Ministry127

Search or Surrender?

Dr. John Goetsch — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:02:29 +0000

Most of you can remember what life was like in America before what has simply come to be called 9/11. And while we have become accustomed to living under a constant threat of terrorism, our lives are different since that infamous day. Nowhere is this more evident than at an airport. Long lines at security check points have become common place. After spending hours packing our suitcase, we now spend another hour unpacking it for intolerant people in TSA uniforms. “Take your lap top out of your bag… remove your shoes and jacket… take everything out of your pockets… have your boarding pass in your hand… etc.” You do meet a lot of new and exciting people as you put yourself back together on the other side of the conveyer belt!

Recently in Los Angeles, as I was approaching my opportunity to place all of my dangerous possessions into a plastic container, a lady in front of me called one of the security people over to where she was standing. As the TSA official approached this lady in her twenties, she reached into her purse and pulled out a metal contraption that had every kind of gadget you could imagine. It was something only a woman would think to have with her! It had a knife, a finger nail file, scissors, a screwdriver, and a cork screw. I was thinking, “If our soldiers had had these things in Vietnam, history might have been different!”

The lady handed the “gadget” to the agent willingly and said, “Here, I know this won’t be allowed on the plane, please dispose of it for me.” The man looked at her rather quizzically realizing that this item was probably quite valuable. He kindly asked if she would like to “check” it with her luggage. She said, “No, I shouldn’t have brought it—I knew better—just take it, it’s okay.”

That incident spoke to me in a powerful way. That lady could have stuck that metal object down in the confines of her purse and hoped that the screener wouldn’t catch it. She could have argued that it was valuable and should be excused, but instead she willingly surrendered what she knew was a violation of the law.

So often in our lives we try to hide or excuse our sin. We think, “I don’t intend to harm anyone with it, everyone else probably does the same thing, and besides—no one will find out anyway.” We know that we are in violation of God’s law, yet we hope that He will go easy on us, or not even notice. While those TSA officials may occasionally miss something—God never does!

“Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 7:3–4

It’s a good idea to allow the Lord to search our hearts and lives as David expressed in Psalm 139:23–24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” But isn’t it true that we usually know what God is going to find in His search? We may hope that He doesn’t notice it and we may think that we have it well hidden, but the truth is, like the lady in line, we know it isn’t going to pass the inspection!

Long before we stand before the Judge for the final inspection, it’s probably a good idea to “surrender” anything that doesn’t belong in our lives—to purify ourselves before the “search.” In Psalm 51:2–4, David didn’t need God to conduct a search. He knew he was in violation. “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.”

They did not haul that lady at the airport off to jail or issue her a fine. In fact, the TSA official thanked her for surrendering the item. God isn’t hoping you’ll violate His commandments so that He can punish you in some way. He is simply hoping that you will be honest about your sin and make it right.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” Micah 7:18

Just like that lady in line—we can surrender—or we can wait for the search!

The School of Affliction

Dr. Jeff Redlin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:10:01 +0000

Sermon outline: This is an abbreviated outline with the complete sermon downloadable at the bottom of the post.

Text: Genesis 39:20–23

Title: The School of Affliction

Introduction: We remember that Joseph is a picture for us of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph was about to enter a period of time of great importance. And, this time of learning and “schooling” would last for years. It was the “school of affliction.” Joseph, as an early and accurate picture of Christ, begins to paint an even clearer picture for us today.

Here are five lessons Joseph learned in the school of affliction:

I. He Learned That God’s Delays Are Not God’s Denials

II. He Learned That God Doesn’t Depart When You’re in the Dungeon

III. He Learned That As He Was Granted Mercy, He Too Could Be the Giver of the Same

IV. He Learned That Glory Belongs To God

V. He Learned To Leave His Confidence in God

Conclusion:

2 Corinthians 4:17–18
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The School of Affliction.doc

Church of Today

Kurt Skelly — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:00:13 +0000

I am uncomfortable with the expression that teenagers are the “church of tomorrow.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure well meaning people imply by those words that teenagers will one day be the adults that populate our churches and serve as leaders in our ministries. That certainly being true, my disagreement lies in the dangerous thought that teenagers must somehow wait to be the “church of tomorrow” when they can be the “church of today”!

It seems to me that teenagers are always waiting for something—waiting to get a driver’s license, waiting to graduate, waiting to get that first job, waiting to get married someday. Indeed, waiting is no fun. And waiting is certainly a big part of life.

In so many ways, the Christian life is one of waiting; after all, are we not waiting for the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ? How exciting it is then to realize that there are some things for which we do not have to wait! And serving the Lord in our local church is one of them.

When I was a teenager I wasn’t at all active in the ministry of my local church. To be honest, I don’t know how active I would have been anyway, but I was never really afforded the opportunity to begin serving God as a teenager, nor was I overly encouraged to do so. In fact, other than youth activities, I felt no real connection to my church whatsoever.

When I became a pastor, among certain other priorities, I decided that I would strive to maintain a relationship with the teenagers of our church; and that I would make a way for them to be involved now. You see, I believe that teenagers possess a tremendous capacity to serve God in the here and now. In fact, I believe that the habits developed in one’s teenage years will typically represent the habits for the rest of one’s life.

Teens are some of the best Christians I know! (They can also be weird, goofy, air-headed, etc.) Our teens here at Harvest are for the most part actively involved in activities like soulwinning, bus calling, and choirs. Their commitment inspires me, and I love spending time with them. Four times a year I turn the entire Sunday evening over to the teens. They lead the singing, do the preaching, play the offertory, conduct the ushering, man the sound booth, provide the greeting, perform the special music, and make the announcements. It’s great!

Our teens aren’t perfect (and neither are their parents and grandparents!), but they have a heart for the Lord that we must help to engender for the service of God. If you are a teenager, don’t wait another moment to begin serving God in your local church. Get busy right now—even if you happen to be the only one. Maybe God will use you to spark involvement in others. If you are a ministry leader, don’t overlook the incredible potential of using teens in ministry today, although I probably wouldn’t let them do the baptizing!

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

Strengthening Others

Gordon Conner — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:02:00 +0000

I have been reading 1 Samuel lately and meditating on the story of David. His life was certainly one filled with “ups and downs.” And, frankly, many of them were brought on by his own sin and mistakes. Being a man after God’s own heart did not make him perfect. In chapter 23, David is on the run from Saul (which he would do for a total of 10 years). He rescued cities from the Philistines only to have those cities determine to turn him over to Saul. So he ends up in the wilderness regions—this time, in a wood in Ziph.

It must have been a discouraging time—wondering why the Lord was allowing such trial and injustice. David had not forgotten the moment he had knelt in the middle of his brothers, with his father looking on, while Samuel—the man of God—poured the oil of anointing on his head declaring David to be God’s choice for the next king. So why was God permitting the current king to hunt him down? Why were all these people against him?

Saul had his troops out each day looking for David in his wilderness hideouts, but God was preventing Saul from finding David. Jonathan visited David in chapter 23 and “strengthened his hand in God.” Wow, how good is that! Jonathan knew his friend had to be struggling with all kinds of thoughts and questions so he determined to do what he could to help his friend.

Jonathan arose—a simple word, but it means he didn’t just sit there and pray for David, or think, “Boy, I know David must be having a rough time out there.” He put action to his concerns and was willing to leave his father—at personal risk, I might add—and go to his friend.

Once he got to David, he didn’t waste any time. Jonathan went to work helping David see the bigger picture, and reminded him of the promises of God. Thus, he strengthened David, not in personal resolve, but in his relationship with the Lord. That, is being a true friend.

So, I got to thinking. Is there someone I know who is going through a tough time? Who is wrestling with questions, and wondering what God is doing? Have I cared enough to go to them, but more than that, have I taken time to point them to the Lord? Those are the actions of true friendship.

Certainly there were times when David had to encourage himself in the Lord, but what a blessed day it was when his friend, Jonathan came to his side and “strengthened his hand in God.” May the Lord help us to be that kind of friend.

Brainstorm in Perfect Form

Joshua Irmler — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:28:21 +0000

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2

Definition of template ministry: The process of executing annual programs & events the same way year after year without interjecting fresh life into them.

While template ministry provides significant organizational structure, it can also have side effects that lead to sterile, lifeless, and monotonous ministry programs over time.

One way to balance out some of the negative aspects of template ministry is to run effective brainstorm sessions. Done right, these times can breathe fresh life into programs and events that may have begun to feel “flat” after years of repetition.

3 Key Aspects of Effective Brainstorming Sessions

1. Environment—Fresh environments spark fresh ideas.

Fresh places can enhance a creative environment.

Fresh faces can enhance a creative environment.

2. Enjoyment—Creative ideas flow more naturally when people are enjoying themselves.

Idea: The right food enhances the right mood.

3. Enablement—Give people the resources and authority to make the best ideas a reality.

10 Ideas for Effective Brainstorming Sessions

1. The team leader prayerfully chooses several upcoming events and/or programs to brainstorm during their next session.

2. Each member of a team involved in the brainstorm session should allocate 30 minutes before the actual brainstorm meeting to jot their ideas on a piece of paper

3. The team then gathers at their favorite “brainstorm” place. (i.e. Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Panara Bread etc.)

4. Allow each team member to choose anything they want off the menu—free of charge.

5. Each team member should share the thoughts they have written down.

6. After going through each team member’s ideas, the real brainstorming can then ensue.

7. The team keeps going until they have come up with enough ideas to enhance at least 25% of each event and/or program they have chosen.

8. Each team must have someone whose responsibility it is to write down every idea that is mentioned.

Note: During the brainstorm session is not the time to critique any ideas, just write them down and move on. Keep the spirit positive; this is the optimum environment for creativity.

9. Once all the ideas are on paper they are sifted through, and then with the guidance of the team leader each idea that “makes the cut” is placed on an “action items to-do” list with a team member’s name placed next to it along with a date of when that task must be completed.

10. After the brainstorm session everyone on the team is emailed the action items list from the meeting for accountability purposes. This list is then brought to the normal weekly team meetings for the purpose of keeping track of the progress of each task.

Applications to Enhance Brainstorming Sessions

Mind Jet Mind Manager—www.mindjet.com
Mind Jet allows you multiple ways to retrieve and organize information that is collected during brainstorm sessions with the use of mind mapping and flow charts.

Evernote—www.evernote.com
Capture ideas in any form (pictures, audio, or print files) quickly from any device you are near including your phone or computer. It can even file notes from scrap pieces of paper using the camera on your mobile phone. These notes are then organized for use as future “thought fodder” at brainstorm sessions.

Conclusion: In addition to keeping your ministry programs fresh, the greatest benefit of effective brainstorming is the personal ownership that is developed in team members who participate. When people have a part in personally engineering the practical application of vision, it creates an ownership and passion that is difficult to reproduce any other way.

45 Questions to Fine Tune Your Spiritual Life

Dr. Tim Cruse — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:13:10 +0000

“Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?” Zechariah 7:3b

For years the Israelites had observed fasts for special days in their history that God had not commanded them to observe. Though commendable, they were to be willing to adjust their disciplines to make sure they were doing what God had commanded with the right heart attitude.

Sometimes our spiritual disciplines can become habits without heart. In light of the new year, we need to ask ourselves: Is my walk with the Lord in need of some fine tuning and freshness? Am I in a rut spiritually? Am I just going through the motions? Am I settling for a form of godliness? In strengthening the fundamentals of my Christian life, do I need to adjust certain particulars?

Below are some questions that may help you identify areas you need to adjust in your life:

My Bible Reading

Should I read the Bible all the way through in one year’s time by reading three chapters per day?
Should I read a chapter in Proverbs per day?
What about a Proverb, five Psalms and a chapter in Acts each day for a month?
What about two Old Testament chapters and one New Testament chapter per day?
What about mastering one book of the Bible by reading it through each day for one month? Then, a new book the next month throughout the year.
What about reading the New Testament through—one, two, or three chapters per day?
What about one chapter per day in a book with close to thirty chapters?

My Prayer Life

Should I spend more time giving thanks?
Do I need to update my prayer list?
Do I have a definite time planned for prayer?
Do I need to get involved in a prayer meeting?
Have I taken the time to write down some past known answers to my prayers?
What about studying the subject of prayer? Listening to some sermons on prayer? Asking others about how God has answered their prayers?
What about attending a prayer retreat? Or taking a day or two to get alone with God to pray and think through some things?
What about a prayer and fasting time when I skip a meal(s) to pray?
What about seeking out a prayer partner to pray with and to help hold me accountable?
Should I write some people and let them know that I am praying for them by name?
Am I willing to memorize some verses on prayer?
What can I do to start or strengthen my family altar? New time? Involvement of other family members? Read the great stories of the Bible? Change the tone or spirit?

My Church Attendance

Do I see the wisdom of faithful church attendance for myself and my family? Am I obeying God in this matter?
Do I put forth my best effort to attend as much as I possibly can? Do I let unimportant things stand in my way or make excuses?
Should I attend more services? Attend more regularly the ones I presently attend?
Are my children developing the rewarding lifelong habit of faithful church attendance? What am I giving them to take from my home to give to their children? Should I attend special meetings in my church more often?
Should I change my attitude toward church and do a better job of planning ahead to attend?
Do I need a notebook to write sermon notes in? What about my children? Are they paying attention? Are they needlessly going in and out of the services? Do I need to rearrange our seating order?
Should I participate more in the services? Singing from my heart? Giving out of my heart? Listening with my heart?
Should I invite others to attend more often?
Is there someone at church I need to reconcile with? A past grievance I need to give to God and move on with? Someone I need to forgive and trust to the Lord?

My Witnessing

How long has it been since I told someone how he or she can know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour?
Could I be more soul-conscious? Carry gospel tracts with me? Participate in church visitation efforts? Keep a prayer list of unsaved people I am working with?
Should I start a Bible Study at work? In my neighborhood?
What about writing a gospel tract?
Should I start putting tracts in my correspondence and on tables with my tips? What other venue comes to mind?
Am I willing to talk to a visitor about the Lord? Work the altar during invitation time? Take a class on soulwinning?
Should I seek a renewed burden from the Lord for my unsaved loved ones?
Do I know that my immediate family members have professed faith in the Lord? Followed Him in baptism?
Should I keep a better record of my family’s spiritual life? (dates of professions of faith, baptisms, church membership, baby dedications, surrender of life, etc.)

My Giving

Do I understand that all things come from and belong to God in my life?
Should I become a tither by conviction?
Should I give regular offerings above God’s tithe?
Should I give to Faith Promise Missions?
Should I put forth more direct effort to teach my children Biblical stewardship principles?
Is God in His kindness to me forcing my hand to deal with a financial situation that must be addressed with faith and boldness?
Should I take a class on money management? Am I living on a budget? Do I need to talk to a counselor?
Should I offer to teach others how to honor the Lord and have victory in this area?

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what areas you need to fine tune and then purpose to do so.

Tempted and Tried

Dr. Jeff Redlin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:55:22 +0000

Sermon outline: This is an abbreviated outline with the complete sermon downloadable at the bottom of the post.

Text: Genesis 39:1–2

Title: Tempted and Tried

Introduction: As Joseph traveled deeper into the heart of Egypt with his Ishmaelite band, he began to see the wonders of this far away land. He saw the great pyramids and the Sphinx which, at the time, were already more than a thousand years old. His great-grandfather, Abraham, had seen them and now he was seeing them himself. He saw the powerful mansions of the wealthy situated next to the mud huts of the poor.

He was “checked in” at customs as a slave. His receipt was shown to the custom’s official. Soon, he was placed on the block and the bidding began. A man with a discerning eye at the sale that day. Maybe he needed a slave, or was simply “window-shopping” to see if anything was of interest to him. He was the captain of the king’s guard, and he knew men. When this 18 year old slave was placed on the blocks, he saw an air of presence about him. Certainly, if one could move past the look of betrayal that was obvious, this was no ordinary slave. He bid, and he won.

Potiphar soon recognized Joseph’s gifts. He had never known an honest slave, he knew few honest men, and he knew no honest officials, but this fellow Joseph—what a find he was!

Some of the most encouraging words that we will read in the life of Joseph are “and the LORD was with Joseph.”

No matter where we find Joseph, we also find the Lord.

I. Joseph’s Management

II. Joseph’s Morality

A. Adultery begins in the heart

B. Adultery comes from a lack of understanding

C. Adultery demonstrates a distorted view of love and commitment

D. What was the key to Joseph’s victory

1. He knew how he would answer.

2. He knew of his audience.

3. He knew of his authority.

III. Joseph’s Mistreatment

Conclusion: Remember, the circumstances of life may be the result of someone else’s sinful choices, but God wants to use them for your good!

Genesis 39:21a
But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy

Tempted and Tried.doc

Voluntary Pain

Dr. Paul Chappell — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:51:12 +0000

One of the side effects of growth is discomfort.

I’m challenging our church this year to be “Rooted in Christ” to experience growth in Him. But I’m also challenging myself. I want 2012 to be a year of growth in every area of my life.

Unfortunately, growth often involves the discomfort of change and the sacrifice of comfort.

It’s always more comfortable to maintain than to build or expand. This is true in any area.

It’s more comfortable to relax in your walk with God than to ask Him to search your heart and uncover your pride.

It’s more comfortable to keep the Rolos in your drawer than to change your diet and take care of your health.

It’s more comfortable to please yourself than to love and study your spouse.

It’s more comfortable to pop in a movie than to nurture your kids in quality family time.

It’s more comfortable to talk to the same people at church every week than to reach out to the visitor or the new family.

It’s more comfortable to encourage the growing students in your class than to prod those who are struggling or to bring in new faces.

It’s more comfortable to continue the same level of financial giving than to stretch your faith.

It’s more comfortable to maintain your current soulwinning prospect list than to knock more doors and add more to your list.

It’s more comfortable to pass by the cashier (or the barber, or the banker, or the pedestrian) than to give him a tract.

We like our comfort zones. They are…well, comfortable!

But if we want to grow, we must be willing to voluntarily leave our comfort zones.

In what area do you need to dispense comfort for growth?

Can You Fight and Be Spiritual at the Same Time?

Dr. R. B. Ouellette — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:09:56 +0000

Have you ever read letters written back and forth between great Christian leaders who disagree? In those letters you’ll find well-articulated arguments, interesting theological positions and fascinating insights. You will also almost invariably find something else—you will find the flesh. It is my contention that we can fight: take a stand, articulate a position; and be right with God. But after our position is attacked, it is difficult if not impossible for us to respond to the attack and stay right with God.

The Concept

We begin by stating a position. We see a problem and a principle that relates to that problem. We state our position on that problem and principle.

This is good. Although our position in a sermon or in writing may have been in response to what we believe were some serious errors, we took the position to honor God, uphold His Word, and advance His cause.

We shift to scoring points. After we have taken our position, some people disagree. They begin to express their disagreement and the following scenario unfolds:

1. There is an attack.
2. We answer.
3. We are involved in an argument.

When we stated our position, we were simply telling what the Bible said. Now, we are arguing with what someone said about what we said the Bible said. Though many of the things we say are scripturally correct, we are one step removed from the Bible because we are answering an attack rather than declaring a Bible position. Of course, our answer is answered in turn and we must answer the second attack. Now we are two steps removed from the Word of God and each further response tends to carry us farther and farther away.

It is almost unavoidable that people involved in this kind of a battle will look for ways to “score points” instead of to state their position.

The Conflict

Once we get involved in answering each response, the following things tend to happen:

1. Our flesh and ego get involved. We feel personally attacked and maligned. Our blood pressure rises. Our heart rate increases. Our voice may quaver a bit. We want to show someone else the letter and say, “Look what he said.” Instead of standing for Christ, we are now standing against our opponent.

2. We get off the main issue. A brother once wrote me to criticize a sermon I had preached on the issue of salvation. In one of his points he said, “The verses you sight (sic)…” You know what I wanted to do? I wanted to explain to him that there are three ways to spell cite. Sight is to see something. Site is a piece of property on which you may wish to put a building. Cite is to quote or refer to. Of course, this had nothing to do with the matter of salvation. Had I written him as my flesh wanted to, I would merely have been scoring points, telling him that at least in that area, my spelling was better than his. It might make my letter “zing” a little more, but it wouldn’t do anything for the cause of Christ.

3. We involve others. A good friend of mine wrote an article recently and passed it to a few preachers for their comment. One preacher who got a hold of it was very critical and took it to a theological seminary where he made copies and passed it out to several professors. The pastor smiled as he said to me, “There are more copies of my article at that seminary than I ever passed out myself!”

Not only do we want to score points; we want to get people on our side. The more people we get to agree with us that our adversary is wrong and we are right, the better we feel. This, too, has nothing to do with the cause of Christ.

4. We give ammunition to our adversaries. Every letter we write will contain one or more statements which can be misconstrued, misunderstood, or misapplied. Each response becomes a stockpile of ammunition for those who oppose us to shoot back at us.

5. We become like our attackers. A young man in our church became aware that a certain preacher had attacked me. He very properly sent me a kind card which he had had signed by some of his fellow students indicating love and support. Then he said, “Shouldn’t I write this guy a letter? Somebody ought to answer him. We can’t let him get away with this stuff.”

My advice to him was simple, “Shut your mouth, pass your classes, get your diploma, and go serve God. If you write an answer to that man, you have become just like him.”

Some Comments

Be very cautious about running battles. It is usually best not to answer criticism. Sometimes it is necessary to state our position and sometimes it is necessary to establish a record. But most often it is better not to answer the critics.

I have a standard letter that I write to those who criticize me. It says, “My dear brother, May God bless you for caring enough about me and my ministry to take the time to write. I promise you that I will consider the things you said. God bless you, Sincerely.” This is the nicest way I know of letting people know that I have received their letter and the things they were complaining about were none of their business.

Deal with principle and not with personality. When Dr. Hutson was alive, there were some who persisted in writing critical letters and articles about him. I noticed that they could never stick to the issue. They would criticize his lack of formal education. They would accuse him of being insecure. They would suggest that he wished to control all of Fundamentalism. None of these had any bearing on the issue. (I wrote a poem for Dr. Hutson which I read at his last Sword of the Lord board meeting. Part of it said, “While others stooped to calling names and questioned motive too, you only dealt with issues and each word you wrote was true.”)

Remember that building is our primary job and battling is our secondary job. Of course, we must do both. Nehemiah, however, would never have constructed the wall if all he did was battle. His main job was to build, and then when the adversary came to attack, he had the trumpet blown, the swords unsheathed and the battle joined. Our job is like that of a gardener. We are trying to grow plants. Of course, we wish to kill all the weeds that interfere with the life of the plants. We have not done our job simply because we have killed weeds. We have done our job when we have grown flowers.

Why Did Jesus Weep over Jerusalem?

Dr. Rick Flanders — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:31:30 +0000

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it…”
Luke19:41

The scene is a sad one. Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, comes near the city of Jerusalem, and weeps over it. Jerusalem, the holy city, was built on Abraham’s Mount Moriah and David’s Mount Zion. Its foundations rested upon the Salem of Melchizedek and the Jebus of the Jebusites. It was made the capital of God’s nation during the reign of King David, and served as such until it was destroyed by the Babylonians. Jerusalem was rebuilt by a remnant of the Jews under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. It had heard the voice and seen the face of the Son of God. One day, the prophets tell us, it will be the capital city of the world and the center of God’s Kingdom on earth! But as the awful day it crucified our Saviour approached, Jesus wept over the city.

Jesus cried for Jerusalem at least three times. Luke 13 tells us about a day when He wept over the city before arriving there. As “He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem,” He cried, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:34–35).

Luke 19 tells us about Jesus weeping over the city as He entered into it. He wept over it, saying:“If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:42–44).

Matthew 23 records a sermon Jesus preached in Jerusalem just a few days before He was crucified, and at the conclusion (vv. 37–39) we read words almost identical to those of His lament in Luke 13.

He was weeping over the tragedy of a lost opportunity. The Israelites that assembled in Jerusalem for the Passover missed the opportunity to be saved from both earthly and eternal destruction. They were visited by their Saviour, but they did not know it. Instead of receiving Him, they killed Him.

Some people must wonder why the Son of God would be seen weeping that day. A slant on the doctrine of election that is gaining more acceptance in our day says that the salvation and damnation of individuals is based ultimately upon an arbitrary choice made by the Lord. Some are chosen for reprobation and damnation, while others are elected for repentance and salvation. Some declare, the perfect will of God is always accomplished and that people receive and reject Christ because God foreordained that they would. But if that were so, why was Jesus weeping?

He was weeping because He is not willing that any should perish. That’s what the Scriptures clearly say.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:3–6

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Yes, the saved are the elect of God, but election is based upon God’s foreknowledge. What and whom God knows determines whom He chooses! The Bible says that we are “. . . elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ . . .” (1 Peter 1:2).

Election is defined in Romans 8 as God’s sovereignty acting in accordance with His omniscience and omnipotence. Study verses 29 through 34:

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

The Lord predestined those He foreknew to be like His Son someday. This process is called election. It is a mystery to us because we cannot understand what it is to be the all-knowing, all-powerful Ruler of the Universe. But we do know that the election of His own does not negate the part human choice plays in determining a soul’s destiny.

If Jesus was about to do exactly what He wanted to do, why would He weep? If He had chosen to destroy Jerusalem, why would He weep over it? What tragedy would there be in a sinner’s rejection of God’s mercy if he could do nothing else?

The choices of man do play a role in his redemption or destruction. Of Jerusalem, Jesus said, “…how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34)

Jesus “would,” but they “would not.” The tragedy over which Jesus is weeping is the tragedy of lost opportunity. The people of the holy city missed the opportunity to be saved because of foolish and wicked decisions they made! Their Saviour came to their city, but they would not have Him!

A willing heart makes the difference between “peace” (Luke 19:42) and destruction (Luke 19:43–44). It was true for Jerusalem, and it is true for the individual soul. If you will decide to turn from sin and self-righteousness in order to trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation, the Bible says that you will be saved! Of the first-century Israelites, Paul said that,“…they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth… For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:3–4, 10–13).

A decision of the heart will secure one’s own salvation, and also a decision in the Christian heart will lead to the salvation of others! If Christians surrender to do their Father’s will, a harvest of lost souls can be won to Christ who would not otherwise have been saved. Hear what Jesus said to His disciples after personally leading a sinner to salvation.

“My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:34–35).

The willingness of Christians to evangelize and of sinners to repent does make the difference in the matter of who will spend eternity with God and who will suffer forever without Him. The unwillingness of men creates the tragedy of lost opportunity over which Jesus is weeping in the book of Luke.

Thoughts on Separation

Dr. Paul Chappell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:30:04 +0000

As Baptists, we know that we stand for separation. But why? And to what extent?

There is the obvious separation from paganism commanded in 2 Corinthians 6:17: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

But what instruction does Scripture provide concerning other Christian ministries that are not like us? Are we to separate from them?

Here are some thoughts regarding separation and stewarding the influence God has given us:

The Most Dangerous Book in the World

Dr. R. B. Ouellette — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:55:37 +0000

Sermon outline: This is an abbreviated outline with the complete sermon downloadable at the bottom of the post.

Text: Psalm 138:2

Title: The Most Dangerous Book in the World

Introduction: There is a book that has divided families, devastated philosophies, and destroyed the following of some of the world’s best-known religions. It proclaims itself to be superior to science, more honest than historians, and the only firm foundation on which to build our lives. People have been derided for believing it, attacked for possessing it, jailed for disseminating it, and martyred for refusing to deny it. Liberals loathe it, courts outlaw it, politicians run from it, the media scorns and fears it simultaneously.

If any other book had been subjected to one-tenth the attack this book has endured, it would have been vanquished and banished. But to the disgust of its foes and the delights of its friends, this book stands undaunted, undamaged and unchanged. It is the source of our strength, the light of our lives and the hope of our Heaven. It is the preserved, pre-eminent, powerful Word of God.

It is dangerous to its opponents and delightful to its proponents. It is the only book God ever wrote.

I. A Description of the Bible

A. It is inerrant (Psalm 12:6)

B. It is infallible (Psalm 119:89)

C. It is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16)

D. It is immortal (Matthew 24:35)

II. The Danger of the Bible

A. It is dangerous to our attitudes

B. It is dangerous to our activities

C. It is dangerous to our acquaintances

D. It is dangerous to our authority

Conclusion: Years ago, Robert Ingersoll used to travel the country lecturing on “The Mistakes of Moses.” He earned $500 a night for his blasphemous lectures. Today, Bob Ingersoll is dead and gone; his name is mentioned only by a few preachers who use him as an illustration. The words that God used Moses to write are still speaking to the hearts of men. Nobody today could make 50 cents a night lecturing on the mistakes of Bob Ingersoll.

The Most Dangerous Book in the World.doc

This Is Good?

Dr. Jeff Redlin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:12:39 +0000

Sermon outline: This is an abbreviated outline with the complete sermon downloadable at the bottom of the post.

Text: Genesis 37:12–36

Title: “This Is Good?” or “God Has a Plan”

Introduction: Have you ever asked the question, “Who is in charge here?” When looking at the life of Joseph, one might ask the same question.

During WWII, a soldier angrily demanded, “Why doesn’t God stop this war!” A Christian soldier standing nearby answered, “Why should He? He didn’t start it.” People blame God for things in life that they don’t like. They accuse Him of the trouble that they find themselves in. Yet God has given to man both the privilege, and the corresponding consequence of choice. Man’s actions do not thwart or in any way diminish the sovereignty of God.

The pictures we will see in Joseph’s life are incredibly powerful. If any verse of Scripture speaking of Christ could also be applied to Joseph, our picture of Christ, it is John 1:11. It says: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

I. He Came Unto His Own (as part of God’s plan)

A. No reserve

B. No return

II. His Own Received Him Not (and God remains in control)

III. God’s Plan Moves Forward

Conclusion: Are you still asking the question, “Who is in charge here?” God is in control!

Has the providence of God escaped your observation? Are you frustrated and confused with circumstances that God has intended for your good?

Just as easily as we can see the life of Christ unfold before us in the life of Joseph, so we trust that the life of Christ is unfolding in us.

God was as much in control of Joseph’s life as he cried out in the pit as He later would be when he would rule from the throne in Egypt. God was in control when Jesus Himself was “despised and rejected of men.” Trust me, He’s still in control of your life.

This Is Good.doc

Sunday School Teacher Visitation

Dr. Paul Chappell — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:39:56 +0000

The Sunday school is the church organized to fulfill the purpose of the church. Here at Lancaster Baptist Church, we state our purpose in three phrases: loving God, growing together, serving others.

About a week ago, I recorded a video for the Sunday school teachers of our church, encouraging them to serve those in their classes by faithful visitation.

Hebrews 10:24–25 instructs, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Sunday school visitation is a tremendous way to provoke—or stimulate—class members to love, good works, and faithful church attendance.

Consider the value of just one visit. A Sunday school visit can accomplish one or more of the following:

Enroll a recent visitor into the class
Encourage a student
Encourage a student’s parents or family
Help you better understand your student (When it comes to really understanding a student’s special needs or prayer requests, there is no substitute for making home visits.)
Allow you to deliver a gift to your student
Seek any unsaved family members and witness to them

Of course, class teachers are not the only ones who can make Sunday school visits. Care group leaders or other class leaders as well as other members in general may wish to visit one another to encourage faithful growth.

I don’t know of any Sunday school teacher with a heart for his or her class who doesn’t want to make visits. But the key in making it happen is four simple steps of planning:

Determine a time. What gets scheduled gets done.
Determine a partner. This may be your class assistant, or it may be another member of the class (allowing for a time of mentoring).
Plan your calls. Prayerfully read through your roster, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on which visits to make each week. Then, plan out those visits in order of their proximity to one another.
Set goals. I ask our teachers to visit every class visitor within one week, absentees who have missed three weeks, as well as visiting each enrolled student at least once a year.

Visitation requires discipline and love, but it truly makes the difference in building and encouraging your class.

Remember, you can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact them with a personal touch.

3 Lessons from a Profane Man

Fred Fies — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:50:58 +0000

Esau “despised” his birthright! The word means to disdain or hold in contempt. He held in contempt what his fathers held dear. He saw his birthright as just a worthless piece of parchment that could be used for bartering. He was willing to trade it away for mere morsels to feed his own desires. Esau did not see it as the precious promises of Almighty God, but rather an obstacle to his own happiness.

“And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:32–34

Esau is used in Hebrews chapter twelve as an example of profanity—using the things of God to accomplish the will of man.

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:16–17

It was only later that he realized what he had lost. Then, it was too late; he had unwittingly removed himself from the lineage of great men used for the purpose of God. All this for a bowl of red soup!

As a young preacher, I find many of my generation holding in contempt things very precious and valuable to our fathers of the faith—things that some gave their lives for. I am speaking of the “faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3) for which these great men contended. Many young men believe that the great teachings (doctrines) of the faith are now obstacles to modern ministry philosophy. If they stand in the way of a ministry objective, they can be traded away.

If we, young leaders of the faith, do not carefully evaluate the birthright of the faith passed to us, it will be very easy to trade it away (even unwittingly). Esau could have spent some time with Isaac learning the importance of the covenants of their faith, but rather he was more concerned with the moment. We do what is expedient in the moment and trade away things of great value!

Esau thought of the birthright as a useless tradition of the past. He despised the thought of walking in the path of his fathers. So, he traded it away for something as worthless as a bowl of soup. May God spare us from making such a profane decision as well!

Here are three thoughts for our generation:

1. We Should Seek to Understand the Value of the Principles That Have Been Passed down to Us

Traditions are to be evaluated biblically and received if they pass muster. Paul instructed the Thessalonian church to “hold fast” to the traditions they had been taught by him.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6

2. We Should Place Ourselves under the Mentorship of Godly, Older Preachers

These men are like fathers in the faith. Just because we know more about technology than they do, doesn’t mean they haven’t thought through the ministry trends of our time and could offer timely caution for our good.

“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:20-21

3. We Should Be Very Wary of Trading away the Things That We Have Been Taught Unless it Is for a Clear Scriptural Reason

Lest we find ourselves like Esau, only later realizing the value of his birthright, we must not embrace new “tools” if they cause us to loosen moorings of Scriptural and historic value to the church. (I say historic, because it shows a precedent of godly men thinking it through and agreeing on the validity of the practice.)

Birthright for a bowl? Poor decision. The past for pottage, the Scripture for soup? In my opinion, same decision. May God spare us from making such a profane choice as did Esau!

100 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Memorize

Dr. Bud Calvert — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:13:28 +0000

Back in my college days, I was encouraged and challenged by Evangelist Ron Hood to memorize Scripture. He showed me how he did it and I adopted his plan and method to memorize a verse a day (well, almost every day!). I memorized about 1,000 Bible verses that I have had in my heart and used all the years of my ministry.

We all know the value and importance of knowing God’s Word, so I’ll save the sermon until another time. I am often reminded of Job’s words in Job 23:12, where he said, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

Back in the mid 70’s a new convert, that I had just baptized the Sunday before, came in to see me. He asked, “Now that I am a Christian, how do I grow?” I then asked, “Do you want the normal way, or the fast way?”

He said he wanted the fast way so I showed him how to memorize Scripture and handed him the list of Bible verses below. He then started to memorize Scripture and the first 100 days he was saved he memorized this list of verses.

His name: Lou Baldwin. He then went on to start a church and has sent out over 25 other men to start churches. Memorizing Scripture definitely helps in the meditation process that Joshua spoke of in Joshua 1:8 where he gives the secret of success. Give it a try!

100 Verses Arranged by Topic

Victorious Life
1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:2, John 14:13, 1 John 3:22, Mark 16:15

Romans Road
Romans 3:10, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9–10, Romans 10:13

Assurance
John 3:36, Hebrews 13:5, John 10:28, 1 John 5:11–13

Baptism
Romans 6:3–5

Believe in Christ
John 1:12, Acts 16:31, John 3:16

Bible
Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 119:11

Bible Inspiration
Matthew 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Christ Died for Us
Isaiah 53:6, Titus 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Dedication
Romans 6:11–13, Romans 12:1–2, Luke 9:23

Friendship
Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24, Psalm 119:63

Forgiveness of Sins
Psalm 103:12, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 1:7, Proverbs 28:13

Guidance
Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 3:5–6

Hell
Revelation 20:15, 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9

Home
Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 5:22–25, 1 Corinthians 7:3

Law
Romans 3:20, James 2:10, Galatians 3:24

Local Church
Acts 2:41, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 11:26

One Way of Salvation
Isaiah 43:11, Acts 4:12, John 14:6

Others
2 Corinthians 12:15, Philippians 2:1–4

Peace
Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6–7

Principles
1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23, Colossians 3:17

Problem Solving
Matthew 5:23–24, Matthew 18:15, Acts 24:16

Procrastination
Proverbs 27:1, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Proverbs 29:1

Salvation without Works
Ephesians 2:8–9, Titus 3:5, 2 Timothy 1:9

Second Coming
1 Thessalonians 4:16–18, Titus 2:11–13

Victory over Satan
1 Corinthians 10:13, James 4:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Witnessing
Matthew 4:19, Matthew 28:19–20

7 Ways to Warm Your Heart

Dr. R. B. Ouellette — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:55:34 +0000

Is there a preacher anywhere who has not struggled to keep his heart warm and right with God? Don’t all of us have to deal with discouragement, irritation, disappointment, and just plain cold-heartedness from time to time? Here are some suggestions that have helped me warm my own heart.

1. Return to the Prayer Closet

Almost every time the temperature of my heart decreases, my time in the prayer closet has decreased. You cannot pray sincerely, fervently, seriously, and intently very long without your heart becoming warm.

2. Read the Bible

Nearly every time that my heart grows cold, I find that my Bible reading has become perfunctory. If I slow down and ask the Holy Spirit to illumine His Word to my heart and pay attention to what He says, my heart always becomes warmer.

3. Remember What You Were

Many preachers were once insurance salesmen, factory workers, or truck drivers. Some lived lives of deep sin. How can we be discouraged about our responsibilities and obligations as men of God when we look at what we were before God called us?

4. Recall How Badly You Wanted the Privilege of Being in the Ministry

Can you remember when you were without a church? Do you recall those days in college when you thought you’d never be able to graduate and start serving God? Can you bring to mind the intense longing that you had to be doing God’s work full-time? A man who left our church twelve years ago and has recently returned, said, “I realized that what I was looking for was what I had left.” Remembering those early days will help you realize that what you now have is what you once intensely wanted.

5. Review the Blessings of God

When some people in the church are unhappy with the way things are going and become critical, praying through the list of all the church members reminds me of how many good families God has given us. When some areas of need financially are not being met in abundance, reviewing how God has met similar needs in the past reminds me of His promise to care for us in the present.

6. Review Bible Promises and Principles

Stopping to think that, “All things work together for good to them that love God,” that “no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper,” that “you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good,” and that “in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not,” help warm my heart.

7. Rejoice

Philippians 4:6–7 tells us that rather than worrying, we should pray with thanksgiving. Instead of complaining about what is not the way it should be or simply asking God for what I need, I am to bring my requests to Him with a spirit of gratitude for all that He is and all that He has done. It is then that, “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Planned Preparations

Dr. Jeff Redlin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:14:58 +0000

Sermon outline: This is an abbreviated outline with the complete sermon downloadable at the bottom of the post.

Text: Genesis 37:1–11

Title: Planned Preparations

Introduction: Much of Joseph’s early life consisted of God preparing him for what was to come. There was certainly a storm brewing on Joseph’s horizon, and the preparations to handle that storm were essential.

I. Growing Discernment

I took a piece of plastic clay,
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pursued it still,
It moved and yielded at my will.

It came of age when days were past,
And the piece of clay was hard at last,
The form I gave it, it still bore,
But I could change it no more.

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded it with power and art,
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when years were gone,
It was a man I looked upon.
He still that early impress wore,
And I could change him never more.—Anonymous

Joseph was certainly like that piece of clay. Before he could wind up in the house of Pharaoh, he must first find himself spinning on the Potter’s wheel.

II. Gracious Dress

III. Glorious Dreams

Conclusion: Joseph was learning to discern—he would need this when pressured to conform to Egypt and to conceal potential wrong-doing.

He was willing to be different—he didn’t see his position as a favored son as a curse but as a blessing.

He was ready to dream—this would sustain him through some very difficult and challenging times.

All of these things were planned preparations from the hand of a knowing God. If you look at the struggles and challenges in your life as anything less than His “planned preparations” you will find yourself continually bitter, frustrated with your circumstances, and failing to dream.

Has God given you a “dream”? Then keep dreaming, keep praying, keep living with an eager anticipation of eventual fulfillment. Your day, like Joseph’s, will come.

Planned Preparations.doc

Where Should a New Church Be Planted?

Jim Townsley — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:06:17 +0000

Finding the right location to start a church is extremely important. Assuming that God has led you to start a church, and assuming that your pastor has given you his blessing, you must determine where God wants you to start this new church.

What factors are involved in locating the “right” place and what constitutes a needy city? Every city in the world is in spiritual need, but some cities have a greater need than others. How should we define a needy city? Paul’s goal was to preach the Gospel where Christ had not been named.

“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:” Romans 15:20

Here Are Some Locations Where You May Feel Led to Plant a Church:

1. A small unevangelized village that is beyond the main stream of society
2. A highly populated city with few churches
3. A people group that has been ignored
4. The inner city
5. A rural area with no fundamental church in its proximity
6. A city or region monopolized with false religion
7. A liberal region of our country
8. A dense population with few churches
9. A growing population
10. A migration of new residents

The Following Are Not Necessarily Good Locations/Reasons for a Church Plant and Should Be Dealt with Cautiously:

1. It is close to your home
2. A building is available
3. A group of people have split from another church and they are looking for someone to help them get started
4. You don’t like any of the churches in the area
5. It should be easy to start a church in this town
6. A wealthy person is willing to financially support the new church

Suggestions for Finding the Right Place:

1. Pray for God’s direction
2. Ask God to give you a burden for a particular place
3. Visit potential areas
4. Seek advice from your pastor and other respected preachers
5. Pray for God to give you peace

There are many cities in America and Canada with a high concentration of people and hardly any witness for Christ. Consider that 20% of America’s population lives in the Northeast corridor, yet this area has the least concentration of churches. On Long Island, New York, not counting Brooklyn and Queens, there are five million residents and the Gospel preaching churches could be counted on one hand. The greater Boston, Massachusetts area boasts a population of five million souls and many of its surrounding cities have no fundamental church.

The West coast has large cities with no fundamental churches and the Golden Horseshoe of Ontario, Canada has a few million people with only a handful of churches.

The migration of people to the Southwest has created an opportunity that only a few men have pursued. I know there are many needy areas in Florida, the Midwest, and Texas, but surely more men could be called to some of these highly populated and unevangelized areas. Does God only lead men to a warm climate where several churches already exist? More preachers must widen their vision to understand some of the great mission fields of America. God must lead each person, but men must be willing to follow His leading!

“Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.” Lamentations 3:51

What Christians Need in January

Dr. Paul Chappell — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:14:09 +0000

January is a unique time of the year—one of my favorites. I love the momentum started on the first of the year and carried throughout the month.

As a pastor, I strive to take advantage of this momentum not only in my own life, but also in the lives of those I’m privileged to pastor. Here are a few thoughts from Hebrews 10:24–25 on how we can encourage and stimulate spiritual growth in the lives of others.

Make sure you get all future Growth Points videos by subscribing to the Spiritual Leadership Podcast.

Grieve Not the Holy Spirit

Dr. Rick Flanders — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:37:43 +0000

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

Many Christians know little about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and particularly about His ministry in their own lives. The Spirit of God is an important theme in Scripture, all the way from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, but the ignorance of even Bible-readers concerning Him is stunning. Of course, we are taught that He is the Author of the Bible (2 Peter 1:20-21), and yet Bible-believers often suffer from their lack of understanding concerning His person and His work.

Perhaps it was the proliferation of false doctrine about the Spirit in the twentieth century that caused orthodox folks to shy away from the Third Person of the Trinity. Whatever the reason for it, the absence of right teaching and learning about Him has damaged the lives and ministries of many good people. However, a working knowledge of His ministry in and to believers in Christ is not hard to obtain. Certainly the book of Ephesians can give any saint such a working knowledge, and much can be drawn from the simple command in the fourth chapter that we not grieve the Spirit.

Ephesians 1 teaches us that we were “sealed” with the Holy Spirit when we “believed” (read verses 12–14). This means that the moment the sinner trusts Christ for his salvation, the Spirit that has been reproving him and drawing him to Christ comes to live in his body and he is regenerated (see John 3:3–8, Romans 8:9–11, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, and Titus 3:3–6). The logical order of the process as given in this passage is (1) hearing the Gospel, (2) trusting in Christ, and (3) being sealed with the Spirit. This is the logical order, although not strictly the chronological order, because all three may happen at once! Verse 14 says that the presence of the Spirit in our lives is “the earnest [pledge or security] of our inheritance,” our down-payment on Heaven! We have God’s Spirit in our lives from the moment we are saved until we go to glory. What do we know about the indwelling Spirit?

The Holy Spirit Is a Person

Ephesians 4:30 warns us not to “grieve” the Holy Spirit. The Greek word translated grieve in this verse means to distress someone, or to make someone sad. The Someone being grieved in Ephesians 4 is the Holy Spirit, and He is a person. A power cannot be grieved, nor can a feeling. The Holy Spirit is not a power or a feeling; He is a person. The Bible is clear about this.

When Jesus spoke of the Spirit in His discourse on the subject recorded in John 14 through 16, He spoke of Him as a person.

“…he shall teach you all things…” (John 14:26)

“…he shall testify of me…” (John 15:26)

“…when he is come, he will reprove the world…” (John 16:8)

“…he will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13)

“He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:14)

The book of Acts tells us that the Spirit speaks (see Acts 1:16, 8:29, and 13:2). Romans 8:27 speaks of “the mind of the Spirit.” First Corinthians 2 says, “The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (verse 10) and “the Holy Ghost teacheth” (verse 13). First Corinthians 12 speaks of the Spirit’s will (verse 11). Second Corinthians 13 speaks of “the communion of the Holy Ghost,” giving us the impression that one can commune with the Spirit, person-to-person. Hebrews 10:29 says that men can insult the Spirit. First John 4:2 says that the Spirit of God, “Confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” And the last chapter of the Bible affirms that the Spirit invites sinners to come to Jesus (Revelation 22:17).

Over and over again the Word of God describes the mind, the will, the emotions, and the activities of the Holy Spirit as it would speak of the nature and work of a person. The Holy Spirit is indeed a person, the Third Person of the trinity, and He came to live inside you when you trusted Christ as your Saviour!

The Holy Spirit Has Emotions

By definition, a person has mind, will, and emotions. As a person, God the Spirit feels. In Ephesians 4:30 He is said to grieve. In Romans 15:30 He is said to love.

Several good emotions felt by Christians are the “fruit” (product) of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). When you compare the peace promised in that verse with Philippians 4:6–7, you find that it is God’s own peace (as in John 14:27) that He lets us feel. James 4:5 says “The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy,” echoing the Old Testament passages that describe God as jealous (such as Exodus 20:5 and 34:14). The Holy Spirit is God and possesses all of the emotions that God has.

When Our Actions and Attitudes Conflict with His, the Spirit of God Is Grieved

The words before and after Ephesians 4:30 tell us when and for what reason the Holy Spirit is grieved.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice…”

Corrupt words, bitterness of heart, anger, loud arguing, critical speech, and wicked malice are examples of what grieves the Spirit. These attitudes and the actions they generate contradict the feelings of the Holy Spirit, and in this way they grieve Him. He loves the people we hate, and desires to edify the ones we want to hurt. In a sense, it is hard for Him to live in us when we live sinfully.

Notice that although the Spirit is grieved, He isn’t going to leave! By Him we are sealed until the completion of our salvation (“the day of redemption”). His presence within believers has sometimes caused them to wish He would leave, or at least leave them alone, when they are grieving Him. But He is not going away until Jesus comes. This means that when Christians are doing wrong, going wrong places, participating in wrong things, saying wrong things, thinking wrong things, and even feeling wrong feelings, the Holy Spirit of God has to endure it all.

Unfortunately, the only thing many Christians can tell you the Spirit does for them is rebuke them when they sin. This is curious and interesting since nearly everything the New Testament says about the ministry of the Spirit to believers is positive! Yet many only know Him in a negative, rebuking way. Can it be that great numbers of those in God’s family today are grieving the Spirit every day, and seldom know by experience His comforting, leading, empowering, and enlightening work? Their actions and attitudes are in conflict with Him most of the time, and He is grieved. So many think this is what the Christian life is like! But they are wrong.

When We Begin Cooperating with the Spirit, He Helps Us Feel His Feelings

Notice the big change that comes to the believer when he puts away his bad attitudes and actions. Verse 31 tells us to put them all away, and then verse 32 says,“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

It is as big a change as the one described in the verses that follow the command in Ephesians 5:18 to “be filled with the Spirit:”

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:19–20

This is the transformation we are to expect in the lives of those who choose to be filled with the Spirit instead of choosing to indulge in the excesses of drunkenness (look at verse 18 again). Can Christian people just switch from malice to kindness (chapter 4), or from drunkenness to the fear of God (chapter 5)?

Yes, they can, when they stop contradicting the Spirit and start cooperating with Him. It is the Holy Spirit in the Christian that will enable him to do the right thing and even feel the right way!

The Christian life is not really a saved person trying to imitate Christ. It is the life of Christ lived through the life of a Christian (Galatians 2:20). This is possible only because, through the indwelling of the Spirit, Jesus Christ actually lives in us! And when we stop grieving the Spirit by contradicting Him, and start cooperating with Him, relying on Him to give us His holiness and His feelings, we find out what it is to be filled with the Spirit!

Apologize to the Spirit for grieving Him by harboring attitudes and feelings so contrary to His nature. Put such sinful things away by repenting of them. Then tell Him that you want to harmonize with His interests and that you are yielding your life to His control. If appropriate, confess that your nature is to be selfish, while His is to be kind; yours is to harbor bitterness, while His is to be tenderhearted; and yours is to speak evil of others, while His is to forgive. Now you are able to start cooperating with Him instead of contradicting Him.

Move from being simply sealed with the Spirit, through grieving the Spirit, to being filled with the Spirit this very day.

Nobody Asked Me

Dr. Jeff Redlin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:00:40 +0000

Sermon outline: This is an abbreviated outline with the complete sermon downloadable at the bottom of the post.

Text: Genesis 50:20

Title: Nobody Asked Me!

Introduction: What we face in life is out of our control. Who we face it with is not.

Joseph’s family could be called a functioning, dysfunctional family.

I. Joseph’s Parents—not your first choice

A. His father—Jacob

B. His mother—Rachel

II. Joseph’s Siblings

A. Reuben

B. Other brothers

III. Other Relatives

A. His uncle, Esau

B. His grandfather, Laban

IV. Concluding Thoughts

A. Circumstances are God’s means of conforming us, and Satan’s means of destroying us. It all depends on who you are allowing to use them.

B. Trusting God with our circumstances means that there are no “yeah-buts.”

C. Trusting God with our circumstances removes us from God’s throne.

Conclusion: Instead of continually asking, “What in the world is happening to me!” Joseph understood an essential truth—that God, not Joseph, was in control.

Job 23:10
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Joseph was about to enter the refiner’s fire. But through it all, he would come forth as pure gold.

Nobody Asked Me.doc

Why Should We Be Woeful?

Dr. Al Stone — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:09:49 +0000

I’m amazed at how many Christians do not have joy. We ought to have a realization that “I’m saved, I’m on my way to Heaven, and if nothing else in this world, I will see Jesus Christ, and I will be with Him and live eternally in Heaven and all else does not matter; I have the joy of the Lord.”

There are 155 verses in the Bible containing the word joy. If you include the many variations of the word joy, there are 187 verses in the Bible that talk about joy. God wants, gives, and expects those who are saved to have His joy. He understands that the flesh of man does indeed suffer from sorrow. The Bible tells us, “Jesus groaned in the Spirit” and “Jesus wept.” He knew anxiety and hardship. Sorrow and grief are a part of humanity but should not be the mainstay for the saved.

There are some biblical qualifications of joy. Until you meet the conditions and requirements of joy, joy will elude you. You may be happy, but are you joyous?

“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Psalm 35:27

Do you have the joy of the Lord today, every day? If not, let’s see why:

1. The Possession of the Spirit Produces Joy

You will not have the joy of the Lord without the Lord. Those who are not truly saved can mimic many other parts of the Christian life, but not real joy.

Joy is not smiling; joy is contentment. It is a fulfilled completion.

“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment.” Job 20:5

2. The Presence of the Lord Produces Joy

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

Are you in the fullness of the joy? Is all that you are doing for the Lord replacing your time with God and meditation on His Word?

We have conditioned ourselves to think that doing is spiritual.

3. The Protecting of the Heart Produces Joy

“Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalm 51:12

Have you forgotten the joy of your salvation? Do you have the joy that comes when sin is erased, just like when you received Christ as your Saviour?

4. The Planting of the Seed Produces Joy

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6

Those who weep will reap in joy. Most Christians don’t weep as we should. People are dying and going to Hell. When was the last time you wept for the lost and saw someone saved?

5. The Prayer of the Penitent Produces Joy

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9

Peter says you’re going to go through some difficult times, and you’re going to have some testing of your faith, there’s going to be some hardships. Yet in all of this, there is a joy unspeakable!

How do you have joy? You’ve got to be saved, you’ve got to be blameless and walking right before the Lord, you’ve got to protect the heart, and you’ve got to plant the seed of the Gospel.

Relativism in America

Dr. Bud Calvert — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:10:01 +0000

How many remember when churches only had wooden pews with no padding? Do you remember when cars, houses, and churches had no air conditioning? I remember as a boy that if we lost the key to our back door, we went down to the five and ten cent store and bought another one—you simply had to tell the clerk if your key had one, two, or three prongs on it.

I like the progress we have made materially, financially, and technologically. Most people living on planet earth have never used a typewriter, and if you don’t have a computer it seems like you are out of sync with society. Are you feeling old yet?

The old slogan said, “When E.F. Hutton speaks, everyone listens.” When the prophet Jeremiah spoke, no one listened! If we were to go back in time 2,000 years, we would be in the time that Jesus lived on the earth. If we go back about 600 years before that, we would have the setting for God speaking through Jeremiah to the nation of Israel.

God chose the Israelites to be His people. They were given a promise of land through Abraham, and they were promised a King, Jesus Christ, to sit on the throne of David. They were also given God’s Word, the Bible (see Romans 9:4, 5). God gave them, as well as us, plenty of principles and commands that are to be obeyed.

Unfortunately, Israel wasn’t interested in what God had to say: “The Word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it” (Jeremiah 6:10b). Things got so bad, and they became so comfortable in their sin, that they were not ashamed and they didn’t even blush because they felt no guilt: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush” (Jeremiah 6:15a).

Although Jeremiah 6 was written some 2,600 years ago, do you see any parallel today? How does this happen to a society? Sin left unchecked starts the hardening process: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). We must be ever vigilant to not let sin calcify our spiritual arteries.

What is happening in our society today? If there were ever a day for Christian sentinels to take their posts, it is today. And may I say, if you are not vigilant, you will simply become a statistic.

Webster defines relativism as, “The doctrine that knowledge or truth is relative and dependent upon time, place, and individual experience.” Relativism teaches that there is no such thing as any kind of transcendent absolutes, like the Bible, because that would presuppose the existence of God, which is contrary to their doctrine. One author wrote, “Relativism refers to a theory or philosophy which argues that abstract values like truth, beauty, and morality are not absolute, but rather that they are dependent on the culture in which they exist.”

Robert Knight said in his book, The Age of Consent: “Relativism destroys the soul of culture by whispering in a thousand ways that… morality is entirely subjective and therefore situational.”

Contrary to popular opinion, truth is not relative! The Bible is the Word of God and is the final authority for everything having to do with life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Everyone has some final authority in life, be it their conscience, their intellect, their religion, their parents, or their culture. However, there is only one final authority to prepare you for eternity and that is the Bible.

In Jeremiah 6:16 God told Judah to, “Ask for the old paths, where is the good way.” Don’t you get sick of our politicians and court system trying to tell us what is right and wrong? I don’t need a decree from the Supreme Court to decide what is moral and what isn’t. The Word of God, as we know, never changes.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the old path of commitment in marriage again. What part of, “til death do us part” don’t people understand? This is the same attitude the people of Israel had: God put down His law, and they followed their own.

May God give us the old paths of righteousness, purity, and holiness. Robert Knight also wrote, “The very existence of the church is inconvenient to those who want to indulge in debauchery. The church is a reminder that there may be eternal consequences for rejecting God and embracing sin. The only way to get around this unwelcome nagging is to make the church disappear, [or] make it irrelevant.”

The Bible says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). The good news for the adulterer, fornicator, homosexual, porn reader, drug addict, drunkard, liar, rock-music lover, rebel, unsaved, and worldly Christian, is that Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood to provide each of us with forgiveness.

He has promised to transform our lives when we put our faith and trust in Him and His infallible truth.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.” Hebrews 13:8–9

Rooted in Christ Email Devotions

Dr. Paul Chappell — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and that you are looking forward to serving Christ in the new year.

I wanted to share with you a free resource that you may want to make available to your church family. Oftentimes church members and new Christians are looking online for devotional resources and Scripture reading websites. While there are many, not all of them are biblically sound and local church friendly.

For this reason, some years ago,we began a daily devotional website and email. This site now has thousands of subscribers around the world. In the new year we are making several improvements to the daily devotional.

The new devotional will include an Old Testament and New Testament reading each day, as well as a short practical and helpful devotional. This daily reminder will help your church family to become more deeply rooted in Christ this year.

We invite you to refer your church family to this trustworthy resource in one of several ways:

First, you could consider placing http://www.dailyintheword.org/today in your January bulletin, inviting folks to subscribe to this free resource.
Second, you could use a subscription card or a sign-up list that you could send us to process if you wish. If you would like us to send you free subscription cards, please email us with your address and let us know how many.
Third, you could link or repost the daily devotion to your ministry blog or church website. If you choose to do this, please use the following link: http://www.dailyintheword.org/today or use the RSS feed. (It wouldn't be difficult for your web person to post this feed on your site. If you have questions on how, please email us.)

Whatever the case, please know that we treat these subscribers with great respect. They simply receive a daily Bible devotional. Our efforts in this are to be a blessing, not to build our email list or to promote some other aspect of our ministry to individuals. You can see a sample of the daily email they will receive here.

I hope you'll take a moment and tell your church family about the Daily in the Word devotional. It's free and it will strengthen them in Christ.

The Role of Spiritual Warfare in Church Planting

Jim Townsley — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:32:58 +0000

Organization and administration are important aspects of starting a church. However, it must be understood that church building is a spiritual process. Many church leadership seminars, which include slick marketing and technology, may leave God completely out of the process. We must remember that Christ said, “ I will build my church.” Church building is God’s business. Relegating church planting to personal administrative processes alone is to misunderstand the most important element; God must build the church.

Church planting is a battle and Satan will oppose all our efforts. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). There are many ways Satan can hinder the work of God, but the most critical battles are waged over the souls of men. Men’s minds are blinded by the devil.

God’s choicest servants are often targeted with the most severe attacks of Satan. If the devil can destroy the man of God and his family, the rest of the flock will be scattered as well. Men must be prepared to recognize, resist, and fight against the devil. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). A man’s family and health are often targeted and a faithful man of God must be determined to wage war against the prince of the air.

There are several methods Satan utilizes to destroy the work of God:

1. Satan Has Blinded Men’s Minds Concerning Their Lost Condition

Only the Spirit of God can convict a man of his need for Christ. A proper presentation of the Gospel does not always guarantee a man’s conversion. We must learn to depend upon prayer and the Word of God to remove the veil from men’s eyes.

2. Satan Often Uses Men to Achieve His End

A Bible example can be found in first Timothy chapter one: “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” A good shepherd is always guarding his sheep from false prophets and wolves in sheep clothing. A very real battle rages in every new church and the man of God must be sensitive to the deceitful works of Satan.

3. Satan Tries to Snatch the Seed of the Word After it Is Sown

“And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” Mark 4:15

It is remarkable that upon sowing the seed through witnessing that an unsaved man will suddenly be bombarded by false cults and religions. It is critical that preachers continue to water and nurture the seed after it is sown.

4. Satan’s Plan Is to Destroy Every New Church

The devil is not happy when a lighthouse is established in his territory. Beware of his methods. We must never underestimate the power of Satan to destroy the work of God.

“For some are already turned aside after Satan.” 1 Timothy 5:15

“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” 1 Timothy 1:19

5. Satan Desires to Build Strongholds in People’s Lives

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3–6

Many new converts have been influenced by addictions, habits, and patterns of living that are destroying their homes and their personal lives. It is important to recognize that these issues are part of the spiritual battle that preachers must face.

God Has Equipped Us to Fight This Spiritual War

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Though Satan is powerful, God is stronger. We can effectively fight and win against the methods of the devil.

One of the primary weapons of war is prayer.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:18

“And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:28–29

We must utilize prayer as an integral aspect of the ministry. Our prayer life must be earnest and sometimes include fasting. The prayer that is needed to build a church is more than a casual Wednesday night prayer meeting. It must be serious and agonizing.

Our second means of battling the devil is the Word of God. We must know the Bible and depend upon the Word of God to defend the work of church building. We can win the battle for the souls of men, but it is impossible without prayer and the Word of God.

The Power of Positive Rumor

Troy Dorrell — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:30:28 +0000

Today we are bombarded with information. Our world is filled with advertisements, billboards, TV ads, radio spots, informational flyers, and newspapers all trying to sell us something or persuade us that a product is worthy of our dollar. However, even in this age of mass media and seemingly limitless information people still tend to trust one source of information more than any other; that source is simply “word of mouth.”

Rumors or “word of mouth” can carry positive information or negative. Unfortunately, people seem preconditioned to share negative aspects of their experiences. The White House Office of Consumer affairs finds that a dissatisfied customer shares their unpleasant experience with nine other people. A California market research firm shows that dissatisfied automobile customers tell their stories to twenty-two other people on average. A bad experience at a bank can be rehearsed in the ears of fifty-five other individuals according to one study.

I can only assume that someone who has a bad church experience will most likely have the same tendency to share his or her bad news in a similar way. However, a church that is thinking can use the power of rumor or “word of mouth” to their advantage. If you think about it, this was the primary way the early church grew; house to house and by word of mouth. If we were serious about telling others about Christ and our church the potential audience we could reach is staggering.

Researchers think the average person has a sphere of influence that includes about 250 people. This means that a city population of 62,500 could be reached by word of mouth in just two steps. If you tell the 250 people you know about your church and they tell the 250 people they know then in that simple process 62,500 will have heard. If we follow this formula to its conclusion the world does indeed become very small.

When we receive and treat guests in an exceptional fashion and genuinely display the love of Christ toward them, not only do we increase the possibility of them returning but we also increase the likelihood of others hearing positive things about our church. Loving people and doing things right have their own rewards; and part of that reward is a good testimony that is rehearsed in the ears of others.

Preparing for a New Year

Dr. Paul Chappell — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:25:30 +0000

I always feel like a new year is an opportunity to have a fresh start in so many areas: with my Lord, my family, and our church family. Here are a few things that I have been pondering, and I trust that you will take these to heart and use them in your devotional time as you prepare for 2012.

Make sure you get all future Growth Points videos by subscribing to the Spiritual Leadership Podcast.

Very Much Land

Dr. R. B. Ouellette — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:23:10 +0000

Sermon outline: This is an abbreviated outline with the complete sermon downloadable at the bottom of the post.

Text: Joshua 13:1

Title: Very Much Land

Introduction: Joshua was between 90 and 100 years of age. He was well beyond the point where most people would consider that retirement should occur. But God had work for him to do.

I. The Problem

A. It was undeniable

B. It was unavoidable

C. It was unchangeable

II. The Pronouncement

A. God reminded Joshua of his potential

B. God required his participation—13:7

C. God renewed His promise

III. The Principles

A. The principle of obstacles

B. The principle of opportunity

C. The principle of obligation

Very Much Land.doc

Responses to the Birth of Christ

Troy Calvert — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:19:21 +0000

When Jesus Christ was born into this world over 2,000 years ago, people responded in different ways. Some were too busy, others didn’t believe, and others, perhaps, didn’t care. As Joseph took Mary on a donkey into Bethlehem they found no warm welcome. There were no receiving lines—not even a hospital nurse to welcome them!

As I read Luke’s narrative concerning the birth of King Jesus, I find that many of the reasons people were so disinterested in His arrival then are common today:

There Were Many Distractions

Luke 2:1–3 explains that there was a huge census taking place. Many people were coming and going. Imagine the commotion in the sleepy hamlet of Bethlehem due to these visitors and the beasts and belongings they may have brought with them. The people were simply caught up in the worry and drudgery of being away from home just to pay taxes. (We are truly blessed to be able to file our returns by completing a form and writing a check!)

There Was Disinterest in the Birth of This Infant King

No one seemed to care that Mary was ready to give birth at any moment. It is interesting that Luke does not mention more about the compassion of the innkeeper. Sure, it would have been wonderful if he had thought kindly enough toward Mary to give her a nice room or a warm bed in which to bring her Babe into the world, but the innkeeper did not completely turn her away. I see in this a picture of many in the world today. While they do not completely shun our Saviour, neither do they fully embrace Him. Instead, they relegate Him to the stable-areas of their lives. Substituting “religion” for a personal Saviour, they make the birth of Jesus, for them, irrelevant.

Luke tells us about some shepherds that were working in the fields near Bethlehem that night. Caring for the flocks, they were certainly distracted and disinterested in the birth of a baby, but something grabbed their collective attention. These shepherds were privileged to witness the doxology of the angelic host. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). The Babe’s Father had sent messengers to announce to these shepherds that their Saviour had come. Christians, this is now our purpose and work. No longer is the heavenly host privileged to shake the world from its distraction and disinterest—it is our responsibility!

Today people react to the message that God has come in the flesh as Saviour in much the same way that the shepherds did. We read first of their angst; they “were sore afraid” at the appearance of the messengers. When we confront people with the fact of sin and the reality of eternal punishment, they too experience angst, but as we continue to share the story of hope and reconciliation, angst turns to awe.

A few, though not nearly as many as we desire, hear for the first time the hope of salvation, and their thoughts join with the Psalmist: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:4). In the birth of a baby 2,000 years ago, they found the Creator of the universe caring for their soul. His name surely is Wonderful!

These shepherds, having had their disinterest turned to awe, sought assurance that the things the angels said were true. People today need the same assurance from us as we witness to them of the same truth. The shepherds went to the manger. As they received news of His birth, they did not stay where they were. Furthermore, they came with haste. Finding the word of the messenger true, they took from the manger the message of salvation. They reacted with faith: “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17).

We are the shepherds of our time. If you are a child of God, He wants you to share the announcement of salvation with this entire lost and dying world. If, perchance, you have never received Christ as your personal Saviour, He is patiently waiting for you to receive the announcement of salvation today.

Let us rejoice over the greatest birth to ever occur on the earth!