Central Baptist Church
P.O. Box 281 Hwy 66 Fate, TX 75132
Pastor Charles R. Ison Sr.
Church phone # (972)-722-0751 Home office # (972)-771-0768
E-mail: charlesison@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 281 Hwy 66 Fate, TX 75132
Pastor Charles R. Ison Sr.
Church phone # (972)-722-0751 Home office # (972)-771-0768
E-mail: charlesison@hotmail.com
Dear Friend,
I would like to address in this letter some basic priorities that should be considered when choosing a home church. Always choose that which has eternal importance rather than things that are insignificant and does not glorify God and edify believers.
People often want to know what the non-negotiable's are when looking for or evaluating a church. What should they be willing to tolerate, and what kinds of things are deal-breakers? Let me mention a few in the following.
First, look for a church that has a high view of GOD. Many churches have bought into the marketing mindset of the secular world and have designed their entire ministry around satisfying desires of people rather than God. The tastes, interest, and preferences of people are at the center of their universe.
However, a healthy, Biblical, Godly local church won't revolve around its members. The church exists to unfold God's glory and proclaim His gospel of salvation to the lost and to edify and disciple the saved. It points people upward. Every aspect of the worship service should be transcendent, pointing God's people to praise and love for Him.
Second, look for a church that exalts CHRIST. Far too often today, in worship and in teaching, churches downplay or neglect the person and work of Christ.
Third, look for a church that will cultivate a love for Scripture. The Bible is the inspired, infallible, inerrant, preserved Word of God and a Scriptural church will make God's Word alone the final authority for what it believes and how it carries out those beliefs. God's Word is not intended to support, punctuate, or illustrate the ideas and opinions of men. Human insights and clever storytelling are nothing compared to eternal, life-transforming truth of Scripture.
When looking for a Scriptural church, find one that uses a sound Bible version translated honestly from the correct original Greek manuscripts such as the Authorized King James version and proclaims and explains God's Word in a way that builds your appetite, faith and love for it. Sitting under shallow preaching is a sure way to turn yourself into a spiritual dwarf. Find a church where you are regularly encouraged to feast on the the meat of Scripture. If a pastor has done his job, you should always come away from the message with a hunger to dig deeper and know more of God and His truth.
Forth, One more essential element that unifies it all is a strong, sacrificial, humble love between pastor and people. Love binds everything together. If you find a church that makes biblical priorities its priorities,the trivial disputes will stay trivial. Petty bickering can't take root in a church committed to glorifying the LORD, knowing and loving CHRIST, studying Scripture, and loving one another humbly.
Of course, this brief list of priorities for a healthy church is not exhaustive. In fact, many people would automatically include at least one other priority that is currently dividing many churches and that is “style of worship”.
Many churches are replacing classic old hymns with pop choruses. Electronic band instruments are in and organs and pianos are out. Casual, convenient services are edging out serious traditional worship. Do you want a worship of God that is more pleasing to God or more pleasing to the world? That which is biblical and pleasing to God will unify a church not divide it.
I trust you understand the importance of finding a local church that has biblical principles, priorities and standards, where God is glorified, Christ is exalted Scripture is faithfully and accurately taught, and God's people exhibit a humble love for each other. Nothing can replace the sanctifying influence of biblical worship within the fellowship of like-minded believers.
The greatest commandment from God that expresses clearly what matters most to Him is “Jesus said...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind... and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matthew 22:37,39”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
God's richest blessing on you and your family.
In the love of Christ and His truth,
Charles Ison
Pastor-Teacher-Evangelist
Acts 20:24
P.S. tapes and CD's available upon request free of charge.
I would like to address in this letter some basic priorities that should be considered when choosing a home church. Always choose that which has eternal importance rather than things that are insignificant and does not glorify God and edify believers.
People often want to know what the non-negotiable's are when looking for or evaluating a church. What should they be willing to tolerate, and what kinds of things are deal-breakers? Let me mention a few in the following.
First, look for a church that has a high view of GOD. Many churches have bought into the marketing mindset of the secular world and have designed their entire ministry around satisfying desires of people rather than God. The tastes, interest, and preferences of people are at the center of their universe.
However, a healthy, Biblical, Godly local church won't revolve around its members. The church exists to unfold God's glory and proclaim His gospel of salvation to the lost and to edify and disciple the saved. It points people upward. Every aspect of the worship service should be transcendent, pointing God's people to praise and love for Him.
Second, look for a church that exalts CHRIST. Far too often today, in worship and in teaching, churches downplay or neglect the person and work of Christ.
Third, look for a church that will cultivate a love for Scripture. The Bible is the inspired, infallible, inerrant, preserved Word of God and a Scriptural church will make God's Word alone the final authority for what it believes and how it carries out those beliefs. God's Word is not intended to support, punctuate, or illustrate the ideas and opinions of men. Human insights and clever storytelling are nothing compared to eternal, life-transforming truth of Scripture.
When looking for a Scriptural church, find one that uses a sound Bible version translated honestly from the correct original Greek manuscripts such as the Authorized King James version and proclaims and explains God's Word in a way that builds your appetite, faith and love for it. Sitting under shallow preaching is a sure way to turn yourself into a spiritual dwarf. Find a church where you are regularly encouraged to feast on the the meat of Scripture. If a pastor has done his job, you should always come away from the message with a hunger to dig deeper and know more of God and His truth.
Forth, One more essential element that unifies it all is a strong, sacrificial, humble love between pastor and people. Love binds everything together. If you find a church that makes biblical priorities its priorities,the trivial disputes will stay trivial. Petty bickering can't take root in a church committed to glorifying the LORD, knowing and loving CHRIST, studying Scripture, and loving one another humbly.
Of course, this brief list of priorities for a healthy church is not exhaustive. In fact, many people would automatically include at least one other priority that is currently dividing many churches and that is “style of worship”.
Many churches are replacing classic old hymns with pop choruses. Electronic band instruments are in and organs and pianos are out. Casual, convenient services are edging out serious traditional worship. Do you want a worship of God that is more pleasing to God or more pleasing to the world? That which is biblical and pleasing to God will unify a church not divide it.
I trust you understand the importance of finding a local church that has biblical principles, priorities and standards, where God is glorified, Christ is exalted Scripture is faithfully and accurately taught, and God's people exhibit a humble love for each other. Nothing can replace the sanctifying influence of biblical worship within the fellowship of like-minded believers.
The greatest commandment from God that expresses clearly what matters most to Him is “Jesus said...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind... and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matthew 22:37,39”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
God's richest blessing on you and your family.
In the love of Christ and His truth,
Charles Ison
Pastor-Teacher-Evangelist
Acts 20:24
P.S. tapes and CD's available upon request free of charge.
