Prayer focus

Posted:07-21-2008
Prayer list
We need your support to pray with us for:

• Thankful hearts
• Wisdom
• Discernment
• Alignment with Christ
• Unity in the body of Christ
• Spiritual protection
• Righteousness- individually, as a team, as a church
• The man God is preparing to be our senior pastor

Pray  that at the right time, according to God’s timeline, we will be filled with the Spirit and be able to hear God say, “This is the man.”

Devotion for July 27,2008

Posted:07-30-2008

We invited Randy Cress, the Chairman of the Deacon Body, to share a devotion with the pastor search committee at our meeting Sunday afternoon, July 27, 2008. The devotion is applicable to our objective, which is to detect God's will in determining who will be the next senior pastor for Colonial Heights Baptist Church. It is also applicable to other decisions, big or small, that we need to make as individuals, as a families, or as a church body of believers. Here is the outline of what was shared from God's word:

1. -Responsibility
2. -How Will You Recognize God’s Man-1Samuel 16:7 “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed stands here before the LORD.”” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
3. -If you want to ensure that you will have no regrets looking back
   • Fear God more than anyone in the church
     1. Ps 25:14 “The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”
     2. Ps 147:11 “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”
   • Trust God Alone- Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall direct your paths.
   • Obey God- 1 Sam 15:22 “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices a much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
   • Promise of God- John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Biblical communication

Posted:08-15-2008
Bible based principles for effective communication can address the basic needs that each of us has to feel valued, appreciated, heard, understood, and included. These principles apply to all relationships including in the home with our spouse and with our children, at work with our co workers, our employees and our bosses, at church, at school, and anywhere in the community. As a committee our communication with each other will contribute to establishing trust to pursue God’s direction.

Let no unkind word...

• Maintain or enhance self esteem.
  • Ephesians 4:29. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
  • Romans 15:2. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
  • 1 Corinthians 16:14. Do everything in love.
  • Colossians 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom
• Listen and respond with empathy.
  • Ephesians 4:32. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
  • Galatians 6:2. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
  • Colossians 3:12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
  • Romans 12:10-12. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
• Ask for help and work as a team
  • Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

September 14 Update

Posted:09-13-2008
September 14,2008 Update Philippians 12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, The question for each of us is; what has happened in our life that has resulted in the advancement of the gospel? As we reflected on this last week, each of us shared a special time when God worked in our lives. A common aspect of each testimony is the experience can be happy and pleasant or sad and frustrating. Looking back with a smile or even through tears, we can see how God has used those experiences to increase our faith and the faith of others. In Rome but under house arrest, Paul can see how God is using his circumstances to advance the gospel . As 24/7 Christians, the question becomes what have we done this week or today that has “actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel?” Our search for a senior pastor must be focused on advancing the gospel. It requires faith that God will reveal His choice and confidence that God will provide a positive response from the man He has called to Colonial Heights. It is amazing that God has confidence in us, as a body of believers, to use us to select the next under shepherd for Colonial Heights Baptist Church. The PSC is making progress. We are developing trust among each other. We have interviewed three staff ministers and the chair of the strategic planning committee. We are learning about every aspect of the ministry God has at Colonial Heights. The spirit is evident as we gather to worship. Attendance has been excellent. Dr. Bisagno continues to deliver powerful messages that the Lord is using to equip us to do ministry. Your prayers are appreciated as Satan tries to divert our concentration. Please pray Philippians 1:9-11, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”