http://mbcnc.org/ en http://mbcnc.org/typo3conf/ext/tt_news/ext_icon.gif http://mbcnc.org/ 18 16 TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:17:00 -0600 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=32&cHash=640f988001e6f6eee22411225796112a New beginnings are almost always filled with excitement and hopeful anticipation. I can say... I am certain that God will call us into many new challenges and new adventures together. This will require focus and flexibility on our part and a willingness to color outside the lines at times. Our goal in all that we do is to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to carry the message of God’s grace and salvation to our community and world.  I am so thankful for the tremendous work that was accomplished through Dr. Tom Jenkins and Cheryl.  The congregation of Macedonia was truly blessed to have such leadership during the transition period.  So let us now sharpen our focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ and let us join hearts and hands as we move forward to accomplish the divinely appointed task that is before us. We love all of you very much!  God bless you. Pastor David and Maree]]> General pastor@mbcnc.org Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:17:00 -0600 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=31&cHash=10d462c08712477db3bbed66e08f345a For two years Macedonia Baptist Church has been preparing for the arrival of the next... General pastor@mbcnc.org Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:21:00 -0600 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=30&cHash=ff7c8e0ff94e6ae4a09f78dbf195af6f Macedonia Baptist Church is about missions; that is, we support mission work on a... General pastor@mbcnc.org Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:16:00 -0600 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=29&cHash=31e1bf69951be28fdc5fc75bafe4190e One of the questions we asked at Macedonia Baptist Church during the work of the... General pastor@mbcnc.org Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:54:00 -0500 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=28&cHash=81ce9e104867dccc8acd8f6a24cc8239 We recently baptized nine people in the waters of a nearby lake. Late on a Sunday...    We recently baptized nine people in the waters of a nearby lake. Late on a Sunday afternoon I waded out into the lake’s waters and nine people joined me. I baptized them one by one after asking each one two questions: “Have you repented of your sins” and “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” Each candidate said “Yes”. I then immersed each candidate after offering the familiar invocation, “In obedience to the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and upon your profession of faith in him, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” I then immersed each candidate. It was a grand evening. The congregation gathered on the shore of the lake sang “Amazing Grace” before the baptism and afterwards we feasted on the sumptuous food that had been brought in a multitude of picnic baskets.    You may question, “What is baptism?” In some faith families baptism is necessary to becoming a Christian. It is, in effect, the act of becoming a Christian. We Baptists believe that salvation does not come through Baptism, but it is a sign that one has become a Christian. The candidate has already repented of his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. His baptism is a public act that reveals to all who witness that he has become a Christian. One theologian described it as the “initiatory” experience of becoming a Christian meaning that it does not save one but it shows that one has become a Christian.    You may question, “Why baptize by immersion?” Good question. Symbolically, baptism by immersion identifies with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scripturally, baptism by immersion follows the example of John’s baptism of Jesus: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water…” Matt 3:16 NIV). In addition, a baptismal scene in Acts 8:36 indicates that the Apostle Phillip and the Ethiopian he baptized were both in the water.     The good news is that nine people were baptized in the lake because they had invited Jesus Christ into their lives. They now live as new people in Christ. They are destined for a life of meaning now and are heaven-bound. ]]> General pastor@mbcnc.org Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:28:00 -0500 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=27&cHash=dca6b4b0d0915d5494ef41464da36850 Baptist have a Bible teaching program we call Sunday School that has been around for...  is to align our programs, ministries and missions with these statements. The re-invention of Sunday School can occur at the point where we discover how to intentionally align Sunday School with our vision and core values. For example, one of our core values is evangelism. Sunday School may still be a viable option for reaching our goals for evangelism. ]]> General pastor@mbcnc.org Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:20:00 -0500 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=26&cHash=30e53f2d8425b9bfb92c4487aa419aac A healthy congregation engages its guests in a planned journey from the parking lot... General pastor@mbcnc.org Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:15:00 -0500 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=25&cHash=533546a49c67e0adb5957063b31cf737 This is my fourth blog entry about healthy congregations. Chris Gambill, Manager of... all seven characteristics of healthy congregations, but we are on the way. ]]> General pastor@mbcnc.org Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:06:00 -0500 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=24&cHash=0812684e3f9842af92d231af28be0c7a I have addressed in two previous blogs the subject of healthy congregations. I... ]]> General pastor@mbcnc.org Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:26:00 -0500 http://mbcnc.org/index.php?id=82&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=23&cHash=30069d8d09f7b0e5608668cf537944a2 Referencing a church’s health is a better indicator of its vitality than talking about... . So a congregation may have high numbers but low achievement as a vital congregation. Healthy congregations are achieving their divine mission and, consequently, are vital. Here are some indications of health.    Chris Gambill of the Center for Congregational Health, the Intentional Interim Ministry program was birthed by this center, lists several attributes of healthy congregations at http://www.healthychurch.org/doorpost/doorpost-june-27-2011. He reminds us that all churches have conflict. One difference between healthy and unhealthy churches is the way they handle conflict. Healthy congregations deal with conflict by integrating the biblical model in Acts 6 in their response to conflict. Acts 6 documents a conflict in the church over the distribution of food among the widows. Some of the widows thought that some other widows were receiving more than their fair share. The Apostles recognized the conflict, appointed a group of leaders to address the conflict and prevented the conflict from polarizing the congregation. A solution was found that satisfied everyone.    Moreover, Gambell reminds us that the New Testament church had to adapt to change. There was in the church a growing division between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. Some Jewish believers demanded that Gentile believers should become like them in following the laws they adhered to such as those regarding circumcision. The church resolved the potential conflict by accepting Gentile believers into the fellowship without  placing on them the restrictions of Jewish customs. The church changed to accept the new group of people that God brought into the congregation. Healthy churches accept change as a necessary and beneficial part of life. Healthy churches realize they cannot attract people of the digital age using methods that come from the analog age of the 1950’s.     We will continue this discussion. ]]> General pastor@mbcnc.org Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:19:00 -0500