Ben-Hur, the 1959 American religious epic, depicts a Jewish nobleman being wrongly convicted of attempting to assassinate the Roman Governor. Ben-Hur is placed into the belly of a Roman warship where, in the most deplorable of conditions, he is forced into slave labor.

While enslaved aboard the Roman ship, Ben Hur’s mother and sister are also captured and held in an underground cell where they both eventually contract leprosy. Eventually Ben-Hur becomes controlled by anger and consumed by thoughts of revenge. His desire to avenge the time and family he lost becomes an obsession. His inability to forgive his childhood friend Messala, who betrayed him to the Romans, enslaves his heart to rage and bitterness. In time, Ben Hur is released and later reunited with Esther, the girl he had dreamed of marrying. Esther introduces Ben-Hur to Jesus and begins to explain the various sayings of Jesus. She explains, “Jesus would say things like, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God'… 'Love your enemies; do good to them that despitefully use you'."”

In rage, Ben-Hur begins to spew venom from his heart, reacting angrily to the words Esther is speaking. Esther then says, "It was Judah Ben Hur I loved. What has become of him? You seem to be now the very thing you set out to destroy, giving evil for evil. Hatred is turning you to stone. It's as though you have become Messala."
 
Nelson Mandela once said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”
 
We live in a society that is hell bent on getting “what’s ours” while making sure the offender gets “what’s theirs” by avenging all wrongs done against us. As followers of Jesus, God has forgiven us at a great cost to Himself. Therefore, we are called to forgive others with the same love that we have received.

Join us this Sunday as we learn about the Cost and Call of Forgiveness. We will learn what it looks like to receive God’s forgiveness and then relay God’s forgiveness to others.

Why is it that 95% of all Christians have never led someone to salvation through Christ?

Why is it that committed followers of Jesus do not regularly speak to others of their faith in Christ alone for salvation?

Why is it that I can read verses like:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:19-20)

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15)

 . . . and still not be moved to tell others of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Something is wrong.

This Sunday, February 6, we will be looking at the Biblical teaching to evangelize the lost.

"Evangelize" = to announce news; to announce the good news (Gospel) of Jesus Christ

There is no doubt about it. Jesus Christ came to save people from their sins. I am saved from my sins through Jesus.

BUT - there is also no doubt about the fact that I'm told, as a follower of Jesus, I must be an "evangelist" who announces the good news of salvation through Jesus.

There is no doubt about it!!!

My prayer is that this Sunday, God's Word and God's Spirit will convict and motivate us all (myself included) to be more passionate and more active in sharing our faith. Friends, if you have been born again, you have a story to tell!

So, why don't we evangelize? I will talk about two reasons we lack the effort to evangelize:
A. Fear - I'm afraid I won't have an answer for their question.
B. Ignorance - I don't know how to.

I encourage you to come out this Sunday at 9am or 10:30am to hear this message on keys to better evangelism.

I need a message like this and maybe you do too.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul

P.S. We will have a special drama as part of the morning service that will illustrate for us how to share your faith. You won't want to miss this!!!

There is little doubt in Jesus' last words to His followers in Matthew 28:19-20 about the role of disciples to make more disciples:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

And yet the statistics tell us that nearly 90% of church-going people have NEVER made a disciple. 90% of us have never been involved in the spiritual formation and maturation of a new convert. 90% of us would say that we understand Jesus' words in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 but, in reality, have not done a great job of "making disciples".

This Sunday, January 30, we will be looking once again at the State of the Church here at West Pines and, specifically, the area of discipleship. Our focus will be on the distinguishing mark of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The one "distinguishing mark" that we will see this Sunday is: A disciple will have visible fruit.

Fruit = what is seen by all. What is recognizable by others about us. Our character. Our conduct. Our converts (disciples we've invested in).

There is Biblical truth that presents a very convincing argument that disciples should be producing visible spiritual fruit.

Consider:
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23)

I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— (1 Corinthians 16:15)

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.. . . By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:4-5, 8)

I would encourage you to read and think through the above mentioned verses as you prepare your hearts to learn this Sunday.

If you say you're a disciple of Jesus Christ - is your spiritual fruit visible for people to see? Let's talk about that this Sunday.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul

This past Thursday I was having breakfast with our Thursday morning Breakfast Boyz at our regular spot - The Cup & Saucer. Our discussion was about discipleship and I had some questions for them about their spiritual journey and how they were discipled or not . . .

Here's what I learned from our talk:

This Sunday, January 23, we will talk about the role and responsibility of West Pines to be a disciple-making church. Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19-20 to "Go make disciples". We must take this seriously. I personally saw this past Thursday morning the long-lasting impact of people being discipled within the local church. Let me share one other things I heard Thursday morning. I guess this would be #6:


I encourage you to take some time before Sunday to really study and meditate on Ephesians 4:11-16. This passage from God's word speaks to the role and responsibility of West Pines as a disciple-making church.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul

We all have them.

Both of them.

Yes, we all have strengths and weaknesses. We all have some "redeeming qualities" but, like it or not, we all also have some "kinks in our armor". None of us has it as together as we think we do. And none of us is "the biggest loser".

Do you know your strengths? Do you know your weaknesses?

This Sunday, January 16, we continue our series on the State of the Church by looking into our strengths and weaknesses as a church. While I think West Pines is a great church full of health and potential, I need to also recognize that we have weaknesses.

So, what are they?
What is the good and bad about WPBC?

For the full answer to that, you'll have to come out Sunday to get the scoop. But let me whet your appetite by giving you one strength and one weakness:

Our weakness (one of them) is that we can have a "mindset of Martha". In Luke 10:38-42, we read the story of two women that were friends of Jesus - Mary and Martha. In Luke 10:38 it says, "But Martha was distracted with much serving . . ."

While Mary was at the feet of Jesus soaking in His every word as He taught them, Martha was distracted. While Mary was completely focused on Jesus Christ and desired to worship Him and learn from Him, Martha was distracted with serving. Which was great, but she lost focus on Jesus Himself, who is greater.

We at West Pines can fall into the mindset of Martha and get distracted, which causes us to lose focus on Jesus. He is who we serve and why we serve. Jesus is our Lord and Savior - let's not lose sight of Him as we serve others. We will talk more about the mindset of Martha this Sunday.

How about one of our strengths? This Sunday, I'll share several of our strengths, but here is one of them: West Pines is a unified church.

We are blessed to be part of a church that has very few detractors. Oh, there are some that may oppose the direction of this church, but they are few and far between. They are the minority. We are overwhelmingly on the same page, enjoying fellowship with one another as we together accomplish God's plan for His church. The spirit of unity at West Pines is a huge encouragement to me and it's easily visible to our newer people. The church of Acts enjoyed God's blessing and great health and effectiveness in reaching the lost because they were a church that was unified. You can read about their unity in Acts 2:42, 44-47, and 4:32-37.

I pray that this Sunday you will be encouraged by what is going on at West Pines as we address some weaknesses, but focus on our strengths.

Come out and be part of a church that is striving to be the Bride of Christ eagerly awaiting Christ our groom's return.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul

In so many ways, I see the workings of a local church as a sign of God's sense of humor.

 - The whole idea of a pastor shepherding sheep who are so independent and prone to wander. Good luck with that one . . .

 - That sheep (church members) follow the leadership of someone much younger, older, from another region of the country (yes, I'm a Yankee), from a different background, different education, different views (of KJV and hymns), different . . . . Good luck with that one . . .

 - That God calls all of us, with all of our differences of opinion and methods of doing things, to come together and love each other in a spirit of unity. This does not happen at family gatherings, but it's expected to happen at church??? Good luck with that . . .


This Sunday, September 12, we will be in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 where the Apostle Paul writes to the church of Thessalonica about relationships within the church. Relationships between the clergy and the laity. The pastor and the people.

As Paul writes, it's very clear that the pastor has some things to do and the people have some things to do to make this relationship work.

The Pastor needs to:
1. Labor well (12) / work well (13)
2. Lead well (12) by example
3. Admonish / teach / instruct well through the truths of Scripture (12)

The people needs to:
1. Respect and recognize the position / person leading them spiritually (12)
2. Esteem your spiritual leaders "very highly in love" (13)
3. Be at peace among yourselves (13)

When these six things happen, the church of Thessalonica and the church of West Pines will be healthy and God-honoring.

So what happens in churches?
Why are the statistics so alarming?

CHURCHES ARE A MESS

• 1,500 clergy leaving pastoral ministry each month (Barna Research Group)
• 61% of congregations have forced a pastor to leave (Christianity Today)
• 83% of clergy spouses want their spouse to leave pastoral ministry (Hartford Institute for Religious Research)
• 90% of clergy in all denominations will not stay in ministry long enough to reach the age of retirement (US Bureau of Labor & Statistics)
• 50% of pastors indicated they would leave the ministry if they had another way of making a living (Hartford Institute for Religious Research)
• 90% of pastors report working between 55-75 hours per week
• 80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families; many pastors’ children do not attend church now because of what the church has done to their parents
• 33% state that being in the ministry is an outright hazard to their family
• 75% report significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry
• 70% say they have a lower self-image now than when they first started
• 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend
• 40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month
• 66% of church members expect a minister and family to live at a higher moral standard than themselves
• The profession of “Pastor” is near the bottom of a survey of the most-respected professions, just above “car salesman”
• Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year
• Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month, many without a cause
• Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year
• Many denominations report an “empty pulpit” crisis; they cannot find ministers willing to fill positions

I hope to see you this Sunday we we look into God's Word and see His teachings about healthy relationships within the church. I praise God for WPBC and the healthy relationships we have here.

God Bless and be safe,
Pastor Paul

When a storm is heading our way and everyone is talking about its certainty, do you find yourself watching the Weather Channel so you're informed on the storm's intensity, or do you turn the TV off and get prepared for the storm?

It seems like a lot of us are more interested in the storm's strength than we are in getting prepared for it to hit. We watch the European models and the "cone of uncertainty" and the spaghetti lines and even the radar images of the eye of the storm. All of which is interesting and sometimes even mesmerizing. But, at what point is our action more important than our awareness?
This Sunday, September 5, we will be in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 where the Apostle Paul speaks of a coming storm - "The Day of the Lord". The Day of the Lord will be a time of destruction and devastation. This storm - "Day of the Lord" - will destroy nations, leaving the strongest there defeated and dying. This storm - "Day of the Lord" - is no secret. We know it's coming, although we don't know when. We know of its location and its overpowering strength. We know it's coming and we know it's connected with the second coming of Jesus. We are very informed in the Bible about the Day of the Lord and Christ's second coming. Our awareness is off the charts when it comes to this big event prophesied in Scripture. But doesn't our action pale in comparison with our awareness? I think it does.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Paul speaks of the day of the Lord which comes as a thief in the night and brings with it destruction and pain that people will not escape from.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11, Paul speaks of how we as Christ-followers are to live in light of the day of the Lord coming. In light of Christ's return to set up His kingdom.

I wonder if I spend more time and energy trying to understand the event of 5:13 than actually believing it will happen and getting prepared for it.

Here are some verses that will shed some light on the day of the Lord and on the importance of being prepared:

Look up and read:
Joel 1:15, 2:11, 3:14
Zechariah 14:1-5
Malachi 4:5
Isaiah 13:6-9
Daniel 7:4-5
Revelation 18:16-20
Isaiah 2:17

May we all make sure we are prepared for the second coming of Jesus because He is coming again. He is coming to judge. He is coming to wage war. He is coming to establish His kingdom. He's coming to redeem His remnant of Israel. He IS coming!!!

So please stop thinking about what a mighty storm this will be and start making sure you're ready for it.

God Bless and See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul

Have you ever known enough to be dangerous? Where you know some things about some things, but not everything about everything.

Like being a Senior Pastor. I knew some things, but certainly not everything. As an associate pastor for 13 years, primarily working with youth, I would often think of what it would be like to be a Senior Pastor. Work half the hours and get paid twice the money! Seems like a good gig, I would think. I knew pastoral ministry, I knew the workings of a local church, I could teach/preach OK, I could lead others, so I thought I knew enough about the Senior Pastor role that, when given the opportunity to enter into the "real pastorate", I could do it. I knew some things, but not everything. For the past decades, I have been learning on the fly about all the things I thought I knew, but didn't.

And this brings me to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 where the Apostle Paul instructs the "ignorant" and "uninformed" about something the Thessalonian believers did know something about, but certainly not everything.

This Sunday, August 29, we will be looking into the Apostle Paul's teaching on the return of Christ. For the Thessalonian believers, they knew that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and they knew that He was coming again, but there were a lot of details that they did not know.

Like: What happens to those who died already? Do they miss out on Christ's return?
Like: What happens to those of us who are alive when Christ returns?
Like: Will we ever see our loved ones who have passed away again?

These questions are answered in Paul's writing in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and more details are covered in chapter 5.

For many of us, like the Thessalonians, we know and believe that Christ will return. But we don't know much else and, as a result, we can be like those in Paul's day who "grieved without hope".

It is my prayer that God's Word will give us hope as we gain more understanding of Christ's return. I pray that our anxiety will turn from worry to hope as we learn some details of Christ's resurrection and return which will bring on a great reunion of believers who have passed away and those who are alive.

I would encourage you to do some reading about Christ's return so we can know more. I think the more we know, the greater our anticipation and hope will be.

Read: John 14:1-6; Matthew 24-25; Zechariah 14:1-5; Revelation 19:11-21 and 20:1-15

As you read, do you see one or two returns of Jesus? One to gather His children and one to judge the nations??? Or do you see one return?

Again, you might know some things about Christ's return, and we'll never know everything (until it happens), but we can stop our "ignorance" and lack of understanding.  And know this - Jesus IS coming again.

See you Sunday (unless Jesus comes first and then we'll see each other in the air.)

Here, there, or in the air . . .
Pastor Paul

Over the past several decades of pastoral ministry, I have seen a lot of changes in the spiritual climate within the church. One of the most noticeable changes has been in the area of sanctification for believers.

"Sanctification" = being set apart from sin to holiness, godliness, righteousness

Consider:

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:21

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11

By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:10

God has spoken and His Word is clear. Followers of Jesus Christ are to live sanctified lives set apart from sin. And yet, the distinction between believers and unbelievers is getting harder to notice as believers tend to look like unbelievers. Not set apart from sin!!!

In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, the Apostle Paul urges the believers in Thessalonica to live sanctified lives. He goes on and tells them how:

1. By abstaining from sexual immorality (4:3-8)
2. By loving one another (4:9-12)

Last week, August 15, we looked at how to live sanctified lives by abstaining from sexual immorality. I encourage you to go to westpineschurch.com and see/hear that message if you missed it.

This week, August 22, we will look at living sanctified lives by loving one another. And specifically loving those "outside" of our faith. Paul says to love "more and more" / "increase" (4:10) and do this for the "outsiders" (4:12) who don't know God.

I believe lost people who do not know God need to see the church and its people set apart from sin. See us as different. See us as attractive because of the way we live and the way we love. This will only happen when we separate from sin and show the world how Christ has changed us.

When we are not sanctified, we are not set apart and we're just like everyone else. Just like the "Gentiles who do not know God" (4:5).

I hope to see you this  Sunday as we recognize the importance of living apart from sin by loving others.

And Lord willing, I'll be able to answer a question that's on my mind now (Wednesday morning at 10:30am). The question is:

How are "abstaining from sexual sins" (4:3-8) and "loving one another" (4:9-12) connected?

What do they have to do with one another?

God Bless and see you Sunday,
Pastor Paul

Apparently life in Thessalonica 2,000 years ago was a lot like life here in Lake Worth today. Based on 1 Thessalonians 4:8, there was a tendency to listen more to man than to God concerning areas of "sexual immorality" (3), "holiness and honor" (4), "passion of lust" (5), "impurity" (7), and "holiness" (7).

Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

When it comes to living and walking in ways that are pleasing to God and in step wiht His will, we really do need to disregard man and listen carefully to God. But there seems to be a closed ear regarding the ways of God concerning sexuality. Closed to God, anyway . . .

This Sunday, August 15, we will be studying 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 where we will see some valuable insights on how the believers in Thessalonica walked as they were said to be "in God's will" and living in "sanctification" (4:3).  We will see how they "walked to please God" (1) by:

1. Abstaining from sexual immorality (3-8)
2. Loving one another (9-12)

The church of Thessalonica is a great example to us (possibly the best example of all the first century churches) concerning how to walk to please God. They were doing it!!! And Paul says "keep it up" (last week's sermon theme).

This week: Keep abstaining from sexual immorality and Keep loving one another.

HOW???
Read 4:3-8 and come out on Sunday to find out.

One statement from the Apostle Paul that captured my attention is in verse 6 of chapter 4. The statement is:

"as we told you before hand and solemnly warned you."

Yes, the believers in Thessalonica had been "solemnly warned" about sexual immorality. And we have also been warned.

So, be warned by God in His Word and see the seriousness of the consequences when we do not "abstain from sexual immorality".

To prepare for Sunday, I encourage you to read God's Word about sexuality and God's warnings:
Proverbs 5:1-23
Ephesians 5:3-7
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and 10:8-11
Matthew 5:27-30
Deuteronomy 22:13-22
Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13
Romans 1:24-27
Jude 7
Genesis 1:27-28, 31 and 2:24-25
Ephesians 5:25-33

Friends, we need to hear from God in this area of sexuality because we are listening way too much to man about it.

Don't be scared. I'll not make it awkward.

But come out Sunday and let's hear together from God on a very important subject.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul

Hello, my name is Paul. It's been a while . . .

This Sunday, August 8, we will be looking at 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3. For three chapters in the book of Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul has been encouraging, teaching, explaining, reminiscing, and reminding the believers in Thessalonica about their spiritual journey. Where they've come from, where they are, where they are going in their relationship with Jesus. In chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians, Paul changes his tone and puts on his coaching hat and whistle and begins to coach up the Thessalonians. We see Paul's coaching from the start. See 2 Thessalonians 4:1:

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

Paul is pleading (NKJV = "urge and exhort" / ESV = "ask and urge") with these believers to keep it up!!!

To keep walking their spiritual journey of faith to "please God" (1). Apparently, this is exactly what they were doing as Paul says in verse 1 (ESV) - "just as you are doing . . . ". The believers of Thessalonica were doing well spiritually in their pursuit of holiness. God was doing a work of transformation in their lives and they were now genuine Christ followers and this greatly encouraged Coach Paul, so he claps his hands, gets them in a huddle, and says, "Keep it up! Do what you're doing and abound more and more (NKJV) in what you're doing".

Paul was happy with the progress and spiritual growth in these Thessalonians but he wanted them to continue to grow. To keep up what they were doing.

Sunday we will look into what they were doing that pleased Paul. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10) We will look into what is involved in "walking to please God" as a follower of Jesus.

In verse 3 of chapter 4, Paul brings up the Biblical teaching of "sanctification" as being part of God's will for these young Christians. The plea for the Thessalonians was:

1. Keep walking to please God (1)
2. Keep doing the will of God (3)

God's will involves us living sanctified lives. Lives where we are set apart from sin and are pursuing holiness.

God's will in this specific context is to sanctify (set apart) from sexual sin and immorality. And Coach Paul pleads with Team Thessalonica to get away from the sexual sins that would bring them down spiritually and grieve the heart of God.

Are you walking to please God? Keep it up!!!

Are you doing the will of God by being sanctified (set apart) from sexual sin? Keep it up!!!

This is the message of the Apostle Paul to the believers in Thessalonica and it's also his message to us today.

I hope to see you Sunday as we come together to worship our great God and hear from Him through His word.

God Bless and see you soon,
Pastor Paul