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.)