Our Journey Together

There are times in a relationship that you slow down and look back at where you have been. What the journey has been like and how you have grown and changed. I’ve been pastor of Palms Baptist Church for 22 years this Sunday. I want to share with the church I have come to love so deeply, how God has grown me in this place.

I do not want to talk about success, or numbers, or buildings. I want to tell you how God has matured my faith by allowing me to walk with you.

I love the Church!

• I love the Church’s Founder.
• I love the Church because Jesus loved the church. (Ephesians 5:25-30)
• I love the church because she has been entrusted with the Gospel.

But more specifically; I don’t just love the church universal; I love This Church.

A few years ago I found a paper that Rebecca had written. It was a letter to God she wrote privately and folded up in her drawer. It was in our first months here at Palms Baptist. She just thanked God for this church; for the people here. For the Comptons, the Parkers, the Enfingers and the people God had put in our lives. I kept that letter because I thought it was beautiful; a young girl, a young mother, wife; just thanking her God for all He had given her.

1. God used this church to teach me to

• In a place with quick growth and sudden losses, I have had to learn to believe that God loves this church more than I do and will grow it.
• God is faithful. I would never build a church this way! But God does.
• For us, as a church, it should be like walking on water. Keep our eyes on Jesus.

2. God used this church to Introduce Me to People Who Would

• Acts 2:42, the early church devoted themselves to “fellowship.” That’s doing life deeply together.
• (Whole bunch of personal comments here.)

3. God used this church to make me more serious about

• Pastoring this church has made me more serious about seeking God.
• Being your pastor has caused me to engage the Bible more deeply.
• Being your pastor has shown me how important prayer is.
• (Whole bunch of personal comments here.)

4. God used this church to Engage Me More Deeply with

• This church family has global impact.
• (Whole bunch of personal comments here.)

5. God used this church to Deepen my appreciation for

Bible uses a lot of images of the church:

• A Building. (Isaiah 28:16-17 , Ephesians 2:19-21)
• A Flock. (John 10:11-18, 1 Peter 5:3)
• A Bride. (Ephesians 5:22-23)
• A Body. (Romans 12:5,1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Ephesians 3:6, 4:15–16 and 5:23, Colossians 1:18)

6. God used this church to Draw me very close to the

In 2020: Asked our leaders a series of questions:

1. Who have you reached out to in love this week? If it’s less than 10, get on it.

2. How well have you spoken about God’s Church Palms Baptist in this community? Do you build up and encourage people to be involved in the work and the life of the church? Do you speak well of Jesus’ Church to outsiders?

3. What sacrifices have you made on behalf of the Gospel this past month? How has the Holy Spirit moved on you to give more deeply to the cause of Jesus?

4. In the places assigned to you by God in this church, how faithful have you been in using all of your spiritual gifts to move the Gospel forward?

5. How consistent are you praying specifically for the people of this church? For specific needs? Are you seeking out hurting people among us so you can pray for them, or do you avoid the hurting among us because they are needy and emotionally draining?

6. Are you committed to the work of Jesus financially? Do you as a leader give into this ministry?

7. Are you maintaining a walk with God that can withstand the burdens of the church? Do you read your Bible and seek God daily? The ministry is supposed to be bigger than us. It is too heavy for us to carry. And when we try to do ministry in our own strength, if that ministry is from God, it will crush us. Only by walking with God can you withstand the pressure of doing God’s Work.