If you ask most couples how they fell in love, you will often find that the two of them moved at different speeds when it came to being convinced on the matter of marriage. One of them might indicate that they knew almost immediately that they would get married. The other might indicate that it took a lot more time and convincing.

The Christian life can be similar. We don’t all grasp the whole gospel instantaneously. For one person, it might take them years into their walk with Christ to become fully convinced of and believe in a particular area of doctrine or practice. But then having grasped the Bible’s teaching in this area, they will often turn around and expect another brother or sister in Christ to grasp it almost immediately. As we each grow and mature in our walk, and the gospel practically works it’s way into our lives, we must be willing to lay down our rights and privileges for the good of those who are continuing to grow. We are free in Christ. We have many rights in Christ. However, our personal rights and freedoms don’t govern our lives. Our love for God and our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ governs our lives.

I pray that you will join us this weekend as we walk through Romans 14.13-23. These are very practical verses that are critical to our unity in the body and our witness to the world. I hope to see you at one of our many worship opportunities.

In Christ,

Pastor Chad McDonald

If you ask most couples how they fell in love, you will often find that the two of them moved at different speeds when it came to being convinced on the matter of marriage. One of them might indicate that they knew almost immediately that they would get married. The other might indicate that it took a lot more time and convincing.

The Christian life can be similar. We don’t all grasp the whole gospel instantaneously. For one person, it might take them years into their walk with Christ to become fully convinced of and believe in a particular area of doctrine or practice. But then having grasped the Bible’s teaching in this area, they will often turn around and expect another brother or sister in Christ to grasp it almost immediately. As we each grow and mature in our walk, and the gospel practically works it’s way into our lives, we must be willing to lay down our rights and privileges for the good of those who are continuing to grow. We are free in Christ. We have many rights in Christ. However, our personal rights and freedoms don’t govern our lives. Our love for God and our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ governs our lives.

I pray that you will join us this weekend as we walk through Romans 14.13-23. These are very practical verses that are critical to our unity in the body and our witness to the world. I hope to see you at one of our many worship opportunities.

In Christ,

Pastor Chad McDonald

Romans 14 appears to be a bit out of place. Paul has been addressing how the fountain of the gospel flows outwardly into all the areas of our lives. At the end of chapter 13, he addresses how the gospel impacts our relationship to our neighbors. In chapter 15, Paul will talk about taking the gospel to Spain. He addresses local missions and then international missions.

In between local missions and international missions, Paul confronts an apparent conflict related to eating certain foods and observing certain days. What does this issue have to do with missions? Paul knows that a church in conflict loses credibility in sharing a message of reconciliation with the world. We cannot peddle unapplied truth. If we are going to preach reconciliation to the world, we need to demonstrate it in the church. And while we may not have disagreements over certain foods and observing certain days, the church today has its own issues that can quickly create conflict and nullify our witness. How should we deal with these issues? Not issues of doctrine or morality but areas of personal conviction that are not clearly revealed in Scripture. This is a critical, relevant and practical text.

I pray that you will make plans to join us as we gather around the Word of God and adjust our lives to His truth that we might glorify Him and love our neighbor.

In Christ,

Pastor Chad McDonald

Romans 14 appears to be a bit out of place. Paul has been addressing how the fountain of the gospel flows outwardly into all the areas of our lives. At the end of chapter 13, he addresses how the gospel impacts our relationship to our neighbors. In chapter 15, Paul will talk about taking the gospel to Spain. He addresses local missions and then international missions.

In between local missions and international missions, Paul confronts an apparent conflict related to eating certain foods and observing certain days. What does this issue have to do with missions? Paul knows that a church in conflict loses credibility in sharing a message of reconciliation with the world. We cannot peddle unapplied truth. If we are going to preach reconciliation to the world, we need to demonstrate it in the church. And while we may not have disagreements over certain foods and observing certain days, the church today has its own issues that can quickly create conflict and nullify our witness. How should we deal with these issues? Not issues of doctrine or morality but areas of personal conviction that are not clearly revealed in Scripture. This is a critical, relevant and practical text.

I pray that you will make plans to join us as we gather around the Word of God and adjust our lives to His truth that we might glorify Him and love our neighbor.

In Christ,

Pastor Chad McDonald

Could you name at least five people in your life right now who don’t know Christ? People you bump into at work, at Walmart, at school, in your neighborhood or at the coffee shop? If we could each name five people, then our church touches over 15,000 people every week. That is a huge opportunity to make an impact for Christ. But how do we relate to them? How do we engage the lost world around us? Church history has been filled with tension over this very issue. Some would argue that we should separate from the world and hole up in caves. Others would have us capitulate to the moral issues of our day to fit in and get along with the world around us. Some might want us to go back to Old Testament law and live completely by rules so that we would become irrelevant to culture. How should we relate to the non-believing world around us?

As Paul has discussed how our relationship with Christ flows outward into our relationship with God, fellow members of the body of Christ and our enemies, he now gives us practical direction on how we relate to our neighbor. Make plans to join us for one of our many weekend worship opportunities today. Weekend worship is a Friday decision. Make the decision today to worship with the body of Christ. We all need Christ, and we all need each other.

— Pastor Chad McDonald

Could you name at least five people in your life right now who don’t know Christ? People you bump into at work, at Walmart, at school, in your neighborhood or at the coffee shop? If we could each name five people, then our church touches over 15,000 people every week. That is a huge opportunity to make an impact for Christ. But how do we relate to them? How do we engage the lost world around us? Church history has been filled with tension over this very issue. Some would argue that we should separate from the world and hole up in caves. Others would have us capitulate to the moral issues of our day to fit in and get along with the world around us. Some might want us to go back to Old Testament law and live completely by rules so that we would become irrelevant to culture. How should we relate to the non-believing world around us?

As Paul has discussed how our relationship with Christ flows outward into our relationship with God, fellow members of the body of Christ and our enemies, he now gives us practical direction on how we relate to our neighbor. Make plans to join us for one of our many weekend worship opportunities today. Weekend worship is a Friday decision. Make the decision today to worship with the body of Christ. We all need Christ, and we all need each other.

— Pastor Chad McDonald

Beginning in Romans 12, Paul describes the fountain of blessing that flows from the life of a person who is in Christ. The gospel changes us. It renews our minds and changes our thinking. It changes how we think about God, ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ. The gospel teaches us that no one and no thing in the fellowship of the body is beneath us. Christ left the glory of heaven to die for me. He did not consider me beneath Him. When that truth impacts my mind, it ultimately changes my disposition towards others. The gospel creates a divinely beautiful fellowship in the church that cannot be duplicated in the world. But Paul doesn’t stop there. When this kind of transformation takes place in the church, it will eventually burst the doors of the church and get carried out into the world. Our attitude towards Christ and each other in the body sets the agenda for how we respond to evil and those who persecute us. The Christian brings blessing and harmony in the body but also overcomes evil in the world.

These verses have never been more practical for the believer’s life. I pray that you will make plans to day to join us for worship this weekend. This is an exciting time to be a part of LBC. Get plugged in and find a place ot fellowship and service as we continue to bring the message of hope to the heartland.

— Pastor Chad McDonald

Beginning in Romans 12, Paul describes the fountain of blessing that flows from the life of a person who is in Christ. The gospel changes us. It renews our minds and changes our thinking. It changes how we think about God, ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ. The gospel teaches us that no one and no thing in the fellowship of the body is beneath us. Christ left the glory of heaven to die for me. He did not consider me beneath Him. When that truth impacts my mind, it ultimately changes my disposition towards others. The gospel creates a divinely beautiful fellowship in the church that cannot be duplicated in the world. But Paul doesn’t stop there. When this kind of transformation takes place in the church, it will eventually burst the doors of the church and get carried out into the world. Our attitude towards Christ and each other in the body sets the agenda for how we respond to evil and those who persecute us. The Christian brings blessing and harmony in the body but also overcomes evil in the world.

These verses have never been more practical for the believer’s life. I pray that you will make plans to day to join us for worship this weekend. This is an exciting time to be a part of LBC. Get plugged in and find a place ot fellowship and service as we continue to bring the message of hope to the heartland.

— Pastor Chad McDonald

From Belief to Baptism | Matthew 18:18-20

This weekend we will take another one week break from Romans to focus on the ordinance of baptism. There is a vast array of thoughts and opinions pertaining to this ordinance. Who should get baptized? When should baptism occur? Is it appropriate to sprinkle or immerse? What about infant baptism?

This weekend we will look to God’s Word to find clarity on this issue. I pray you will join us for one of our many weekend worship opportunities. Every year we set aside some time to examine God’s Word pertaining to this ordinance and to open the door for anyone to trust Christ and be baptized. It has become one of the most special services of the year. Please pray in advance for these services and plan to attend. May Christ be glorified and men and women drawn to Him.

— Pastor Chad McDonald

From Belief to Baptism | Matthew 18:18-20

This weekend we will take another one week break from Romans to focus on the ordinance of baptism. There is a vast array of thoughts and opinions pertaining to this ordinance. Who should get baptized? When should baptism occur? Is it appropriate to sprinkle or immerse? What about infant baptism?

This weekend we will look to God’s Word to find clarity on this issue. I pray you will join us for one of our many weekend worship opportunities. Every year we set aside some time to examine God’s Word pertaining to this ordinance and to open the door for anyone to trust Christ and be baptized. It has become one of the most special services of the year. Please pray in advance for these services and plan to attend. May Christ be glorified and men and women drawn to Him.

— Pastor Chad McDonald