A place for heartfelt, honest answers to your questions from a caring pastor
“If you or people around you are focused on someone or something other than Christ and his Kingdom, the purpose of the Church is out of view.” (Dunn & Stevenson)
“The need of the church is not a methodological fix. It is much more profound. The church needs a mission fix.” (Reggie McNeal)
Consider them carefully and prayerfully. Read more of this post
Far too often churches decide they cannot give because their donations are down and the bank account balances are low. While I’m not suggesting you throw caution to the wind, I believe there are several factors that can affect your church’s finances that are revealed in God’s promises to generous congregations.
This is one of my top 5 posts so I’ve revised and updated it.
Here are a few suggestions based on God’s principles for finances and generosity.
Now available on Kindle from Amazon.com
(Mark 12:41—44; 2 Corinthians 8:2)
(Malachi 3:6-10; Philippians 4:19)
Was This Post Helpful to You? Consider Subscribing!
Check out all your options for subscribing here! Don’t miss a single post!
Related posts:
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. Revelation 1:17
Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Revelation 4:8
For thousands of years these mighty angels have done nothing but look at our awesome, infinitely beautiful God and exclaim, “Holy!”
The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than those who surround his throne. Psalm 89:7
I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. Revelation 5:11-13
Thousands of angels and every living thing sing the praise of Jesus. But that’s not all.
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12
“Worship is not a style of music (or an activity for Sunday mornings). It is living a lifestyle that pleases God” – Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Church (phrase added).
Was This Post Helpful to You? Consider Subscribing!
Check out all your options for subscribing here! Don’t miss a single post!
Credit: Free photos from acobox.com
Revive Us Again
It is a manifestation of God’s holiness, sovereignty, and power. It is a special moving of God among a group of Christians where many experience God’s life changing power, and an atmosphere of conviction and repentance takes over . . . in this atmosphere sinners are saved.
Have you experienced a revival? Please tell us about it.
Was This Post Helpful to You? Consider Subscribing!
Check out all your options for subscribing here! Don’t miss a single post!
Related posts:
Here’s a short list of suggestions that will take you a long way in showing genuine care for others.
CONNECT with people by talking to them. It is easy to forget they often as uncomfortable as you are. Introducing yourself is a good way to start a conversations.
ASK others questions about themselves. Everybody likes to talk about himself or herself, if you show genuine interest. Ask about their background, job and family. Share similar information about yourself.
RELATE to their lives in a credible, meaningful way. Introduce them to people with similar interests or situation.
ENCOURAGE them. Affirm their worth, identity, and purpose. Make sure they know you’d love to get to know them more.
If this post has helped you, you may want to try one of these as well.
I keep falling to sleep in church. Will God be mad at me?Return to your rest, my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you. (Psalm 116:7)
Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
My dad told me about a time that he fell asleep when my mom was preaching. They were serving in their first pastorate in Peru, Indiana. Dad was working ten hours a night on third shift and attempting to finish his last year of college. Dad was trying to succeed in life on about two or three hours of sleep. He spoke on Sunday mornings and mom preached on Sunday evenings. One Sunday evening he fell asleep but mom got him back. She called on him to close the service.
That reminds me of one of my college math professors. He fell asleep during the pastor’s message and his wife woke him up by whispering in his ear. She said, “Pastor called on you to close in prayer.” Half asleep, my professor jumped to his feet, interrupting the sermon with his loud prayer thanking God for meeting with them and asking for his protection as they travelled home. The congregation’s laughter woke him up fully.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
I’ve fallen asleep in church many times. Like my father I tried to work full-time and go to college full-time. Who needs sleep when God gave us caffeine, right? Wrong! We need sleep to function well. I wrecked my car and broke my nose to learn that lesson.
If this post has helped you perhaps one of these articles will interest you too.
Do you have a story about falling asleep in church? Share it with us in the comments. Please share this post with others using the buttons below. Thanks.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38)
Credit: Free images from acobox.com
What about you? Why do you do the work you do? Please let me know by leaving a comment.
Critical people are unhappy and draw comfort from sharing that feeling with others. Critical people often carry deep wounds that they cannot allow to heal. Critical people have been around for thousands of years. They are inescapable.
Critical people seek out others in order to reinforce their statements. They want to inflate the importance of their opinions by saying others agree with them. It gives them a sense of power and influence.
Credit: Free images from acobox.com
You may find one or more of the following posts helpful as well.
What do you think? How have you dealt with critical people? Share your story with us in the comments. If this article has helped you please use one of the buttons below to share it with your friends and followers. Thanks.
Come on in
10. It’s a good excuse to buy new jeans.
9. It can’t be as boring as you think.
8. Most pastors are truly caring people.
7. You might see an old friend or meet a new friend.
6. Even atheists and agnostics check out worship celebrations from time to time.
5. The church roof has not been tested for a couple of years.
4. It will give you the right to tell your grandmother, “I went to church.”
3. Your nosey neighbor won’t know what you’re up to.
2. Attending worship will give you a good opportunity to connect with God in a fresh way.
1. You’ve said, “I need to go back to church” long enough. Just do it.
You may find one of the following posts helpful too.
What do you think? What are your reasons for attending worship at a church? Tell me in the comments section. By the way, please use one of the buttons below to share this post with your friends. Thank you.
