will not be accepted.
Lev 5:2 “ ‘. . . if a person touches anything ceremonially unclean—whether the carcasses of unclean wild animals or of unclean livestock or of unclean creatures that move along the ground—even though he is unaware of it, he has become unclean and is guilty. (NIV)
When we come before God, in worship, prayer or in our final glory, we must examine ourselves honestly and accurately.

1Co 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. (NIV)

God’s plan for honest and accurate spiritual self-examination.
The right standard of comparison in Jesus Christ.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (NIV)

The Holy Scriptures as our rule and guide.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

The Holy Spirit who is a constant companion who reminds us.
Jn 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV)

The Truth About Halloween (As Best I Understand It)

There is a lot of confusion out there about Halloween and there is no shortage of opinions.  Some see it as a harmless evening of fun, some see it as a dark event that separates us from the light of God and others see it as an excuse to dabble in and promote evil in our world.  Most children, like those at Plain View Elementary see it as harmless fun (article).  Adults see it as an opportunity to act on our latent desires for mild foolishness without the penalty of social rejection that would typically be applied.  For most people Halloween is popular because everyone loves a good time, and I believe the enormity of the group of would be fun seekers is too tempting for those who would "cash in".  Consider this, according to an CNN.com article, Halloween is one of the biggest spending draws of the entire year and is therefore not likely to disappear anytime soon.  But retailers are not alone in their plans to cash in.  Those who wish to show evil in a less negative light use Halloween to lure in some of the unsuspecting and that causes a real Halloween fright for the Christians who try to protect the unsuspecting from those who lurk under the veil of short lived acceptance that comes with Halloween.  What we end up with is two small ends of the spectrum fighting against one another for access to those in the middle majority who are just having a good time.

So what is right?  Obviously, those who seek the dark evil of this world, at Halloween or at any other time, are treading a path separate from God and that is contrary to the life a Christian should live.  But should Christians avoid any and all aspects of Halloween?  Are church sponsored "alternative" events that use the opportunity to share the gospel the way to go or are churches just giving in to the world?

I found a lot of good information on the subject at The History Channel.com and at Wikipedia.  Basically, Halloween began as a pagan celebration of Samhain (pronounced sow-in), in Ireland two to three thousand years ago.  There was an effort by the Catholic Church in the seventy century to overtake the pagan day by introducing All Saints Day to coincide with Samhain.  The day before All Saints Day became known as All-hallows Eve which we know as Halloween.  The effort never really was successful, because people tended to keep the pagan elements and just added them to the Christian elements.  So basically, Halloween is a failed effort to establish a Christian "alternative" to the pagan celebrations.  We are still trying to to that today.

Some churches ignore Halloween, some go with the alternative activity approach and some fight against it entirely.  I believe as the Bible says, that it is wrong to pursue the dark evil of this world, however I do not feel it is wrong to use the opportunity of Halloween to point toward the Light.  If it takes handing out some candy while dressed like a clown walking an invisible dog to get that opportunity, then I say go for it.  I do not argue against any well meaning Christan brother or sister who disagrees (article) with that stance, because I see their point as well.  Ultimately, I hope it is the mission of all Christians to bring as many as possible into the Light.

Happy All-hallows Eve and "Trunk-OR-Treat"!

Why Do We Baptize?

Sermon Outline for October 29, 2006

The word baptize comes from the Greek word baptizo which means “to dip or immerse in water.” In keeping with our Baptist tradition, we baptize by immersion which means that the candidate stands with the pastor in at least waist high water and then is baptized by being reclined by the pastor backwards into the water until the candidate is completely covered by the water. Then the candidate is lifted back to a standing position. What is it that compels churches and baptism candidates to subject themselves to being publicly dipped in water before a Sunday morning congregation? It is difficult to explain in terms of logic that a non-believer could understand and accept, but for the believer, one simple answer is because it pleases God. From the story of the baptism of Jesus found in Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV) we can glean the following points as we seek to understand the question of why do we baptize?

    

God’s spirit draws us to receive baptism. (v. 13)

Receiving baptism is the natural step following repentance. (v. 14)

Receiving baptism is an act of obedience to join into fellowship with other believers. (v. 15)

Receiving baptism is pleasing to God. (v. 16-17)

Are you one in whom God is well pleased?

Operation Christmas Child

For many years, Mrs. Gaile McLamb and her band of helpers have been filling shoeboxes with gifts for needy children around the world.  This is a simple ministry that has a great impact on the lives of those most in need.  The best part is that any person, church, school, business, organization, etc. can get involved.  I greatly appreciate everyone who helps make Operation Christmas Child (OCC) one of the great ministries of our church and community.  If you get a chance to listen to WCKB 780 AM, you can hear some live interviews on the subject over then next couple of weeks.  The times are: Oct. 31st at 8:30 am, Fri. Nov. 3rd at 8:30 am, Thurs. Nov. 9th at 11:00 am, Mon. Nov. 13th at 4:45 pm and Wed. Nov. 15th at 2:15 pm.  For more information, visit the new OCC link on our church web page.