Our God is a truly amazing, loving, limitless God! Over the years of our lives, we may have limited our thinking, and limited our faith by inaccurate teaching we grew up on, or by experiences we’ve had. But when we’re teaching our kids about God, or ministering to them in a church setting, we need to remember to present God’s Word in its fullness, without filtering it through our own tainted lenses. … read more
Na vida, enfrentamos situações em que os números não estão a nosso favor. Circunstâncias, pessoas, estatísticas, tempo e outros fatores parecem trabalhar contra nós. Sentir-se em desvantagem, sozinho e isolado pode gerar diversas formas de miséria, incluindo desesperança, autopiedade e desespero. Nesses casos, é vital nos lembramos que Deus é o Supremo Diferenciador na equação! Nunca se esqueça que Deus + Você = A Maioria! … read more
We are looking to formalize a process for handling benevolence needs. How do other churches handle such requests, and what processes do they have for receiving, reviewing, and approving benevolence requests? Do other churches use deacons or other staff members for such matters?
We are all being influenced by someone or something. You may think you are a free-thinker, and you don’t allow anyone to influence the way you act or think, but you are a result of the influencers you have had in your life. Influence is the capacity to affect a person, thing, or outcome of events. Sometimes we face situations in our life, marriage, family or finances that the influencers around us can’t help. … read more
Se uma ponte está interrompida e alguém coloca um aviso para me informar, seria isso algo ruim? Uma pessoa verdadeiramente me ama se me vê indo em direção a uma catástrofe e negligencia em me avisar? Não cometa erros com relação a isso: o chamado e o dever de um ministro é o de proclamar o Evangelho – a boa nova sobre Jesus Cristo! Jesus direciona Seus discípulos originais: “Vão pelo mundo inteiro e anunciem o evangelho a todas as pessoas” (Marcos 16:15, NTLH). … read more
What tips can you give that will help a pastor be more effective in receiving regular tithes and offerings? What about receiving special offerings, such as for a missionary or guest speaker? Any principles I should understand and implement?
There are three very important words in First Corinthians 1:8 regarding the impact of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life of an individual or a congregation. The words “confirm,” “end,” and “blameless” are vital to understanding the long-term effect of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Let’s see what these words meant when Paul wrote them and how they should be applied in our lives now as they pertain to the gifts of the Holy Spirit… … read more
A transition is a change from one thing to another. One life season ends, another begins. A chapter in our life’s book ends. A new chapter waits to be written. What was is no longer. What is going to be is on life’s radar screen. When seasons change, life is not the same. Transitions can be welcome, or unwelcome. Expected or unexpected. Planned or unplanned. By choice or forced. Pleasant or unpleasant. … read more
Often in life, it seems that we face situations where the numbers are not in our favor. Circumstances, people, statistics, time, etc. can all seem to be working against us. Feeling outnumbered, alone, and isolated can breed all kinds of misery, including hopelessness, self-pity, and despair. In these cases, it is vital to remember that God is the Supreme Difference Maker! Never forget that God + One = A Majority! David wrote Psalm 142 from a cave, not from a palace. He felt trapped and was overwhelmed. … read more
Quando John Wooden treinou o time masculino de basquete da Universidade da Califórnia em Los Angeles (UCLA) – ele liderou o time em dez campeonatos nacionais – ele era um defensor de detalhes e um proponente do trabalho em equipe. Ele até ensinou seus jogadores o preciso modo de colocar as meias e de amarrar os sapatos, para prevenir a formação de bolhas. Wooden insistia que isso ajudaria a manter os jogadores saudáveis e em forma no campo. … read more
Jesus said, “…Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). In Greek, the word “iniquity” actually describes lawlessness. This verse could literally read: “…Because lawlessness shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” The word “lawlessness” is plural in the Greek text, which tells us Jesus was foretelling a time when lawlessness would escalate around the world. In this verse, “lawlessness” refers to the actions of an individual … read more
What computer software do you use to assist you in your Bible study and sermon preparation? In addition to software that you might pay for, are there free websites that are helpful to you also?
In the world and even in the church today, there are different thoughts on what real love is. The world usually thinks of love as a strong feeling of affection. Many dictionaries will also agree that love is a warm or strong feeling of affection. Biblical love is quite different. Jesus did not tell the disciples to go and live according to the old Mosaic commandment, but rather he gave them a new commandment. In other words, we will not find the model for this love in the Old Testament. … read more
If a bridge is out, and someone puts up a sign informing me of that, is that a negative thing? Does a person really love me if they see me heading toward catastrophe and neglects to warn me? Jesus said more about hell than any other person in the Bible, and yet he was (and is) the greatest expression of love ever known or revealed to man. Vance Havner relates, “When I pastored a country church, a farmer didn’t like the sermons I preached on hell. He said, ‘Preach about the meek and lowly Jesus.’ I said, ‘That’s where I got my information about hell.’” Was Jesus just “selling fire insurance?” … read more
Vance Havner afirma, “Popularidade matou mais profetas de Deus do que a perseguição jamais fez”. Eu acho que a isso também pode ser aplicado a busca por popularidade. Richard Niebuhr observou que os temas essenciais da fé cristã estavam sendo arrancados do cristianismo, por meio da teologia liberal. Ele resumiu (em 1937) um anêmico e neutralizado “Evangelho” nas seguintes palavras … read more
In the eyes of our children, this world can be a scary place. They see and hear news about earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods and school shootings. They have friends whose parents are getting divorced or are dying of cancer. In the rural area of the Rocky Mountains where we live, every summer brings the threat of wildland fires. But our family’s perspective is markedly different than that of our neighbors. … read more
Reading the story of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37 stirs our soul to rise to new possibilities in life! Rising from the humble life of a shepherd’s son to becoming second in command over all of Egypt is something that makes for a “too-good-to-be-true” story! The mention of Joseph’s name lifts our thoughts to new levels and stirs our imagination to see what may be possible for us to attain in our lives. There are a lot of things about Joseph that are very appealing to many of us. When we think of Joseph, we think of him as a dreamer, highly favored, an interpreter of dreams … read more
When John Wooden coached men’s basketball at UCLA (he led the team to ten national championships), he was a stickler for details, and he was a very strong proponent of teamwork. He even taught his players the precise way to put on their socks and to tie their shoes to help prevent the formation of blisters. Wooden insisted that this would help keep the players healthy and on the court. Even when it came to putting on their socks and tying their shoes, Wooden was essentially saying, “We don’t do it that way; we do it this way.” … read more
Is there something you wish people understood about pastors and pastoring? This doesn’t have to be about you personally, but something that would help people better understand, relate to, and receive from their pastor.
Durante esse mês de abril, 2018, tive o privilégio de viajar e ministrar em cinco nações – Inglaterra, Suíça, Líbano, Alemanha e Chipre. Durante esse tempo, lecionei 33 vezes e ministrei para líderes de aproximadamente 45 congregações diferentes. Abaixo, seguem algumas fotos e pequenas descrições do que ocorreu em cada país. … read more
Vance Havner asserts, “Popularity has slain more prophets of God than persecution ever did.” I think that could also be applied to the pursuit of popularity as well. Richard Niebuhr noted that essential themes of the Christian faith were being stripped from Christianity through liberal theology. He summarizes (in 1937) an anemic, neutralized “gospel” with these words: “A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.” I think that Niebuhr encapsulates the four areas … read more
We are considering dropping our mid-week “sanctuary service” and offering small groups instead. I would be very interested in hearing from other pastors who have done this type of thing. Did it work well or not? What is the best way to do it? What potential pitfalls should I be aware of?
Recentemente, eu e Lisa celebramos o meu aniversário de 59 anos em Warner Robins, Geórgia. Estávamos na companhia de bons amigos, Pastor Dave e Kendall Watrous. Posso dizer que foi um dia muito bom. Na parte da manhã, eu lecionei em um seminário sobre Timóteo (nunca me canso de tais seminários); tive uma celebração com cupcakes após o almoço, e, em seguida, fomos assistir ao novo filme Paulo, Apóstolo de Cristo. Certamente, em todo filme bíblico, os diretores tomam certa liberdade artística e criativa – o que é esperado. … read more
If there is one series you have taught that had the most significant impact on your congregation, what was it? What was the topic, and what impact did it have?
Somos chamados! Quer tenhamos sido chamados para sermos pregadores e estarmos atrás do púlpito ou tenhamos sido chamados para cumprir outra tarefa, esses e outros versos indicam que o chamado de todo crente é ser sal, luz, embaixador, testemunha, servo e uma benção. Isso não é somente para aqueles que possuem a “profissão” de ministros, mas todo cristão foi chamado em tempo integral! Um cristão nunca deve falar “eu não sou chamado” como desculpa para evitar responsabilidades que são compatíveis com o chamado de todo crente. … read more
