After My Heart

Karleigh King February 14, 2024

As I read through the chronicles of King David in the Old Testament, I often find myself commenting under my breath “David, what were you thinking?!” This thought is juxtaposed to statements throughout Scripture that David “walked with integrity of heart and uprightness” (1 Kings 9:4) and the heart of David was “wholly true to the Lord his God” (1 Kings 15:3). Paul quotes Samuel where God refers to David as “a man after My heart” (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22).

One of the evidences for the authenticity and veracity of Scripture is that the foibles of key figures and admired faithful are not brushed over or swept under the rug. David was a flawed man, to be sure. But what set him apart was that, despite his flaws, he never stopped his pursuit of God. This pursuit was not just doing the “right” things outwardly, but seeking God’s heart, which is what contrasted him from his predecessor, Saul.

The heart is referenced metaphorically as the seat of affection and desire. We pursue and devote ourselves to what we love and long for. David longed for God (Ps. 63:1; 143:6) which is why he was known for doing God’s will with integrity of heart. The times he acted foolishly, he was confronted with truth, hence the necessity of prophets. On such occasions, the integrity of his heart – pursuing the heart of God – lead him to godly sorrow, repentance, and restoration.

Everyone worships. To know what we truly worship, we only need to look at what we long for. The Scriptures also inform us that we become like what we worship (Ps. 115:8; Jer. 13:10). The default form of worship for humans is self-worship – following the distractions and deceptions of the father of lies, leading us to deep ruts of bondage to our own passions.

In contrast, to seek God’s heart is to think God’s thoughts and to love what God loves. The God revealed to us in Scripture is the benevolent Sovereign; He is unfailingly good, just, merciful, forgiving, reconciling, and His love is steadfast. Is there any good reason why I would not seek His heart?

I take comfort in the fact that Scripture does not hide David’s flaws, for I am a flawed man too. But can it be said of me that I am after God’s heart? Do I long for lasting security and satisfaction?

Gracious Dialogue

Karleigh King February 7, 2024

It is important that we are faithful to the truth and use gracious words when we dialogue with those who push back at what we stand for or on what we have said. About a year ago, we had a visitor who was a corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) consultant. It “just so happened” that Sunday (I believe in divine providence) that in my sermon on being faithful in trials, I used an illustration of someone being called to HR for not meeting DEI standards of conduct. The following week I received an email from this consultant with a reprimand for “denouncing DEI.”

I know that many of you in the corporate environment face these issues and may feel the tension with DEI. I want to share with you my response to the visitor/consultant for an example of engaging pushback with grace and truth. I hope this example is helpful to equip and encourage those who face these matters at work.

Hello Dr. __________________,
Thank you for your email in follow-up to your visit with us at Grace Bible Church. It was our pleasure to have you worship with us. I am delighted that you felt warmly welcomed and included. I very much appreciate your observations about the culture of our fellowship – including making known to us the need of the one who was hard of hearing. We will address that issue in our on-going technological development for the benefit of all.

I am saddened by your experience in the corporate environment. Know that God creates meaningful opportunities through our suffering. I applaud you for your decision borne out of pain to rise up to equip leaders to “Embrace diversity, lead for inclusion, and navigate change with grace.”

If I may, I would like to address your comments about an element of the sermon. Indeed, DEI was mentioned in an illustration as a current standard in corporate HR. To say that I was “denouncing” it was something I found perplexing. Indeed, it is bedrock to our communication of the gospel that all people should be treated with respect. We believe it is because every person bears the image of God. Any structure in the corporate environment that promotes a culture of respect is to be lauded. The truth is, however, some standards of DEI involve behaviors that are contrary to God’s character and purpose. It is a reality that many of God’s people in the corporate environment are – on the authority of God’s word – in disagreement with certain lifestyles and behaviors deemed acceptable, even affirmed and championed, by DEI regulation.

Even so, disagreement with a colleague’s lifestyle or behavior is not tantamount to hate or oppression. One can still be loving, kind, and gracious while disagreeing. Yet because of their resolve to follow Christ faithfully in the public setting, they could be reported to HR for not measuring up to DEI standards because they will not affirm a colleague’s chosen lifestyle. That is not hypothetical, it is a sad reality and numerous examples can be cited. It is in such cases that God calls his people to live as people who are free and be distinguished by grace as followers of Jesus. That was the thrust of the message that you witnessed, hopefully it was not missed.

“Diversity” is a strong message of the gospel as the Church of Jesus Christ is comprised of all peoples. The gospel is not relegated to a particular culture or type of people. Partiality is clearly condemned in Scripture as it is contrary to God’s character. Anyone who treats another with disdain or disparagement ought to be confronted and given the opportunity to improve. But if “diversity” requires one to affirm behavior that is in disobedience to God’s purpose and design, we must gracefully decline. It would be wonderful if [your organization] could help the people of God who want to faithfully follow Christ in the public setting – the corporate environment specifically – graciously navigate the realities of DEI regulations that are contrary to biblical precepts. Could there even be room for advocacy?

If “equity” is “doing the work of providing resources based upon the individual needs of people,” then we can heartily agree that people who are truly in need ought to be cared for according to their need. Even as you witnessed, we could fill your day with testimony and example of people who have come to Grace and whose needs were met with gracious investments of time, energy, prayer, discipleship, and often with significant material aid. We also recognize that, by God’s design, all people have varying attitudes, abilities and aptitudes. But for them to expect equal outcomes would make the virtues of diversity itself, and personal accountability, meaningless. We are called to be good and faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us, and that especially includes our intellect and abilities for which we will give account.

I believe “Inclusion” is the concept the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote, “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). So, “Everyone deserves to be seen, valued, and respected” is a biblical virtue. It is our ambition to be a compelling community of diverse people whose relationships are anchored in the gospel of grace. Where we may differ with DEI standards as discussed above is that not all behaviors deserve to be affirmed. We like to tell people who come to Grace, “Come as you are, but don’t stay that way.” God is in the business of transforming lives by His redeeming grace, and the measure of success is not societal mores, but the image of Jesus Christ. We are all a work in progress.

The word of God is our authority and must be brought to bear upon our lives. We are bound to the Scriptures. Our authority for life and conduct cannot be the always shifting societal trends. If the expectations of society in any authority structure run contrary to God’s precepts, then we must follow in the resolve of the apostles -- “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this. If you feel it necessary to have further dialogue on the matter, I would consider a friend-to-friend conversation most welcomed. If so, please do not hesitate to connect with me by phone or email and we can set up a time to sit down together.

Sincerely,

Rich Powell

Protecting The Church

Karleigh King January 24, 2024

Mark 3:2 tells us that Jesus’ detractors watched him “so that they might accuse him.” As followers of Jesus in biblical churches become increasingly marginalized in today’s context, we are being watched too. This is why we have made it our aim to assure the protections still afforded us – namely, written documents – are in proper order.

This past year, it has been a function of the Board – with Dwight Ball leading the charge – see that our constitution protects Grace in a changing culture. Our constitution was written in the 1980’s when the courts and legal system protected churches. While they may have disagreed with our views, there was a general understanding in government that the moral and ethical values of religion benefited society and contributed to stability and order.

The tone and view of civil government has undergone a seismic shift in the last 40 years. Christians who hold biblical views that conflict with societal sensitivities are now considered to be at odds with the best interest of its citizens. Thus, we have become fodder for lawsuits and targets for those looking for opportunities to force court cases that will punish Christians and silence the voice of the Church.

Following advice from a Christian advocacy group, we are working on a new constitution that will help inoculate us from potential threats. This is not just a rewrite of the constitution, but a new constitution.

Keep in mind that the constitution and by-laws of Grace Bible Church are not biblical and doctrinal positions on which we would refuse to compromise. The core biblical values that all members read and agreed to will not change. The constitution, rather, deals with the way the church is structured and managed, and how it ministers. The way these matters are presented, including confusing, undefined concepts, and terms that could lead to ambiguity in court, are being evaluated. Policy matters are being moved to where they belong – in a policy manual, not in the by-laws.

The process is near completion. The next step is a board summit this weekend (January 26-27) to evaluate the new constitution. After legal scrutiny, you will be given the opportunity to view, comment on, and discuss the new constitution before it is voted on by you, the congregation.

Please pray for the board this weekend – that we will be given the necessary wisdom and insight and that we will be of one mind in the Spirit on this important matter.

Structure and Direction for 2024

Karleigh King January 16, 2024

Thank you, Grace, for your participation in Sunday night’s family meeting. There were informative reviews on the ministry last year and important decisions were made as we move ahead in 2024.

Please welcome Adam King as Assistant Pastor of Education. Adam’s function is as a part-time pastoral intern and his role will be funded from the general fund instead of the Ministry Expansion Fund. You can review his job description here.

As we have reactivated the function of elders at Grace, we are pleased to introduce Dwight Ball and Ernie Hodges as elders – godly men who have served faithfully for a long time. They will be meeting regularly with the pastors to “tend the flock” and serve in a shepherding role, primarily through the care groups, so everyone at Grace effectively feels shepherded – including those who are not participating in a care group. Clarity on specific designations will be coming to light in the next couple of weeks.

Adam Landreth is our newest deacon at Grace. Please welcome him and support him in prayer along with his wife, Ellen, who is now serving as our Director of C.E. You can view the GBC organizational chart here.

Here is a complete list of the Grace Bible Church board for 2024

Deacons:
Daniel Carmichael, Building and grounds
Daryl Felker, Chairman
Max Floyd, Hospitality
Wade Gibbs, Décor
Ken Heater, Treasurer
Adam Landreth, Secretary
Thomas Milam, Benevolence
Chris Wittlinger, Assistant Treasurer

Elders:
Dwight Ball
Ernie Hodges

Pastors:
Adam King, Assistant Pastor of Education
Bobby Locklear, Pastor of Congregational Care
Rich Powell, Lead Pastor

We appreciate your forbearance on the expansion discussion. The board chose not to employ the services of J.H. Batten and the church has approved the reallocation of the $25,000 toward professional services in pursuit of the pre-construction project. Wayne Roberts is a dear brother and a certified architect and will help us in the pursuit of completing the project so we can fulfill necessary protocols and get all the information you’re looking for with regard to expanding our facilities.

I look forward to all that the Lord has in store for us as we look ahead and follow His Spirit’s lead. In all of this, remember your calling: Jesus said “Follow Me.”

Engaging Unbelief

Karleigh King January 10, 2024

Living Truth | Communicating Grace

Rosaria Butterfield attended and spoke at the school board meeting of a local public school. “The only time the word ‘pervert ’ was used,” she wrote, “was against the Christians who spoke against transgender ideology.”

The late Tim Keller wrote, “Increasing numbers of people now see the Church as bad for people and a major obstacle to social progress.”

We are more and more being called upon to do life like Daniel in Babylon — feeling not at home, but called to be faithful in a pagan land where that faithfulness will come at a cost.

The current trajectory of socio-politico-ideologies and behaviors cannot persist indefinitely because they are inherently divisive and destructive. Society will reach the point of realization that such behaviors and philosophies are unlivable – they are counterproductive to the equitable community they purport to champion. Meanwhile, many lives are being and will continue to be destroyed. The Church must be ready to pick up the pieces.

As deviant behaviors and ideologies untethered from reality become increasingly affirmed and acted out among friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors, engaging unbelief will not be a course in personal evangelism per se, as much as it will be a biblical portrait and equipping of how we are to live faithfully as elect exiles, in the world but not of the world.

By God’s grace we have the resources to impactfully engage our world instead of retreating to isolation, or surrendering to cultural pressures like Pope Francis, the Church of England, or the United Methodist Church. Nor are we called to curse the darkness while we wish for the good old days.

By living truth, we push back against the destructive darkness. As we communicate grace, as Nathan Finn wrote, “we promote authentic human flourishing amid a culture that seems hell-bent on its own decline.”

Jesus said to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Salt and light have their effectiveness by contact and contrast. For us to passively wish for escape, or to retreat into isolation, or to dream of – or fight for – days gone by, is incongruous with our position and identity in Christ. We are a called people – called to missional living. Let us rise to this call. Let us resolutely engage unbelief in this generation by living truth and communicating grace.

Colossians 4:2-6 sets our course…

1. Orient Yourself in the Gospel
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful

2. Participate Prayerfully in Gospel Ministry
that God may open to us a door for the word

3. Live the Gospel
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders

4. Communicate with Grace
Let your speech always be gracious

“The truth is the kindest thing we can give folks in the end.”
Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Pearl of Orr’s Island

Adorning The Gospel

Karleigh King January 10, 2024

Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023 is “authentic.” More and more people have been looking up the definition because the line between “real” and “fake” has become increasingly blurred. This fog is driven by the impact of artificial intelligence on deepfake videos, politicians’ resumes, actors’ contracts, and academic honesty among other topics. Celebrity culture and social media tend to intensify the confusion. “Real” is a helpful synonym of this word that means “not false or imitation.”

Image is a powerful force in today’s culture because, for many, perception is reality. But Jesus confronted this in his day by challenging the poster boys of righteousness (Pharisees) calling them whitewashed tombs – attractive on the outside but full of rottenness on the inside (Matt. 23:27). Their outward image of being good was not just unimpressive to God – it was repulsive.

Today “authentic” is used in the context of being “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” “You be you” is the mantra of this generation. Often a defiant casting off of expectation from others or assumed standard or norm, it is the rule of hyper individualism. Increasingly, there are those who find it to be a lonely existence.

I want to redeem “You be you” in the context of the gospel of grace. When Jesus’ history becomes yours, when your identity and righteousness are found in him, when you can say “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,” then you be you. In other words, bring to outward expression the reality that exists within. Peter put is this way, “Be… diligent to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10). This is not a mandate to keep up appearances like pinning golden delicious apples on a crabapple tree. It is an invitation to live in the outflow of your walk with God and your delight in him because you are fully loved and accepted by him. You are “holy and beloved!” So, you be you – who you are in Christ.

Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ

Philippians 1:27

A Wise and Understanding People

Karleigh King December 15, 2023

It was in Arabah, a desolate place east of the Dead Sea, hostile to life – a place that reminded the people of their dependence on the Sustainer, that Moses spoke to the people of Israel, “Your eyes have seen what the Lord did” (Deut. 4:3). The redeemed people were reminded that Jehovah’s purpose and precepts were their wisdom and understanding (v.6). The reputation of God’s people was that neighboring peoples would say of them, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” But why? Is it because they were such shrewd people of higher intellect? No. Moses answers with a question, “What great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?”

The nearness of God makes the difference in how we perceive and engage life
– the challenges and the pleasures.

John informed us that “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Light is information that leads to wisdom and understanding. This “Word (information) become flesh and dwelt among us” (v.14). In history, God has made himself known to us – in word and in person – so that we can know him, walk with him and delight in him (“grace and truth”). In Jesus, our eyes have seen what the Lord did. John summarized it well in the prologue of his first letter, “that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:4).

This calls for our contemplation and our resolve as Moses exhorted the people, “Only take care and keep your soul diligently” (Deut. 4:9). We are prone to wander as we are inundated with distractions to find our security and satisfaction in lesser, created things instead of the benevolent Sustainer who is our soul’s reward. The proverb says it well, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23).

The diligence of keeping your soul is in drawing near to God; the benefit is that he will draw near to you (James 4:8). He invites you to draw near as he made it possible through Christ’s reconciling work. So, walk with Jesus following close in his steps toward the Father who has implanted his nature and his Spirit in you so that your inner person is strengthened and renewed day-by-day. This is a life-cleansing discipline for your good and your joy.

God longs to commune with us. “Gather the people to me,” he directs, “that I may let them hear my words” (Deut. 4:10). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” Paul writes, (Col. 3:16) as life-giving nourishment to your soul. It is the Lord who gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (Prov. 2:6). As this is incarnated “in the sight of the peoples” (Deut. 4:6), it points them to him. He is the point.

Christmas Prayers

Karleigh King December 15, 2023

Joy and peace are themes that resonate during the Christmas season. I am thinking of many in our church family that are going through significant struggle right now, so I am also contemplating how we pray for and support each other in the spirit of the season. God came to us so that joy and peace could be ours. The reality of joy looks like a settled satisfaction in the goodness of God. That joy is possible only if we are at peace with God and ruled by his peace. This is possible because of the advent of the Son of God.

Christ entered our brokenness so that we could have his eternal newness. As we experience the frustrations and sorrows of frail humanity, let us prayerfully commend each other to the One who makes all things new. Follow the pattern of the apostle who was called to suffer many things for Christ’s sake.

Pray for each other to experience Ephesians 3:16-19

…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Pray in the reality of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Pray with the disposition of Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

If Christmas is about anything, it is about hope. The God of hope came to us, and that is our means for joy and peace. So, pray for each other in the Christmas Spirit, and be that joy and peace for each other with presence, because God came to us.

Man in History

Karleigh King November 29, 2023

History is a record of what has been which has brought us to where we are. It is a story about the past that is significant and true. God’s self-disclosure is embedded in history; it describes history, and by it we understand, learn, and have reference. But more than just a record, it contains propositional truth – attitudes and behaviors that are prescribed; truths to be believed and followed.

Lamentably, these days it is trendy to shun history. The term C.S. Lewis used for such an attitude was “chronological snobbery”, which is defined well by historian, David Crabtree:

We live in a time of rapid change, a time of progress. We prefer to define ourselves in terms of where we are going, not where we come from. Our ancestors hold no importance for us. They lived in times so different from our own that they are incapable of shedding light on our experience. Man is so much smarter now than he was even ten years ago that anything from the past is outdated and irrelevant to us.

If we refuse to listen to history, we will find ourselves fabricating a past that reinforces our understanding of current problems. Professor Penelope J. Corfield at the University of London asserted, “People who feel themselves to be rootless live rootless lives often causing damage to themselves and others in the process.”

It is, in fact, necessary for us to study history. By it we understand the present (how did we get here), offering contextual insight into current realities. By it we also understand ourselves, providing a sense of identity. Each one of us is a living history.

Don Ivey at the Center for the History of Family Medicine wrote,

History is… something very real and alive and meaningful to all of us. It is, in fact, one of the key things that helps to define us…as individuals and as human beings – for what ultimately separates us from the animals is our sense of self and our collective sense of the past.

Through understanding history, we also glean answers to existing problems. In history we find remedy for today because it sheds light on the question of reality and shapes our worldview. What is truly real? What does it mean to be human? What is wrong with us? Is there a solution? Where are we in the flow of history?

No worldview can satisfactorily answer these questions like biblical Christianity – specifically, the Person of Jesus Christ. When it comes to Christianity you must deal with history.

God is like what God has done. It is on record; “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life” (1 John 1:1). Jesus Christ, a man in history, was God with us - tangibly. The record continues to shed light on us today providing context, understanding, identity and remedy.

"Still"

Karleigh King November 14, 2023

Many of us may remember (and will never forget) the message of the Energizer Bunny. With ostensibly more energy packed into it, the Energizer battery claimed to outlast all others brands. Nuanced behind this commercial burned on our brains is the idea of scientific observation: load the mobile bunnies with batteries – one with an Energizer, the others with competitor brands – and watch them move until they wear out. The observer will find that after others have stopped moving, the bunny with the Energizer battery continues. During that period in which the Energizer has outlasted the others comes the all-too-familiar phrase: “Still going!”

The word “still” assumes an ending point in action or condition, as in: “drink it while it is still hot.” Implied in this sentence is that the drink will at some point cease to be hot just as the bunny will eventually cease to go.

What, then, could we mean when in times of distress we hear ourselves saying “God is still there,” or “God is still in control?” Will God ever cease to be “there?” Is God’s power exhaustible? Is there anything over which God is not sovereign? At the national memorial service in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 a prayer was worded: “God, please show us that you are still there.” At the root of such a request is a perception of God that judges him by our circumstances - as if he is like us. Only created life in a fallen world gets fatigued and wears out. God does not. We are contingent (we must have something to keep us going) God is not. He is the infinite, self-existent One. God is, and he is the supreme absolute. The word “still” imposes human limitations on his infinitude.

God has made known to us that the only ones who must fear the absence of God are those who pass into eternity having rejected their Creator and his redeeming love. For them, he will be inaccessible, but his presence will be a consuming fire.

We must perceive and understand all of life’s circumstances in the light of the nature and character of God. That is what he revealed to Job. That is what he has revealed to us. Count on it. Sometimes God seems to be silent, but that does not mean that he is not there or does not care. It only means he is calling us to trust him for who he is and what he has already said.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Isaiah 40:28-29

3 Outlooks for Perseverance with Joy (Part 3)

Karleigh King November 8, 2023

Struggles, stresses, and brokenness pull on our persistence to persevere. While we heed the call to joy and peace, we may become myopically focused on the right now, right here. So, we need fresh reminders and daily grace for genuine gratitude, joy, and peace in the face of daily struggles.

Peter writes to careworn Christians to alleviate their privation by reminding them of the long view (1 Peter 1:3-9). The displaced and disdained followers of Jesus needed fresh understanding and assurance of their belonging and hope. Paul puts the scope of our outlook in perspective by writing, “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17), and “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Roman 8:18). These are not platitudes of mere positive thinking but promises from the benevolent Sovereign in whom we rest and find our strength.

What is more, we can take comfort in the reality that everything we have in this world is his. We are but stewards entrusted with his good gifts to employ and manage for his purpose. We trust him to define, affirm, and protect what is his. When you become possessive, you only add stress to your life.

The third outlook for our perseverance with joy is, as Proverbs puts it, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (19:21), and “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (16:9). As his creations with the imago Dei, we are entrusted with creativity, reason, and volition, to employ them within the loving parameters of his revealed character and purpose. But our capacity is not perfect, our understanding is limited, our nature is broken; we will not live in perfection. We can rest in the fact that our Father knows this, and welcomes us as instruments in his hands to accomplish his purpose according to his will.

He knows the end from the beginning - his purpose will stand. So, you can rest your head on the soft pillow of his sovereignty (Spurgeon). You, a faithful steward – he, a good and loving Father; you are in good hands as you work daily and press on with the end in view. "When the race is won, you will run into his arms” (Twila Paris). In Christ, you are the object of God's loving concern from eternity to eternity. God is good, and his steadfast love endures forever.

I challenge you to not just trust him in theory, but in the day to day – little and big things, easy and hard things. Our Father is infinite - nothing is big or hard for him; he is also the God who came near, who numbers the hairs of your head (Matthew 10:30) - nothing is small to him. So, with a settled satisfaction (joy) in him, find your rest in him as you persevere, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
Ps. 116:5-7

3 Outlooks for Perseverance with Joy (Part 2)

Karleigh King November 3, 2023

Life is often difficult and frustrating. Struggles and brokenness tug on our tenacity to keep on keeping on. These realities at times seem to collide with biblical blessings like “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:13). We know this is what we are called to believe and do, but where do we find genuine deep gratitude, joy, and peace in the face of daily struggles?

Peter writes to beleaguered believers to mitigate their misery by keeping the big picture in front of them. Uprooted and uncared for, the followers of Jesus needed fresh understanding and assurance of their belonging and hope. Our confident expectation of this satisfaction is anchored in – not mere platitudes or positive ponderings – but the historical reality of Jesus walking out of the grave (1 Peter 1:3-9).

I will introduce the second outlook with an illustration. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, when terrorists flew airplanes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., there were many interviews of those who had lost loved ones on those doomed flights. In one interview on a major network morning show, the host was questioning the parents of an 11-year-old who was on the ill-fated flight with her whole class of fifth graders. The host asked the parents what it felt like to lose a child – it must be unimaginably difficult!? I will never forget their answer. “We are thankful to God for the eleven years he entrusted her to us.”

Understanding life as a stewardship is understanding that you do not own what you have. If you think what you have is yours, then you will strive to control it (or them), and you will feel that the protection of those things (or people) is ultimately up to you. But that is not the case. A steward is not an owner, but an administrator of that which belongs to another for the purposes determined by the owner. It is important to remember that the most important things in life are not things. What our Father in his steadfast love has entrusted to us, we hold with open hands entrusting them back to his purpose and protection.

What is yours most personally is your own identity and sense of purpose. From the perspective of stewardship, you did not determine your identity or purpose. That being true, you do not have to strive to protect and maintain them – they are under the Owner’s care as one who is “chosen and beloved” (Col. 3:12); “you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). In his most difficult moments Jesus acknowledged that he was in his Father’s care, so he entrusted himself into his Father’s hands of steadfast love; “when he suffered…he continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

I know whom I have believed,
and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day
what has been entrusted to me.
2 Timothy 1:12

3 Outlooks for Perseverance with Joy (Part 1)

Karleigh King October 24, 2023

Life is often difficult and frustrating. Needs and struggles are aplenty from the routine chaos of training young, self-preeminent rebels, managing difficult relationships at work, being a caregiver, enduring chronic illness, or having to switch careers or add a job for income to make ends meet. Struggles and brokenness tug on our tenacity to keep on keeping on.

These realities of life may seem to collide with biblical precepts like “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:18), and blessings like “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:13). We know this is what we are called to believe and do, but where do we find genuine deep gratitude, joy, and peace instead of displaying them as platitudes or façades in the face of daily – seemingly unending – struggles?

Peter writes his letters to Christians displaced from their homes and disdained by their neighbors (possibly because the great fire of Rome in A.D. 64 was blamed on Christians). Uprooted and uncared for, the followers of Jesus needed fresh understanding and assurance of their belonging and hope. This is why Peter began his letter with a big-picture declaration (read 1 Peter 1:3-9 again), an avowal that God’s plan is beautiful and certain; an affirmation of two things: first, this is not where we belong, second, our current circumstances are temporary – “for a little while.” The inheritance that God has prepared for us, on the other hand, is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,” and we are “kept by God’s power” for the unending and full satisfaction he has in store for us.

Peter writes to beleaguered believers to mitigate their misery by keeping the big picture in front of them. Our confident expectation of this satisfaction is anchored in – not mere platitudes or positive ponderings – but the historical reality of Jesus walking out of the grave (1 Peter 1:3). He willingly experienced our suffering and death so that we could join in his resurrection and life.

Despite his massive portfolio of suffering (2 Cor. 11:23-29) Paul declared “we do not lose heart” (2 Cor. 4:1), but “we are always of good courage” (2 Cor. 5:6 & 8). He summed it up this way:

Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16–18

The “outer self wasting away” is recognition of the frustrating brokenness of our current, temporary situation. We groan and lament, and that is okay. Be like the Psalmists and pray your emotions; God invites you to (Rom. 8:26-27). But brokenness does not have the last word; it is not our end; it does not define us. We know that things are not the way they ought to be, but we know the One who can and will restore all creation in newness (2 Peter 3:13).

What we believe about our future shapes how we experience the present. This is why the writer of Hebrews appeals to us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, …who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, (Hebrews 12:1–2, emphasis added). To endure this temporary groaning for the joy that is set before us, is the point of the Scriptures, the Spirit, and the saints – the fellowship of God’s family. So pursue the inner self being renewed day by day in the refreshment of God’s abundant grace; and keep the big picture in view.

Structuring The Vine

Karleigh King October 17, 2023

As we look ahead toward leadership succession, here is a closer look at some of the details. After serving passionately and skillfully as Pastor of Ministries for 12+ years, Dwight Ball will retire from vocational pastoral ministry at the end of 2023. Though this seems like the end of an era, we can be sure (the Lord providing) that Dwight will still have a strong presence among us and will continue to be deeply involved in the ministry of Grace. Dwight is an amazing package of talents exceeded only by his passion and heart for God’s people and his energy in the task of shepherding. With his technological skills, he will remain on the staff at GBC to administrate all things IT and audio/visual.

Furthermore, the proposed restructuring of the leadership at Grace (subject to congregational approval at our next annual business meeting) is as follows:

Dwight Ball will step into the role of elder along with others elected by the congregation, for the expanded task of shepherding the flock primarily through the care group ministry.
Bobby Locklear will have the title Pastor of Congregational Care.
Adam King is proposed to step into the role of a pastoral intern, funded for two years through the Ministry Expansion Fund.

For a visual understanding of the leadership structure of GBC proposed for 2024, you can click here. The deacons and the elders will serve as one board, but with varying functions. This hybrid model of leadership has served the church well and we believe it will only enhance the effectiveness of the leadership and ministry as every member/attendee of Grace will feel shepherded – equipped, challenged, and cared for with godly oversight.

Building Expansion Activity

Karleigh King October 15, 2023

At the direction of the board, Dwight and I have met with an architect on the prospect of building expansion. We resumed the conversation that started back in January as a result of our leadership summit and input from the congregation.

Our three main needs of space are:

The size of our auditorium
The size and proximity of our fellowship hall to the kitchen
The size and proximity of our nursery to the auditorium

We discussed the prospects of building while maintaining the priorities of simplicity and affordability. The good news is that in the past seven months many building material costs have fallen.

The architect will connect with a civil engineer to take a high view look at our property, then he will draft a proposal for a sight assessment. The proposal will be submitted by the week of October 23rd , and the board will consider the proposal at our October 30 meeting.

Church Leadership
We are coming up on the time of year that we think about the succession of leadership. We are praying for at least three elders as well as men who would serve as deacons in the administration of the church. Statement of Desire forms are available at the church office, or you can access them online for deacon and elder. To serve as an elder, a man must have served first as a deacon. To serve as a deacon, one must have been a member for at least one year. If you anticipate filling out a form, please have it submitted before October 30 so the board can consider them at our next meeting.

Sunday Night Seminary
The new course on the Gospel of John has experienced strong and enthusiastic participation. We are memorizing the prologue of John’s Gospel; by October 15th we should have 1:1-8 committed to memory. Also, your task this week is to complete a comparative exegetical study of John 1:13. If you did not pick one up last Sunday, 3-ring binders are available for your note packets. If you need an additional copy of the notes, please contact Ella Billman at the church office.

2024
Our theme for ministry and teaching in the coming year will be Engaging Unbelief. Our resolve as pastors is to equip the church for a gracious presence in our culture while being faithful to the Scriptures. Instead of striving to dominate, isolate, or capitulate, we are called to participate with grace and truth. We will explore what that means and what it looks like as we follow in the steps of Jesus. If you would like to prepare for this focus, I recommend a short book by Timothy Keller, How to Reach the West Again. Live as people who remember that we walk with and are ambassadors for the God of all hope. We are on mission, headed for home. Let us persevere with joy for the hope that is set before us.

The Trellis And The Vine -- Part 2

Karleigh King October 3, 2023

Not only is the trellis concerned with the physical structure upon which the vine (the church) grows, but there is the matter of the administrative structure as well. The functional systems of the church as an organization are important to its health. Such systems must be subject to regular evaluation in terms of biblical faithfulness and whether they are meeting the needs of the congregation. Again, the sixth chapter of Acts where the apostles delegated the task of directing the care for those in need is a leading example.

The needs of the church body are a combination of physical and spiritual. We care for, serve, help, and provide for each other while at the same time, we walk with each other and follow Jesus in a Godward direction. The constitutional structure of Grace Bible Church has, serving with the pastoral staff, a board comprised of deacons and elders.

As we move forward leading the growing church, we purpose to reactivate functioning elders in the ministry of Grace in 2024. The elders – primarily through the care group ministry – will focus on the shared task of shepherding the flock so that every person in the body effectively feels shepherded. The deacons will focus more on administration of the physical, financial, legal, and logistical tasks according to the abilities of the individual and the needs of the organization.

We are coming up on the time of year that we think about the succession of leadership. We are praying for at least three elders (besides the pastoral staff) and men who would serve as deacons in the administration of the church. Statement of Desire forms are available at the church office, or you can access them online for deacons or elders. To serve as an elder, a man must have served first as a deacon at Grace. To serve as a deacon, one must have been a member for at least one year.

As the body of Christ, we must be in prayer on this matter because the biblical qualifications of men for these positions of ministry are paramount. We must ask the Spirit to guide us and move the hearts of those who will rise to the task with servant hearts.

The Trellis And The Vine

Karleigh King September 26, 2023

So much of growth and development is measured by physical attributes, but when it comes to the church our focus needs to be different. Christlikeness is not primarily measured by things that can be – well – measured. The growth that God is looking for is the growth of people who better reflect the character of his Son, Jesus. Paul stated in Ephesian 4:13 and Colossians 1:28 that Jesus Christ is the measure of success for the gospel of grace ministry in the believer.

The church is likened to a vine – living, growing, and fruit-bearing. That is the focus of the ministry. But a healthy vine has a trellis upon which to grow. The trellis represents the structure, system, and schedule of the organization. The apostles, for example, delegated logistical administration in Acts 6. Paul left Titus in Crete to “put what remained in order” (Titus 1:5).

As Grace Bible Church (the vine) grows, there are some “trellis” matters that need to be addressed – matters of adequate space and helpful proximity. Let me explain. First, our auditorium is too small. We constantly use two overflow sections, the aisles in the auditorium are inordinately narrow, and a foyer is nearly non-existent. Second, the nursery – besides being too small – is about as far away from the auditorium as it can get. This is a bit discouraging for young families. Third, our “fellowship hall” (a.k.a. “Room 5”) is woefully inadequate AND the kitchen is about as far away from Room 5 as it can get – upstairs. One might think the design was a cruel joke. But, alas, it was not. Our auditorium was originally designed as a fellowship hall with the kitchen next to it.

Just so you know, the board is acting on these “trellis” issues. We are currently in communication with an architect – in fact, we have resurrected the conversation from back in January, before the merger conversation started. Our goal is to address the three issues above that have been clearly and repeatedly communicated to us, but to do so simply and affordably. We learned from the building exploration four years ago that the church is supportive of building when we have the funds to do so.

That, however, may not be our only option. There are becoming more church buildings (and others) available that could potentially be repurposed for our use. Of course, location and condition are key factors in this option, but it is not outside the realm of possibility. We welcome the opportunity to consider recommendations.

This is a matter for the church to keep before the Father’s throne of grace. Let us not presume that we can figure this out on our own without the Spirit’s aid. Remember the Lord’s admonition, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). Let us seek the Lord together as we purpose to steward the trellis to support a healthy, growing vine.

Personal Encoutners -- 1 John 1:1-3

Karleigh King September 19, 2023

For many today the concept of “Christ” means little more than an ideal or a utopian reality. This is not new; it developed in the second century. Instead of speaking of “Jesus Christ”, some Gnostics would speak of Jesus the person and the “Christ” who came upon him. John, however, portrayed Christ as the prophesied person – the One from eternity. All he had to do was testify of his and others’ personal encounters with the historic Jesus Christ: we have heard him, we have visually discerned and viewed with fascination, we have verified by touch. John makes a clear presentation of the empirical adequacy of historic Christianity. He and many others had personal encounters with the Word of life that was with the Father and was made manifest to them.

Because of this, John states that he and others bear record and announce to us this Jesus Christ so that we who have not seen him first-hand can have a shared and common interaction. We too can personally encounter the Word of life by entrusting ourselves to the report (the gospel) of those who physically met and entrusted themselves to incarnate God. This shared personal interaction (“fellowship”) with the Father and Son – the Creator/Redeemer is what John called “eternal life.” The idea of “eternal”, as used in John’s report, is not just quantitative (amount of time) but is also qualitative; it is the life of divine character.

John stated that he and others like him had personally, physically encountered the divine Person. He announced it to us with the aim that it would revolutionize our day-to-day experiences through this thing we call “fellowship.” The more we engage and commit to his truth, the more we develop and experience the life of divine quality. What John gained vertically (in a horizontal way) he shared horizontally. That becomes the definition of “fellowship” for us too. Our relation to the Father and Son through His Spirit becomes the spring of our mutual interaction. Our encounter with the eternal Person becomes the fountain head of our personal encounters with each other. This is more than an ideal; this is Christian fellowship – the relationship of brothers and sisters in Christ as God designed it.

Two Things To Ask

Karleigh King September 13, 2023

God is sending more people our way, and we are “back to the drawing board” on the issue of space and expansion for the ministry of Grace. At this point all options are on the table, and it will take wisdom, forbearance, and the Spirit’s guidance to meet the needs of our congregation and the many guests coming into our fellowship.

First, let me say thank you for your welcoming spirit. It is not uncommon for me to hear comments about the inviting family atmosphere in the worship at Grace. But…it is getting tight – in the parking lot, downstairs in the nursery and children’s ministry, and in the auditorium during the worship service.

There are two things I want to ask of you so that we can maximize with good stewardship what we have, what God provides, and who he sends our way. First, for a heart of hospitality. Hospitality is a biblical virtue of the church (Hebrews 13:2). A hospitable person will help others feel welcome, help them find their way around, and make space for them to fit in. The hospitable person also takes the initiative to connect. This could get messy, but people will recognize when they enter among us that the culture of grace says, “Come as you are, just don’t stay that way (like, overwhelmed and confused). I will walk with you.”

About making space, here are three subpoints under the first ask:

If you drive an all-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive vehicle, please consider parking in the lower grassy parking lot.
In the auditorium, please fill the rows up by moving toward the center.
We need brave volunteers to sit in the front row. I have established the policy of “no spitting” from the platform.

My second ask is for a spirit of forbearance. Being able to forbear is a mark of God’s people (Colossians 3:13). The situation may be uncomfortable for a season, and the remedy may not come as quickly as we all might like, but working together will lighten the load. If you have insights, we’d love to hear from you. If you feel you are in the dark, please ask. But please remember, communication is never perfect this side of eternity, and we could not possibly pursue all the recommendations we receive. Thank you for your understanding.

As we walk with each other in the mind of Christ, may these challenges grow us together into a more beautiful church.

All In | 7/25/2023

Karleigh King July 26, 2023

When God speaks to comfort his people, he reminds them of who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing. In other words, he directs their focus back to the big picture of himself to rescue them from the distractions of the immediate that lure people into a rut. Those distractions might be adversity, or they might be prosperity. In both cases we of mortal flesh tend to have our gaze pried away from the One who is our highest good and deepest satisfaction. We find it too easy to get settled in a rut of fleeting comfort or ill-perceived security.

God is constantly at work weaving together all aspects of time, space, circumstance, and human choice to draw people to himself. Through the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, said, “I work, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 43:13).

When his Son, the God-man, walked the earth, there were those who pushed against his good and mighty deeds because what he did and how he did it did not fit their parameters. To them Jesus responded, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17 NIV).

Is it possible that we could be distracted from what God is doing by being too preoccupied with what we are doing and precisely how we are doing it? Here is my resolve: whatever God is manifestly doing, I want to be all in. In this resolve we follow Jesus,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord,
but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does,
that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all
that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him,
so that you may marvel.
John 5:19–20

Sunday’s worship was just a glimpse of what God is up to! He is at work in people’s lives, and he is working through his people. Sunday was a delightfully uncommon time, but God loves doing the uncommon so that you may marvel. What God does through a people submitted to him arrests the attention of the unbelieving, and he is glorified.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
Isaiah 43:19–21

It is my prayer that we will have a united desire and resolve to be all in with what God is doing, “so that as grace extends to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).