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I want to encourage you to browse our
website. You can find information about our church, what we believe,
upcoming events, ministries, and sermons online that have been recently
preached at Clarks Chapel. We are a conservative
church that takes the Bible seriously. If I had to pen a
catch-phrase for our church it would be "Bible-Driven." We
believe that the Word of God is not only inspired, infallible, and inerrant,
but it is sufficient for all matters of faith and life. The Bible is
not out-dated. We take all Scripture seriously. We believe in
preaching (not entertainment). We believe in sound doctrine and
theology. We are not ashamed of the Gospel or to refute those who teach
falsely. We actually teach the Bible; we don't just talk about it.
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I believe in preaching the whole counsel of God, not just the parts of the Bible that people want to hear. My sermons are mostly expository sermons, meaning that I preach through books of the Bible in a verse-by-verse study. As of this writing, we are studying the "Life of Christ" which will ultimately take us through all four Gospels chronologically on Sunday mornings. On Sunday nights, I am preaching through Exodus. |
My philosophy of ministry can be summed up in the Nine Points mentioned by Dr. Mark Dever in his book, "Nine Marks of a Healthy Church" -- see below… |
Philosophy of Ministry --
I believe modern church practices are redefining the spiritual understanding of
Americans. A new perception of religion has now become status quo; a
personalized, customized form of faith that makes meeting personal needs the
Golden Rule while minimizing commitments to God and others.
The church has come to reflect its
culture rather than to shape it. In the quest to “be all things to all people,”
many churches move to be “audience-driven,” “seeker-sensitive” and
“full-service.” On the surface these appear to be worthy goals, but too
often this movement is synonymous with unhealthy compromise, replacing theology
with shifting morality and sound teaching and right living with management
theory.
Christian churches are leading a gigantic
exercise in cultural accommodation and surrender. While many Americans
are members of churches who affirm their belief in God, at the same time, they
look more like the culture than the church.
Sadly the culture is affecting the
church more than the church is affecting the culture. Pastors bear a great deal
of responsibility for this. The pastors that should have acted as filters for
the church instead have acted as conduits for the culture. The result seems to
be the downward spiral of morality that is apparent even among so-called
conservative churches.
I propose a new model (really an
ignored, old model recovered for today). The church must again become distinct
from the world if she is to fulfill her mission (John 13:34-35). There
are at least nine marks I wish to promote:
1. Expositional Preaching
This is preaching which expounds what Scripture says in a particular passage,
carefully explaining its meaning and applying it to the congregation. It is a
commitment to hear God’s Word and recover the centrality of the Word in our
worship.
2. Biblical Theology
Our concern should be not only with how we are taught, but with what we are
taught. Paul charges Titus saying, “You must teach what is in accord with sound
doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Biblical theology is a commitment to know the God of the
Bible.
3. Biblical Understanding of
the Good News
The Gospel is the heart of Christianity. To present it as an additive to give
non-Christians something they naturally want (i.e. joy or peace) is only partially
true and births false conversions. The whole truth is we need spiritual life –
that is the Good News.
4. Biblical Understanding of
Conversion
The spiritual change each person needs is so radical, so near the root of us,
that only God can do it. We need God to convert us. Conversion need not be an
emotionally heated experience, but it must evidence itself by its fruit if it
is to be what the Bible regards as a true conversion.
5. Biblical Understanding of
Evangelism
How someone shares the Gospel is closely related to how he understands the
Gospel. We need to be more concerned to know and teach the Gospel itself than
to teach people methods and strategies to share it. Biblically, evangelism is
presenting the Good News freely and trusting God to convert people.
6. Biblical Understanding of
Membership
Membership must be the reflection of a living commitment to a local church in
attendance, giving, prayer and service or it is worthless, even dangerous. We
should not allow people to keep their membership in our churches for
sentimental reasons or lack of attention. To be a member is knowingly to
be traveling together as aliens and strangers in this world as we head to our
heavenly home.
7. Biblical Church Discipline
Church discipline gives meaning to being a member of the church. Yet, today,
this whole idea seems very negative to people – “After all, didn’t our Lord
forbid judging?” If we cannot say how a Christian should not live, how can we
say how he or she should live? Each local church has a responsibility to judge
the life and teaching of its leaders, and even of its members, particularly
insofar as either could compromise the church’s witness to the Gospel.
8. Promotion of Growth and
Christian Discipleship
A pervasive concern with church growth exists today – not simply with growing
numbers, but with growing members. Though many Christians measure other things,
the only certain observable sign of growth is a life of increasing holiness,
rooted in Christian self-denial. These concepts are nearly extinct in the
modern church. Recovered for today, true discipleship would build the church
and promote a clearer witness to the world.
9. Biblical Understanding of
Leadership
What eighteenth-century Baptists and Presbyterians often agreed upon was that
there should be a plurality of elders in each local church. This plurality of
elders is not only Biblical, but practical — it has the immense benefit of
rounding out the pastor’s gifts to ensure the proper shepherding of God’s
church.
Thanks for visiting our
website. Please know you are always invited to worship with us at Clarks
Chapel Baptist Church.
In Christ,
David B. Roberts, Pastor
P.S. - In case you might care to know my
credentials, here they are:
Graduate of Western
Guilford High School, Greensboro, NC - 1984.
Graduate of Appalachian State University,
Boone, NC with a B.S. in Political Science - 1988.
Graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary, New Orleans, LA with a Master of Divinity - 1991.
Graduate of the Southern
Baptist School for Biblical Studies, Jacksonville, FL with a Doctor of
Ministry - 2000.
Also serving as a Chaplain with the rank of Captain in the Civil Air Patrol - United States Air Force Auxiliary. My squadron is MER-NC-124 Hickory Composite Squadron.
Amateur Radio
Callsign – N4DBR
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people since 5/19/03 --
