Our country's hard financial times right now--and the hard financial times being experienced by the church I lead--got me thinking a bit. We've been scraping by, both in finances and attendance, with some new folks visiting, but we haven't been 'prospering' by any means.
It got me thinking about a verse Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus--“Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think—according to the power that works in you—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Here's a guy in jail for the gospel, unjustly accused, and he's singing a doxology to the Lord!
God has shown Himself faithful in our current financial predicament. He’s provided what we needed, when we have needed it…but I wonder if He would not bless us with abundance, if we were giving Him more glory in His church. What do you think?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Recent books
Just a list of a few books I've been reading lately (or want to read soon), with some notes...
Un-Christian David Kinnaman/Gabe Lyons, based on Barna research-sort of scary stuff as we face what late-GenX early-Millenials really think about today's church...but some hopeful suggestions on needed change.
Essential Church? Sam Rainer III--by the son of Thom Rainer, head of LifeWay, who also used to be Evangelism Secretary here for the Georgia Baptist Convention (Thom, that is.) Thom is listed as co-author, but Sam wrote most of this. I'm still working my way through the book, but it seems to have some good suggestions. Basic idea--making the local church 'essential' rather than 'optional' in members' lives, especially 20-somethings.
Comeback Churches by Ed Stetzer. Ed worked at NAMB when I did, and now heads up a research office at LifeWay. Subtitle-How 300 churches turned around and yours can too. Hope so. Morganton 'thrived' at an attendance of 200+ until various problems. Ran about 60-70 when I first came as pastor. We've added a few, lost others, and have a net attendance about the same...or at least I hope it will be the same after our 'summer slump.' Last year's fall attendance was much higher than in the summer, if memory serves. Anyway, that's not about the book--here's a quote from the book I hope to implement (p. 40)
Un-Christian David Kinnaman/Gabe Lyons, based on Barna research-sort of scary stuff as we face what late-GenX early-Millenials really think about today's church...but some hopeful suggestions on needed change.
Essential Church? Sam Rainer III--by the son of Thom Rainer, head of LifeWay, who also used to be Evangelism Secretary here for the Georgia Baptist Convention (Thom, that is.) Thom is listed as co-author, but Sam wrote most of this. I'm still working my way through the book, but it seems to have some good suggestions. Basic idea--making the local church 'essential' rather than 'optional' in members' lives, especially 20-somethings.
Comeback Churches by Ed Stetzer. Ed worked at NAMB when I did, and now heads up a research office at LifeWay. Subtitle-How 300 churches turned around and yours can too. Hope so. Morganton 'thrived' at an attendance of 200+ until various problems. Ran about 60-70 when I first came as pastor. We've added a few, lost others, and have a net attendance about the same...or at least I hope it will be the same after our 'summer slump.' Last year's fall attendance was much higher than in the summer, if memory serves. Anyway, that's not about the book--here's a quote from the book I hope to implement (p. 40)
"Pray Matthew 9:37-38 regularly and passionately. This is simple, but are we really doing it? Jesus told His disciples: 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field' (NIV).
In other words, "Hey folks, there are souls out there to be harvested and brought into the Kingdom. There's just one little problem. We don't have enought people willing to get out there in the harvest field and work."
The Baptist Faith & Message--Charles S. Kelley, Jr., Richard Land, R. Albert Mohler, Jr. This is the study book on the statement of faith, not the little booklet. It's a great reminder of what we agree on as our core Baptist beliefs, and why we believe that way. I did a sermon series based on this book. (Anyone out there who'd like a copy of the PowerPoints I used with the sermons is welcome to them. Just contact me at thechurchtds.net. (I wrote the email address that way to discourage spammers...just know that =@.)
On my "to read" list...
Loving the Church, Blessing the Nations
Let the Nations be Glad
Jesus Mean and Wild!
Questions Jesus Raised
I don't know why I'm a 'sermon series' kind of pastor. But all during my ministry, it seems that the sermons that were easiest to study for, prepare, and deliver were part of a series of sermons.
My current series is "Questions Jesus Raised." I must point out that there's a great book by pastor Roger Lovette with this same title, and I've appropriated his idea. I just am applying it to the book of John rather than to Luke as he did.
Isn't it interesting that the first question John records Jesus asking is, "What do you want?" or "What are you looking for?" (depending on the translation you use)
Right now, the USA is in the midst of a presidential campaign. The Dems are meeting this week, and the GOP meets next week. Each party hopes they have the candidate that Americans are looking for. But most of the time, I think people only think they know what they're looking for.
They want 'things' or 'relationships' or 'fun' or whatever...but find less and less satisfaction with them. Getting to know Jesus is a paradox. It's the easiest thing in the world, but will bring about the hardest changes to our lives, yet all for our eternal good.
More later, on later questions...
My current series is "Questions Jesus Raised." I must point out that there's a great book by pastor Roger Lovette with this same title, and I've appropriated his idea. I just am applying it to the book of John rather than to Luke as he did.
Isn't it interesting that the first question John records Jesus asking is, "What do you want?" or "What are you looking for?" (depending on the translation you use)
Right now, the USA is in the midst of a presidential campaign. The Dems are meeting this week, and the GOP meets next week. Each party hopes they have the candidate that Americans are looking for. But most of the time, I think people only think they know what they're looking for.
They want 'things' or 'relationships' or 'fun' or whatever...but find less and less satisfaction with them. Getting to know Jesus is a paradox. It's the easiest thing in the world, but will bring about the hardest changes to our lives, yet all for our eternal good.
More later, on later questions...
Ever lose a password?
I did! That's why there have been no posts since September last year. However, I've started another blog (mostly for my family) so I have finally figured out how to get into this thing and begin posting again.
I've noticed a couple of things on this page that the web designer didn't do quite right...I know that "savvy" is spelled like I just did, and not "savvey"--and I think our actual church house is prettier than the photo on the page!
Anyway, I hope that folks will begin coming to this page more now that there's actually some new content. I'm closing this post for now and will immediately write another one about the current sermon series. Check it out!
I've noticed a couple of things on this page that the web designer didn't do quite right...I know that "savvy" is spelled like I just did, and not "savvey"--and I think our actual church house is prettier than the photo on the page!
Anyway, I hope that folks will begin coming to this page more now that there's actually some new content. I'm closing this post for now and will immediately write another one about the current sermon series. Check it out!
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