Churches and His church!

As most readers of this blog are aware, I haven’t posted in some time because I have been transitioning to the role of Senior Pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham. I’ve now had two full weeks in the office at Lakeside and will soon have my second Sunday in the pulpit as pastor, so I can at least breath a little bit and begin to feel like I have some kind of routine.  The first two weeks have been a blur, but they have also been a joy.

Moving to a new church is exciting and filled with expectancy, but it is never easy to transition.  However, many churches and pastors are in transition right now. Our Alabama Baptist State Convention tells us that on an average day, there are between 150-200 Alabama Baptist churches who are searching for a pastor.  It’s not just me and Lakeside who are transitioning.  Interestingly, literally at the very same time I was in the pulpit preaching in view of a call to Lakeside, my friend Allen Hays was preaching in view of a call to Calvary Baptist Church in Scottsboro.  Just yesterday I received a call from a fellow pastor in the state who is considering a move to another place of ministry. It happens all the time.  In light of this fact, I thought I would share a handful of truths that I have learned about churches and pastors…

(1)   Every church is unique and has its own personality.   Remember, there is a reason why the Bible refers to “the church in Sardis” and “the church at Ephesus” and so on. Every church is located in a geographical and cultural context, but every church also has a history and membership that is unique to the individual church.  This is why it is imperative for a new pastor to get to know his new church.  As a new pastor, you are joining a family of believers that you need to get to know and who need to get to know you. It takes time for relationships to bond and trust to develop.  Years ago, I heard a wise pastor say, “You have to love what is and then envision what can be.”

(2)  Every church has challenges.  Certainly, a church that has been declining in attendance for years has many challenges, but so does a church that has been growing consistently.  There are challenges if your church is in a rural area, and there are challenges if your church is located in a metropolitan area.  There are challenges in being a small church with no staff, and there are challenges in being a larger church with many staff members.  Don’t let the fact that your church faces challenges discourage you. Just know that your church is normal!  Simply reading the New Testament will quickly prove that even the earliest churches had difficulties.

(3)  Every church has been shaped by its leaders.  Let’s face it; most churches have had multiple pastors in their history.  Most Christians have had multiple pastors as they have attended church over the years.  Every pastor has his own set of gifts, strengths, and weaknesses. Therefore, one pastor may have been especially loved by one group of members, while another pastor meant more to some other members.  This is just human nature and shouldn’t surprise any of us. It only becomes a problem when it becomes a source of division in the church…

“For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:4–7, NKJV)

The truth is that any pastor is really only a “minister through whom you believed.”  It’s God who saves. It is God who blesses. Our faith is in the Lord and never a man. At Lakeside Baptist, we have former pastors who are still members.  Dr. Richard Trader has served the church as interim pastor twice in the last six years.  Dr. Earl Tew served as pastor for over twenty years, and Dr. Mike McLemore pastored Lakeside for over twenty-five years. All of these men are still active members at Lakeside.  I am not threatened by their presence, but rather I am blessed by their presence. The Lord has used each one of them greatly during key seasons of the church’s life.  They are all personal friends and fellow pastors who have shaped and blessed Lakeside.

(4)   Every church has hope.  The hope of every church is the Lord of the church.  In Matthew 16:18, Jesus told us that the church is His church and He is building it. If your church is going through a discouraging time, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a new pastor is the hope of your church. Fall on your knees and begin asking God to move in your church.  I have seen the Lord breath new life into dead churches.  Every church also has hope because every church can reach and disciple someone.  Certainly, some churches may have more opportunities than others due to their location, but every church can touch the life of someone. The gospel works. Jesus saves.  Get out into the harvest field and watch Him build His church!

Transitions, the call of God, and the future

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. –  Proverbs 3:5-6  (NKJV)

Those verses have long been among my “life verses” but I have clung to them especially during the last few weeks. As many readers of this blog have already heard, on Sunday, September 22nd, I was called as Senior Pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in the Birmingham, Alabama area.  Actually, it’s the Acton Road exit off Interstate 459 if you want to get specific!   It was a glorious weekend with the Lakeside church family, and I am looking forward to getting started serving among those great servants of Christ. However, leaving our church family here at Whitesburg will be exceedingly difficult and sad for all of the Corbin family.  We have spent some of the happiest, best years of our lives here and love everyone at Whitesburg. Pray for us during this time of transition.  My first Sunday in the pulpit as Pastor at Lakeside will be October 20.

The main reason I am writing this post is to update readers on what God is doing in my life and ministry. Needless to say, I have just a few things going on right now!  I do plan to continue this blog/website while I serve at Lakeside, although I may retool and update it a little bit. Please be patient, and I will get back to blogging soon.  Thanks for your prayers!

 

Treasuring Christ

““The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44–46, NASB95)

 

These famous parables of Jesus do not teach that a person may buy his salvation. The emphasis is on the value of finding Christ and being part of His kingdom.  The treasure in the field and the pearl of great price were so valuable that each of the men gladly sold every everything to obtain them. That’s the point – the value of Christ.  He is worth everything. He is more valuable than anything.  The Apostle Paul said the same thing only he did not use a parable…

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,” (Philippians 3:7–8, NASB95)

 

Years ago, I read a statement in a book that said too many people have the idea that Christ is the means to their treasure.  The truth is that Christ is the treasure. Nothing should stand in the way of your coming to faith in Him.  Don’t let a sin you want to hold onto or the opinion of other people keep you from surrendering to Christ. He is worth it all! No pleasure and no pursuit will mean more than Christ.  He is worth it all.  Treasure Him.  Come to saving faith in Christ today!

Finally, perhaps you are reading these words and you have been a believer for a number of years. Treasure Christ. Make sure He means more to you now than ever before!  Make sure you love Him more than ever before. You have followed Him, and it is worth it all!  Love Jesus, rejoice in Jesus, talk to Jesus, live like Jesus, and talk about Jesus.  He is not a means to your treasure, He is your treasure.

When you are tempted…

“I can resist anything – except temptation!”  – Oscar Wilde

You probably chuckled when you read that statement.  I know that because all of us know what it is like to resist temptation and fail!  However, every single one of us faces struggles and temptations where the consequences of our decisions are enormous.  Every single day in my community (and yours) there are Christians who are tempted to return that Facebook message from their old boyfriend or to take that money from their employer.  You get the picture. This week as I prepared to teach a Sunday school lesson from James 1:13-18 in LifeWay’s Bible Studies for Life curriculum, I was particularly moved as I revisited the issue of temptation.  Please allow me to share two important truths that I gleaned from these verses…

First, our temptations follow a predictable pattern.

“No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:13–15, HCSB)

Some Bible commentators say that v. 14 is an illusion to fishing.  Like a fish is enticed by the bait, so we are drawn away and enticed by what tempts us. Regardless, all of us realize that all temptation begins with some enticement – be it money, sex, pleasure, power, etc.  However, being enticed for a moment is just the beginning of temptation.  If it is not dealt with immediately, then we get fixated and in our minds and hearts we reach the point where we convince ourselves that it is O.K. to go ahead.  That’s the picture painted in v. 15; that is when “desire has conceived and it gives birth to sin.”  It is only after we have internally decided it is acceptable that we externally commit the sin.

Think about it. Think about your greatest temptation.  I am sure that you can immediately identify certain patterns in your temptations. Where are you and what is going on in your life when you feel the temptation most intensely?   Are you alone or with other people?   Are there similar thoughts that continue to enter your mind as justification for yielding to this temptation?   If you can identify your “pressure points” and circumstances that tend to lead you into temptation, then you can identify ways that you can avoid being tempted in the first place. Where you draw your line is where you fight your battle.

Finally, turning to Jesus is the first answer to temptation.

“Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers. Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.” (James 1:16–18, HCSB)

Isn’t that interesting?  James points us to Christ and our salvation when discussing temptation. V. 16 reminds us that most temptation comes from what we perceive to be an unfulfilled need.  Most sin happens when we try to fill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. Christ is the source that meets our needs, and He never changes and never fails!   Should you have an accountability partner?  Absolutely.  Should you take steps to avoid situations where you can be tempted?  Absolutely.  However, the first place you should always run is to your Redeemer!   He is the giver of everything you need to love Him and live for Him.

Think about a dog that has a bone.  Let’s say that you walk up to that dog and attempt to take the bone away.  What is going to happen?  You’ll get bit every time.  However, let’s say you stop by Publix and buy a fresh, juicy steak.  You walk up to that dog and place the steak on the ground. What will happen?  You can have the bone because the dog has left the bone for something far better!

You see, Christ is far better and far more satisfying than anything that may tempt you.  The more you treasure Christ, the less you will treasure what tempts you. Think about it.

A prayer of repentance

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His Holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully.”   Psalm 24:3-4

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9

People who run businesses must diligently keep track of their inventory. May times businesses succeed or fail depending on what is or is not on their shelves.  Our spiritual life is the same way, it will succeed or fail depending on what is on our shelves. How long has it been since you took inventory of your heart and life?

In the passage from Psalm 24, God’s Word makes it clear that we need to focus on Godly living (clean hands) and Godly longing (pure heart).  Have you done things lately that you know a Christian should not do?  Remember that ungodly living results from ungodly longings in our heart.  If you have ungodly longings in your heart, it is probably because you have “lifted up your soul to falsehood.”  Think about that.

The good news is that, even though every Christian still struggles with sin to some degree, there is forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 is a great comfort to the Christian who has sinned. Your fellowship and joy in God can be restored. However, that will not happen as long as you refuse to get honest about the sin in your own life. Take a few minutes and take inventory of your heart and life; then deal with what’s in there.

Several years ago, I read a prayer that a pastor in Georgia was challenging his people to pray daily. I think we need to pray prayers like this more today than ever before…

For as long as it takes, I will pray every day that You, Father God, will make all necessary changes in me, in my relationships, and in my church until such time as You are completely free to pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us in mighty, sustained, Biblically authentic waves of revival, witnessed in:

the lost being saved,
the saved powerfully demonstrating the life of Christ,
and our community impacted unto Godly focus and living

Pressing On

How do you keep going when your heart is broken?  How do you keep going when everything in you says to quit?  How do you press on when everything around you says to stop?  Yesterday morning at Whitesburg, I shared a message entitled “Pressing On” and looked at five reasons why we can press on in living the Christian life.

Finding the will of God (Part 2)

In my previous post, I began exploring this very common question: How can I find the will of God?  In that post, we saw that the foundational components for decision making as a Christian are the Word of God and prayer.  I cannot emphasize enough how important those two aspects are. They are two primary ways that God reveals His will to us.  However, are there other aspects of Christian decision making?  After we are in the Word and on our knees in prayer, is there something else that God could possibly use to reveal His will to us?   I believe the answer to this question is “yes” and I want to look at three examples from scripture.

First, there are many examples in the Bible of God using circumstances to reveal His will.  One example of that is in the opening verses of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah…

“The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile. They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.” When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:1–4, HCSB)

When Nehemiah heard about the condition of Jerusalem, God used those circumstances to call him to action.  Recently, I listened to a podcast interview with John Croyle, the founder of the Big Oak ranches for abandoned and abused children, and he recounted how God put the vision of those ranches on his heart.  God used circumstances to speak to John at many points along the way.  Years ago, I heard the late Dr. Adrian Rogers say, “Most decision making is simply gathering facts.”  I believe Dr. Rogers was speaking to this very principle.  Don’t overlook the fact that God is at work in your circumstances and He seems to often use circumstances to speak to His people.

Second, the Bible also encourages us to seek Godly counsel from mentors and friends…

“Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22, HCSB)

It is not wrong to seek advice from others you respect who walk with the Lord and have demonstrated spiritual wisdom in their lives.  Ultimately, you have to get alone before the Lord and make the decision, but Godly counsel can be invaluable.  Over the years, I have seen consulting with Godly friends and mentors confirm how I felt God leading me, and I have also had instances where they brought up insight and issues that had never crossed my mind.

Finally, I believe God also communicates His will through a Godly desire that He has placed in our hearts.  As we are faithful to Him, then we begin to have a desire to do what God desires…

“Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37:3–4, HCSB)

Many Christians assume that God’s will is the opposite of what they really want to do.  That is a bad assumption – if you are walking with the Lord!   Psalm 37 teaches us that God births in our heart the desire to do what pleases Him as we are faithful to Him.

Once again, I want to stress the absolute importance of time alone with the Lord in prayer and with an open Bible.  Once you consider these three aspects that I have discussed in this post, then you once again seek God in prayer.  He might speak to you very clearly in a moment in time, or He may simply give you a growing peace that a certain decision is right. Don’t ever forget that God wants you to know His will. He wants to speak to you, so that you can obey him. Once you have peace that a certain course of action is God’s will, then it’s time to step out on faith and obey. Charles Stanley has blessed many people with his simple philosophy of Christian living…

“Obey God and leave the consequences up to Him!”

Finding the will of God (Part 1)

Over the years, most pastors will tell you that there are a handful of questions that come up over and over again – no matter what size church you serve and no matter what type of community you serve in. One of the most common goes something like this, “Pastor, how do I find God’s will for my life?”  Most of the time there is some impending decision that prompts this question. Occasionally, it will be a feeling of “spinning my wheels” or frustration with the status quo.  No matter what prompts the question, it’s a good question. How do Christians find the will of God in their life?  Are there Biblical principles for making decisions?  In this post and the next one, I will share how I answer this question when it comes my way and how I attempt to make decisions in my own personal life and ministry.

First, answer the question, “Does the Word of God provide instruction?”   If we really believe that the Word of God is actually totally true and inerrant (and I steadfastly believe that), then it only makes sense to begin there in all decision making.  Certainly, the primary reason that the Lord gave us the Bible is for our salvation (John 20:31), but we also have God’s Word for spiritual growth and guidance in life…

“How I love Your instruction! It is my meditation all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. I have more insight than all my teachers because Your decrees are my meditation. I understand more than the elders because I obey Your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow Your word. I have not turned from Your judgments, for You Yourself have instructed me. How sweet Your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth. I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:97–105, HCSB)

There are many issues which the Bible speaks to directly.  For instance, one Christian might be struggling with whether or not to marry a person who is not a believer.  Scripture is very clear that Christians should only marry other believers. Another Christian might wonder if viewing pornography is actually wrong – given its acceptance in today’s culture.  Scripture is clear that all sexual activity outside the marriage relationship between husband and wife is sin. Jesus himself said that if you look at another person with lust, then you are guilty of adultery of the heart.  So, those issues are quickly settled with an honest look at the Word of God.  If the Word of God speaks to an issue directly, the decision is made.  It’s just time to obey at that point.  One reason that many Christians today are running into so many problems is because they no longer want to let scripture be authoritative for their individual lives.

This principle is also true in a positive sense as well. Scripture is clear that we are to be witnesses for Christ and “make disciples of all nations.”  Scripture is clear that we are to pray consistently.  Scripture is clear that we are to train up leaders in the church.  Scripture is clear in how we are to treat our spouse. Again, the issue is really how we act on these truths in our context of life, not whether or not we should do them.  If we are honest, many (yes, even most) of us know far more of these scriptures than we are consistently acting on.  If God’s Word says to do it, then it’s God’s will that we do it.

In addition, there will also be times that the Lord speaks to us through the Word. If you consistently read the Bible, you will find that there will be times that certain verses seem to leap off the page and speak to just what you are struggling with at the time.  Too many Christians open their Bibles to find one verse that gives them permission to do what they have decided to do already.  That’s totally backwards. Open the Bible consistently every day of your life and as you do that the Lord will use it to guide you in your decisions day by day. It’s amazing how often you will just happen to be reading at a place in the scripture that particularly applies to this moment in your life. That’s not coincidence. It is the Holy Spirit of God using the Word of God in your life.

After a look into the Word, then it’s time to get on your knees in prayer. Certainly, if you have read this far, you are not surprised that this is one of the principles.  However, let’s not let familiarity prevent us from asking the hard question:  Do I really pray about decisions I have to make?   It’s been my experience that more Christians “believe in prayer” than actually pray.  The Lord Jesus had an important decision to make:  choosing the twelve. So, how did Jesus respond?

“During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them—He also named them apostles:” (Luke 6:12–13, HCSB)

The only time scripture records that Jesus spent all night in prayer is before he chose the twelve.  I could fill an entire blog post with verse after verse of examples of Jesus himself praying on all types of occasions.  If our Savior himself needed to pray and seek the Father, how much more do we need to follow that example?

So, when struggling to find the will of God, the first two places every Christian should go is to their Bible and on their knees in prayer. Certainly, this idea is not original and new.  It’s just foundational.  The Word of God and prayer are foundational to all decision making in the Christian life. Very often, these two great spiritual resources are the only resources we need to make decisions.  God often speaks clearly through the Word and prayer. Start there.

Happy 15th birthday, David!!

There are a handful of truly life changing days in a person’s life. Certainly, the day in August, 1978 when I gave my life to Christ was one of those days.  December 18, 1993 was another – the day I married my wife and best friend, Becky.  July 31, 1998 was a third life changing day. It was on that day that I became a father. David Gregory Corbin was born.

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I love this picture of David that was taken on a recent family trip because it captures his personality.  That sly grin gives a window into the sense of humor that all who know David enjoy.  On that day fifteen years ago, it was impossible to imagine David being a 6’3″ athlete who would playfully put his arm on my shoulder and say, “You’re short!”  It was also impossible to imagine the many joys and occasional tears that being a father involves. Nothing quite changes your life like becoming a father.  Being David’s father has certainly changed me – for the better!

David is extremely smart and talented. He is a very good athlete who averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game on the varsity basketball team as a freshman.  He enjoys drawing and is a little “artsy.”  He is extremely funny – especially when he gets warmed up!  He is well liked by his peers and teachers at school. He is respected at school and at church and our student ministers tell me that other kids look to him as a leader. He is great with younger kids and one of his favorite ways to serve is as a leader in our AWANA ministry, helping with the younger groups.

Most of all, I am thankful that I see David growing as a Christian. I had the privilege of leading David to the Lord in his bedroom after church one Sunday night and baptizing him while we served in Pell City. THOSE were some special moments!  As he enters these crucial older teenage years, I continually pray that his faith will continue to blossom and truly be his own in a more real way than ever before.

David, your dad loves you and is proud of you.  Happy 15th birthday to my “eldest son” and to a wonderful young man!