|
Puzzler
|
In the days of Samson riddles or puzzlers were popular. Here's one for you. A cowboy rode into a town on his horse on Friday. Three days later he rode out of the town on Friday at 12:00 noon. How did he do it? (Answer bottom of this column)
|
| Gossip | |
The story is told that after a convicting sermon on the subject of gossip, a person in the congregation long known for causing trouble came up to Evangelist Dwight Moody saying that she wished to lay her tongue on the altar. Moody supposedly replied, "Lady, we don't have an altar long enough!"
|
Worship Service
|
Are you always doing worship services "the same old way"? Thoughtful change is good for traditional, blended and contemporary services.
Have a lay person open the service with prayer. Invite all who can kneel for this. Receive the offering at different places in the service. Sing the Lord's Prayer. For traditional services have at least one contemporary song. For contemporary services have at least one traditional hymn. "Dead spots" in the service often encourage the mind to drift. Be upbeat! Be alive!
|
God's Idea
| |
"The Christian servant must never forget that salvation is God's idea, not man's; therefore, it has an unfathomable depth. Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience. Experience is simply the door through which salvation comes into the conscious level of our life so that we are aware of what has taken place on a much deeper level " - Oswald Chambers
|
Real Bragging
|
Two men were discussing their religious backgrounds, each one bragging and interested in out-doing the other. Finally, one said, "I'll bet you ten dollars that you can't even recite the Lord's Prayer." Said the other, "It's a bet," and began, "Now I lay me down to sleep..." The first man interrupted, "Here's your ten. I didn't think you could do it!"
|
For Pastor's Eyes Only
|
Top Ten Leadership Commandments by Hans Finzel. Based on the life and legacy of Moses. Effective tool for developing leadership skills all based on God's Word. New. $14.99. 248 pages. Free (including shipping) to the first pastor who emails us. |
For Church Secretary's
Eyes Only
|
NIV Seniors' Devotional Bible and includes devotions on grandparenting, retirement, leaving a legacy, God's faithfulness, and many more subjects. New. Hard cover. 1,650 pages. Retails for $32.80. Free (including shipping) to the first secretary (or office administrator) who emails us. |
|
Good Church Website
|
You need to look at this informative and attractive website for Saint Michael Lutheran Church (LCMS), Fort Myers, FL, Rev. Jon Zehnder, senior pastor. Excellent layout. Covers all the activities and programs of the Church. Click St. Michael for some good ideas. |
|
A Prospect?
|
"For years I found myself facing a dilemma every time I came across a prospect from another denomination. The fact that he said he was Baptist stopped me in my tracks with a 'God bless you; go to church!' But this was really not what I came to find out. I wanted to know, 'Are you a Christian?'
I have yet to find a better way of securing the information I need to give impetus to my witness. Dr. James Kennedy gives us the right question to ask: 'Suppose you were to die today and you stand before God to get into His heaven and that He would ask you: Why should I let you in, what would you say?' This sets up an ideal situation enabling us to proceed with a Gospel message." (Born to Multiply, p. 42, Dr. Paul J. Foust (LCMS).
|
|
Something Everyone Loves
|
Have a men's chorus sing once every quarter - something most all churches can do. The men love it - worshipers really love it. It's easy to do. Invite all men to meet two hours before the first service for one rehearsal. Plan to sing a minimum of two hymns. Consider "Rise Up, O Men of God" for the first hymn. Make a note to put someone in charge of this and let them run with it. Did you make a note yet? Excellent!
|
|
For the Bulletin
|
Some of us may be hesitant to attend our adult Bible class led by Pastor (last name) lest we be called upon to answer a question. This is a needless fear. If you wish, you may simply sit and listen. The practical lesson for this morning is ". . . ." Please come. We'd love to have you with us.
|
|
Important
|
Never idolize others. They will never live up to your expectations. And, don't give people the idea that they should do so!
|
|
Answer
|
His horse's name was Friday!
|
|
Greetings! Welcome! Please come in. "Come, Now Is The Time To Worship" is a good way to start your next worship service. Great words and beautiful music. Go full screen. Take two minutes to watch, listen or sing along. Hope you'll do it!  | | Come, Now is the Time to Worship |
|
|
|
What Should You Do?
|
By Pastor Don Ginkel 
In Revelation 12:3-4 the red dragon
represents Satan. It then appears that a third of the angels in heaven followed Satan and also were thrown out of heaven. The last sentence suggests that Satan even attempted to devour Jesus at His birth. What do things like this tell us? Satan is very evil. He is still at war with the LORD and those who are His, but his end is certain - everlasting death and destruction.
2 Peter 2:4, "God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment."
They were damned instantly. That's God's judgment on them. Since then Satan has launched an all out attack on people, tricking them, persuading them, bargaining with them, so that people like you and I will spend eternity in total damnation. The life you are now leading will finally end in the hands of No. 1, Jesus Christ, or No. 2, Satan. There are no other choices. In the words of the vernacular, "This is for all the marbles!"
- Both Christ and the devil are powerful
- Both Christ and the devil can dominate your life
- Both Christ and the devil have put themselves on the line to win you
- Both Christ and the devil have a plan for your life
- Both Christ and the devil promise you a kingdom if you follow them
God has separated Himself from Satan. You should too. Claim Christ as your personal Savior and tell the devil to leave you alone and go to - well, you know where! "THANKS BE TO GOD! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
|
|
| What Churches Can Do to Ensure Visitors Return |  By Brian K. Dodd, Leadership, April 10, 2014
The most impactful conversation took place between a father and his young daughter after Sunday School. He ask the following questions:- "Did you have fun today?"
- "What did you learn about Jesus?"
Most parents generally ask the same two questions of their children when they get in their car after church. Churches do a great job of putting significant effort into their Sunday worship services. I would like to challenge all churches to put an equal amount of effort into your children's classes and programming. The reason is because children can deliver "the win" of a 75% return rate.
Do not neglect the demographic of your church who can most affect the hearts of adult visitors - their children. 1. Did you have fun? 2. What did you learn? If you do everything you can to ensure visiting children give resounding responses to both questions, you will likely see their parents return the following week.
|
|
I Didn't Grow Up Until I Became a Mom
|
 By Amy Julia Becker, Christianity Today, May 7, 2014
When I was in my twenties, older people often referred to me as wise beyond my years. I took silent pride at the thought they must be right. I was responsible, hard-working, accomplished . . . I looked grown up - married, employed, homeowner, and all by age 23 - but I also wanted to avoid the encumbrances (aka children) that would tether me, commit me, hold me in place.
Then I had a baby. (Click baby to read about her amazing story.)
|
|
Stack of Stuff
|
Here is a one minute video clip of some of the most beautiful flowers in the world with accompanying music. If you can, take a minute and look at one of the greatest gifts God has given you to enjoy. Be sure to go full screen. Click flowers.
From Explore the Bible:
68 Milliseconds
The average time it takes for the human brain to react. The time it takes for what is inside you to come out.
A clenched fist or a prayer of surrender. A complacent ear or an obedient heart.
What is in you will come out so . . . Let the Word dwell in you.
 From Pastor Don: "Rejoice with me! On May 20 I became the Grandpa of Finley L. Ginkel, daughter of Mark and Stephani Ginkel, here in Denver. Here she is, only 6 days old. I will be privileged to baptize her shortly. God is good!"
A colossal quote: "Every once in a while I stop and take time to look back. I ask myself, Okay, Hans, if it were all over today, what do you have to show for yourself? If I had no more time left to heap up more accomplishments, would I be satisfied with the works I could lay at the feet of Jesus? My answer is quite sobering" (The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make, p. 52, by Hans Finzel).
Receive a free copy of the 2014 Church Press Catalog. Just email us.
Is it time to change the format of your worship bulletins? Perhaps the content is fine, but often the layout can be improved. One way to get ideas is to ask your people to bring back the bulletin when they are worshiping out of town.
"Hey, guys. Eat your heart out! This coming weekend I'll be on vacation for a few days at Gull Lake in northern Minnesota. And I'll be eating fresh caught walleye!" - Pastor Don
The seven last words of a church: "We never did it that way before!"
Include us! If you email your church newsletter to people, please include us: info@churchpress.com. Thanks!
When a baby is born is the time to send the parents "A Gift from God to See, to Hold, and to Love" card. Some times new parents feel that no one knows they have a baby. Let them know that your church knows and cares about this gift from God. Can be sent by pastor or a ladies guild. We'll send you a free card and will include a free Baptism Certificate and Sponsor Card (a matching set), and - the shipping is free. Just email us and ask for the free cards.
Boy Praises His Way Out of Kidnapping: A 9-year-old Atlanta boy had a unique response to being kidnapped from his own driveway last month; he sang praises to God. [ read more]
|
|
8 Questions to Ask When Preparing Your Sermons
|
 by Rick Warren, Rick Warren's Ministry ToolboxI believe that the best model to follow in the history of preaching is Jesus. It isn't John the Baptist, Paul, or any contemporary speaker alive today. Jesus was THE Master Communicator. The Bible says in Matthew 7:28 that "the crowds were amazed at Jesus' sermons." Why? Because both the content and the delivery came straight from the Father. Jesus said in John 12:49, "The Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it."
When I'm preparing a message, I ask eight questions to help me prepare. The first two are about what to say and the final six are about how to say it. [ read more]
|
|
Prioritizing One-On-One Evangelism Pays
| |
"To grow the membership of a church, you need to spend a great deal of time making new connections - meeting people, knocking on doors, doing whatever is necessary to come into contact with people who don't go to church or who are not Christians. Even if your worship service isn't the best, if you lead people to Christ, they'll worship with you no matter what." - Bill Easum in Rev!
|
|
Christ Lutheran Offers Drive-Through Prayers
|
 By Dan Adams, Globe Correspondent. Christ Lutheran Church (LCMS), Scituate, MA, Rev, Daniel C. Eddy, Pastor. Brian Howley, shown here in the picture, was one of the drivers who took part in this Drive In Prayer event.
As the cars rolled into the parking lot of Christ Lutheran Church in Scituate, 73-year-old parishoner Diane Waterfield shuffled a handful of prayer cards and reviewed her game plan. The prayers she would offer to passing mortorists as a part of the church's new "drive-through" ministry needed to be efficient, yet personal.
The church's novel prayer service is part of a plan by Pastor Dan Eddy to increase his flock by making personal connections with passing residents - and also to help people to fit prayer into their busy schedules. Waterfield was one of about 15 parishioners who volunteered to pray with passing drivers and their passengers.
[Note: You really need to read this entire article to be convinced that something like this could enable your church to reach out to more people who need God's help in their lives. Just click drive-through prayer and make a hard copy.] |
|
3 Signs You May Be Burnt Out
|
 By Rev. Jesse Rincones, Focus on the Family, May 12, 2014
The phone would ring, and I would react like one of Pavlov's dogs. He discovered that he could ring a bell, present some food, and the dogs he was experimenting with would salivate. After repeating the process, the dogs would soon begin to salivate upon just hearing the ringing of the bell.
The same thing was happening to me each time the phone rang, but instead of salivating, I would grow tense, frustrated, and even angry. Someone was calling, and they were probably going to need some of my time. I had none to give. [ read more]
|
|
A Time to Laugh . . . or Cry Part 1 (1 copy free)
| |
By Pastor Don Ginkel
Discover God's love in the midst of tears in this Old Testament Bible study - - In the Beginning With Adam and Eve
- In the Garden When Everything Went Wrong
- At the Flood With Noah
- When God Made a Promise to Abraham
- When Abraham Faced the Supreme Test
- When Jacob Received the Biggest Blessing
- With Joseph the Slave, the Prisoner, and Prime Minister
- When God Called Moses to Lead Israel
- When Israel Was Saved by the Blood of the Lamb
- When God gave the Law on Sinai
Good application of these studies in the lives of God's people today. We'll send you Part 1 free including shipping. Just email us with your name and address.
|
Toll free phone: 888-772-8878
Churches & pastors may charge their orders
Ask for a free catalog
|
|
|
