“Does God Care If I Am In Church Service On Sundays?”

Tuesday morning at our Men’s book study time, we had a conversation about how many within our society today, particularly among the younger generation, do not take gathering for worship seriously. Making sure that one is plugged into community to grow in Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission isn’t taken quite as seriously as it used to be.

I remember as a young child growing up realizing early on that gathering with other Christian folks on Sunday was a big deal.
Sadly, stats on the plateaued and declining churches in North America show us that a large percentage of our neighbors and acquaintances do not have a similar conviction regarding Sunday worship.

In fact, Justin Taylor, a Christian author and frequent blog writer, published a fascinating article a number of years ago on his blog site at The Gospel Coalition. The following stats I am going to report to you were taken from his article. Please see it for more clarification:

First, Taylor notes that the average percentage of people attending church in a given weekend runs around 40% according to the major polling research agencies such as Barna, the National Opinion Research Center and the Gallup research polling group.

Taylor, however, notes that according to recent research, the 40% rule is not necessarily accurate, but it’s based more on the number of people who say they attend church regularly.

Moreover, Taylor refers to an article written in 1998, by C. Kirk Hadaway and P.L. Marler which was published in the Christian Century entitled, Did You Really Go To Church This Week? Behind the Poll Data. Hadaway and Marler discovered actual church attendance was around half the rate usually reported by national public opinion polls. They suggested that the actual number of people attending on a given weekend is closer to 20%.

Perhaps even a more accurate number might be less than 20% according to Dave Olson, director of church planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church. He surveyed Christian churches, such as mainline, catholic, and evangelical, and found that the real number of people attending any given weekend is closer to 18.7%.

Moreover, only the state of Hawaii saw an increase in church attendance between 1990 to 2000.

Sadly, according to Olson, if the present trend of people attending church today continues, by the year 2050, it will be half of what it is today.

What do all of these stats have to do with us? Or, more poignantly, you may wonder what they have to do with you? As you read the book of Exodus, and as we look at the latter part of Exodus this coming Sunday, it is apparent that God’s presence and dwelling among His people is to be taken seriously. Moroever, when we are made aware of the fact that God through Christ came down and “tabernacled” among us so that we might be redeemed and restored into a right relationship with Him, we will take our worship more seriously.

Finally, when we realize that we are now the sanctuary or the temple of the Holy Spirit, we will be more concerned about what we are doing on Sunday when the people of God are to gather for the praise and worship of the One Who Was and Who Is and Who Is To Come!

Do you have plans for worship today? What about this coming Sunday?

“Sometimes We Need A Fresh Reminder”

We have made it through the books of Genesis and Job in our chronological Bible reading at Union Avenue Baptist in Memphis, and we are currently looking at one of the most important books in God’s story. Exodus is a pivotal account in unveiling God’s plan of redemption for a people He calls His own.

Sometimes we need a fresh reminder. This past week Jenna, the girls and I were on vacation in my hometown of Greenville, SC, visiting my family. One day my folks kept Kara, and Jenna, Analise and I went to downtown Greenville. We walked into a really cool store that is called the Mast General Store. They are great stores with tons of items, from men’s and women’s outdoor clothes, to hard to find hiking shoes, to Cheerwine and RC cola products.

What sets this Mast General Store apart from all the others for me is not the fact that it is in my hometown, but it is in a really old, historic building that used to be the old Meyer’s Arnold Department Store. As I walked around the store this past Friday morning, I gazed at the ceiling tiles and the piping that ran along the ceiling, and I was immediately taken back to the days when I used to walk inside Meyer’s Arnold with my mother and my brother Jeffrey as small children. We used to shop there, and my visit there last week took me back to some fond childhood memories–good memories that I will forever cherish and that were somewhat forgotten.

Well, when it comes to digging into Exodus, another Old Testament book, sometimes we need a fresh reminder of the character of God and His awesome power. I fear that we become too familiar with some parts of God’s Word to where, yes, we remember the storyline, but we miss out on the freshness and the grandeur of our Great God and King. He is Holy, and Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush is far more than a cool picture to try and draw. Furthermore, we see God’s great compassion for His people which should move us to worship and glorify Him. And, we also see that He is all powerful which should give us great comfort as His children.

Moreover, this same God calls on us individually and as a church to carry out His Great Commission, and He equips us every step of the way similar to the way He equipped Moses for his task.

Finally, we can’t leave the opening chapters of Exodus without seeing the true picture of God’s redemptive plan unveiled through the Passover event. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorpost of the Israelite families caused God’s wrath to pass over the respective homes, Christ’s blood also covers us and satisfies God’s wrath that used to be against us.

May we be reminded and refreshed by our great and awesome Lord this morning, for He is our Redeemer!

Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve 2011
“The Best Christmas Deal Ever” Titus 3:4-7
Introduction:
We are all looking for a good deal when it comes to getting a gift to give to someone. And, as I get older, I fully understand how nice it is to receive an expensive gift that was bought at a great price.
How many of you here tonight bought an item based on how good of a deal you were able to receive on the item? I’m sure if we were at all honest, we would say that a sale price or a big sale would greatly influence where we go to shop, or what we are able to end up buying for our loved ones.
I walked in Macys the other day, and let me tell you that from the time I walked in the store from the parking garage, I was bombarded with sale signs everywhere I looked. I couldn’t turn from one side to the other of the store without seeing red and white signs almost like a sea of wallpaper saying, “60% off retail, or 50% off of retail price. I was looking for a present for my babe, for Jenna, and I was overwhelmed with the numerous items on sale.
I didn’t know which counter to start regarding the deals. I started at one jewelry cabinet looking over the earrings, necklaces and bracelets, and I realized that there were half a dozen other counters in the same vicinity that had similar pieces of jewelry for sale with the same red and white sale signs posted. I couldn’t concentrate on one counter at a time for fear of missing out on the best deal at another counter. I was like an ADD child at Disney World.
I made my way to one counter with what seemed to be hundreds of watches for sale. One of the girls behind the counter volunteered to help me, and I started my search for the perfect gift for my beautiful bride.
She’d pull out one watch from the counter, and I’d ask the price, and she’d tell me. And, I would think to myself, “Man, that’s a nice watch, and I’d like to get it for Jenna, but it’s too expensive.” We went on for I know a solid 20 minutes or so, and I’m sure the girl had to be thinking, “Dude, make up your mind, this is not a life or death issue.” Yet, she persevered with me as I happened to come across a sign in the cabinet which neither of us had seen before. It was saying basically that a watch that was listed for a certain amount of money was on sale for around 60% of its original retail price, and I thought, “Man, I think I have found the perfect gift for Jenna.” Sure enough, it rang up at the register for what the girl said she would give it to me for, and away I walked knowing that I had gotten the “best Christmas deal” I could at Macys.

Yet, when it comes to our spiritual lives, many people are just like I was inside of Macys. They are all over the place, looking around trying to find something that suits them. They hop from one thing to the other, and they overlook the best Deal that they could ever receive.
You may say, “Well, everyone isn’t looking.” And, I’d say that everyone is looking for something. We all want some certain answers to the void within our lives. Many look to naturalism or to self, and they think they are satisfied in believing that there is no higher power; and they think that there is no afterlife at death. And, they are okay, so they think, with such a belief. But, it is just that; it is a belief, albeit, it is a belief in naturalism.
Others know that deep down there is more to this life than just living and dying, and they look to other religions that seem to offer teachings that appear to answer the deeper questions of life—so Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism and other religions are sought after. Yet, at the end of the day, these teachings do not and never will be able to compare to the ultimate truthfulness of Christianity.
 I want to share briefly with you tonight, about “the best Christmas Deal Ever.”
It far surpasses the illustration I used of being in Macys looking for the best deal I could find.
Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Here’s the best Deal Ever…It’s A Christmas Deal every day of the year:
God in Christ Adopts us as His very own Children.
These verses are one big sentence in the Greek.
1. Goodness–God is good to us when He doesn’t have to be (verse 4).
We are told that God’s Goodness and Loving Kindness appeared. In the fullness of time, when God saw that it was time to send Christ into the world, He did, and that’s what we are celebrating tonight. The Advent—The coming of the Christ child, both fully God and fully human, to fulfill God’s plan of redemption.
The meaning for loving kindness in the Greek is where we get our word for philanthropy in English.
In other words, it is a love for people, an affection for people, that only God our Creator can have. He, in spite of His wrath toward us because of our sin, still is a loving and gracious God, and He decided to treat us with loving kindness rather than completely cutting off the human race as we know it.
2. Savior–God sent Christ into the world as our Savior to save us.
When God saw that it was time—in the fullness of time, God saw fit to send His Son Jesus into the world as a Savior for all those who will call upon Him as Lord and Savior.
Jesus saves us not because of any good thing within us, nor any works of good that we might do for someone or unto Him. But, he saves us from our sins based on the fact that He is good, and He chooses to do so because of the next item, Mercy and Compassion.

3. Mercy–God’s mercy in Christ frees us from our just condemnation.
God in Christ shows us mercy which can also mean compassion. Or, it can also mean to show someone kindness that is in serious need. And, that is you and I. We are in serious trouble apart from Christ’s mercy and compassion.
Illustration:
“Substitute At Auschwitz
In October 1972, a crowd of 150,000 Europeans gathered between the barracks and crematories of the Auschwitz extermination camp to honor a man who gave his life to save a fellow prisoner. The martyr was Rev. Maximillian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest, who stepped forward to take the place of Sgt. Franciszek Gajowniczek. It happened in July 1941. Gajowniczek had been selected at random by Nazi guards to die.
When the victim pleaded for his life, so that he might see his wife and children, the priest stepped forward and offered to take the doomed man’s place. Rev. Kolbe told the guards that he was alone in the world and would be willing to die instead of the sergeant. A few weeks later Rev. Kolbe died from starvation and a dose of carbolic acid.
Gajowniczek survived the rigors of Auschwitz and was reunited with his loved ones at the end of the war. At the 1972 ceremonies he spoke with moving simplicity. He said he wanted to express his thanks for the gift of life he received, and wanted to honor Rev. Kolbe for his heroic sacrifice. ”

Yet, because of His great mercy and compassion, He washes us clean through the regeneration of His Holy Spirit, and he declares us not guilty by justifying us by His grace. To justify is to put in a right relationship with someone.
The text also tells us that we receive a new birth, or a new genesis, which is a new beginning.
4. Adoption–God adopts us and calls us His very own for all eternity.
An heir, is a person who inherits possessions. The Oxford English dictionary reads, “heir, a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person’s death.
And that’s just it—because of Christ’s death, His substitutionary death on our behalf, at salvation we become heirs with all the rights and privileges of sons of God. We are grafted into family of God.
One of those perks is the reality of Eternal life which is an unlimited duration of time….
Conclusion:
It’s ironic isn’t? My best deal I bought for Jenna is a watch from Macys that was greatly discounted…
Yet, the best Christmas deal ever is the exchange of our sin and depravity and certain death in a Christ-less hell for Christ’s grace and loving-kindness as he justifies us freely by faith and repentance for an unlimited duration with Him.

Now, THAT’s the Best Christmas Deal Ever….

Worship Style or Preference?

Dr. Page\’s Sermon

Dr. Frank Page, president of our Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, spoke at our church yesterday. Indeed, it was a true honor to welcome such a humble, but powerful preacher to Union Avenue Baptist here in Midtown Memphis.
He took his message from John’s gospel, chapter 4, with a sermon title of: “Irrecoverable Moments.” I’ve heard numerous sermons on the Samaritan Woman at the well. Yet, the Lord Jesus used Dr. Page yesterday with one particular comment that rang out like “the shot heard round the world.” For me, as pastor, and I believe for our entire body, regardless of age or gender, it was one that was needed.
He said that we all have personal preferences and styles that we like when it comes to worship. He even admitted that he has a personal style that he likes. Yet, he went on to add that, “God doesn’t care about our personal preferences or styles that we may have. He is only concerned that we worship Him spiritually and honestly.”
How often have I entered into a service, even services at UABC, thinking about style and preference over honesty and whether I am in the Spirit or not? How often do you think about whether you will worship based on what instrument is present or absent from the stage? It was a good word; a much needed word for us to hear, including myself. Thank you, Dr. Page, for speaking the word with boldness yesterday. May we be a people who worship our Lord Jesus in spirit and in truth.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Travis

“God’s Mission Never Changes for His Church”

The late James Montgomery Boice, the former pastor of Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia, talks about the book, Apostles to the City: Biblical Strategies for Urban Missions written by former missionary, Roger Greenway.
Greenway suggested that the apostle Paul had certain goals in mind as he entered each city or urban area. One of those was to preach a message that demanded personal repentance and conversion, so said Greenway.
And, Boice further commented that it is tempting to water down the message or change it in our day for a new audience.
I think he is right. Think of where we are today as a nation. We no longer want to allow religion, for that matter, Christianity in particular, to have a voice. We want to just allow Christians to come to the aid of the poor and needy while silencing the voice of Jesus that commands that we help the “least of these” while at the same time He commands us to tell and proclaim His message of repentance and faith.
We were talking in the office recently about Dr. Chuck Gaines’ comment he made in his sermon last Sunday. Gaines said that when Billy Graham passes away, there is no voice for the church here in North America to speak up for the gospel. Think about how the times have changed since Billy Graham first began his evangelistic ministry when thousands would flock to a stadium to hear him share his simple but powerful gospel message. He would then call on the masses to “come, come just as you are all over this stadium”, he used to say.
Now, think of what Governor Christie of New Jersey recently said in an interview regarding the comments of the pastor of First Baptist Dallas, Jeffries.
Jeffries called Mormonism a cult. Christie responded basically that religion plays no role in a serious presidential campaign.
Let’s bring this discussion back to our world, our life, even our city. Is the church to have a voice here in Memphis? Are we to have a voice outside of just helping the poor and the needy, albeit these are important issues as well?
Moreover, what does the gospel of Jesus Christ do for us, and what should we look for to make sure that we too have been changed?

“10 Years Later: Now What?”

Where were you ten years ago today?  Many of us can remember exactly where we were on that infamous Tuesday morning.  Some were still eating breakfast.  Many had just arrived at work or school and were getting their mornings started when it seemed liked the world stood still, and history would never be the same.  I was seated in my doctoral class that morning at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, when news reached our classroom that the first plane had flown into one of the Towers of the World Trade Center.  We soon dismissed class as we all found ourselves glued to the television watching in horror.   Some 3,000 people lost their lives that morning, what seemed to start off as any average Tuesday, September morning.  I know I watched in disbelief, thinking to myself–this only happens in the movies!

Indeed, our thoughts and prayers should go out for the thousands of families this morning whose wounds are perhaps somewhat reopened as the pain flares with every 9/11 that rolls around, especially this ten year anniversary.  The question that resonates in my mind is: “Ten years later: now what?”  Is there any hope?  How should we respond to such a tragedy? 

God, however, grabs our attention as He bridges the gap between our hopelessness and despair with the cross of His only Son, Christ Jesus.  God knows, better than anyone, what it is like to experience pain and tragedy—He did this in the death of His own Son.  Yet, God used this event to rescue us from our own hopelessness and restore us to a right relationship with Himself through Christ Jesus.  Is there hope today, even ten years later?  Absolutely!   

The book of Revelation shows us that Christ, the one who bridges the gap between hopelessness to eternal hope, is coming again.  In fact, this same Christ has promised us that He is going to make all things new.  Injustice will be gone forever in His new heaven and earth.  There will no longer be planes flying into buildings because of hatred for humanity.  All of our sadness and grieving will be no more.   Finally, we as the church are to compel, and lovingly share, with all peoples to look to Christ who is the hope of all eternity.

Ten years later, is there any hope?  You bet there is.  We can lovingly share this good news to everyone God allows us to meet.

“Power In Whose Name?”

We’ve been journeying through the book of Acts on Sundays since January of this year.  It’s been neat to track the working of God through the power of the Holy Spirit as the Son of God was preached to the nations.  Is our task any different today as Christ followers?

 

The following is my blurb for my message this coming Sunday morning:

 

“I invite you to take your Bibles and turn to Acts chapter 16:16-40 this morning.  Last week we looked at what “Spirit-led ministry” should look like in our lives.  I pray that the Lord used His word in your lives this past week as you reflected over what type of ministry you have.  Truth is, many of us Christians know that we have a task to do for the Lord, but we often fail to tap into the reality of the power that we have in Christ alone.  

 

Did you notice that I said, ”in Christ alone?”  We live in a day and age when there are numerous names that are tied to religions.  Names that are given, in the world’s eyes, validity and used as acceptable ways to find truth.  I remember a neighbor of mine once saying, “as long as you have faith, even in a rock.”  Christ, however, is not just one name among a smorgasbord of spiritual options.  Christ is the one and only way to know God.  He is truth.  He is the way to find true salvation according to God’s plan for His creatures. 

 

As we look at the journey of Paul, Silas and Timothy this morning, notice that they operate in the power of Jesus’ name, not their own.  Even in the midst of their struggles, confronting a demon possessed woman as well as being thrown in prison, they still found joy in Christ alone.  I pray that we will each glory in Christ, and carry His name to the nations–beginning right here in the heart of Midtown!  Thank you for your faithful service.”     

Never A Dull Moment

There really is never a dull moment around the Fleming household these days. Our little 15 month old, Kara, keeps us on our toes at all times. From her sleepless nights to her constant roaming of the house, I feel like I have a wild puppy on the loose!
At the same time, I promise that she is the most awesome thing, besides Jesus and Jenna (two J’s with Jesus coming first, babe:)) that has ever happened to me.
I don’t know if it is because she is a girl or not, but I feel like I am always trying to protect her from bumping, or let’s be honest, just flat out knocking herself out.
I am thankful for beautiful little girls! God knew what this ole’ boy needed. Don’t let time escape you! Men, let’s not allow our families to be robbed of our quality time. Let’s interrupt our dull moments with some solid QT with God’s most precious commodities.

Easter Sunday

We had a good weekend of Easter activities at Union Avenue here in Memphis, TN.  It started with a reflective, worshipful, somber service on Good Friday in our chapel.  I am very thankful to my wife, Jenna, who chose all the songs and even helped me think about what type of service to plan.  We had “8 Stations of the Cross” with readers to read Scripture passages based on Christ’s road to the cross with appropriate music afterward.  I also made some comments after each passage was read.  Christ was in our midst. 

Furthermore, Saturday we had a good turn out for our community cookout and Easter-egg hunt.  I was proud to see our UABC people turn out to help work and make gospel ministry possible.  I pray that we will be able to connect with the different guests from our community.

Finally, we celebrated this morning in our corporate gathering.  Easter Sunday is the Super Bowl; it’s the State Championship; it’s the title game for preachers.  It’s a chance to declare the greatness of Christ and His resurrection and the free offer of the gospel to all who are present.  Yet, as I looked out over the congregation, I couldn’t help but wonder what is going on in the lives of those present.  Many of the persons never come on the other 51 Sundays out of the year.  What road are they on currently?  My prayer is that they would look to Christ and His free offer of grace and forgiveness.  If Christ brought a saving, conversion experience to Saul who persecuted the Church, then no one is outside of the hope and mercy available through Christ.  We all are on a road spiritually.  Question is, “Which road are you on today?”  Christ said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, and no on comes to the Father but by me”  (John 14:6).

Christ is risen, and He is calling us to come and follow after Him–not just on Easter Sunday, but everyday of the year!

Life Moves Quickly

My first blog post–although I am about 10 to 15 years behind times, it is never too late to enter the 21st century!

Life moves quickly.  Does it not?  I can remember first entering seminary, after college, and I thought to myself, “Man I don’t want to do another 4 year degree!”  When I first started Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, I thought time dragged on and on.  Time, however, doesn’t drag on and on.  It moves more quickly than a weaver’s shuttle according to the Bible.  Sometimes it seems as if we want it to fast forward to get to where we want to be in life (at least where we think we want to be), and other times we want it to just slow down so that we can capture the memories and enjoy the laughter of where we are in life.

Right now, I wish I could slow time down.  I want to spend more time with my wife, Jenna, and our beautiful little daughter, Kara.  It is hard to believe that she is about to turn 1-year-old on May 6.  I can still remember vividly the very morning that Jenna went into labor.  Kara came four weeks early, so we were really surprised that she arrived so soon.  What joy we experienced that day that she arrived.  Jenna and I were both amazed at the awesome gift of life that God gave us that day. 

Now, around 11 months later, we are looking forward to yet another little one as Jenna is around 4 weeks pregnant.  Just as I want time to stand still, I also want it to move quickly so that we can meet this second child.  Is the baby a boy or girl–we”ll have to wait and see.  However, at the same time I don’t want to miss out on each day that God sends our way.  I want to bask in the here and now, and I want to make each day count. 

How about you?  Are you wishing away today in hope for a better tomorrow?  Or, are you looking to Christ to treasure each and every day as a gift from Him?  May we treasure and give glory to Him for His love and mercy in our lives.

Pastor, T