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One of my mentors has died. John MacArthur was ushered into the Lord’s presence on July 14.  He was 86. MacArthur served Christ as pastor at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA for 56 years. Of course, he’s most well-known for his radio ministry, Grace to You.

Susan introduced me to that program in 1979 – and we were hooked on his sound expository preaching. MacArthur      mentored me through his commentaries and numerous books. I think the first book I read of his was on God’s will – and it fundamentally shaped my thinking on the subject. I was blessed to hear him preach on numerous occasions. I was  always impressed with his crisp intellect with the Scriptures. I had the privilege of meeting him in 1995. Through a providential circumstance, Terry McIntosh, Don Magee and I hosted a mid-week service with MacArthur preaching. We were able to meet personally with him for about an hour. While he could come across as harsh on the radio at times, one-on-one he was personable, engaging and humble. I am indebted to his godly influence over my life and ministry.

Heb 13:7, Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Most Bible students believe this reference refers to individuals now dead, those who spoke, past tense. John MacArthur spoke the Word of God to us. We are admonished to follow such godly leaders by precept (what they taught) and example (how they behaved). My faith     wasn’t built on MacArthur – my faith is sourced in Christ. But I am thankful for John demonstrating Christ to me. 

Well done, good and faithful servant. 

Let me give you four reasons why I believe small groups are essential for us as a church. 

1. Small groups promote fellowship.  I love corporate worship, and yet genuine fellowship isn’t practical in a crowd of 100 people. The NT contains 30 “one another” commands. True fellowship isn’t just socializing – it’s sanctified relationships. We were never made to live the Christian life on our own. It takes a church to raise a Christian. 
2. Small groups stimulate spiritual growth. Sunday morning is a great time for God’s Word to be taught but where and how will the Bible be applied? Our small groups are not designed to be another Bible study – they are a vehicle to apply God’s truths in practical ways.
3. Small groups provide ministry opportunities. Our groups provide the ideal context for us to practice our spiritual gifts. There are limits as to our ability in using our gifts Sunday mornings.
4. Small groups encourage accountability. We must prod and challenge each other forward in the journey of faith. Small groups provide a context to be accountable – and to help others in their pursuit of Christlikeness too.

Small groups will reboot the week of September 7. If you were not part of this ministry last spring, and wish to join a group, please see Pastor Fred. We are excited about a new group   starting. We meet the first and third weeks of the month in homes throughout the week during the school year. We want to be a church not with small groups but a church of small groups.

Happy Birthday America – belated. How thankful I am for the USA. There’s no question our founding fathers created a     nation based on Judeo-Christian principles. Tragically we have seen a distancing of that under the false idea of separation of church and state. Our nation’s founders meant that there shouldn’t be a nationalized religion – not that Christians shouldn’t be involved in government. 

We grew up hearing 2 Chron 7:14 applied to the USA. We were told that if the church would repent and pray then God would restore America. I’m afraid this isn’t what this verse means at all. Without question the USA needs to repent, but this    promise isn’t for us. Who is 2 Chron 7:14 written to?  If my people.  What people?  Israel.  Israel was coming home from exile. God was pointing them back to his covenants. Yes, we are God’s people today, but the church isn’t in the OT. The church has no land. There is no promise in 2 Chron 7:14 for the US to be spiritually healed. Our kingdom isn’t of this world. Our home is heaven. We’re aliens and citizens of      another kingdom. Yes, we’re citizens also of America. Let’s use our rights to promote morality and decency, but political maneuvering and getting the right people elected isn’t the answer. Calling our culture to a high moral standard is noble, but it is not our mission. Our mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We’ve been truly blessed in many ways as a nation – beyond what our founding fathers dreamt. I’m patriotic. I’m flying the flag at our home. But let us remember on this weekend too that our first allegiance is to Christ and his kingdom.

Elisabeth Elliot’s book, Keep a Quiet Heart has been a source of blessing to me. She recounts a story of her youth when on vacation her father tried in vain to coax her little brother to come into the ocean with him. Dad promised the waves wouldn’t wash David away. But the boy wouldn’t budge – to him the ocean was terrifying.

On the last day of vacation David finally gave in. And he was not swept away as his father held him as promised. David had so much fun too – more than he could ever have imagined. When it was time to leave, he burst into tears, “Why didn’t you make me go in?” he cried. Poor Dave. Sure, his dad could have forced him to  into the water, but he could not have forced him to relax and enjoy it. I am sure you see the spiritual parallel.

Elisabeth writes, “Learning to pray is learning to trust the wisdom, the power and the love of our Heavenly Father, always so far beyond our dreams. He knows our need and knows ways to meet it that have never entered our heads. Things we feel sure we need for happiness may often lead to our ruin … If we [would only] believe what the Father tells us and surrender ourselves into His strong arms … The only escape from self-love is self-surrender … My father knew far better than his small, fearful, stubborn son what would give him joy. So does our Heavenly Father. Whenever I have resisted Him, I have cheated myself, as my little brother did. Whenever I have yielded, I have found joy.”

In Acts 13 the church at Antioch gave of their best for the kingdom. The church gave up Barnabas and Paul for the spread of the gospel. I am sure it had an impact on that specific local church losing two gifted teachers. Berean Baptist in Livonia will be giving up one of their own to come here. Anthony Lange is one of a few former elders and pastors Berean has lost over the years. Josh Waltz, Gabe Reed, and Jeff McKeever pastor churches today. Eventually, Anthony will join our pastors here. What a tremendous loss Berean has made for the kingdom.  

As I reflected on Berean’s sacrifice, I thought back to the summer internship program we offered here many years ago. We created opportunities for our own young men who indicated a call to ministry to serve over the summer. There was a financial sacrifice to this for we paid them. Someone asked at the time, “What is the benefit of doing this? What will we get out of it?”  I answered, “Well, we’ll receive blessing over the months they’re here, but the long-term investment will be beyond our comprehension.” Scott Allison served three summers. He now pastors a church in northeastern PA.  One summer Josh and Carisa Bell lived with Susan and me as he served as our intern. Today they serve in Senegal. One summer David Froman was our worship intern – today he serves as our worship director. And most recently, our loss of Kevin Finkenbinder to pastor Faith Bible Church.

May we like Antioch and Berean continue to desire to be a church that invests in kingdom priorities. May we always look beyond the temporal to the eternal. Jesus said he can transform a cup of cold water given in his name with eternal significance. Berean Baptist loves the Langes. It will be hard for them to say good-bye to them, but their sacrificial loss will be our gain.

Disney World opened its doors on October 1, 1972, in Orlando, FL. Walt Disney though died 6 years before the amusement park was finished. After the completion of Disney World 

someone remarked, “It sure is sad that Mr. Disney never lived to see this.” Mark Vance, creative director of Disney studios replied, “He did see it – that’s why its here.” Walt Disney was a man of vision. Visions inspire us. Robert Kennedy was right when he said, “Some people see things the way they are – and ask, why? I dream of the way things could be – and ask, why not?”

Vision isn’t just for theme parks and governments. We as a church need vision – this is why for years now we have planned on me stepping aside from the lead pastor role when I turn 70. We desire a man to serve with me for a time before assuming the role as teaching pastor. Leadership believes Anthony Lange is that man. Following our service today a special business meeting has been called to vote on that proposal. Anthony might share my theology and philosophy of ministry, but he is not me. He is different and that’s good. God can and will use him in ways he has never used me.

Our task here is for us to become fruitful disciples of Christ for God’s glory. This is not my church – HBC doesn’t belong to you either. Holt Baptist is Christ’s church. He is our Head. Eph 2:20, Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Our purpose as a church remains the same – to glorify God, to edify the believer and to reach a world for Christ. To this end we ask you to continue such a commitment that has been true for nearly 75 years. 

1 Chron 12:32, Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. In ancient Israel there were some noble men who made a difference. They took risks and had discernment. They understood what was happening and acted divisively on it.

Today is a wonderful moment in the history of HBC. Anthony Lange is our candidate to be our next pastor. Most often when there’s such a transition the former pastor has left. The church ploughs through months if not years of uncertainty. Our leadership has been strategic (like the men of Issachar) about such a transition. We believe it best to bring in someone to share ministry with me for a time before assuming my role. If called, Anthony would begin his ministry in January 2026, as he and I would share pastoral responsibilities for 15 months until my semi-retirement in April 2027.  

Our model in this transition is biblical. Paul passed the baton to Timothy and to a new generation (however, I’m not planning to be martyred!). Anthony will answer questions next Sunday from 9-10:15 am. Note time difference. He will preach again next Sunday at 10:30am. Following next week’s service, we will conduct a special business meeting to vote on Anthony. That meeting will begin with a time for questions. The rationale behind next Sunday is we believe most of our membership will be present to hear him. We need a quorum to have this meeting. Leadership feels postponing another week might jeopardize reaching a quorum with summer vacations beginning.

This is an exciting time for our congregation. Continue to pray for the Langes too during this time. Again, if you have questions feel free to speak to Anthony or one of the pulpit committee members. 

“How the Pastor Shepherds a Praise Team,” was the breakout session I attended last month at BASICS. Jonathan Albright, a member of the pastoral team at Parkside spoke (by the way – his grandfather was my pastor growing up … small world).

In many churches there is tension between pastors and musicians. Unspecified expectations are often the cause along with competing values. Tragically selfish ambition is a problem too – for both pastor and praise team. As Jonathan spoke my heart was overwhelmed with the deepest gratitude for our music ministry here. There is nothing he described like that here. I have been blessed – we as a church are blessed by having David lead our music ministry. I say that not because he’s my son but because it’s true. Others attest to that as well. And years prior to David, Susan served selflessly in facilitating this ministry too. David and Susan are not alone – for there is a host of spiritually led musicians, vocalists and sound booth technicians which play a strategic part in this ministry. It takes a team. Let each one know of your appreciation.

Jonathan reiterated the core values that must drive a worship ministry – which mirrors our principles here. God-Focused, Christ-Centered, Word-Driven, Authentically Motivated, Congregationally-Oriented (our worship gatherings aren’t spectator events for we seek to involve congregation participation), Historically-Tethered, and Evangelistically-Informed. Praise God for such. Now, let us sing to the Lord and to one another as we give thanks for this great blessing we have as a church.

Tomorrow we will observe Memorial Day. I know for many it’s simply the official beginning of the summer, but historically this was a day we as a nation honored those who died to preserve our freedoms. Veteran’s Day is a time we honor all those who have served in the military. As Americans we are thankful for our freedoms, indebted to those who paid the ultimate price.  

There is a strange teaching circulating today however called Christian Nationalism. Such teaching is often rooted in the belief of post-millennialism, that Christ will return after the church has Christianized the world. This teaching is sometimes called Dominion Theology. This is contrary to what the Bible teaches. We believe however that our mission is to evangelize – not force people into a moral mindset. Politicians often say – “God bless America,” and yet we should be leery of empty “God-talk” without substantive life change. The true gospel radically changes us – how we speak, how we behave, what we believe.

So, on this Memorial Day weekend let us pray for our nation – and the advance of the gospel. 2 Thess 3:1, Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored. What is the mission of the church?  Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Our agenda isn’t political. We might be frustrated at our nation’s immoral agenda and grieved over its animosity toward God. But dear friend let’s remember Jesus Christ IS building his church and promised the gates of hell will never prevail against it. How do we pray for America? Pray for our leaders. Pray that government allows us to spread the gospel unhindered – for souls to be saved. Let us pray for our church to be the salt and light our community needs.

It is the recommendation of our pulpit committee that we call Anthony Lange as our next pastor. For years our strategic plan has been for me to step aside as the teaching pastor when I turn 70 (April 2027). It is time for me to pass the baton to a new generation. On May 4, the pulpit committee discussed this during ABF at a Family Chat.

• If called Anthony would begin in January 2026. The church has been saving money over the years to support 2 pastors for a period of time. He will join HBC’s pastoral team with a specific job description and duties to be finalized before he begins in January. We believe Anthony is biblically qualified to be an elder. It’s our desire for him to adjust to HBC under elder mentorship. Remember, Anthony is not me. God has uniquely gifted him. He is committed to HBC’s doctrines, values and principles.
• My plan is not to leave HBC, only semi-retire. I plan to continue as part of the elder team. Given Anthony’s desire to purchase his own house, leadership is discussing the possibility of Sue and me remaining in the parsonage for a period of time. Details and compensation for such an arrangement would need to be worked out during the transition period. The bottom line: I look forward to supporting Anthony and           his ministry.  
• June 8 Anthony and Kali will give their testimonies at 9:30 am in the auditorium. June 15 we will have a question-answer time from 9-10:15 am. Anthony will preach in both worship services. A special business meeting will then be convened June 15 asking the congregation to vote on this proposal. If you have questions, please feel free to ask the pulpit committee: Paul Krepps, Doug Troxell, Joe Hart or myself.