Dear Church Family,

I really do like doing yard work. I love the end product. And yet, as I type that, I ask myself if I’ve ever really even seen an end product. I guess I have not – I’ve found that a yard is always a work in progress. I’ve lived in my current house for 2 ½ years, and it’s just now starting to look like I want it to. And there’s a long way left to go!

But it’s taken a lot of work to get here. I’ve done a lot of watering and fertilizing and planting and creating and … well, you get the idea. It’s taken a lot of sweat and scrapes and sore muscles. But when spring hits and the new growth comes out, with all of the bright greens and flower blooms, you know it’s all worth it!

But I’ve come to realize in recent years that there is another major factor in a beautiful yard. In fact, it’s probably THE major factor … death. You read that right. As I sit here, I’m trying to think of a more necessary component in formulating a beautiful yard and I cannot think of one. It’s death. If you want an eye-popping landscape, you have to do a lot of killing. A LOT!

I think through the last couple of years, and I’ve done a lot of killing in my yard. I have killed weeds. A LOT of them … or at least I attempted to (😬). I have dug up creepers and bad root balls in my flower beds. I have cut down several unappealing trees (Remember my eye injury?) and bushes that previous owners obviously loved. I have killed off areas of my yard so I could plant new flower beds. Even cutting the grass and edging and shaping up bushes is producing dead stuff. Let’s just say that the city has hauled off many piles of dead yard trash from my front yard the last 2 years!

Yes, you definitely have to kill a lot of stuff in order to have a yard that looks alive and attractive!

Jesus took that same concept and applied it to an ongoing spiritual reality in our lives. He said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” John 15:1-2.

You see, there are times where God takes certain things away from us. Or at the very least, He allows them to exit our lives. We may not like it or understand it. It may be painful. It might feel a lot like something inside of us has died. And in times like that, we have the tendency to wonder what we did wrong for God to punish us so. Or it could be that we begin to question God’s goodness or sovereignty or the list could go on. And all the while, all God is doing is making us more beautiful. More productive. More holy. More like His Son.

My grandparents were long-time residents of Jesup. They had a beautiful yard that my grandfather had obviously invested a lot of time in. And a big part of the beauty of the yard were all of the azaleas. Their love for azaleas was passed to my mom and now to me. But every year my Granddaddy would make my Granny so mad! After they bloomed he would cut them back so far … almost to nubs. And she would fuss and fuss. But guess what – every year they grew back more and more beautiful. He knew what he was doing.

So look, when God allows something to be removed from your life, I realize it might hurt – maybe even feel like death. But entrust it to God and His sovereignty. He knows what He’s doing. Because when you do, He will bring you back more beautiful than ever before!

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane

Dear Church Family,

If we’re being honest, the Christian life seems to be backwards sometimes, does it not? Like when Jesus says that if we will humble ourselves, we will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). Or what about the last being first and the first being last (Matthew 20:16)? Then there is the example of the Macedonians who were over-the-top generous in the midst of their extreme poverty (II Corinthians 8:1-5). And the ultimate is Jesus’s declaration that “he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25). In each of these cases, there are 2 things that simply don’t go together – and yet they do … at least in Christ they do.

There’s another one. It’s hard to fathom. And even harder to reconcile. Some people – some Christians – live several decades and never attain to it. In fact, I struggle with it too. Constantly.

Come prayer time in most church circles, whether it’s Sunday School, prayer meetings, whatever, we have a familiar playbook. We take prayer requests, and if we’re feeling especially spiritual, we add on praise reports. Both of these categories have their own distinctives, right?

Prayer requests usually cover physical problems that people are having. The sickness or disease, the accident, the treatments, etc. Throw in those who are in sorrow over the loss of a loved one. Sadly, it’s much more rare for us to really open up about our loneliness, doubts, struggles, relationships, finances, and temptations, but when we’re in a group that affords such openness, it’s a real blessing. But the point is, our prayer requests are a list of the bad things happening to us and others at the time.

The praise reports are a welcomed break from the struggles list. During this (often too brief) time we talk about all the things that God has given us, all the blessings, all the good things that are going on. Things that we’re thankful for. Things that make us smile.

But what if the lines between prayer requests and praise reports were blurred? What if they weren’t distinct at all? Well guess what – in Christ, our prayer requests become praise reports. And I don’t mean after God answers the prayer requests. I mean WHILE they’re still prayer requests.

Hear the words of Habakkuk 3:17-18:

Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

No mention of future blessing or deliverance. No naming and claiming God’s abundance. Nope. Just transferring prayer requests into the praise report column. Backwards. And James captured the same backward idea when he said, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (1:2). Trials ---- & Joy. See? Backwards.

And yet, that’s as characteristic of the Christian life as living even when we die. And really, the source is the same too: faith that Christ is enough. Even if we don’t get all we want, even if God does not answer our prayers the way we would like, even if we continue to go without. God is still enough. And that’s reason enough to praise Him at all times.

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane

Dear Church Family,

I came across this article late last year and thought I would pass it on to you. It might help explain why we make some of the decisions that we make. It also challenges each one of us to do what we can to make this a place that guests would want to come back to.

Top Ten Post-Pandemic Reasons Guests Do Not Return to Your Church

By Thom S. Rainer
Founder & CEO

In a recent conversation with a pastor I admire greatly, he commented, "We love seeing first-time guests, but we really love seeing second-time guests. We know those folks are serious about connecting with our church."

The conversation leads to an obvious question. How do we get first-time guests to return? Have the answers to this question changed since the COVID pandemic? In our conversations with people visiting churches, the reasons guests don't return remain the same. Here are the top ten reasons from guests before the pandemic. While a lot has changed, some things stay the same.

• "I will not return to a church that has a stand-and-greet time." We heard from over 1.000 guests, and 90 percent of them gave us this response. If you are thinking about bringing back this activity to your worship service, think again.
• "The people are unfriendly." Most church members think their church is friendly because the members are friendly to each other. Many guests felt like they were treated like unwanted outsiders.
• "I could not leave my child in the children's area. It was filthy and unsafe." This concern has grown since the pandemic.
• "I could not find any information on the church." Even though most of these guests visited the website, they were still looking for an information center or persons to give them more information.
• "The church website was terrible (or did not exist)." This issue is more of a first-time guest issue than a second-time guest issue, especially in the post-pandemic world. For most guests, if you have an inadequate website, your church does not exist.
• "The signage was terrible." The primary complaints were about inadequate parking signage and direction to the entry of the church.
• "I heard a lot of insider language in the worship service." Please avoid acronyms.
• "The service was boring, and I did not understand what was happening." Guests have choices. They will not choose a boring church. The first-time guest will not become the second-time guest.
• "Someone told me I was in their seat." Yes, it still happens.
• "The church facilities were messy and dirty." A lack of attention to the facilities communicated loudly that the church does not care.

Though the rankings of the reasons may have changed slightly since the pandemic, the reasons have 

not. And any church should be able to find ways to overcome these challenges.

As you can probably tell, some of these we have addressed well; others we still have work to do. Let’s work together to make IBC a place that guests want to return to.

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane

Dear Church Family,

Charles Spurgeon, known as “The Prince of Preachers,” pastored one of the largest churches of his day. From every vantage point, he was a successful pastor leading a successful church. Yet, when visitors came to his church in London, he would take them to a room in the basement where people were constantly interceding for the church. Spurgeon called it “the powerhouse of this church.”

Chad Bailey, pastor of The Rock Presbyterian Church, shared some Biblical insights on the practice of corporate prayer in the early church: “When we consider the pattern of the early church in the book of Acts, we find that emphasis on corporate congregational prayer clearly affirmed. In Acts 1:14, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost, it was while they were gathered in the Upper Room “devoting themselves to prayer.” The Spirit came during a prayer meeting. In Acts 2:42, as Luke summarizes the habitual practice of the post-Pentecostal church, he notes that they devoted “themselves to…the prayers.” In Acts 4, after Peter and John are released from prison for preaching Christ, they return to the church. Upon hearing the reports of the persecution, they all lifted their voices together in prayer. Likewise, when Peter was arrested in Acts 12, “earnest prayer was made for him by the church” (vs. 5), and when he was released, he found the church gathered and praying for him (vs. 12). The response of the church to crisis was a prayer meeting. In Acts 13, when Saul and Barnabas are sent as missionaries of the church in Antioch after a season of corporate prayer where they were set apart for the work. In Acts 14:23 when the elders are ordained in the churches of Lystra and Derbe, a season of prayer and fasting was held. Looking at Acts alone, it is clear that almost every major event in the book was accompanied by corporate prayer. The Spirit came upon the church as the people prayed. They faced down persecution at the prayer meeting. The Lord identified men for leadership at the prayer meeting.”

We have a lot of solid, important ministries here at IBC. I believe each one is necessary and effective for what they were created to accomplish for the Kingdom. That’s why we’re reaching new people in most areas. But none of these would go anywhere if it wasn’t for prayer. Prayer is the engine that moves the vehicles of ministry.

So I’m asking you to consider 2 opportunities where our Prayer Ministry is concerned:

Worship Prayer Warriors

This team rotates Sunday mornings to pray during the worship service. Pray for the service and the sermon. Pray for the lost who are present or watching. Pray for known needs. Anything. And how often they serve in the capacity depends on how many people are signed up to help.

Prayer Partners

This is a new emphasis of the Prayer Ministry that will begin Easter Sunday. It’s simple. It also works on a rotation basis, and volunteers will stand off to the side of the front of the sanctuary. At the end of each service, I will make attenders aware that these volunteers are available to pray with whoever would like on that day. And the prayer partners pray with whoever asks for it. That’s it. No counseling. No leading Bible study. Just praying with someone who needs it and asks for it. Could it get anymore Biblical and early church than that?

If you would like to get involved or are even interested and would like more information on these 2 prayer emphases or any others, contact the church office at 912-354-0548 or our Prayer Ministry coordinator, Patsy Parker, at 912-414-6131.

I hope you’ll seriously consider your involvement in IBC’s Prayer Ministry. The health and success of our church and every ministry of our church depends on it!

See you Sunday!

Pastor Lane

Dear Church Family,

Take some time to reflect on these powerful words from Ronnie Floyd:

I am convinced that we are making the Christian life a lot harder than God ever intended for it to be. Our enemy, Satan, has confused our intention, our direction, and our goal. We know that we ought to be winning in the Christian life, yet we are losing much of the time because we are making too hard.

I believe that the most important action you can take in the Christian life is to have a meaningful time with God daily. This action must be the heart of all that we do. It is the most basic of the basics. It is the one key fundamental that even the greatest Christian had better not fumble, or else defeat is inevitable.

Our enemy’s strategy is deliberate and deceiving. Satan wants to destroy us. He wants to get us out of God’s game plan. He wants us to think that living the Christian life is virtually impossible. He has gotten us involved in knowing more about Christianity instead of doing what we know. He has the church of Jesus Christ in disarray over pointless issues and many times in the weeds so much that no positive outcome for the advancement of God’s kingdom throughout the world occurs.

It is time to stop dumbing down to the devil’s level by saying that the Christian life is too hard. This wise and crafty schemer’s strategy is extremely focused. He wants to get followers of Christ involved in so many things that they will not make the time to have a meaningful time with God daily. Some of the things might even be good, but they are not essential.

The issue is not that the Christian life is too hard. The issue is that we are making to too hard. We have to understand that the only way to experience spiritual power, direction, and purpose is to have a meaningful time with God daily. The only way we are going to defeat the schemes of Satan is to have a meaningful time with God daily. The only way our families and our churches will function properly is for us to have a meaningful time with God daily.

How to Pray, p.35-36

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane

Dear Church Family,

It’s time for my periodic, random installment of Random Thoughts of Pastor Lane! In no particular order …

If I was coming to your house for a visit, what kinds of things would you do to get ready for the visit? Those are the same kinds of things you and I should be doing at the church to get ready for guests every single Sunday.

Why do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway?

I wish there was a news source that was unbiased politically. I would like to just know all the facts and draw my own conclusions about them, rather than be fed only what a biased reporter or editor wanted me to know.

If I try to fail, and succeed, which have I done?

Who really replaced Judas as an apostle, Matthias or Paul? And depending on your answer, does that mean that there were actually 14 apostles?

There is a dread in my heart when I realize that the presidential election is almost 2 years away and yet it is already making headlines. We’ll probably start seeing political ads and getting 36 mailouts a day before this summer. Even so Lord Jesus, quickly come!

My son got engaged this past weekend. They really are a great couple, made for each other. Very gratifying.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4

I think every person in the church should be required to verify some kind of outreach that they’re doing. It is, after all, the most basic calling that Jesus gave to every single one of His followers. No exceptions. No excuses.

Is it just me, or does everyone get stuck at all 2143 red lights on Abercorn? Every. Single. One. Every. Time.

Preaching is a strange event. You’re up there telling people, “Thus says the Lord,” all the while you’re keenly aware of your own imperfections.

It’s interesting how followers of Jesus refuse to forgive. It’s primarily God’s gift to them, not the person who did wrong. Not to mention, think of how much God forgave us of.

March Madness is upon us! I love filling out those brackets, but I don’t know why – I’m terrible at it and always have half my teams eliminated after the first weekend!

We have so many inspirational people at IBC! They have every reason to not be here, yet their commitment to Christ and His Church compels them to stay faithful! God, send us more like them.

Even if the pessimist is ultimately right, the optimist had a much better time on the trip!

I don’t care what you say, dad jokes are funny!

See you Sunday!

Pastor Lane

A few random thoughts concerning our church family that are on my mind today.

Easter
However, studies have shown time and again that around 90% of unchurched people would willingly go to a church service if they were invited. That’s where you and I come in. That’s where our planning for Easter 8 weeks early comes in. My question to you: who will you invite? Who do you know that does not regularly attend a Bible-believing church? God put you in their lives for a reason. And one simple way to begin making a difference is to invite them to IBC on what I would call an “elevated excuse to invite” Sunday. Easter. 

So let me encourage you to do 2 things that are very simple. First, think of someone in your area who is lost, unchurched, or doesn’t attend any Bible-believing church regularly. Anyone. Family, neighbor, fellow student or co-worker, friend, whoever. Second, begin right now to pray for them and keep praying for them until at least Easter Sunday. That’s it. Think of them. Pray for them. Then let’s see what God begins to do!

Lent
By the time you read this, Ash Wednesday will be a week or less away. Lent commences on that day. Lent is the observance of the 40 days that Christ spent in the wilderness before He began His public ministry. Today, one of the traditions of Lent is the giving up of something of value in much the same way that Jesus fasted those 40 days. It could be certain foods, hobbies, electronics, or any number of things that we enjoy any other time of the year.

Many faith traditions are well-known for observing Lent. Southern Baptists are not one of them. However, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be meaningful if you chose to observe it. I want to encourage in 2 areas if you choose to observe Lent this year. First, pray about what the Lord would have you give up. Since this is for Him and in recognition of His abstinence from food, seek Him on what would please Him in doing this. And second, don’t just give up something; replace it. Take the time you would use doing the forsaken thing, and instead spend it in praying to Him, acknowledging Him as the
Supplier of all your needs.

Hospitality Ministry
The unsung hero of church growth, health, and fellowship is its hospitality ministry. In traditional churches its importance is vastly underrated, but in growing churches it is given prominent attention. We had a thriving hospitality ministry before the pandemic, with a good number of trained volunteers, and you could tell the difference it made. Since the interruption known as Covid, this ministry has not re-emerged. One of the reasons for this is that we are in need of a volunteer(s) to lead it. I have developed a job description that clearly outlines what it would take for someone to be successful, and I will work with and train the person who volunteers. Could that person be you? Do you want to make an eternal difference in your church and help to change people’s lives for the better? This may be for you. If interested, I would love to hear from you.

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane