The Friday immediately preceding Easter Resurrection Sunday is known as “Good Friday”. This is the day Christianity remembers the sacrificial and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ by means of crucifixion.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Action Step: Please make plans to attend the Good Friday service at The Mission Church of Lexington on Friday April 7^th at 6:30pm

What is crucifixion? A medical doctor (C. Truman Davis, M.D) provides a physical description: “The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place.

The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain–the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet. As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am                                                                               (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm.                                                             We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”

 

A mother complained to her doctor about her daughter’s strange eating habits. “All day long she lies in bed and eats baking yeast and car wax. What will happen to her, doctor?” the mother inquired. “Eventually,” said the doctor, “she will rise and shine!”

We all know that dangers of bad habits. Public Service Announcement: If you are looking for support and help to overcome your hurts, habits, and hangups please consider attending The Mission Church of Lexington’s recovery ministry. Renovate meets every Monday evening at 6:30pm on campus (3288 Beaver Creek Drive). You will find a great team of trained leaders, a Bible based recovery program, and many supportive friends that want to help so that you can experience victory in Christ.

Psalm 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am ^[a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I have often said “I would rather burn out than rust out” … however, this phrase is not sound advice… God doesn’t want us to burn out or rust out because He wants us to be active in our service to Him for the long haul.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Rest is not a nicety but a necessity. There is a reason that sleep deprivation is a form of torture. Our bodies and our minds need rest to recuperate and to refresh. It has been said that at times the most spiritual thing you can do it to take a nap! Can I get an amen???

The Bible teaches us about the principle of Sabbath rest. The Lord intended this to be a blessing and not a burden to His children. The Sabbath concept is God’s idea for his image bearers (humans) to rest from work and to rest for work. God wants us to be passionately pursuing His will for our lives… but He also knows we need time to rest in Him and to rely upon Him.

Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

Mark 2:27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God;

Action Steps: Make sure you are getting a good 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If you are not getting this amount of sleep, you might need to change your pre-bedtime routine. You will find it helpful to eliminate all electronics for at least 1 hour before you want to fall asleep. Additionally, many people have found melatonin as a helpful and natural sleep aid. You can find many other practical suggestions with a simple internet search or a consultation with your doctor.

Here is a little motto to remember- Give God the first part of your day (daily devotion) and give God the first part of your week (Sunday worship and rest).

 

2- Take Time to Remember

Deuteronomy 6:12 Then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

John 14:26 But the ^[a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Repetition is the mother of all learning. We need to be reminded and we need to remember (over and over again) the goodness and the graciousness of God. We need constant and consistent reminders about who God is, what He has done and is doing for us, and our great dependance upon Him. This is why we need to be in God’s Word daily, this is why we need to be in worship together weekly, and this is why we need to spend time with other Christians faithfully.

Action Step– Try to practice the presence of God. Remind yourself all throughout the day that God is with you and Christ is in you. Discipline yourself to maintain consistent communication with the Lord through prayer as you go about your daily routines. Ask yourself frequently “What would Jesus want me to do right now that would be most pleasing to Him?”

 

3- Take Time to Reflect

 Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you^[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

When the Bible speaks about meditation it is not talking about eastern transcendental meditation… it is not wise to “empty” our mind… Biblical mediation is not emptying our minds but filling it with Scripture. We should be so saturated with God’s Word that we are able to think God’s thoughts after Him. We strive to be so versed in the Bible that it transforms our attitudes and actions both in conscious and in subconscious ways.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech^[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your ^[b]reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Think about this hypothetical scenario… If you were stranded on a remote island and you did not have access to electrical devices, internet or the Bible, how many Scripture verses would you have memorized? How much of God’s Word do you have stored in your heart, mind, and soul?

Action Step– Choose a verse and begin memorizing it today. One way you can do this is by using a 3×5 note card. Just write the verse on one side and the reference on the other. Review it daily. Add a new note card and verse upon completion. Just think, if you did this 1 time per week you would have 52 verses memorized in just 1 year!

 

4- Take Time to Recreate

 Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart ^[a]does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christians don’t have to walk around looking like they have been baptized in pickle juice or that they just took communion with lemon juice! God wants his children to have fun and to enjoy life in Christ honoring ways. Play board games with friends, go hiking or camping in God’s nature, ride a bike at the park, swim, wood working, athletics, painting, the list could go on and on and on.

God is not a cosmic killjoy. Jesus wants us to do the things we like to do for His glory and the good of others. One of my favorite quotes is from an Olympic athlete from many years ago… his name was Eric Liddell and he famously said “I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Action Step– Is there a hobby or an activity that you have been thinking of learning more about our getting started in? Maybe now is the time to make it happen!

FYI- The Mission Church hosts a monthly Basketball Fellowship. It’s a great time to exercise and build friendships! If you are interested please let me know at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

 

5- Take Time to Repent

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven ^[a]is at hand.”

Many people attempt to stay so busy they don’t have time to do honest reflection with the Lord. They need constant activity and noise, so they won’t be alone with their thoughts. They will do anything they can to keep distracted from their conscious screaming that there is something wrong! This approach to life is equivalent to hearing the engine of your vehicle making a terrible sound but instead of taking it to the garage for repairs you simply turn the music up loader to drown out the problem! We can try to mask our troubled spirit for a time, but the stress and anxiety will eventually rear its ugly head in our lives and in our relationships.

Numbers 32:23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Unconfessed sin in a Christians life will not change our relationship with God but it will change our fellowship with Him. Once we are saved, we are safe and secure in God’s forever family. God will never ever kick us out… but when we have unconfessed sin in our life it will steal our joy, our peace, and our usefulness with the Lord.

 

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) 

                  and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”

 

One reason I am grateful to be a Baptist is that we have traditionally been considered “people of the Book”. We see the Bible as not only containing the Word of God but that it is the Word of God. When we read the Bible today it is no different than when God spoke to Adam in the Garden, or when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, or when Jesus spoke to the Apostles during his earthly ministry, or when the Lord spoke to Saul/Paul on the Damascus Road. When we open the Bible God opens his mouth!

1- Reading the Bible without hearing from God

All great relationships are built on effective communication and all good communication is a two-way street. For a dialogue to take place there must be mutual exchange of ideas, thoughts, facts, and feelings. Nobody likes to be talked at but everybody enjoys being talked with. This principle is applicable in regard to our conversation and communication with God.

We talk to God through prayer and God talks to us through His Word. When we are reading the Bible, we should also be in prayer. Pray before you start reading by asking God to speak to your heart and mind. Ask God to help you understand what you read. Then as you are reading the goal is comprehension not just completion of the text. We should pray while we are actively reading the Bible. Don’t hesitate to stop and pray about the principles and precepts that God illuminates throughout Scripture. Finally, we should conclude with prayer as we ask God to activate His Word in our life and as we ask God to help us apply what we have learned into our daily practices.

2- Not reading through whole books of the Bible

The top 3 rules of Bible interpretation are “Context, Context, Context”. This means we should have an intentional and systematic plan of reading through books of the Bible… starting with chapter 1 verse 1 and reading through the end of that specific book (shorter books can be completed in one sitting while other longer books may take you numerous days). This will help you to understand the individual verses within the context of the literary unit… you will understand the micro truths within the framework of the overall macro narrative.

Too many Christians make a habit of just reading snippets of Scripture. This can easily lead to misunderstanding and misapplication. This concept should not be too surprising… we know that all books regardless of the literary genre have an authorial intent that can only be truly grasped through following the train of thought in the presentation, development and conclusion (beginning, middle, and ending). Just consider reading a novel. If you only read a sentence or a paragraph per day, it would be very challenging to comprehend the grand idea as a coherent story.

3- Reading the Bible but forgetting about the divine Author

The Bible contains 66 books. There are 39 in the Old Testament and there are 27 in the New Testament. Each of the books possess “Dual Authorship”. This means that God used a human author to pen the material. These authors were people like Moses, David, Solomon, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul and others. However, each of these human authors were inspired (led by) the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[a]instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who ^[a]at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ^[b]worlds;

 

2 Peter 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private ^[b]interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but ^[c]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

Knowing that God is the ultimate author of the Bible gives us great confidence and assurance that it is not like any other book. All books have the potential to inform us but only the Bible has the power to transform us! Don’t forget to think of the Author as you are reading His love letter to you!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am)                        and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”

A husband rolled over in bed on Sunday morning and said to his wife, “Honey, I don’t feel like going to church today”. She asked him why. He said, “the parking lot is too full, the building is too cold, the music is too loud, the people are too unfriendly, and the preacher is too boring”. She said, “Sweetie, you simply must go to church”. He asked her to give him just one good reason why he should go. She calmly but frankly said, “Because you, darling, you are the pastor”.

We don’t need expensive surveys or extensive polls to inform us that church attendance in most churches and denominations are in the decline. We are even discovering that “committed” members of many churches consider attending worship only twice a month as being “highly involved”. There was a time when church members would attend church “every time the doors were open” but now church attendance appears to be… “optional”.

However, my Bible still has Hebrews 10:24-25 in it… These verses seem to clearly state we need more church not less church as we near the time of Christ’s return!

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

1- Church Attendance is Pleasing and Honoring Unto the Lord

 

John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

 

Worship is a human response to divine revelation and divine invitation. We are now able to participate imperfectly here on earth what we will be able to do perfectly there in heaven. If you don’t enjoy worshipping God now…. You are not going to enjoy eternity very much! Of all the sounds that God created, the sound of your voice praising Him is His favorite.

Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, ^[a]O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they ^[b]exist and were created.”

 

2- Church Attendance is an Act of Love and Service to Others

Matthew 22:36-39 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great  commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I call this the ministry of presence. You are a blessing and an encouragement by simply showing up. You need the church, and the church needs you. Don’t rob your brothers and sisters in the faith of spiritual blessings because you are not present and accounted for!

 

3- Church Attendance Will Make You Holier

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me ^[a]void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

 Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[a]instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God uses 3 things to develop us spiritually: the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the People of God. All 3 of these instruments of grace will be experienced when you intentionally and consistently participate in corporate worship with your church community. Just showing up doesn’t necessarily mean you are growing up… but it’s a pretty good indicator. As I pastor, I can generally discern somebody’s spiritual condition by observing their church attendance and level of participation. A piece of coal in the fire will burn strong and hot but when that coal gets way from the flame it will quickly burn out… I have seen this analogy prove true far too many times in the life of many professing Christians.

 

4- Church Attendance Will Make You Happier

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Humankind’s most desperate sorrow arises out of loneliness and hopelessness but those who worship God with family and friends have the greatest source of relational connectivity and spiritual accountability which results in joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Harvard researchers concluded weekly church attendance effectively improved the physical and mental health of missions of Americans and reduced mortality by 20% to 30% over a 15-year period. Other studies assert faithful church attendance helps prevent the despair that leads to early death by suicide and alcohol abuse.

 

5- Church Attendance Can Improve Your Marriage

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be^[a] joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not ^[a]puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^[b]thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Research shows that countless influences are pulling spouses apart, but faithful church attendance reduces a couple’s risk of divorce by a remarkable 47 percent. God is the creator of marriage therefore He has much to say about it. When a couple is in church together, they are going to hear Biblical principles and precepts that will strengthen their marriage and they will be surrounded by an encouraging faithful and faith-filled support system.

The truth is people get divorced for trivial reasons because they got married for trivial reasons. When a couple starts and sustains their relationship with Jesus at the center, their marriage will be able to withstand the attacks of the Devil.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

 

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am)                        and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”

A teacher is asking her students, what they want to be when they grow up.
Teacher: “How about you, Johnny… what do you want to be when you grow up”?

Johnny: “I wanna be the CEO of a multi-billion tech company… just like my father”.
Teacher: “Wow… that’s wonderful. I didn’t know your father was the CEO of a tech company”.
Johnny: “He’s not. But he also wants to be one”.

Just as a seed should grow when it is planted in nutritious soil and watered, followers of Christ should also grow spiritually. Jesus used this concept in the form of a parable.

Matthew 13:3-8 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. ⁶ But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. ⁸ But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The Christian life is a relationship with God that develops over time. As the longer we walk with Jesus the more we should look like Him in our attitudes and actions.

1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

 

What is Spiritual Growth?

Spiritual growth is the journey of growing in faith and obedience to God and becoming the person He designed and desires you to be.

Peter, who was one of Jesus’ disciples and closest friends said it this way:

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Paul, a leader in the early church and who wrote much of the New Testament described it this way:

Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 

What does Scripture say about Spiritual Growth?

Here are some important verses from the Bible that can help you understand what it means to be spiritually mature.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[a]instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ^[a]ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he ^[b]meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the ^[c]rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

2 Peter 1:5-8 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control ^[a]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither ^[b]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the ^[a]oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are ^[b]of full age, that is, those who by reason of ^[c]use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 Peter 2:1-5 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow ^[a]thereby, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:15-16 But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces ^[a]patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be ^[b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

 

How do we Grow Spiritually?

There are three elements essential to growing to spiritual maturity: grace, truth, and time. Grace is seen when we realize that we make mistakes along the way and experience God’s patient forgiveness. Truth is found in God’s Word, which corrects, trains, and challenges us. Time is essential since maturity will not come overnight but is a process and a journey.  Experiencing Christ with others can have important benefits. Relationships with other believers allow us to encourage and support one another.

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more, please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am)                       and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”

Acts 9:1-6 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ^[a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” ⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

“Lord, what do You want me to do?” After Paul was radically, dramatically, and eternally changed by the Lord on the road to Damascus, his natural desire was to serve the Lord. Every Christian is saved to served. God has a plan for each of our lives. The joy on the journey with Jesus is to “Find Your Why” and then to live it out!

Here are 5 simple questions to help you to know and to do God’s will for your life:

1- What does the Bible say?

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you^[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

The primary way in which God reveals His will is through His Word. Every Christian must be so full of God’s Word that they are able to think God’s thoughts after Him. The main reason so many Christians have a hard time discerning God’s will is that they do not know Biblical precepts and principles. Begin today, systematically, and intentionally studying the Scriptures.

2- What is your motivation?

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

We must align our desires with God’s desires because when we do our good desires become godly desires. When we are saved God gives us a whole new set of “wants tos”. As we become more informed by the Bible, as we become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit within us, and as we spend more time around other Christ followers, our desires will be transformed. God will not give you everything you want but as you follow Him what you want will conform to what He wants for you.

 

3- What are other strong Christians saying?

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

We are not meant to live the Christian life alone, but we were created for community. We are not to be codependent on anybody, but we are dependent upon God and interdependent about other brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible contains many instructions for Christians to bear one another’s burdens and to speak truth with love. Therefore, every Christian should seek to surround themselves with wise and godly family members, friends, pastors, counselors etc. We must find people who love God and love us and are willing to speak the truth we need to hear into our lives.

Action Step: If you don’t have anybody like this in your life may I encourage you to start by getting involved in a Mission Group which are held on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. For more information, please contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

4- Are you seeing God provided opportunities?

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall ^[a]direct your paths.

Primarily, we want to root our decision making in the objective Truth of God’s Word and the wise counsel of mature believers. But then we want to be aware of the opportunities that God provides for us. The main point of the famous Bible study “Experiencing God” is the reality that God is always doing something, and it is our responsibly/privilege to simply get involved. God will open and close opportunities for us. We are to boldly walk through the doors that He opens and not waste time and energy trying to open the doors that He has closed.

 

5- What is the wisest course of action?

Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

James 1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

It is very easy for us to suffer from “paralysis of analysis”. We can usually make decisions between “good” opportunities and “bad” opportunities but it’s much more complex to decide between two apparent opportunities that appear equally good. We need to remember- that if the decision at hand or the opportunity before us is not contrary to Scripture, if we are pursuing God and walking in the Spirit, if we have consulted with wise and godly counsel, and if whatever you choose can be done for the glory of God…. Then you just need to decide and go with it… living life through the windshield and not the rear-view mirror.

 

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) 

                 and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 6:30pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington, KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”

 

Matthew 5:47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? 

 

Almost every church thinks they are a friendly church but are they really? Many church members are friendly to the people they have known for years but they are not so friendly to those who are new. When a person visits a church for the first time it can be very overwhelming and intimidating. I have been a pastor for many years and a Christian for even longer… yet when I visit other churches, I still sense a level of uncertainly and uneasiness. Will I know what do to and where to go? What is permissible here and what is discouraged? Will the people be nice, or will they be distant? Visiting a new church can almost be compared to visiting a foreign country and there can be some “culture shock” involved.

 

At The Mission Church of Lexington, we understand this and want to do everything we can to intentionally minimize this discomfort. We look at every new person who attends as a guest and not just a visitor. A visitor is somebody you might expect to stay briefly then depart but a guest we want to make feel at home! Our goal is to turn every guest into a consistent attender then into a Covenant Member than into a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

 

It has been determined by research that most first-time church attenders determine within their mind if they have a positive or negative evaluation of their church experience within the first 7 minutes after arriving on campus. This means before they are able to experience the celebrative worship experience or the Biblical passionate preaching… they have already made a mental and emotional evaluation of the church. This means that the hospitality and greeting ministry is critically important! We want to make every guest and attendee of TMC feel welcomed, wanted, and warm.

 

The Mission Church of Lexington has a Hospitality Team who intentionally welcomes every attendee and guest. They hand out worship bulletins and seat guests. This team serves as the “first impressions” for TMC!!! We are always looking for volunteers to serve on this super important team. If you are interested and available, please contact the Hospitality Team Leader, Hoang Duong 859-699-9590.

 

However, everyone at TMC should consider themselves a member of the Hospitality Team even if you are not officially on the team volunteer list. This blog post will give you a simple strategy and method you can use each week to help create the friendliest church possible! This is important because the friendlier a church is the more guests they will receive and keep, the more guest a church receives and keeps the more salvations and baptisms they will experience, the more salvations and baptisms they experience the more Covenant Members they will have which results in greater Kingdom impact and Gospel expansion for the great glory of God!!!

 

Here is the simple strategy: For the 5 minutes immediately before and the 5 minutes directly after the worship service starts and ends, every TMC Covenant Member should intentionally seek out guests or irregular attenders to welcome them warmly and to simply chat for a few minutes, while listening for needs, showing interest, and answering questions. Simple, right!? Use the acronym W.I.N. to help you with this plan. I will provide some sample phrases, but you will need to personalize them to fit your unique preference and personality.

 

W- Welcome- “Hello, it is wonderful to see you today! My name is Cletus, what’s yours?” or “It is so great to see you! Welcome to the Mission Church, if you don’t already have plans to sit with someone, please feel free to sit with me and my family.”, or “Good morning, it’s a beautiful day to be in church with friends! I am not sure I have had the pleasure of meeting you; my name is Earnest.” Etc. Remember that a smile and a friendly handshake/fist bump goes a long way! Be cautious, some people are huggers, but others are not… be wise and discerning in this matter. Be extra discerning if you hug anyone from the opposite gender.

 

I- Interests- Most people like to talk about their favorite subject…themselves. Ask about their families, their work, their hobbies, their kids… even better their grandkids! Show genuine interest, make good eye contact, don’t look past or around them, don’t fiddle with your watch or phone, be a good active listener and ask good open-ended questions. As it is often said, people will not care what you know until they know that you care. “Please tell me a little bit about yourself”, or “Oh, that is so interesting, please tell me more!” Etc.

 

N- Needs- “How can we best serve you and your family”, or “How can I pray for you”. If your spiritual antenna has been up and you have been listening well you will have the opportunity to speak words of encouragement or take a few moments to pray with them, or share the Gospel with them, or connect them to one of the pastors for additional pastoral care. Here is when the W.I.N. strategy gets really fun… you will have opportunities to minster in very practical and meaningful ways! Maybe you invite the person to lunch with you and your family… maybe you schedule a coffee and conversation to share the Gospel.

 

Simple and effective! A casual and friendly conversation can transform those awkward minutes for a guest into Gospel opportunities and maybe, just maybe, new lifelong friendships! Will you get started practicing W.I.N. this Sunday?

 

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more, please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website www.missionchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am)   

                  and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 6:30pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington, KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D.”

• We conduct Unceasing Prayer every 2nd Friday of the month. This is a 12-hour focused prayer time beginning at 10am and ending at 10pm. We start and end with a virtual Zoom Prayer Meeting and we provide 30-minute time slots for you to commit to throughout the day. You are provided a helpful prayer guide and can pray from wherever you are during your designated time slot.
• We also conduct Vertical Prayer Gatherings. These take place on the last Sunday evening of every month that has 5 weeks in it. You really don’t want to miss these powerful worship and prayer experiences!
• We help teach effective prayer at The Mission Church of Lexington by using a simple prayer method called A.C.T.S which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. If you would like to know more about any of these prayer resources, please contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org.

According to the Bible all of humanity is divided into only two spiritual categories, you are either a saint or you are an “aint”. You are either a saved, born again, follower of Jesus Christ or you are not.

Matthew 12:30  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

If you would like to know more about salvation, please follow this link:

Understanding-Salvation.pdf (missionchurchlex.org)

If you have trusted Christ today, please let me know at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

I would love to pray with you and send you some discipleship materials to help you grow spiritually.

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ ^[a]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

If you would like to know more about church membership, please follow this link:

Understanding-Church-Membership-1.docx (live.com)

If you would like to discuss church membership, please let me know at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

I would love to pray with you and send you some materials.

Just as all of humanity is divided into only two spiritual categories, members of a church can basically be divided into two categories, church pillars and church caterpillars. Some church members stand spiritually tall and strong while others… well not so much…  If you were to honestly evaluate yourself and your church membership, do you think you would be a pillar or a caterpillar? If you are not sure or want to know how to be a strong church member, please continue reading!

 

1- Church Pillars are church members who attend faithfully

A man rolled over in bed on a Sunday morning and lamented to his wife. “I don’t want to go to church today”. The wife responded, “Why would you not want to go to church today dear”. He sleepily said, “because the music it too loud, the building is too cold, the people are not too friendly, and the preaching is too boring”. The wife said, “but it’s important for you to attend, you have to go honey”. The man curtly said, “just give me one good reason I should go”. She gently reminded him, “because you are the pastor”.

 

We all need the church… and the church needs us. I call this the “ministry of presence”. Just being there is a blessing to others (not least of all your pastor!). Just showing up doesn’t necessarily mean you are growing up, but it is a very good indicator. There is something special and powerful about knowing that you are going to be able to see, to sit with, to sing with, to serve with, and to respond to the sermon with your church family, week in and week out! We must always keep in mind that our attendance at church is not just about what we get out of it, but our church attendance is also for the glory of God and the good other others!

 

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

Pause and Ponder: If every church member was just as faithful in attendance as you are what kind of church would we have? Do you find or make excuses to not attend worship, Bible study, small groups, or is church attendance a top priority for you and your family?

 

2- Church Pillars are church members who encourage intentionally

Mark Twain once quipped, “I can live two months on a good compliment”. The truth is we all enjoy an “atta boy or atta girl” from people who love and care about us. Life can be very hard and discouraging. Everybody needs to hear some encouraging words and verbal support. This kind of affirmation is rare in our community or in corporate America, but it should be commonplace within our church. It does not cost us anything to use our words to build people up instead of using our words to tear them down.

 

Colossians 4:8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that ^[a]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

 

Encouragement is not mere flattery or simply being nice by telling people what they want to hear. Encouragement is always honest and sincere. Encouragement commends those who are serving well, and it urges those who are struggling in their walk with the Lord. A church member who is intentional about using their words (spoken and written) to encourage their brothers and sisters in Christ are a tremendous blessing.

 

Pause and Ponder: How can you be a “minster of encouragement”? What are some simple, practical and tangible ways you can encourage your church family starting today?

 

3- Church Pillars are church members who forgive willingly

If you ever find a perfect church do not go there because you will ruin it as soon as you enter into it. The reality is, there are no perfect churches because there are no perfect Christians. Churches are full of people who still sin and will still hurt you in the process. They will say harsh things, they will be selfish, they will gossip, they will lie… none of these things are acceptable and all of these must be addressed in a truth and grace giving matter but… they will occur. As a church Pillar you will have to be able to forgive willingly.

 

Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

Just one or two church members who harbor unforgiveness can hinder the unity of an entire church. Christians have the same potential for relationship strife and emotional hurt as do unbelievers but… we should be able to address these issues in a Christ honoring and redemptive manner. It has often been said “to err is human but to forgive is divine”.

 

Pause and Ponder: Search your heart to ensure there is no unforgiveness lurching in the dark corners. Do you need to “release” somebody from the wrong they have committed against you? Do you need to seek forgiveness from anybody that you have wronged in word or deed?

 

In conclusion, please join me next week for “Find Your Why with Pastor D” as we look at three additional ways a church member can be a “Church Pillar”.

4- Church Pillars are church members who pray continually

5- Church Pillars are church members who serve diligently

6- Church Pillars are church members who give generously

 

 

Nobody plans to waste their life… but for far too many people this is the unfortunate reality. They wake up one day wondering where life has gone. They may have wasted most of their life on nefarious activities like drug and crime or they may have squandered life on relatively good things like an unhealthy focus on fame and fortune. The truth is even good things become bad things when they keep us from the best things. If we are not intentional, we will spend all of our time just surviving while God wants us to be thriving! Life is so much more than just drawing our next breath and drawing our next paycheck. I hope this blog post encourages you to begin the journey with Jesus to “Find Your Why”!

 

The 3 most important days of your life are:

 

#1- The day you were born. 

Grandpa’s 100th birthday party was not a huge success. The family wheeled him in his chair out onto the lawn for a picnic. When he slowly started to lean to the right, his daughter stuffed a pillow on his right side to prop him up. A bit later, he started leaning to the left. His son straightened him up and stuffed a pillow on his left side. Soon he started tilting forward. This time his other son caught him and tied a pillow around his waist. A few minutes later, his grandson arrived. He said, “Hey, Grandpa! How’s life treating you?”  “Terrible,” he said. “They won’t let me fart.”

 

Did you know that it is scientifically proven that people who have more birthdays live longer!

 

We all share one thing in common, we had a day we were born into this world (unless you are an alien of course). You may have been a surprise to your parents, but you were not a surprise to God. There are no such things as illegitimate children there are only illegitimate parents… God knew you, planned you, and loved you before the foundation of time!

 

Psalm 139:13 For You formed my inward parts; You ^[a]covered me in my mother’s womb.

 

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified^[a] you;

 

Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 

But we will not all share the same quantity or quality of years of life. The Bible is clear that life is fleeting and fragile. We are all charged by God to make sure we don’t waste our life but invest it into things that really matter. Our life is truly a gift from God and what we do with it is our gift back to Him! Our biggest concern should not be the length but the depth of our life.

 

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 

James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that you walk ^[a]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

Pause and Ponder- Are you spending your life or are you investing it? Why do you give your answer?

 

#2- The day you were born again.

If you are born once you will die twice but if you are born twice, you will only die once. The Bible speaks about 2 deaths. The first is physical death and the second is spiritual death. Physical death is when the soul and spirit depart from the physical body while spiritual death is when the soul and spirit depart from the presence of God. We will also face physical death (if the Lord tarries His Second Coming) but we don’t have face spiritual death. We can have spiritual and eternal life through a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^[a]hell.

 

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, ^[a]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

Nobody is saved because they were born into a good family, or grew up in church, or have tried to be a good person. You can only be saved if you are born again. If you have repented of your sin and placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Nobody else can do this for you, this is a personal faith response you must make for yourself.

 

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born ^[a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 

1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of ^[a]corruptible seed but ^[b]incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides ^[c]forever,

 

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

 

I was born in 1978 in Florida but grew up on the sunny state of West Virginia. But I was born again in the Fall of 1999 just after I finished classes at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia and just before moving to Lexington, Kentucky to begin my Law Enforcement career.  I have been loving, serving, and following Jesus ever since! Not perfectly but progressively…. My heart has been forever turned to Him!

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

 

Pause to Ponder- Has there been a time in which you were born again? Have you been saved? If not, are you ready to trust Jesus today?

 

If you would like to know more about salvation, please follow this link:

Understanding-Salvation.pdf (missionchurchlex.org)

If you have trust Christ today, please let me know at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

I would love to pray with you and send you some discipleship materials to help you grow spiritually.

 

#3- The day you discovered why.

 

Your birth and your rebirth are no accident in God’s sovereign plan and providential purpose. God wants you to “Find Your Why” and to live on mission for him. God truly loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life… but the opposite is also true… the Devil hates you and has a terrible plan for your life. Therefore, you must be intentional and disciplined to live courageously and obediently for God while seeking to know and obey His Word and His Will.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

Pause to Ponder- Have you found your life purpose? What do you believe God’s plan is for you right now and in the future?

 

At the Mission Church of Lexington, we teach that every person has a God given purpose. The general purpose for all people is to “know God and to make Him known through worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism”. But God also has a special plan for you that is as unique to you as your fingerprints. He has created you with a very special S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual Gifts, Hearts, Abilities, Personality, and Experience) to live for the glory of God and the good of others. The Mission Church of Lexington exists you help you to discover, develop, and deploy your purpose for the Kingdom of God.

 

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more, please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am)                       and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”