What begins as a food distribution issue to widows, turns into a decision about ministry priorities and delegation of authority. As such, the solution of the Apostles to this age old problem, the tendency for leadership to become bogged down with worthy pursuits, becomes an examples for each local church today. The church can do many things, but what must it do? Pastors and other church leaders have a vast array of possible ministries, but what should always be the foundation of their ministry?
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
This blog serves as an outreach for Pastor Randy Powell of the First Baptist Church of Franklin, PA. Feel free to ask questions or send me an e-mail at pastorpowell@hotmail.com
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Sermon Video: Fighting Against God - Acts 5:33-42
As the apostles are once again brought before the Sanhedrin, it appears as if the jealousy and anger directed at Peter and the apostles may lead to bloodshed. At this crucial moment, Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, stands and speaks on behalf of the apostles. He reasons with the Sanhedrin that they should do nothing to the apostles because if their enterprise is a human one it will fail on its own. If, however, it is from God, it will succeed no matter what they do. In the end, the apostles are flogged and then freed; after which they rejoice at having been counted worthy of suffering for the Name. How would you or I respond to persecution? Would we be worthy? The only way to know is to begin to live for Jesus now, to take up our cross daily and follow him.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
Friday, August 3, 2012
Hello God? Are you listening?
You ever have that feeling that maybe nobody is listening to you? You've been working hard and doing your best, but it doesn't seem to make a difference?
I've been there before, I've spun my wheels and wondered. God was there with me, it wasn't easy, but we made it through (having a loving wife at your side helps too by the way).
Then there are other times, when things are all falling into place, when answers to prayer seem to come even before you get the chance to ask them. It feels like you're coasting downhill, no need to pedal that hard even. God is there too, even when it is easy, and he keeps me humble through it (having a wife who knows you better than anyone helps with the humility too, by the way).
A few recent things to highlight the point:
The Church has been looking into fixing the balcony of Miller Auditorium by adding a railing. The cost would be several thousand dollars at least. Yesterday, we hear that a local businessman has most of the materials already lying around and is willing to do the installation for free. The correct response here is "wow!" By the way, my secretary/office manager/church clerk was dancing in the office; always knew she had a little Pentecostal in her.
I've also been inundated of late with requests for aid; families in danger of being evicted or having their utilities shut off. Each is a tough situation; layoffs and job losses are common these days. After having several in one week (we can't always help resolve them too; it makes it hard, we do what we can), a young man walked into my office and told me the emotional tale of his recent troubles. Needless to say, it was a tough situation, I didn't know how to help because the troubles seemed beyond our resources (even with the collective church fund we contribute to through Community Services). I told him to come back the next day while I made a few phone calls. When he returned it was clear that the weight on his shoulders had dropped overnight. I hadn't done anything much of yet, but a kindly landlord was willing to be patient about rent and a crisis was averted. He didn't need my help after all.
Yesterday I saw on Facebook that Mother Holly (St. John's Episcopal in Franklin) needed some extra help to unload a Second Harvest food truck. I ended up helping a dozen or so people put food into carts and load it into their cars. Not something terribly demanding, but very rewarding. It was a chance to talk with each person as they went around the line getting their food, to find out about their troubles, and offer them hope for the future.
By the way, that was just some of this week's news; God, it seems, is busy these days.
I've been there before, I've spun my wheels and wondered. God was there with me, it wasn't easy, but we made it through (having a loving wife at your side helps too by the way).
Then there are other times, when things are all falling into place, when answers to prayer seem to come even before you get the chance to ask them. It feels like you're coasting downhill, no need to pedal that hard even. God is there too, even when it is easy, and he keeps me humble through it (having a wife who knows you better than anyone helps with the humility too, by the way).
A few recent things to highlight the point:
The Church has been looking into fixing the balcony of Miller Auditorium by adding a railing. The cost would be several thousand dollars at least. Yesterday, we hear that a local businessman has most of the materials already lying around and is willing to do the installation for free. The correct response here is "wow!" By the way, my secretary/office manager/church clerk was dancing in the office; always knew she had a little Pentecostal in her.
I've also been inundated of late with requests for aid; families in danger of being evicted or having their utilities shut off. Each is a tough situation; layoffs and job losses are common these days. After having several in one week (we can't always help resolve them too; it makes it hard, we do what we can), a young man walked into my office and told me the emotional tale of his recent troubles. Needless to say, it was a tough situation, I didn't know how to help because the troubles seemed beyond our resources (even with the collective church fund we contribute to through Community Services). I told him to come back the next day while I made a few phone calls. When he returned it was clear that the weight on his shoulders had dropped overnight. I hadn't done anything much of yet, but a kindly landlord was willing to be patient about rent and a crisis was averted. He didn't need my help after all.
Yesterday I saw on Facebook that Mother Holly (St. John's Episcopal in Franklin) needed some extra help to unload a Second Harvest food truck. I ended up helping a dozen or so people put food into carts and load it into their cars. Not something terribly demanding, but very rewarding. It was a chance to talk with each person as they went around the line getting their food, to find out about their troubles, and offer them hope for the future.
By the way, that was just some of this week's news; God, it seems, is busy these days.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sermon Video - "Ananias and Sapphira", Acts 5:1-11
What is the nature of temptation? Do believers fail because of external forces or internal faults? Ananias and Sapphira both died because of there willingness to fake a charitable heart and thus lie to the Holy Spirit. The additional tragedy of this situation is that they chose to enter into a temptation involving pride and greed when there were ample ways to avoid the situation. It was a choice. A choice to pick the "reward" of sin over the Truth of God; a bargain, but a fool's bargain.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The Post-Christian West?
It has been popular in recent years to proclaim the end of the Christian era in the West and to speak of post-modernity as the "post-Christian era". The assessment is that the saturation of our culture by Christian ideas and values is coming to and end. There will be far more people in the future who have no real knowledge of Christianity so that when we encounter them (either as visitors to Church or in Outreach, or simply as neighbors or co-workers) we will have to work harder to establish basic Truths and prepare the ground for the Gospel to be heard.
The evidence in Europe of the "death" of Christianity is indeed stark; near empty Churches seem to be the norm, far more than vibrant ones. But is this the case in America too? We have witnessed dramatic growth in those who self-label themselves as Agnostics or Atheists, but have we also not witnessed a resurgence of those who have clung to the Church through its difficult days. Yes, Church membership is down (almost across the board), but wasn't it bloated before with those for whom it was simply a status symbol and not really a serious commitment?
The future of the Church in America lies in the hands of the generations that will inherit the leadership and responsibility from the Baby Boomers (and this soon). It will be up to us to raise high the banners that were handed down to us and proclaim our faith proudly despite the laughter of the sceptics. It will be up to us to show that relationships still have value in a fragmented culture, and that love can transcend text messages.
Christianity has taken a severe blow as a cultural force in America over the last few decades, but it remains to be seen if the Church will once again rise to the occasion through acts of humility and charity.
Despair over the future of the Church is nothing new. In generations past the Lord sent revival throughout our nation, a Great Awakening ensued; later on, a Second Great Awakening followed.
Lord, it is time, send your Third Great Awakening to a dry and thirsty land; it is not the culture of this great Nation for whom we fear, but the lost souls yearning to find hope and peace.
The evidence in Europe of the "death" of Christianity is indeed stark; near empty Churches seem to be the norm, far more than vibrant ones. But is this the case in America too? We have witnessed dramatic growth in those who self-label themselves as Agnostics or Atheists, but have we also not witnessed a resurgence of those who have clung to the Church through its difficult days. Yes, Church membership is down (almost across the board), but wasn't it bloated before with those for whom it was simply a status symbol and not really a serious commitment?
The future of the Church in America lies in the hands of the generations that will inherit the leadership and responsibility from the Baby Boomers (and this soon). It will be up to us to raise high the banners that were handed down to us and proclaim our faith proudly despite the laughter of the sceptics. It will be up to us to show that relationships still have value in a fragmented culture, and that love can transcend text messages.
Christianity has taken a severe blow as a cultural force in America over the last few decades, but it remains to be seen if the Church will once again rise to the occasion through acts of humility and charity.
Despair over the future of the Church is nothing new. In generations past the Lord sent revival throughout our nation, a Great Awakening ensued; later on, a Second Great Awakening followed.
Lord, it is time, send your Third Great Awakening to a dry and thirsty land; it is not the culture of this great Nation for whom we fear, but the lost souls yearning to find hope and peace.
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