Bobby Blakey

For many today, Church is something they may or may not go to, Not a Family they are committed to. #ChurchisaFamily

Who else is remembering John MacArthur one year later? I am thankful for a pastor who: ~Preached the Word like it mattered ~Stayed at one church for a long time ~Cared for individual people ~Was an example worth following ~Gave opportunity and training for younger men

I thought John MacArthur was going to die in the fall of 1998. I remember they said he had blood clots in his lungs. At that time, I was a freshmen at The Master’s College. I was eager to sit under his teaching again because I had grown up going to Grace Community Church as a child. I remembered what it was like hearing John MacArthur preach a sermon with thousands of people listening silently all around you. The service would end. The ushers would open up the doors. Stephen Sturz would start playing the organ. As a boy, with the people moving about and the organ whirling, I remember the feeling of God among us. It didn’t feel like a man had just taught a sermon, but like we had heard the very words of God. So, I was sad to come to my first semester of college and John MacArthur was not preaching on Sundays. When he returned to the pulpit, that would rise up out of the ground, he preached like the sermon had been caged up within him. He preached about the lying of the president. I remember he said his name, “Bill Clinton.” I remember he quoted his lie “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” John MacArthur made it clear that if you were a liar, you were not afraid to do any kind of evil because you thought you could cover it up with your lies. He explained from Romans 1 how God was giving America over to their sin. He explained how the people approved of our president because we were the same sort of liars, we loved to have it so. Towards the end of John MacArthur’s first sermon back, he did one of my favorite things about his preaching. He said this is just the introduction. If you really want to hear the sermon come back next week. I was waiting in the pew next Sunday when he took us to Jeremiah 5. “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem… If you can find a man who seeks the truth… They say “As the Lord lives” yet swear falsely… They are like lusty stallions neighing after their neighbors wives” I remember reading the end of the chapter: “Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” Too soon the people were moving. The organ was whirling. I sat in awe because I had heard the word of the Lord. I hear it still.

Don’t bring a log to a speck fight 🙏🏻

#9. Church is not a building, church is the people of Jesus! But a building, a 24/7 facility devoted to teaching and fellowship, sure is a blessing! I am so thankful God provided a space for people to come & see Jesus!

#8. JOY! Although there are many burdens to bear in planting a church, the JOY is overwhelming! JOY over one sinner who repents... JOY that I have brothers and sisters... JOY that my Father loves my like his Son Jesus!

#7. JESUS REALLY DIED FOR YOU! We need to make sure our preaching of the gospel never becomes cliche but it is his love for us that compels us! The good news is not old news! He. Shed. Blood. To. Pay. For. Your. Sin.

#6. My KIDS thrived growing up in a church plant! What a blessing to not just have a mom & dad who will teach the Bible at home, but so many "aunts and uncles" who are examples to my children. My kids want to be with the family we have in Christ!

#5. SIDE BY SIDE! What a blessing to have a wife who partners with you in the ministry. Over the years she saved thousands of dollars by working with teams of servants to clean our building or cater a home-cooked meal!

#4. MAWWAGE! Planting a church is a conducive environment for God to join together two as one and to bless families with children! In the church there is much support and examples for being a spouse or a parent. Praise the Lord not just for souls saved but children born!

#3. Who can find a FAITHFUL MAN?! In our church culture there is so much about the celebrity pastor, but what about the men who are faithfully serving as elders and deacons? What a blessing it is to see men and women faithfully serve for no other reason than Jesus!

#2. Jesus can save ANYONE! Here I came upon two ushers receiving the offering. They were laughing because they were both convicts before conversion and now they are counting money at church?! We took a picture to celebrate the transformation of being a new creation in Christ!

#1. The GOSPEL is God's power to save!!! We are underestimating how the revelation of who Jesus is as the Christ and what he did when he died and rose again can change people's lives!