Pastor's Reading Group

We're excited about our 2013 Bible Reading Plan! If you'd like to receive monthly updates and encouragement from Pastor John Mark as we read through the Bible together please click here to enter your email address! (choose Pastor's Reading Group)

2013 Bible Reading Plan

Click here to download the 2013 Bible Reading Plan.

10 Reasons FX is Pure FX Fun

There are many great memories associated with FX for me. (It used to be known as the Harvest Festival back in the day when I worked in the fields and we would bring in our harvests. Then it became known as Fun Fest because it was incredibly fun. Now, it's known simply as FX because it's super cool and the name is shrouded in cool mystery.). In the early years we partied in the Youth Room (now known as the Refuge). That worked out alright, but eventually we moved to the C.C. Jones building for extra space. Then, when the Family Life Center was built, we started Festing it up in the Gym. Over the last decade that became too confining for all of the fertile imaginations at Apex Baptist and we now occupy the front parking lot, Fellowship Hall, several preschool rooms, the Gym, the Refuge, the Worship Center, and the rooms across from the Gym. I'm sure in the future we will probably expand to using the Sanctuary for Hay Rides through the pews and Bungee Jumping from the balcony. But I digress...back to the 20th century memories.

There was the time in high school when it poured down rain on October 31 and my friend and I realized we left something important at my parent's house right before FX was supposed to begin. We tore down the street in his car and in all of our powerfully astute high school wisdom decided to pull into the backyard right up to the back door (instead of taking the driveway to the front door). Everything was fine and dandy until we tried to pull out of the grass and were stuck in mud for two hours. We eventually escaped, but my parents' yard was demolished. It still bears the scars.

I also remember the pride with which I worked my booth, the Candy Dive, for three straight years. Our banner was a piece of art each FX. Oh, the time and effort we poured into that thing. We painted hills and valleys and a beautiful crystal mountain lake (that's where the diving part came in) complete with a gorgeous sunset. There were birds and other wild animals living in peace in our landscape and occasionally devouring each other to depict the harsh reality of the Circle of Life. We chose our colors carefully and took forever. I think Pastor Chuck had to turn the lights off on us. It was perfect.

Like I said, lots of good memories! And it's that time of year to make some more memories as our annual FX makes its appearance this Saturday! In FX's honor I've compiled a (random) Top 10 List of Reasons Why You Should Come to FX and Bring Your Neighbors Too.

1. Red (of Red Robin fame) will be there with his/her Freckled Lemonade. (I don't know about your kids, but when mine see those sugary strawberries they immediately start to drool)
2. If you didn't get enough fried food at the NC State Fair there will be fried food galore including an assortment of candy bars.
3. The Costumes: It's so entertaining to see all of the costumes and witness everyone's imaginations at work. True Story: I was in College, extremely foolish, and taking weight lifting for credit only. This all led to me making the worst FX costuming decision in history. I had a loincloth/caveman skin that I used for a Young Life skit. I decided I would re-purpose it to wear for FX and be John the Baptist. Let's just say that I'm glad no photos have survived to document the debacle that ensued. I won't go into the sordid details, but there were probably many in the church who recommended to Phil that I immediately come under Church Discipline for the offense of baring too much skin. There was a lot of Nathan leg showing that night.
4. Horse Riding. Every kid's dream come true.
5. There will be a Comedian/Entertainer sharing the Gospel. Mark Lippard is amazing. Let's face it, you can share the Gospel with your neighbors a thousand times, and sometimes what they need is to hear it in a new way; in a fresh way. This might just be that opportunity! He'll be doing one show at 7:00 PM in the Worship Center and you don't want to miss this opportunity!
6. The Maze: Made with Cardboard and crafted with precision, the Maze is an architectural feat that would make Howard Roark stop in his tracks in amazement. Parents, beware. If you enter the Maze you might not come out. Because you're stuck in one of the turns.
7. Raggedy Ann and Andy: They are literally a FX institution and have appeared every year for the past forty years at least. If you see them, take your picture with them, because one day it will be valuable. I am also not at liberty to reveal their true identities.
8. The Climbing Tower: Located in the Upper Parking Lot, the Climbing Tower stretches into the heavens and sways there, beckoning the brave and fearless. Last year, as I watched my three year old nephew effortlessly scale its walls, I kept reassuring myself as I dizzily watched: "Nathan, you have a family now and have too much to lose. It's okay if you're completely intimidated by the Climbing Tower."
9. The Cake Walk: I don't know about you, but I have literally never won anything. That's not just hyperbole. Even if I came to a meeting with three other people and there were two door prizes, I would not win. But one day, one day very soon, I will win a cake from the Cake Walk!
10. Community is a beautiful thing. If you want to see the Body of Christ come together and put together something special for our friends and neighbors, come to FX. It is amazing to see people come together to make this thing happen for the Glory of God!

Let's make some memories on Saturday!

Festival of Marriage 2012

60 individuals from Apex Baptist
30 marriages
3 action packed days

Baptism at the Lake

Sunday, September 16
A few raindrops
520+ people
48 Baptisms
One Great and Glorious God

Vision Night (September 30)

We're super excited to let you know that on Sunday, September 30 we will have our second annual Vision Night for Apex Baptist Church! The festivities will begin at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall and we will offer childcare for children up to the 4th Grade.

This is a night you definitely DO NOT want to miss! We will be worshiping together and taking a look back at how God has shown himself mighty this past year; and we will be looking forward to see how God can use Apex Baptist over the next year.

We will also be voting on the 2012-2013 budget. (If you have any questions on the budget please come to the Choir Room on September 23 from 5:00-6:00 for a Budget Q & A.)

We look forward to seeing you and your family on the 30th for a special night in the life of our church!

Family Fun Day at the Lake

We are so excited about our Family Fun Day at Jordan Lake on Sunday, September 16! Immediately following the 10:45 Worship Service we'll head to the White Oak Recreation Area (off of HWY 64) at Jordan Lake for lunch beginning at 12:15. You can click right here to sign your family up today! (The cost for lunch is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.) We'll provide the food, sides and drinks, and you bring some cookies or brownies to share!

As soon as we're done with lunch we'll head down to the lake at 2:00 for a special time of baptism! If you're interested in being baptized please contact us so we can set up an interview with you.

Following baptism you're welcome to hang out at the lake all afternoon. Enjoy the water, play some volleyball or soccer, plus we'll hold our first ever OMC for the kids at around 2:30. OMC stands for Organized Mass Chaos, and it looks like exactly how it sounds. There's really only one rule for the kids and that is: THEY CAN'T SAY NO! It's tons of fun and your kids don't want to miss it!

If you have any questions about the day please let us know! We look forward to seeing your family on the 16th! Spread the word!

2012 Deacon Nominees

Here are your 2012 Deacon Nominees! Click here to download a packet with more information on each nominee. We'll be holding a short business meeting on Sunday, September 9 in both worship services to vote!

Barry Carroll & Family

Trevor Garner & Family

Tony Holmes & Family

Tom Mims & Family

Jim Munger & Family

Wayne Weichel & Family

Paul White & Family

Ken Gilbert & Family

AMPLIFY 2012 Begins Wednesday!

Our Fall Amplify begins this Wednesday evening! There are many opportunities for you to get plugged in and we hope that you and your family can join us on Wednesdays this Fall!

• We offer a delicious affordable dinner for your family beginning at 5:00! If you'd like to make a reservation please contact the Church Office at 362-6176 (ext. 221).
• AWANA for our children begins at 6:15 PM. AWANA provides a club atmosphere for your children to learn the truths of God's Word each week! (Did you know that in a recent national survery 93% of AWANA alumni continue to attend church regularly as adults, compared to only 36% of their peers in America?) You can read more here and register your child in their age category. 
• ONEighty happens each Wednesday evening from 6:30-7:30 down in the Refuge for all 7th-12th Graders. It's high-energy, high-impact, and high-fun! You're students don't want to miss it!
• We offer several exciting studies and tracks for our adults including men-specific studies and women-specific studies that run from 6:30-7:30 PM. We even have a Spanish track for you to attend! Make sure to take advantage of these great opportunities to study God's Word!

IT ALL STARTS ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29!

Click here to read more, see photos, and download a pdf with class and track specifics!

Auditions for Worship Ministry!

On Wednesday evening, August 22, beginning at 6:30 PM in the Apex Baptist Sanctuary, the Worship Ministry will be holding auditions for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Please contact Dottie Stam if you would like to participate.

Why auditions? Because we want to find some guys and gals who love Jesus and can play like this and we know you're out there!

ACCESS

Do you feel like your prayers do not go higher than the roof? Do you have difficulty making time in your day to pray? Are you looking for "more" in your walk with Christ?

Join us the next three weeks as Pastor John Mark begins a teaching series called ACCESS: Understanding the Power of Prayer.

ACCESS will take place during our Sunday morning worship services at 9:15 and 10:45 AM.

As a part of ACCESS we'll have a special prayer event on Wednesday, August 22 called The Covering. We'll meet at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall and walk through our campus praying for different ministries and our church. Bring your whole family and your kids! We'll end up at 7:30 in the Sanctuary for a brief time of worship together. We hope to see you there!

The Adventure of a Lifetime

Here are a few photos from Pastor John Mark's first Sunday with us!

And, in case you missed it, here's Pastor John Mark's first sermon, "The Adventure of a Lifetime."

7-15-12 (The Adventure of a Lifetime) from Apex Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Ministering to the Minister's Children

Amy Carroll

Your dad’s up front every Sunday instead of in the pew with his strong arm around you. You feel the weight of the church’s expectations, but you’re just a kid. It sometimes seems like you have to share your parents with a whole steeple-topped building of people. If you’ve ever experienced any of these things, you might have been a preacher’s kid—affectionately known as a PK.

So often we focus on the people up front—the pastors, the praise team, the choir, etc—and those small people back in the nurseries and Sunday school halls get over-looked. Facts and Trends didn’t forget them! In addition to the tips for blessing your pastor and pastor’s wife, they’ve included a list on how to bless your pastors’ children. Pray with me about how you can implement some of these personally as you interact with Cade and our other pastors’ kids.

Ministering to the Minister’s Kids: 

1. Allow your minister to put his family first. Nurturing and building relationships with family takes effort, energy and time. Your minister needs to know that he has permission to be the husband and parent God has called him to be. Allow him to set the standard for the rest of your church. 
2. Treat their dad with love and respect. Most kids think their dad is the greatest! Their relationship with their dad is often the basis for their relationship with their heavenly Father. It's amazing how many ministers' kids become disillusioned with God because of the way the church treated their dad. 
3. Allow your minister's kids to be human. The minister's kids are just like any other kids. They have good days and bad days. They enjoy some things more than others. They want to be treated like the rest of the group. 
4. Offer a helping hand. Have you ever noticed that when your minister is at church he's pretty busy? Have you noticed that during worship your minister's kids might need some extra love? Offer to sit with your minister's family when he's not available. 
5. Offer to be adopted grandparents. Every kid needs to be spoiled rotten by their grandparents, yet many of our ministers' kids live a long way from their extended family and don't get that opportunity. Consider adopting your minister's kids a couple times a year for some VIP treatment. 
6. Give gifts that include your minister's kids. Ministers often receive gifts of appreciation during the year. Consider giving a family-inclusive gift like theme park passes, a zoo membership, gift cards to a local movie theater or tickets to special events in your community. 
7. Recognize the kids' sacrifice to the church. On special occasions, celebrations, milestones and anniversaries, acknowledge the entire family's service and sacrifice. Kids often share their dad during evenings and weekends because of church ministries and needs. Recognize and appreciate their part in their dad's ministry. 
8. Talk with the kids about themselves. Speak to the kids, not just the minister. Resist the urge to always bring up their dad and church stuff. Take the time to discover their interests and have conversations with them about them. Find ways to make them feel special. 
9. Take your minister and his family to lunch. The next time you take your minister and his family for a meal, ask his kids to pick the restaurant. 
10. Make your minister's kids feel valued. Look for opportunities to encourage, congratulate and dote over your minister's kids. Celebrate good grades, recitals, sports games and school achievements. 

Bill Emeott is LifeWay's kids ministry specialist. 
This article is re-printed with permission from Facts and Trends 2012 Summer Edition.

Ministering to the Minister's Wife

Amy Carroll

When you think of the words “minister’s wife”, what comes to mind? I’ve found that the fact that I have a stereotype in mind is probably the main problem for my poor ministers’ wives! The truth is that this difficult position is held by women of every type and description. They aren’t just the role that they fill. They’re real live women created by God as uniquely as each and every snowflake.

I’ve had the privilege to be friends with several pastors’ wives, and I hold a special place in my heart for these godly women. I was thrilled that Facts and Trends included not only a list of ways to reach out to pastors but also a list of suggestions for their wives. I’m getting excited just thinking about which one I’d like to do for Brigitte! I hope you’ll join me in blessing all our pastors’ wives.

Ministering to the Minister’s Wife:

1. Support her ministry passion. Do not assume your minister's wife WANTS to be a leader or member of your leadership team. Find out what her passion is for ministry and support her in it.
2. Ask how you can pray for her and her family. For a large staff, each month pray for a different minister and spouse. Find out specific requests and send a note of encouragement during that month. 
3. Remember special dates. Send birthday and anniversary cards to your ministers and their family members. 
4. Let her be known as an individual. Ask your minister's wife if she would be willing to share her story with your women at an event or small group. Let her know you want to get to know her personally, and you want the women in your church to know her, too. 
5. During staff appreciation times, do something special for the wives. Provide them with a "pamper time" that could include manicures, pedicures, massages or facials. 
6. Do not complain to her about her husband! If you have an issue to discuss, go directly to the minister you need to talk to. 
7. Give her a night off. If she has young children, offer to take the kids so that she and her husband can have a night alone. Or, offer to keep them overnight so they can go out of town for a night or two. 
8. Let her serve. If she loves to teach, ask if she would lead your next Bible study for a short period of time. If she's not a teacher, ask her to be a part of the study as a member. 
9. Buy her a great book. Give her a copy of In Our Shoes: Real Life Issues for Ministers' Wives. This is a ministers' wives Bible study written by real life ministers' wives Jennifer Landrith and Rachel Lovingood. If you have more than one staff wife, give each one a copy so they can do the study together. 
10. Cut her some slack. Remember, she is just like you . . . a busy woman who has a heart for God and is seeking how to grow and serve Him. She struggles with some of the same issues you do, but hers may be much more visible! 

Chris Adams (chris.adams@lifeway.com) is the senior lead women's ministry specialist at LifeWay. This article is reprinted with permission from Facts and Trends 2012 Summer Edition.

Ministering to the Minister

Amy Carroll

It’s hard to believe that after over a year of waiting, our new pastor is coming in just a couple of weeks! Just like any relationship transition, there are bound to be phases. The first phase will be a honeymoon phase that’s a virtual love-fest where nobody can do anything wrong. But honeymoons don’t last forever, and that’s when we’ll enter into a phase where real love and commitment will need to be our hallmarks.

So many times I’ve looked at my pastor and his family as super-human spiritual giants, and I’ve assessed them according to what they can give to me. The truth, though, is that our pastors and their families are people just like us. They’re people with feelings and the need for encouragement just like you and me. I know that John Mark, Brigitte and Cade have lots to give, but this time around, I want to look for ways to give back to them.

I’m excited about the transition, and I can’t wait for you to get to know and love the whole Harrison family as much as our Pastor Search Committee already does. As I was thinking about ways to make them feel welcomed and loved, I ran across an excellent article in Lifeway’s Facts and Trends magazine that I’d like to share with you. I hope you’ll join me in adopting some of these suggestions!

Ways to Minister to the Minister:

1. Pray. Specifically pray for him and his family. Pray for wisdom, courage, protection, patience, brokenness, godliness, leadership, and passion. 
2. Be an encourager. A written note can be kept and reread on those lonely and confusing days when the "call to ministry" seems to be the only thing he has to hold on to. 
3. Remember him throughout the year. Send birthday, anniversary and special occasion wishes. In addition, when a minister actually sees his spouse and family being genuinely cared for by others, it calms his spirit. "Genuinely" is the operative word. 
4. Be his prayer warrior. Those serendipitous emails from prayer warriors are often written prayers laced with Scripture, authentic love and appreciation. An inbox filled with these types of emails can be treasured and timely. 
5. Speak positively and genuinely about him in public as well as in private. Be accountable to speak more often and more highly of your minister. 
6. Give a gift card. Who doesn't love to eat! Give him a card of appreciation and include a gift card to go out to eat somewhere nice. This can make for a date night as well. 
7. Tell him to go away. Ministers need time away to be refreshed and renewed. A Sunday school class or small group could give him (either by himself or with his wife or family) an opportunity to get away for a day or two to pray, retool or rest. A minister gets tired and needs a break. You can't imagine the pressure. 
8. Support him by serving. There are countless ways to support your minister by just serving in your church. It's frustrating that most church members serve inconsistently, if at all. Don't just volunteer, but be a recruiter of volunteers. 
9. Speak the truth in love. This does not give anyone the right to be rude. A minister will be more appreciative and open when he knows the speaker is motivated by godliness. 
10. Be a disciple. The best thing you can do to support your minister is to be a part of the plan and process of becoming a disciple who thinks and acts like Christ. This makes you part of the solution in fulfilling the Great Commission. 

The author, Gary Jennings, is a consultant in LifeWay's church partnerships area. 
This article is reprinted with permission from Facts and Trends 2012 Summer Edition.

The Art of One-Anothering

We recently came across this brief article from Lifeway and though it was worth sharing!

The first thing you are probably asking right now is, “what does it mean to ‘one-another’ and how does one make an ‘art’ of it?” To that I would say, “Great question!”

The art of one-anothering is looking into Scripture and recognizing the importance that God places on our relationships. In this month’s HomeLife Magazine, Marie Aremenia shares a list of “One-Anothering” verses for you to go over with your family.

• Love one another—John 13:34-35; 15:12; Romans 13:8 
• Accept one another—Romans 15:7; Colossians 3:13 
• Love one another earnestly—1 Peter 1:22 
• Serve one another in love—Galatians 5:13 
• Honor one another above yourselves—Romans 12:10 
• Be completely humble, gentle, patient, and accepting of one another—Ephesians 4:2 
• Stop passing judgment on one another—Romans 14:13 
• Be kind and compassionate to one another—Ephesians 4:32 
• Forgive one another—Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13 
• Pray for one another—James 5:16 
• Encourage one another daily—Hebrews 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 
• Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another—1 Peter 5:5 
• Spur one another on toward love and good deeds—Hebrews 10:24 
• Build one another up—1 Thessalonians 5:11 
• Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ—Galatians 6:2 
• Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom—Colossians 3:16 
• Offer hospitality to one another without complaining—1 Peter 4:9 
• Do not provoke or envy one another—Galatians 5:26

The Power of Generativity

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I recently came across a term that caused me to furrow my brows in consternation (if you've ever seen my eyebrows you know that's quite a bit of furrowing going on). You've probably had it happen to you as well--you're reading, sailing right along, and then all of a sudden you stumble across a word that doesn't register. It happens to me quite a bit. The term this time was "generativity" and while I recognize words like "generate" I had never heard of "generativity" before. It might be made up for all I know and maybe hasn't found approval from Webster, but now that I've run across it I believe it's an important word in the life of a Church.

It was defined in the book that I was reading as "the positive caring for the next generation by giving of self."

How does that apply to the Church?

We have so many opportunities for adults to pour themselves out and give to others in our local Church. There are opportunities for the application of spiritual gifts. There are opportunities for usefulness in the Kingdom of God. Each follower of Jesus is a gifted minister!

The concept of generativity is at the center of the teaching ministry in a local Church where adults are teaching preschoolers, children, youth and young adults the life-changing and worldview-forming truths of the Bible.

As adults, when we accept God's call to teach and lead others we are the ones who grow in Christ. I've experienced it personally in my life, and it's the testimony of many of the teachers in our Children's Ministry. Do you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus? Give yourself away for the sake of others who need you to pour yourself into their lives!

I believe God has called each of us as adults to a self-giving & self-sacrificing ministry, also known as generativity. So, the question remains: how are you giving yourself away and serving others in the local Church? If you're not, it's time, and I'd be more than glad to point you to a few possibilities! Feel free to call me or shoot me an email!

560-6

Here are a few photos from the services on May 20 when God brought us our new Lead Pastor, John Mark Harrison!

Never Will I Leave You (Part 5)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

The following is adapted from a sermon by Dennis Johnson on Hebrews 13:5-14 that deals with change and I thought it would be appropriate for us to consider as we transition from Phil (who was with us for 28 years) to a new Lead Pastor. 

So far we've taken a look at incorrect ways to respond to change based on Hebrews.Today we'll conclude with our last point from Hebrews. (You can read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 here.)

When your faith is firmly fixed in Jesus, you can grow when human leaders change.

The bottom line is found in Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Let's be honest: when our new pastor comes in July, he won't be exactly like Phil, whom we came to love and trust over the course of 28 years. He'll have different strengths and different vision. But check out what God's Word says we are to remember about our leaders: they "spoke the word of God to you" and "by faith they lived the word they spoke."

1. Remember the real source of your past leader's effectiveness: the Word of God.

God didn't use your previous leaders because of their humor or their good looks or the fact that they rooted for the Tarheels. God used them because they brought you the good news of Jesus Christ, the Gospel.

2. Reproduce their faith-formed example. "Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

"As we remember our pastor, who has spoken the Word of God to us, and as we await our next under-shepherd that Jesus the Great Shepherd has prepared for us, our memories of the care we've been given should trigger in our hearts a longing to grow in faith."

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Never Will I Leave You (Part 4)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

The following is adapted from a sermon by Dennis Johnson on Hebrews 13:5-14 that deals with change and I thought it would be appropriate for us to consider as we transition from Phil (who was with us for 28 years) to a new Lead Pastor. 

So far we've taken a look at incorrect ways to respond to change based on Hebrews.Today we'll take a look the correct way to respond to change: We should respond to change in the following way: Focus our thoughts and rest our hearts on Jesus, our ever-living, never-leaving leader. (You can read Part 1 here, Part 2 and Part 3 here.)


1. Jesus is an Ever-Living Leader.

Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

This statement from the author of Hebrews directly follows a reminder of the church's leaders who have left for various reasons. While they have left the congregation, Jesus has not!

Jesus is the same yesterday: When he created the universe, when he endured temptation, when he gave his life on the cross and rose again on the third day--He is the same. He was tempted in every way, yet was without sin--he knows what it's like to face change that is threatening! He is the Shepherd of the sheep (that would be us!) who shed his blood of the eternal covenant to make an "unbreakable bond" between us and the Father.

Jesus is the same today: He constantly intercedes for us! "He is able to save completely and forever those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25) Our former pastor might still pray for us as he did when he was with us, but Jesus' prayers are deeper, more compassionate, wiser and more effective. Jesus preaches to us today! "Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." (Hebrews 4:7) Through our leaders and pastors, Jesus speaks to us through His Word, calling us to persevere and promising the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the same forever: He leads us into the future--the enduring city to come (Hebrews 13:14). The city of the Living God. He is the pioneer of our faith and has secured our victory (Hebrews 12:1-3). We have hope for the future because of his triumph. 

2. Jesus is a Never-Leaving Leader.

Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

This is a promise that God has made to his people repeatedly in Scripture. Check out Genesis 28:15, Joshua 1:5 or Matthew 28:20. And Jesus' presence with us isn't just him holding our hand through our trials, it is POWERFUL. His presence gives us endurance, courage, and fearlessness.

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. (Hebrews 13:6)

As followers of Jesus we can respond to change "not with fear, but with calm confidence that our Savior is an ever-present help" in uncertain times! 

(Next week, we'll conclude Part 5 with our last point from Hebrews: If our faith is firmly fixed in Jesus, we can grow when human leaders change.)

How Firm A Foundation

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I love the words from this 18th century hymn based out of Isaiah 43:1-7. The passage is filled with powerful metaphors that point to God's promise of faithfulness in the middle of sorrows and grief. (The author of this hymn is unknown)

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word! . . .
"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; . . . 
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine. . . .
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."

 

Lead Pastor Candidate Video and Resources

Our Lead Pastor Candidate is John Mark Harrison and he will be preaching in both services (9:15 and 10:45 AM) this Sunday (May 20)! John Mark is endorsed unanimously by our Pastor Search Team, our Staff, and our Deacon Body, and we're excited for what God is going to do in the life of ABC. If you missed the Lead Pastor Presentation yesterday in the Worship Services please watch the video below to help you prepare for the vote for members on May 20. Also, we've made several resources and a timeline of the upcoming weekend available for you on our Pastor Search site.

Never Will I Leave You (Part 3)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

The following is adapted from a sermon by Dennis Johnson on Hebrews 13:5-14 that deals with change and I thought it would be appropriate for us to consider as we transition from Phil (who was with us for 28 years) to a new Lead Pastor. 

In this installment we'll take a deeper look at the second of two wrong ways to respond to change based on Hebrews. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.


The second incorrect way to respond to change is trying to insulate ourselves from change through money. This response is addressed by the author of Hebrews in 13:5-6:

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

There are many reasons why people love money. We like the things that we can buy. We like to feel important and comfortable. But in Hebrews God warns us against loving money "as a source of security." Why? Because money may never say to you what God can: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

In chaotic times it's tempting to think that money can be a shield for us. That it can protect us from the hardships of change. But money doesn't last, in fact, Jesus' parable in Luke 12:13-21 is a perfect illustration of this truth. A farmer had no place to put all of his grain and so he he said, "I'll build bigger barns, and then relax and celebrate! I'll be secure for years!" But God said, "You fool! Tonight, your life is mine!" And the farmer died, unable to enjoy all of his money.

Hebrews tells us to not place our faith or our hope of security in money. Or in love and relationships, for that matter. So, if we can't look to those things for certainty during change where can we look? That's where we'll go in Part 4!

Never Will I Leave You (Part 2)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

The following is adapted from a sermon by Dennis Johnson on Hebrews 13:5-14 that deals with change and I thought it would be appropriate for us to consider as we transition from Phil (who was with us for 28 years) to a new Lead Pastor. 

In this installment we'll take a deeper look at one of the wrong ways to respond to change based on Hebrews. You can read Part 1 here.

The first incorrect way to respond to change is to retreat from change by clinging to the past. This response is addressed by the author of Hebrews in 13:9-10:

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 

These ceremonial foods are the sacrificed animals, particularly the animals sacrificed as the "peace offering" that the Israelites would eat in the temple courtyard after the best parts were consumed by fire. It's a reference to what Hebrews has already addressed: "Don't go back into the shadows of Old Testament worship." Don't go back to the old sacrifices, which could never cleanse the conscience and wash away the guilt of sin.

In Chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews the author encourages the congregation not to be like the wilderness generation of the Israelites who had forgotten the hardships of slavery and instead pined away after the "good old days" of Egypt when they had enough food to eat.

In the same way we tend to be wistful and remember the "good old days", even when they weren't particularly good. Our memories get hazy and we tend to "airbrush away the sorrows." The truth is the only good days lie in the future as verse 14 tells us: "for here we do not have an enduring city, but we are seeking the one to come."

When the Hebrews received this sermon, it wouldn't be long before Jerusalem would be destroyed and the temple desecrated and ruined by the Roman armies.

"So don't look back to the past, and don't simply cling to its traditions: there is no security from the threatening changes of the present to be found back there!" 

(In the next installment we'll take a deeper look at the second wrong way to respond to change based on Hebrews.)

VBS Registration Open!

VBS Registration for Night Sky VBS is now open! The dates are June 18-22 and the times are 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. VBS is a high energy week for the kids that encourages them in their walk with Jesus Christ and introduces families to the Gospel for the very first time. You can click here to get registered today! Also, check out our first promo video below!

Never Will I Leave You (Part 1)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

The following is adapted from a sermon by Dennis Johnson on Hebrews 13:5-14 that deals with change and I thought it would be appropriate for us to consider as we transition from Phil (who was with us for 28 years) to a new Lead Pastor.

Change is difficult. It takes us out of our comfort zone and ushers in the unknown. Even for the self-professed "change lovers" (like me!) there is still stress involved whether the change is pleasant or painful.

In fact, psychologists have assigned numeric value to the stress caused by different kinds of change. It doesn't matter whether it's getting married, losing a loved one, buying a new home, having a new baby or going through a divorce--all change involves some sort of stress. And if we rack up enough of those "stress points" we start to go into melt-down.

The book of Hebrews was written to a congregation of Jewish Christians who were going into melt-down because of change. They were experiencing change in two different ways:

1. They had grown up in Judaism with its temple centered worship and now they were Christians with Jesus centered worship. (They could no longer touch and feel and see the sacrifices. They were now being fed by the Word of God as their pastors proclaimed the Good News into their lives.) Because of this change, or conversion, they were also experiencing persecution from their family and friends. They were shunned because they believed Jesus was the Messiah.
2. This Hebrew congregation was also experiencing a change in leadership. There was a shift happening from one generation of leaders to the next. And evidently, this new generation of leadership was not receiving the respect of the congregation, which their office deserved. Perhaps the people were saying things like, "We like how Pastor so-and-so used to do things back in the day." Or, "These new guys don't do things like we've always done them." Whatever the reason, there was conflict in the midst of a change of leadership.

So, in the book of Hebrews the Holy Spirit tells us how we should respond to change and how we should not respond to change as a fellowship or a local church.

We should not respond to change in two ways based on the text:

1. Retreat from change by clinging to the past.
2. Try to insulate ourselves from change through money.

We should respond to change in the following way: Focus our thoughts and rest our hearts on Jesus, our ever-living, never-leaving leader.

(In the next installment we'll take a deeper look at the two wrong ways to respond to change based on Hebrews.)

Haiti Missions Update

Hey folks! Just wanted to give you a quick update on the Haiti Missions Team that traveled to Haiti at the beginning of April. Check out the video below and also click here for our Missions Blog that has lots of reflections from mission team members, photos and updates.

Haiti 2012 Update from Apex Baptist Church on Vimeo.

C.S. Lewis on Worship

This is a great quote from C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory) on worship being the preview of all the things that our hearts long for:

The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality, is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely from this point of view the promise of glory becomes highly relevant to our deepest desire. For glory means good [rapport] with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgment, and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last. . . . then our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy but the truest index of our real situation. . . . At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. . . . but all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumor that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.

Awe and Wonder

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

When we think about God there should be an appropriate response of awe and wonder. He is, after all, the Creator and Maker of all things. The Master Designer and Author of the Play. Read these words and let the wonders of our God resonate in your heart:

Consider how we perceive the world. What is truly extraordinary is not extrasensory perception, claims for which inevitably dissolve on investigation. What is extraordinary is rather our very ordinary moment-to-moment sensory experiences of organizing formless neural impulses into colorful sights and meaningful sounds.

Think about it. As you look at someone, particles of light energy are being absorbed by your eyes' receptor cells, converted into neural signals that activate neighboring cells, which, down the line, transmit a million electrochemical messages per moment up to your brain. There, separate parts of your brain process information about color, form, motion and depth, and then--in some still-mysterious way--combine this information to form a consciously perceived image that is instantly compared with previously stored images and recognized as, say, your grandmother. The whole process is as complex as taking a house apart, splinter by splinter, transporting it to a different location, and then, through the efforts of millions of specialized workers, putting it back together. Voila! The material brain gives rise to consciousness. That all of this happens instantly, effortlessly and continuously is better than cool; it is truly amazing and bewildering. In explaining such phenomena I empathize with Job: "I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me" (Job 42:3). 

Is Faith a Consequence of Action?

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

Is faith a source of action? Or is it a consequence of action? Can it be both?

Check out this excerpt from David G. Meyers:

We are as likely to act ourselves into a way of thinking as to think ourselves into action. We are as likely to believe in what we have stood up for as to stand up for what we believe. Especially when we feel responsible for how we have acted, our attitudes follow our behavior. This self-persuasion enables all sorts of people--political campaigners, lovers, even terrorists--to believe more strongly in that which they have witnessed or suffered.

This realization--that inner attitude and outer behavior, like chicken and egg, generate one another--parallels a Judeo-Christian idea: inner faith and outer action likewise feed one another. Thus, faith is a source of action. Elijah is overwhelmed by the holy as he huddles in a cave. Paul is converted on the Damascus road. Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah undergo inner transformations. In each case, a new spiritual consciousness produces a new pattern of behavior.

But faith is also a consequence of action. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, faith is nurtured by obedient action. The Hebrew word for know is usually an action verb, something one does. To know love, one must not only know about love, one must act lovingly. Philosophers and theologians note how faith grows as people act on what little faith they have. . . . "The proof of Christianity really consists in 'following,'" declared Soren Kierkegaard.

So, what do you think? Does the practice of faith result in the habit of faith?

Dealing with Conflict

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Recently, I finished a wonderful book by Duane Elmer entitled "Cross Cultural Conflict: Building Relationships for Effective Ministry."

While it might seem strange that we could possibly have conflict in a church setting the truth is that we and we need to be equipped in how to handle it in a way that is Christ-honoring. Elmer lists ten general rules for dealing with conflict that are helpful in approaching any touchy situation:

1. Ask yourself whether this is worthy of attention or should be let go. (THIS IS A HUGE ONE!)
2. Make your approach one of concern for the person and for preservation of the relationship.
3. Seek understanding through inquiry before forming judgments and making accusations.
4. Separate facts from rumor, partial information feelings and interpretation.
5. Consider how much stress the relationship can bear; this will help you tell how much time and sensitivity will be required.
6. Put yourself in the other person’s place and try to appreciate his or her perspective on the matter.
7. Address behaviors rather than motivation.
8. When you detect tense emotions or defensiveness, back up and give assurances of friendship and your desire to understand.
9. Frequently acknowledge and summarize what the other person has said to assure accuracy of understanding for both parties.
10. Believe a win-win resolution is possible if both parties can remain calm, understand each other’s interests and negotiate with integrity and fairness.

The Dead Church

Charles Kingsley (1819—1875) was an English priest known for such novels as Westward Ho!, for his political essays, his poetry, and his collections of sermons.

Check out this excerpt from one of his poems called "The Dead Church."

Wild wild wind, wilt thou never cease thy sighing?
Dark dark night, wilt thou never wear away?
Cold cold church, in thy death sleep lying,
The Lent is past, thy Passion here, but not thine Easter-day.

Peace, faint heart, though the night be dark and sighing;
Rest, fair corpse, where thy Lord himself hath lain.
Weep, dear Lord, above thy bride low lying;
Thy tears shall wake her frozen limbs to life and health again

I love it! The life-giving power of Easter is here! The power of God is pounding like the surf on the beach, and nothing can hold it back. Let's wake up and live to honor Christ! "Come awake, from sleep arise! You were dead, become alive!"

Racial Reconciliation in Apex: So What? (Part 4)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

In the last blog we discussed the concept of holy folly (going against the grain of popular culture) and some general responses to the Gospel in regards to racial reconciliation including the need to form multiracial, multiethnic congregations as well as living our loud as believers in a theater of reconciliation.

I'd like to share in this final part a few practical suggestions (not exhaustive by any means!) for how racial reconciliation could look and be lived out in our local church. This is the So What? aspect of the challenge to grow in ethnic diversity and Christ-honoring love:

• Craft a mission statement that reflects the need for racial reconciliation in our community.
• Let our music in worship services reflect a variety of ethnic expressions, sounds, and genres.
• Preach and teach on the issue of racial diversity and harmony on Martin Luther King weekend.
• Support and become actively involved in Christ-exalting urban ministries.
• Hold panel discussions with different ethnicities represented to explore in front of our fellowship the experiences people have at Apex Baptist and how we might be more welcoming.
• Hold celebrations with other ethnic churches to worship together throughout the year.
• Help fund transracial adoptions in our congregation.
• Be strategic about where we live. Be incarnational and live where needs are, not where we are the most comfortable.

Let me conclude, as Piper does, with a quote from Shelby Steele:

What both black and white Americans fear are the sacrifices and risks that true racial harmony demands. This fear is the measure of our racial chasm. And though fear always seeks a thousand justifications, none is ever good enough, and the problems we run from only remain to haunt us. It would be right to suggest courage as an antidote to fear, but the glory of the word might only intimidate us into more fear. I prefer the word effort--relentless effort, moral effort. What I like most about this word are its connotations of everydayness, earnestness, and practical sacrifice.