Constituting McIntosh Baptist Church (By Thomas Hill)

Yesterday in gathered worship, we commissioned the Sandersons and Simmons to go out from our church to launch McIntosh Baptist Church. This commissioning marks the first time in our church's history that we have played such an active role in beginning a new church. Daniel will be serving as the lead pastor, and Reese as an elder of this reestablished congregation.

On Tuesday evening, fifteen members will reconstitute as McIntosh Baptist Church on the 131st anniversary of the church's original founding. On Sunday, September 21, the newly reconstituted McIntosh will begin its weekly gatherings at 10:30 am.

Someone asked me yesterday, What does it mean for a church to constitute? Constituting means that a particular group of believers enters into a covenant together to carry out what the Bible teaches a local church to be. These initial members will promise to love and live according to the church's covenant, celebrate the Lord's Supper together, and set apart Daniel and Reese as elders. In the future, this church body will continue to receive and remove members according to this covenant, with the leadership and guidance of these elders. 

A local church is a body of believers who proclaim sound gospel doctrine and practice the symbols of the gospel and membership: baptism and the Lord's Supper. McIntosh, Crestview, and all true local churches, as local outposts of Christ’s kingdom on earth, exercise the “keys of the kingdom” (Matt 16:18-20; 18:17-20). These keys are the biblical authority to recognize the what and the who of the gospel: true confessions of Christ and true confessors of him.

What is happening this week is not merely the beginning of a Sunday event held in a church building. It is the formation of a local church—“A congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel observing the two ordinances of Christ” (Baptist Faith & Message, Article 6).

Let’s pray for McIntosh going forward as we celebrate our partnership in the gospel as sister churches laboring together in the Griffin harvest field.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Community Groups Start This Sunday (By Thomas Hill)

Community Groups Start This Sunday:

This Sunday, Sep 14, we launch community groups! The second and fourth Sunday nights of the month, members gather in a home for a meal, sermon discussion, and prayer. These groups foster supernatural community by providing an environment where we get to know one another better, grow in the faith, and better understand what it means to walk with Christ.

Here is a refresher on how community groups typically operate:

• Groups usually meet from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm (group leaders may set a different schedule).

• Each family contributes a dish for the meal.

• The group discusses reflections and applications of the morning sermon & prays for one another.

• Teens and children are typically encouraged to participate in the discussion and prayer time along with the adults (or groups may make alternate arrangements).

We have organized community groups based on those who completed an engage survey or have previously participated. If you’d like to participate in a different group than the one assigned, please communicate with your assigned leader.

Special note: The Stubbs group will begin meeting on Sept 28.

We want every member possible to participate in a community group. If your name does not appear and you want to be in a group, please email me and let me know: thomas@crestviewbaptist.org.

Community groups are an excellent way to know and be known. They provide relational environments for loving one another. May the Lord deepen our community!

Commissioning This Sunday:

This Sunday in Gathered Worship at 10:20 am, we will commission two teams for gospel engagement:

• Lesotho Team: Dawn Vaughn, Doug & Angela Lawrence. Traveling to the mountains of southern Africa, Sep 17-28.

• McIntosh Church Replant: Brittany & Reese Simmons, Daniel & Chelsea Sanderson. They are serving in the replant team starting a new church that will be constituted on Sep 16 and launch Sunday gatherings on Sep 21.

You’ll want to be present this Sunday and be part of deploying these members for service.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Fall Kickoff Sunday, September 7 (By Thomas Hill)

Fall Kickoff, Sunday, Sep 7

Our Fall Kickoff is this Sunday! A fresh slate of equipping courses will launch (see the list below). In gathered worship, we will commence a new mini-series in the Gospel of Luke titled “Discipleship” (chapters 9-12). In this mini-series, covering chapters nine to twelve, we will learn how Jesus trained his followers and be challenged to follow him ourselves. This Sunday’s sermon is titled “Prioritize Following Jesus” from Luke 9:51-62. We also plan to baptize Michael Bickers that morning!

After gathering for worship, we will enjoy a picnic, fun games for the family, and a pickup football game. Drinks will be provided. Please bring a picnic meal for your family. Also, feel free to wear your team colors or jersey.

Fall Kickoff Sunday is an ideal opportunity to invite unbelieving friends, family, and neighbors to hear the preaching of the gospel and experience the gathered church.

Discipling Continues This Wednesday, Sep 2

Our August disciple-making training is complete, so it's time to be busy making disciples! As I explained in our training, we make disciples anytime and anywhere. One way we facilitate disciple-making is by allocating time and space on Wednesday for discipleship groups to meet while kids and student ministries are in session. If you have questions about how to begin an intentional emphasis on discipleship, talk to me.

Foundations for Disciples starts Wednesday at 6:30 pm. This introduction to discipleship is designed for new believers, growing believers, and mentors who want to deepen their understanding of the basics. You'll learn how to pray for unbelievers, share the gospel, and begin walking in obedience to Jesus. Everyone is invited!

McIntosh Workday, Saturday, Sep 6

We are days away from the launch of McIntosh Baptist Church. This Saturday, there will be a workday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Daniel and the plant team will be cleaning, painting, and getting the facility ready for the launch. Lunch is provided. Anyone who loves McIntosh and wants to offer encouragement is welcome to participate for part or all of the workday. If you plan to help and eat lunch, please text Daniel and let him know (770-634-2321).

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Fall is Around the Corner! (By Thomas Hill)

I noticed this morning that the darkness is lingering as the days are beginning to shorten. Fall is around the corner! It’s my favorite season: falling leaves, cool nights, mild days, and football!!

Fall stands as a significant period of ministry focus for our church. With summer past and school started, early September marks a significant opportunity for members to renew engagement in church life. It is also an ideal chance to invite guests to join us on Sundays.

Engage Survey

If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to complete the Engage Fall survey, indicating how you plan to be involved and serve the church family. Every member is encouraged to participate in gathered worship, equipping courses, disciple-making, community groups, and serving.

We notably need members to serve on Wednesday nights in hospitality, nursery, kids, and student ministries. Thank you for considering ways you can lean into the body life of our church!

Engage Fall Survey

Fall Kickoff, Sunday, Sep 7

Fall Kickoff Sunday, Sept 7, marks the beginning of our autumn ministry season! A fresh slate of equipping courses will launch. In gathered worship, we will commence a new mini-series in the Gospel of Luke titled “Discipleship” (chapters 9-12). In this mini-series, covering chapters nine to twelve, we will learn how Jesus trained his followers and be challenged to follow him ourselves. We also plan to baptize Michael Bickers that morning!

After gathering for worship, we will enjoy a picnic, fun games for the family, and a pickup football game. Drinks will be provided. Please bring a picnic meal for your family. Also, feel free to wear your team colors or jersey.

Fall Kickoff Sunday is an ideal opportunity to invite unbelieving friends, family, and neighbors to hear the preaching of the gospel and experience the gathered church.

Amy Carmichael: Missionary to India

This Sunday, Aug 31, I will deliver my annual biographical sermon from Hebrews 13:7, illustrated by the life of a faithful believer of an earlier generation. This year's sermon will feature Amy Carmichael. Originally from Ireland, Amy served most of her life in southern India proclaiming the gospel and caring for abandoned children.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Introducing The Pillar Network (By Thomas Hill)

I am excited to announce that we are considering a new mission partnership with The Pillar Network. During the elders’ report at the Aug 17 members meeting, we will present this partnership for the church’s information. In this article, I introduce you to Pillar, explain the value of partnership, describe practically what partnership would look like for us, and outline the next steps. 

What is The Pillar Network?

The Pillar Network is a community of Southern Baptist and international Baptist churches that are doctrinally aligned, missionally driven, and committed to equipping, planting, and revitalizing churches together. Through relationships formed with agreement around theology and healthy church doctrine and practice, Pillar churches can confidently support Great Commission efforts they trust will uphold the same priorities. I encourage you to learn more about Pillar through their website: The Pillar Network 

Pillar Church DNA:

1. Gospel Proclamation: We proclaim the gospel of our Sovereign Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2. Biblical Authority: We submit to the Bible as our final authority in life, faith, and doctrine.

3. Live Exposition: We promote live, expository preaching to equip the church.

4. Elder Led: We believe in congregationalism, led by a plurality of qualified, male elders.

5. Confessionally Baptist: We unite around historic, Baptist theology.

6. Kingdom Minded: We cooperate to start and strengthen churches all over the world. 

Statement of Faith:

All Pillar churches affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Further, the Network gladly stands in the reformed tradition clarified in the Pillar Statement of Faith: Beliefs. The Network also affirms the Abstract of Principles, the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, the Danvers Statement, and the Nashville Statement.

I believe that when you consider the Pillar DNA, Statement of Faith, and affirmations, you will find that they reflect the priorities largely shared by Crestview.

What Does the Pillar Network Do?

1. The Network catalyzes SBC churches to plant and revitalize churches in the US and worldwide.

2. Each Pillar church partners directly with at least one other plant/revitalization effort within the Network, providing financial, relational, practical, and prayer support.

3. Each Pillar church financially supports the work of the Network.

4. Each Pillar church invests in relationships within the Network by attending conferences, regional events, and Zoom calls.

Why would this partnership be valuable for Crestview?

1. Partnership will stir our awareness, involvement, and confidence in church planting and revitalization worldwide. It will boost our Great Commission efforts through the SBC. This is about GREATER missions and evangelism.

2. Partnership will connect us with a network of like-minded SBC churches. Crestview already has longstanding partnerships with the SBC, GBC, and FRBA. We intend to keep these traditional partnerships and support the Cooperative Program, the IMB, and NAMB. Partnering with Pillar enables us to achieve DEEPER, CONFIDENT cooperation WITHIN these partnerships. It helps us to continue in the SBC gladly.

3. Virtually all new Pillar churches receive NAMB support. Yet, NAMB also supports a broader circle of churches that do not share our convictions about what constitutes a healthy local church. We want Crestview to support planting churches that possess sound doctrine and healthy, biblical practices. Partnering with Pillar helps us to find NAMB churches that we can confidently support.

4. Pillar is a growing network that is gaining influence in the SBC. We want Crestview to raise our flag and support Pillar’s impact. We do not want to watch from the sidelines while Pillar churches labor together to strengthen our convention. This Network is our tribe of churches and a movement that Crestview should happily join.

Practically, what would this partnership look like for Crestview?

1. Crestview would add The Pillar Network alongside our longstanding partnerships with the SBC, GBC, and FRBA. We will continue to support the Cooperative Program, IMB, NAMB, and our regular missions offerings.

2. We will begin building relationships with other Pillar churches by attending network conferences and other events.

3. We will develop a partnership with at least one Pillar church plant in the US or internationally. Such would include mission trips, financial support, encouragement, and prayer.

4. We would add Pillar to our church ministry budget, aiming to increase our support to 1% or more as we are able.

What are the next steps for the church's consideration?

Our elders have been watching Pillar for several years, attending a few Pillar events, and slowly evaluating whether this is a wise partnership for Crestview. We believe that it is, but we want the church to affirm this partnership. At the Aug 17 members meeting, we will give a presentation about Pillar and ask the church to begin prayerfully considering this opportunity. Our recommendation will be for the church to affirm partnership at our Nov 16 members meeting. This schedule allows three months for you to learn about Pillar, ask questions, and help us make a wise, unified partnership decision.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Poetry Like No Other (By Thomas Hill)

"Only a Philistine could fail to love the Psalms."

Ronald B. Allen's quip brings a smile to all who treasure the Bible’s book of poetry. I am grateful for Rocky Stubbs launching us into the Summer Psalms series yesterday with Psalm 118. As we prepare for Psalm 35 this coming Lord’s Day, appreciate Jim Hamilton’s introduction to these inspired songs of our faith:

No other body of poetry lyricizes the epic deeds of the living God, celebrating the past, signifying the future, interpreting the present, making God known. No other body of poetry both claims to be the word of God and has the Holy Spirt bear witness to that claim, a claim recognized by the people of God across space and through time. No other body of poetry has as its principle author God’s chosen king, whose line of descent traces back through Judah to Abraham, and further still to Shem, Noah, and Adam. Nor can any other poetic or literary tradition lay claim to the fact that King David, in writing of his own experience with God in the world, simultaneously wrote as a type of the one to come, Jesus, the world’s best and only hope. We love the Psalms because in them we encounter God, and as Scott Hafemann affirms, “knowing God is not a means to something else.[1]

Let’s pray for the church as we hear the Psalms preached each week, read the week’s psalm several times to prepare, and intercede for the preacher to love the word, study diligently, and rightly divide it before the congregation as we worship the Lord of the Psalms.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

[1]  James M. Hamilton, Psalms: Volume 1: Psalms 1-72. Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (Bellingham: Lexham, 2012), 1.

Summer Psalms (By Thomas Hill)

This coming Sunday, July 7, we renew the Summer Psalms preaching series. Over the next six weeks, we will benefit from the exposition of Psalms 118, 35, 113, 36, 37, and 38 by Rocky Stubbs, Daniel Sanderson, and me. I have a long-term goal of steadily preaching each of the 150 Psalms. I plan to resume the Luke series on September 7, our fall kickoff day.

In preparation for this new series, I want to highlight the book of Psalms and prepare us for the upcoming sermons. In his introduction to Psalms, James Johnson supplies an array of facts that orient us to appreciate these songs of Israel (1):

• Psalms is one of the most dearly loved books of the Bible, and generations of God's people have treasured it. The Psalms express the Spirit-inspired prayer and praise of ancient Israel. It has been used as the prayer and song book of believers across the centuries.

• Psalms is the most quoted book in the New Testament. Jesus and the apostles continually referenced Psalms to establish key doctrines.

• Psalms are poems. They speak to both our minds and hearts, engaging our intellect and emotions. As Hebrew poetry, they do not feature rhyme and meter, like Western poems. Instead, they use line-to-line parallelism, movement, and development to describe the author’s topic.

• Psalms is a book. More precisely, it is five books. Individual Psalms are carefully and purposefully arranged within these books. Psalms is also a book about Christ. Jesus told his disciples, "Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled" (Lk 24:44). Therefore, expect Psalms to point to Jesus prophetically.

Pray for the preaching and hearing of the word in the coming weeks as we grow in the Summer Psalms.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

(1) James Johnson, Psalms, Volume 1 – Psalms 1-41: Preach the Word (Wheaton: Crossway, 2015), 13-22.

What Role Should Patriotism Have In Our Lives? (By Thomas Hill)

This Friday, July 4, marks America’s 249th birthday. Many of us will celebrate with food, friends, and fireworks. As believers who are citizens of God’s Kingdom as well as citizens of the United States, what should our attitude be toward our earthly country? In his lengthy tome, Politics According to the Bible, theologian Wayne Grudem shares his reflections on this question (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010, 109-112). I find his thoughts helpful, and I have summarized them below.

First, the Lord has established nations on the earth. Paul says that God "made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” (Acts 17:26). A blessing of many independent nations is that they keep government local while dividing and dispersing authority throughout the earth. These principles promote accountability and limit power and corruption in this fallen world.

Second, the Lord teaches believers to obey and honor the leaders of the nations where they live. Peter instructs, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Pet 2:17). Paul adds, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God…Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Rom 13:1,7). Believers should give respect, honor, and obedience to the nation in which they live.

These biblical principles lay a foundation for patriotism. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines patriotism as "love for or devotion to one's country.” Believers in America should practice a kind of patriotism that rightly, but not blindly, shows respect and honor to our nation. Patriotism does not mean we ignore injustices and sins, but we can support and honor an imperfect nation while praying and working toward its improvement. We do this not because ours is a “Christian country" but because God has ordained nations and instructed us how to relate to them. Thus, believers living in other nations should also have a sense of patriotism for their own homelands.

Of course, we worship the Lord alone: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” (Luke 4:8/Deut 6:13). We obey the government as far as it does not violate Biblical instruction. Yet, just as children can honor their parents without worshipping them, so too can we honor our nation without worshipping it. Our identity as Christians takes priority over our citizenship as Americans. Through Christ we share a bond of brotherhood with fellow believers from other nations as members of the universal church.

Grudem lists seven benefits of honoring and respecting our nation (i.e., showing patriotism):

1. Such honor provides a sense of belonging to a larger community of people.

2. It enables us to feel gratitude for the benefits our nation provides: protection of life, liberty, and property; laws that deter wrongdoing and encourage good; the establishment of a monetary system and markets; and the establishment of a common language.

3. It fosters a shared sense of pride in the athletic, scientific, economic, artistic, and philanthropic achievements of fellow citizens.

4. It cultivates a sense of pride in the achievements that a nation has accomplished throughout its history.

5. It promotes a sense of security, knowing that the nation and the government are defending its fellow citizens from violent evildoers and attacks from within or outside its borders.

6. It breeds a sense of obligation to do our part in supporting the nation, encompassing military service, jury duty, voting, running for office, working a job, raising children, and paying taxes.

7. It provides a sense of responsibility to transmit to newcomers and succeeding generations a shared understanding of moral values and standards widely valued by the nation.

In contrast to patriotism, Grudem warns believers of an attitude of continual criticism, dislike, and scorn. Dwelling on the nation’s negatives without discernment to see its positives shows foolish immaturity. There is undoubtedly a place for speaking out against injustice in our country, removing unwise or corrupt officeholders, and being honest about our nation's historic failures. Those best equipped to work toward improving the nation, though, are those who respect and honor it with gratitude to the Lord.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

2025 SBC Recap (By Thomas Hill)

Last week, Great Commission Baptists met in Dallas, Texas, for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. This gathering included two days of business preceded by a one-day pastors conference. Just over ten thousand messengers from churches across America met for encouragement, updates on our cooperative mission efforts, and decision-making related to the convention.

Encouragement from sister churches was a highlight of the gathering. The opportunity to reconnect with friends and ministry associates serving around the country and to hear updates on each other’s lives was positive. A host of meals and ancillary gatherings promoted these conversations (NAMB lunch, Baptist 21 lunch, IMB dinner, 9Marks at 9, the Pillar fellowship, and Georgia Baptist dessert fellowship—to name a few).

Our mission boards and seminaries updated the convention on their accomplishments for the year. Tuesday morning, the convention commissioned the latest class of fifty-eight international workers to serve around the world through the International Mission Board. The IMB reported over 3,500 workers worldwide and 1,600 in the sending pipeline, considering future deployment. The North American Mission Board reported that at the current rate of planting, by 2030, one-third of SBC churches will have started since 2010. The six seminaries report strong student enrollment and a host of educational initiatives. Seminaries are collaborating with churches to train more pastors through a variety of online and traditional on-campus avenues, aiming to combat the growing shortage of pastors serving churches. 

The convention made several noteworthy decisions. First, the Sanchez amendment (formerly the Law amendment) was defeated by a margin of 60% to 40%, falling short of the required 66% approval to pass. This amendment was the second effort in as many years to change the SBC constitution to define cooperating churches as those that only allow qualified men as pastors. The convention’s doctrinal statement, the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, already lists this requirement so that a constitutional change would have been a supplemental effort. I voted for it and was surprised that the Sanchez amendment did not pass; yet, I am encouraged that the doctrinal statement is clear.

Second, in a 60-40 vote, the convention again voted to affirm and not end the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. This motion has been brought to the floor for several consecutive conventions. The motive to end the commission is gaining traction, in my estimation. I voted in favor of ending the commission this year, knowing a second vote would come next year and allow the trustees time to convince the SBC of the commission's merit. No doubt, there are many good things that the ERLC does. Yet, I am not convinced that it can speak to the public sector on political issues as "the voice" of the SBC.

Third, in accepting the SBC annual cooperative program budget, the convention approved a special, one-time allocation of three million dollars for legal expenses to defend against three lawsuits against the Executive Committee related to sexual abuse cases by a large majority. (Former SBC President Johnny Hunt brought one of these suits after the 2022 sexual abuse report named him.) Leading up to the convention, some voiced concern about the convention using Cooperative Program funds for legal costs. Legal costs, however, are an inherent part of doing business for all convention entities that operate as large corporations in a modern, litigious society. While all should desire to see legal costs minimized, the convention must defend itself against these suits. One can appreciate the Executive Committee’s transparency about such costs.

I doubt history will look back on the 2025 convention as one of the most momentous, but it was another year of sister churches assembling to encourage Great Commission faithfulness. It was a joy and privilege to represent Crestview. By the way, next year's convention will be held in Orlando, Florida, from June 7 to 10, 2026. If any members are interested in attending as messengers, please let me know.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Clarkston Team & McIntosh Church Replant (By Thomas Hill)

CLARKSTON TEAM

This Saturday, Crestview is deploying a team of sixteen to serve with our friends at Clarkston International Bible Church. From May 31 to June 6, we will be helping staff Camp Encounter for the week, a summer kids camp serving the refugee community. Clarkston is one of the most unique cities in Georgia and home to internationals from around the world. Gospel work in Clarkston is like an international trip without buying a plane ticket. Please pray for our team to serve in God's strength, speak God's word, and walk in the fullness of the Spirit. Pray for eternal fruit to be born in the lives of refugee families. Pray for the Lord to be glorified in Clarkston, Griffin, and to the ends of the earth!

Team members:

• Brandon, Dawn, Hank, Hattie, Harper Vaughn

• Will and Ada Barnes

• Emily, Cooper, Larsen, and Harris McLean

• Emma Lael Sisler

• Silas Crook

• Rocky Stubbs

• Cole Barnes

• Thomas Hill

UPCOMING MCINTOSH CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES

As we continue to pray and labor toward the replanting of McIntosh Baptist Church this September, we encourage Crestview members to consider whether the Lord would have you to join this work. We continue to pray for three to five families to be deployed by Crestview as members of this new church. If you are someone who is praying, open, interested, curious, and ... waiting ... there are two upcoming on-ramps for you:

1. July 4 McIntosh Cookout Fellowship: 4:00-7:00 PM. All who are interested are invited to an evening with the Sandersons and the plant team. There will be food and kids activities at the McIntosh campus. Most importantly, this is a time to learn more about the new church and spend time getting to know the plant team. Afterward, the group plans to tailgate together and watch the City of Griffin fireworks show.

2. Sunday Evening Prayer Services, starting July 6 at 5:00 PM. Starting July 6 and continuing each Sunday evening through the summer, all who are considering the church are urged gather with the plant team to pray for the work. These are prime opportunities to develop relationships and discern the Lord's guidance.

NEW SUMMER QUARTER EQUIPPING COURSES

New equipping courses begin this Sunday, June 1, at 9:30 AM. These courses are designed to help you learn and apply God's word.

• New Testament Overview (2 Thessalonians to Revelation)

• Psalms

• You Are A Theologian—Systematic Theology (Ladies)

• Daniel (Men)

• The Best News of All— The Gospel (Kids)

Which course will you take this summer?

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

How to Walk Into Church (By Thomas Hill)

When we understand what the church is and what happens when it gathers, it impacts the way we walk into the gathering. Tony Payne explains: “We’re walking into a gathering that God himself has called together, as part of his majestic plan to save and gather his people around the Lord Jesus Christ. We’re walking into an outpost or foretaste of the great spiritual, heavenly assembly of the people of God.”[1] How we walk into church, then, matters.

Paul also taught the same thing. He urged the Ephesian believers to approach the church’s gatherings with purpose: “Look carefully then how you walk …  be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:15–21). The Lord desires his people’s Spirit-filled participation!

Let’s take a few moments to reflect on how we walk into the church’s gatherings each Sunday.

Before You Walk Into Church

• Decide to go—prepare on Saturday to worship on Sunday.

• Pray for those who will come and what we will do together on Sunday. Pray for fellow members by name. Pray for guests who will join us.

• Prepare for what we will do together. Read the sermon text several times (Sermon schedule). Learn the songs we will sing (Spotify link).

• Arrive early.

• Pray about where to sit. How does your seat selection facilitate worship and loving one another?

After You Walk Into Church

• Care for guests by making sure they have anything needed, such as a bible or an info guide.

• Assist with nuts and bolts. If something needs to be done, take the initiative to help.

• Pray, sing, and enthusiastically. Own prayers personally by agreeing with a hearty “AMEN!.”

• Listen to the sermon attentively. Have your Bible open and heart engaged. Make sure your phone is not a distraction.

• Consider your life. How will you think, believe, and act in light of the sermon?

When Church Finishes but Doesn’t

• Linger in conversation for 10-15 minutes after the service.

• Greet guests first. Introduce yourself to someone you don’t recognize.

• Trigger spiritually helpful conversations by bouncing off the sermon: "That was really interesting what the pastor said about _____. What did you think?"

• Ask others how they came to salvation in Christ: “Phil, I don’t think I remember how you came to follow Christ. How did it happen with you?

• Ask others how you can pray for them & pray for them at that time.

How to Walk Out of Church

• Go to lunch with others.

• Apply the sermon to your life.

• Remain connected to the church during the week.

• Plan to invite non-believers next Sunday.

• Check in on anyone you noticed was absent.

BIG PLANS THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, May 18, we will meet as usual at 10:30 am for gathered worship. In addition to singing, praying, and preaching, we plan to baptize Diane Robinson. After the service, we will move into the fellowship hall for a covered-dish lunch. Please bring a dish or two to share (the church will not provide meat, so please bring main dishes, too). Toward the end of the meal, after everyone is served, we will observe the Supper by partaking of the bread and cup. The church will provide elements. Following the meal, we will begin the members meeting. Please prioritize this gathering by keeping your calendar clear until after 3:00 pm on Sunday.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

[1] Adapted from Tony Payne, How to Walk Into Church (Mathias Media: 2015).

Making the Supper a Meal (By Thomas Hill)

On Sunday, May 18, following gathered worship we will continue congregating after the service for our quarterly covered dish lunch and members meeting. As a special addition, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a church family during lunch in the fellowship hall. This is a change of routine for us, so I want to prepare us all adequately.

Background

Several weeks ago, when I was preaching about the Lord’s Supper, I noted that the early church at times incorporated the Lord’s Supper into a larger church meal, similar to how Jesus instituted the Supper over a meal in the upper room. Several references hint at eating the Supper as a church meal (See Acts 2:42, 46; 1 Cor 11:17-34; and Jude 12). At least one reference makes no mention of an accompanying meal (Acts 20:7). Either way, there is no clear, positive command, one way or the other. Since we routinely eat the Supper without a meal, I think it would be beneficial for us, on occasion, to incorporate the Supper into an all-church meal.

Planning

Here is the plan for Sunday, May 18, and how you can prepare. We will gather as normal at 10:30 for gathered worship. In addition to singing, praying, and preaching, we expect to baptize Diane Robinson that morning. After the service we will move into the fellowship hall for the covered-dish lunch. Please bring a dish or two to share (the church will not provide meat, so please bring main dishes, too). Toward the end of the meal, after everyone is served, we will observe the Supper by partaking of the bread and cup. Elements will be provided by the church and set out on each table. Following the meal we will begin the members meeting.

Preparing

Here are several things you can do to prepare for the day. First, prepare your heart to eat the supper by dwelling on Christ, confessing sins, and reconciling with others. Second, prioritize this gathering by keeping your calendar clear until after 3:00 pm that Sunday afternoon. Third, have fun planning the dishes you bring.  Got a scrumptious recipe or new venture you’d like for others to try?  Here is a great opportunity.

Benefits

I foresee several benefits of incorporating the Lord’s Supper as a church-wide meal. First, it will serve as a noticeable cue that we eat as the assembled church, not merely as individual believers. Second, changing up the routine gives us the opportunity to experience the Supper in a fresh way. Third, moving the Supper to accompany the members meeting is a reminder of the importance of this meeting. Let’s pray and prepare!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Reasons I Love the ESV Study Bible (By Thomas Hill)

From the day Crossway published it seventeen years ago, the ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) has remained the best secondary resource available to everyday Bible students. Obviously, the Bible itself is the top primary resource. As a secondary resource, however, the ESVSB is unmatched. I hope that every growing disciple in our church has one at their fingertips!

Here are ten reasons I think so highly of the ESVSB over other study Bibles available today:

1. All interpretive tools are under one cover. In addition to reading the biblical text itself, Bible students can use additional tools to understand the text's original languages, history, cultural, and literary background. Tools include cross-references, variant translation notes, commentary, concordance, book introductions, helpful charts, timelines, and maps.

2. Book introductions. Every book contains an invaluable introduction to the author, date, situation, themes, outline, and more.

3. Biblical Theology tools. These help readers understand how individual sections are related to the overarching biblical storyline. The “History of Salvation in the OT” section shows how every chapter in the Old Testament points to Christ. The “OT Passages Cited in the NT” section shows how the New Testament uses the Old.

4. Timelines. These helpful timelines include the History of the OT and NT, the Kings of Israel and Judah correlated with prophets, Jesus' life, and more. 

5. Articles. These articles cover a variety of topics, including an Overview of biblical doctrine, an Overview of biblical ethics, an Interpretation of the Bible, the Canon of Scripture, an Overview of Christian Sects, an Overview of Religious Cults, and more.

6. Healthy doctrinal perspective. The introduction describes this perspective as classic evangelical theology in the historical stream of the Reformation with confidence in the complete truthfulness of the Bible.

7. Written by a large team of respected evangelical scholars from various backgrounds, this collaborative effort strengthens the content by avoiding blind spots and biases of individual writers.

8. Commentary focused on accurate observation and sound interpretation. The commentary notes aim to help the reader understand the text accurately. The Spirt-illuminated reader, then, must make proper application.

9. Digital access with additional free and paid resources. There are a host of digital resources available, some free, some paid, on the ESV website.

10. English Standard Version translation. The ESV is one of the best, highly respected, "essentially literal" translations available today.

In the interest of balance, here are a few critiques of the ESVSB:

1. Not Exclusively Baptist. This is not a concern, but it is something to be aware of. All churches, including ours, are more precise than the ESVSB in areas such as the ordinances and the doctrine of the church .

2. Neutral on controversial doctrines. For example, it even-handedly presents three millennial views. Realize the ESVSB’s purpose. When required, look elsewhere for resources that will assist in greater doctrinal precision.

3. Size. It is a thick, heavy book. My suggestion is to use this one at your study spot at home and bring a lighter “reading” Bible to church gatherings.

We stock copies of the ESVSB in our bookstall. Five more were delivered today! (We make no profit—we're just trying to get good resources into your hands.)

 For His Glory,

 Pastor Thomas

Resurrection Sunday Recap

What a blessing it was to gather as a church on Resurrection Sunday with SO MANY guests yesterday! You invited, and people showed up!!! Family, coworkers, contacts from neighborhood visits, local students, and friends from the pregnancy resource center were all here!! Some were believers, but many had yet to turn to Christ in faith. Let's give thanks today for the corporate witness of our church family to Christ and the proclamation of the gospel!

Attendance was 205 (195 in the room and 10 in the nursery). Several came in after the count, so this number could be higher. The worship center has 230 seats and only a few remained open. To date, this was the largest Sunday attendance during my time as your lead pastor. Praise the Lord! Now, please pray that the Spirit will use the word to redeem the lost and mature Crestview.

Let’s remain faithful to gather each Lord’s Day with expectation for what he will do as we worship him and continue inviting the lost to hear!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Rolling Out New Initiatives (By Cole Barnes)

One of my primary roles as a pastor of Crestview is to help equip the saints for the work of ministry. Over the last few weeks, I have been considering ways to develop and strengthen our efforts in family ministry and worship ministry to do exactly that. Here are a few ideas we will be rolling out in the upcoming months to enhance these areas:

Family Ministry Parent Meetings
In an effort to train, equip, and involve parents in our kids and student ministries, we will begin having Family Ministry Parent Meetings right before the start of each quarter. These meetings will take place on Wednesday evening, immediately following discipleship gatherings, and last 20-30 minutes. They will include a training time focused on encouragement in parenting, family worship, discipling children, and current issues among teens and children. Additionally, I will make good resources available, including articles, podcasts, and books on these topics. The second part of the meeting will focus on upcoming teaching plans for student and kids' ministries, events and registrations, and ministry needs that parents can be involved in. If you have a child involved in our kids' or student ministries, please mark your calendars with the below dates:

Upcoming Meeting Dates:
May 7 @ 8:00pm
Aug 13 @ 8:00pm
Nov 5 @ 8:00pm

Student Ministry Evangelism Nights
The main emphases of our Wednesday night student ministry gathering are for our students to be evangelized, discipled, and to have fun together. In addition to these, I would like to increase the student's desire and vision for not only their own spiritual growth but the evangelization of their unbelieving friends. To this end, several nights a year, our regular Wednesday evening student gathering will be focused on evangelism. Students are encouraged to invite their friends, classmates, family members, teammates, etc. who are far from the Lord to our weeknight student gathering. The teaching that evening will be particularly evangelistic, and students will be called to repent and follow Christ. This gives our students an opportunity to extend evangelistic invitations to other students who may not be comfortable coming to church on a Sunday but would be willing to attend a student-focused event. Please pray for these evenings as the gospel is sown into hearts.

Upcoming Evangelism Nights:
Apr 23: Did the Resurrection Really Happen? Luke 24
Jun 18: What is the Gospel? Romans 3:21-26
Aug 27: How Can God Be Good If We Suffer? The Story of Joseph
More Dates TBA…

Worship Ministry Training Nights
A few Wednesday nights each year, I will be hosting a worship ministry training night for current musicians, singers, and members who would like to begin serving the church in this capacity. These events will take place directly after our Wednesday night gatherings, lasting roughly an hour. They will include a time of training in the doctrine of worship and music theory, as well as an extended time of playing music together. The goal of these evenings is to continue the development of our current musicians and singers so that our gathered worship is strengthened, as well as to provide an easy on-ramp for new members to get plugged in. If you would like to participate in these training nights, please mark your calendars with the below dates:

Upcoming Training Nights:
May 14 @ 8:00pm
Aug 27 @ 8:00pm
Oct 29 @ 8:00pm

For your joy and His glory,

Pastor Cole

Hallelujah, What a Savior! (By Thomas Hill)

Musician Philip Bliss penned one of my favorite hymns in the mid-nineteenth century. It goes by at least two names: “Man of Sorrows” or “Hallelujah, What a Savior.” My mentor, Al Jackson, introduced it to me. During my college years, he met every week with a group of young college students who aspired for future pastoral ministry. As we drank coffee and learned theology at daybreak, he would lead us in singing rich doctrinal hymns. I vividly remember him teaching us this one and and telling us, “Men, few songs express the doctrine of the cross more clearly than this hymn.” He was right. If you are not familiar with it, listen here. Let’s give a few moments to reflect on the lyrics and the Scripture they express: 

“Man of Sorrows!” what a name for the Son of God who came ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

• Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

• 1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

 Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood, Sealed my pardon with His blood! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

• Isaiah 53:4–6 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Guilty vile and helpless we, spotless Lamb of God was He; full atonement can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior!

• Romans 3:23–25 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

• 1 Peter 2:21–24 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed.

 Lifted up was He to die, “It is finished!” was His cry; now in heaven exalted high: Hallelujah, what a Savior!

• Isaiah 53:11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

• Hebrews 1:3–4 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

 When He comes, our glorious King, all His ransomed home to bring, then anew this song we’ll sing” Hallelujah, what a Savior!

• 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

• Revelation 19:6–9 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

Yes, my mentor was right. This hymn puts to words and melody the most precious truths of the gospel of grace. Jesus, the divine man of sorrows, has given himself for our sins—Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Resurrection Sunday Plans
This Sunday is Easter Sunday! I hope you’ll plan join us for gathered worship this Lord’s Day. We will follow our regular schedule. During the service we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. So, as good hosts, prepare your guests accordingly. We welcome baptized believers who are members of faithful churches to eat the supper with us. Following the service there will be a kids egg hunt and photo booth. Invite friends, fill the room, and let’s worship the Savior!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

I Did It! (By Thomas Hill)

I did it.

I had been praying for the opportunity.

It came Saturday afternoon.

Last week, I was intently praying for an opportunity to invite my neighbor to worship with us on Easter. So, when he walked over to ask me a gardening question on Saturday afternoon, I did it. I boldly and warmly invited him to worship with us on Easter Sunday. He has a Roman Catholic background and has previously used it to deflect my invitations. This time I just flat-out challenged him: "We are friends. I want you to come hear me preach and see what my church is about.”  He chuckled and said, I may just do that. Would you pray for my neighbor?

Who will you invite?

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Let’s Invite! (By Thomas Hill)

One strategy for helping friends, family, and neighbors to hear the gospel is to invite them to the church's gathering on Sunday. Of course, we should personally speak the gospel to others anywhere, anytime. Yet, when coupled with such speaking, an invitation to our Sunday service remains a powerful tool for evangelism.

How many times have you found yourself listening to a sermon and thinking, "Wow, I wish _________ could hear this.” (Insert the name of a coworker/friend/teammate/neighbor). You have the opportunity to take the initiative now by extending invitations ahead of a string of strong evangelistic sermons. Let’s take advantage of our Sunday sermons and leverage them in our gospel engagement.

Paul affirmed the benefits of unbelievers hearing gospel-rich sermons: “How are they to hear without someone preaching? … Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ “ (Rom 10:14, 17). The two most common ways people hear the gospel are from a conversation with a friend or family member and from a sermon. Let's use both when possible!

I am currently preaching through a section of Luke’s Gospel that is well-fitted for gospel-rich, evangelistic sermons. Additionally, the Easter season is a cultural time of the year when many are more open to invitations to church. To aid your invitations, we have printed invite cards you may like to utilize. These cards are available in the worship center. Take ten or twenty and use them to invite your friends. We'll print more!

Join me in praying that our worship center will be filled with those who are hungry to know and follow the Lord Jesus!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Week of Prayer for Missions in North America (By Thomas Hill)

Each spring, Crestview joins with our wider network of Great Commission Baptists to supply church-planting missionaries in the US and Canada serving through the North American Mission Board. This region boasts a population of 386 million people speaking 350 languages. It also includes 161 unreached people groups and 286 million unbelievers. A great need exists for the gospel in North America.

As we prepare to collect this special offering on Sunday, April 13, I encourage you to raise your awareness of the need and those whom we are sending to proclaim the gospel and establish believers in local churches. Yesterday, you received a daily prayer guide. More information and videos of these missionary stories are available here: North American Missions Offering.

The Habit of Sunday Giving

Yesterday, I shared an update on our church’s giving through the first two months of the year. Praise the Lord—over $73,000 has been received through the end of February! Many of you are faithful, consistent, generous givers. However, we are currently $7,000 behind our budget target for this point in the year. So, I feel the need to encourage all members to actively do their part to help Crestview meet our financial commitments and ministry objectives.

Financial giving is an important way our church worships the Lord together. Every church member should be a joyful, habitual giver. Regular giving as a church family is why Paul urged the members of the church of Corinth to give on Sundays in proportion to how the Lord had prospered the work of their hands during the previous week.

Recall Paul’s instructions to the church: “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1–2). In other words, Paul’s instruction was for each member to set aside a portion of their weekly "direct deposit" for the church's Sunday offering. In this way, each member honored the Lord by displaying gratitude and faith in the Lord, and each did their part, however large or small, to joyfully support the mission and ministry of the church.

Here is one way we might apply the principle underlying this passage: Every time you are paid (whether weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or intermittently), that next Sunday, give a percentage to the Lord through the church—this giving honors the Lord first, before seeing how the funds might be expended elsewhere. Giving, then, becomes an act of faith. While online giving allows the convenience of making contributions anytime, could a Sunday habit reinforce giving as an act of corporate worship and help us give before the money is spent elsewhere? 

I realize that many are experiencing the challenges of economic strain, the rising cost of living, and the high costs associated with raising families. Navigating these realities requires wisdom and discipline. The Lord does not merely call the financially secure to give—he calls all disciples to be givers. Remember the Lord's words: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). May our management of our family’s finances reflect hearts that are fixated on the glory of the Lord and his kingdom. Join me in praying that Crestview is amply supplied for the mission to which the Lord has called us.

Alexis’s Wedding

This Saturday, Alexis Lawrence will be marrying Julien Adkins. Alexis serves as our office ministry assistant and is an active member of Crestview. Let's celebrate their marriage and display our appreciation for Alexis by showering them this Sunday with linens for their home. Color preferences are creams, whites, and blues. Please leave gifts on the decorated table in the welcome center this Sunday. They are registered for linens and other items: Wedding Registry

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Book Review: Embodied (By Thomas Hill)

New! Book of the Quarter & Bookstall

In an effort to get great books into your hands, we are introducing the book of the quarter and Bookstall! Each quarter, we will feature a solid book by a respected author that will help you grow in knowing the Lord. I’ll author a book review to inspire you to pick up a copy and read.

The book of the quarter and other resources will be available in our new Bookstall! We completed this room last year but have delayed developing it. We aim to steadily expand the resources in the room to keep good books in your hands. The Bookstall is located on the first floor near the library and mothers’ room. Check it out soon!

Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World by Gregg R. Allison

260 pages, Baker Books, 2021

$15 in the Crestview Bookstall

The spring book of the quarter is Embodied by Dr. Gregg R. Allison, a professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and an elder of Sojourn Carlisle Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

How important is your body to a life of discipleship? Our physical body is integral to everything we do in life. When you sing, read the Bible, and pray, you do so in a body. When you go to work and serve your family, you do so in a body. When you love others and share the gospel, you do so in a body. So long as our body is functioning correctly, we tend to overlook it. But, when injury, illness, and death are nearby, we become quite conscious of the body.

In Embodied, Allison leads us to consider the vital role that one’s body plays in discipleship. Developing a biblical understanding of embodiment addresses many contemporary issues: personhood, gender dysphoria, sexuality, body image, exercise, diet, health and wellness, obesity, body modification, clothing, and burial/cremation.

Allison contends that American culture and the church are under the devastating influence of a type of neo-Gnosticism. Gnosticism is an ancient heresy that views spiritual, immaterial realities as inherently good and the physical and material as inherently evil. The result of this influence is that believers and churches disregard and even disparage the human body. For example, we pursue spiritual disciplines like worship and prayer because they strengthen the soul. But do we also consider how our physical bodies enable us to serve the Lord? Do we also give attention to how adequate diet, exercise, and sleep support our bodies to practice these disciplines? These are the kinds of probing questions Allison raises throughout this book.

I found Embodied biblically grounded, insightful, and practical. Allison guides us to root our theology of human embodiment in Scripture. I found the book filled with many surprising insights featuring a topic that Christians too often neglect. Each chapter is intensely practical, addressing questions such as sexuality, transgenderism, adequate & excessive exercise, wellness, modest clothing, and even tattoos. The last chapter, "The Future Body," details the believer’s hope in the resurrection of the body and the eternal joy of glorified embodiment with the Lord.

Who should read Embodied? Though this is a book of theology, this book is easy for almost anyone to read. Each chapter is organized efficiently and introduced with a thought-provoking question, statement of the big idea, and application question. It is a book for everyday believers who desire to grasp the Bible’s teaching about embodiment. Parents should be aware that portions of the book address both holy and divergent sexuality (with tact and modesty), which may not be suitable for some readers.

Allison’s closing declaration is one to ponder: “As God the Son was embodied and is re-embodied, so too we are embodied and will be re-embodied. The proper state of human existence —both then and now—is embodiment” (260). May our discipleship and future hope include appreciating the Lord’s design for our bodies.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas