Pastor Matt

Dr Sexton passed do to complications from a brain injury which he suffered back in August of last year in a fall, although doctors didnt catch the injury for several months. This is according to his wife Evelyn. 

Preachers who say "God told me" are automatically on my "DO NOT TRUST" list. The pastor and president of what was then Fellowship Baptist College said this about buying several duplexes adjacent to the church, saying that the Lord had told him that the church/college needed to buy them because the college was going to dramatically grow. They bought the property and though the college did go on for several years, it ended up closing without the growth the pastor had claimed God had promised. We left that church especially in light of the fact we had been set up and suspended with the help of the college administration and his son, over something we had allegedly said to others in the college study room. It was one of our friends that had made the statements and we were guilty by association whether we agreed with our friend or not. We weren't even given a chance to defend ourselves. 
So, to be clear, I have very little patience or interest in ANY pastor/preacher who make such claims.

I remember that. I was at Bible College when he first started Crown

Being in Athens, TN our church has a number of young adults that go to Crown and our pastor was a friend of Pastor Sexton. We have been closely watching and praying over his condition from the beginning. While not unexpected, it still brought a great amount of sadness within our church.
But this is where the blessing of our hope comes in. Pastor Sexton is suffering no more and this year he gets to spend Christmas in the physical presence of Jesus Christ Himself. There is a great deal of comfort to be taken from that thought.

Agreed ?

I drink coffee in Sunday School and leave my cup there when church starts.  I don't believe it belongs in the preaching service and I can do without it for an hour. But I wouldn't attend John Piper's church regardless of whether he let me drink coffee in the sanctuary or not. He has much more pressing things to get right on, than "drinking coffee" in church.

Coffee is not allowed during our main worship service, but it is allowed during Sunday School and evening Bible Study. We found that coffee created a too-casual atmosphere during the worship service. Of course, every area is different, but that was the case for us.

There's nothing inherently wrong with drinking coffee or other beverages at church, but if there are clear rules about eating or drinking in certain areas during certain times, it would be respectful to follow those rules. My church doesn't have such rules, but when I attend churches that do, I follow them. 

Coffee is not allowed during our main worship service, but it is allowed during Sunday School and evening Bible Study. We found that coffee created a too-casual atmosphere during the worship service. Of course, every area is different, but that was the case for us.

1. Hard to get out of the carpet
2. Why have it? Is someone that addicted they can’t bear to be without it for an hour? Burden of proof for having it should be on those wanting to bring it in (I say that as someone who sometimes is still drinking my first coffee to wake up as I arrive at church - but I finish it outside the sanctuary or leave it).

Personally I would rather people NOT bring it into the sanctuary. Whether there are carpeted, lvp, marble, or plain hardwood floors, a spill would be messy and be a major distraction and possibly a tool the adversary could use. Yet, in the Cowboy Church we occasionally attend they allow coffee. The floor is concrete, and these people are used to stepping in and walking through things much worse than coffee. ?

The Bible does not explicitly state whether vaccines are a sin or not. Therefore, each individual must decide what is best for their family. A pastor should not try to play the role of the Holy Spirit and tell their congregation whether or not vaccines are a sin. Instead, they should encourage their congregation to pray and seek guidance from God on this matter.
@Sabrina Welcome to OB. 

The Bible does not explicitly state whether vaccines are a sin or not. Therefore, each individual must decide what is best for their family. A pastor should not try to play the role of the Holy Spirit and tell their congregation whether or not vaccines are a sin. Instead, they should encourage their congregation to pray and seek guidance from God on this matter.
@Sabrina Welcome to OB. 

The large churches here followed the same downward trends most of you are talking about. Several years ago there were a handful of churches who had 2-3 different worship services. The sermon was exactly the same so they were mostly divided by "music style". Later every one of them decided to drop Sunday night service and even the traditional Wednesday night services because so much was going on on Sunday morning. Eventually they all blended into one service and for the most part the hymns went out the window in favor of modern music...but even after that they still decided Sunday and Wednesday nights were unnecessary. At least one of the churches out new seats in and got rid of pew bibles and hymn books. Now everything is shown on the screen and no one has any idea what the bible says except for what their pastor says.

Yes, Rick Warrens church, it's only good though to liberals

Yes, Rick Warrens church, it's only good though to liberals

Replace "Liberals" with the devil

Replace "Liberals" with the devil

I enjoyed your article Pastor Matt. I became a Christian five years ago, and I bounced around many churches in many denominations until I found a conservative independent Baptist church. It struck me the first night as great, it had great expository preaching and seemed aimed primarily at feeding the congregation with the Word .
They refuse to allow any modern music, which I thought was extreme. However, I now see it was aimed at focusing everyone on the meaning of the songs and glorifying God. It also seems a stance against the entertainment model of church music. I think the important thing is to get those singing on stage or in the congregation to focus on God, to give Him fame and praise, and to be more about the meaning of the songs than the performance of them. It doesn't matter the music style or culture if these are everyone's goals.
Every single church I went to that was entertainment-centered during so-called worship had issues in other areas that sent me packing eventually. Usually a deep misunderstanding of what the Word actually says and commands. 

Isaiah 5:20-24 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! 24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Can verse 25+ be far off?

Let's put this in perspective, he was married with two children. It's sickening to me anytime someone cheats on their spouse, to willingly do it with someone that's a young woman is another level.
Don't get me wrong, I truly pray that he repents and turns from his ways. He has disqualified himself from the pastoral position. 

Let's put this in perspective, he was married with two children. It's sickening to me anytime someone cheats on their spouse, to willingly do it with someone that's a young woman is another level.
Don't get me wrong, I truly pray that he repents and turns from his ways. He has disqualified himself from the pastoral position. 

Working in pairs or more, like we do when dealing with two different sexes can be an effective means. Don't allow one on one situations.

I understand that. I also believe that we should place more accountability measures with our pastors and staff members.  

I understand that. I also believe that we should place more accountability measures with our pastors and staff members.