ReDiscovering Church & Back to Church Sunday

We'll be rolling out a new Sermon Series on August 1 entitled ReDiscovering Church. This series has several purposes.

First, we want to help equip every member and regular attender at Raleigh Road to give an answer to those who have stopped attending church. Not just stopped attending RRBC...but ANY church.

Second, we want to provide a biblical, well thought out response to those who have stopped attending by addressing several of the most commonly heard reasons people stop attending:
- I don't need the church to connect with God (8/8)
- The church just wants my money (8/15)
- I don't need the church to be a good person (8/22)
- I won't be accepted at church (8/29)

The series will also feature messages addressing:
- Why people leave churches (including why they left Jesus' ministry!) - (8/1)
- How will we receive people who have been out of church awhile? (9/5)
- What commitments do we expect people to make at RRBC (9/12)

The series will include BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY, Septmeber 12. We have several resources that will be available on August 1 to help you invite people to worship on Sept 12.
- Invest and Invite Card - This credit card sized reminder will keep the names of those you are investing in and inviting in front of you; not just to Back to Church Sunday, but throughout the whole year. Who's in YOUR Wallet?
- Back to Church Sunday Invite Card - this business-card sized card will be useful for handing out to people as you invite them to worship on September 12.

On Sunday, September 12, the message will center on the commitments we ask people to make at Raleigh Road Baptist Church. They can be summed up like this:
- Worship - Be in worship and invite and unchurched friend at least once a month
- Grow - Get into ONE discipleship class (Sunday AM, Wed PM, or Tues/Fri Precept)
- Serve - Find at least ONE area in which you can regularly and faithfully serve

Worship. Grow. Serve. That is what we are about at RRBC...you can also think of it as Live. Learn. Love. It is in knowing and worshipping God that we find the strength to LIVE. It is in growing spiritually that we LEARN to honor Christ in all. It is in serving others than we LOVE our neighbor as ourself!

Please be in prayer for the ReDiscover Church series and Back to Church Sunday. The best is yet to come!

Taking Oaths...some questions for reflection

On Sunday, June 6, the sermon was based on Matthew 5:34-37. The subject was that of taking oaths. In that message I sought to argue that Jesus' aim was that we be people who are truthful and faithful. Truthful in the commitments or statements we make and faithful to carry them out as we have promised. In short, to be people of our word.

One question that has come up since that message is: Should Christians take oaths in court? And, the related issue of taking oaths of office or for military service. Indeed, I want to thank Mike Eatmon and Bill Hall for bringing up these questions, as I am sure many of you have thought about them.

I do not find either of these kinds of oath taking to be at odds with Jesus' teaching. Jesus' prohibition here is against the improper use of oaths, in particular the attempt to use God's Name to reinforce a promise we never intend to keep. It is a prohibition against using an oath to mask our insincerity or lack of inention to fulfill what we promise.

So, an individual who takes an oath before a court of law and perjurs himself has violated the heart of Jesus' teaching. A soldier who takes an oath to defend the United States when his intention is to do harm to the United States is violating Jesus' teaching. However, when an oath is a demonstration of our intent to be truthful, it does not violate Jesus' teaching. Again, the point Jesus is arguing against is the attempt to use an oath to cover or mask our lack of intention to ever follow through on what we are promising. In the case of a court of law or a soldier, etc, our unwillingness to take the oath would likely signal that we do not intend to be truthful.

Hopefully this will help clarify the intention of Jesus' teaching and address a couple of topics that I did not talk about Sunday morning.

Resources to Battle Against Lust

After the sermon on May 16, 2010 (available here: http://www.raleighroad.com/category/series/mythbuster/), I got a LOT of questions about resources that were mentioned during the message. So, I have gathered several here, and added some that I have just learned about.

Every Man's Battle and Every Young Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker.
Both of these are available at Christian bookstores and / or websites everywhere...or by clicking on the links provided! I have both in my office if you'd like to preview them. These books recognize that today's media bombards men with sexual images and temptation, so it's no wonder that "sexual addiction" is on the rise---even within the church. In this compassionate brother-to-brother guide, Arterburn and Stoeker tackle this serious problem head-on, offering a practical battle plan for men---married or single---who desire to live by God's standard.

Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain by William Struthers is another great resource. In this book, Struthers examines how images are imprinted along neuropathways in the male brain. An important book to understand how powerful visual images are to men. Also a great warning for women and/or mothers who regularly subscribe to magazines featuring half dressed women on the front! You are inhibiting the ability of the men in your life to fight temptation when they can't go past the coffee table without seeing it.

False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction by Harry Schaumburg is another book that can provide insight into the challenge of sexual addiction faced by so many. False Intimacy offers honest biblical solutions to help overcome the compulsion to act on false "relationships" and find true intimacy. A Focus on the Family Recommendation.

Josh Harris tackles the issue in my "It Doesn't Hurt to Look" sermon directly in his book, Sex is Not the Problem (Lust Is). Josh shows how lust has become so pervasive in our culture to the point that sexuality has become a negative - contaminating what God intended as a gift. Learn how to reclaim sexuality and sex as God originally planned as you cut through the deceptive lies of lust. See through new eyes enjoy a life of purity as you follow the steps in this countercultural guide.

Another great resource is ScreenIt.Com...This site offers a FREE and Pay version...it provides a detailed accounting of language, violence, disrespectful attitudes, and sex/nudity in a film. I HIGHLY recommend this site...although, I have to warn you - it may cut down the number of films you watch!

A final resource is X3Watch, an accountability software available from the folks at TripleXChurch. These guys have a unique ministry to those in the adult film and strip club world. And, they provide a great accountability resource in X3Watch...essentially you give them an accountability partner's email address (or your spouse's) and they get an update every 2 weeks or so of any / all the questionable sites you have visited. Our Student Pastor has been using this resource with young men for a number of years with great results.

Jesus: The Real MythBuster

What does life look like in the Kingdom of Heaven? What does Jesus expect of His followers? What should life look like in the church?

The seven part MythBuster series will examine Jesus’ answer to those qustions as we Matthew 5:20-48. In that section of the Sermon on the Mount, we will look at the six times Jesus said "You have heard it said...but I say unto you." In so doing, he is NOT overturning the OT...rather, he is correcting the erroneous interpretation of the OT by the scribes and Pharisees. In other words, he is Busting Myths perpetrated by the religous leaders of His day.

Unfortunately, there are many of these myths are still perpetrated in the kingdom of God and in the church. So, it is incumbent upon us to BUST these myths with the Truth of God'sWord.

During this series, we will examine the following seven myths:
5/2 – Actions are more important than my attitudes.
5/9 – Worship is not affected by broken relationships.
5/16 – It’s ok to “look,” as long as I don’t “touch.”
5/23 - Marriages are not meant to be permanent.
6/6 – A lie is just not that big a deal.
6/13 – Getting even is alright if you were really hurt.
6/20- There are some people I just can’t love.

If you cannot make it to worship at RRBC, you may download the messages via iTunes or by visiting http://www.raleighroad.com/category/series/mythbuster/.

The REZ Factor

Beginning Easter Sunday, we will be in a three part series entitled The REZ Factor...essentially, what difference does / should the resurrection make?

Easter Sunday, April 4 - Beleive the Unbelieveable...in short, the REZ demonstrates that a holy God is willing to forgive sinners based on His acceptance of Jesus' work...The REZ proves that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice and has made forgiveness possible.

Sunday, April 11 - Love the Undeserving...in short, the REZ makes is possible for the most unloving, uncaring, thoughtless person to be restored. Specifically we will look at the re-instatement of Peter from Jn 21.

Sunday, April 18 - Do the Impossible... in short, the REZ makes is possible for frightened, overwhelmed men and women to be transformed into those who turn the world upside down. Specifically, we will look at the appearance of Jesus to the disciples from Luke 24.

If you cannot be at RRBC in person, you can follow the messages via the Media page at www.raleighroad.com/worship-services, or you can subscribe to the podcasts via iTunes...

Pastor Rob

The Story of the Bible

It's been a while since I have added to the blog...but thought I'd give the RRBC church family a look at the next series...

The Story of the Bible will follow the singular message of the Bible - that God has a plan for his people that is centered upon Jesus Christ. We will follow along as the story unfolds from the Garden of Eden to the Cattle troughs of Bethlehem...our story will unfold as follows:

Nov 8 “The Beginning of Trouble” Gen 1-3

Nov 15 “God Chooses One Man” Gen 12

Nov 22 “God Will Provide a Lamb” Gen 22

Nov 29 “A King Who Fights for His People” 1 Sam 17

Dec 6 “The Promise of an Eternal King” 2 Sam 7

Dec 13 “Born to Die” Mt 1:21

Dec 20 “The King is Born” Mt 1:1-17

Keep an eye out on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/robpochek?ref=profile) for more detail about the specific passages each week...I hope that the series will remind you that the story of the Bible is God's story...it is HiStory...and I hope that is a great encouragement to you!

Pastor Rob

Check out the promo video:

Hello, My Name is God!

Well...we are two weeks into our new series at Raleigh Road BC (www.raleighroad.com) and I think God is really challenging us about who HE is. The inspiration for this series comes from a line in Francis Chan's book Crazy Love. In the context of talking about "lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians" Chan makes this statement: "The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God" (p. 22). Wow...as I read that statement in early June (on vacation, sitting by the pool), it struck me that the most appropriate way to begin a ministry at Raleigh Road would be to point people to God. Thus...this series was born.

A little later in the book, Chan quotes A. W. Tozer: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us...Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like" (Chan, 30). What an amazing statement.

It is my hope and prayer that as we begin to get a clearer and clearer glimpse of who God is...we will be broken, humbled, and restored by the God who does all three!

For those of you who like schedules...here is the overall sermon plan for this series:
July 12 - "I am Bigger than You Think" - God's passion for His Glory
July 19 - "I am Unique in the Universe" - God's Holiness
July 26 - "I Have No Beginning or End" - God's Eternity and Independence
August 2 - "I Know More than You Can Imagine" - God's Onmiscience
August 9 - "I Have More Power than You Can Fathom" - God's Omnipotence
August 16 - "I Am Mighty to Save" - God's Salvation in and through Jesus Christ

I hope to see you Sunday...

Pastor Rob

Calling or Comfort?

This Sunday at LCC, we will be examining what the story of Daniel in the Bible as we think about our disposition toward our circumstances. Daniel (and his friends) had much to complain about. They were carried into a foreign land as prisoners, they were put on a restricted diet of foreign foods, re-educated in the history and philosophy of their captor's country. They were even renamed - had their very identities taken from them. The question we want to think about is: What attitude should we take when it seems like all of life is stacked against us? Should we simply recoil into a shell? There is the very real danger of becoming "paralyzed" by the circumstances of life that are beyond our control. We can begin to adopt an "it doesn't matter" attitude toward what we do, believing that nothing will change. But, God has made us for more than that kind of attitude.

Now, Sunday is also Mother's Day. Could there be a much better day to examine such a question? Godly moms know the challenge of having to put their plans on hold for the benefit of their children. Godly moms can make that sacrifice knowing that motherhood is a calling from God. When God calls us to serve him he rarely calls us to a life of ease and comfort. Rather, he calls us to a life of great sacrifice and, often, suffering - but he gives joy in the midst of it. Sacrifice, suffering, AND joy? Yes. That is the biblical picture of a great and high calling. Sacrifice and suffering are involved because God calls us out of our comfort zones into a life of radial commitment to Him. That commitment means that we put ALL on the table and offer it to Him to use as He wills. Another way to think about it is this: the way of the cross is not found along the path of least resistance! As a general rule, if it is the easy choice; if it is the choice the is most pleasing to self; if it is the choice that requires the least amount of sacrifice - it is probably not the choice God would have us make. (Perhaps I should reveal the significant amount of Steve Camp music I listened to as a young Christian - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbmsq1soVio!)

Is God calling you to take a risk for him?
Has God been calling you out of your comfort zone for the sake of his kingdom?
Have I said to much here...what kind of "but's" are you thinking of?

Game Over!

Most of us - at least in my generation - still played board games during our childhood. I remember a number of them: Chutes and Ladders (when I was REALLY young), Chess, Checkers, Clue...but the favorite in my parent's household was Monopoly...That was the one place that a blue collar meatcutter like my father could feel like a titan of industry...and, he did! He was relentless. He knew which properties were junk (i.e. Mediterranean or Baltic Avenue) and which ones were really valuable (i.e. Boardwalk, Park Place, etc). And, he was fierce when it came to demanding rent.

Now, in my household we don't do much with Monopoly...we prefer to play the Andy Griffith Trivia game or Seinfeld Scene It...but, regardless of the game, here is the truth - no matter how much money my father accumulated...when the game was over, it all went back in the box. And, no matter how often I show off my knowledge of Andy Griffith trivia (i.e. knowing who played unlucky peddler Newton Monroe...), when the game is over, it all goes back in the box!


On Easter Sunday we began a new series entitled, GAME OVER!. The series is based on John Ortberg's book and small group study, When the Game is Over, It all Goes Back in the Box...In fact, all of our small groups will be using Ortberg's study guide during their time together. The focus of this series will be learning to live in light of eternity. We will be asking questions...hard questions, like: What are you living for? By what do you measure success? Are you living for comfort or for your calling?

Resources we will be using can be found here:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=282464&netp_id=511127&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers#curr

I hope that when the game is over for each of us, we have lived a life that is rich toward God and accumulated "wealth" in heaven, rather than gone after a bunch of stuff that will just go...back in the box!

Preparing to Live in Light of the "Box!"

On Easter Sunday, LCC will begin a six part series based on John Ortberg's book "When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box." We are calling this series Game Over!. In Game Over!, we will get to the heart of what it means to be rich toward God if you are going to "win" in the game of life. Is life all about toys, promotions, houses, 401K's, and Harleys (did I have to go there?) OR is there something that lasts longer (no Harley comments here!), something more significant for which we were made?

I want to encourage you to bring your unchurched friends, family, and neighbors with you on Easter Sunday as we begin to discuss this vital issue with a sermon about living a life that is rich toward God. We will start on Easter Sunday because it is Jesus' death and resurrection on our behalf that makes it possible for us to live a life rich toward God.

Here is the proposed schedule...I call it proposed because you never know when God may choose to change our plans!

April 12 - Game Over!
April 19 - Keeping Score
May 3 - Master of the Board
May 10 - Choose Your Move Wisely
May 17 - Playing the Game Well
May 24 - The King Has One More Move

*On April 26, Dave Metcalf will be preaching in both services. Be sure to come out and support him!