Saturday’s EQUIP training featured a talk from Rick Howerton and two breakout sessions customized around the stage and type of Life Groups at FBCTLH. Howerton addressed leadership of Life Groups. He challenged us to “lead wisely not demandingly.” When facilitating Life Groups, we need to demonstrate our integrity as good people rather than forcing our […]
Read More » Last night, 80 leaders gathered in the Quad for Life Groups:EQUIP training weekend. Rick Howerton, a small groups consultant, led a workshop on “Life Groups that Transform a City.” He challenged us to form groups with people who are uninvolved in anyone’s church. He said that we’ll find them in the various places, phases, and pursuits […]
Read More »This Sunday, we’ll have the privilege of meeting Rev. John Rice who comes in view of a call to be our Executive Pastor. John grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Fletcher High School then Palm Beach Atlantic College. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his […]
Read More »
I’ve always thought of fasting as sort of the discipline of last resort. If I can’t figure out what to do, or if I’m going through a difficult time, fasting is the last ditch effort on the part of the Christian. I’ve learned differently. As Scot McKnight suggests in an article on fasting, we don’t […]
Read More » This month, I’m encouraging our church to skip one meal each week. Hopefully by now, you’ve tried it. If not, find a “fasting buddy” who can hold you accountable. Schedule a time to fast at the same time. Text each other as encouragement. As you do, Richard Foster suggests the following scriptures that encourage us […]
Read More »Fasting has never been high on the list of Baptist disciplines. Feasting, yes. Fasting… maybe if we’re in a real bind. Jesus certainly warns us about fasting for attention (Matthew 6). That doesn’t get us out of the practice; I have just ignored the discipline. Prior to Easter, most Christians forego something like chocolate. Other […]
Read More » By now, hopefully you’ve skipped at least one meal—or tried to do so. It’s ok if you sneaked a cracker. The point is that you tried, and you’ve learned that you can live off 2 meals in one day. What do you do during the time you’d normally eat? In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster […]
Read More » Jesus fasted for 40 days after baptism. In the Sermon on the Mount, he instructed his disciples how to fast. During Lent, most Christians abstain from something (like chocolate) as part of the season of preparation for Easter. Fasting is a part of the Christian life. In prison, Paul knew how to be content when […]
Read More »“Dad, who’s Florida State versing today?” “Versing?” I asked. “Is that what you said?” “Yes, versing,” Drake replied. Drake heard the word “versus,” normally used for “Florida vs. Florida State.” By the sound, he turned the word into “verse.” When he heard the sports commentators describing two teams competing against each other, he heard, “Florida […]
Read More »When churches want to multiply their impact in a community, they start small. Just ask our friends who go across the world as missionaries. After moving to a new place, they meet neighbors, attend schools, and eat meals. As they go, they share faith and life together with others. Now, we’re on mission here in […]
Read More »