this wekend @ sfbc - October 4th

SFBC Family,

This weekend begins fall break for many of our students and families. If you will be traveling this weekend or next week please have a safe and blessed trip. A little down time is good for everyone. It can helps us to refocus our lives and what is really important. On Sunday, we will be on our regular schedule. There are several people involved in Crazy Love Bible Studies on Sunday evenings but there is still a Bible Study time in the sanctuary at 6pm and choir rehearsal at 7pm. On Wednesday next week there will be a joint service at 7pm. There is no AWANA and this joint service will allow us to all be together for a time of worship. DeWayne will be leading the service and I will be there. Please plan on attending.

This week I read an article written by Thom Rainer. In it, Dr Rainer, warns of the signs an unhealthy church. I am interested in church health because healthy churches grow both spiritually and numerically. They love God and seek to make Him know. Here is a portion of the article.

Five Warning Signs

What were some of the warning signs my team saw? Though the list is not exhaustive, these five issues were common. Some of the churches had a one or two on the list; some had all five.

1. The church has few outwardly focused ministries. Most of the budget dollars in the church are spent on the desires and comforts of church members. The ministry staff spends most of its time taking care of members, with little time to reach out and minister to the community the church is supposed to serve.

2. The dropout rate is increasing. Members are leaving for other churches in the community, or they are leaving the local church completely. A common exit interview theme we heard was a lack of deep biblical teaching and preaching in the church.

3. The church is experiencing conflict over issues of budgets and building. When the focus of church members becomes how the facilities and money can meet their preferences, church health is clearly on the wane.

4. Corporate prayer is minimized. If the church makes prayer a low priority, it makes God a low priority.

5. The pastor has become a chaplain. The church members view the pastor as their personal chaplain, expecting him to be on call for their needs and preferences. When he doesn’t make a visit at the expected time, or when he doesn’t show up for the Bible class fellowship, he receives criticism. In not a few cases, the pastor has lost his job at that church because he was not omnipresent for the church members.

Where Do We Go from Here?

The bad news is that few churches recover if the patterns above become normative. The church is a church in name only. It is self-gratifying rather than missional. It is more concerned about great comfort than the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
The good news is that a few churches have moved from sickness to health. The path was not easy. It first required that the congregants be brutally honest with themselves and God. It does no good to speak glowingly of a church that is unhealthy and getting worse.
Many of the turnaround churches we consulted then moved to a time of corporate confession and repentance. They confessed to God their lack of obedience and their selfish desire for their own comfort.

And still other churches made an intentional effort to shift the ministries and the money of the church to a greater outward focus. This step can be particularly painful since a number of church members often protest with vigor that their needs are no longer being met.

To Become a Healthy Church
Indeed we could focus on the reality that the great majority of sick churches do not recover. But that focus provides little value.

We should look at the admittedly few churches that have moved from sickness to health. We should learn how they turned from an inward focus to an outward focus. We should follow their examples of moving from selfish desires to radical obedience to God.

In His power the unhealthy church can become healthy.

Heed the warning signs.

It could be the difference between life and death.

The good news is that our church family has often been identified as a turn-around and healthy church. But, it is easy to slipped back into bad habits. I know what to do and to avoid to be personally healthy, I know to east right and exercise. But these things take work to keep me on the path to physical health. As a church, we need to be sure we do the things that cause and bring spiritual health to our congregation.

I hope to see you this weekend.
Bro Norm

Men's Prayer
Men's prayer and fellowship will meet tonight at the home of Gary and Jan Clifford. The meeting begins at 7pm. Please join us for a special time of prayer.

WOM Ministry Need
We have a need for basic baby items for a young soon to be mother. Diapers, wipes, baby powder, lotion, etc. All of the things anyone would need to get by. This baby is due very soon and the doctors have indicated that there could be some issues due to the brains under development. The is a boy so any new or gently used clothing or blankets would be great as well. Let's extend the hand of God to show love to this family. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact Sandy Kidd or Machelle McDowell. Items need to be received by October 11th. Thank you.

Hoodies for Kids
We are participating in a project to provide a new hoodie for kids in LaRue County. The hoodies are $20 and will be provided to a needy child in LaRue County. Here's how to help. Pick up a card at the welcome center (the card will remind you to provide the gift and help us in know how many hoodies we are providing.) Our goal is to provide at least 30 hoodies. Then, return the card with a check designated Hoodies for Kids. The card should be returned with your check, there will be a paper clip on each card. We need to have them returned by October 18th. Sorry, we can not except used hoodies for this project. But, we will soon be collecting clothes for giveaway and will glad take used hoodies then. Thanks for your gift for a child.

World Hunger Offering
World Hunger Day is October 11th. You may pick up your offering jar next Sunday. These will be available at the welcome center. Here is a link to the web site http://worldhungerfund.com/

5th Quarter
5th Quarter following the Larue County football game on Friday will be hosted at First Baptist Church. Students please attend.