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A Dull Blade

Posted on Apr 6, 2020 by Brian McAllister in All |

A spear with no blade is nothing more than a stick. A bullet with no projectile is a blank. While the stick can injure and the blank can scare, neither really does what it’s counterpart can. Neither of them can pierce as a spear and bullet is meant to pierce the object of its attack. In battle, the stick and the blank would prove inferior weapons indeed!

Such is the case with a sermon without the gospel. The Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” In other words: He came with the gospel.

A sermon without the gospel can sound great. Blank bullets sound like the real ones. A sermon can even hurt or “step on toes.” A blow from a good stick will leave a bruise. Yet, if the sermon lacks the gospel, it cannot pierce the heart of a believer and lead them to salvation. A.W. Tozer expounds on this point in his book “The Crucified Life”:

According to the testimony in Acts 2:37, the result of Peter’s preaching was that men “were pricked in their hearts.” The word “pricked” here simply means pierced lightly. Pierced lightly and yet so deep that the original Greek word had a qualifying and intensifying prefix on it. When the Scripture says they pierced the side of Jesus with the spear and found that He was already dead (see John 19: 34), the word “pierced” is translated from one word. The original word used in Acts has a qualifying and intensifying prefix to it, indicating that the words of Peter went further into the hearts of the hearers than the spear of the soldier went into the side of Jesus. So the Holy Spirit carried the spear point of truth into the hearts of the people and they cried, “What shall we do?”

A sermon without the gospel cannot pierce the heart of unbelievers no matter how great it sounds or how hard it steps on our toes. Just telling someone they need a relationship with Jesus or that they will spend an eternity in hell is not enough. It’s a bullet with a bang but no bite. It’s a wasted sermon.

We need to share God’s Design – How God created all things including people, how He created people to live in harmony with Him and with one another. We need to share mankind’s brokenness and need of a Savior – Sin broke that harmony in which the world was created. Because of sin, our lives our broken. It cost us joy and fellowship with God and instead brought deserving judgment. Tragically, there is nothing we can do to fix it. All our attempts fail. We need to share the good news, the Gospel – By God’s grace and mercy, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. Jesus lived a perfect life, willingly died for our sins, then rose from the grave, sharing His victory over sin, death, and the grave with those who would trust in Him. All people are then called to believe on this ‘Good News,’trusting in Jesus’ saving work and repenting, turning from their sinful ways and embracing the life Jesus calls us to live. When Jesus saves us, His righteousness becomes ours, and the punishment for our sins is absorbed fully by His death on the cross.

We are sinners. He is not. He died and then rose. These are the essential truths of the Christian faith. If one part is left out, the gospel has not been preached. Sadly, this is often the case. Many sermons tell people they need to make a decision to follow Jesus without ever telling them the reason why they need to follow Jesus. Yes, it’s our only way heaven. Yes, it brings us joy. But these are not the real reason we trust Jesus. A person cannot be saved if he/she does not hear that he is a sinner in need of salvation. Many times we leave out vital parts of the gospel because we assume that the hearers already know it. This is a foolish mistake for two reasons: 1) Even those who are in the “Bible Belt” and many who are on church membership rolls don’t know the gospel. 2) Those who do know the gospel need to hear it as much as those who don’t. We need to be reminded of the beauty of the gospel and God’s relentless grace.

To my preacher friends I say, preach the gospel. Sure, preach about how to have a good marriage or how to have a good prayer life. These are beneficial things about which the Word of God speaks clearly. However, unless the gospel is preached, we cannot in good conscience give an invitation. I urge you, brethren, sharpen the tip of your spear and wield the weapon of the gospel with truth and grace, for we are surely in a battle for the souls of men. To those in my faith family who are faithfully seeking to have gospel conversations, make sure that your message, the full message of the gospel, hits its mark. I am praying for you, and I am confident that souls will be saved as you patiently proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

By His Grace

Pastor Brian

Mar '20

Romans 12, Sunday School, & Covid19

Posted on Mar 27, 2020 by Trey Etheridge in All |

Mar '20

Beloved,

I would encourage you today to meditate on Romans 12. Paul begins by exhorting us to present our BODIES to God and to be TRANSFORMED by the renewal of our MINDS. He continues in v.3-21 with numerous examples (actually commands) of what that looks like in the life of the believer. In other words, if this is who you say you are, then you will be transformed into someone who does these things. You will WANT to. Read more…

Mar '20

Coronoavirus Update: 3/23

Posted on Mar 23, 2020 by Brian McAllister in All |

Mar '20

Dear FBCJ Family,

I pray all is well with you. Today starts week two of our “social distancing” endeavor. As I reflect over the last week, several things come to mind:

We were not meant to distance ourselves from one another. Only one week has passed, and it feels like a month has gone by without enjoying face-to-face fellowship with loved ones. I pray that we all can see the beauty of God’s design for the gathering of the local church. Hebrews 10:24-25, “Let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
I am thankful for those in the medical field. I have had the privilege for five years to minister as a chaplain to the employees of several nursing home facilities. Their work, as is the case with all of those in the medical field today, is difficult. In this last couple of weeks, I have watched them rise to the challenge. They need our prayers, our words of encouragement, and our gratitude. Think of someone in the medical field and encourage them today.
Finally, God is reminding us of His sovereignty. Though nations are shaken, God’s Kingdom is not. As believers we are part of that Kingdom. God is demonstrating His control over the world and showcasing the steadfastness of His Kingdom. May we be comforted and emboldened by this realization! Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Now as we look toward week two of “social distancing,” let me encourage you in the following ways:

Focus on your spiritual health. God has slowed us all down and given us the time to meet with Him. Read and study your Bible. Spend time in prayer. Read a biblically sound Christian book. I would like to encourage to you to read “The Crucified Life: How To Live Out A Deeper Christian Experience.” The Kindle version is FREE on Amazon. I am starting this book today and would love to discuss it with you during this time. What an excellent opportunity to grow together!
Please continue to give. I know this is a hard time and understand that family budgets may need to be adjusted. Our church will continue to watch and make changes as well. Let’s remember that the ministry of the church must continue, and that God will honor our faithfulness.
Contact faith family members every day. Let’s continue to check on one another during this time. In doing so, make sure you contact individuals that may not be in your regular circle of friends. Let’s make sure we don’t let anyone fall through the cracks. Think of the blessing it will be to build new relationships!
Prepare for next Sunday by thinking through ways you can engage one another in your home. Melanie and I took some extra time after the sermon to talk to the kids about the sermon and pray for specific requests from them.
Keep up to date on what’s going at FBCJ by checking out our website and Facebook page. We are planning and working to make other resources available to you in the days to come. Don’t miss out. If you have questions or need anything, please email us or call the church office.

I know this is a difficult time but let us remember where help comes from. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2

By His Grace

Pastor Brian

Mar '20

Coronavirus Update: 3/19

Posted on Mar 19, 2020 by Brian McAllister in All |

Mar '20

Dear FBCJ Family,

I pray all is well with you. Yesterday, evening Bro. Trey and I collaborated with our deacons to evaluate our “Crisis Ministry Plan.” Let me first say how thankful I am for the staff at FBCJ. Ms. Tiffany Crim is working to make sure our facilities our clean and virus free. Larry Cryer has gone above and beyond in caring for the administration needs of our church. Bro.Trey has diligently worked to provide us with means through which we can minister and stay connected digitally to our congregation while practicing social distancing. FBCJ, you are a blessed church to have these individuals!

The following is the ministry plan we have put in place as we move forward in this unique natural disaster:

Our deacons are receiving a list of names of active church members and friends. During this time, each deacon will stay connected with these individuals by phone and text. They will relay important information to individual members and families and report back to the pastors any needs of those in our faith family.

This is a unique time, but it is one that has the potential to bring us closer to the Lord. It presents us with perhaps a greater responsibility to feed our own souls as we seek the Lord. You can do this by:

Reading the Word of God every day.
Praying constantly
Studying your Sunday School lesson
Reading Christian books. We can recommend some good ones that you can read on Kindle. Be watching for Recommended Resources on our website.

Sermons and Bible Studies:

We will provide weekly sermons and Bible studies for everyone to watch from their home. We are actively working to have a sermon recorded and available for this Sunday. PLEASE stay faithful to listening to the preaching of God’s Word. I believe there is spiritual growth to be found in this crisis, but it will depend on each individual’s willingness to take the time.

These sermons will be recorded earlier in the week and uploaded to our church’s Vimeo.com account. We will provide access to these sermons in different ways:

Church Website fbcjonesboro.net
Facebook member’s page
Text message. When you receive the text message just click on the link and enjoy.
DVDs will be made available for anyone who does not have internet or doesn’t feel comfortable with technology.

Family Worship:

As stated above, you and your family’s spiritual growth in this time will be dependent upon how willing you are to spend time meeting with God. We are working on setting up a Resources Page on our website to help you. With these resources you will be able to spend time with your family reading, learning, and singing together. Please, do not waste this time that God has given you by binge watching Netflix or isolating yourself from the rest of your family. Maybe God is slowing us down so we can spend time with those most important to us.

Stewardship Plan

Our hope is to be together soon, but unfortunately, the “social distancing” regulations may stick around longer than we think. Therefore, we all need to be prepared for the financial burden this will have on all of us. I have been in contact with our financial ministry team and we are formulating a long-term plan just in case. We can help by consistently giving our regular tithes and directing any additional giving to the general budget, where the greatest need is at this time, rather than to designated funds in the church.

Here are some ways for church members to continue their giving:

By Mail: First Baptist Church 500 S. Ave. Jonesboro, LA 71251
By Drop off or pick up. If you would rather someone pick it up, a deacon or staff will gladly come by.
By Online giving through website: fbcjonesboro.net/giving/

Text to Connect

One of our biggest hurdles has been getting information out to people who are not on social media or do not use our smartphone app or website. We are presently working on connecting through text messaging. With our new ‘Call-em-All’ system, we will be able to send out numerous text messages to over two hundred people at once. This will allow us to keep everyone updated. Please be aware that you will be getting text messages from FBC Jonesboro. These messages will provide needed information and internet links.

Again, I am thankful for our staff, deacons, and church members who are helping to make all of this possible. In the beginning, the pain of not worshipping and fellowshipping with the people I care about most was devastating. Over the last couple of days that pain is being replaced with a sense of hope and yearning for when we will once again say, “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Take care of yourselves, pray for one another, and let us all seek the Lord.

By His Grace,

Pastor Brian

Mar '20

Coronavirus Update: 3/17

Posted on Mar 17, 2020 by Brian McAllister in All |

Mar '20

March 17, 2020

Dear FBCJ Family,

I pray all is well with you. Today Bro. Trey and I met with our DOM, Craig James, and several pastors from both Winn and Jackson Parish. We discussed both our concerns and hopes during this unprecedented time. I wanted to share what we learned as well as some of the new avenues of ministry that we are currently working on. Today we were informed that these restrictions may be in place for longer than we’d hoped. Information from the CDC seems to be pointing to a minimum of eight weeks of suggested social distancing. This is heartbreaking news.

Every church is struggling with the battle over conviction to worship and loving our neighbors by following the recommended government regulations. As pastors we are determined to minister as faithfully as we can under these circumstances. We discussed many things including how to care for the elderly while practicing social distancing, how churches and their members can worship online without proper internet access, and how we handle the financial effects this will have on the church.
Here are some things that we at FBCJ are working on right now to answer these questions:
– We are working to record or live stream this Sunday’s message. More information will be made available in the coming days.
– FBCJ will also offer our recording resources during the week for other pastors to come by to record their sermons for their congregations.
– Bro. Trey has successfully gotten our online giving up and running. You can simply go to our website, www.fbcjonesboro.net, and in the menu bar click on GIVING. The instructions are simple and easy to follow.
– Tomorrow I will contact deacons go over a long-term plan in case this virus stays around for more than 8 weeks.
– Finally, over the next couple of days I will be talking with personnel and stewardship teams regarding a plan to take care of our staff and finances.
I know that the far-reaching effects of this virus have taken many of us by surprise, but it is no surprise to God. We have never faced anything like this in our lifetime, but we are not without HOPE! Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We are not alone, FBCJ! Our God is mighty and will see us through this inconvenience. I love you and am looking forward to the day we meet again for worship!

By His Grace,

Pastor Brian