News from the Journey - Compass Points

After God's Own Heart

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 06:06:00 -0700

Sermon - "David's Anointing" - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Series - After God's Own Heart

Listen by clicking the box or download the mp3 here.

Sermon - "In the King's Court" - 1 Samuel 16:14-23

Series - After God's Own Heart

Listen by clicking the box or download the mp3 here.

Beauty pageants - you either love them or hate them. For many, they are seen as the ultimate in objectification of women, as winners are judged based on shallow things like how they look in a swimsuit or an evening gown. For others, they are seen as a pathway to success for young ladies who benefit from scholarships and the exposure that pageants bring.

They always provide entertaining news. Who could ever forget 2007 Miss Teen South Carolinas response to this question? Recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans cant locate the US on a world map, why do you think this is? Her reply is a YouTube moment. I personally believe, that U.S. Americans, are unable to do so, because uh, some, people out there, in our nation dont have maps. And uhI believe that our education like such as in South Africa, and the Iraq, everywhere like such asand, I believe they should uh, our education over here, in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa, and should help the Iraq and Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us. Miss California 2009 Carrie Prejean made news when she stood up for traditional marriage during a question from a judge during the 2009 Miss USA pageant. Many believe that her conservative view caused her to lose the pageant.

However you feel about pageants, our hope is that we would never choose our leaders based on the same criteria that we choose a beauty queen. The day that our presidential candidates have a swimsuit competition is the day I officially leave the country! Believe it or not, there are some sociologists who have done studies to determine if a perception of beauty has something to do with how people vote.

This should not surprise us as history is full of illustrations of people picking their leaders for their looks. As we begin walking through the life of David, we see that in Gods eyes, suitable leadership may actually not be the biggest, strongest, or most experienced. God is much less worried about the appearances of a persons exterior and much more concerned with the content of their heart. Israel had tried this before with Saul. He was a buff, handsome devil, but he turned out to be a despicable fellow. When the prophet Samuel came to Jesses home to look for a king, he looked at the oldest, most culturally suitable sons first. The runt of the family didnt even get invited to the interview because somebody had to stay with the sheep. Yet it was this kid that God would choose to be the shepherd of the nation of Israel.

There is much to be learned from Gods choice of David the shepherd. He was the most unlikely candidate, yet he was the best candidate. His resume was not lengthy nor did he have the best references. What he did have was a heart that was closely in tune with the Almighty.

If youre looking for greatness in this life, the best place to look is not in line with all the other power-seekers. The best place to be is quietly tending to the flock God has trusted to your care. Taking the time to let God nurture and shape your heart so that it looks like His. If you can leave this life and God can say that you were a man or woman after His own heart, it is safe to say that you found greatness. You may have never been anything but a lowly shepherd, but in Gods eyes, you were exactly what He was looking for.

In Christ,

Pastor Brian

Building Blocks - Holiness

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 06:03:00 -0700

Sermon - "Holiness"

Series - Building Blocks of Effective Churches

Listen by clicking the box or download the mp3 here.

The other day I saw a cartoon which featured a Lego building block sitting in a chair beside a round Tinkertoy. They were apparently married to one another and they were sitting across from a marriage counselor. One block had a bubble above his head that said, We want to build something incredible together. The other block at that point chimes, But we just cant seem to connect.

That cartoon made me think about our current sermon series. I think all of us want to be effective at building something incredible. We want to be effective at building incredible careers. We want to be effective at building incredible families. We want to be effective at building incredible churches. Ive never met a real Christian who wants their church to be ineffective. No true disciple would be satisfied for non-Christians to remain that way. For some reason, our churches often seem to come up short of effective. Over the last few weeks, we have considered various issues that can make us more effective. We must do things like spread the work, understand our purpose, be equipped, and be enthusiastic. Take away any of those things and our effectiveness will be diminished. There is one thing, however, that can completely undermine any of these building blocks, a lack of holiness. A lack of holiness makes us like our married blocks we want to do something, but we cant seem to connect.

One of the biggest reasons that churches are ineffective is that they are so often filled with people whose hands, eyes, feet, mind, mouths, etc. are dirty. It is not saying that they are filled with non-Christians, but Christians today are having a much more difficult time staying clean.

While planning our trip to Africa this summer, I spoke with a trusted friend and asked him what I could possibly tell a group of Arabic Christians that would be of benefit to them. He told me to tell them how much easier it was to be a Christian for them. In their culture, they didnt have access to all of the things that we have to defile us. Their holiness was reinforced by the fires of persecution. Our holiness is threatened by the fires of worldly passions that are so pervasive in our culture.

The Apostle John says it like this If we say, We have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. In other words, it is impossible to come to church and act like everything is spiritually okay if we are giving darkness any foothold in our lives. This is the essence of holiness. We cannot find holiness by stumbling around in the dark. We have to be willing to walk in the light. The solution to our problem is not as complicated as one might think. John goes on to say that if we confess our sins, he will cleanse us of our unrighteousness. This is not a license to live in rebellion, but it is reassurance that the sin problem that causes our trouble is the same sin problem that Jesus died to solve.

Thats where we come in. Walking in the light is a daily process not something we master in a week or two. Effective churches are filled with people who wage the war against sin every day that they live. They confess their sins. They give glory to God for the forgiveness of their sins. They walk in the light as He is in the light. They can in fact build something incredible because there is nothing that would prevent them from connecting to the very heart of the Almighty. They lift up holy hands in prayer because indeed their hands are holy.

In Christ Alone,

Pastor Brian

Building Blocks - Enthusiasm

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 06:01:00 -0700

Sermon - "Enthusiasm"

Series - Building Blocks of Effective Churches

Listen by clicking the box or download the mp3 here.

I tend to be old school when it comes to sports and competition. I think you should keep score. I dont think that everyone who participates should get a trophy. And as ugly as it sounds, I think that hurt feelings are good motivation to work harder. I also fully agree that if youre not performing, the coach has every right to let you ride the pine for a game.

This old fashioned view of sports led me to a great sense of dismay when Heather came home last spring and let me know that she was going to be the new cheerleading sponsor for the middle school where she teaches. When I asked what that entailed, she began to explain to me how it worked. She said that they were not allowed to cut anyone. If they paid their fees and came to try outs they made the team, irrespective of any sort of talent or ability to be a cheerleader. You literally could be the worst cheerleader in the world and still make the team.

Last week, Heather came home from cheer camp and was frustrated that some of her girls were less than enthusiastic, putting forth little to no effort at camp. In my mind, the solution was simple take away the pompoms; make them the official water girls for the squad; maybe put the mascot uniform on them for a little while. Of all the things a cheerleader should be, enthusiastic is probably high on the list. If youre not an enthusiastic cheerleader, youre not going to be very effective. That would be akin to asking someone with a broken foot to be a field goal kicker probably not the best person for the job. But, rules are rules and even the least enthusiastic middle school cheerleader can be part of the team. All you can do is try to stir up enthusiasm.

As bizarre as this sounds (and it is sounding more bizarre as I type), the church is much like a middle school pep squad. We have everything in the world to be enthusiastic about, but for whatever reason, our zeal is often lacking. And just like that pep squad, we cant cut folks just for lacking zeal, but we can do our best to stir up zeal in our hearts.

The real danger in our lives is that we are often tempted to be zealous about the wrong thing. Like the cheerleader who doesnt understand football and cheers when her own team misses a play, we are often prone to misplaced enthusiasm. In Romans 10:2, Paul warns that the Israelites were zealous, but they had an uninformed zeal meaning they were zealous about the wrong thing.

So I have two very simple questions for you

1. Are you enthusiastic about what Jesus has done for you? We cant cut you from the team if you are not, but I would want to know why you lack zeal. We have the best thing in the world to be enthusiastic about, so why do we so often lack enthusiasm.

2. Are you zealous for the wrong thing? Maybe it is for a program and not the Gospel. Maybe it is for a worship style and not the recipient of our worship. There are many things that would seek our zeal but the Lord Jesus Christ is the one most worthy of our enthusiasm.

Show me an effective church and I will show you a church that is excited about Christ and the Kingdom. We wont cut you from the team, but we would want you to join the excitement.

In Christ,

Pastor Brian

Building Blocks - Equipped

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:58:00 -0700

Sermon - "Equipped"

Series - Building Blocks of Effective Churches

Listen by clicking the box or download the mp3 here.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of going to a basic training graduation ceremony at Fort Benning for one of our churchs newest soldiers. It was an impressive scene to watch these young men march in formation around the parade field. They looked sharp in their uniform and their standard issue haircut. They caught my attention early however as they showed off some of the firepower that these men were now trained to use. They showed off their guns and their grenade launchers. They talked about the high-tech gear that they wore and the body armor that protected them. It was encouraging to see that these guys were well-trained and well-equipped to handle the enemy in whatever shape or size he might arrive.

As I considered the task with which these young men are charged, I realized very quickly that they could only be effective at combatting terrorism if they were well-equipped. I am very thankful that our military is the best-equipped military in the world. Those who are the most effective at doing their job are those who are the best equipped

This is true for any organization. If the task of a factory is making widgets, the factory that will be the most effective will be the factory that has the best trained widget-makers and the best equipment for making widgets. No one else can compete with those who are the best equipped.

The church must be well equipped too if we are to be effective at making-disciples. This is not about having the best equipment. This is not about having the best facility. Disciples are not made by equipment or buildings, but by other disciples. If we are to be effective at doing this great task, then our disciple-makers must be equipped.

Ephesians 4:11-12 says, He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ This is the job of equipping disciples to make disciples. There is responsibility for those in leadership, but there is also responsibility for those who are not. The job of the leader is to equip the saints; the job of the saints is the task of disciple-making. Are you well-equipped at disciple-making?

Guys going through basic training dont have much of a choice when it comes to being equipped. They will do the training necessary or it will not go well for them. Unfortunately, Christians have more flexibility in their training. No one is forcing them to go to Sunday School or to take advantage of special training opportunities. And as a result, the Saints are much less equipped than they could be and the churchs effectiveness is hindered.

If we are to be effective at the task of making disciples, then leaders must never give up on equipping the saints, and the saints must never give up on being equipped. Laziness on either side results in the church being highly ineffective at doing her job. I will do my best to be the pastor-teacher that is all about equipping and training. Will you do your best to be a well-equipped soldier in the army of the Lord?

In Christ,

Pastor Brian

Building Blocks - Mission

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:55:00 -0700

Sermon - "Purpose"

Series - Building Blocks of Effective Churches

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Ill never forget the first time I had to fire somebody. I was just out of college and was the Director of the Boys & Girls Club. I had an assistant director who, for the most part, was an efficient and effective employee. I dont recall him ever being late. He was great with the kids. He somehow managed to balance the role of disciplinarian and friend a difficult task for many. He knew the rules, followed the rules, and enforced the rulesuntil one day.

This particular club was close to the city pool. It was possible to walk to the pool during summer day camp, which we frequently did. As the assistant director, he was responsible for those trips. He would often take the Clubs van to the pool, in the event of a discipline problem or other emergency. The kids would walk with support staff and the he would follow in the van. The day he lost his job, it began raining at the pool. Instead of waiting it out, or shuttling the kids back in the van, he put ALL the kids in the van 28 kids in a 15 passenger van! Kids were sitting in each others laps, in the floor, in between the two front seats. When he pulled in, I saw what he had done. I immediately took him in the office, explained the problem, and asked him to clock out for the last time.

I simply couldnt understand how somebody who seemed like a good guy and a good employee could forget everything about how we operated. I couldnt understand why he would jeopardize his job by jeopardizing the kids unnecessarily. For a brief moment, he forgot the Clubs mission of providing a positive and safe place for kids and it cost him dearly. In the high risk job of taking care of other peoples kids, there is no room for forgetting the mission. As soon as you forget the mission, a kid gets hurt, lost, or worse. We couldnt afford to tolerate lapses in judgment.

As we consider effectiveness in the local church, I cant help but think that a critical building block of effectiveness is a clear understanding of the mission to which we have been called. We understand that this is a team effort, but the team has to understand why we are doing what we are doing.

In Mark 10, we learn that two of Jesus disciples, James and John, had gotten distracted from their mission. They had walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, heard Jesus preach. Of all the people who should have understood Jesus mission for them, it should have been the twelve men who followed him every step of the way. But these two, if only for a minute, missed the mission. The consequences they faced for forgetting the mission was the ire of the other disciples.

I fear that there may be people who worship with us every week, they hear sermons and bible studies, they come to Sunday school, but for whatever reason, they continue to miss the mission of disciple-making. In a task as important as the Great Commission, how can we afford to take our eyes off the mission? If we dont all understand the mission, how will we ever be effective at accomplishing it? And even if we understand the mission, what calamity awaits us if we take our eyes off the mission for but a moment?

Ultimately, we are all in this as a team, and as a team, we all need to understand the goal, and how we measure progress. We havent got the time to forget the mission. Every time we do, we become less and less effective.

In Christ,

Pastor Brian

Building Blocks - Delegation

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:50:00 -0700

Sermon - "Delegation"

Series - Building Blocks of Effective Churches

Listen by clicking the box or download the mp3 here.

While preparing for the newest sermon series, Building Blocks of Effective Churches, I ran across a bit of satire, written by a guy named Anthony Robinson, that will hopefully make us laugh at ourselves, and prepare us for what God has in store for us over the next seven weeks. I hope you enjoy, Seven Habits of Ineffective Churches.

1. Elevate mediocrity to a spiritual discipline. Figure out where average falls and aim below there. Doing things with excellence, joy and flair may make someone uncomfortable. God doesn't really expect much anyhow.

2. Take no risks. A successful practice of risk avoidance is often best achieved by sending any and all new ideas to a minimum of four boards or committees who understand it's their role to say no to any new ideas. This process may need to be reinforced by remarks noting how a particular idea might make the church liable, cost money or ruffle feathers.

3. Practice the following evangelism strategy: "If they want us, they know where to find us." Assume that everyone does know where you are and what you are. It also can be helpful if your building looks like a medieval fortress. If you don't have that going for you, encourage ushers and greeters to look like palace guards as they perform their role.

4. Blame early and often. Maintaining dysfunction in a congregation is made easier if scapegoats are regularly identified. In some congregations, ministers make wonderful scapegoats. You may also blame "newcomers," or "people who don't understand how we do things in this church." If all else fails, blame the association, the denomination or Satan.

5. Always be prepared to make an account of the excuses that are within you. Have an all-purpose excuse such as, "I've just been so busy" (elaborate at great length just how busy you are, implying that no one else is busy). Occasionally try out a creative new excuse, such as, "Our dog ate the printer-ink cartridge and required an emergency appendectomy. He is now very busy, too."

6. Make it clear to all that the job of the pastor and staff is to keep everyone, meaning church members, happy. Think of your church as the "Love Boat" and the pastor as the cruise director and activity planner. The job of clergy and staff members is to keep everyone on board happy. If someone is unhappy, it's a sure sign your pastor is not doing the job.

7. Spend as little money as possible. Even though you may enjoy spending money on personal things like a car or a cruise, you can demonstrate your commitment to modesty and simple lifestyle at church. The very best programs cost nothing. And why would your church building need renovation? If it was good enough for your grandparents, it'll be good enough for your grandchildren

Hopefully, youre smiling a little as you finish up this list, but the truth is that many of our churches today are crippled by ineffectiveness. As we work through these things, perhaps God will reveal some areas where you see that our church is ineffective. What are you doing to make our church more effective?

Striving for Efficiency and Effectiveness,

Pastor Brian

Standing in the Gap

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:36:57 -0700

Sermon - "Standing in the Gap"- Ezekiel 22:23-31

Series - Summer 2010

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Truth Under Fire

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:34:00 -0700

Sermon - "Truth Under Fire" - 1 John 2:18-26

Series - Summer 2010

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How Hot is it?

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 08:53:00 -0700

Sermon - "How Hot Is It?" - Matthew 8:5ff

Series - Summer 2010

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Commander Spock called them colorful metaphors expressions that would make our grandma blush and if found on the lips of our children might earn a swift rebuke. Hollywood screen writers are convinced that a good movie cannot be made without them. I suspect that the most popular one in use right now in this June heat wave is It is hotter than h outside.

It is hot. Dont get me wrong. It is hot AND humid. It is the sticky kind of hot that takes your breath away when you go outside. It is the kind of hot that makes you sweat even after the sun goes down. But hotter than the place of everlasting judgment for unbelievers? Its hot, but not that hot.

I realized a couple of weeks ago that I had done you all a great disservice. I had mentioned a place called hell. I have been honest about hell. I have pointed to it as a place of judgment for the lost. But I realized that I have not preached about the reality and horrors of the place called hell.

It is interesting that the two pulpit topics that make people cringe the most are two of the topics that Jesus spoke of the most money and hell. That shouldnt surprise us at all because Jesus had a knack for getting to the heart of the matter. As I considered this, I began to wonder, why are we so uneasy about these two topics?

Money is easy to figure out. Discussing money is quick to reveal our idolatry. In our culture that is driven in so many ways by greed and gamble, this should not surprise us. Hell is a little bit more difficult. Why do we get nervous while talking about hell?

It probably has to do with two primary issues. First, speaking of the reality of hell raises questions about the validity of our faith. How many of us have not had that moment of doubt? If hell is a real place, then our life has real consequences. In so many ways, the Jehovahs Witness doctrine of annihilation for the lost is easy, you go to paradise or you stop existing. Unfortunately, the scriptures do not allow for that doctrine to be true.

Whereas the first issue deals with our faith, the second one deals with Gods faithfulness. The discussion of hell makes us nervous because it raises the question, How can a loving God sentence people to a place so terrible? That issue is settled with another question, How just would a judge be who sentenced a child molester or mass murderer to picking up trash on the side of the road? None of us would agree with this judge. We understand that heinous crimes deserve severe punishment. We understand that a murderer commits his crimes with the full knowledge that doing so will result in severe punishment, even death. In other words, the murderer sentences himself when he commits his crime.

So it is with hell. Sinners sentence themselves to eternal punishment due to their rebellion against God. God is the judge who executes the sentence. God doesnt send people to hell, people send themselves to hell.

It is a gracious God who provides the means for sinners to come to repentance and be snatched from the grips of hell through the cross of Jesus Christ. It is a gracious God that answers both questions with one act. At the cross, He guarantees our salvation through His own blood and at the cross He demonstrates His love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Arent you thankful for a loving God who gives us the means to escape the judgment that we so rightly deserve?

Thankful for the Cross!

Pastor Brian

Rainy Days & Sundays

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:26:00 -0700

Sermon - "Rainy Days & Sundays" - Ezra 9-10

Series - Summer 2010

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I remember being tortured as a child by having to listen to my dads music while in the car. It was terrible. He didnt like the cool stuff, he liked what they called the easy listening station. If my memory serves me, it was 92.3 in Chattanooga. Boy did they ever play the snoozers. In fact, I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open as I think about it.

There was one song in particular that I remember hearing. I believe that the song had the physical side effects of narcolepsy and nausea. You would just pray that you fell asleep before you tossed your lunch. It was the Carpenters song, Rainy Days and Mondays. Now, if that just happens to be your favorite song, forgive me for being so brutally honest. If it is your favorite song, we can get you some good counseling to help you with that. The only thing that made that song worse was if they played the song while it was raining (which they often did). Rainy days and Mondays (and this song) always get me down.

I wonder how many of us find ourselves down in the dumps, perhaps emotionally, but especially spiritually. Perhaps were just going through the motions and putting on a semi-pretty face. Though most of us are too tough to admit it, how many of us men find ourselves in a spiritual lull? Weve lost the enthusiasm of serving Jesus. Weve lost the sense of purpose and vision. Weve gotten distracted by the world. Maybe we are much like the song, but we feel like Rainy days and Sundays always get us down.

If you will allow me to be painfully honest for a moment, I found myself in that very place not too long ago. I just didnt feel victorious. It seemed like I was simply existing with no real purpose or enthusiasm. I had allowed sin a foothold in my life. As I began to diagnose my problem, I realized that I had allowed busyness to interfere with my devotional life. I had allowed passivity to interfere with the practice of my faith. I was going through the motions without really being moved.

And so it was, about a month ago, I bumped into Jesus. He was quietly keeping watch over my wayward heart, waiting for me to realize my folly. When I realized his constant presence, even through the lull, I came under great conviction, cried out to him, and fell into his arms for what has become a season of refreshing for me.

Part of this refreshing has been a return to fruitful bible study and a commitment to read through the Bible in a year. In doing so, I ran across the most vivid picture of where I was and where I suspect so many others are as well. It is found in Ezra 10:9. It takes place during a time of national crisis and an overall spiritual recession. The people hit rock bottom, and it says that they sat shuddering together because of the seriousness of the matter and the heavy rain. That image became a very real symbol for how I felt not too long ago, and I suspect many people feel the same way.

Maybe youre sitting today shuddering because of the spiritual lull in your life and the heavy spiritual rain that falls on you and quenches the Spirits fire. Maybe you feel like the song, Rainy days and Sundays always get me down. Maybe it is a good time for you to take a stroll through the corridors of your heart to find a loving Jesus tending to the place waiting for your return. As bad as the song is, the Carpenters actually included a line that could easily be sung to Jesus, Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you, Nice to know somebody loves me, Funny but it seems that its the only thing to do, Run and find the one who loves me. Rainy days and Sundays do not have to always get us down, but we must always remember to look for the One who loves us supremely!

Thankful for Umbrellas!

Pastor Brian

Bonanza!

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:04:00 -0700

Sermon - "Bonanza" - Philippians 4:15-23

Series - The Joy Letter #19

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In Feast & Famine

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:10:00 -0700

Sermon - "In Feast & Famine" - Philippians 4:10-14

Series - The Joy Letter #18

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Georgians know something about famine. Not like someone in the Sudan or Ethiopia, but weve experienced our own mini-famine. It wasnt too long ago that Lake Lanier was drying up. It was so severe that there was even serious conversation being given to the idea of disputing the border with Tennessee in Northwest Georgia, in order to have access to the abundant waters of Tennessee River. Ill never forget the pictures of docks sitting on dry ground and the Chattahoochee River flowing out of the mountains looking like a trickle. It was a frightening time so frightening that our state officials, suffering much scrutiny, publicly cried out to God to end the drought. He obviously heard those cries because it has been wet ever since. Some have suggested that they follow suit and cry out to God over the budget crisis. That may not be a bad idea either.

We also know a little something about abundance. It wasnt that long ago that we were riding high on the horse. We had rebounded from the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation. Our homes were worth more than they had ever been worth. Our stock portfolios were fat and fattening. Our retirements looked like they were gold plated. If you wanted a job you could have a job.

We understand about having a lot and against our will, we have been forced to understand about having a little. We are still a long way from understanding what it means to have nothing. But in all of our circumstances, do we understand what it means to be content?

The Apostle Paul reminded the Philippians about the virtue of contentment. He told them in chapter 4, I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being contentwhether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

This contentment Paul is speaking of does not refer to spiritual contentment. Paul would never encourage spiritual contentment. Remember, this is the same guy who likens our walk with Jesus to training for the Olympics in 1 Corinthians 9. Serious athletes are never content with their performance. Instead, he is encouraging physical contentment being satisfied with whatever circumstances life presents.

Our problem today is that we have this pattern reversed. We tend to be very spiritually content. We are satisfied with our particular level of maturity and do not take the necessary steps to grow further. Most often, we are forced into growth by tragedy or crisis. While we enjoy spiritual contentment, we often find ourselves presenting a great deal of discontentment with our physical circumstances. We prefer the model of keeping up with the Joneses over and above the model of contentment presented by the Apostle. The debt that ravages our nation and our families is a direct result of the reversal of this biblical pattern. Who among us is innocent of this?

So, where are you today? You are not in jail, so you are one step ahead of Paul. But are you content with your circumstances? Perhaps you have entered a season of lean like so many. Are you content with the lean until God sees fit to bring an increase? Perhaps you are in a season of abundance. Are you content to use your abundance to be a blessing to others? How a Christian responds to his circumstances is one of the greatest indicators of the health of his walk with Jesus. Ultimately, the Scriptures speak into our lives yet again come famine or feast, the Christians outlook should be one of contentment.

In Christ,

Pastor Brian

Can't We All Get Along

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:14:00 -0700

Sermon - "Can't We All Just Get Along" - Philippians 4:1-9

Series - The Joy Letter #17

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The Highest Form of Flattery

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:21:00 -0700

Sermon - "The Highest Form of Flattery" - Philippians 3:17-21

Series - The Joy Letter #16

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Being watched is always an unnerving feeling. Sometimes we are being watched by something. A few years ago, while backpacking in the Smokies, a large black bear was foraging for food at the bottom of a steep hill, about 100 yards away from us. That bear never took her eyes off us until we were out of sight. She never made a motion in our direction, but she watched us the whole time we walked by. We were armed with pepper spray in the event that she charged, but we didnt like the idea of having to use it.

Sometimes we are being watched by Big Brother. I suspect that the Times Square bomber wishes he had not been watched by Big Brother as the countless surveillance cameras around Times Square helped to get him arrested less than three days from the failed attack. When you walk through the parking lot at Wal Mart and other stores, it is not uncommon to see cameras focused on the parking lot. In college, I worked in security at Sears. Half of my job was spent monitoring security cameras watching people who didnt know they were being watched.

Sometimes we are being watched by people. You know when someone is staring at you. Sometimes it makes you feel flattered, sometimes it makes you feel uncomfortable. Ask any husband how he feels when someone is staring at his wife, and I doubt he will tell you that it gives him warm fuzzy feelings!

There are some other eyes that are watching too all the time. Theyre a different type of eye. They see the world differently. They are the gateway to wild imaginations and big dreams. And theyre always watching, always observing, always learning, always imitating. They are the eyes of our children. Not just our biological children, but all of the children in our sphere of influence. Theyre watching, learning, following.

What do they see? Who do they see?

When those eyes are watching, are they seeing someone live in a way that glorifies Christ? I am reminded of a commercial that used to air. The commercial featured a dad who had found his sons marijuana stash. The dad asked his son, Where did you learn to do this stuff? The son shouted back, I learned it from watching you, Dad! How much do they learn from watching us? How much of our behavior will they emulate? In Philippians 3:17, Paul wrote, Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. You dont have to remind children to imitate anybody. They do it naturally.

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. That may be true, but the question we always need to ask, Are we worth imitating? Would God be pleased with our children if our children behaved as we do? Talked as we do? Thought as we do? It may be flattery to us, but it may grieve the heart of God.

This Mothers Day, the question that every mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister needs to ask is am I a suitable example? The truth is that were being watched by many things, but next to the eyes of God, the eyes that matter the most are the eyes of the children in our lives. Could we comfortably admonish our children as Paul admonished the Philippians, Join in imitating me? You are an example to the younger generation, like it or not. Make sure that your example is one that honors Christ!

Happy Mothers Day,

Pastor Brian

GCR Taskforce Report

brian@nbcnewnan.org (Brian Carroll, Pastor) — Tue, 04 May 2010 06:21:44 -0700

Significant changes are coming to our denomination. Southern Baptists need to watch this video! You can download a copy of the report by clicking here.

GCR Final Report from GCR on Vimeo.

A fivemi

A Great Commission Resurgence from GCR on Vimeo.