You are looking at posts that were written in the month of January in the year 2008.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
“Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful-Christian community is the final apologetic.” – Francis Schaeffer. What do you guys think?
Posted on January 24th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
As Faith Baptist Church continues to grow and transition, the question that we have to keep asking ourselves is “What do we want our members to become?” The question is not what do we want to preach on or sing about. The question is all about what God wants from us.Here is what we came up with.
So now the question is how do we do that? The first problem that we continually run into is that we cannot help people in ALL aspects like we need to because of the religious commitments of tradition. For example, what if we did a sermon series on Finances. We used this as a huge evangelistic event as well. Then during the series we would create several small groups that met in homes to work out the nuts & bolts of their own finances. Here’s the problem, why should we tell people to commit another night out of the week? One answer was to have the home group on Sunday night which would keep them from having to commit another night out of their own busy schedule and allow this to replace the Sunday Night Service. HERECY!!! You can’t do that!Why Not?!?Sunday Night services were not invented until the invention of the light bulb, so why can’t we uninvent the Sunday night service?
Posted on January 10th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
This is a post that put on our church website. I have had a lot of our members comment to this blog. I find it very helpful to understanding what it means to worship, and what it means to corporate worship.
Posted on January 9th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
I am getting into a time where I might be able to return back to college. I am hoping to finish a degree. The only problem is, what degree do I need to go for. Looking into my past I have different areas to get into and there are a lot of things that I would like to finish. People ask me what I am passionate about (other than Jesus) and my response is “everything”. To help me with this decision I have heard about a book that talks just about this issue “What do I want to do with my life.”
The book classified three different types of labor. 1) The call: Every person is made with a specific calling. Everyone should be working in the area of their calling. 2) The Career: this is the job of choice that a person has in order to fulfill their call. 3) The Job: This is a pay check that does not fulfill your calling. You will not be happy here. Where you are not happy at, you will not be good at, and what you are not good at, you will not succeed at.
So this is when God opened up my eyes to what He has called me to do. Looking at my history in college, it seems that I just liked being a college major. But relooking at my majors, I have found that my calling is quit simple. I am called to “make other people successful”. I love being in the second chair; not being in charge but being that guy that can get whatever needs to be done. I enjoy helping marriages strengthen, teenagers find out where they need to go, other ministers with their churches. I love developing people; tutoring students and math and in life. I enjoy teaching and mentoring but not leading; not in that spotlight.
Its important to find your calling. I know a few pastors who are great at pastoring, but not so much preaching. I know other pastors who are great at preaching but not pastoring. I know men who are great leaders but not lovers, where others are great lovers but not leaders.
I get to serve my calling at a worship pastor. Not just a song-picker-outer, but someone who gets to be involved in other people’s lives and help them through their walk. I love see people succeed in the ministry and not just the music ministry. I care more about the people in the ministry than I do how well they do their job in the ministry.
What is your calling? Do you know what your calling is?
Posted on January 7th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
I picked up a book from my local Christian Book store. I am a George Barna reader, so I found this book covered in shrink wrap thinking that it must be good if you can’t preread it in the store. At first I was disappointed with the Title. UnChristian. But this book is talking about people who have never been Christians. Shouldn’t this book be titled NonChristians. To say it was Un would first mean that it was, then it wasn’t. Then as I began that first chapter I came to find out that nonBelievers were referring to “Christians” as “UnChristian” meaning that they believe in Christian values and may even believe in a historical Christ, but do not believe that today’s American churches actually reflect what they believe. Therefore nonBelievers were calling us UnChristians.
There is a huge falling out with younger generations. They are leaving churches. We first had this rude awakening at the church where I serve at. But as I did some research in our own area, I have found that this is happening all over. Why are they leaving? I personally believe its not the music (we are a good blended church). So what is really happening with this generation? What is happening with my generation?
Posted on January 7th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
It has taken a couple of years, but we are finally getting the basics down of a worship leading music ministry. We do not focus on musical perfection but leading the congregation into worship (or into a life that surrenders to the Lord). Some strong beliefs is not to allow the choir to use sheet music during choir specials. Everything is memorized, therefore they are not focused on the notes but on the message. They are not singing a song, but sharing a message to the congregation. But there are many more things that I need to be doing to continue this process.
How do you help a choir and band lead in a life style of worship?
Posted on January 4th, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
I’m staring in my own movie. Check me out!
http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/HpUvcc8RG8FdA1Vpx8nILkpo
Posted on January 1st, 2008 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
I’m just wanting your thoughts.
Why did God not except Cain’s offering?
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