Minister's Blog

Almost Normal… Normal is a relative term for most of us, but there are times throughout the year when routines and schedules are a little more refined. Summer was certainly not that time of the year. It was a time for special ministries and blessed interruptions in our regular routines that served a larger purpose in the church. We enjoyed great times of ministry such as Vacation Bible School, Mission Trips, Youth and Children's Trips, and ended the summer with our revival services. I want to thank each one who served, gave, or prayed toward these events and efforts. The revival was well attended and a time of refreshing in the life of our church. Your prayers, attendance and service were a huge part of that. As I look back over the summer, I could not be more thankful to be the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church and that the Watts family gets to be part of this church family.
While everything above is true, I admit I am ready for a few “normal” months. Here in Ruston those times are few and far between. Much of that Is due to Ruston being a college town. The quarter system at Louisiana Tech has quite an influence on the community around it. I'm happy to say that beginning next week, school will be in session both for our collegiates and children here in town. This brings a feeling of normality not just in the community but also in our church. We have had a great time doing our Sunday Night Live streams, but I'm looking forward to meeting with my church family on Sunday nights beginning September 7. We have some great things coming up this Fall!
HERMENEUTICS!?!?... Hermeneutics is one of those $7.00 words they teach you at seminary. It may sound funny, but it is extremely important. According to Baker’s Dictionary of Theology it is “the study and methodology of interpretation, particularly of texts; originating from the Greek word “hermeneuein,” meaning “to interpret.” We can all recognize there is a right way and a wrong way of interpreting Scripture. We all may say that we long to have a literal interpretation of scripture, but what we really mean is we want to know what it literally reveals about God and what it is calling us to do. Context, covenant relationship, genre, and historical sequence all have bearing on interpretation. This is why I am so excited about the Sunday night meetings we will have in September led by Sherwon Williamson. He will be teaching us some basic principles of hermeneutics we can (and many of you already do) apply, so we can get to the plain meaning of the text as it related to God and practical instruction. This will precede our New Testament survey, which will begin in October. We know all scripture is “God breathed,” and we want to make sure we are prepared to “rightly divide” (handle) it, 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2:15.
Wrapping up Genesis.. I’ll be finishing our sermon series on God’s dealing with His covenant people in Genesis in September by surveying the life of Joseph. There may be no Old Testament character that foreshadowed the ministry of Christ as clearly. He was rejected by his own, humbled to slavery and imprisonment, retained his integrity through it all, then was finally vindicated by his devotion to God and exalted to a place of great authority where he was used to save his family and nations. Really looking forward to this five-sermon “mini-series.” Remember, we gather to worship and scatter to witness. Don’t forget to be a witness this month and to invite those you meet to come gather with us for worship on Sunday morning!