Oak Hill Baptist Church

The power of community

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The power of community”

This morning I want to continue our thinking from yesterday’s devotional regarding how important it is for each of us to be a “stretcher bearer” – someone who helps to carry the load when a brother or sister is struggling and in need of help.

Yesterday I shared a quote with you from a woman whose family was going through a deep, dark valley – a terrible situation – and her church family and friends supported them and helped to carry them through it. Her statement was “I was hurting badly but I was being loved deeply.” That was said by Carol Kent and was recorded in her book, “When I lay my Isaac down: Unshakable faith in unthinkable circumstances.”

The valley Carol and her family were going through was that her only son committed first-degree murder. Up to the point of pulling the trigger and killing a man, her son had been an outstanding person in every respect. He was a strong Christian, he was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he was in the middle of a good career as a Navy officer, and he was married with two children. But convinced that his wife’s ex-husband posed a potential threat to their two daughters, he traveled six hours to another part of their state, hunted the man down, and shot him dead in a parking lot in front of witnesses. He was then arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Carol, her husband Gene, and everyone who knew their son Jason were stunned in disbelief. Carol and Gene’s world quickly fell apart. What would happen to their son now? What about his wife and children? Also, at that time, Carol was a well-known motivational speaker and best-selling Christian author. What would people think? Would she even be able to continue her ministry and if so, how could she encourage, motivate, and guide others through life when her own son was a murderer and her life was falling apart?

It was in this context that Carol experienced the power of good Christian community. She wrote, “I never understood what power of community could do. It’s people in the body of Christ working like a family to sit and cry with you. Holding you. Caring for your needs. Carrying your burdens for a day. Creatively solving problems. Gathering resources. Opening doors of hope. Writing notes of encouragement. Fighting a cause on your behalf. Finding a way when there is no way. Listening. Waiting with you as long as it takes. It’s people “being Jesus” to you.”

I want to remind you today that there is power in good Christian community and chances are, somebody you know needs your help today. I encourage you to be there for them.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

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Are you a stretcher bearer?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before him. Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.” Luke 5:18-19 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Will you be a stretcher bearer?”

One day Jesus was in a village in Galilee teaching the people. The house was filled to overflowing and a crowd had gathered outside as well. Then, along came some men carrying a paralyzed friend on a stretcher. They obviously believed that if they could just get their friend to Jesus, He could and would heal him. But the crowd was so thick that they couldn’t get into the house. So, they climbed up on the roof, made a big hole in it, hoisted up their friend on his stretcher, and then using ropes they lowered him through the hole in the roof and set him down right at the feet of Jesus.

Imagine the surprised and then amused look on Jesus’ face as bits of debris were falling all around him, and then He sees this stretcher being lowered down from the ceiling. And now, here’s this paralyzed man laying at His feet waiting to be healed. Well, Jesus did heal him, and He forgave the man his sins as well. And, according to verse 20, He did it not because of the faith of the paralyzed man but because of the great faith demonstrated by his friends, “Seeing their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” And (verse 24) “I tell you: Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

I read a great statement the other day from a person who was describing one of the deepest, darkest periods of life that she and her family ever had to go through. She said that during that time her church family rallied around them with love, support, and help. With prayers, meals, money, help with daily tasks, and much more, their church family carried them through their ordeal. Her statement was, “I was hurting badly but I was being loved deeply.” Her friends had essentially been stretcher bearers for her and her family. They carried them through their time of difficulty.

That is an essential element of healthy church life and it’s one of the things I love the most about Oak Hill Baptist. We are stretcher bears for each other. As a group we come around the hurting one, we each pick up an end of the stretcher, and together we help to carry our hurting brother or sister through their dark and difficult season of life.

Are you a stretcher bearer? I hope you are. And are you in a church filled with people who are stretcher bears? I hope so because I promise you, the time will come when you will need to be carried. Nobody gets through life without going through deep valleys, and everyone needs help sometimes.

Be a stretcher bearer. Be one of those who can be counted on to be there, to grab an end, and to help carry someone else through a difficult time in life.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

He is risen!

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said.” Matthew 28:5-6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “He is risen!”

Without question, Easter is the most important day of the year on the Christian calendar. Good Friday is the second most important and Christmas is the third. The fact that Jesus was born matters tremendously. The fact that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and mine is important beyond description. But the fact that He arose from the dead changed everything. As the Apostle Paul taught in Ephesians chapters one and two and in Romans chapter eight, the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is the power He will use to raise you and I to eternal life as well.

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most provable facts in recorded history. So much so that Billy Graham once wrote, “There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three.”

Throughout history it has been the proof of the resurrection that has led many sceptics and atheists to faith in Christ. C.S. Lewis was one of the most brilliant men of his day, a professor at Oxford College in England. He was also a sceptic of Christianity who eventually came to faith in Christ. He wrote that it was his study of the resurrection that eventually led him to conclude that it is impossible for the Christian faith to not be true.

Entire books have been written by former atheists and sceptics documenting the historicity of the resurrection. Josh McDowell was one them. He was a top law student who decided to use his research skills to prove once and for all that Christianity was a hoax. Instead, his studies led him to the same conclusion that C.S. Lewis arrived at, “It’s impossible for this to not be true.” “Evidence that Demand a Verdict” and “A Ready Defense” are two of Josh’s books that record in detail all the evidence he uncovered that convinced him the resurrection of Jesus absolutely did happen.

Lee Strobel is another of those former atheists. He was an investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Different person, same circumstances, same outcome. He set out to prove that Christianity and the resurrection of Christ is all a fraud. Instead, his investigation led him to faith in Christ and then to author a series of books, all based on his research. His book “The Case for Easter” was a New York Times bestseller.

It’s hard to argue with the truth. Jesus lived, He died, and he arose again. So, at Easter, we Christians gather in joyful Easter celebrations. When we do the preacher declares “Christ is risen!” and the people respond in unison, “He is risen indeed!”

Yes, He is risen indeed!

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Why did He die for me?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Why did He die for me?”

Today is the day we have come to call “Good Friday.” It’s the anniversary of the day that Jesus was crucified. It was not a “good” day for Him, but it sure was for us. It’s the day the price for our sins was paid once and for all and therefore, for us, it was a very good day indeed.

Recently a friend at church gave me another little book of poems. This one was “Poems of Praise and Worship” by Dave Conaghan. One of the poems has the title “Why” and it is about the crucifixion.

Why did He die for me? Why did He go to the Cross?
He was God’s Holy Lamb
Son of the Great I Am.
Why did He suffer such loss?

Why did He die for me? Why was there any real need?
He could have called angels down
And take the crown.
Why did He suffer and bleed?

Why did He die for me? Why did He take my place?
It should have been me
They hung on that tree.
Why such Mercy and Grace?

Why did He die for me? Why did He perish that day?
It was God’s holy plan
To redeem sinful man.
Why would I turn Him away?

Why did He die for us? Pastor John MacArthur says that 2 Corinthians 5:21 (above) explains it. It was so there could be a great substitution. On the one side of the substitution Jesus took the punishment for all of our sins. On the other side we were given all of His righteousness so we would be worthy to enter God’s pure, perfect, and holy heaven. On the cross, Jesus made that possible for us.

I will have more to say about this on Easter Sunday in my sermon at Oak Hill Baptist Church. I invite you to join us for an Easter brunch at 9:00 and for an Easter celebration at 10:00. For now, as a Christian community, on this Good Friday, let’s all take time to prayerfully thank Jesus for bearing our punishment on that cross.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Practice the ministry of presence

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “See how he loved him!” John 11:36

Our thought for today: “Practice the ministry of presence”

Yesterday we held a celebration of the life of my friend Jim. It was held in the beautiful home that he and Cindi designed and built. It was casual and informal as people drifted in and out throughout the afternoon sharing food, drinks, love, and laughter, telling each other our favorite “Jim stories,” and just being with the family. Jim was a good man who accomplished a lot in his life and he left behind a family that loved him very much. He also had many friends and a church family that will miss him.

The people who came to the celebration were practicing an important element of Christian community – the ministry of presence. It was about honoring Jim and his life, yes, but even more than that it was about offering comfort and support to the family. It is often and rightly said that funerals are for the living not for the dead. The person who has passed away is already in eternity and nothing that is said or done at a funeral, memorial service, or celebration of life will effect that person at all. The event is for those who are left behind and who must now get on with life without their loved one.

Jesus practiced the ministry of presence. We see it in the scene in John 11:36. There we read of the death of Jesus’ good friend Lazarus. Jesus was there to comfort the family. Granted, in this case He would also raise Lazarus from the dead afterwards, but He was also there for the family and to share in their grief.

Simply being present for people is an essential element in good Christian community. Whether it’s at a celebration of life, or during a time of sickness, or during any other trial of life, we need to simply be there for each other. It is not a time for preaching, teaching, or mouthing cliches. It is a time to simply carry one another’s burdens and to offer comfort and support.

I encourage all of us to be more intentional about practicing the ministry of presence. Just be there for people.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Reject self-pity

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.” 2 Kings 5:2-3 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Reject self-pity”

This morning I want to return us to the story of Naaman from yesterday’s devotional. There’s an important person in that story who is often overlooked, and whose role in the outcome goes unnoticed. It’s the servant girl. We know almost nothing about her except that she was a young Jewish girl from Israel who was captured by the army of Aram and brought back to serve as a slave. From that point forward, her life would be one of captivity and servitude – that’s all she had to look forward to.

So, it would be reasonable to expect that she would be resentful and sullen. Probably, out of necessity, she would do her job, serve her mistress well, maybe even paste a phony smile on her face and appear to be happy or even grateful but surely, she would secretly harbor resentment and bitterness over her circumstances, wallowing in self-pity.

But that’s not the way this reads. Instead, the passage paints a picture of a dedicated servant who cared about her master enough to speak-up when she thought she knew of a possible solution to his problem. She didn’t have to do that. She could have secretly relished the fact that Naaman had leprosy, and even though she knew about Elisha and his power to heal, she could have withheld that information. Self-pity does that to people. It makes them self-absorbed, bitter, and resentful.

All too often when our personal circumstances are less than ideal, the temptation is for us to become excessively focused on ourselves and our own circumstances, and even to wallow in self-pity over it. When we do that, we become unaware of, or insensitive to, or simply unconcerned about, what’s going on in the lives of others around us.

The servant girl could have been self-absorbed; she could have wallowed in self-pity; but she didn’t. Instead, she chose to focus on helping someone else, and that resulted in a mighty movement of God, which ended up being recorded in the Bible for people to read about for thousands of years.

A good Christian community is made up of people who, despite their own trying circumstances, continue to be aware of and attentive to those around them. They take their eyes off of themselves and focus instead on being a blessing to others.

I know life can sometimes be hard. But I encourage all of us to reject self-pity and to stay focused on others instead.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Obedience leads to experience

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.” 2 Kings 5:14 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Obedience leads to experience”

Naaman was an army General, a rough, tough, man’s man who served as the commander of the army for the king of Aram. However, at some point he contracted leprosy, a contagious skin disease for which there was no cure. Fortunately for him, there was a young Jewish girl in his household, a slave that was brought from Israel to serve Naaman’s wife. She was aware of a prophet in Israel by the name of Elisha who performed miracles. So, the girl told her mistress that if the master (Naaman) would only go to the great prophet and ask for healing, she was sure a miracle would be performed for him and the master would be healed.

So, Naaman went to Elisha, and he did ask for healing. But instead of Elisha simply saying some words, waving a magic wand, and presto chango there was healing, Elisha instructed Naaman to go to the river and perform an elaborate ritual of cleansing. If he would do that, then the One True God would heal him. But Naaman thought the ritual was ridiculous, and he was even insulted that such a thing was expected of him. So, he refused to do it and he went away in a huff. Finally, some of his assistants convinced him to at least give it a try and when he did, as we read in 2 Kings 5:14 (above), he was indeed healed.

What Naaman learned is a lesson that we need to learn too – obedience leads to experience. We obey first, then we get to experience God. The key is to trust God, obey Him, and then move forward in obedience. Just do what you know you are supposed to do, and trust the rest to God.

This is often where good Christian community comes into play. It was the community around Naaman that eventually convinced him to obey first so he could experience second. (Granted, Naaman and is assistants didn’t have faith in God before the miracle, but I’ll bet they did afterwards!)

Our Christian community does for us what Naaman’s assistants did for him. Sometimes it will be through their words of good counsel and encouragement, but other times they will inspire us by their examples. Try this, look around you and notice the Christians who are clearly experiencing the power of God in their lives. If you look closely, you will also find that they are the ones who are obeying God. They are obeying first and experiencing second.

The fact is that when it comes to practicing our faith and experiencing the power of God in our lives, obedience leads to experience.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

God isn’t done with you yet

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God isn’t done with you yet”

Do you ever feel as if you’re coming up short in life, as if you don’t measure up, or maybe you have a goal or aspiration that seems unattainable? We all feel that way sometimes but when we do, we need to remember that God isn’t finished with us yet. I don’t know if you will attain your goal or aspiration, but I do know that God has a great plan for your life and that as long as you are still breathing, He isn’t done with you yet.

One of the important elements of good Christian community is that we support and encourage each other along the way, and we remind each other that God isn’t done with any of us yet. That’s what Paul was reminding us of in Philippians 1:6 and it’s what the poet Kevin Nowak means in his poem “Longshot.” The world beats us down and makes us feel small. But God and other Christians lift us up and give us hope.

I am the longshot, and I am given no shot.
Always reminded of the things I am not.

I am the longshot, constantly diminished.
Told I cannot do it, told I am finished.

I am the longshot, who they look at as small,
Thinking I am destined to try and to fall.

I am the longshot, who is considered not strong,
But they do not know me. They have it all wrong.

I am the longshot, who is going to rise,
Who is going to shock, who is going to surprise.

Because I am the longshot, with hope that is unending,
I never stop climbing, never stop ascending.

I am the longshot, who believes victory is mine.
Pursuing the big result, pursing the finish line.

I am the longshot, who has a real shot.
Who will go much further, than anyone thought.

Along with the Apostle Paul and the poet Kevin Nowak, I want to encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus, lean into your tasks in life, and just keep pushing forward. Nothing is over unless you give up, and God isn’t done with you yet!

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Someone needs you. Be there for them.

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Somebody needs you. Be there for them.”

Over the course of the previous month, as we have been devotionally considering the importance and value of Christian community, many of you have responded with positive feedback about one or more of the devotionals. Some of you have commented on the theme in general.

The subject of Christian community has obviously resonated with many of our readers and has evidently addressed an issue that many of us care deeply about. Therefore, we will continue our thinking about it into the new month.

I think there are many reasons the subject of Christian community is so near and dear to the hearts of so many of us. For one thing, we live in a very troubled world and, if done right, our church life is a time of renewal and nurture. Our gatherings with our brothers and sisters are a time of refuge from the storms of life. Also, it’s just good for the soul to be immersed in a warm, safe, comfortable environment of love and acceptance, surrounded by people who truly care about us and who lift us up and encourage us. Good Christian community is a vital part of our spiritual health and growth.

There’s another reason our Christian communities are so important to us and the writer of Psalm 42 hints at it. When he wrote this Psalm, the writer was troubled to the point of being depressed, and he knew that what he needed was time with God. He needed to be helped and healed by God.

Well, God does His best work in our lives through the ministry of other Christians. He uses other Christians to minister to us. Therefore, during those times when we are struggling and even depressed, we need to be with our church family so God can use them to bless us.

Today is Saturday, tomorrow is Sunday. When your church family gathers tomorrow there will be those who are hurting and struggling and who will need extra care and attention. I encourage you to be aware of them. Pay attention to people and be there for them. Give others the gift of your presence and let God use you to minister to them. Tomorrow at church there will be someone who needs you. Will you be there for them?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Embrace that which gives life

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Christian community”

Our Bible verse for today: “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Embrace that which gives life”

This morning I want to continue our discussion from yesterday regarding grace and ungrace, and what kind of Christian community we are going to be. In that devotional I encouraged us to choose grace over ungrace and to be intentional about it. That lesson applies to the influences we allow into our lives as well.

Philippians 4:8 is a wonderful passage that encourages us to intentionally fill our lives with good positive influences that nurture our soul and promote spiritual growth. It reminds me of a life lesson I heard long ago and which I try make it a point to practice: “Reject that which drains you; embrace that which gives life.”

We typically apply the lesson of Philippians 4:8 to our personal lives – and that certainly is a good application of it. But the lesson also applies in the larger context to the Christian communities we choose to involve ourselves in. By “Christian communities” I’m referring first and foremost to our churches, but also to small-group Bible studies, fellowship events, and any other gatherings of professing Christians. Many of them are good and helpful, but some are not.

I encourage you to avoid toxic communities. You don’t need that in your life. Our society is negative enough to begin with, you don’t need toxic negativity in your gatherings with other Christians too. If your church or other gatherings of Christians is a negative experience, by all means, try to turn that around if you can – but don’t wait too long, don’t spend too much time immersed in the muck and mire of a negative experience. Doing so will hurt you.

Philippians 4:8 should apply to both your private life of discipleship and to your gatherings in Christian community. I encourage you to reject that which drains you and embrace that which gives life.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)