CARING! LOVING! FRIENDLY STARTS WITH US

In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.( Ephesians 2:21)– ESV)


Solidarity is defined as common interest and active loyalty within a group. They go together: not just doing activity, and not just being within. Not on the outside and not stationary, inside and involved. Not simply showing up once in a while and perhaps participating when we want to, but staying within the group and in an active way. To both be present and to participate regularly. You can’t do that on TV, folks. Tuned in to TV doesn’t mean turned on to God.


One reason we have to go to church is that we cannot do self-evaluation properly. When you pray like David in Psalms 19:12-14 or Psalms 139:23-24 for the Lord to reveal sins to you, God often answers you through other people. For David it was the prophets like Gad or Nathan. For us it will be through the loving, caring, body of believers of the local church.

We can complain all we want about that certain local church not being a “loving, caring community”, but consider this. In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus talks about having a beam in our eye.

Now consider how having a beam makes us see everything as having a beam in it. Sometimes we don’t notice a certain type of car all over the road until you own one yourself. You see a problem because you ARE a problem, we all are, but God uses the means of each other to help us all out. If you think that you don’t need church you are wrong, but even if you didn’t, even if you did have it all together well then you should come help the rest of us.

That which you have the ability to accomplish, do it, don't expect others to do what you are yourself not willing to do, or you yourselfe are able to do with a little effort and work.

MACARTHUR ON THE WORD OF GOD

John MacArthur has being my role model for thirty years.

Preaching and teaching the Word

My personal desire is to have a church where people love the Word of God.

• I desire that the Lord would give us people who truly love to know HIM, and know His Will, and desire to SERVE Him, and to desire to hear the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.

The center of our ministry at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, is going to be the teaching of the Word of God. My hope is this: Christians are going to be hunger to know the Word, and will desire to learn what God is saying to us about Him and Jesus Christ His Son. How He wants us to love Him, and praise Him and to give Him glory and worship. And that is why we have three times on Sunday and once on Wednesday to hear the teaching of the Word, and that is why I have a Blogger and a Website.

THE CHURCH THAT WILL HONOR THE LORD IS A CHURCH THAT LOVES HIM, HIS WORK AND HIS WORK.

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE

ITS THE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE THAT BRINGS US TO THE REALITY THAT GOD IS GRACIOUS TO US

Charity took this photo

Charity made the trip to Kansas, had a wonderful time, and Becky came to Portsmouth, Ohio for to see her dad. We took this picture at Mex-Itali.

THE JOY OF MINISTRY IS

Over the years I have recorded most of the messages I have preached

starting with Madison Baptist Church in 1971.

I have a few in other churches where I was the Youth Director.

I recoreded most of the message at First Baptist Church

in Altoona, Kansas.

Well I just like taking different angles. I guess I just like taking the photoMy sister Ellen said, if I put together a history of the places I have worked

that I could possibly get college credit for ministry served.
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I took this photo on our front porch the other day.
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I am blessed to have the Lord allow us to have a small part in the work He is doing to bring about His eternal kingdom. The lives that the Lord has allowed us to minister to, and to be minister to, has been a blessing. While the road we have traveled has not been easy, (minor mostly), the benefit has far out weighted any bumps in the road..
We are looking forward to a few more years, as the Lord allows us to preach and teach and shepherd His flock.
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KEEPING MINISTRY IN BALANCE

As the new pastor/teacher of the church, and having spend the last several weeks teaching on the Biblical structure of the church, and the folks sit and listen to what I say, and appearing to be generally in agreement. I have come to learn over the years, this is not always what it might appear to be. People can listen and nod their heads, and I will be thinking they are in totally agreement with what I am saying. And when the time time comes to suggest that we do what we are teaching the following could happen.

1. "One pastor had spent months and months teaching a church about the Biblical structure of leadership. They all nodded and looked pious; no arguments nor objections were raised. Then he attempted one relatively minor change to the constitution, and was buried under an avalanche of "what-ifs." The business meeting was like "Dawn of the Dead," with the graves opening up to yield "church members" who had not actually attended for many, many years. "What if he has a [big-name secular rock band] come here and do a concert?" was one of the alarmed concerns."

In those churches where the people actually agree in principle and then agree to respond to biblical principles have seen that God can really bless the church body. While they are listening to the teaching that is presented, their hearts and mind have been prepared to accept the changes necessary to fulfill the Biblical mandate that is set before them.

What we need to keep in mind in this matter of teaching biblical truth, we need to keep the whole view in mind. We are never to isolate one Biblical truth at the expense of others. (Failure to do this, is how heresies are born) We must view what Paul said to Timothy, to view the whole ministry as a whole and keep all things in balance.

1. So when the pastor pursues his primary, vertical relationship, what does the God he is worshiping tell him? "Feed my sheep," He says. "Lead, but don't bear oppressive rule over them. Be an example to them. Reprove and rebuke, yes; but encourage also. Be tender, as a nursing mother. Don't huckster the Word, but use plainness of speech." (Scriptures: John 21:17; Acts 20:27-28; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:1, 17; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8; 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:3.) (ESV)

While he is to train them in biblical structure, he is also to teach them in biblical truth, while all at the same time he is to encourage and build up, and pray for them. Any one of these out of balance will lead to failure of ministry.

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Photos: Charity took this photo last night) The room was not empty, we have a good group of people who love the Lord and love learning the Word and about the church.

FORTY SIX YEARS OF SIXTY YEARS MINISTRY

DONALD AND I WERE GOING TO BE CO PASTORS OF A CHURCH AT ONE TIME

ROANOKE VIRGINIA We both grew up and both went to Seminary, here I am with that beautiful lady, along with Mr Hawkins, and Linda Epps 1968 or 69

This group of fellows were in Gideon Baptist Church, Dr. George Norris, Fort Worth, Texas 1969

James Singletary, Gene Easton, Charles Whisnant, John Grimm, Eric Miller

Floyd Sears, Michael Stone, Jessie Ebey, Craig Norton

Wooster Baptist Temple 1970-71
Bill and Kathy (Hines) Rinehart
Dave and Kathy (Roach) Greegor
Randy Smith,
Dennis and Kathy Klette
Donna Roach
Linda, Mike Greegor
THE WHISNANT FAMILY Madison Baptist Church
Charles in June of 1971 was 23 years old Charity 22 and

Eric was four months in June of 1971

(1971-1974 our stay in Madison)
WHAT A GOOD GROUP OF FELLOWS
Victory Baptist Church 1974 -1975
(Check back for the names )
MANSFIELD BAPTIST TEMPLE
COLLEGE AND CAREER CLASS
1977
THE WHISNANT FAMILY -
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH- CONNERSVILLE, IN
BECKY AND ERIC 1978-1979
THE WHISNANT FAMILY- 1980
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ALTOONA KANSAS

THIS WOULD BE MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER OF
CHAD WHISNANT 1980

OH MY!

1981 IN THE ORGINIAL INSIDE THE CHURCH

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

And this would be 1996 in the new inside of

First Baptist Church

I have the priviledge of speaking each week to

the folks at

Christ Church Apartments

Lexington Ky 1999-2001


Next I want to see if I can have photo of some of the teens and works that were in these churches.

We have been every where folks, well...

Virginia to Texas to Ohio back to Texas back to Ohio

then to Indiana then to Kansas

then Kentucky and finally

back to Ohio

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P.S. I will post Kyle next time.

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FORTY SIX YEARS OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

FROM DECEMBER 1962 - PRESENT 2008 IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Yes, 1964 Youth Director at Youth Camp

Roanoke Baptist Temple
Charity and I in Fort Worth Texas Youth Director
at West Handley, Bus and Children Minisry
at Gideon Baptist Church
1968-1969
Wooster Baptist Temple 1970-1971

1971-1973 Pastor of Madison Baptist Church
Minford Ohio
Victory Baptist Church
West Handley Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church
Mansfield Baptist Temple

Pastor/Teacher in Altoona, Kansas
First Baptist Church
1980-1996
Ashland Ave Baptist Church
Lusby Mills Baptist Church
Second Baptist Church
Portsmouth Baptist Church
Preached in 2005 for the First Baptist Church in Altoona
in their new building

Pastor/Teacher Rivers of Joy Baptist Church
Minford, Ohio
July 2008


My soul has been refreshed, what a privilege to serve the Lord Jesus Christ
as His servant, and slave, and as His elect Saint, its a joy.
To be His Under shepherd, to preach and teach His other saints
is beyond words.
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parable of the seed and the sower

part four

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4A * Don't surrender because of early difficulty.

Three of the four soils failed to produce good fruit. Is Jesus suggesting that 75% of our efforts will go for naught? No, but sometimes it can seem that way. Some churches are hard to pastor, others are easier. Some missionaries see amazing results. Others struggle for years with little to show for their efforts. Good soil can be hard to find. The flip side is that when you find it, it can produce amazing results. And some people will be thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold in what they produce for the Kingdom. God can do a lot with a little. That's the encouraging news from this parable. A few seeds sown in good soil can ultimately revolutionize a church, a town, a school, a family, a neighborhood, or when God wills it so, an entire region.

5A * Your introductory judgment of people will often be wrong.

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This truth cuts both ways. You can't tell by looking what sort of heart a person has. That is, you can't infallibly know who will respond to the ministry of the Word and produce the good fruit Jesus talked about in this parable. As the seed is sown in many places, it will find its place in many hearts. You simply cannot tell in advance how people will respond over the long haul. Some people you "knew" would make good elders and deacons will fall away or be tripped up by the cares of this world. And sometimes the unlikeliest people will become mature believers.

We have to give the Word time to do its own work. Eventually the Word reveals the true condition of every heart.

6A * Sow widely because you don't know where the good soil is.

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The farmer in this parable "telecast" his seed. He carried it in a pouch slung around his neck and threw handfuls in every direction. He knows he that a certain amount of the seed will fall on the beaten path where it cannot take root. What the farmer doesn't know——and can't know——is where the stones and thorns are just under the surface. And therefore he also doesn't know where the good soil is that produces last fruit. So it is in his own best interests to sow his seed as widely as possible. The same is true in local church ministry. The best way to reach more people is to sow the seed of the Word in as many ways possible, using every avenue open to you, reaching out to every age and every interest group you can find.

7A * When you find good soil, cultivate it.

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It's easy for a pastor to be sidetracked into a thousand things that don't really matter in the ministry. I meet pastors all the time who work hard, stay busy all week long, and have their hands in a thousand things at once. That's generally a recipe for eventual burnout. No one can do it all.

When you find good soil, cultivate it. That's what Jesus did. Though he spoke to the masses, and though he had time for individuals, he gave the majority of his time to training the twelve. He found them, he called them, he trained them, and he allowed them to come alongside and be with him up close and personal. He poured himself into that small band of men knowing that after his departure, they would become the leaders of the movement he had started.
Don't miss the point.

No one really knows what the pastor's job is. Even if you have a job description, it's usually so general as to be almost useless. I don't know a single pastor who consults his job description in the morning to figure out what he should be doing during the day. If you have 100 people in your church, you've got 100 bosses, each with their own perception of what you should be doing. If you fall into the trap of trying to please them all, your ministry is bound is fail or you will end up frustrated and ineffective. And it's not as if I can tell you, "This is what you should be doing," because churches and ministry cultures vary so widely. Part of it you'll have to figure out on your own. That takes time and patience and prayer and wisdom from on high. Plus it helps if you listen to your wife and to a circle of trusted advisors.

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant, Proof Read by Charity Whisnant