New Highland Baptist Church Podcast

PART FOUR OF “I AM A CHURCH MEMBER SERIES” WHY PASTORS? TO SHEPHERD THE FLOCK -- John 10:14; Jeremiah 3:15; 1 Peter 5:2 WAYS PASTORS FUNCTION AS SHEPHERDS: 1. LEADERSHIP: • Overseer -- 1 Timothy 3:2 • Equip the Saints for Ministry -- Ephesians 4:11-12 2. PASTORAL CARE: (See Luke 10:33-35; Psalm 23) • Healing Ministry • Guiding Ministry • Sustaining Ministry • Protecting Ministry HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PASTORS: 1. ENCOURAGE 2. PROVIDE 3. PRAY ================================================== THE FOURTH PLEDGE: I am a church member. I will pray for my pastor every day. I understand that the pastor’s work is never ending. His days are filled with numerous demands that bring emotional highs and lows. He must deal with critics. He must be a good husband and father. Because my pastor cannot do all things in his own power, I will pray for his strength and wisdom daily.

PART THREE OF “I AM A CHURCH MEMBER SERIES” He [Jesus] sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35, MSG) STEPS FROM A “ME-ATTITUDE” TO A “WE-ATTITUDE” 1. Get Over Your SELFIE. – Luke 15:25-32 “Look, dear son,” his father said to him, “you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours…” (Luke 15:31, TLB) 2. Have a HEART for Others. – Luke 10:25-37 A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. (Luke 10:33, MSG) 3. Take a TOWEL. – John 13:1-17 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:15, NIV) 4. Have the MIND of Christ. – Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… (Phil. 2:5, NKJV) ================================================== THE THIRD PLEDGE: I am a church member. I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires. That is self-serving. I am a member in this church to serve

PART TWO OF “I AM A CHURCH MEMBER SERIES” “…walk worthy of the calling you have received…diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit…” (Eph. 4:1, 3). 1. Unity is vital to the HEALTH of a church - Ezra 3:10-13; Luke 5:17-20, 24b-26. 2. Unity is vital to the WITNESS of the church - John 13:34-35. UNITY BREAKERS: 1. GOSSIP and NEGATIVE talk will undermine unity - Ephesians 4:29-31; James 3:6. 2. UNFORGIVENESS and RESENTMENT will undermine unity - Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13-14; Matthew 6:14-15. ================================================== THE SECOND PLEDGE: I am a church member. I will seek to be a source of unity in my church. I know there are no perfect pastors, staff, or other church members. But neither am I. I will not be a source of gossip or dissension. One of the greatest contributions I can make is to do all I can in God’s power to help keep the church in unity for the sake of the gospel.

Part One of “I Am a Church Member Series” 1. You MATTER to God – 1 Cor. 12:27-28. 2. Christians are on the SAME TEAM -- 1 Cor. 12:26. 3. Church Membership is FOUNDED on Love – 1 Cor. 13: 4-5. 4. INACTIVE Church Membership is not Biblical – 1 Cor. 12:12-26. ================================================== THE FIRST PLEDGE: I am a church member. “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it” (1 Cor. 12:27). Because I am a member of the body of Christ, I must be a functioning member, whether I am an “eye,” an “ear,” or a “hand.” As a functioning member, I will give. I will serve. I will minister. I will evangelize. I will study. I will seek to be a blessing to others. I will remember that “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).

PART 3 OF “LIVE LIKE A MISSIONARY” MATTHEW 9:9-13 (v. 11) 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. (Matthew 9:10-12, NIV) KEY THOUGHT: YOU DON’T NEED TO GET OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH…YOU LIVE THERE ALREADY! FIVE STRATEGIES FOR MISSIONAL EFFECTIVENESS: 1. Be INTENTIONAL 2. Be WISE 3. Be YOURSELF 4. Be PATIENT 5. Be FLEXIBLE GO! 15 And then he told them, “You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. (Mark 16:15, TLB) Series adapted from "Live Like a Missionary" by Dr. Jeff Iorg

Sarah Castle, one of NHBC's youth, spoke during our worship service about her experience volunteering with Impact VA this summer. Impact Virginia is a mission that is supported by the Alma Hunt State Missions offering that is collected each September.

PART 2 OF “LIVE LIKE A MISSIONARY” 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom glory be for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-5, NIV). KEY THOUGHT: Missional Christians must stay ON MESSAGE as we connect with those in our circles of influence. GOSPEL DEFINED: “GOOD News” (GK euaggelion – Mark 1:15) 1. Jesus is the WAY of salvation. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Luke 19:10; Romans 10:9) 2. Salvation is RECEIVED, not ACHIEVED. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9) 3. Salvation is available to EVERYONE. (Acts 10:34-35; Romans 10:13) 4. Salvation affects the WHOLE person. (2 Corinthians 5:17) • Initial Change (regeneration/justification) • Continual Change (sanctification) • Ultimate Change (glorification)

PART 1 OF “LIVE LIKE A MISSIONARY” 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15, NIV) MISSIONARY: Usually a person who moves to a distant location to invest his [her] life… • Sharing the gospel. • Strengthening church leaders. • Meeting human needs. • Contributing to the expansion of God’s kingdom. God calls a FEW believers to be missionaries; He assigns ALL believers missionary-like responsibilities. MISSIONAL: A missional Christian understands God’s mission and shapes his or her life accordingly. Being missional is about PEOPLE, not PLACES. FIVE ESSENTIAL PRAYERS FOR MISSIONAL EFFECTIVENESS: 1. For more PEOPLE to join the harvest. (Matthew 9:35-38) 2. For more OPPORTUNITIES to share the gospel. (Colossians 4:3) 3. For bold INSIGHT for sharing the gospel. (Ephesians 6:19-20) 4. For the gospel to SPREAD rapidly. (2 The

PART 5 OF “BEING RICH” SERIES WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR MONEY AND TIME REVEALS WHAT YOU VALUE IN YOUR HEART. Jesus: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21) DON’T BE RICH IN THE WRONG WAY (Luke 12:16-21) 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21) HOW TO BE RICH TOWARD GOD Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Tim. 6:17-18, NIV) GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH MORE THAN I NEED. I’M RICH. I WILL NOT TRUST IN RICHES, BUT IN HIM WHO RICHLY PROVIDES. BECAUSE I HAVE MORE, I WILL GIVE MORE AND DO MORE.

PART 4 OF “BEING RICH” SERIES Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Tim. 6:17-18, NIV) GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH MORE THAN I NEED. I’M RICH. I WILL NOT TRUST IN RICHES, BUT IN HIM WHO RICHLY PROVIDES. BECAUSE I HAVE MORE, I WILL GIVE MORE AND DO MORE. WE ARE NOT SAVED BY GOOD WORKS BUT SAVED FOR GOOD WORKS. (Ephesians 2:8-10) MY GOOD DEEDS… 1. Should point to GOD—not ME. (Matthew 5:14-16) 2. Must help others in the way they NEED it not in the way I WANT to give it. • Acts 10:38 – Helping without hurting. • Matthew 5:41 – Truly serving beyond our comfort zone. 3. Will glorify God through his CHURCH. (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 4:33b-34)

PART 3 OF “BEING RICH” SERIES QUESTION: WHY DID GOD MAKE YOU RICH? You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11, NIV 1984) Command [those who are rich] to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Tim. 6:17-18, NIV) God has blessed me with more than I need. I’m rich. I will not trust in riches, but in him who richly provides. Because I have more, I will GIVE more. 1. Truly rich people give STRATEGICALLY. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. (Malachi 3:10a) • Tithing teaches me to put God FIRST. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. (Deut. 14:23, TLB) • Tithing increases my FAITH in God. Test me in this,”

Part 2 of "Being Rich" Series KEY THOUGHT: THE WORLD WANTS YOU TO SERVE MONEY. No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24, NIV) MONEY IS THE NUMBER ONE COMPETITOR FOR YOUR HEART. WHY? MONEY PROMISES WHAT ONLY GOD CAN PROVIDE: 1) HAPPINESS If only I had enough, I’d be happy. 2) SECURITY If only I made_____, I’d feel secure. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Tim. 6:17-18, NIV) God has blessed me with more than I need. I’m rich. I will not trust in RICHES, but in HIM who richly provides. PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND TRUST MONEY: 1) Never have ENOUGH. Eccl. 5:10; Prov. 18:11 2) Find it increasin

PART 1 OF “BEING RICH” SERIES Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Tim. 6:17-19, NIV) 1. The good news is: you are RICH! Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them…this is a gift of God. (Eccl. 5:19) • God has blessed me with MORE than I need. I’m RICH. 2. The bad news is: you are RICH! Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:24-25) THREE CHALLENGES OF

I AM JESUS--PART 4 Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV) WHY IS BEING CONNECTED IMPORTANT? “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1) 1. Staying connected produces FRUIT. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… (Gal. 5:22-23, NLT) 2. Being disconnected produces NOTHING. …apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:5-6) HOW DO WE STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE? • DO WHAT JESUS SAYS If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have ke

Three Things Everyone Should Know About Doubt 1. Doubt can be a NEGATIVE force. 2. Doubt can be a POSITIVE force. 3. God wants us to OVERCOME any doubt.

I AM JESUS--PART 3 "I Am the Light of the World" Jesus said, …I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12, NIV) …Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God… (Acts 26:17-18, NLT) THE LAW, THE LOVE, THE LIGHT 1. The LAW reveals our GUILT. -- JOHN 8:2-6 2. The LOVE reveals God’s GRACE. -- JOHN 8:6, 7, 8-11 3. The LIGHT reveals our HOPE. -- JOHN 8:12; 12:46; MICAH 7:8 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46) Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Micah 7:8) Questions for Reflection: • What guilt might Jesus be revealing

Several of our youth and children spoke about their experiences the prior week. The NHYM youth traveled to Sea Palms in Myrtle Beach on a mission trip. Our Kids in Christ attended the CentriKid Camp at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg.

Part 2 - Winning the Battles that Matter Most RECAP FROM PART 1… MEN: God created you with the heart of a WARRIOR. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. (Exodus 15:2-3, NIV) • We are created to fight for what’s RIGHT. • We are called to win the battles that MATTER MOST. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TWO PRINCIPLES TO FIGHT FOR WHAT’S RIGHT AND TO WIN THE BATTLES THAT MATTER MOST: 1. Sometimes you THROW a PUNCH. (metaphor) Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed dow

MEN: GOD CREATED YOU WITH THE HEART OF A WARRIOR. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. (Exodus 15:2-3, NIV) • We are created to fight for what’s RIGHT. • We are called to win the battles that MATTER MOST. WHERE HAVE ALL THE WARRIORS GONE? So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezek. 22:30, NKJV) TWO PRINCIPLES EVERY WARRIOR MUST KNOW: 1. Every warrior has a CAUSE to fight for. Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. (Nehemiah 4:14, NIV) 2. A warrior without a cause to fight FOR will find the wrong thing to fight AGAINST. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women

Three of our high school graduates gave their testimonies. Courtney Gunn Taylor Hutchinson Missy Powell