GABRIEL SPENCE

GABRIEL SPENCE

Gabriel Spence  //  I have the privilege of serving as one of the Pastors at Southlake Baptist Church in Southlake,TX.

It is my life's goal to be a catalyst in the resurgence of authentic, gospel centered, relevant, missional Christian living and church planting in my generation and beyond. I desire to encourage people to live for Jesus so that they can effectively reach their cities with the Gospel by staying culturally accessible and Biblically faithful.

I am a self diagnosed ministry addict that enjoys mountain biking, Starbucks, sushi, music, Macs, blue jeans and traveling to places I've never been. I am a bit of a Foodie and live in Trophy Club, TX.

Feb 7 / 6:30pm

The Big Red Tractor

Every single day on Twitter I come across a multitude of helpful, convicting and inspiring ideas. There is not enough time to post them every one of them on my blog. Occasionally there is an idea, a presentation or a video that hits me right between the eyes... this video did just that.

It uses an analogy to drive home a very convicting point. It asks if the way the majority of the American church does church reflects the way church was intended to be. This video is very well produced and poses a dangerous question... Enjoy!

 

 

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Feb 2 / 8:03am

The Missional Church

I loved this little video as it describes in simple and concise terms what exactly a missional church is. It reminded me of the Common Craft videos used to explain concepts like Twitter, Cloud Computing and Stock Markets, etc.

Enjoy!

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Jan 22 / 4:49pm

Timely Discussion

I have enjoyed being part of the discussion over at Pastor Tom Messer's blog on the future of the Baptist Movement. Having grown up and been trained in that movement I know this is a discussion that is both vital and timely. This week Pastor Messer released a third post (if you haven't read 1 and 2 you should) called A New Generation. I am part of that new generation and felt I wanted to send a message to those that have gone before. I am utterly in awe of God's goodness in allowing me to be born and raised in the context I was. I am also in awe of where God has me serving now. Below is what I wrote on the blog and I believe to be the position shared by many of those in my generation as well. 

I will be one of the first to say a huge thank you to the generations of Baptists before me. I was raised in a church and Pastor's home that gave me good doctrine, taught a strong work ethic and a passion for serving Jesus. For this I am eternally grateful. I was raised and trained in ministries with strong theological positions and certain methodological preferences. 

I have not been in ministry long but I can say I have observed a marked divergence between this generation and the last in certain areas of ministry. You might ask… "does this generation of ministers not live for Jesus, adhere to strong doctrine, or treasure and share the gospel?" Thankfully that is not what the generational divergence is. I speak for many in my generation when I say that we deeply love Jesus and are committed to seeing the gospel preached and Christ formed in people. 

Today I believe the great generational divide revolves around style and methodology. We all would agree heartily on the same doctrinal and Biblical distinctives but come to different stylistic and methodological conclusions. This is not a bad thing, though some would claim it is. We are ministering in a very distinct context and will face challenges that are very different from those that the last generation faced. I am not different from them just to be different. I am different because the context of my ministry is different. 

My message to the generation before me is this: We need you, we need your support and your encouragement. Please lend us your knowledge and wisdom of years in areas of strong doctrine, theology, and gospel centeredness. Guide us to walk with God,  build strong families and see Christ formed in people.  Please encourage us to reach people with effective methodologies and contextualized approaches though our style may be different than yours. Let us try, fail, succeed and be what God wants us to be for the glory of God and the sake of the gospel. 

Blessings 

Gabriel Spence

 

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Jan 18 / 9:33pm

SOLA SCRIPTURA

Our Preaching Pastor, Clayton Reed, started off our SOLA series with a fantastic sermon about Scripture and it's importance in the life of Christians. Thought I would use our new podcasting platform to link up the audio here for my blog readers.

http://tinyurl.com/ycc8zn4

Blessings,

GS

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Jan 7 / 6:02pm

SOLA

You don't want to miss this series! Starting January 17, 2010

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Jan 1 / 12:30am

2010

I am not big on New Years resolutions, just like I hate church yearly themes. A year is a long time and you cannot forsee all the struggles, challenges, victorories and subsequent mid course adjustments that will need to be made. So I tend to resolve to work toward measurable goals throughout the year for shorter periods of time. That way when new challenges arise I can face them head on and I can create a new graphic (we theme around preaching series if you were wondering) All that being said I do want to accomplish a few things. 
1. Give myself a complete theological refresher course. I want to gain a better and deeper grasp of the doctrines that are found in God's Word. This will help my walk with God, my Bible study and my preaching. 
2. See another campus of Southlake Baptist start in the DFW area 
3. Pay down minimal debts and be able to give more. I want to have the opportunity to obey the New Testament command to be (more) generous in my giving. 
4. I have some goals to begin replacing some furnishings and making improvements around my apartment. 
5. See my brother graduate, move to Texas, get married and serve here in the church. So excited for them. 
6. Read more books. This is a huge goal - I have a short attention span. :-) 
These are just a few things that God has been bringing to my mind and heart as I have prepared for this year. I plan to challenge myself throughout the year with measurable goals... and I hope God continues to break, challenge and mold me this year. Rejoicing in Christ who makes all things new.Gabriel Spence 

WELCOME TO 2010!!

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Dec 29 / 10:52pm

Proper Perspective on Suffering

It seems quite a few people around me have been experiencing suffering lately. 

Everyone deals with it differently. Some process quietly, some talk about it with friends and loved ones, some allow bitterness and questions to fill their mind and others manage to rejoice in it for what it is, a loving heavenly Father molding us into His more usable and pliable servants. Having undergone a two year battle with cancer and loss of my right leg at the age of seven I know that God has a purpose in every situation He brings us into. 

Last Sunday night I had the privilege to travel to The Village Church and hear Dr. John Piper preach. The Lead Pastor of The Village Church, Matt Chandler has recently undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Through it all he has exhibited a Christ exalting attitude and calm shepherding of his people. In this he is an example to all of us who face trials. Get caught up on Matt's situation here and pray for him: http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/

The message Sunday night from John Piper was about a proper perspective on trials from Romans 8. It spoke to me deeply and I left inspired and moved at the truths he shared from God's Word. It even allowed me to look back on my trial with a renewed perspective and a thankfulness that God had allowed me to experience and continue to experience His grace for every day.  Here is a link to the audio the sermon. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/4446/Audio/ 

If you are someone that has experienced suffering or are in the midst of it I hope you will listen to it and be encouraged that you have a God that cares. 

Blessings
GS 
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Dec 17 / 9:30pm

I Switched

Okay. A few days ago I told you my 7 year old Ford died and went to Ford heaven - it was such a clunker the government didn't even want it. For a few days I was without a vehicle of my own. I rented a 3 cylinder Hyundai Econo-mobile from Enterprise to get around. I swear I saw the same car advertised as a luxury vehicle in India. Over there basic transportation is a 150cc motorcycle. But I digress... Lord willing I will never again have to take my life in my hands trying to pass a semi in a small tin can.

My friend Lindsay told me about a great company called D&M Auto Leasing. If you hate car dealers as much as I do, you will love the guys at D&M. They basically find a car for you, fight with the bank for you and set you up with a sweet loan or lease. Then they have some guys drop your car off - you sign some papers and off you go. If you need the contact deets for my boy Jeff over there - email me or DM me.

Well to wrap this long story up. I had my whole family praying that Jesus would guide me to the right deal. I was praying too and today D&M called and said a car just arrived and it is the right price range and style you are looking for. They guys from D&M pulled up with a 2008 Honda Civic Sedan. It even had a trunk lid spoiler. I test drove it with my friend Zack and we were both sold. I drove over and signed some papers. It's mine. I am now a Honda owner.

As I was wrapping some things up with the guy from D&M he said "that was a pretty good deal, I wasn't expecting that" I shrugged and said "ya but I was, I had my whole family praying for it." I don't think he knew what to make of it and God's supply always has managed to surprise me too. Even though I have faith he'll come through, He always exceeds my expectations.

Moral of the story is this: God supplies our needs, He knew I couldn't rent a 3 cylinder Hyundai for the rest of my life. He supplied my need. God also was good enough to give me something that I could get some enjoyment out of... and the purpose of that enjoyment is to make my heart focus on Him and His goodness. God does not give us good things merely for our purposeless amusement. He gives good gifts to His children to turn our attention to how good He is. When our car dies... He is good. When He gives us a new one... He is good and He deserves the glory.

~Merry Christmas~

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Dec 14 / 5:33pm

Saying Farewell to the Ford

This weekend has been a bit crazy. I got my car fixed this past week... paying many hundreds of dollars, the proverbial arm and leg if you will. I thought it was fixed but then it happened... I had just returned from staff retreat and was ready to head out and finish my Christmas shopping when my 7 year old Ford Focus decided it had enough and blew a rod. Of course being the highly mediocre mechanic I am, I thought it was the battery. When AutoZone told me that the battery was fine, I instantly began hoping for a faulty starter or something relatively tame. Well after one highway robbery local tow and highway robbery diagnostic I had the verdict... thousands of dollars or an arm and a leg. Since both seemed to be things I could not afford to give... especially the leg, I decided to put er down. (If you know me well that is a hilarious joke)

I called up a nice company and they said they would cart it off to Ford heaven. Not sure where that is but I am sure it exists for Fords that can't quite make it past 107,000 miles. Now I am hoping Santa has a nice Honda for me to get around in. Pray for me as I search for another ride. 

All kidding aside, there is a lot of sentimental value attached to that car. I bought it in college thanks to the generosity of my Grandpa and parents. My friend Paul Conner helped me pick it out. I worked my first real job with it, drove it in Las Vegas, Canada, California, Texas and a bunch of places in between. I've had dates in it (believe it or not), laughed in it, cried in it, got a ticket in it, rocked out in it, prayed in it and had an accident in it. It even got broken into once. Even though in the last few years it has had things break and malfunction faster than I could fix them it was still a blessing. Fives years of driving... 

You may think this is stupid but I wrote this to tell everyone that I am thankful for the good things that God provides for me. Mundane things that we take for granted, complain about and wish were different are many times not a blessing to us until we lose them. 

The moral of the story is: Thank God for the little things and happy driving. 

GS
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Dec 4 / 9:13am

where does your legitimacy in ministry come from?

This video expresses a tremendous thought. Too many times we judge a divine work with earthly measurements. Maybe it's time to have faithfulness to the gospel and Christ be the measurement of success and not the size of a crowd.

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