I recently heard Dr. Ralph D. West (quickly becoming one of my favorite preachers); refer to an article written in the 1920's in a Harper & Rowe Magazine titled: "What's The Matter With Preaching?"
I think of that reference now, the couples ministry at our Church prepare for our next Couple's Fellowship- and I ask myself quietly... "What's The Matter With Marriage?"
Now, before you think too much into this. Two things immediately come to mind here. 1) Marriage in fact matters! 2) In our modern world, marriage is suffering.
This quick blog is not about laying blame for any negative views on marriage at the feed of any person or group. I'm just thinking out loud. Marriage matters! It matters so much to our God that marriage is His idea. God officiated over the very first marriage between Adam and Eve.
It's in marriage and the confines of the Christian family that our God has chosen to build the weight and worth of a society and culture.
Marriage is a merger of two people... a husband (or house-band); and a wife (or help-meet). But Christian marriage is more than the merging of two, it's the merging of three into one. That is to say, marriage is about a Christian man and woman loving Jesus Christ and growing closer to Him and one another at the same time.
Without question, one of the best images I've seen of a Christian marriage is that of a triangle. Go ahead, draw one on a piece of paper. Now, write the word JESUS at the top of the triangle. Now, write the words "husband" and "wife" at each corner at the bottom of the triangle. Go ahead do it. It'll only take a moment or two.
Now, draw a line pointing from the word husband to the top of the triangle where the word JESUS is. Do the same with the word wife on the other side of the triangle.
There you have it. Marriage at its best is a husband and wife each striving to fall in love with Jesus Christ, grow closer to Him, become more like Him... and in the process they grow closer to one another. Eventually meeting at the top where Jesus is.
There is an off chance that a married member of CMBC may read this particular blog this week. If so, join the CMBC marriage ministry this Saturday, October 3, 2009 for a great time of fun, food and faith sharing with one another. We have a fine and faithful couple, Darryl and Jennifer Dorsey who lead our Couples Ministry. They, along with our other couples will be glad to have you join us.
Keep believing in marriage. It matters!
Safe in CHRIST,
Sherman J. Fort
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thankful for preaching opportunity!
I was honored just a few weeks ago by Rev. Ottley Holmes and the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Mesa Arizona. Pastor Holmes and his church family invited me to be the guest speaker at one of the Pastor Appreciation Service's this year.
The afternoon celebration took place a few Sunday afternoon's ago. Several guest churches were invited and shared in song. A number of preachers and pastors were present as well. Including at least two associate ministers from Canaan Missionary Baptist Church.
I attempted to preach a sermon titled: How To Treat The Pastor. The text was First Timothy 5:17 & 18. Again, I wanted to be short, considering it was an afternoon program and one with several guests no less. Also, once again, I'm making an attempt to deal with smaller sections of Scripture in my hope to be more thorough.
I'm thankful for The Lord blessing me in spite of myself. I still need to work on my "close". I have a personal conviction about always closing every message with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's not what I'm talking about here however, now I'm just talking about style and flavor in closing. Any way, that's not what I wanted to write about.
I really wanted to say that I'm grateful to Pastor Ottley Holmes for the invitation and I'm encouraged when I see churches encouraging their Pastor with words and gifts of thanksgiving and appreciation for a job well done. Indeed, the pastor who "rules well"; especially those who "labor in preaching and teaching" are worthy of "double honor".
While I haven't heard Pastor Holmes preach every Sunday morning, I'm convinced he's a solid Bible preacher. In fact, he hosts a weekly radio show on one of our local AM stations here in the valley of the sun. I'd encourage you to check him out when you have the chance. I listened to part of a broadcast recently, he was teaching from the book of Acts.
If you're interested you can check him out online. Their church website address is: www.smbcmesa.org
May our God continue to bless us with preachers and pastors who preach The gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for the opportunity to preach The Word at Shiloh M.B.C. pastor Holmes.
Preaching The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a privilege, it is a responsibility. Thank you Jesus. Please make me the preacher You want me to be.
Shalom,
Pastor Fort
The afternoon celebration took place a few Sunday afternoon's ago. Several guest churches were invited and shared in song. A number of preachers and pastors were present as well. Including at least two associate ministers from Canaan Missionary Baptist Church.
I attempted to preach a sermon titled: How To Treat The Pastor. The text was First Timothy 5:17 & 18. Again, I wanted to be short, considering it was an afternoon program and one with several guests no less. Also, once again, I'm making an attempt to deal with smaller sections of Scripture in my hope to be more thorough.
I'm thankful for The Lord blessing me in spite of myself. I still need to work on my "close". I have a personal conviction about always closing every message with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's not what I'm talking about here however, now I'm just talking about style and flavor in closing. Any way, that's not what I wanted to write about.
I really wanted to say that I'm grateful to Pastor Ottley Holmes for the invitation and I'm encouraged when I see churches encouraging their Pastor with words and gifts of thanksgiving and appreciation for a job well done. Indeed, the pastor who "rules well"; especially those who "labor in preaching and teaching" are worthy of "double honor".
While I haven't heard Pastor Holmes preach every Sunday morning, I'm convinced he's a solid Bible preacher. In fact, he hosts a weekly radio show on one of our local AM stations here in the valley of the sun. I'd encourage you to check him out when you have the chance. I listened to part of a broadcast recently, he was teaching from the book of Acts.
If you're interested you can check him out online. Their church website address is: www.smbcmesa.org
May our God continue to bless us with preachers and pastors who preach The gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for the opportunity to preach The Word at Shiloh M.B.C. pastor Holmes.
Preaching The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a privilege, it is a responsibility. Thank you Jesus. Please make me the preacher You want me to be.
Shalom,
Pastor Fort
Joy ... No Matter What!
Four Sundays ago I began a new sermon series in the book of Philippians.
It's been a wonderful journey so far.
I titled the first sermon: Joy And The Single Life. In this message I attempted to set up the context of the book and emphasis the Apostle Paul's repeated use of the words "all" and "my" in the opening verses. I wanted to communicate the fact that Paul was inclusive in his addressing "all the Saints with a particular emphasis on the fact that he ultimately had a single goal in mind.
Consequently, joy can be the reality of every beliver when we seek a single focus on The Lord Jesus Christ, His will, Word and way in our lives.
I titled the second sermon: Paul's Prayer for his People". The text here was Philippians 1:3-6. In this sermon I talked about being thankful, being thoughtful and closed on the fact that our God is thorough. A quick look at the passage reveals this simple but profound outline.
I titled the third sermon: Paul's Prayer for his People Part 2... Abounding Love. The text for this sermon was Philippians 1:7-11. In this message I tried to emphasize the matter of affection, association, abounding love and approving those things which are "excellent".
It's friday night now and Sunday morning will be here soon. I'm looking forward to it too. And what a great passage of Scripture Philippians 1:12-17 is. I don't know that I'll be able to cover all of those verses this week. I've made a commitment lately to focus on smaller pieces of Scripture. This is for two reasons. First, there's just so much in each verse that it's hard to get through too many verses at one time. Second, I'm trying to be more thorough in my preaching. This goal lends itself to considering smaller portions of Scripture at a time.
Well here's what I really want to say.
No matter what you or I are dealing with today. No matter what we may face tomorrow. And, in truth, no matter what we've had to deal with in our past, that still seeks to lay hold on us in our present... you can have joy no matter what.... if you trust The Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior.
Shalom,
Sherman J. Fort
It's been a wonderful journey so far.
I titled the first sermon: Joy And The Single Life. In this message I attempted to set up the context of the book and emphasis the Apostle Paul's repeated use of the words "all" and "my" in the opening verses. I wanted to communicate the fact that Paul was inclusive in his addressing "all the Saints with a particular emphasis on the fact that he ultimately had a single goal in mind.
Consequently, joy can be the reality of every beliver when we seek a single focus on The Lord Jesus Christ, His will, Word and way in our lives.
I titled the second sermon: Paul's Prayer for his People". The text here was Philippians 1:3-6. In this sermon I talked about being thankful, being thoughtful and closed on the fact that our God is thorough. A quick look at the passage reveals this simple but profound outline.
I titled the third sermon: Paul's Prayer for his People Part 2... Abounding Love. The text for this sermon was Philippians 1:7-11. In this message I tried to emphasize the matter of affection, association, abounding love and approving those things which are "excellent".
It's friday night now and Sunday morning will be here soon. I'm looking forward to it too. And what a great passage of Scripture Philippians 1:12-17 is. I don't know that I'll be able to cover all of those verses this week. I've made a commitment lately to focus on smaller pieces of Scripture. This is for two reasons. First, there's just so much in each verse that it's hard to get through too many verses at one time. Second, I'm trying to be more thorough in my preaching. This goal lends itself to considering smaller portions of Scripture at a time.
Well here's what I really want to say.
No matter what you or I are dealing with today. No matter what we may face tomorrow. And, in truth, no matter what we've had to deal with in our past, that still seeks to lay hold on us in our present... you can have joy no matter what.... if you trust The Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior.
Shalom,
Sherman J. Fort
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