October 31st to most means a time to trick or treat. I have come to appreciate October 31st for the reason that it provides a great platform from which to share the message of the Gospel. To redeem this day is huge because it is a perfect day to get a crowd with out having to spend a huge amount of money to market. An alternative to Halloween allows your church to meet new people and to get the people of the church engaged with the community.
Halloween is what it is. We cannot let the costumes of innocent children and silly adults stop us from opening our doors to provide hope during a time darkness. Here is what we have planned for our alternative to Halloween.
Live Christian Music
Live Drama presentation
Free food (hot dogs, sodas, hot coffee, popcorn, candy)
Games (bean bag toss, basketball throw, football toss, fish pond)
Big screen Christian videos
finger nail and face painting
during the FEST we will promote our church services, after school program and our new GED preparation center.
To get names we will be having giveaways and we will also take some surveys.
The icing on the cake for me is the invitation to receive Christ after our 3 drama presentations.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Collision of the light into the Darkness
Luke 7:11-17
Flying on one occasion I had the opportunity to witness what happens when you cross the international dateline. You go from the darkness of night to the brightness of full day instantaneously. In the battle of light verse darkness the light will always win.
City on our Knees by TobyMac
If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It’s all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
We must see ourselves as light colliding with the darkness
In the story of the funeral out of Nain(luke 7:11-17) The woman did not have a husband nor a son. There was no male to support her. Jesus responded with compassion. The Greek word for “compassion” implies strong emotion - “Do not weep.”
A New Miracle. Then Jesus did something that violated Jewish law. He touched the coffin. That was an act of religious defilement (Num. 19:11, 16). Jesus ignored their rules. Jesus interupeted a funeral. This week will we interupt the procession that we call Halloween?
3 things to remember about Jesus
He Had Compassion
He reached out and touched the untouchable
He interrupted the funeral
Flying on one occasion I had the opportunity to witness what happens when you cross the international dateline. You go from the darkness of night to the brightness of full day instantaneously. In the battle of light verse darkness the light will always win.
City on our Knees by TobyMac
If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It’s all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
We must see ourselves as light colliding with the darkness
In the story of the funeral out of Nain(luke 7:11-17) The woman did not have a husband nor a son. There was no male to support her. Jesus responded with compassion. The Greek word for “compassion” implies strong emotion - “Do not weep.”
A New Miracle. Then Jesus did something that violated Jewish law. He touched the coffin. That was an act of religious defilement (Num. 19:11, 16). Jesus ignored their rules. Jesus interupeted a funeral. This week will we interupt the procession that we call Halloween?
3 things to remember about Jesus
He Had Compassion
He reached out and touched the untouchable
He interrupted the funeral
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Marks of Spiritual Maturity
"Marks of Spiritual Maturity”
Colossians 2: 1-7
How do you measure up? Does this list sound like you?
1. faithfulness in difficult times (2a)
2. love in our relationships(2b)
3. growth in knowledge and understanding (2c)
4. discernment in confusing times (4)
5. disciplined in discipleship (5)
6. consistent in daily living (6)
7. overflowing with gratitude (7)
Colossians 2: 1-7
How do you measure up? Does this list sound like you?
1. faithfulness in difficult times (2a)
2. love in our relationships(2b)
3. growth in knowledge and understanding (2c)
4. discernment in confusing times (4)
5. disciplined in discipleship (5)
6. consistent in daily living (6)
7. overflowing with gratitude (7)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Harvest
The Harvest …lift up your eyes and look on to the fields that they are white for harvest.
John 4:35 .
Acts 16
1.Vision -You have to have a vision for a world that needs Jesus
2.Voyage -You have to be willing to go tell the Good News about Jesus
3.Victory- You have to see every soul that is won for Jesus as a victory
4 places to reach
Acts 16
The seeker- those that are seeking a new life vs 14
The slave- those that are addicted vs16
The secure- those whose world has been stable and now is turned upside down vs 23
The suicidal- those who are at the end of themselves vs 27
John 4:35 .
Acts 16
1.Vision -You have to have a vision for a world that needs Jesus
2.Voyage -You have to be willing to go tell the Good News about Jesus
3.Victory- You have to see every soul that is won for Jesus as a victory
4 places to reach
Acts 16
The seeker- those that are seeking a new life vs 14
The slave- those that are addicted vs16
The secure- those whose world has been stable and now is turned upside down vs 23
The suicidal- those who are at the end of themselves vs 27
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Principles of Effective Christian Leadership"
Colossians 1:24-29
Effective Christian Leaders Are Willing to Pay the Price
Effective Leaders Have a Servant Mentality
Effective Christian Leaders See the Big Picture
Effective Christian Leaders Know the Source of Their Strength
Sandhill Cranes fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. Second, they choose leaders that can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time the one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation. Pretty smart birds, don't you think?
Effective Christian Leaders Are Willing to Pay the Price
Effective Leaders Have a Servant Mentality
Effective Christian Leaders See the Big Picture
Effective Christian Leaders Know the Source of Their Strength
Sandhill Cranes fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. Second, they choose leaders that can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time the one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation. Pretty smart birds, don't you think?
Growing a Church
You have to love all the disscussion about what really matters when doing church. Is it about the numbers? Is it about how many people we baptize? How much the church takes in for tithes and offerings? How much goes to missions?
It is easy to get caught up with hype and fluff. Conferences are great but they do tend to fuel pipe dreams. List about who is doing it best are good but they are not totally accurate.
Here are my thoughts on this stuff. I have been on both sides of the debate. I Love numbers. I love hearing the stories of those that are succeeding in big ways. I have been a part of dead ministries and struggling churches. It is tough.
My list:
Be right with God
Be faithful
Reach out to the lost
Help Christians grow
Dream God ideas
Do it Gods way
Be Spirit led
It is easy to get caught up with hype and fluff. Conferences are great but they do tend to fuel pipe dreams. List about who is doing it best are good but they are not totally accurate.
Here are my thoughts on this stuff. I have been on both sides of the debate. I Love numbers. I love hearing the stories of those that are succeeding in big ways. I have been a part of dead ministries and struggling churches. It is tough.
My list:
Be right with God
Be faithful
Reach out to the lost
Help Christians grow
Dream God ideas
Do it Gods way
Be Spirit led
Friday, October 9, 2009
Weapons of Choice
As Christians we know that we have weapons that can be used to help as we battle against our enemies. Here in a list:
Prayer
Scripture
fellowship
Here is a list that is not so obvious:
Confrontation
exposing falsehoods
loving your enemies
The battle is won or lost by our understanding of what weapon to use at the right time. Staying close to God and being led by the Holy Spirit makes the battle the Lords and not yours. Remember the victory is ours.
Prayer
Scripture
fellowship
Here is a list that is not so obvious:
Confrontation
exposing falsehoods
loving your enemies
The battle is won or lost by our understanding of what weapon to use at the right time. Staying close to God and being led by the Holy Spirit makes the battle the Lords and not yours. Remember the victory is ours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)