The Value of God’s Word

Karleigh King April 10, 2024

The Creator has turned the light on into our darkness. We are immensely privileged to have a word from God that is the written record of His self-disclosure. All Scripture – the recognized canon – is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17), meaning it is transforming truth that is to be brought to bear upon our lives. All of it was revealed and written for our instruction (Romans 15:4). It is given to form our lives through teaching, warning, correction, and training in righteousness.

Scripture is the objective truth which reveals that righteousness for our life training. It is the character of God revealed. Behind every precept of Scripture is the Person to whom Scripture points us. This is why we do not reduce the Scriptures to a list of commands (imperatives), but we see the Goodness that is the source of those commands (indicatives). The written record of God’s activity is so “that you may know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 10:2; Deuteronomy 29:6).

“I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!”
Deuteronomy 32:3

To “proclaim the name of the Lord” is to “make open declaration of His character as revealed in His actions toward His people.” God is like what God has done. We contemplate that through the reading and meditation of God’s self-disclosure.

In God’s self-disclosure we can see and understand His heart. God’s people are the object of His loving concern (Deut. 7:6-9). His activity reveals His steadfast love, forbearance, faithfulness, kindness, and His justice. Thankfully, the infinite, sovereign, holy Creator does not deal with us merely in terms of strict justice.

Scripture exposes the heart of man – the unrighteousness, wickedness and brokenness that exists at the core of every person. Like an MRI machine, Scripture reveals our inner condition (Romans 3:19-20) — that we are deserving God’s justice in holy wrath.

This exposure also makes clear the necessity of God’s grace. His laws are His loving boundaries – “for your good” (Deuteronomy 10:13) — and the Law ordained in the Old Testament foreshadows Christ, who not only fulfilled the righteous requirement of the Law in our place(Rom. 8:3-4), but took upon Himself the necessary judgment of the holy God in our stead.

Through all of Scripture, there is one unifying theme of redemption. God’s plan of redemption is the outflow of His loving, forgiving heart. How He accomplished this redemption is a demonstration of His holy justice and grace. Over 3,400 years ago, Moses uttered the words “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen” (Deut. 18:15). Jump ahead in history another 1400 years and you find Peter and Stephen affirming that Jesus Christ fulfilled this prediction (Acts 3:22; 7:37) through His advent and redemptive work.

The grace of God revealed throughout the Scriptures make it known that our relationship with the God of the universe is not based one’s attempts at right behavior, but that God Himself will do a work of transformation in His people at the level of their affections and attitudes. Moses prophesied “the Lord will circumcise your hearts” (Deut. 30:6). In other words, God’s plan of redemption will establish in His people a heart that is bent toward Him – to draw near, to delight in, to love, and to please.

This act of transformation was predicted in what is known as the New Covenant foretold through the prophet Ezekiel, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

On the night that Jesus was betrayed before His crucifixion, He established a rite of remembering for His followers saying, “this cup is the New Covenant in my blood” (Luke 22;20; 1 Corinthians 11:25). His self-sacrifice was for our redemption through which He would accomplish a radical transformation at the core of His people. Thereby He created a new humanity – citizens of His kingdom, ambassadors of reconciliation.

The value of Scripture is that in it, we find a grand narrative of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It is through the formative power of revealed Scripture that we are called to live in the realty of this beautiful story.

—————————————————————————
(1) Dillard/Longman III, An Introduction to the OT, (Zondervan, 1994) p.103

The Fulcrum of History

Karleigh King April 10, 2024

All hope of human history hinges on two three-word statements, “It is finished,” and “He has risen.” The former statement Jesus cried while on the cross. Many would see the cross as a great tragedy, the victimization of a good man, when, in fact it was purposeful by divine decree. When Jesus cried out, “It is finished”, He affirmed that the saving work the Father commissioned Him to do had been completed on the cross. It was a success – realized purpose. It was a completed action that produced a state of being in the present. That current state can be summarized in the following realities:

He shattered the lie of the adversary: Jesus came to “destroy the works of the Devil” (1 Jn. 3:8; Heb. 2:14); the lie that alienates man from God. Through His death He established the truth that sets us free.
He satisfied the Father’s necessary and holy wrath: His separation from the Father was the necessary judgment of sin and unrighteousness. A good God must oppose evil. He did this in Jesus’ death -- once for all -- which is why He is the propitiation for our sins (Rom 3; 1 Jn 2)
He took the record of our debt and nailed to the cross: The legal demands of our debt -- the righteous requirement of the law (Col 2:14) – have been paid in full. In Jesus’ death we have the basis for forgiveness.
Opened the door for us to accepted by holy God: We are now reconciled to God because through His death, Jesus “made many to be accounted righteous” (Isa. 53:11). This action established the basis for our justification. We are welcomed into the Father’s presence and delight because Jesus bore our iniquities. He was made sin for us, so that we could become His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).
He laid the foundation for the household of God: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (1 Pete 2:4-7; Ps.118:22). This household of God is the family of God, the new humanity. We are new creations in Christ because we are born of God.

The angel announced, “He is not here, He has risen, as He said” (Matt. 28:6). The ensuing narrative of John 20 makes clear that the resurrection of Jesus establishes the following five certainties for us:

Paternity: The resurrection of Jesus opens the door to a familial relationship with God. Jesus referred to His followers as “brothers,” and the stated that He is going to “My Father, and your Father” (John 20:17).
Peace: Jesus said “peace be with you” numerous times (John 20:19, 21, 26) after His resurrection because an encounter with reality and power far beyond human capacity leaves one gripped by insecurity and dread. Jesus offers tranquility and freedom from worry, and, in one word communicates, “Nothing can touch you outside of my tender care” (see John 14:27).
Purpose: Jesus’ resurrection offers clarity about the meaning of life. We no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who for our sakes died and was raised (2 Cor. 5:15). He is our highest good, our chief ambition, and our deepest satisfaction (Ps. 16:11).
Presence: Now in His glory, Jesus granted His followers the Holy Spirit that He had promised in John 7:37-38. His Spirit grants us the resource and power to live out His purpose – the call to live the greatest story of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Proclamation: Thomas knew that the physical resurrection of Jesus meant that all of His works and claims were true and meaningful – that everything hinges on this event – rightly proclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” It is a confession that Jesus was His creator and master – the point to His existence. This is the proclamation of every life captivated by the historic reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Haiti Bible Institute, Risk, and the Church

Karleigh King March 19, 2024

Dear Family of Grace,

It is good to be back home!

We successfully completed module five (of eight) of Haiti Bible Institute Cohort Four. I taught the Doctrine of God, and a workshop on Expository Preaching. The students expressed genuine gratitude, not only for the teaching, but for the risk we took to go to Haiti to teach them.

On that note, the ordeal of being trapped in Haiti for ten days amid the outbreak of violent revolution led to encouraging reports of the church tightening bonds of solidarity through united prayer. Also, from reflecting on the ordeal, I have noted that the challenges of waiting and the rescue operation manifest striking parallels to the gospel of grace. I will share these parallels with the congregation illustrating the sermon from John 12 for Palm Sunday – “The Hour has Come.”

Shoutout to US Representative Cory Mills (FL), for putting together the operations that brought us out. Cory’s staff worked around the clock to make this rescue a reality, and he and his friend, Brian Young – both of whom served in Afghanistan – invested so much of themselves and braved great risk to bring about our rescue from Haiti and into the Dominican Republic. I must also acknowledge that Glenn Beck’s charity organization, Mercury One, funded the rescue operation.

Let me express deep gratitude to the board for their encouraging and prayerful support during the last three weeks. Thank you for leading the church well during this brief season of adversity. These experiences augment my deep love for the church, and my appreciation for the culture of grace and discipleship in the family of God.

Living In The Power Of Newness

Karleigh King February 20, 2024

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.
And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Ezekiel 36:26

What is the difference between stone and living tissue? A stone is cold, lifeless, and void of relationship; it does not absorb or respond. But the heart made of living nerve and tissue is sensory and responsive. God does not just promise to take out a heart that is stone-cold, calloused, and unresponsive. He also promises to replace it with a heart of flesh—a living, sensing, responsive heart. This newness that God creates is the seed of God—the spora of which Peter wrote, and the sperma that John talked about. This is the new creation of the believer, that “new self” to which the apostle Paul appealed (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).

The Spirit of God is the one who regenerates. God promises that when we come to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the believer. “I will put my Spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:27). The Spirit is the one who empowers us and transforms us into genuine obedience to Christ. In that way, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Paul affirmed repeatedly in Romans chapter 8 that the Spirit of Jesus dwells in the believer. God’s purpose is to develop the character of Jesus Christ in me.

Because I have Christ’s righteousness,
I should focus on pursuing and walking with God
to nurture and bring to outward expression
the divine life now within me.

This process of life change is God’s purpose in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 36; 2 Corinthians 3; Hebrews 8). This newness was launched by Jesus in his perfect life, his death, and his resurrection. The night before his death on the cross, Jesus instituted a rite of remembrance for his followers to keep. When he took the cup of wine, Jesus said, “this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). Jesus wanted us to remember this covenant; it follows that we should know and understand it.

There are three benefits of the new covenant for us. First, in Christ, there is full forgiveness of our sins, whereas only a covering for sin was offered under the Law. Second, there is newness. The stone-cold heart has been replaced with a living, sensing heart capable of relating to our Creator and Redeemer. The heart is a metaphor for the seat of thought and desire in the person bearing God’s image. God is transforming us and grants us newness in our attitudes and affections. Third, there is the empowering presence of his Holy Spirit for we who are reconciled to God.

God’s purpose to transform my life is not about me cleaning up my act, it is about God’s transforming life and power within me that will flow upward to love and adore him and outward to point people to him.*

It will be a special pleasure on this Sunday night to witness the baptism of believers who want to publicly identify with Jesus Christ, and to come together at the Lord’s Table by his invitation to participate in a living picture of our union with Christ in his death and resurrection.

And, by the way, since some have inquired or assumed, this is not a “combined service” with Vienna. Sunday night’s baptism and gathering at the Lord’s Table will be a Grace Bible Church worship service using the facilities of Vienna Baptist Church. Some of our dear brothers and sisters from Vienna may choose to worship with us.

My God be glorified, and Christ magnified in his church.

______________

* The preceding was taken from 7 WORDS that can CHANGE YOUR LIFE, p.102-103

Welcome Wisdom

Karleigh King February 14, 2024

To understand the current atmosphere of unbelief, Owen Anderson, professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University, gives us a bit of insight followed with some biblical wisdom:

On the first day of my Philosophy 101 class, I ask my students this question:  “Does life make sense?” A few awkward moments pass. One hand goes up and then another. “No, life doesn’t make sense,” many students tell me. It seems arbitrary and full of pain and suffering.
How does this make them feel? I ask.  They tell me it causes them anxiety and even depression. What do they plan to do about it? I inquire. They have no answer. And this, of course, only adds to their anxiety.

Fortunately, there is an answer. It’s called wisdom. Not exactly a fashionable concept these days but given how much mental illness is reported on campus, it’s primed for a comeback.

The Oxford Dictionary defines wisdom this way: the “capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgment…” That’s something we all desire. Life is complex. Difficult questions and choices confront us all the time. Wisdom helps us to deal with them. By the way, the word philosophy means “the love of wisdom.”

So, where should we start our wisdom journey? How about with the most significant and influential book in human history, one for which there is no close second—the Bible. Not surprisingly, it has a lot of thoughts on the subject. Proverbs 9:10 takes us right to the heart of the matter. “The fear of God,” the proverb tells us, “is the beginning of wisdom.”

Fear is universal. Everyone fears something. Indiana Jones fears snakes, Ron Weasley fears spiders, most people fear public speaking. Sometimes our fears are abstract. We fear losing what we love—a good job, losing a friend or family member. People fear getting sick, being dependent on others and ultimately, they fear death. But if wisdom is your concern—and the Bible thinks it should be—then fear of God is fear number one. Why?

First, to fear God is a recognition that you are not God. Life suddenly has order. A clear hierarchy is established. God. Then Man… then animals.  If we take God out of the equation and place ourselves at the top of the pyramid, then we make the rules. We only answer to ourselves. The whole notion of an objective standard of right and wrong goes out the proverbial window. Morality becomes a matter of opinion.

Since human beings can rationalize any behavior to suit their purposes, the result is moral confusion, even chaos. When we fear God (He did create the universe, after all) we take our rightful place in the hierarchy. We’re up there, but we’re not in first position. To acknowledge this is an act of humility. It’s much easier to acquire wisdom when you don’t think you already “know it all.” As it says in another verse in Proverbs [3:7], “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

Second, fearing God will very likely make you a better person. Fear God and you’re much less likely to do something you shouldn’t. There are academic studies to back this up. By definition that will help you to make smarter decisions. That’s some serious wisdom right there.
And third, if you fear God, you will fear others less. Doing what is right becomes easier even if the consequences are not to your immediate advantage because you know you must answer first to God, not people. This will give you courage as well as wisdom.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. It’s not the middle or the end. But you have to start somewhere. And that somewhere, the Bible emphatically states, is accepting the basic structure of the universe and your place in it. If you can’t do that you will be lost. The peace and tranquility that you seek—that we all seek—will elude your grasp.

If, however, you’re looking to make sense of what appears to you now to be a senseless world, Proverbs 9:10 is well worth contemplating.*

As I often put it, to fear God means to be captivated by the perfections of God (His perfect goodness, love, justice…) and be accountable to Him. Put more concisely, the fear of God is to live for the opinion of One.

There is an open door for the gospel of grace. Because of the reconciling work of Jesus, we do not need to live in fear – to do right to avoid God’s punishment. Having surrendered ourselves to Him in faith, we live in the grip of His grace. We can rest in His acceptance and live in the outflow of that loving communion to please Him.

This should be welcome news to a generation anxiously plodding through a life that seems arbitrary full of pain and suffering.
_________________________

* Adapted from the transcript at https://www.prageru.com/video/the-beginning-of-wisdom?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_9000102 Accessed on February 12, 2024

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.