Showing posts with label Glory of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glory of God. Show all posts

An Ode to Spring

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Monday, March 02, 2015 11:25 AM

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Snow, ice and cold go away,
And, please, don’t come back any day!
We’ve slipped, froze, and had our fun,
Now it’s time for spring to come!
Or, try this one…
Roses are red,
My toes are blue,
Why are my toes blue?
My toes should not be this hue?
I think I’ll take it as a clue
To pray for spring to come and warm my toes of blue.
Ok, I realize I’m not very good at this, but I think it gets my point across – spring can come at any time! We’re all ready for a change. The warmer weather will bring out the beautiful colors that remind us of renewal.
“The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come!” (The Song of Solomon 2:12)
Budding trees and blooming flowers are a reminder that a better day is coming. God has promised us a home where sorrow will be wonderfully absent (Revelation 21:4) and the joy of exultation in God will be beautifully uninterrupted (Revelation 4:8). Oh, what a day that will be. And God’s promises always find their fulfillment in Jesus – He is the “AMEN” to what God says will happen. Because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to the presence of His Father, we who are His children by grace through faith can expect the same.
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
So, in a weird sort of way we can and should be thankful for the snow, cold and ice, because it is the precursor to spring that reminds us of God’s future grace. Without the winter we would have no spring.
On a final note, I think we can all agree that we’re thankful we don’t live in Boston.
Grace & Peace,
Scott

GATHER

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015 11:13 AM

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We are in the middle of a series of messages entitled, “Getting Calvary Back on Track.” Yes, I believe we have gotten off track. We have put way too much focus on budgets, buildings, programs and problems. The result is that we have become the focus instead of God. God has given us but one target and that is to glorify Him. Budgets, buildings and programs and problems are a part of our lives, but God never intended them to be the focus. He must be the focus. Everything must run through the filter of the glory of God.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
We know that verse, believe that verse, but do we practice it? Absolutely everything we do, every conversation, every bite, every action, every thought and every move must be focused on representing God in an honoring way. Now the question is, “If the glory of God is our destination then how do we get the train there?” I’m so excited about the next messages I’ll be sharing with you on Sunday morning because those messages answer that question.
This Sunday I’ll be preaching about Gather. Gathering is one of the ways we honor God. It is necessary and biblical. We see the early believers consistently gathering together to honor God through worship. We also see the tendency of some to neglect the gatherings:
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
So I want to encourage you, not berate you to join us Sunday as we gather together to glorify God through worship.
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Looking Forward to Glorifying God in 2015!

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Monday, December 29, 2014 11:29 PM

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2014 is history and 2015 will be lived out for the next 361 days. I am so optimistic about the future of Calvary, not because of what we can do, but because of what God can do. I still sincerely believe that the world is looking for God to do something miraculous through His people. That doesn’t necessarily equate to something big or flashy or spectacular. We can’t put the weight of glory on who we are or what we do; we can put the weight of glory on the reputation of God. You see, that is what’s at stake – God’s reputation. As His children we are called upon by God Himself to spread the fame of God where we are. We must glorify God in His church through selfless following; we must glorify God in our homes; we must glorify God at school; we must glorify God at work; we must glorify God when we play. Everything we do is to be done to reflect God’s majestic and marvelous character.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)
Will you join me to be a working church striving to honor God in everything? And will you join me in being a praying church asking God to do something that can only be explained by His great and good hand of blessing upon us? If we become a working and praying church, I believe the community will see God in a way they haven’t seen Him for quite a long while. Let’s get ourselves out of the way; let’s put our agendas aside; let’s put our selfish desires in the trash. Let’s roll up our sleeves in selfless servanthood and get on our knees in absolute and utter dependence on God.
I’m praying that 2015 will be a year that we can honestly say we honored God in everything! I love you deeply and desperately. I sincerely want the best for God and you at Calvary. I don’t want people to remember me; I want people to remember our God. Here is a prayer I want us to memorize and pray every day:
“O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” (Habakkuk 3:2 ESV)
Grace & Peace,
Scott

God Changes Us from Glory to Glory

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Monday, October 13, 2014 4:54 PM

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As I write this I can look out my office window on this cold and misty day and see the handiwork of God as the leaves begin to turn orange, red and yellow. I’m thankful that God is both great and good. He is great because He is incomparable. I’ve always had a hard time staying inside the lines when I colored a picture as a little boy. I was impatient, wanted to move on to the next crayon, and just couldn’t concentrate on the details of the picture I was coloring. However, God in His majestic beauty colors each leaf on every tree varying shades of beautiful colors. This puts me in awe of who God is. He is beyond imagination in His creativity. He not only has the ability to turn leaves a different color each year, but He is also able to turn a cold and hard heart into a warm and soft one. He creates worshipers out of rebels; He takes what is ugly and makes it beautiful!
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12 ESV)
God, that’s who!
God is good because He shares with us. We love because He loved us first. We give because He gave. We are merciful because He is merciful. And the list goes on. Because of God’s influence in our hearts through the life-transforming gospel, the world is a better place to live. The world isn’t better because we have intrinsic goodness; the world is better because God re-creates in us goodness. We mirror the image of God best as we are reformed after the likeness of Jesus.
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29 ESV)
So, as you take a walk or trip to the mountains and see the beautiful tapestry of colors let it remind you of God’s grace that changes our hearts every day. Let it also remind us that we are to submit under the gracious hand of God who is changing us from glory to glory.
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Small Church...Big Love

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Monday, September 15, 2014 2:35 PM

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What a great day Sunday! I love getting together with you on Sunday. God’s presence and power never ceases to amaze me; and your love and unity is a beautiful sight to behold as well. I am truly a blessed man to be the pastor of such a wonderful group of Christ-followers. Thank you for honoring God through loving one another.
Let me remind you of the uniqueness of Calvary Church. No, it is not in its programs or big buildings or huge offerings; what makes us special is a commitment to faithfully show love to everyone walking through our doors. That spirit probably won’t bring big crowds, it won’t put us on any ecclesiastical map, and it won’t net us loads of cash; but it will make the name of our great and awesome God famous and build a family of faithful followers. We are not the church to be seen at and we are not ecclesiastically cool. We are a group of people who don’t pretend to have our act together and are honest that we are struggling with “stuff.” When we are transparent like that then the gospel can change us and begin to shape us into the image of Jesus.
It has been my quiet burden that we don’t lose this uniqueness; it has been my private fear that we would when we moved and started to grow. What I have found out is that God has kept us humble by keeping us small. This is what I love about this church. We have no grandiose idea that we are the next mega-church of Spartanburg County; we won’t be and don’t want to be! We are simply trying to love one person or family at a time who will see God’s grace and mercy through that love. And let me tell you, I’ve heard about your love from people who’ve experienced that love not only inside the walls of 4000 Parris Bridge Road, but outside these walls as well!
So I just want to say that I love you, am thankful for you, and am praying that this uniqueness will continue for the glory of God and the building up of God’s church.
Grace & Peace,
Scott

God Is Great & Awesome...My Problems Are Not!

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014 11:04 AM

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Everywhere I look I see problems with no solutions. I see problems in the world, in our nation, in our town, in our church…and I don’t see the goodness of God. I feel the weight of the world and I get tired because it seems that it’s up to me to carry that weight and solve these problems. I sense that at any time I will collapse under the weight and what will be left is nothing but the carnage of someone who has given up. Living like this makes it difficult to function normally – whatever normal is.
Why do I feel this way? I feel this way because I choose to feel this way, and this choice is about what is BIG in my life and what is small. When I see problems and people as BIG then I’ve made the choice that God is small. When I fear what people can do more than I sense what God can do then I’ve made the choice that people are greater than God. And that’s a sinful choice.
During the last couple of days I’ve read through Nehemiah; this was a very opportune devotional time for me. Nehemiah faced some huge problems: exiled to a foreign country, his hometown, Jerusalem, was in shambles, God had put an impossible mission in his heart that he refused to share with anybody, all kinds of opposition to the mission, and a seemingly unachievable building project. How was he going to convince the king of a foreign power to let him go do what God wanted him to do? How was he going to pay for it? How was he going to overcome the opposition? How was he going to rally the Israelites to resurrect an old dream? He had questions, lots of questions.
Over and over again I see Nehemiah refocusing on the greatness and majesty of God. At one point when the surrounding powers were upset and resisting the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem, Nehemiah stood up and reminded his rag-tag team of non-union construction workers:
“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14)
Remember the Lord! Oh, how often I forget in the middle of feeling overwhelmed that God is greater than everything! In the midst of people dying, overseas terrorist coming closer to home, earthquakes, floods and wildfires taking place everyday in America, people complaining, time running short, more appointments than can fit on my calendar, emergencies, and supper getting colder, I’m trying to remember that God is a majestically great God.
Maybe I’ll just stay in Nehemiah for a while!
Grace & Peace,
Scott

God Is A BIG God!

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Tuesday, August 05, 2014 2:17 PM

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Do we fear man more than God? Fearing people causes us to do many things that we otherwise would not, and should not do. For example, if our fear of man is greater than our fear of God we probably won’t say what needs to be said in a sinful situation. We are afraid of man’s rejection and retaliation. Sometimes parents fall into the trap of fearing a child’s rejection and therefore don’t discipline Scripturally – thus, children are big and God is small. Or, we won’t speak up at work when somebody says something offensive – thus, coworkers are big and God is small. Or, we will not turn the channel when sin is portrayed as glorious and inconsequential – thus, our lust is big and God is small. Or, we won’t speak up against what is pushed as “politically correct” but sinful – thus, public opinion is big and God is small.
Our culture is trying to diminish God in the eyes of everyone and will only succeed if we allow it. In the big picture culture has succeeded in culture, but the danger I see is that the greatness of God is now being sacrificed in the church! God is either being preached as a God who is great in His love, but is limited in His power; or He is being portrayed as an angry God who is out to get us sinners and has no capacity for love and grace so we better do something to make Him happy. Either way He is a small God and people are big.
When we fear man over God it is a matter of us seeing God as small and man as being big. God is a Grand Canyon God who is bigger than all and mightier than all. He is beyond our comprehension, but He can still be known because He came down to our level to be known. It is simply amazing what God can accomplish through believers who have a big view of who He is and a small view of who people are. We see a clear example of this when Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin and said,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)
Let me end with the encouraging words of Moses and Yahweh,
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Moses in Deuteronomy 31:8)
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…” (Yahweh to Joshua 1:5-6 [cf. vv. 9, 18])
Grace & Peace,
Scott

It Is Amazing What God Will Do!

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Sunday, April 06, 2014 3:46 PM

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It is mind boggling, amazing, off-the-chain, stupendous, awesome, and every other-over-the-top adjective you can think of to describe the provision God makes when we begin to earnestly pray! I am humbled but not surprised at what God is doing at Calvary Church. He made the greatest investment to secure our future – His Son. Since He was willing to make a sacrifice as great as that, then I am absolutely confident that He will answer prayers that have a concern for His honor and the rescue of those whom He loves.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly that all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen!” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
That about sums it up. Paul, who wrote the bulk of the New Testament, beautifully articulated what we need to hear today. Here are a couple of thoughts for you to ponder this week:
First, Paul begins with God’s glory. That is the best place to start with anything. Our prayers need to be saturated with a desire for God to be glorified. This saturation will keep our prayers in check from becoming petitions to fulfill the desires of our own hearts.
Second, we need to stop limiting what God can do. God’s ability is beyond what we can petition (“ask”) and what we can imagine (“think”). Whenever I look at my ability I have every reason to panic, but when I look at God’s ability I have all the reason I need to trust.
Since I have started to urgently pray about the unity of the church, new families becoming a part of the church and the financial needs of the church, I have had a peace about everything and a freedom in the study and in the pulpit. This is what God has done in me in the last few weeks; what has He done in you?
Friends, we don’t need to panic, worry, stress and lose sleep over things that we place in the sovereign hands of God. It’s only when we try to control things that are out of our control that we need to hit the panic button. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get on our knees and fervently pray!
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Who, or What, Is Our #1?

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Monday, January 06, 2014 3:42 PM

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We must be convinced that our number one priority is to spread God’s fame! Period! We cannot lose sight of that priority in the mad rush of our lives. Our existence is not primarily about us, nor the things we have, nor the stuff we get, nor the positions we hold, nor the plans we make, not even the people who surround us. Yes, those are all part of day-to-day living, but those are only some of the means God intends to use to make Him famous.
From the Paradise that was lost in the beginning to the Paradise we’ll gain in the end as God’s people we exist for God’s glory and His glory ALONE. If we abdicate this number one to settle for something less then we are the ones who suffer for our selfish choices. Think about it…If we chose job over God then, yes, we might have a successful career, but what will we have in the end? Nothing worth nothing. If we put all of our energies into pursuing a relationship with someone at the expense of pursing one with God then, yes, we will probably be surrounded by those who love us, but what will we have in the end? You answer that. If we chase after our dreams without ever chasing after God then, yes, maybe, just maybe, we’ll retire on a beach somewhere or we’ll end up in the mountains, but what will we have at the end? Not a whole lot.
God became a man to show us that even through the incarnation His glory would be known and shown. Jesus shows us that God must be the priority in everything.
For by him all things were created…all things were created through him and for him…that in everything he might be preeminent. (Colossians 1:16-18)
God is worth so much more than any thing and any one. Now hear me carefully. I’m not encouraging us to become irresponsible with our stuff or our relationships or our future. I am soliciting a view of our lives that keeps our priorities in check. I am advocating living our lives for something greater than stuff, people and plans. Living to spread God’s fame is something worth living for.
Let me end this by stating the obvious: this cannot be just a mindset we adopt; it must become the life we live. Everything we do should be done through the filter of God’s honor. Every relationship we enjoy must be enjoyed in light of God’s glory. Every plan we make has to reflect spreading of God’s fame.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Now let’s go and live our lives and build our relationships and make our plans for the One who is worthy of it all.
Grace & Peace,
Scott

Discipleship: The Command in the Great Commission

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Wednesday, October 03, 2012 11:08 AM

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Something that we need to be reminded about from time-to-time is that Calvary Baptist Church exists to glorify God. That is the primary responsibility of all creation that God established from the very beginning. The first approval we see is that of God’s…

And God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25)…And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31).

Creation had to meet God’s approval, nobody else’s.

Once we understand what our primary responsibility in all of life is and what it means, then we can begin to ask important, rubber-meets-the-road kind of questions. Like, “How do we reflect God’s image through the church.” The answer to that is both simple and complex. It is simple because I believe we could list four key elements that describes that for us: worship, discipleship, fellowship and outreach. It is complex because of everything that is involved in each of those areas for us as a church.

What I would like to do this week is take just one of those and inspire and encourage all of us in that one area. Let’s consider discipleship.

Discipleship is learning. It is the process through which we learn, change and grow spiritually. This process must be intentional for us as a church. We can’t think it will “just happen”…like we have some sort of discipleship fairy that sprinkles spiritual growth pixie dust on everyone who comes through the doors. That may sound ridiculous, but isn’t that how we are approaching the spiritual growth of the body if we don’t intentionally plan and practice for teaching and training one another in the Bible?

What God uses over and over again in my life to convict me of this is the great commission passage in Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” The command (imperative) in this verse is not the word “go.” The going is an assumption that Jesus makes. In other words, He never imagined that His followers would not go across the street or across the ocean (cf. Acts 1:8 for the ever widening influence the church is to have). The command is to “make disciples.” The way this is written in the Greek could literally be translated: “as you are going I command you to make disciples.”

Too much can take place in our church to side track us from this core value. Don’t you think the enemy would be happy if we busy ourselves with issues that take our intentional focus away from teaching the Bible?

Remember Whose approval we are after – the Creator of the universe’s. We desperately want to hear the God of all creation say to us that what we’ve done is “very good”; the opposite of that, even if it’s mediocre, is “very bad.”

Grace & Peace,
Scott

The Target of Calvary

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012 2:09 PM

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The value we hold dearest to us at Calvary Church is the glory of God. My prayer for us is the same as David’s was for Israel of old,

20There is none like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears, 24and your name will be established and magnified forever… (1 Chronicles 17:20, 24)

We can establish ourselves as a neighborhood church in Boiling Springs; we can establish ourselves as a friendly church with a family atmosphere; we can establish ourselves as a biblical teaching church; we can establish ourselves as a church with great programs for children and youth; we can establish ourselves as a church with off the hook music. All of these are good ideas, but they are too easy targets at which to shoot. Our target must be bigger than ourselves; our target must be to establish God’s name so that others would magnify now and in the coming generations. Those other things are great avenues to glorify God, and are objectives that can be used to accomplish making a name for God in Boiling Springs, but let’s be careful not to make them the main focus of the church.

You see, making the means of hitting the bullseye the target itself suffers from the danger of self-focus. Self-focus is dangerous because it reeks of prideful arrogance. And to be honest, when did it become about us in the first place? It is all about God and how He receives the honor and glory through all our efforts and sacrifices. We must learn to take ourselves out of the way in order for God to be honored the best.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Psalm 34:3).

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Everything Happens by God's Design

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Monday, March 19, 2012 11:20 AM

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It has been two months since the supply line in the ladies’ bathroom providentially disconnected and flooded a section of the new church building. I say “providentially” because I don’t believe anything happens apart from the hand of God. The biblical truth of God’s sovereignty teaches that God has both the authority and power over everything and absolutely nothing escapes His control. Job recognized this in light of his suffering: “Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?” (Job 12:9).

I don’t want to sound overly simplistic, but because of the limited space let me share a couple of thoughts. First, we need to make a distinction between what God causes to happen and what God allows to happen. I find it helpful to ask a couple of questions: “Could God have stopped the water line from breaking?” Answer: Yes! “Did God stop the water line from breaking?” Answer: No! So, in the sense that He could have prevented it but didn’t He was in control. In God’s providence the water line broke.

Also, we need to understand that everything happens for a reason (even evil). Paul sums this up for our benefit by saying: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28). And from God’s benefit he wrote, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36). Things happen by the sovereign and majestic design of God for our good and for His glory.

No, I can’t always answer the question, “Why did God cause or allow this to happen?” But if I take God out of the picture then I am left with sheer blind luck and happen chance, and I’m not willing to live in a world where God is not ultimately in control. A world where God is not in control would be chaotic. I believe God is large and in charge!

We are all ready to get this rebuild behind us, but I take comfort in the fact that God had a purpose behind it, and His purpose was to build our lives and to bless His name.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

What's Next?

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012 3:46 PM

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I'm sitting here thinking about what to do next. No, not what to do next today, but what to do next at Calvary Church. What’s next for us? Do we plan for another building? That may be a necessity in the future and certainly we have made provision for it in the long range planning, but that is not what I am sitting here thinking about. I am thinking about what it next for us to do as a church. It has been so exciting to see God gathering a large crowd at Calvary each Sunday. As we experience this growth it must stimulate us to action.

First, I believe we must have a vertical what’s next focus. We should be rejoicing in what God has done on our behalf. Rejoice that we are in a new building. Rejoice that there are no stairs. Rejoice that there are multiple bathrooms. Rejoice that there is no mold. Rejoice every time you come around the corner and you see the new building where you get to worship God and serve others.

Second, we must have a horizontal what’s next focus. I must focus on serving this growing congregation. How do we do that? We do this in part by never taking one another for granted. As God increases His church numerically it is easy to get caught up in the frenzied excitement of numbers and neglect the individuals who represent those numbers. We must redouble our efforts to love one another every time we see each other.

Another way we do this is by working hard to get to know the new people who are coming. Don’t be afraid to approach somebody and say, “Hey, I know I’ve asked this before, but could you tell me your name again? You see, we’re not used to this many people coming and we love it, so I am making an effort to get to know people personally by writing everyone’s name down.” Wouldn’t it be cool to see the regular Calvary people carrying around notebooks writing down visitor’s names? By doing this I think we would communicate to people that we really do want to get to know them and that we’d love to see them back!

Grace & Peace,
Scott

The Building Is Not the Church!

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Wednesday, January 04, 2012 2:35 PM

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We made it! God got us in the building and with the help of many people we were able to get everything moved. So much stuff…so little time! Thank you to everyone who sacrificed their extra Christmas time off to load the trucks and trailers and then turn around and unload them. I love you and appreciate every box and piece of furniture you pick up. Remember: “The moving of 47,000 sq. ft. of stuff begins with the lifting of one box!”

We’ve been in the new building for a week and a half and the dust is still settling. I’ve been told the dust will be floating around for the next year! But isn’t it just plain wonderful and exciting to be in a new building. This is a first for me (and for many of you as well). As I reflect on this momentous move to a new location I’ve been thinking…

We must always keep something in mind: as beautiful and wonderful as this new building is, it is still just a building – it is not the church. We are the church and 4000 Parris Bridge Road just happens to be the location where we are meeting. I love this building and everything it represents, but I also realize that one day it will be torn down (destroyed) or renovated. The true Church of Jesus will never be destroyed.

…On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

Over the years the face of the Church has changed, its programs have evolved, but the essence of what the Church is has not changed one iota. No matter what we do as humans we really cannot change God’s Church. Let’s remember that.

Secondly, and I’ve said this before, if our focus is on the building people will get used, but if our focus is on the glory of God and the good of His people the building will get used! As much as I love this new building I love God and you so much more. If we zero in on the majestic splendor of a great God and His purpose in saving humanity then I believe the buildings we have will be used for the right purpose.

I love being your pastor. Stop by anytime. I can’t promise I’ll always be available, but if I have the time I would love to get you a cup of coffee and talk.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Christmas Is the Path of Glory

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011 9:47 AM

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A couple weeks ago our son, Ben, sang This Is War written by Dustin Kensrue. This song rings a bell not heard very often at Christmas, but its message is so true that it needs to be heard over and over again.

This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hears we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.

This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.

This is war on sin and death,
The dark will take its final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.

We readily sing songs that bring us joy and happiness, songs that celebrate the coming of the King, and this is right that we do. But we must remember that the occasion of the birth of Jesus that causes us much celebration is also one that caused Him much pain. His birth was the result of difficult choices. God the Father made the difficult choice of sending His Son. Jesus the Son made the difficult choice of leaving the glorious majesty of His Father to be born a human. The immortal God took on mortal flesh. He became like one of us!

Jesus spoke of His death as the hour He would be glorified, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23). And just a few verses later He stated that He came for the very purpose of His death so He could glorify His Father (“But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name” [vv. 27-28]). The cross was the path for His own glory and the glory of His Father.

So even though it was a path of great pain, ultimately it lead to unadulterated joy as Jesus returned to the Father, and so He will forever be enthroned!

Jesus’ difficult choice leads me to the conclusion that our lives are going to be full of difficult, but necessary, choices. The path of our King will be the road we will travel as well. So as we celebrate Christmas this year let’s certainly celebrate, but let’s also not forget what lies ahead.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

A Biblical Christmas

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Monday, November 28, 2011 4:26 PM

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Shopping lists, parties, parades, groceries, stocking stuffers, trips to the mall, Christmas cookies, caroling, TV specials, and on and on the Christmas list of "things I've got to do" goes. But what is missing in all of this is Jesus. How many times have we come to the end of the Christmas season and said, "Next year is going to be different. Next year I'm not going to focus so much attention on stuff and getting stuffed, but I'm going to really, really celebrate Christmas as a time of focusing on the birth of Jesus"? Well, this is the reminder to make this year the year that we do exactly that! Before we get caught up in the nonsense of commercial Christmas let's get caught up in the real sense of a biblical Christmas. How do we do that? Glad you asked...here's what I'm thinking -

First, get a Scriptural focus. We begin where the story begins - in the Bible. Everyday make it a habit of getting into the Bible and rediscovering the authentic Christmas story. Read the prophets in the Old Testament to get their perspective on the Messiah promised from God to Israel who would deliver them not from the oppression of a government but from the oppression of their own sin. Meditate on passages such as Isaiah 7 and 9, Micah 5:2, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.

Next, let the joy of the birth of Jesus capture your attention. Imagine yourself a shepherd on the night the angel announced the good news of great joy. Allow your voice to sing praise to the majesty and glory of God for the gift of His presence in the person of His Son. Let your mind dwell on Luke 2.

But don't leave Jesus as a baby. It is essential that we get caught up in the whole storyline of the Savior. Our redemption wasn't accomplished in a feed trough in Bethlehem; it was done on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Read the gospel accounts of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Remember, and store in your heart, that He did this to reveal the Father to us.

Don't raise our generation of kids thinking that Christmas is about them and what "stuff" they get. Raise them to know the meaning of Christmas is the gospel of redemption for the glory of God!

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Priorities

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Monday, October 24, 2011 11:07 AM

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Sometimes we get our eyes off the goal; something else grabs our attention; we get distracted. Whenever this happens the results can be tragic. Take for example rescuing someone who is drowning: you are taught to never take your eyes off the victim; if a person goes under you are supposed to keep an eye on where you last saw them. A lifeguard who takes their eyes off the target could cause someone to lose their life.

In the church we too must have only one goal - one target. This goal must always and ever be the first priority of the church. If we lose focus then the results will be tragic. Let me remind all of us what the target of Calvary Baptist Church is:

The church exists for only one purpose: to spread the fame of God. It must be our desire to accurately reflect our Heavenly Father to everyone with whom we come into contact. No matter what the circumstance, we should want everyone to walk away with the right impression of our God.

If people have the right idea about God, then they will have the right idea about us. We are a people who love others because God first loved us; we serve others because God serves us; we care about the needs of others because God has always been faithful to care for our needs.

In making God big and us small, I believe that we will be on the right path to hitting the target of making God the center of everything in our lives. We just can't get over how great and good God is!

I have come to learn that not everyone will be happy with the choice we make in flooring, but that is not the focus of the church. My goal cannot be, must not be, to make everyone happy with the new building. My goal must be to shepherd you to keep your focus on the majesty and glory of God. Flooring is way down the list of priorities; God's glory is at the top of the list.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Soul Gardening

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Wednesday, August 10, 2011 9:23 AM

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Okay, I must confess that I love the fact that the steel is going up on the new property! Progress is exciting and contagious. In my wildest dreams I never imagined we would be at this point so early in my pastoral ministry at Calvary, but God knew what He was doing. More amazing than the concrete and steel being put up on the new property is the spirit of the people at Calvary Church. You all are such a blessed people to pastor and I am thankful everyday for the honor of being called your "pastor."

In thinking about what I wanted to write to you this week I thought of at least one caution for us all: Don't get so caught up in the future of moving into a new building that we forget about ministering in the present! There is a serious danger is focusing so much attention on the move of tomorrow that we neglect what God has called us to do today. I really believe that we will lose our focus of honoring the great majesty of our God and helping the body of Christ at Calvary if all of our attention is given over to a new building. One area we must focus on is reaching new people who belong at Calvary no matter where we are meeting. We cannot afford to wait; we cannot allow the providential appointments God puts in our paths to slip past.

God has providentially and strategically placed us in our families, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces and hangouts to plant the seed of the gospel or to water that seed. And remember, it is not up to us to harvest...that is God's business.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6).

The reason God orchestrates His work this way is to maximize the glory He receives when a life is radically changed through His gospel.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7).

We need to know our place in God's "soul gardening" plan. So, let's put on the gloves, get out the seed and watering can and get into the garden!

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Are We Moving in the Right Direction?

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Monday, August 01, 2011 10:07 AM

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As a church are we moving in the right direction? Good question, but isn't it a little late to be asking it now? I don't believe so for at least two reasons:

First, it is the right question because this is not the first time we've asked it. Over the last three years I have repeatedly asked this question. With every step we've taken to relocate Calvary Church I've personally asked this question in one form or another. When I stop and ask this specific question it causes me to ask another important one: "Why are we doing this?" If the first response from me is anything other an to display God's glory in a greater way to a community searching for a God-honoring church then our motivation is completely wrong. As we move forward we must always keep God's glory as the preeminent goal is relocating.

Second, it is the right question because of the danger of getting caught up in building a building and neglecting the church! I never dreamed how much it would take to build a new building. The largest building I've ever built is a 47 sq. ft. tree house, and that didn't turn out too great. So now, faced with a building project of almost 17,000 sq. ft. is quite daunting. Almost every day we are faced with emails, phone calls, engineer reports on concrete, invoices, sales people, and the list goes on. But what about the people who come week-after-week seeking direction, conviction and comfort from God's Word? What about the shut-ins who are looking for a friendly face to knock on their door? What about the saints who find themselves facing surgery at the hospital? Remember, these things haven't magically stopped just because we are building a building. So this question reminds me that if we get caught up in the sticks and bricks while neglecting the people then we are not truly building the church!

My prayer for Calvary is that as we build this building we will never neglect the truly important...the glory of God and good of His people.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Groundbreaking!

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Sunday, May 29, 2011 4:12 PM

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To God be all the glory! After three years of praying, seeking wise counsel, planning, studying, meeting and voting the relocation of Calvary Church is finally underway. The Groundbreaking Service we had on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011 was the official launch of attempting, as far as man is concerned, the impossible. But God is the God of the impossible.

I am both excited and scared about the future. I am excited about God continuing to do the impossible as the new building on Parris Bridge Road get built. I am scared because I know that we are facing a spiritual battle against the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). We are not waging war against an enemy that can be seen; he is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). If we could see the enemy, if we could touch him, if we could hear him coming, if we could sense his presence in some physical way it would make the fight so much easier. But just because he can't be seen, heard or felt doesn't make him any less real. Be assured of this one thing: Satan is fighting a turf war for the souls of lost people and the hearts of disillusioned, disenfranchised disciples in our area, and he is not going to go away quietly just because we are bringing in the large and loud earth movers on Parris Bridge Road. No, because we showed up he will too!

Be confident of this one thing: the devil will only be defeated as we move forward on our knees in faith. Our utter dependence on God is absolutely necessary at a time like this. I believe God will build His Church; I just want us to be a part of what He is doing. May we valiantly fight the spiritual battle. It will cost, but the rewards will be worth the price.

Grace & Peace,
Scott
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