"By the grace of God I am what I am."

These words were penned by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10. He mentioned it in reference to God's grace working in his life to make him what he was. I title this blog entry with these words because of His grace in my life toward my love for reading. Let me explain. I used to HATE reading! Literally. I despised reading a book. The joke at my house was that I graduated high school having only read two books in my whole life: The Moose Goes to School and Bo Knows Bo. But something changed. Something wonderful and glorious changed while I was at college. God graciously gave me a hunger and thirst for books. He gave me a longing to want to read! I am grateful because there is so much rich material available for those who want to understand the Bible better and love God more completely. We are commanded to love the Lord God with all of our mind, thus reading the Bible and other books that help us better understand the Bible help us love the Lord better.
Something I have been wanting to do for a long time now is to list some of my favorite books. Earlier today I received an e-mail from a friend who asked me what my all-time favorite book on prayer was. I thought to myself that now would be a good time to list on the blog some of my favorite books, including my favorite one on prayer. I had originally intended to offer a "Top Five List" of my top five favorite books. Perusing my library, however, revealed that there is no way I can do that. There are so many that are so good! So, in what follows I will simply list and link for you some of my favorite books. Perhaps in the future, I will list some more by categories (for instance, in this list I am not including any books on preaching though there are many that are great books). But for now, here is a start for anyone who cares.

1. The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer

This is a wonderful book on prayer. Challenging. Insightful. Convicting.

You can order the book here.

2. A Hunger for God by John Piper

Another incredible book on prayer and fasting.

You can order that book here. When you click here you can download the book for free on your computer. Thank you John Piper and Desiring God!

3. What Jesus Demands from the World by John Piper

This is a great resource for discipleship. Piper takes every command from Jesus and explains what Jesus meant and how we can best obey. The purpose is to help us obey the Great Commission: "make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you."

You can order the book here, or download it for free at that same location.

4. The Cross of Christ by John R.W. Stott

As you can tell from the picture, I got it from Amazon.com. You can order this book by clicking here.

5. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer

Again, from Amazon, you can order this book here.

These are a start. Numerous books come to my mind. Maybe I will do this on a regular basis in the future, depending on the response. Whether you like this list or not, I encourage you to read much and read often for the sake of your mind. Read the Bible first and foremost. Then read some other texts that help you understand the Bible more clearly and love God more passionately.

What/Who in the World is Lottie Moon?

Every December the International Missions Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) asks Southern Baptist's to give money for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Every penny of the offering goes straight to support missionaries serving in foreign countries. In other words, every single penny goes to help the Gospel go forth around the world. The IMB's goal this year is $165 million. If all Southern Baptist's gave just a small portion, no doubt that goal could be reached with ease.

I strongly encourage everyone who reads this blog to seriously consider how much you can give to this eternal cause.

In case you have ever wondered who or what in the world is Lottie Moon, the IMB has provided a wonderful link on their web-site that provides the reader with ample information about her and her life. The information they have provided has done Southern Baptist's a favor. If you would like to know more about this amazing woman God used in the late 1800's and whose legacy continues today, I implore you to click here.

If you would like some general information about the offering itself, you can click here.

May the Gospel go forth like never before in 2008!

My Dad Turns 60!

This Friday, November 23rd, my dad will turn 60 years old. Lord willing, I plan on being there with him to celebrate. Praise the Lord.

Most everyone who reads this blog will know that last Thursday dad had surgery to remove prostate cancer. The doctors will able to get all of it. As far as we all know, he is cancer free. He is recovering well from the surgery and I fully expect him to be "back at it" as soon as possible. Praise the Lord.

Other than Jesus Christ, my dad is my ultimate hero. The longer I am a dad, the more of a hero he becomes. He made sure that I grew up in an atmosphere where I could thrive spiritually and grow, by God's grace, into a man who knew and loved Jesus. That's what a dad is to do. Help their children know and love Jesus with all of their might.

Praise the Lord.

If you are a dad and happen to be reading this blog, let's commit to working overtime for the good of our children and our wives so that they have every opportunity possible to see us love Jesus passionately and, thus, to grow to know and love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Praise the Lord for Steve Pearson. Happy Birthday!

Beat Bama!!

I cannot resist! It's the Iron Bowl week and Auburn is going for 6 in a row against the Tide!
Just in case anybody was wondering who Luke and Seth were pulling for...let there be no doubt!
WAR EAGLE!

A Bold, Yet Needed and Honest Assessment of the Church

I am referring to a sermon preached by John Piper this past weekend at Bethlehem Baptist Church. In it, he explains why he is starting a series entitled "You Must Be Born Again" and where he plans to take his congregation over the next weeks. I urge you to click here and listen, watch, or read the first half of the message at least! What he says needs to be said and heard.
I hope you will be challenged by it as I was and it will lead you to love Jesus more and hurt for His church more than ever before.

Joshua Project Web-site

During last weekend's Global Impact Conference I was struck in a way that I never have been struck before. What was so odd about it was it was by something I already knew. In fact, what really spoke to me last weekend was a truth and reality I had known for a long, long time. On Saturday night, during the International Banquet, Bro. Al was preaching about the plentiful harvest (from Matthew 9). He gave example after example of countries where God is moving in extravagant ways. The Gospel is running forth rapidly in specific places. He spoke of people longing to hear the Good News and coming from miles and miles away to hear a message they had never heard.
What struck me afresh was the fact that millions of people have NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL, nor the name JESUS. When they hear it, it is something that revolutionizes and changes and transforms their lives. The good news of the Gospel sets them free!
Yes, I knew that. Yes, it is true. But the Spirit laid the reality heavy on my heart. The Gospel changes lives. It really and truly changes lives. There is no other message like it. There is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved.
God used this renewed burden to increase in my soul a passion to go where God is moving. He is doing a new thing in countries who have never heard. People are waiting to hear the Gospel. People MUST hear the Gospel in order to be saved.
I want to challenge you to do everything possible to focus your efforts and thoughts and resources toward what God is doing and where God is working.
I have come across a wonderful web-site "The Joshua Project." You can go there directly by clicking here.
It offers a tremendous amount of information about unreached people groups and how much of the world is evangelized and how much of the world remains to be evangelized and what God is doing in particular places. If offers an "Unreached People of the Day" that you can pray for specifically. Visit the site and visit it often. Use it in your prayer time. Use it to ask God where He wants you to go and/or send resources so the Gospel can go forth there. Use it to gain knowledge on the task before us.

I look forward to discussing with some of you what you have learned from this web-site in the days ahead.

Because He Lives,
Matt

Resources to Aid in Praying that the Nations Be Glad in God

In Sunday night's message (10/07/07), I plan to recommend some resources to help us pray efficiently for missions. I have provided the list here along with a link to finding where to purchase these items and/or find them for free. It is only a start to a list of abundant resources to aid in our praying. I hope this helps and gets you started compiling your own list of resources to help in your praying for the nations to be glad in God!

1. Operation World. Click here for purchasing information.

2. Global Prayer Digest. Click here for downloading information. You can download it for free!

*3. Global Prayer Gram

*4. "Loving the Lost" Booklet

*5. The Commission Magazine

*6. To the Ends of the Earth Magazine

*All of the above resources can be found and ordered from the International Mission Board web-site. You can go there directly by clicking here. You can go directly to their prayer request page by clicking here. Order a free "Loving the Lost" Booklet here.

7. The North America Mission Board web-site. Go straight to their web-site here; or straight to their prayer request page here.

Again, this is just a small and very short list of a massive amount of material out there to help us be better "pray-ers" for the nations to be glad! So, get busy praying! God will hear us and He will answer according to His perfect will!

Lessons Learned at Lebohneur

Most everyone who reads this knows that my 2 year old son Luke recently contracted a staph infection following a routine hernia surgery two weeks ago. It meant seven days in the hospital complete with five consecutive days of surgery like procedures in effort to drain as much as the infection as possible. Katie and I rejoice in the Lord that he is now home and doing well. God chose to answer our prayers by healing him of the infection. Praise His wonderful name!

During our stay at Lebohneur Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, the Lord taught me alot. What follows are (in no particular order) some lessons and truths that came to life for me:

1. Things happen to my children that are outside my control.

I realize how obvious this is, but Luke contracting this infection made it clearer. Katie and I (mostly Katie) did everything we possibly could to make sure we kept him clean and did exactly what the doctor said. The doctor assured us that he did everything he did to prevent an infection and we believe him. Some things are simply outside our control. This staph infection was one of them. Other things in the future will happen. Physical injuries. Emotional hardships. Wordly sins and perversions.
Am I to sit back and just let things happen? By no means! Though things will happen beyond my control, my job is to prepare the boys to react in a biblical, God-exalting, Christ-driven way. Katie and I can aid in preventing negative things. We can also aid in combatting the negative things in a godly way. The lesson here is that because uncontrollable circumstances will come, I am to help them be prepared for its coming and help them endure during it.

2. I am to be more intense about my children's spiritual well-being as I am about their physical.

For seven days straight Katie and I, along with numerous doctors and nurses, were intense with making sure Luke was physically healthy. I preach that our spiritual soul will last forever, whereas our physical bodies will not. I preach that having a healthy soul is more important than having a healthy body. Physical health is valuable, but godliness holds value for all things (1 Timothy 4:8).
I was convicted and challenged by the Lord to be more intense with Luke and Seth's spiritual well-being as I am with their physical. Don't misunderstand. Their physical well-being is VERY important. But their spiritual well-being is more important. The lesson is to be diligent in helping their soul delight in and hope in the God of the Bible.

3. Hardly anyone will ever refuse to be prayed for.

I knew this before last week. I experienced it firsthand while at the hospital. Katie and I had numerous opportunities to pray for nurses, doctors, aids, residents, etc. No one refused to be prayed for. No one did not want to give us something to pray for them about. People like to be prayed for. Lesson? Pray for people! Ask people how you can pray for them. They will let you pray for them. Oftentimes it will prompt a discussion about religious things. It gave Katie and I several opportunities to talk about Christ and the gospel with people.



4. A loving church family brings present comfort and help, as well as peace for the future.

Oh how I love Wynne Baptist Church! I was reminded the value and benefits and blessings of being a part of a loving church family. Oh how helpful it is during a tough time! How comforting it is to have brothers and sisters in Christ praying and providing for physical needs. Katie and I didn't have to worry about a single thing (outside Luke's situation) while we are at the hospital. Both her mom and my mom helped keep Seth (which was a HUGE blessing that they both longed to do!), but had they not been able to come we had a number of those willing to take care of him for us. The body of Christ came to the aid time and time again of an injured member. The body took care of itself! I love it! This also gives me great peace for the future. If a tragedy were to strike my family, I fear not that I will have legions of brothers and sisters in Christ who will offer care, comfort, love, and support. It brings great relief to be able to rely on the church show the love of Christ for any future unexpected mishaps.
A lesson here? Yes. If you are reading this and are not actively involved in a local church, do it for the sake of your own soul and future! You will have opportunity to love on and minister to other brothers and sisters in Christ. You will one day need them to come to your aid.


5. A healthy church and staff will carry on just fine for a season without their pastor.

Now I cannot say that a healthy church and staff can carry on just fine without their pastor. That would eliminate me! But I do believe it can carry on just fine for a season without the pastor. Christ will build His church for sure. He doesn't need any of us. But He has ordained to use a God-called pastor and staff and members to effect His work on the earth. WBC is healthy in that it functions just fine whether the pastor is there or not on a Sunday or during a week unexpectedly. It's one thing for the church to carry on when the pastor knows he will be out. But it's a different thing altogether for the church to carry on properly, not skipping a beat, when the pastor is unexpectedly out. The staff of WBC is absolutely incredible. The members are wonderful. WBC does not rise or fall based on a couple of people. It is a body that has numerous parts operating efficiently and effectively. Hallelujah! The lesson? Let's all stay connected to the Head at all times, submitting to His leading and working through us!


6. The effects of sin and the Fall are absolutely horrendous and devestating.

Luke's infection was bad. Luke's infection was serious. But it cannot begin to compare some of the situations we saw and heard about last week. What Luke went through was like a walk in Disney World compared to some of the patients we saw. Cancer patients. Heart patients. Abused patients. All horrible effects of the Fall and sin. Before sin everything was perfect. Sin brought not only spiritual separation from God, but physical deterioration. See Romans 8:18-25. This world we live in is impacted drastically by the Fall. Sin corrupts, not just the soul, but the body and creation as well. Come Lord Jesus! Come! Make all things new!

A Picture of the Main Thing

As you WBC folks know, I wrapped up a 8 week long series on marriage and family. The title of the series was called "Marriage and Family: A Picture of the Main Thing." The purpose of the title was to (hopefully) communicate over and over and over that getting a spouse is not the most important thing in all of life and having kids is not the most important thing in all of life. God is the most important Being in all of life. He is ultimate. Everything else (including marriage and family) is a means to making much of Him in all we do. If we are pursuing a spouse we are to look for one that will aid in our pointing people to the majesty and glory and goodness of God. If we are blessed with children, we are to do so with the goal of seeing them grow in Christlikeness, love God supremely, and give their lives so that others will do the same. I hope and pray that this was the message communicated this summer.
As a recap, the 8 sermons went as follows:

(1) "Marriage is Not the Main Thing" Matthew 22:23-33
Jesus said that in the resurrection there will neither be marriage nor given in marriage. Thus, marriage will not last for eternity. Our relationship with Christ, however, will.

(2) "Marriage is a Picture of the Main Thing" Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:22-33
God said to Adam, "It is not good for man to be alone." He didn't say it because God was insufficient for man. He didn't say it because Adam needed something more than God. God said it in the middle of when He is going public with His glory (Genesis 1-2) and expressed that it would be best for His glory to be displayed by creating a help mate suitable for Adam. That display would be a demonstration of how Christ and the church operate toward one another. Thus, marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church.

(3) "Meaningful Marriage Happens When We Focus on the Main Thing"
Various Scriptures
The purpose of this sermon was to stress the importance of each spouse seeing the other through the lens of the cross. If each spouse is born again and forgiven and free by repentance and faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then they are right before God. Spouses MUST remember that their spouse is made right with God by the blood of Jesus Christ.

(4) "Husbands: Love Like Christ"
Ephesians 5:23, 25-30, 33
Husbands are to lead their wives by sacrificially loving them for their spiritual good and the good of themselves. When your wife is thriving, husbands, so are you!

(5) "Wives: Submit Like the Church"
Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Peter 3:1-6
Wives are to bring themselves under the authority of her husband by following his lead out of trust in him and/or hope in God. If the husband is laying his life down for the good of his wife, then out of trust in him and in God, she is to follow his lead and submit to his authority.

*God ordained these roles to be as they are. Couples are to exude this picture in their marriages so as to be a video to the world of how Christ and the church operate. It was not good for Adam to be alone because by himself he could not display that picture as adequately as God desired.

(6) "The Key to a Great and Successful Family"
Matthew 20:20-28
The purpose of this message was to show that parents should desire greatness for their children. Greatness from God's viewpoint. Not greatness as the world sees it. Greatness according to God is a heart that is so in love with Him and so enthralled by Him that he or she is willing to lay their life down so that others can see and know and have God. So, the key to a great and successful family is to provide an atmosphere at home where the primary objective is to see the children grow in love for God and people.

(7) "Preparing Your Child for Greatness"
Ephesians 6:4

(8) "Obedience that Leads to Greatness"
Ephesians 6:1-3

These final two messages examined what Paul had to say to both Christian children and Christian parents in how to best provide that environment to grow up to be great in the eyes of God. Again, it is all about a picture that God designed. Parents (especially fathers!) you are to show your children what God is like. This is done by knowing them and loving them intimately and disciplining them the way God does His children and educating them about who He is. Children, you are to respond to your parents the way God's children respond to Him. We learn obedience to God in how we obey mom and dad. The picture? God relating to His children is to be modeled in the way parents relate to their children.


Just this week I have come across three articles that give evidence to the importance of the family. Two are written by Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. One is written by John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. The two The articles by Dr. Mohler reveal the importance of a family in shaping one's view about God and how churches are benefitting from solid families. You can find those articles here and here. The article written by Dr. Piper discusses the importance of children and youth knowing right biblical doctrine and how that shapes their behavior. You can read that very insightful article here.

God created the family the way He did for a reason. The purpose is to display Him and know Him and love Him and glorify Him. He is the main thing!

An Incredible Presentation of the Gospel

I dare say that there is no more important thing than getting the Gospel right. Knowing it rightly. Communicating it rightly. Urging people to respond to it rightly. It is what Christian people are about.
I am going to link you to a message I heard while running not long ago that I think communicates the Gospel in one of the best ways I have ever heard it communicated. It was delivered by pastor John Piper to a group of men in October of 2006 at a Men's Conference. The title of the message is: "Jesus Died to Bring You to God."
In it Pastor Piper gives explanations as to why Jesus came and His connection with the Old Testament and how the Old Testament works with the New Testament. He shares the elements of the Gospel that are vitally important. He exhorts his hearers to respond to the Gospel and put all hope in the Person of Jesus Christ. On and on I could go, but I will stop so that you can go and listen to it.
Listen so you will understand the Gospel better.
Listen so you will understand how the Bible fits together better.
Listen with a lost friend so that they can understand the Gospel better.
Listen with a lost friend so that they can know Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.
Listen so that you will love and cherish and adore Jesus better.
The longer I am a pastor and a Christian and a dad and a husband I see the importance of not only knowing the Gospel, but knowing it rightly and allowing it to consume every part of my life.
You can download and listen to the the message here. Enjoy!

What Do You Think?

I have been doing some thinking. Going out and sharing the Gospel in various ways during Mission-Wynne has prompted a number of discussions with church goers, non church goers, lost people, saved people, people who think that they are saved people, etc.
I have two questions I want to pose to anyone who reads this blog (my mom and perhaps one or two others...that is, if my mom even reads it!) and encourage you to comment on what you think. Here goes...

I have asked a question similar to this one several times this week: "What do you think is required for someone to enter into heaven?" The responses have been varied. One that I have heard more than I thought I would have is the "good works" answer. In other words, many have responded by saying "be good" or "read your Bible" or "pray alot" or "go to church" or "love people." Later on in the conversation, however, when Jesus is mentioned and what He did on the cross for our sins, the response shifts to something like, "Oh yeah, well I've done that!" In other words, when the conversation moves to Jesus, something triggers their memory about a prayer they have prayed or an experience they had in the past.

Question #1: What does a response like this say about their salvation? What does it say about evangelism? Can you get the wrong answer about what it takes to get into heaven and be saved? I would love anyone's feedback. (I know, I know, that's more than one question!)


Question #2: Can a person be saved yet be living in unrepentant sin? Or, to say it another way, can you truly be a Christian and be living in a sinful and immoral lifestyle? Again, I would love your feedback.

**Any Bible verses you can provide to strengthen your answer would be appreciated.

What It's All About!

This week is "Mission-Wynne" at Wynne Baptist Church. Our goal has been to love on this city and to spread the Gospel as efficiently and effectively as humanly possible. It has been a wonderful week. The following is an e-mail I received this morning. It is reference to our church-wide outreach dinner that was encouraged for last night (July 18th). The purpose was to intentionally invite a lost person/family over for dinner with the aim of starting a spiritual conversation with them. Of course, the goal is to see them ultimately respond to the Gospel and embrace Christ as their Lord. In the copied e-mail I am going to paste here, I have eliminated the names, for, I know the intent is not to be known but to share what God is doing. I share it with you simply because it blessed me to see creativity used to share the Gospel and how urgent some of our people are to make Christ known. Enjoy!




Dear Bro. Matt,

Just wanted to share briefly about how ______ and I shared the gospel tonight. We both realized that our husbands would not be available to have another couple in our home ... her husband, ______, is in (Texas), and my husband, _______, had to work (his) shift tonight. So we decided to have a "Neighbor Ladies Night Out" at ______ house. (She) made up an invitation and went to her neighbors Monday. She invited twelve. Three came for a delicious dinner of taco salad and pecan pie.

After our meal and a relaxed time of getting to know one another we made a gospel bracelet. My part was to share the meaning of each color in the bracelet and to share my testimony. No, it was not share perfectly and yes, I probably forgot a scripture or two, but the Holy Spirit was there and He blessed me with a calm spirit, and my confidence was 100 percent in Him and not me. What a blessing to share the good news with these ladies. I do not think that they are believers, and as far as I know they did not accept Jesus tonight, but God is working in their hearts. They came, because, I believe, that they know they have a need that they cannot meet. We did not hide the fact that we would be sharing the gospel in the invitation that was given to them.

Now we need to be faithful in praying for them. They need Jesus ... just as you and I do! Everyday of my life I realize that I need Him more and more.

(We) are going to do the same thing at my house with my neighbors in September. We had a blast! There is nothing better than serving our Great God.

I have no doubt that Mission Wynne will be a great success. Monday I was able to share with a young mother looking for a church home. I followed up with her on Tuesday and hopefully, she and her family will be in church Sunday.

Bless you, Pastor ... have a great day!

Jesus is LORD!!!






Now that, my friends, is "What It's All About!" May these ladies who heard the Gospel come to know Christ and may a passion for sharing Him spread across our church and town!
If you have seen God work and want to share it with me and anyone else who may be reading this blog, publish a comment and I will have it posted as soon as I get it. Let's be busy sharing what all God is doing!

God Stuff

No, I didn't mispell "Good Stuff." The title is intentionally called "God Stuff." It implies good stuff with a God-centered perspective.

I try to run 3 miles or so several times a week in effort to keep off the "Baptist Belly." I like to eat, I am surrounded by good cooks, and I don't want to be a heavy preacher. So, I have to run in effort to keep it off. While I run, I usually listen to a sermon that I have downloaded to my MP3 player. Doing so keeps my attention off what I am doing (running!) and it helps challenge and encourage me in my daily walk with the Lord.
Over the past several days I have listened to some incredible messages/radio broadcasts. I am going to include links to them here so that you may also listen for your own growth in the Lord.

One message is on the importance of the church by Voddie Baucham. This was delivered at the Southern Baptist Convention during the Founders organization breakfast.
Listen carefully to what he says. I think he is right on in many ways.
Listen to it by clicking here and scrolling down until you see the phrase "listen to Voddie Baucham's excellent message." Click on that highlighted phrase and it will take you right to the message.

Another message is by pastor John Piper. It is one of the best sermons on the "divorce passages" I have ever heard. If you have ever wondered what those passages meant, this is a good place to start.
Read, listen, and/or watch the message by clicking here.

The third message I am including here is a radio broadcast from the Al Mohler program. This was a broadcast devoted to discussing how to best reach children with the Gospel. It offers some tremendous insight.
You can listen by clicking here.

Please note that simply because I encourage listening to these messages does not necessarily mean I wholeheartedly agree with EVERYTHING these individuals say. On a whole, I think they are very good resources for God's people and helpful for those longing to be true to the Word of God and honor our Lord in all we do and say.
Please enjoy this "God Stuff." I pray your soul is as enriched as mine was/is.

Deacon Election at WBC - Part III

Two Sundays down, two Sundays to go for WBC to make deacon nominations. So far we have had a flood of names turned in. Actually, I am being very sarcastic. We have had one name turned in to the "Deacon Nomination Review Committee."
This is due to one or more of the following reasons:
(1) You are still diligently praying about who to nominate and you haven't heard from God yet.
(2) You have forgotten.
(3) You asked one of the men in our church and he was not willing to serve.
(4) You thought someone else would make the nomination.
(5) You assume it will just work itself out without your help.
(6). You thought someone else nominated the man you wanted to nominate.

Whatever the reason for not turning in a nomination, don't worry about it and do it! If you are reading this and are a member of our great church, do the following four steps please: (a). Scan the qualifications of a God-called man to serve as deacon at WBC; (b). Ask God whom he wants you to nominate; (c). Ask the man whether or not he is willing to serve; (d). Turn in the nomination form in the offering bucket, welcome center, church office, or the boxes outside sanctuary.

If you are reading this and have been approached by a member whom God has led to talk to you, please do the following two steps: (a). Ask God (not your emotions or your circumstances) if this is His will; (b). According to what the Lord says, tell the individual "YES!"

Bottom line: get busy doing this Wynne Baptist! Hearing from God and electing men whom God has brought to the surface to serve as deacon will keep us in the center of His perfect will. It will also move us all one step closer toward being the healthy church that loves Christ and loves people with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

"As Iron Sharpens Iron..."

"...so one man sharpens the other" This is according to Proverbs 27:17. The point? We need each other so we can sharpen each other. Yesterday morning in my message to husbands, I feel as if I left out a very important practice that all men need to be participating in: accountability groups. I believe a major benefit to all of our marriages is having another male ask us the hard and difficult questions. It may be just you and one other guy. It may be you and two or three other guys. The size of the group isn't all that important (though I wouldn't exceed over five in number). What's important is that you place yourself in an environment where you are held to the fire about your personal life, your family life, your thought life, your growth in godliness, etc. This "holds us accountable" to being the men we are called to be. It keeps us out of the rut of thinking "I'll do that another day" and helps prevent us from committing a gross and heinous sin that could cost us our families. We need to heed this verse and sharpen one another
What follows are some questions to get you started. These questions are not original with me. They are a compilation of questions I have come across from various sources in recent years. Read through them and evaluate yourself with them. Then, find someone you trust who will ask you these same questions every week. I believe doing this will remove us another step away from divorce and a step closer toward our wives and families.


Accountability Questions:

What has been dominating your thoughts this week?

Have you put yourself in a compromising position with another woman this past week?

How are you handling the finances God has given you?

Have you been in the Word with protected and unhurried time?

What issues are you and your wife dealing with this week?

Describe your relationship with each of your kids this week.

Are you in their lives?

What is happening at work that excites you? Frustrates you? Tempts you?

Have you shared the Gospel with anyone this week? If not, why?

What verses have you memorized this week?

Are you getting that much-needed exercise or blowing it off?

Are you having any fun?

What is your personal risk area right now in your life?

Are you shooting straight with me or did you just blow me smoke?