You may remember 25 years ago a book that was published titled “Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” In that book, the author looks back over his life and discovers that as educated as he thinks he is, what he really needed to know for living life he learned in kindergarten. That got me thinking about my spiritual journey and the things I learned over the years of college and seminary. As great as those years of education have been, I believe that what I really need to know for living the spiritual life I learned when I was a child going to Sunday School. I would like to say I learned a lot of great facts and profound truths while I was in Sunday School, but I honestly can’t recall a single one. What I do remember about my days in Sunday School as a child are the people who taught me. This Sunday I want to share a testament of sorts about how God used my various teachers throughout my life to help me grow in my spiritual journey to be the person I am today.
From my personal experience in Sunday School,l I want to make two applications for all of us. 1) Teaching the next generation the eternal truths of scripture is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a Christian. We need teachers for our children’s classes, and I pray God will use my experience to stir some new teachers to help with this important ministry. 2) We all have the need to be influenced by other Christians to help us grow in Christ. At our church we do that through our community groups, and I will challenge you to join one of our Community Groups or Adult Discipleship Classes so you can grow in Christ through interaction with other believers. Join me this Sunday as we consider the importance of Christian education and discipleship in our church.

Last Sunday I preached from Acts 2 on What is a Church? Scripture answered the question with, “The gathering of redeemed, followers of Jesus Christ!” This Sunday we will go back to Acts 2 to see What the Church Is Supposed To Do?
Last Sunday I preached from Act 2 on what is a church? Scripture answered the question with, “The gathering of redeemed, followers of Jesus Christ!” This Sunday we will go back to Acts 2 to see what the church is supposed to do?
Churches do any number of different things, with their own particular points of emphasis and even personalities. I’ve seen the “Cowboy Church” that sought to reach cowboys. Inner city churches tend to focus on the socio-economic needs of a disadvantaged aspect of society. There are churches that seek to appeal to a specific ethnic group. Just across the bridge is a Korean Baptist Church which we would assume is targeting people from a Korean background. Other churches place a strong emphasis on either Christian Education or missions. And then there is our church, located on an island, close to the beach with a population that is comprised of people from all over the eastern seaboard and from a wide variety of backgrounds. What’s a Church to Do? How do we know what is really important? How do we decide what we should do?
In Acts 2 we read about the very beginnings of the church, which provides for us first principles for the church. What the early church did and didn’t do becomes the foundation of what any church, in any culture and any time period should be doing. Sunday we will identify those fundamentals from Scripture. The amazing thing that God does for the local church is after they have made a commitment to the fundamental functions of the church, He gives each church flexibility in how we actually do church. That explains why there are so many different styles of churches. Therefore, each local church needs to wrestle with these fundamentals in light of the culture we live in, together with the people God has given to the church in that particular location to discern what they are to do. Join me this Sunday as we consider “What’s a Church to Do?” And more specifically, what is our Church supposed to do!

Did you know there are over 200 denominations in the United States? With each group having their own nuances of what a church is supposed to be it is no wonder people are confused about what a church is! This Sunday we are going to spend some time in the passage of scripture that describes for us the very origins of the church, Acts 2. In looking at the “birthday” of the church we will see the biblical foundation that defines a church and from that hopefully answer the question, What is the church?. The answer is not found in a physical structure, the dogma of a group or a denominational name. Rather, the answer is found in a singular person, Jesus Christ, and the people that He has called out of the world to follow him. Join me this Sunday as we consider the origins of the church.

Because of my position in the church, I get introduced in various ways.
“Meet Rev. Matthews – he’s the pastor of Kure Beach First Baptist Church.”
“This is Pastor Andrew Matthews and he’s the pastor of Kure Beach First Baptist Church.”
“This is Pastor Andrew – he’s the pastor where I go to church.”
“Meet the preacher from my church – Pastor Andrew.”
“This is Andrew, he’s my pastor.”
BUT my preferred way to be introduced is . . .
“I’d like you to meet my friend Andrew.”

There is just something about friendship and the expression of that friendship in front of other people that conveys the nature of the relationship. We are more than just associates or acquaintances, we are friends by choice.

Jesus could call us a lot of different things: His creation, sinners, servants, minions, followers, or disciples. But in John 15, Jesus calls us friends. He does this because he wants to convey the intimate nature of our relationship with him. The word friend is defined this way: “a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.” In friendship there is a mutual affection for each other. That Jesus calls us friends tells me Jesus is drawn to you, is interested in you, cares deeply about you, and is willing to be transparent with you. Are you willing to do the same? That is what makes for a good friendship – when both people are assuming that posture toward the other person. Does it feel like Jesus is your friend? Could it be you are not understanding Jesus’ relationship offer to you? Or maybe you are assuming an incorrect posture toward Jesus that is keeping the friendship from blossoming? Join me this Sunday as we look at how life in the vine offers a deep intimacy with Christ!

As Americans the “pursuit of happiness” is something that is part of our cultural identity. We live in the greatest country in the world, with the greatest opportunities for success and happiness, and yet so many Americans are anything but happy. It almost seems as though the more our society gains materially the less happy we are. When our founding fathers used that term, “the pursuit of happiness”, I don’t think they believed happiness came from material things. No, they believed happiness was rooted in our individual autonomy and freedoms, given to us by God. And they were correct in that belief.
In our text this Sunday, as we continue through John 15, we will see the source of true and lasting joy is in direct proportion to our reliance upon Christ as our source for all we need. That need begins with Christ’s unique ability to deal with our sin problem through His sacrifice on the Cross. True and lasting joy can only be known through the new life we can have in Christ. But even Christians can experience unhappiness if we are not fully relying on Jesus as the source for all things. When Christians believe they need certain things from this material world in order to know joy or feel happy they instead will find disappointment that results in shame, sadness and depression. Join me this Sunday as we pursue unparalleled joy from our life in the vine.

This Sunday we will celebrate Communion – The Lord’s Table. Growing up my mother was insistent on proper table manners from her two very active boys; I’ll share a bit more about that on Sunday. My mother did this because she believed certain manners at the dinner table made for a better dining experience for everyone. Every culture has its own unique table manners, and those manners reveal what is important to those people. In 1 Corinthians 11 the Apostle Paul shares some table manners for coming to the Lord’s Table. How should we prepare ourselves? What is the purpose of the meal? How do we best participate in the meal? These table manners will make the Lord’s Table a better experience for everyone.

This Sunday we will also celebrate Believer’s Baptism with Ed Kohl’s baptism in the ocean after our Beach Church service. Join us as Ed publicly shares his faith in Christ through his obedience in baptism.

The story of Superman has intrigued us for generations. A man from a different world that seemed uninhibited by things that would kill most humans. He was super fast and could even fly. He was super strong and bullet proof. He had super hearing and could send lazer like rays out of his eyes. Superman was unstoppable, until he was stopped. We all know that when Superman was exposed to Kryptonite he became weaker than the average human. That word “kryptonite” has become synonymous with something that steals another person’s power.

Materialism can be a powerful force in a person’s life. Material things appeal to us as humans because we are very much a part of this material world. Material things can bring pleasure and even joy for a season. Many people find security in material things, and others take pride in all that they have been able to accumulate. The message of materialism is that it will meet all of your needs and provide the greatest fulfillment of life. Like Superman, it seems unstoppable, until it comes to an end. There’s no question that Jesus and the general teaching of the Bible warns against being materialistic. Is there a kryptonite for materialism? In this week’s text Jesus points us to the only thing that will stop the relentless pursuit of materialism – generosity!

I’m sharing this message in conjunction with our special offering “Debt No More in 2024.” God has been faithful to this church in not only meeting the needs of our congregation, but at the same time expanding the reach and influence of this ministry. This Sunday I am asking you to be generous for the sake of the gospel and the continued growth of our ministry. Giving sacrificially is a good spiritual exercise that not only supports the work of God, but to do a work in you by removing the desire for material things. Join me this Sunday as we explore Generosity, the Kryptonite for materialism.

As we celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday it is difficult to separate the role of a father and what it means to be a man. Historically, men have found a lot of their value and worth in physical strength and size. Men are typically bigger and stronger than women and in the ancient world at least, the bigger the man, greater would be his position in the society. In the book of 1 Samuel, King Saul is a good example of this. The Israelites wanted a king like other nations, so they chose Saul who just happened to be a full head taller than the average man in Israel at that time. Even in our modern time there is a bravado that is expected to come with male leadership in our society. Society looks to an authoritative kind of male leadership that has been successful in the military, the business world or the world of sports as the benchmark of leadership. Once again, scripture turns the societal norms on its head, projecting a kind of spiritual leadership that is counter cultural as it reflects and glorifies God.

The Bible definitely describes a unique role of male leadership for our homes, churches and communities. But if you are trying to understand that leadership through the lens of secular leadership, you will be disappointed. Scripture calls men that have first surrendered to God to be a leader after the pattern of how Jesus led. In addition to being our Creator and redeemer, Jesus is also the ultimate example of servant leadership: Jesus came not to be served, but to serve the needs of others. What our families, churches and communities need are leaders that will follow the example of Jesus and be loving leaders to those God has called them to serve. Join me this Sunday as we take a fresh look, and for some of you, a completely new look at what God has called men to do and to be as husbands, fathers, and members of society.

Finding the correct motivation to do something is an essential key to success in that endeavor. Students attending college only because their parents want them to be there usually will not do as well academically as those that are there because they want to learn that specific discipline. On sports teams, a good coach will give their team motivation to execute their position well and help the team win the game. This week was the anniversary of D-Day in France, where soldiers were motivated to fight in order to not only save their lives but preserve freedom for future generations. The same is true in the church. If the church is lacking motivation or has the wrong motivation, they will become stagnant, stop growing and eventually die.

In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus makes a statement that identifies with great simplicity what should motivate a church in our mission. In a word: LOVE! The Beatles had it right when they recorded the hit song “All You Need is Love.” My wife Sue says people will do things out of either fear or love. Being motivated by fear is never a good thing so love is the motivation we need. Jesus was specific that the Church is to first love God, and then love our neighbors as ourselves. When we join the mission of God, motivated out of love for God, we will develop a compelling love for other people. And with the correct motivation, mission becomes a delightful thing to do. Join me this Sunday as we explore the reason for mission.

Sunday I will be preaching from Matthew 28:16-20; The Great Commission. In this sermon series titled – “Mission: God’s Purpose for the Church,” we are working our way through various passages related to mission, and there is none that is more familiar or used more than Matthew 28. When it comes to this passage and mission, many people focus on the word “GO” . . . that you have to go to some place in order to participate in mission. Go is not the primary action of the text. The great commission given to the church by Jesus in Matthew 28 is to “make disciples of all nations.” Do you see the word “mission” in the word “commission”? What Jesus has commissioned us to do is the mission of making disciples of all nations.

There are a lot of things a church does. Churches are known for our programs, ministries, services, campaigns and all the volunteers it takes to do all of those things. But at the end of the day, there is really only one thing the church is commissioned by Christ to do: Make Disciples. I would go so far to say that if any of the other things we are doing as a church are not participating in the mission of making disciples of all nations, there is really no point in doing it. When the church added the title “The Great Commission” to Matthew 28:19-20 we could assume it was called great because all the nations of the earth are great in number. But that is not why it is great. Great is the mission because there is no greater purpose to your life than to be part of making disciples of all the nations. You may have done greatly in your profession, or with your finances. You may have great family members and friends. But nothing will bring a greater sense of purpose to your life than participating in making disciples. Join me this Sunday for a fresh look at Matthew 28 – Great is the Mission.