I’M PROUD OF YOU…for numerous things!

My dear family  in Christ:
Please take the time to read this whole year-end letter as a matter of vital importance to your continued spiritual growth.

#1) As
this year is rapidly coming to a close I had to write each of you and share how proud I am of you! We just came off our Christmas service where we managed to squish in nearly 200 men, women and children into one service and all I can say is WOW what a night…What a Child…What a King! I honestly was really skeptical of your vote to celebrate our Lord’s birth on a Saturday night this year (in lieu of Sunday services), but you made a believer of me for your faithfulness and I truly believe this was the right call this year…thank you with all my heart for making this such a special service and a special thanks to all who found time to give of their time serving others as well as thanks to each of you who participated by worshipping Christ our King with your attendance! For those of you out of town, we all missed you terribly and pray for your safe return to SDBC this Sunday.

#2) Speaking of this Sunday, I promise you a sermon of encouragement this New Year’s Day
(regular service times)! The Book of Hebrews is a pastoral letter by the writer (a pastor) to his flock. The book is one of the most complicated books in the Bible and I am proud of you for hanging in there, as we have been serving up “kosher beef”! This book was written, (as all pastoral epistles), to be read out-loud from beginning to end. When you do so, one is able to get the “big idea” and not get bogged down in details. I fear when we are unpacking the text and the complexity of the author’s argument, we can lose site of the balance of this
book.

#3) Hebrews is a letter of three “E”s Encouragement, Exhortation and Education. In the same way a loving earthly father would “exhort” a child in correction, seeking to “educate” his child in how to mature and provide “encouragement” along the way, so too our writer of Hebrews takes the same approach. The challenge when breaking down the text weekly is the danger to see only the correction side and over react thinking we have to become a zealot or succumb to the dangers of rules, regulations, legalism or performance based acts to earn our Father’s love. All the same could be falsely assumed to be true for those
striving to become a “metachos,”partner or disciple of Christ in His future Kingdom reign. I
am proud of each of you for not bailing on a difficult book, one that is truly life changing
for any Christian and has been kept secret for way too long in the Church! I promise to do my best to keep a healthy balance each week with encouragement,
exhortation and education

Hebrews 6:9-12
But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany
salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patienceinherit the promises. (Emphasis mine)

#4) Please don’t fall for the enemy’s trap of comparing yourself with others when it comes to living a faithful life to Christ and co-reigning with Him in the future. I am proud of those of you I have talked towho have told me you are starting to really “get the message of Hebrews and share in your excitement”.

As we move forward it is imperative to remember:  We have a God who…

A)  Wants you to succeed and is actively involved in bringing YOU to glory as one of His partners.  Hebrews 2:10

B) Loves you unconditionally, no matter what you do or don’t do. His love is not for sale and
not something you have to “EARN”! His love is freely given to all His children.

C)  Has a plan for YOU…please don’t compare yourself to someone else…remember Hebrew’s 11 includes many people who’s failures were epic, yet here you find them listed in the Who’s Who of faith…please be encouraged that God can bring you to glory in the same way…NOT through perfection in this life, but by approaching the “Throne of Grace” were we find a merciful High Priest. Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 
 
D) We also have a God who only desires you to be faithful in what He has given you…it’s NOT about how faithful others are, it’s only about how faithful you are. It’s not about performance…it’s simply a matter of stewardship!

#5)  Finally, I’m proud of you for talking the time to read this letter and willing to make SDBC a place where we can speak the truth in love, where I can share the hard truths of God’s Word and not have to dole out milk each week. I am proud of you for being willing to eat solid food for breakfast on Sundays!

“We must preach, not what people want to hear, but one day what they wish they had heard” Sir Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626), Bishop of Winchester, who was on the committee ofscholars that produced the King James Translation of the Bible

With all my love and praying God’s blessing on each of you for the New Year ahead,
Pastor Steve

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In this busy season and in the business of life it is only too easy to take our eye off the MAIN THING or the MAIN PERSON.  With all the drama going on in the world it would be easy to grow weary and lose heart…Allow the writer of Hebrews to refocus our gaze on what matters most in this life as you meditate on these three verses. 

While you may be a Christian and think, “OK, now that I’m “going to heaven” I can “rest” knowing that I have eternal life.  Well, yes and no…allow me to explain.  While you do have eternal life based on faith in Christ and the promise of God, the life you have left on this earth is NOT a season of rest!  There will be plenty of time for that when you get to heaven.  The real question throughout the Book of Hebrews is “Are you maturing in your faith so that you will be a partner with Christ and co-reign with Him in His coming Kingdom and the new heaven and earth He will recreate?  In order to become a Metachos or partner with Christ and co-reign with Him in the future, this honor or position is based on your faithfulness to Him is this life.

The Christmas story "begins" with a Child...and the Christmas story "ends" with a King

THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTOR OF OUR FAITH…The heir of all things who wants to share His Kingship with faithful believers in the future…I pray you are faithful in your walk with Christ now or re-commit to being faithful to Him in this Christmas season!

This year I promise you something different this Christmas Eve from 6-7:30PM
A message that tells the rest of the Christmas Story.  Please bring all your family and friends for an evening you won’t soon forget.  Lot’s of worship, lot’s of carols, children singing, drama, candle lighting ceremony, special communion service, surprises and a message of Christmas with a Jewish twist…and best of all “hug em and love em” time…to start your Christmas off right with the love and light of Christ for all men and women.

Please don’t forget there are NO CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES, Sunday December 25th as we encourage you to celebrate the Spirit of Christmas with your family and friends on this day of rest.

Wishing you all a blessed and Spirit filled Christmas,
Pastor Steve

There is nothing like a little test or trial to do a spot check on your faith.  In a season of testing and trials for many of us, I pray God’s Word will bring comfort to you today!…

James 1:2-5 (NASB)
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Enduring tests and trials, surviving tests and trials, asking God to remove us from tests and trials is a more normative response for many of us than THANKING GOD for tests and trials or EMBRACING THEM WITH JOY!  

Remember the writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus sympathizes with our human weakness and encourages us to draw near to Him where we find mercy and grace in our time of need (tests and trials) (Hebrews 4:14-16).  I can’t think of anything more joyful than the presence of God so clearly felt in our deepest times of need.  Remember trials come in different forms and different severities and all are temporary, limited to this life.

There is a purpose for test and trials, most notably, to test or purify our faith, as fire is to gold and silver, to prove and perfect faith already within us. Christ is always in the process of perfecting or making our faith complete.  It is through tests and trials that we get the opportunity to show ourselves faithful so that God can shower blessings on us in His future Kingdom on this earth and beyond in the new heavens and earth He will re-create (Revelation 21). 

Through tests and trials we have the opportunity to be light in a dark world and to reflect Jesus without words to those around us.  In any test or trial, ask God for His wisdom, for in Christ we already have our answers.  It is easy to trust in Jesus for eternal life, but it takes more faith to trust in God’s daily provisions.  Tests and trials are all an essential part of God’s plan to help us become His disciples today and for our eternal rewards.

May we all be found faithful according to the riches of His mercy and grace and may God build in you a mature, complete faith that glorifies the radiance of Himself!

In all my agape,
Pastor Steve

Hebrews. 12:1  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:3  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

My dear brothers and sisters in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus,
As we enter into the season of giving there are some truths we should all remember. Our heavenly Father gave us the ultimate gift, His Son, Jesus Christ our Savior. As we receive Him we are reminded to take hold of Him in our day-to -day relationship, because as we abide in Him we are united to our Heavenly Father in perfect fellowship through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

It is only when we are constantly focused on our Savior will we learn to follow His ways. The book of Hebrews is written to believers who need to be encouraged not to look back to their old way of thinking. Tests and trials of various kinds along with fear was causing them to consider choosing a more comfortable way. The writer of Hebrews message to them is the same message for us today, fear not, for our rest is found in Him.

Focusing on Jesus is not always easy. Allow me to show you how we become the gift in this season of giving.  Begin by challenging yourself in your quiet time to listen to Him concerning the needs of others.  Next, earnestly intercede prayerfully for those God puts on your heart in this quiet time.  Finally look for opportunities to encourage others every chance that you get.

In this season of giving, you too can be a giver and a receiver of God’s grace and love to others!

Nowmay the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
1Thessalonians. 5:23 

With Love in Christ,
Pastor Steve

This year at SDBC it's CHRISTMAS SUNDAY ON SATURDAY EVE! 6-7:30pm
We are now full steam ahead for an amazing Christmas Eve Service to Celebrate the Birth of Christ Jesus.......This will be a full on service with lots of worship including contemporary favorites and some powerful traditional worship Carols, our kids leading a worship song or two, a powerful Gospel message tied to Hebrews 12:1-3 by Pastor Steve, Candlelight ceremony with an emphasis on “His Light”, Celebration of COMMUNION, and more great stuff to come and enjoy with all the family of SDBC.  Please be sure to invite your family and friends as almost anyone will go to Church on Christmas Eve!

By celebrating Christmas Sunday on Christmas Eve we will enable our church family to enjoy Sunday, Christmas Day with family and friends at home.  Please take the time on Christmas Day to remember Christ is the reason for this holiday and look for opportunities to celebrate what Jesus means to you with others, keeping in mind we will be back in church the following Sunday, New Years Day!

God is moving and growing SDBC RIGHT NOW!!!!!
God is SO FAITHFUL and continues to bless SDBC in many ways!  We may have not found a new church home yet, but God is preparing the way while we continue to look!  I just want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who are a part of building His Kingdom through this local church. We currently have a team heading up the organization within SDBC that will allow us to expand the church while Lord willing eliminating any frustration within ministries and keeping me (Pastor Steve) from burnout and doing the KEY things God has called me to focus on. 

It all begins by expanding our pastoral team.  In order for us to be most effective we needed 3 or 4 more qualified men who would step up and serve at the pastoral level and some additional “called” men who would step up as pastoral interns as we look and prepare for the future, staying committed to our focus of Discipleship.  God has and is providing new leaders…Please join me in praying for the expanding leadership of SDBC.  Speaking of discipleship we need to expand the other church office of Deacon, both men and women.  This is an office in the Church that is often overlooked, yet at SDBC we are establishing, by God’s leading, more deacons and a clear picture of what this office entails.   The great news is, God is and has been providing leaders who are stepping up and answering God’s call in all these offices. 

We will soon be presenting additional pastors, intern pastors and deacons all in anticipation of serving and preparing you for God’s call on your life as well.  Once again, please pray for us as we finalize the steps of installing our newer pastors and others in the intern pastor and deacon roles.

Speaking of Pastors
Please join me in thanking Jerry Tunstall this Sunday for his service in the pastoral role, as Jerry has been a key person in helping us establish structure within SDBC.  While brother Jerry is taking a well earned break from the pastor office, Jerry and Elva remain committed to the growth and family of SDBC…they aren’t going anywhere as Jerry waits for God’s direction in the next project he can pour his heart into at SDBC.  Make sure you give Jerry and Elva an extra hug this Sunday for their sacrificial service to our body!

Love and hugs to each of you!

PSteve