1. To guide each individual to put his full faith and trust In the Lord Jesus Christ and to love Him with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. Romans 10:9

2. To build Christ's character in individuals, In marriages and In families so that we will be above reproach and an advertisement for the Christian faith. Colossians 1:28,29

3. To teach every man how to delight In and meet the needs of his wife with the same sort of love that Christ gave to the church when He sacrificed Himself for her. Ephesians 5:25

4. To teach every wife how to love her husband and children, how to be discreet, pure in mind; how to manage her own home, and how to adapt to her own husband so that the Christian faith cannot be spoken against by those who know them. Titus 2:4,5

5. To turn the heart of every father toward his sons and daughters in order to teach them Scriptural principles on how to be successful persons, partners and parents. Malachi 4:6

6. To demonstrate our love for the Lord and our loyalty to each other by giving only a good report of each other unless we follow Matthew 18 in the spirit of restoring rather than exposing. Galatians 6:1

7. To explain and apply God's principles of finances In the church and in each family so that God can provide

specific direction and illustrate His supernatural power. Malachi 3:10; Luke 16:11,12

8. To motivate women to a life of godliness and faithfulness by providing meaningful ministries and financial assistance for. them when they are older and without husband or relatives who can support them. I Tim 5

9. To help each Christian discover his spiritual gift and assist him to exercise his gift in expressing God's love to the members of the body of Christ. I Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4

10.To train each Christian to edify one another and make the church strong by sharing with each other what God is doing in each life. Ephesians 5:19

TEN OBJECTIVES AND GOALS RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH

MINFORD, OHIO

Charles E. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher, Bill Bower Assoc. PastorPastor’s Phone: 353-0525 Asso. Number is

Email: Cwhisna@aol.com

Growbylearning.com (Church website as well)Cwhisna.blogspot.com

mychurch.org/riversofjoyccwhisnant.livejournal.com/

cwhisna1947.spaces.live.com/Church Mail: P.O. Box 355 Minford, Ohio 45653

Charles’ Mail: P.O. Box 270 Lucasville, Ohio 45648

PASTORS AND ELDERS DEACONS WHO SERVE US

Bill Bower – Assoc. Pastor, Singer, Music, Preacher, Teacher

Johnny Edwards – Music, Preacher. Bill Aldridge – Elder, Treasurer, Richard Lemaster, & Jimmy Grant – Deacon, Church Custodian

Peggy Hall – Pastor’s Secretary, Stephanie Oppy – Church Clerk.

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCHMINFORD, OHIO

Route 139 and Shady Lane in Minford, Ohio

TO OUR FELLOWSHIP

2009

NOVEMBER 22, 2009

IF YOU ARE VISITING WITH US TODAY

BIBLE STUDY 10:00 A.M.

The Topic is “Guilt” How to Deal with Guilt

Definition. The meaning usually given to the word "guilt" in Christian circles today bears little relation to the biblical meaning. Recent Christian interest in the subject focuses on its psychological dimension, analyzing the causes (and cures) of the sense of guilt, which is deep-seated in all of us and paralyzes the lives of some. It would seem to be easy to distinguish between this subjective sense of debt, which may be fed by groundless fears, and the objective guilt of sinners before God, with which the Bible is concerned.

Today – Bill Bower will be speaking

Johnny E. Edwards will be playing and singing

TONIGHT

6:00 p.m.

Philippians 2:9

Wednesday Night

WILL BE ON TUESDAY NIGHT

Charles’ Message will be

“HOW DO WE GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD”

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCHMINFORD OHIO

TEACHING THE WORD OF GODSo as to examine what

CHRIST HAS COMMANDED US TO DO.1. To share the gospel of Christ

2. To glorify god

3. To do spiritual service

Why I preach the Word

For many reasons, faithful and full proclamation of the Word is the only right way to preach.

First of all, such preaching lets God speak rather than man, because it declares God’s own Word. And it is an incredibly thrilling privilege to give voice to God!

Second, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it brings the preacher into direct contact with the mind of the Holy Spirit, the author of Scripture. It is for that reason that the preacher of the Word finds the process of study and discovery to be even more rewarding than the preaching that results from it, gratifying as that can be.

Third, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it forces the preacher to proclaim all of God’s revelation, including those truths that even many believers find hard to learn or accept.

Fourth, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it promotes biblical literacy in a congregation, not only through what is learned from the sermon itself but also through the increased desire to study Scripture more carefully and consistently on their own. The faithful pastor, and all other faithful believers, love to learn God’s Word because they love the God of the Word.

Fifth, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because it carries ultimate authority. It is the complete and perfect self-revelation of God Himself and of His divine will for mankind, which He has created in His own image.

Sixth, preaching the Word is the only right way to preach because only that kind of preaching can transform both the preacher and the congregation.

Seventh, the final and most compelling reason that preaching the Word is the only right way to preach is simply that it is His own Word, and only His own Word, that the Lord calls and commissions His preachers to proclaim.

HOW DO YOU BUILD A CHURH

One brick at a time. One person at a time.

How The Bible Distinguishes Between Preaching And Teaching [1]

 

People sometimes characterize a meticulous preacher as a better teacher than a preacher. While different people may mean different things in describing someone as a preacher or teacher, many people today in general think of preaching as speaking forcefully, pounding of the pulpit, having a prepared command of scripture, making application and using illustrations, and then exhorting people to follow biblical concepts. By teaching, many people today mean presenting a passage of scripture, commenting upon it, and making explanations to make the meaning of the biblical passage clear. Of course, some overlapping of preaching and teaching is normally accredited.

However, this characterization generally has more to do with modern notions or what constitutes preaching and teaching than with the way the Bible uses the terms for preaching and teaching. The primary meaning associated with the nature of preaching in the New Testament comes from the fact that the Greek word most frequently used to describe a preacher was that of a herald. A herald was one who announced a message, generally from the king or some other ruling authority, to those who had not heard it before. Preaching in New Testament times therefore related primarily to announcing good news. In the New Testament, the content of that good news centered around the themes of Jesus, Christ, the word, the gospel, and the kingdom.

On the other hand the nature of teaching in New Testament times was primarily to explain ideas and their implications, and to exhort people to live by declared values. Whereas the message preached was the message announced, the message taught was the message explained, clarified, and applied, with exhortation to live by it. Whereas the message preached (announced) was primarily for the purpose of conversion, the message taught (explained, clarified,

applied, with exhortation) was primarily for the purpose of building faith, Christian conviction and character.

Essentially, preaching lays the foundation for teaching, just as an announcement lays the foundation for further comments. Both have the same message. Their points of emphasis differ. Whereas the content of preaching may be narrowly defined, the content of teaching is in broad terms. Whereas the Great Commission in Matthew requires that we “make disciples,” Mark declares that we are to “preach the gospel” (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15). Matthew builds upon this, however, to say that after disciples have been made, we are to be “teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Paul’s work in Rome is described as “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31). Paul himself used these concepts of preaching and teaching when he said, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28). The pattern is consistent – preaching (making announcement) precedes teaching (explanation, clarification, application, exhortation).

However, this distinction between preaching (as announcement to the unconverted) and teaching (as explanation, clarification, application, and exhortation to those already informed) even in New Testament times, was not always clear. Sometimes, people spoke interchangeably about the practice of teaching and preaching. Thus, whereas Matthew 4:23 declares that Jesus was “teaching in the synagogues;” Mark and Luke indicate that he was “preaching” (Mark 1:39, Luke 4:44). In Jerusalem, the same apostles who were “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” were at the same time “teaching the people” (Acts 4:2). Whereas the term preaching consistently refers to the message announced, the term teaching may have people as its object.

In Antioch, the work of Paul and Barnabas is described as “teaching and preaching the word of the Lord” (Acts 15:35). Since teaching is mentioned before preaching in this verse, it may be that the major emphasis of their work at this place and time was in teaching the brethren while their secondary emphasis was on preaching to the

unconverted. In any case, preaching and teaching go together. He who preaches (announces to the unconverted) also generally teaches (explains, clarifies, applies, and exhorts those who are already familiar with what has already been announced).

Like most preachers, Paul seems, during his lifetime, to have had his greatest success as a teacher. He continued a year and six months at Corinth “teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). Paul apparently stayed longer at Ephesus than in any other city. His ministry there was primarily that of teaching at the school of Tryannus. Because he taught two years at that school “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). That experience may or may not have been on Paul’s mind when he wrote to Timothy that “the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

In serving as God’s spokesmen, whether in congregations, schools, or as missionaries in foreign countries, and whether we are primarily announcing the good news or explaining, clarifying, applying and exhorting those who have already heard it, we need to be involved in both preaching and teaching the word of the Lord.

[1]Copyright © by author, Robert L. Waggoner, 1999; slightly revised, 2003. Permission is granted to duplicate and distribute this manuscript, if unchanged, for non-commercial educational purposes. All other rights

reserved.

Salvation is often accomplished by a lengthened process. I have heard that when builders wanted to bridge a great chasm, they shot across the river an arrow or a bullet that drew with it a tiny thread. That was all the communication from bank to bank, and the rolling torrent was far below. Despise not the day of small things! The insignificant beginning was prophetic of grand results. By means of that little thread they drew across a piece of twine. When they had safely grasped it on the other side, they bound a small rope to the end of twine, and they drew the rope across. Then to that rope they tied a cable, and they drew the cable across. And now over that chasm there strides an iron bridge, along which the train rattles with his mighty load.

So does Jesus unite us to Himself. He may employ at first an insignificant thread of thought, then a sense of pleasant interest, then some deeper feeling, then a crushing emotion, then a faint faith, then stronger faith, then stronger yet, until, as last, we come to be firmly bound to Christ. Be thankful if you have only a thread of communication between you and Jesus, for it will lead to more. Something more hopeful will be drawn across the gulf before long. Christ’s attractions are often very gradually revealed, and their victorious energy is not felt all at once.”

- Charles Spurgeon, The Power of the Cross of Christ (Lynwood, WA: Emerald Books, 1995), 23-24.

Our church is an elder lead church

“Create and nurture an environment in which ROJBC grows as a joy-filled community of faith – which by its very existence inspires people to love Christ.”

We also want to always remember that we are here for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. We are not here to advance our own agendas or concepts of what this church should be. We are here because of the “treasure”, the good news of the salvation that is given to us by faith in Jesus. How we do church – the forms, the structures, the programs, the things that everyone “knows” – can change and will change over time.

While the pastor/teacher is important to the body of this church, he is not the whole church. He is not the sole person who leads the church. We have a body of godly men who are willing to serve the body.

Elders are to serve as overseers and in the spiritual matters of the church. Deacons are to serve in the physical needs of the body of believers.

The membership is to serve each other in both the spiritual and physical.

When you have a physical need, call a deacon or a member of the church. Call Jimmy Grant, and he will call Richard Lemaster and he will call on members of

Salvation is often accomplished by a lengthened process. I have heard that when builders wanted to bridge a great chasm, they shot across the river an arrow or a bullet that drew with it a tiny thread. That was all the communication from bank to bank, and the rolling torrent was far below. Despise not the day of small things! The insignificant beginning was prophetic of grand results. By means of that little thread they drew across a piece of twine. When they had safely grasped it on the other side, they bound a small rope to the end of twine, and they drew the rope across. Then to that rope they tied a cable, and they drew the cable across. And now over that chasm there strides an iron bridge, along which the train rattles with his mighty load.

So does Jesus unite us to Himself. He may employ at first an insignificant thread of thought, then a sense of pleasant interest, then some deeper feeling, then a crushing emotion, then a faint faith, then stronger faith, then stronger yet, until, as last, we come to be firmly bound to Christ. Be thankful if you have only a thread of communication between you and Jesus, for it will lead to more. Something more hopeful will be drawn across the gulf before long. Christ’s attractions are often very gradually revealed, and their victorious energy is not felt all at once.”

- Charles Spurgeon, The Power of the Cross of Christ (Lynwood, WA: Emerald Books, 1995), 23-24.

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH

CHURCH POLICY AND FLOW CHART OF

DECISION MAKING

2009Pastor/teacher

Charles E. Whisnant

Asso. PastorWilliam “Bill” Bower

Elders Bill Aldridge

MinistersChurch Members

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCHFLOW CHART OF DECISION MAKING

THE LOCAL CHURCH

GOD

CHRIST-SPIRIT

THE BIBLE

SCRIPTURES

FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES - OBJECTIVES

1. Non-Negotiable Biblical Foundation

2. Our Basic Church Goals

3. Our Core Values

BODY OF PASTORS/ELDERS/OVERSEERS OF THE

MINISTRY

1. Basic Areas of Ministries: Pastor/Teacher, Preachers or

Teachers

2. Decisions Process Making

- LAY-STAFF

PASTORS/LEADERS/ADVISORY

1. Head of a ministry: Christian Education,

Youth, Music, Children,

DEACON / LEADER

1. Heads up a ministry in one area: Building, Outreach etc.

STEWARDS/SERVANT

1. Manages a Ministry (Teacher)

2. Serves within the Ministry: (Secretary)

-CONGREGATION

1. Comes the Leaders

2. Prayer/Outreach

3. Ministries of spiritual gifts

4. Giving and Stewardship

“The best comment a member said about my teaching/preaching

1. He does not tell us, he show us in scripture.2. He does not preach at us, he preaching to us.