No matter where you sit on the “vitamin” debate, I think my misunderstandings of those neanderthal shaped sweet tarts and consequentely, being skeptical of my parent’s intentions, is not far from a popular understanding of baptism. Baptism is often misunderstood today as ‘additional’ in the life of a local church body, particularly referring to the ordinances; baptism and communion. I want to take the rest of this post to specifically refer to baptism, let’s call it- Vitmain B, eh eh?

Every local church is an outcropping, a smaller unit, of the larger universal big “C” church. In many places in Scripture, the apostle Paul refers to the Church as a body
(1 Corinthians 12:12-31). We are the body of Christ: with hands, feet, arms, hands, unity amongst diversity, body. Now, I’m not insisting that Paul ever used this to convey the consequences of not eating your vegetables, but I do think we can have some insights about the health of our local church body in comparison to our physical bodies. We need the essentials of food, water, and oxygen. The body of Christ, without the essentials of the Gospel through the means of preaching, teaching, praying, fellowshipping, etc. withers into a cold and frail figure. Much like breathing oxygen versus toxic fumes, eating food versus starving, and drinking water should be encouraged or more lovingly commanded, for the health of our bodies. The same is true for what brings health, purity, and vitality of the body of Christ. So what about baptism? Is it just an optional vitamin- good when you do, but not a bad thing when you don’t take it? Like my Flintstone vitamins, water baptism may get shoved under the furniture and between the cushions of misunderstanding and thought best to be forgotten- throwing the believer out with the bath water (my attempt at a baptist joke). Or, we take it obediently and celebrate it as good kids, but we completely miss the point of what it was even given to us for and why we are celebrating it.

So what is baptism’s role in the local body of Christ?

Water baptism is a beautiful thing that God has given to the Church. It is worth celebrating when someone comes out of the water during one of our gatherings. It is worth studying and knowing. The reality, though, is that water baptism is only going to be as beautiful, celebrated, studied, and known as the Gospel is beautiful, celebrated, studied, and known in the life of a church. Yes, it absolutely provides an opportunity to convey commitment, pursue membership, and the like for a local body of believers. However, we forget it as primarily a means of celebrating and remembering the grace of God in the life of believers in your local church. I don’t want to discount the miracle of a person’s obedience in getting baptized, but I hope you’ll see where this goes. Today, it is popular to teach our people and kids that first and foremost baptism is what you are saying about God. Baptism is understood rightly as an initial and primary way of saying; I love God, I trust God, and I’m obeying God. Nothing wrong with that; I totally agree. Where I think our understanding goes a little undercooked is forgetting the “priority of grace” in baptism. We can forget awfully quickly that our abilities of even having the capacity to love God, trust God, obey God, is a sheer act of God’s grace in us.

Let’s look at how Paul addersses baptism in Romans 6:1-4. It’s worth saying first, that Paul here doesn’t seem to be trying to give us his thorough theology of baptism in this passage. Instead, Paul is answering the question and critique of God’s grace from the end of Romans 5 and the question is re-stated in 6:1. Essentially it asks, “if there is grace when you sin, why not sin more?!” (antinomianism; or without law, for the bible geeks). In answering the question, Paul goes on to explain the grace of the believer’s union with Christ. This is where, through faith we are brought into the death of Christ, freeing us from sin’s reign and into the new life of Christ, living alive to God for God in the forgiveness of sins. Paul brings up baptism in verse 3 not to say that it was in your water baptism that you were united to Christ. Rather, he is wanting to draw their minds to their baptism to think on what is true of them in Christ, as symbolised in baptism. With the Gospel events of Jesus’ death and resurrection and our union with them in mind, when we hear or ask the question, “Can’t you just sin more because there is grace?”, it shows there to be a misunderstanding of grace and is answered with “No!!- you died to sin’s unchallenged influence when you were united to Christ’s death and resurreciton and raised to new life!” Now, our understanding of grace helps us say no to sin…not enable it (Titus 2:11-12). We gather from the way Paul refers to water baptism that baptism plays a signficant role in picturing and reminding the church of the grace of God in the events of Christ’s life on our behalf and our union with them.

Baptism is about the Gospel.

The Gospel is about Jesus.

Baptism is about Jesus.

In part 2, we’ll see more of what is celebrated specifically when a brother or sister is brought through the waters of baptism and how it blesses a local church.

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Interested in learning more about baptism?  We encourage you to check out Apex’s White Paper on baptism.  You can find it here.

Want to take the step of obedience in baptism?  Our Baptism Info Packet will guide you through the steps.  Check it out here!

in Kettering…

We celebrated baptism with Tim & Chelsea, who will be married next week.
One of our elders, Chris Brown (no, not the the pop-artist), shared a great sermon on God’s Faithfulness from Genesis 17.
Our band joined us together in reading from Ephesians 2:4-10 and then led us in some great anthems of praise:

• One Thing Remains by Jesus Culture
• Your Great Name by Natalie Grant
• All I Have is Christ by Sovereign Grace Music
• Amazing Grace / My Chains are Gone – arrangements by the Apex Band and Chris Tomlin
• Rock of Ages arranged by the Apex Band

in Xenia…

Our student ministry leaders, dressed as hand puppets,  invited all the students to be part of Elevate on Sunday nights.
Rob Turner took a week off of preaching through John, and challenged the Apex family from Philippians 2:12-18 to really “work out” our faith.
Our band helped us see God’s goodness and respond in singing with these songs:

• How Marvelous arranged by the Apex Band
• Blessed Assurance arranged by the Apex Band
• Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship
• None but Jesus by Hillsong United
• Stronger by Hillsong

• See His Love by Jesus Culture
• Stronger by Hillsong
• Revelation Song by Gateway Worship
• Before the Throne by Sovereign Grace Music
• From the Inside Out by Hillsong

In Kettering, we started the gathering by Skyping with 2 of our missionaries in Honduras, the Eldridges, about what God has been up to in the few months they’ve been there so far. It’s always great to have your perspective blown beyond the borders we tend to build up.  Talking with missionaries always helps with that.  :)
After that, Rob Turner preached on John 11:28-44 and our band led us in these songs:

• Let Your Kingdom Come by Aaron Ivey
• Desert Song by Hillsong
• Oh Our Lord by All Sons & Daughters
• All the Poor & Powerless by All Sons & Daughters
• We Will Run by Gungor

For both campuses, we were so grateful for the work God is doing in these gatherings.  We don’t know why He chooses to use them, but we are extremely thankful that He does.  Please join us in praying that our gatherings at Apex will reflect God’s heart for His church and the world.

• Be Still My Soul – this is an old hymn that Page CXVI re-arranged.
• Mighty to Save - by Hillsong
• You’ll Come – by Hillsong
• How Marvelous – this is another older hymn that the Apex Band re-arranged.

Then, Jason Wing preached on John 11:17-27. The challenge was for us to see that Jesus is our true hope; to not just know about Him, but to trust IN Him.
We closed by singing  Hallelujah, What a Savior – which is a hymn that Ascend the Hill re-arranged.

In Xenia, we started off with the “lowdown” and then dove into our time of reflecting on Christ and responding to Him in singing. Our songs were:

Our songs in Kettering were:

1. It’s So Sweet to Trust in Jesus – arrangement by the Apex Band (AGES album)
2. Love is Here – arrangement by the Apex Band (LIVE album)
3. Absent from Flesh – by Sojourn Music
4. None but Jesus – by Hillsong United
5. One Thing Remains – by Jesus Culture

In Xenia, one of our elders, Rennes Bowers, spoke about “zoe life” which is the abundant, eternal, Spirit-led life that God gives His children.

Our songs in Xenia were:

1. Nothing but the Blood of Jesus – just the verse & chorus of this classic hymn
2. Hosanna – by Hillsong United
3. Your Great Name – by Natalie Grant
4. How He Loves – by John Mark McMillan
5. None but Jesus – by Hillsong United
6. From the Inside out – by Hillsong United

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love,
any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete
my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let
each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests
of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form
of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of
death, even death on a cross.

How Did My Sin Hurt the Church?

Taking Paul’s warning of the danger of selfish ambition seriously, I began to wonder how the church was affected when I became inwardly focused. It took several recent conversations that I have had with missionaries on the field and missionaries preparing to go to the field, to uncover the answer to this question. It is that of missionary care. In my defense, I feel like I was set up to fail in this area, just because of the speculation that surrounds life on mission. The term ‘mission’ even carries with it the connotation that it has a singular focus, holding only those who have been ‘called’ by God accountable for achieving its goal. I was satisfied in taking the backseat, watching God’s plan unfurl without me, thus being lulled into sinful apathy. And it was this same apathy which was the painful thread woven through my missionary conversations.

God did not save me for works of self-indulgence, but gave me as His child the function of obediently humbling myself for the betterment of the church. If the church is filled with saints who don’t act in humble obedience, it becomes blind to the volleys that Satan hurls toward those on the frontlines. Missionaries are assaulted with this hellish fury in the attempt to halt the procession of God’s glory throughout the world. Therefore, we must encourage our brothers and sisters so that they may be strengthened in their mission. Charles Spurgeon speaks of the double edged sword that is the burden most missionaries carry, reaching lost souls paired with hatred of Satan.

‘If the watchman warn them not they shall perish, but their blood will
I require at the watchman’s hands.’ To sit down and spell over the
question—’Am I free of his blood?’ is terrible. I have sometimes
thought I must have a day or two of rest, but I frankly confess that rest is
very little rest to me, for I think I hear the cries of perishing souls, the
wailings of spirits going down to hell, who chide me thus: ‘Preacher,
can you rest? Minister, can you be silent? Ambassador of Jesus can you
cast aside the robes of your office? Up! and to your work again.’… It is a
work so solemn that if you do not encourage your minister, your minister
will probably sink down in despair. Remember that the man himself
needs encouragement, because he is weak. Who is sufficient for these
things? To serve in any part of the spiritual army is dangerous, but to
be a captain is to be doubly exposed. The most of the shots are aimed
at the officers. If Satan can find a flaw in our character, then it will be,
‘Publish it, publish it, publish it!’ If he can lead us to keep back a
doctrine or go amiss in practice, or wander in experience, he is glad
enough. How delighted is the devil to break the vessels of mercy. Pray
for the poor man, whom you expose to perish, if you do not preserve
him by supplication.

If you have ever watched a fight, you know that the weak fighter does not attack his opponent where he is strong, but focuses on his weakness in an effort to cripple him. As missionaries become weakened by the strains of ministry and their endless pursuit of the unsaved, the enemy studies them for the areas in which they are letting their guard down. He lingers patiently until he can strike them. And without brothers on guard, the missionary is blindsided and falls.

Ministry and mission can be heavy. However, the yoke of the gospel mission becomes light when many shoulders of the saints bear it. This usually is not the case, for the church falls prey to the costly lie that missions are a holier breed, of whom sin does not touch. “Well, they looked happy in the picture from their last update, life must be good!” becomes the false thought that we entertain in our heads. Church! Be careful not to make this assumption! A picture cannot capture the suffering and the trials of a missionary that is hidden behind a smile. Let us not wait for the cry of the one who has fallen, but let us be as sentries, looking out for those undergoing the labor of missions and calling the church to their aid. Let us not sit idly silent and then act shocked when they become burned out or are tempted into sin.

God has awakened me to my role in this cycle with questions of conviction. Might it be that the missionary is doing so much work to advance the gospel, that they do not have the time to voice their sufferings? More painfully indicting is the thought that maybe we as a church have trained them not to complain. For we can say to them, “We want only good news.” “We will have to rethink your funding if we don’t see success.” “Christ didn’t complain, neither should you!” These words smell of arrogance, and might I say that frightfully, they generally come out of the mouth of one about to slip down to the pit themselves. So church, be seldom and be wise in your comments of critique, yet be bountiful in words of encouragement. For while it takes many words of encouragement to shore up a soul, it takes but one wayward criticism for it to collapse. Do not make Spurgeon’s words true, “They are more knowing than wise”.

How Do We Encourage Those Who Go?

So brothers, after repentance, we have work to do. But where do we get started? The firstmost powerful and practical step would be to pray for missionaries. Intercede for them as Christ interceded for us to the father. Paul in Colossians declares that Christ is the first over all creation. All things submit to him, for it is through him that all things are sustained. That means there is no power that he cannot overcome. Also, let the missionary know when you pray for them as for what you prayed. Second, speak words of scripture and encouragement to them. Spurgeon writes,

Oh ye that have searched the scriptures through and know its
promises- ye that have been among these beds of spices, and whose
garments smell of frankincense, be sure to quote the promises of
God to trembling hearts, and especially to those engaged in arduous
labor for the Master. Comfort them. Repeat the doctrine of God’s
faithfulness; say to them, ‘He will be with thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ Oh that the
wise-hearted in the Lord’s family would be thus employed at all times.

Lastly, there are many creative ways that you can encourage your missionaries:

While missionaries certainly do appreciate the practical gifts that you send, how about sending something that you know that they would
rarely, if ever, treat themselves to.

For missionaries that are married, ask them how their marriage is going. Ask them how they are maintaining God’s view of mission in their
relationships (spouse, children, friends).

Ask married couples what kind of date they would like to go on somewhere near them. They are usually so frugal with their funds, that they
would feel guilty spending lavish money on a date.

Arrange a day that they cannot turn into a mission, but is strictly for the sake of pleasure.

Plan a trip to go and encourage, trips don’t always have to be focused only on some type physical labor, but plan a trip with the focus to
encourage the missionaries heart.

If money is an obstacle for you, here is a website with 13 creative ways to help a missionary that won’t break the bank.

It is a grace that God has awakened me to this blindspot in my life. And as He has shed light on this area in my life, so I want to shed light on this area in your lives as well. But do not be discouraged, for God does not awaken us to areas of oversight or sin that we should dwell there, but He awakens us with a purpose. In the same way you rise out of bed in the morning, not consuming yourself with thoughts of the bed, but about the day ahead, rise from this area of darkness into the light of God’s words with a task to do. If you already are faithful in encouraging, I urge you continue! If this is an area of weakness, start with simple ways to encourage a missionary and see how our God will bless!

This blog post was written by Jesse Bowers, Team Lead for Missions.

Family Ministry at Apex does not sell Bibles and does not have an exclusive contract with a particular company that sells Bibles. With that said, we would like to recommend the following sequence of Bibles for those who choose to use the ESV Bible, a version Apex commonly uses.

Recommended up to Age 5:            “The Jesus Storybook Bible”
Recommended for Ages 5 to 9:        “The Seek and Find Bible”

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12:      “The Grow Bible”
Recommended for Teens – HS:       “The ESV Student Study Bible”

Two places you can find these Bibles and many other helpful resources are:

Westminster Bookstore       http://www.wtsbooks.com/index-exec/
Christianbook                         http://www.christianbook.com/

9 To whom will he teach knowledge,
and to whom will he explain the message?
Those who are weaned from the milk,
those taken from the breast?
10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.”

Isaiah 28: 9-10

This blog post was written by Kevin Bowman, Team Lead for Family Ministry.

While this conference is called a “marriage conference”, we are encouraging everyone from teenagers to adults to attend. God created the marriage relationship, and understanding it biblically is essential in understanding God’s commitment to His church. Teenagers, singles, dating couples, engaged couples, marrieds, divorced and widowed are all welcome to register for this conference.

Mark your calendars and register early for this conference in the Apex Missions Cafe. There are only 1,250 registrations available, and we expect a large crowd. Registration is available for Apex until February 3rd. Starting February 4th, Apexers and people who do not attend Apex can register. We have already heard from other churches who are interested in registering for the conference. We are excited to see how God will use this conference in the life of Apex and we hope that you will join us!

For more information:
Stop by the table in the Apex Missions Cafe, contact the Apex office at 937.432.9022 or contact me directly.

Phil Depp
937.432.9022 x204
phil.depp@apexcommunity.org

This blog post was written by Phil Depp, Team Lead for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship.

In Kettering, we started out with our new announcement video called “the Lowdown” and then heard from one of our missions team leaders, Rita, about upcoming mission opportunities within Apex and how we can be praying with a more missional mindset.
After that, our band took us into a time of slowing down, thinking about the goodness of God, and responding to Him in song. Our songs were:

• Only You – by David Crowder Band
• Majesty – by Delirious
• Before the Throne – by Sovereign Grace Music
• Revelation Song – by Kari Jobe & Gateway
  *During this song, we read Psalm 145 together

Then Jason Wing delivered the message on John 10:31-42, reminding us that Jesus truly is the Son of God.

After the sermon, we sang:

• From the Inside Out – by Hillsong United

In Xenia, our gathering flow was very similar. We started out with “the Lowdown” as well and then heard from one of our other missions team leaders, Jesse Bowers, about how we can pray for the persecuted church. Then, we dove into singing. Our songs were:

• Solid Rock – arrangement by the Apex Band
• To Know Your Name – by Hillsong
  *Between these 2 songs, we read John 10:11-15 together.
• A Mighty Fortress – by Christy Nockels
• There is a Redeemer – arrangement by Zac Dixon

Rob Turner preached on John 10:11-21 – seeing Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. After the sermon, we responded by singing:

• Hallelujah, What a Savior – by Ascend the Hill

In both Kettering and Xenia, we were once again reminded of God’s faithfulness to His children. We’re so thankful that we get to gather and reflect on that together!

Let us look at 2 Corinthians 7:10-11…

10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

While it is easier to praise God than be introspective, we at Apex must not be hesitant to fall to our knees in repentance. For repentance acknowledges regret to God for our shortcomings. As the Holy Spirit reveals error within the church, we must run to our savior for grace and not to ourselves for self-righteous vindication. For within the pain is also found the remedy. As our consciences have been surgically opened and our sin revealed, the extraction of it brings pain, but removal of death brings about new strength.

2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us that repentance bears fruit. As we give up our sins, we are then granted an earnestness to fill the home of evicted sin with gospel truth. We desire to do this quickly, earnestly, making up for the time that sin had devoured. This is not to bring about our own salvation, but is the proper response of one who finally had something to compare their sin to. Death tastes bitter when the sweetness of life in the gospel has touched our lips.

So we run…

We run now to the source of this life. We run to him whose side was pierced for our transgressions. We run to his commands, his authoritative cries of war against death and decay. We run to justice. We run to a hurting world that is still in the throes of the deception of sin.
And as our feet grow swifter, our steps prove with each new impression that we truly have cast off our sin and have become followers who are empowered to do what we once could not.

So, for 2012, sons and daughters of God… repent… then make ready to run!

This blog post was written by Jesse Bowers, Team Lead for Going.