Trust In The Lord

This year, I am memorizing a verse of scripture a week. It has been so rewarding and helpful. I must confess that my memorizing scripture during my 20 years as a Christian has been hit and miss, but this year has been different. Praise the Lord!   

One of the first verses I memorized in the early years of my walk with the Lord was Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." This has been an important verse for me on several occasions. It serves as a great reminder that I need to trust God without any reservations. There are four characteristics of trust without reservations.  

1. Trust God Completely: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart."
2. Trust God Exclusively: "Do not lean on your own understanding."
3. Trust God Relationally: "In all your ways acknowledge him."
4. Trust God Expectantly: "He will make straight your paths." 

Lord, I trust you, but help me with my distrust.  Help me to trust you without any reservations.  

What's A Core Group?

I am one blessed pastor. I work alongside three pastors who are passionate about Jesus. In fact, I would say that they are obsessed with Jesus. Each one brings unique gifts to the team. Kirk Stewart's passion is discipleship. He loves to see life-change in Jesus Christ through the process of discipleship. He understands that discipleship is not a program, but a life-long process of transformation. He has spent hours studying ways to help people grow in their relationship with the Lord. Below, is an explanation of our new core groups on Sunday Morning. "As you may know we have incorporated a Core Group into the 9am Life Group hour here at FSBC! This is a place where you can call your home Life Group and if you would like to take a Semester-Based group, you can leave your Core Group for a few weeks, take the course and return when its complete. Click here for a video explanation of Core Groups! That said, our sign-ups are underway for this upcoming semester that starts September 8! It's not just Sunday morning groups, it's Tuesday morning ladies' study, Thursday night men's and women's studies, etc! Check it out and sign up ASAP! We need to know you are coming so we can reserve your spot and have your materials purchased! Click here for information or to sign up for our new semester! Discipleship is a life-long commitment. I encourage you to take it seriously! God has a tremendous plan for your life. Discipleship is the way to uncover that plan and find out more about who God is and how to apply that knowledge to your life! Don't miss out!!"

Are You Growing?

I have discovered a great tool for discipleship.  It’s called “Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual.”  It was written by Jim Putman, Avery T. Willis Jr., Brandon Guindon, and Bill Krause.  

In the third week, the study addresses how a disciple grows.  It gives five stages of spiritual growth: dead, infant, child, young adult, and parent.  Each one of these stages has a “phrase from the stage.  Our words and actions reveal where we are at in the spiritual growth journey.   Look at each stage and determine where you are at in your spiritual growth.   Contact me if I can help you with anything.

Dead Stage

This stage is characterized by unbelief.  Everyone is in this stage before they come to Christ.  They are dead in their sins and objects of God’s wrath.  Here are some typical phrases a dead person might say. 

·      “I don’t believe there is a God.”

·      “The Bible is just a bunch of myths.”

·      “God is just a crutch.”

·      I am not a Christian because religion is responsible for most of the wars in history.” 

·      “There are many ways to God.”

·      “There is no hell because God is a God of love.”

·      “I have been a good person, so I will be okay.”

·      “There is not absolute right or wrong.”

·      “I’ll take my chances with the man upstairs.”

Infant Stage

This stage is characterized by ignorance.  Everyone who comes to Christ begins in this stage.  Here are some of the phrases that characterize what a spiritual infant might say. 

·      “Why do I need to go to church regularly?”

·      “I’ve been hurt by a lot of people, so it’s just me and God.  I don’t need others.” 

·      “If I pray and read my bible, will I be good enough?”

·      “I didn’t know the Bible said that.”

·      “I know that Jesus is Lord and Savior, but is karma real?”

·      “I provide for my family, I don’t have time for church.”  

Child Stage

This stage is characterized by selfishness.  Here are some phrases that a child might say. 

·      “I believe in Jesus and my church is in the woods, just him and me.” 

·      “Don’t branch my group into two groups.  It is comfortable for me right now.”  

·      “Who are all these new people coming to our church? The church is getting so big.” 

·      “I love my small group; don’t add anymore people to it.” 

·      “If we do table groups, I will stop coming to church.” 

·      “I’m not being fed in my church, so I am going to a church that meets my needs better.” 

Young Adult Stage

This stage is characterized by a change from being focused on self to being focused on God and others. Here are some of the phrases that might characterize what  a young adult might say. 

·      “I love my group, but there are others who need a group like this.” 

·      I think I could lead a group with a little help.  I have three friends I have been witnessing to, and this group would be too big from them.”

·      “Look how many are at church today—it’s awesome! I had to walk two blocks from the closest parking spot.” 

Parent Stage

This stage is characterized by intentionality in feeding themselves and reproducing disciples.   Here are some of the phrases from this stage that a parent might say.

·      “I have a person in my small group who is passionate about children.  Can you have the children’s ministry people call me?” 

·      “This guy at work asked to go and explain the Bible to him.  Pray for me.” 

·      “We get to baptize someone from our small group tonight.  When is the next 101 Class? I want to get her plugged into ministry somewhere.”

·      “I realized that discipleship happens at home, too. Will you hold me accountable to spend time discipling my kids?” 

The Ultimate Standard

One of my passions is discipleship.  I am fortunate to be working with 6 guys at this time. Two of those guys are in high school.  In my last study with the two students we learned about the characteristics of God.  I challenged one of the students, Collin Battaglia, to write a song or a poem based upon what he learned about God.  Below is his response to the challenge.   

The Ultimate Standard

What is perfect, what is blessed?
Only in God can this rest.
What is freedom, what is pure?
Only one can ensure.
If it's the King you want to know,
Search his word and closer you'll grow.

And moments are here and then they're gone,
But he sees them all in one.
Still, we ponder the gift called time,
And how the sun continues to shine.
His presence binds everything tight.
The hourglass, the atoms, and the light.

God is the source if unending love,
And of countless blessings from above.
God is the source of consuming wrath, to all sin and the disobedient path.
God is the standard of righteous and just,
So it's in his word that I will trust.

For who could be more wise?
And against him, who could rise?
For who could be more faithful, more true,
Than the one who created me and you,
Than the one who sent a sacrifice, that we may see,
The type of men we're called to be.

Collin Battaglia