Thought for the Month - June 2009

How many Baptists... By Barry Adair

(Change of heart)

After a recent Bible Study in Grove I observed 4 of our men trying to change a light bulb.

It reminded me about a joke one of my Presbyterian friends sent me…

Q: How many Baptists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: What do you mean “change”??!

or there is always my favourite…

Q: How many Baptists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Ten - one to actually change the bulb, and nine to say how much they liked the old one!

“Change” is something we Baptists do not do very well. Occasionally, some less than wise changes observed in other churches have perhaps fuelled the argument that we should hold tight to past traditions and methods. However, change is attainable, while still holding fast to our Biblical foundation.

Within our world today change is all around us. To quote another Bob Dylan song this month, “the times they are a-changing”. I have no idea what our pensioners today make of the changes they have seen in their lifetimes as I have witnessed vast changes in just 40 years. Of course, the Bible speaks of rapid change in the 'end times'… increase in knowledge, in travel, in natural disasters and also in sin against God and man.

On saying all this, churches HAVE to change. Our message remains the same, our mandate remains the same but those we long to reach have changed! If the people of the area no longer come to our church, then we must go out to meet them. Technology is being used to help spread the gospel worldwide, let us also use these God given opportunities to widen the outreach of our own churches.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matt 28:18-20

We in Grove are looking forward to the induction of a new Pastor. Having been vacant for almost 6 years now, we are looking to God, with anticipation, for what He would accomplish in this new era for our church.

As I write this, just last Friday night, another young lad at our Youth Club put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. That young lad was changed last Friday, his life truly transformed. And what a night for our 'Pastor in waiting' to visit and give his testimony!! 

Therefore if any man is in Christ, He is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Cor 5:17

Now that is just the kind of change that we all want to see happen again and again in Grove - hearts changed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! The Lord Jesus Christ changed the lives of those He came into contact with over 2000 years ago and He still changes lives today.

And He (Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; Romans 10:9

(All Bible quotations are from the NASB)

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!