The Inner Mission

He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6). The inner mission is God at work in us to complete us in Christ. We must remember we were the 1 sheep that the shepherd went after leaving the 99. The inner mission is about you and God's desitiny for your life.

Here are 3 things to keep in mind.

1. Accept it. God will not let you God.
2. Expect it. God will be at work on your behalf to complete His mission in your life.
3. Perfect it. God expects us to do our part in the inner mission by yielding our will.

Be conformed (Rom. 8:29), Be transformed (2 Cor. 3:18), Be formed (Gal. 4:19), into Christlikness.

Why Preaching Counts

What is the unique value of the discipline of listening to preaching for Western Christians today? Here are 6 characteristics that separate sound, biblical preaching from Bible reading, memorization, and meditation:

1. Good preaching rescues us from our self-deceptions and blind spots. Left to ourselves, we tend to ignore the very things in God's Word that we most need to see. Preaching covers texts and topics outside of our control.
2. Preaching brings us before God's Word in the special presence of the Holy Spirit as he indwells the gathered church.
3. Good preaching challenges us to do things we otherwise would not and gives us the will to do them. God has given speakers a remarkable power to spur others to take action.
4. As our church communities listen to good preaching, it brings us into the place of corporate — rather than just individual — obedience.
5. Good preaching causes humility by disciplining us to sit under the teaching, correction, and exhortation of another human. Relying on ourselves alone for food from the Word can lead to a spirit of arrogance and spiritual independence.
6. Good preaching gives a place for a spiritually qualified person to protect believers from dangerous error. The apostles repeatedly warned that untrained and unstable Christians — as well as mature believers — can be easily led astray by false doctrines. Christians are sheep; false teachers are wolves; preachers are guardian shepherds.

9 things I am praying will happen in 2009

1. I am praying for our church to grow numerically, spiritually and financially
2. I am praying that new leaders will arise from the ministry
3. I am praying that we will be sensitive to the Spirit of God as He directs us into new areas
4. I am praying that we will become more effective in our follow up
5. I am praying that we will take a more aggressive attitude toward reaching out to the Lost
6. I am praying we will be risk takers
7. I am praying will understand the times we are living in
8. I am praying we will not be satisfied with what is
9. I am praying for Gods will in all things

5 Reasons churches are not growing

5. Ineffective Attendance Tracking
4. Lack of Guest Follow-up
3. Lack of Hospitality
3. Ineffective Assimilation/Discipleship
1. Worship Services that aren’t Worth Shouting About

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9 questions for 2009

9 questions to ask yourself as you begin 2009

1. Am I Secure in my Salvation?
2. Do I have a positive outlook on life?
3. Am I committed to the cause of Christ?
4. Do I have a growing Spiritual Life?
5. Am I happy?
6. Is my life in order?
7. Am I Free?
8. Am I a giver?
9. Am I living courageously?

Getting Ready for 2009

Some thoughts on getting ready for the new year

Start to repent for things that need to be resolved with God and others

Start to pray for Gods direction and purpose for the new year

Start to make goals that are reasonable and reachable

Trust God during Christmas