Marty Payton

Pastor's Blog

Month: January 2015

Getting Connected

January 29, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Groups-Logo

If you have not gotten involved in a small group let me give you 10 reasons I believe you should get connected as quickly as possible.

  1. God designed you to be in relationships with other believers.
  2. When you stumble you will need someone to help you up.
  3. You are stronger spiritually when you are connected relationally.
  4. You will find out that other people have just as many problems as you.
  5. There is usually great food and desserts involved.
  6. You will be able to ask questions that you would probably never have a chance to ask in BIG church.
  7. You get to share your opinions and learn from others.
  8. Jesus was in a small group.
  9. You will get to KNOW others and GROW in your relationship with them and God.
  10. It is a standing night out with friends you will grow to love.

GROUPS are a vital part of your spiritual health and the health of the church. Get connected as quickly as possible.

If you would like to get connected, feel free to email me at pastormarty@charitybaptistchurch.cc

Pastor Marty

Deflated Footballs

January 22, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Limited-edition

So the evidence is lending itself to the belief that the New England Patriots have apparently cheated…again. We may never know for sure who deflated the footballs or if coach Belichick knew anything about it but Tom Brady had to know something was different about the footballs.

All this definitely “deflates” my view of the Patriots.

Kind of reminds me of Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” Whether or not you are a Patriots fan is irrelevant. This taints their name and they will forever be known, by many, as the team that cheated their way to the top.

Our reputation is at stake with every decision we make. Just as the Proverb states, “A good name is to be chosen.” Reputations don’t just happen they are chosen everyday by the decisions we make.

Let’s face it, we’ve all made decisions that stuck with us for a while and all we can do is make sure the next decision we make, and every other decision to follow, lends itself to a good name for us. We are all one decision away from destroying our name and reputation and we are a series of good decisions away from rebuilding any bad reputation we have. It is a choice we make everyday. Choose wisely.

Go Seahawks!

Pastor Marty

Church Time

January 14, 2015 / / 0 Comments

I just finished reading an article that outlined “The Most Disturbing Trend Happening in Your Church in 2015.” In it, the author states, “Your most committed people will attend worship services less frequently than ever in 2015.” At one time, a faithful attender was someone who attended church 3 times a week now he is considered faithful if he attends 3 times a month.

Things are definitely different than they were when I was growing up. For our family, church was not an option and nothing competed with it in our home (even if we were on vacation we went to church). As I look back I must say that I am thankful for parents who made it very clear to my brother, my sister, and me that church attendance was a priority because God was the priority. We went to church because HE said so. We didn’t argue much and we just understood that’s the way it was. We also enjoyed the friendships we had at church, so that helped.

So what’s the reason for such a drastic decline in church attendance today? The article I cited earlier gives three reasons:

  • Increasing involvement with kids’ activities including more “multiple activity” commitments (sports, music, etc.) for longer duration with greater competitiveness.
  • More travel for work: more business “road-warrioring” means less time for church.
  • Online church: people stay home and watch church on their tablets, Apple TVs, and phones.

These may be the primary reasons that church attendance is declining. However, I believe there is a deeper spiritual reason to it. It would appear that many Christians just aren’t convinced that it is as important as other things and they are not that familiar with the high level of emphasis that God places on the assembly of believers.

I am a strong believer that faithful church attendance over the course of several years makes a lasting impact in the home. Why do I believe this? Because it is evident throughout the New Testament that God prioritized it for the growing Christian community. Passages like Colossians 3:14-17 and Hebrews 10:23-25 confirms that through faithful church attendance spiritual growth takes place, godly relationships are established, and discipleship takes place.

So, I know that schedules are busy and I know that there is a plethora of activities that are pulling at our families’ time. I also understand work schedules and work shifts that are not conducive to a weekend service, and I realize that it is easier to sit and watch church online than it is to get up and get ready to go to church. (There are Sundays that I actually wish I could preach from my recliner in my living room while wearing my LSU pajamas). But there is no way to get around the fact that church attendance is important and growing Christians need what the church has to offer.

At Charity, I hope that we will not fall in line with the trend of declining church attendance but instead we will do just the opposite and make it a higher priority than ever before.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Marty

How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!

January 5, 2015 / / 0 Comments

In the spirit of full disclosure I am a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan!

With that being said, whether you like them or not, they have defied most expectations people had for them coming into this season. I didn’t hear one person say that the Cowboys would have a winning season much less make the playoffs. Even the man who writes the checks (whom I am not a big fan of but he’s the billionaire and he can do what he wants with his team) didn’t think the team could win over 5 or 6 games at best.

However, the Cowboys went undefeated on the road and ended the season with a 12-4 record. And yesterday they did something that has the internet and social media buzzing. (I’m not sure which is more enjoyable for me, watching the Cowboys win or the haters hate and blame the refs for the Cowboys win). They won their first playoff game since 2009 and that makes me happy. They may go to Green Bay next week and get demolished by Aaron Rogers and the Packers offense but they have already beat the odds and driven their haters crazy with all the wins they had this season. Someone convinced them that they could win and do what seemed impossible…and they have.

Satan would love to convince us that we can’t come out victorious on the other side of the seasons of life but here are few lessons that we can learn from the Cowboys, whether you like them or not.

1. Don’t let last year’s failures keep you from believing that you can have victory this year. Instead, believe in the one who lives in you. Paul wrote to the church of Philippi, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Success for the Christian does not come from believing in ourselves but in trusting Christ who lives in us.

2. Finish the Fight! The Cowboys have latched onto that phrase and have let it motivate them to win. You may face trials that are more than you can handle and you may face defeat that will put you on your knees. But God is greater than any opponent we face and He will bring us to victory. We have to Finish the Fight just as Paul wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

3. Play as a team. The Dallas defense does not have a great player on it but they have won because they worked together as a team. You and I are on a team (1 Corinthians 12:27). Our team is the church and collectively we are better, stronger, and wiser than we are individually.

4. Finally, face each day with the end in mind. All players will tell you they practice and work to beat the next opponent but they all have the end in mind. We face today’s trials the same way. The difference for us is that we already have the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).

How ’bout them Cowboys!

Pastor Marty

P.S. Heres a good Finish the Fight Video for you to enjoy or not!

http://www.dallascowboys.com/video/2014/12/14/finishthefight

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2015 / / 0 Comments

As we approach 2015 here are a few thoughts:

1. Every year has it’s high points and low points and 2014 is no exception. The high points were opportunities for us to celebrate the goodness of God and the low points were opportunities for us to trust the goodness of God. He is the God of the good times and the bad times and he is always worthy of our trust and worship.

2. Every new year is another opportunity to look back so we can learn and look ahead to dream. I always ask myself what I did that was good and right and what I did that should not be repeated ( there are plenty of those). This always makes for a good conversation with myself. If we continue to do what we’ve always done we will continue to get the results we’ve always got.

3. Every year is an opportunity to do more for the kingdom of God. I want to learn more, pray more, give more, and go more in order to fulfill more of the purposes God has for my life.

As a church family, let’s lock arms and plow forward so we can be the church God has called us to be in this coming year.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13-14‬ ESV)

Happy New Year!

Pastor Marty

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