The Temptation in the Temporary

Every Church Planter I know has a vision and desire to see the new work eventually move from temporary locations and become an established church in their cities. If you go back to the earliest posts here on Ground Up, you'll see mentions of times when the church I pastor was meeting in coffee shops, hotel conference rooms, and small storefront buildings. Those were necessary steps in our journey and those early days hold great memories for us. In fact, we've worked to keep some of the settings as a part of our ministries even as we've grown beyond those original locations. As we've grown and expanded ministries, we've continued to look ahead to the time when we would become more established in our city. This year is the time.

It has been a busy year as we move toward a permanent location for the first time since the church was planted. We have been working on the purchase of land, and building a new building for Joyful Life Ministries. People have given sacrificially. Every person at JLM, in every age group and demographic, has gotten involved in giving, fundraising, and support. Donors from outside our church body have given toward our goal. It has been inspiring to see the excitement level!

What did we deal with on the way to this new place that God has provided? Common temptations that every Church Planter will struggle with as they move from the temporary to the permanent:

One of the temptations of God's people on the way to God's promise is the temptation to settle too soon.

Recently I read this reminder:"Don't think permanent thoughts in a temporary place." - Rev. J.B. Sims
While we have enjoyed our temporary locations, and each one has been better than the last, we've had to stay mindful of God's promise. Each place was a stop along the journey. Some lasted longer than others, but none of them have been the permanent place God wanted for His Church in this city.  Israel, after being delivered from Egypt, struggled with this temptation. In one leg of their journey, they found an oasis that was so much better than anything they had experienced in Egypt, they were ready to set up camp and stake a claim. The problem? The place was better than Egypt, but not nearly

Romans: Expository Preaching and Teaching

For the last couple of months, I have been teaching and preaching through the book of Romans. It has been a deliberate and rewarding process. I've intentionally slowed down and dug deeper into verse-by-verse study. I've pulled many books from my study at church and home: history books, word studies, Bibles and commentaries. What I've rediscovered is a book that is as culturally-relevant to our nation and world today as it was to the Church in Rome when Paul wrote it.

Romans chapter 1 was easy to stay in and dwell on for a good long while. Romans 1:21 has received much attention during this series:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

 The content of that verse and the resulting fallout that's described from verses 21-32 concludes the first chapter with a description of humanity that sounds like it could be pulled from a modern-day news headline. Paul was confronting spirits and battles that have become all too frequent to us today.

One of the books I started during my study of Romans was The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. Originally a six-volume set considered a literary masterpiece by many, this book was recommended by Bro. Philip Harrelson in a Bible study he taught during the Summer. I tracked down my oversize three-volume set at a used bookstore and started reading. What I found so far was a indeed a

Holman CSB Study Bible, Leather, Full-Color, Review

I have really come to appreciate the Holman CSB Study Bible and it is close at hand in my study. This Bible is beautiful with color pages, photographs, maps, charts, and illustrations. With all of the notes, study guides, and commentary included, it feels like a library resource bundled with your Bible. It's BIG. 2,368 pages. It's heavy. 4 pounds. It's probably not going to be your every day carry Bible or even your take-to-the-pulpit Bible for preaching and teaching. I happen to like the size of this Bible, though. There's something special about picking up the Bible and feeling the weight of it, and turning the pages and seeing page after page of the Word of God illustrated and outlined so well. One note regarding the page-turning process: My edition has the silver gilded pages, and it is a slow process to separate the pages when you first get your copy. Be prepared for that task. The pages seem thin, even by Bible standards, and the gilded pages take some time and caution to separate.

Even if you don't carry this Bible daily, it might serve as one of your go-to study Bibles, as it has for me. If you appreciate more conservative theology, you will likely enjoy the commentary and notes included throughout this edition. I have been pleasantly surprised to read so many notes that are based on a strong conviction of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. In spite of our modern times and the redefining of many things in our culture, this Bible's notes provide a clear stance and alignment with God's Word in the areas I've read so far. For a Bible published so recently, this is a rare achievement. There are articles and study notes included that read very "old school" with conservative theology you don't find in many circles, Bibles, or books these days. It is a welcome addition and return to God's Word.

This Bible has many articles and expository notes that are distinctly counter-culture. They don't try to explain away or redefine confrontational or convicting passages throughout the Bible. This Bible is beautiful and well-made, but its content alone is worth the investment. I use it as a parallel study reference with my primary KJV Bible and commentaries. In fact, portions of it serve as a useful one-volume commentary.

I highly recommend this Bible. I purchased the real leather cover edition, at a steep discount due to a slight imperfection on the front cover. Retail price on this Bible was once around $160. Christian Books.com, where I purchased my discounted copy, had a copy recently on sale for $95. My copy was well below even that discounted price, so if you keep a watchful eye out, you might get a great deal on this excellent resource. You can currently get the hardcover version for around $30, and if you plan to keep this on your desk or in your study as a reference, hardcover might work for you.

https://www.christianbook.com/bible-black-premium-leather-thumb-indexed/9781433648069/pd/648069?event=ESRCG
I purchased my copy and provided this review without any requests from ChristianBook.com or Holman publishers.

Remembering Pastor Tom Simison, The Bible Church, Indianapolis - Pastor Appreciation Month, 2017

Bro. Tom Simison was my pastor for a short time, but the impact of his ministry will last a lifetime.

Bro. Simison preached many messages that impacted and blessed me and I remember one time during his message, "Sons Not Servants" Bro. Simison was clearly moved with a burden to connect this powerful concept to the congregation. He said, "I wish I could deliver this the way I feel it in my heart tonight." You could feel his desire to be a vessel that the Word could flow through to the Church. I know he was that vessel in many ways!I served as an assistant youth pastor and Sunday School teacher at The Bible Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, when Bro. Simison was pastor. I felt like Bro. Simison was a kind man who was always happy to see us. Even after we moved, when we would visit or see him at a conference or service somewhere, he would always smile and say "Bro. McGee!" in such a way that it was like a long-awaited reunion.

A couple of years after my wife and I started the church in Richmond, Kentucky, I invited Bro. Simison down to preach our dedication service. His health was struggling at the time, and he told me often he would have to sit down while he preached. He asked me if I still wanted him to come. I said, "Bro. Simison, you can preach better sitting down than any preacher can standing up! We will get you a special seat for the platform just for you." He came and preached for us and I remember he got so stirred up in the sermon that he barely sat down. Years later, people that attended that service still ask about Bro. Simison and reference that message!While he was with us in Richmond, we went out to eat and talked about the ministry and burden for Richmond. At the time, we had not seen very many of the major milestones a young church wants to see. I was discouraged and trying to make sure I hadn't missed God's timing. Bro. Simison asked me, "Did God call you here, Bro. McGee? Do you believe He brought you to this city?" I said I believed God did. Bro. Simison said, "Then you don't give up and don't quit. You keep believing and doing what God called you here to do. And you will see the harvest." That word kept me through many battles in the years that followed that conversation. It was Bro. Simison who told me,

Has God Said?

 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? -Genesis 3:1

In the Garden of Eden, the enemy's first attack was against the Word of God. "Has God said?" That question is being echoed in our day from many different directions, even within the Church walls.

"Has God said?" It's being labeled as a question of academic speculation. It's being painted as open-mindedness. But if these questions stir doubts about what God said, they are the beginning of deception and devilish doctrines. Every doubtful question about the accuracy of God's Word has its roots in that first question in the Garden.

"Has God said?" I've read far too many Christian books and articles lately that question the validity, the origin, and the Source of the Bible. I capitalize "Source" here because I believe God is the Source of the Bible. Detractors argue that there are many sources who contrived, wrote, and collected the Bible in a less inspired way than what we've been led to believe by the Bible.

I go to the Source and see that:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Deception, Part 2: How to Stop It

 This is part 2 of an article I've written on Deception and the sneaking and creeping efforts to infiltrate the Church. For Part 1: How to Spot Deception, click here: Deception, Part 1

Pastors, if you've seen the red flags and warning signs that deception has worked its way into some dangerous and influential places in your church, I encourage you to take action. Letting deception continue to spin its web and gain traction and influence is deadly. If deception has been working its wiles for awhile, there is already some damage done. It's not the time for complacency or fear. This does not mean we should act in haste without prayer and wisdom preceding our actions. In fact, it's time to spend more time in prayer, call on trusted ministers who will pray with you, and prepare your heart and spirit for the battle to come. When you have covered the situation with prayer and have others praying with and for you, it's time to arm yourself with the following weapons:

Weapons Against Deception

1) Love for the Truth - Respond to deception's attack with a greater love for and examination of the Truth of God's Word. Explore more deeply the foundational Apostolic doctrines. Study verse-by-verse the book of Acts, drawing from the Apostolic Church a clear blueprint of what the Church should look like and experience. Dig into the epistles of Paul, where he openly confronted deception in the Church and admonished the Church body to love and keep the Truth. Examine Bible books and chapters verse-by-verse seeking the truth and power that comes from reading and studying God's Word. As our local Church has followed these steps, we've seen and felt a renewed dedication to the Truth and Biblical doctrine.

Deception, Part 1: How to Spot It

I have been increasingly concerned about the level of deception that is attempting infiltration in the Church. Having battled and withstood similar attempts, our church dug deeper into the Word of God to reaffirm our love for the Truth and ensure that our steps were being ordered by God's Word. The more we studied and read, the more we noted this battle throughout the New Testament, and in the churches Paul addressed in his epistles.

Deception's attack has been subtle in some cases, as is its custom. I have seen the attacks against the church I pastor and have heard other pastors express their similar concerns. On a global scale, this is also a concern for the Church body. We are seeing deception increase in our world. Read Romans 1 for the phases of this downward spiral. A key moment in that passage is verse 25, when they "change the truth of God into a lie..."
Truth is vital and deception is deadly. How can the Church guard against deception? We must know how to recognize it, and the earlier the better.

Atmospheres that Promote Deception

1) In absence of accountability and oversight, deception sneaks in. False doctrines can work their way in through unguarded gates. Paul discovered this tragic reality when his travels took him away from the churches he planted and he had to marvel that the believers were "so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6-9)  What are some of the unguarded gates in churches? Is there accountability between ministry leaders, teachers and the pastor? Is there a shared foundation that ensures teaching and preaching is consistent and in one accord? Are the various ministries on the same page? I'm not just talking about "We all teach from the same Bible." We know how many wrong directions people can go while citing the Bible as their common source. Among our ministry leaders and teachers, we can use shared curriculum,  and we should have a shared purpose and vision, and clear guidelines on what sources we will and will not use. After those lines are drawn, accountability helps ensure that all are following those shared paths and no one is veering off wildly from the body of Christ.