Getting Young Families in the Local Church

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” –Romans 1:16

Lately, the Lord has placed me into situations not only around Hamilton but across the state of Ohio to discuss the church and disciple-making. Listening to prayer requests from various church leaders, one is nearly universal: please pray that more young families come join our church. I get the sense from these same church leaders that they believe our culture has harder hearts than ever before in history because church marketing, events, and programs from the past are no longer working.

Young people can still be saved. No one is too hard-hearted for the mighty outstretched arm of the Lord whose love endures forever (Psalm 136:12). What if getting young people to attend church services and events is a misunderstanding of Jesus’s Great Commission? These things are not wrong to do, but they make terrible replacements for personal disciple-making.

The gospel of Jesus Christ passionately shared from the lips of a Christian is the power of God to save those who believe. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead can be in your mouth! When you, dear reader, proclaim the gospel, it is like Christ at the tomb of Lazarus calling the dead man to walk. 

You, dear Christian, are commanded to personally proclaim the gospel and personally make disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). No matter your age, you can proclaim the gospel that saves to your neighbor no matter their age, for the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Open your home, your dinner table, your living room, your life to your neighbors, then open your mouth to proclaim His gospel.

You dear Christian reading this, go and make disciples of Jesus to all peoples and teach them the Word without shame or hesitation. For God is good and He is mighty to save.

Heavenly Father, bless Your servants with confidence in Your Son’s gospel and Your power to save. May we be found faithful to proclaim this glorious gospel to everyone. O Lord, save our hearers! Strengthen Your church! We ask for Your power and strength in the authority of Christ’s Name. Amen.

A Letter to the Teens

As I sit here thinking about each of you and praying to the Father for you, I cannot help but talk to you directly. I know you guys are going through a lot. And I know you're tired of hearing that your "high school drama" isn't real; but I know the pain is real. Broken relationships, loneliness, sadness, anger, jealousy...it's all real and it really hurts. I also know that I am only aware of like 10% of what you are going through. So, if you're still reading this, stick with me. What I have to say to you is important.

I love you guys. It pains me to see you in pain. When there is "drama" in your life, I am hurt. When you are angry and unforgiving and rebellious, I'm not angry. I am sad and burdened deep in my heart. Why? Because I love you. I care about you. I listen to you more than you think. I'm worried about you more than you realize. So let me explain (please stick with me!).

When I hear about your drama, when I see your tears, when I read your posts, I'm crushed because you look like a man dying from dehydration next to a water fountain. What I mean is this: you have "drama" burdens that are heavy, you come to church, hear the Bible, and sit right next to Jesus and tell Him that you don't need Him or want Him around. (Keep reading, it gets better)

I don't come and teach you the Bible because of some religious ritual. I come to you who are thirsty with a big drink of water. You are hurt, so I bring Jesus to you. If you actually trust Him enough to ruin your broken life and your broken heart, He will change things for your joy and for your good.

Why do you like the way you're living? Do you enjoy holding grudges? Do you smile when people who hurt you are hurt? Do you like having BFFs that come and go every few months? Do you like looking back and seeing relationships that burned up and placing scars on your heart? Is that the way to live life?

Please understand that I am writing to you now with tears on my cheeks. I don't even know if what I'm telling you is making any sense. But please, keep coming to our meetings. I will keep handing you a drink of this water. I can't bear seeing you thirsty. I can't bear seeing you in pain when the Healer is standing next to you.

What is far more important than my love and care for you is where I get this love: Jesus. He loves you and cares for you. He sees you lost without direction and hope. The Bible is not mini lessons of rules, but the best direction and hope. I hope to see you Sunday morning at 9:30. I hope to hear your laughter again. I hope to answer your questions some more. I hope to see you walk with Jesus in love and truth, leaving your prison of "drama" behind.

A little note to my flock

After a long couple of days at the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio Annual Meeting, I looked forward to today (Friday) to spend time visiting many of you (Allison Avenue Baptist Church) at your homes. I seemed to have contracted a cold, however, and instead of sharing it with everyone, I've come to be alone in my office.

I've printed out Sunday's sermon notes, read some, written emails, and ate a very spicy Hunan beef. Now, I'm listening to worship music on Pandora. I glanced over to my calendar when a piece of paper with a long list of names written on it catches my eyes. They are your names, my beloved flock.

With each name I read, the Lord recalls to my memory joyous fellowship I ponder in my heart. I cannot thank the Lord enough for each of you. The love and kindness you have shown my family and I have been a warm blessing. When I read your name, I pray for you.

So, I thought I would send you guys a note today. What a tremendous honor and privilege I have to be your shepherd and to gather with you to worship our Good Shepherd together. Let us together praise the Lord for His goodness toward us and His grace to save us.

Please pray for me to not only recover from this cold but also ahead of Sunday's sermons. I pray to be found faithful to the Lord and to preach not only in word but also in power. Please pray for my family. We need Him. Please pray for our church to be faithful to the Great Commission of our Lord. Please pray for the lost in our community to know Christ and for laborers to work in the field in and around Hamilton.

May the grace, peace, and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ bless you, my dear flock.

First Newsletter Article

The past few months have been a time of praying for the Lord’s guidance to place my family where He wants to use us for His glory. Hamilton is the place the Lord has willed for my family to dig in our roots. I am overjoyed by the Lord’s blessing to shepherd the saints at Allison Avenue Baptist Church! Praise the Lord who answers our prayers.

When Joshua succeeded Moses and prepared God’s chosen people to enter the Promised Land, the Lord said, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8). The assembly devoted to Joshua’s leadership by saying, “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses” (Joshua1:17). Abiding in God’s Word is how we are to move Kingdom bound. The Word of God will be my staff, and Christ will be with us.

Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). Let us be a church who abides in Christ to bear fruit to the glory of God.