Wednesday, October 28, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart...Thursday, October 29, 2015

This Sunday you will have the joy of hearing Larry D. Wright, of Florence, AL., preach.  Let me introduce him to you:

*  Currently President of Leaders Building Leaders, an organization dedicated to equipping the next generation of Christ-followers in the theology of the Great Commission and conducting short-term mission trips in North American and around the world.

*  He was a pastor for 34 years in only two churches (Valley Grove Baptist Church, Tuscumbia, AL and First Baptist Church, Florence, AL).  He served on staff in Texas and was a vocational evangelist.  Just this past Sunday First Baptist Church Florence celebrated 50 years in ministry for Larry.

*  His last assignment was President of T.I.M.E. (Training in Missions Evangelism) Ministries in Huntsville from 2009 to 2013.

*  He has been preaching since 1965 while he was a senior in high school.  This past Sunday, he celebrated 50 years of ministry.

* Graduated from Samford University, Birmingham (BA) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX (MTh).  He has taught religion as an adjunct professor at the University of North Alabama in Florence for seven years.

*  He is a published author and enjoys writing as a hobby.

*  His personal interests include golf, duck hunting, Labrador Retrievers and backpacking.

*  Larry and his wife, Debby, have three daughters and eight grandchildren.

*  I have known Larry for over ten years and he is a trusted friend.  We have shared preaching responsibilities the last three years in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart...Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Roxanne and I are so grateful for your many expressions of love toward us in these first three months of ministry and especially this past Sunday.  Thank you for the fellowship, the beautiful cake, the money tree, the gift cards and all the cards written with love.  Thank you so much.  It is an honor to serve the Lord here as your pastor.

I am so blessed and so is our church to serve with Keith Beatty, Whitney Taylor and Craig White.  We have a wonderful team who serve with a great attitude and humble determination.

Just a reminder the church office will begin opening on Fridays from 8-Noon beginning November 6.  I will begin taking Thursdays off and working on Fridays. Keith Beatty will be available for hospitals and general ministry in my place on Thursdays.  I know you will respect my day off and receive his ministry.

Reminder:  Upward Basketball evaluations will be Monday, November 16 (5:30-7:30), Thursday, November 19 (5:30-7:30) and Saturday, November 21 (8 to Noon).  Contact Whitney Wigley if you have any questions or wish to serve.

Tomorrow night is our annual Fall Festival beginning at 6:00 in the Auditorium followed by games and "Trunk or Treat."

Roxanne and I have had the privilege of hosting the "Get Acquainted Fellowships" and now these are being made available to anyone in the church.  We will be hosting two more fellowships on Sunday, November 8 and 15.  Signup in the foyer.  Meals are $7.00 each which includes fried chicken fingers, baked potato, slaw, hush puppies and drink from Katy's Katfish.

Congratulations to Kyle McLain who earned the Eagle Scout Award.  What a major accomplishment. Proud of you.

Congratulations to Jamie Larson and all who serve with Kendle's Friends.  This special needs ministry has been nominated for honor by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation service, specifically for the Summer Arts Camp.  WOW - What an honor.  To God be the glory!

Roxanne and I are taking some days off to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary.  We will be gone out of the office beginning this Thursday and will return November 6.  If you need ministry while we are gone, call the church office, Keith Beatty, Craig White or any of our Deacons.


Friday, October 23, 2015

Evening Church Attendance Matters by Josh Buice



Is it wrong to expect fellow Christians and members of your local church to attend worship services?  Is it a form of legalism to ask people to attend church?  The problem with isolationism and indifference toward the gathering of believers is not a new thing.  This problem has been around from the early days of the church.  The writer to the Hebrews made this statement in Hebrews 10:24-25:
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] 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.
In our present church culture, it’s a common thing to see churches canceling their evening church services.  Church plants often start off from the beginning with only one service on Sunday.  It’s not my point in this article to throw rocks at those specific churches for making a decision to do away with the evening worship service.  The goal in this article is to ask an honest question – why would you want to miss the evening worship gathering if your church is gathered for worship each Sunday evening?  Why should you avoid missing this worship service?  Evening church attendance matters.

The Responsibility to Provoke Love and Good Works

The Greek term translated “stir up” is παροξυσμός – and it carries a positive and negative emphasis.  In the positive, it means to rouse to activity, stirring up, or to provoke.  In the negative, it means a state of irritation expressed in argument or a sharp disagreement.  The usage in this verse is clearly positive, and the idea is to provoke or encourage love and good works.  We are called to be doers of the Word – not merely hearers.  You can hear the Word through a website and various apps on a smartphone, but we are called to be active in the lives of the church – doing the Word (James 1:22).
Leadership Responsibilities
Pastors study all week for what purpose?  Just to talk?  Is it just about getting up and delivering a speech?  No, it’s far more than that.  Pastors are shepherd leaders who are invested in the lives of the people of the church.  They are called by God to care for the flock of God like shepherds in the field care for sheep.  It is the duty of the pastor to preach the Word in order for the church to be edified in the faith, convicted of sin, and equipped for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-13; 2 Tim. 4:1-5).
Not one place in the Bible do you see an exhortation for pastors to disciple and equip one part of the church in a more intense way than another part of the church.  How are the pastors of the church able to fulfill their calling in your family if you’re never present on Sunday evenings with the rest of the church?  It is the calling of the church to submit to leaders (Heb. 13:7; 17), and a lack of attendance shows a lack of submission.
Church Family Responsibilities
Gathering together for worship helps us to encourage one another to grow in love for God and for the church as a whole.  Likewise, it helps to provoke one another to good works, or deeds acceptable to God.  From a practical standpoint, this encouragement leads to a life of holiness.  You eventually start to look like and act like those you spend the most time with.  Furthermore, this is a means of serving Christ and the church.  We can use our spiritual gifts as a gathered church, but we can serve one another out of love.  According to Mark Dever, along with Paul Alexander, in their book The Deliberate Church, If a member shows prolonged negligence in gathering with God’s people, how can he say he loves them? And if he doesn’t love them, how can he say he loves God (cf. 1 John 4:20-21)?” [1]

Avoid Isolationism

One of the greatest goals of the enemy is isolate us from the church.  Isolationism can come in many different packages.  It can come through division in the church that results in people not attending based on broken relationships.  Isolationism can come through a desire to spend more time with your own family.  Isolationism can come through increased responsibilities at your place of employment.  Isolationism is possible on the church campus by increased service responsibilities that remove you from the gathering of the church.
Beware of isolationism.  Remember, by the very definition of the word church (ἐκκλησία), God has demonstrated a plan for His people.  The word ἐκκλησία means “a called out assembly.”  The plan of God for His people is the church.  The church gathers for worship and praise to God.  The church gathers for encouragement and discipline of one another.  The church assembles as a together people who are unified in Christ and seek to build one another up in love.  This simply isn’t possible alone.  Isolation is the plan of the devil, the church gathered together is the plan of God.

Encourage One Another

In Hebrews 10:25, we are called to encourage one another.  How is this possible when we aren’t together?  Sure, we live in a connected world of technology where texting is easy and we sense that people are close to us because of technology.  Has technology created a superficial environment for you that has led you to isolate yourself from the church with a false assumption that you can encourage people through Facebook or Twitter?  It’s not possibile.  We need more.  We crave more.
God designed the church to assemble, and part of that assembly is to encourage one another.  This life is harsh and as the coming of Christ draws near, it will become more and more harsh toward Christians.  We must be committed to one another as members of the church.  We must deny selfish ambition and things that will prevent us from encouraging one another in the faith.  In order to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, we need encouragement.  Perseverance in the faith is hard, and encouragement along the journey is necessary.
One of my highlights each week is the evening worship service.  I enjoy preaching in the evening to the church.  It serves as the last means of encouragement before we all go out into the world on Monday morning.  It’s a time of refreshing fellowship.  Often after church in the evening, we gather with some friends to talk and fellowship over a meal.  In recent days, my fellow pastors in the church have been sharing the pulpit with me and I especially enjoy hearing the Word preached to me.  Evening church is not an option for my family, and this isn’t because I’m a pastor.  It’s because I need it.  My family needs it.  So long as our church gathers on Sunday evenings, we will make it a regular part of our family life.  I would encourage you to do the same thing.

Questions to Consider

  • Does evening church attendance matter less than morning church attendance?
  • Do you consistently miss church based on a work commitment?  If so, who made that choice?  Is it a temporary one or is it a long term commitment you made?  Did you consider your church when you made the commitment?
  • Is your isolation from evening church based on a desire to spend more time with your family?  Do you really have limited family time?  Could you perhaps cut out something of lesser importance than the gathering together of the church?
  • Do you persevere in your isolation based on a mere habit or perhaps – laziness?  Have you considered what isolation will do to your own soul?  Have you considered how your church depends on you and when you’re absent – you become increasingly distant from the church?
  • What would please the devil more – faithfulness to the gathered church or isolation from the church?
  • Do you think that attending one church service on Sunday morning fulfills your calling as a Christian?  Is Sunday the Lord’s day or is it the Lord’s morning?
  • Does your church skipping cause you to miss the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper?  Do you think this is optional?
  • Does your lack of church attendance on Sunday evenings cause you to miss church conference (business sessions)?  Do you consider this an optional event in the life of the church?
  • Does your non-attendance better honor Christ and help you serve your church or does it move in the opposite direction?
  • Does your lack of attendance from the regular gathering of believers on Sunday evening discourage others in the church?
  • Are you able to hear the prayers of the people or for the people in the church as an absentee?
  • Will sin be confronted in your life if you remain isolated from the church?
  • Will isolation from the gathered assembly promote holiness in your life?
  • Does your isolation from regular evening church point toward a lack of submission to leadership or the church as a whole?
  • Do you believe that regularly skipping the evening church service will increase friendships in the church?
  • Do you have less responsibility for caring for people in the church than they do for you?
  1.  The Deliberate Church – Building Your Ministry on the Gospel, 2005, 47.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart...Thursday, October 22, 2015

Let me give you a peak at the Pulpit Schedule for the coming weeks:

This Sunday, October 25

10:15 - "The Forgiveness that Fuels Worship" Luke 7:36-50

6:00 - Rainsville Mission Trek - last sermon in the "First Base as a Church" Series

Sunday, November 1
10:15 - Larry Wright, retired Pastor of First Baptist Church, Florence, AL

6:00 - Kentucky Mission Trip report

Sunday, November 8
10:15 - "Forgiveness:  So What?"
6:00 - Chozen Puppet Show

Sunday, November 15
10:15 - "The One Sin God Won't Forgive"
6:00 - Chozen Puppet Show

Sunday, November 22
10:15 - Mark Busby, IMB missionary preaching
6:00 - Community Thanksgiving Service

I love being your pastor and preacher.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart....Wednesday, October 21, 2015


The Deacons, Personnel Team and Stewardship Team join me in sharing in light of Bro. Wally leaving us as Administrator, we will:

*  not replace the position at this time;
*  I will take on what duties I need to in the area of finances and oversight;
*  Building and Grounds (Jimmy Traylor, Chairman) will take over the building maintenance;
*  Church Office will schedule calendar dates for the building and vans plus issuing keys.


*  The church office will begin opening on Fridays, November 6 from 8-Noon with us adding four hours of ministry weekly for Alisa Wooten.  Also, I will begin taking Thursdays off and working on Fridays. Keith Beatty will be available for hospitals and general ministry in my place on Thursdays.

Thanks to Drew Hogsed and all our Upward Football and Cheerleader coaches for a great Awards Celebration this past Sunday night.  We are having an Outreach to all our Upward Football families Thursday night beginning at 5:15 in the LFH.  Everyone is welcomed to come and reach out.

Excited to announce Upward Basketball evaluations will be Monday, November 16 (5:30-7:30), Thursday, November 19 (5:30-7:30) and Saturday, November 21 (8 to Noon).  Contact Whitney Wigley if you have any questions.  Thanks to all who participated this past Sunday in the interest meeting.  We had ten coaches from our church affirm their desire to coach plus assistants, cheerleader coaches, and many others.

Next Wednesday night is our annual Fall Festival beginning at 6:00 in the Auditorium followed by games and "Trunk or Treat."

Roxanne and I have had the privilege of hosting approximately 250 of our church family in our "Get Acquainted Fellowships" since August.  We are coming to a close of our focus on the Sunday School classes and are ready to make this time available to anyone in the church.  We will be hosting two more fellowships on Sunday, November 8 and 15.  Signups begin this Sunday in the Vestibule and meals are $7.00 each which includes fried chicken fingers, baked potato, slaw, hush puppies and drink from Katy's Katfish.

The church year ended September 30 and you might be interested to know:

793 total members;  642 resident members
18 baptisms this year with 36 other additions
Total receipts were $745,843.  Tithe offering was $480,266.90 (a record for the church) and the Debt Retirement offering was $166,664.90 (second highest).

I was able to attend the DeKalb Baptist Annual Meeting this past Monday and enjoyed meeting some new pastors and friends.  It was announced the Association is increasing its budget over $30,000 mainly to support a new pastor at the Kilpatrick Hispanic Church.  Pray for Pastor Abrahan Gomex Reyes and his wife Yadelis as they are seeking a Visa from Venezuela to come and pastor the church.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart...Thursday, October 15, 2015

I was introduced many years ago to Neil Anderson and his ministry "Freedom in Christ."  I have attended one of his multi-day conferences and read most all of his books.  His most famous book is "The Bondage Breaker."  If you are not familiar with him, go to his web site www.https://www.ficm.org.  

As I prepare to preach this Sunday "How I See Myself Before God Due to His Forgiveness," I am reminded of his teachings of who are in Christ.  This is his list from his web site.  "Think of these things" for they are "true."  You can't ever become a person you don't know you already are in Christ.

I am accepted…
John 1:12 I am God’s child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I am secure…
Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant…
John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God’s temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God’s workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart...Tuesday, October 13, 2015

It was an honor to recognize Bro. Paul Cagle this past Sunday as he has served His Lord and church faithfully this past year as Chairman of the Deacons.  It is a tough place to be with no pastor and Bro. Paul has served well.

It was equally honoring to present Bro. Joey Hall as the newly elected Chairman of Deacons.  Bro. Joey and his wife, Crystal, serve as our College and Career Sunday School teachers plus in many other positions in the church.  I first met Bro. Joey as he was a member of the Pastor Search Committee.  Pray for Bro. Joey has he leads our Deacons and as we work together for the edifying of the body of Christ here at Rainsville First Family.

This coming Sunday is a very important meeting "Upward Interest Meeting" for Upward Basketball. Miss Whitney Wigley has agreed to serve as our Commissioner if the church will support her.  The way we know of this church's continual interest and passion for this ministry is through a meeting like this coming Sunday.  If you have any interest in serving as a coach, assistant coach, score keepers, devotion speakers, or serving in the concession stand; then plan to stay after the service this Sunday to declare your vote to keep Upward Basketball as a vital and on-going ministry of this church.

Remember the goal of Upward is to "Promote the Discovery of Jesus through Sports."

If you are unable to attend, then write Whitney an email (whitneywigley@gmail.com)
RIGHT NOW and let her know you are willing to serve.

This Sunday is our Upward Football Banquet at 6:00.  We will meet in the Auditorium to share awards and hear a program by Madison Hagler.  I so appreciate Drew Hogsed's leadership as our Football Commissioner this year.  He has handled our league with purpose, focus and strength.

Also, there will be an Outreach to all those involved in Upward Football on Thursday, October 22 at 5:15 in the Large Fellowship Hall.  All our deacons will be leading out to visit each family involved in Upward Football.  All RFBC Upward football coaches and cheerleader sponsors are encouraged to participate and anyone else who wants to help us..just be here.

Speaking of Drew...what a blessing Sunday to see him baptize his daughter, Tenley.  GLORY!!!

Love you First Family and love being your pastor.
David

Thursday, October 8, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart ... Thursday, October 8, 2015

Do you know where you can listen to the sermons preached here at Rainsville First Baptist and read my sermon notes?

www.rainsvillefirst.com/sermons  is where you can find these.

You can hear the sermon according to the date of when the sermon was delivered.

When you see the PDF logo in that same section then I have included written notes for that sermon.  Just click on the logo and my notes will appear.

I appreciate Garry Galloway for his help in recording the sermons and editing them for the internet.

You might want to check out www.energizingword.org which is my personal web site.

This Sunday morning is sermon #3 in "The God Who Forgives" series with "The Person of Forgiveness"  Can't wait....see you Sunday.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart...Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Dear First Family:

The 2015-16 church budget was approved Sunday night in our business section.  The new budget calls for $9,682.41 a week plus the $3,103.75 for our mortgage payment.  I appreciate the fine work of our Stewardship Committee in their work on this year's budget.

One of the great partnerships we have as RFBC is with other churches through the DeKalb Baptist Association.  The annual meeting of the DBA will be Monday, October 19 at Second Baptist Church, Ft. Payne.  The afternoon session will begin at 2, the evening session at 6 with a meal at 5.  If you would like to be a messenger, call the church office or send Alisa an email here.

Speaking of partnerships, we host the Northeast Alabama Extension Center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary here at RFBC.  The Certificate program is designed for all persons who have an interest in learning more about the Bible in a more advance way.  The only educational requirement for the Certificate program is a high school diploma or equivalent.

A new term for the Biblical Interpretation Certificate program begins Tuesday, October 13 with Ken Allen (Director, DeKalb Baptist Association) teaching Romans.  The Bible Teaching Certificate program begins Thursday, October 15 the book of Revelation being taught.  Classes are $100 each plus your textbook (and a one-time registration fee).  For more information, contact me or Zach Richards via email here.

Pray for Ronald Bell as he has surgery Thursday at UAB.

Blessings with all my love;
David

Monday, October 5, 2015

Be Careful of Nice People by Tim Challies

Now you be nice to your sister.” “Make sure you play nice tonight.” “He is such a nice young man.” As human beings, it seems that we are drawn to niceness. We like nice people and encourage people to behave in nice ways. We dislike people who aren’t nice or who don’t behave in nice ways. We teach our children to be nice and juxtapose niceness with a host of vices: grumpiness, cruelty, mean-spiritedness.
In Galatians 5, Paul contrasts the qualities of fleshly, worldly people with the qualities of Spirit-filled, godly people. He lists the fruit of the Spirit, those character traits that ought to mark God’s people, saying, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (vv. 22–23). Conspicuously absent from Paul’s list is niceness. Kindness is there; patience and gentleness too. But not niceness.
Why isn’t niceness a fruit of the Spirit? Because niceness is a hollow trait that a human can generate even without the inner working of the Holy Spirit. Niceness may require some force of will in the face of disagreement or controversy. It may require restraint. But it does not require an inward transformation.
True love, true joy, true faithfulness and gentleness—these are all qualities for which we are completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s work in conforming us to the image of Christ through the Word of God. As we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, as we carefully seek God and His will through the Bible, the Holy Spirit gradually but surely grants us these qualities in growing measure. Now we are able to love—truly love—whereas before we could only hate and brood and love selfishly; now we are able to display patience whereas before we would always explode with anger or perhaps simply simmer with anger; now we are able to be gentle whereas before we were so consistently harsh.
But niceness? Niceness doesn’t require that work of the Spirit. In fact, niceness is often a clever ruse Satan employs to fool us into following ungodly leaders. Be careful around nice people. Evil and ungodly men often rely upon niceness to cover their sin. Where Christians can be fast and blunt in defending the truth, unbelievers—and especially unbelievers claiming to be Christians—can look good in contrast. They can seem so nice as they nicely undermine the very foundations of the Christian faith. Their smiles, their soft words, their sympathetic questions, their niceness—these are all tools designed to mask their opposition to God.
It is not bad to be nice. It is not an evil trait. But it is far better to strive for the higher qualities, the Spirit-given qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law, because such Spirit-given qualities cannot be faked forever.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

From the Shepherd's Heart...Thursday, October 1, 2015

God's weak spot is His mercy.  I don't know who said that but for years I have repeated that statement.

I understand God does not have a "weak" spot, but what I mean is God loves to show mercy.

This Sunday I will continue the series "The God Who Forgives" with this message "God's Mercy in Forgiveness."  Oh how I love to preach the good news of the Gospel.  We owe a debt we can not pay; God provides a way through His mercy and grace to forgive us.  And as we saw this past Sunday, He will never remember it against us again.

We all know someone who needs to hear this because we need to hear it.  God is a resurrection God who delights in making the impossible become possible.  If our own life choices have knocked us flat on our back, then turn to Jesus who specializes in resurrecting us.  God is not a God of laying down but standing up!!!  He gets us on our feet with resurrection power.

Invite someone right now to join you for Sunday School and Worship this Sunday.  You will be glad you did and so will they.

"Grace is pardon; grace is power; grace is promise."  Lewis B. Smedes

"The grace of God is in my mind shaped like a key that comes from time to time and unlocks the heavy doors." Donald Swan

Guilt...shame...remorse...debt are heavy doors with long jail terms.  But grace and mercy are keys that can immediately open the door to freedom!!  See you Sunday!!!