Author: jamesleejackson

I am a pastor in Prattville, Alabama. I read a lot, write a little, and drink lots of coffee. I have three callings in life: surrender to Christ, be a husband to Trish, be a father to Caleb and Joshua. Everything else is an assignment, because everything else can be done by someone else.

The Seven Churches in Revelation, Session 2: Ephesus

When a church falls, it usually drifts from sound doctrine. Ephesus fell in the opposite direction.

January 13, 2019, Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville, AL

James Jackson, Lead Pastor

Text: Revelation 2: 1-7

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

 

The Seven Churches in Revelation, Session 4: Pergamum

February 3, 2019
Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville AL
James Jackson, Lead Pastor
Text: Revelation 2:12-17

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith[a] even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

During the teaching time, I referenced the excellent video series from Joe Stowell’s Day of Discovery program. Dr. Stowell went on location to each of the seven cities mentioned in Revelation. Here is a link to the series.

Another helpful video I came across is this one, from the Christian Broadcasting Network. This is where I got the information about the altar of Zeus and the healing rituals in the Asklepion. See you next week!

 

A Job Description for Church Leaders from 1 Thessalonians 5

 

shepherd

This week, I was meditating on 1 Thessalonians 5:14-23 during my devotional time, and it struck me that there probably is not a better job description for pastoral ministry–or really any kind of church leadership, than what you see in this text.

Here’s what Paul had to say to the church in Thessaloniki (ESV):

14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,<sup class="footnote" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: .625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0" data-fn="#fen-ESV-29619a" data-link="[a]”>[a] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

From this passage, consider these twelve points for a job description for pastors:

  1. ADMONISH the idle and disruptive (v. 14): I need to speak warning to those who lack initiative.
  2. ENCOURAGE the fainthearted (v. 14): I need to speak courage to those who lack courage.
  3. HELP the weak (v. 14): I need to not just speak, but providerelief to those who lack strength.
  4. BE PATIENT with all (v. 14): I need to not get irritated or exasperated with those who lack maturity.
  5. REFEREE the arguments (v. 15): Verse 15 says, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” I need to speak peace to those who lack perspective.
  6. REJOICE always (v. 16): I need to speak joy to those who lack vision.
  7. PRAY without ceasing (v. 17): I need to speak to God in those times I lack faith.
  8. GIVE THANKS in all circumstances (v. 18): I need to speak thankfulness to those who lack gratitude.
  9. RELEASE the Spirit (v. 19): Verse 19 says “Do not quench the Spirit.” I need to be sensitive to the Spirit’s work and movement in those times I lack flexibility.
  10. DISCERN the Word (v. 20-21): Verse 20 says “Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test them all, hold to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” I need to speak truth to those who lack wisdom.
  11. REJECT evil (v. 22): I need to speak against anything that lacks goodness.
  12. YIELD to the Lord (v. 23): Verse 23 promises that “the God of peace himself [will] sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I need to be surrendered in those areas I lack holiness.

And the amazing promise from God’s Word for everyone in Christian service?

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

 

A Person’s a Person (The Sanctity of Human Life)

What does it mean to be pro-life? Expanding the conversation

January 20, 2019
Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville, AL
James Jackson, Lead Pastor

Text: Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 25:31-46

Click Here for Manuscript: a person’s a person manuscript

In this sermon, I tried to get people to think about more than just abortion when they think about being pro-life. And more than that, to think about what it means to be Christian and biblical before they are political. I would love to get your feedback. Thank you for checking it out.

Here’s a link to Daniel Darlings’s book, The Dignity Revolution, which was a major resource for this sermon.

Made for Mission #2: Avoiding Mission Drift

It’s easy to drift from our mission, and it’s hard to get back to it. But if we don’t, we are dead in the water.

January 13, 2019

Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville, AL

James Jackson, Lead Pastor

Text: Luke 9:22-24, 57-62

Click Here for Manuscript: 2. avoiding mission drift manuscript