by Bret Capranica | Feb 13, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
How can you respond to this week’s sermon? You can hear the two sermons on Revelation 4:1-11 through our church’s web-site: Heaven Help Our Worship – The Atmosphere of Heaven – Rev 4:1-6 Heaven Help Our Worship – The Activity of Heaven – Rev 4:6-11 Revelation 4 is a brilliant description of God”™s supremacy and a picturesque vision of the purest worship of God. God”™s authority, centrality, mercy, redemption, judgment, omniscience, transcendence, and sovereignty are all stunningly described as the very atmosphere of heaven. The activity of heaven responds to God”™s blazing centrality with an intense, focused exaltation of who He is. Here is the pinnacle of corporate praise. The entire scene begs the question as to whether our weekly earthly gatherings mirror the emphases we see happening unceasingly in heaven. Our two sermons on Revelation 4 delved into the details of the passage and called us to consider how central God is in our affections, our vocabulary, our prayers, our music, our conversations, and our mindset when we gather with God”™s people on the Lord”™s Day. How can we grow in our worship of God on earth so that our gatherings are more reflective of the worship that happens in heaven? Something to Know Increase your understanding of who God is Simply reading through the Bible, particularly the Old Testament has helped me with this. For example, while reading through Old Testament books, underline every time the narrator (in the historical books) indicates that God did something. You will be amazed at what God does ““ and thus see His attributes on display. Read some excellent books on...
by Bret Capranica | Nov 8, 2010 | Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry
The Capranica has been silent for a number of weeks. That’s not necessarily new, though August and September were banner months for readership. As most will know, our family just moved from the desert of Southern California to tundra of the Kansas City, Missouri area. We now live in Lee’s Summit, a suburb of Kansas City, and I recently became the Pastor-Teacher of Summit Woods Baptist Church. Yesterday was my third week in the pulpit and I commence my fourth week in the office today. The transition was quick and relatively easy as far as moves go. The kids have adjusted well and we are all adjusting from the normal November 90″™s in Hemet to the normal 40 and 50 degree weather for Kansas City. We’re bracing for the fun stuff on its way. Our transition was, as most issues in life are, a learning experience for us. The lessons that come to mind are ones not necessarily attached to moving to a new ministry assignment – several are essential for the normality of life. Yet, moving your family across the country (or further) is no normal time. Though we are still in the beginning stages, here’s a few thoughts on what I have found helpful during the transition: 1. Spend encouraging time with good friends before leaving. We made it a point to sped some wonderful fellowship time with people who were close to us before we left (though we were unable to see everyone). We treasure every one of those conversations – every meal – every moment we had with such precious friends. We had rich times...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 9, 2010 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry
Summit Woods Weekend Overview from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. While we are here in Lee’s Summit, any interaction with the blog will be limited at best. Feel free to keep up with what’s going on with us through my Twitter...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 8, 2010 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry
Local Church Giving from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. Unfortunately, as soon as I bring up the topic of money, as a pastor, some will associate the subject with the Benny Hinn”™s and Robert Tilton”™s of the world. Forget these charlatans. Let”™s simply be honest about what the Bible does say about Christians and giving. The Bible Says Much About Money I won”™t take the time to mention all or even most of the passages, but Jesus and the Apostles often used one”™s positions and wealth as a firm illustration of where one”™s heart is (i.e., Matt 6:24; 1 Tim 6:6-10, 17-19; Luke 12:13-21). Our Spending Says Much About Us Any examination of my checkbook will expose a wealth of information about what is important to my family and me. In this country, there is a tremendous amount of financial freedom in contrast to the rest of the world. We spend money on what we want. And what we want reveals much about our heart”™s desires. Tithing or Free Will? Inevitably, when Christians discuss the subject of giving, the issue of tithing will come up. No small debate exists among modern American Christians about whether the Bible, particularly the New Testament calls us to give ten percent (a tithe) of all we bring in, or if giving levels are merely left open to the Christian”™s conscience. Before I speak about my position, let me review a few biblical points Tithing Was a Principle Before It Became a Law Before Moses commanded it, the patriarchs practiced it (Gen 14:17-20; Gen 28:20-22). In fact other religions before and during the patriarchal era...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 7, 2010 | Education, Featured Articles, Marriage and Family, Pastoral Ministry
Educating Our Children from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. How should we think about educating our children, especially in light of the very strong convictions held by those in home schooling, private schools, and the public school system? Parents Are Responsible In God”™s plan, I think the Bible is clear on who is fundamentally responsible for teaching children: parents. Deuteronomy 6 indicates that parents are charged with teaching children God”™s ways throughout the normal flow of life. Ephesians 6:1-4 clearly lays responsibility upon parents to raise their children in God”™s wisdom and ways. Parents are responsible for their children. This seems fundamental, doesn”™t it? Thus, it is not ultimately the church”™s children”™s ministry that is responsible for teaching our children about God. It is not the student ministries of the church that is chiefly charged with a teenager”™s spiritual life. Neither schools (private or public) nor even the church, as an institution, are ultimately the overseers of who, what, when, where, why, and how our children are educated ““ parents are. That”™s who God charged to be responsible for a child”™s education. Options are Legitimate Parental responsibility does not demand parental involvement alone. Certainly the church”™s children”™s and student ministries can be an asset to our children”™s learning more about God. Pastors and teachers are charged with spiritual instruction within the church ““ children included. Thankfully, parents are not mandated to teach calculus to their children. But they are charged with being responsible for being involved in who will teach them. Responsibility to oversee a child”™s instruction does not demand that no one else be included in instructing a child....
by Bret Capranica | Sep 6, 2010 | Christian Living, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry
An Affirmation About Alcohol from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. An increasing drumbeat in contemporary American churches is one on the subject of alcohol consumption. Not alcohol abuse ““ but consumption. I believe the vast majority of evangelical Christians (if not all) would affirm that the Bible speaks not only derisively, but condemningly of the abuse of alcohol. The contemporary dividing line is over the use of alcohol. In this post I want to look at a few issues on this subject, describe my position as I understand the Scriptures, and conclude with an affirmation I join in making with the elders at Summit Woods Baptist Church. The Use of Alcohol Can Be a Divisive Issue: It Can Be Generationally Divisive The use of alcohol seems to have a very dark line of division between generations. A large portion of the rising, energetic, biblically loyal, evangelistically passionate, and serious minded, younger generation of Christians is far more open to the use (again, not the abuse) of alcohol. This is in stark contrast to other generations who have traditionally advocated a position of complete abstinence. In my interaction with both groups, this issue brings out high energy and intense emotions. I find that a younger generation is more ready to make use of what they see as a biblically gray area and eschew others who are offended by their beer drinking (or whatever beverage they choose). In turn, in receiving the tongue lashing from the teetotalers, these imbibers return the favor with equally biting comments about the legalistic behavior of their oppressors. I honestly believe each group has valid concerns and...
