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How Are You Handling the Full Court Press?

August 6, 2020 in /by

If you are a basketball fan, you know exactly what a full court press is. It brings a noticeable intensity to all that is happening on the court. If you are not a basketball afficionado, let me paint a picture for you, because I believe the “full court press” is a powerful analogy to what is happening in many peoples’ lives today. When a team scores in basketball, the other team takes the ball out of bounds and passes it back in so they can bring it to the other side of the court where they will hopefully score also. … read more

Balanced Pastoral Authority by Edwin Anderson

June 25, 2020 in /by

The Holy Spirit appoints pastors to the local church to oversee its operation, and He gives the vision for the church to them. It is then the pastor’s responsibility before God to steer the church in that direction. He has the God-given authority to govern it. The pastor is to maintain control over every ministry of the local church. … read more

Uma vida sobrenatural de Tony Cooke

May 13, 2020 in /by

Existem muitas implicações morais, éticas e práticas no que a Bíblia ensina, mas o cerne do envolvimento de Deus em nossas vidas é a presença e o poder do Espírito Santo. Há descrições no Novo Testamento de como o Espírito Santo trabalha na vida de um crente – um trabalho que verdadeiramente se inicia antes mesmo de tomarmos consciência da fé. … read more

The Role of Tongues in the Local Church by Keith Trump

May 13, 2020 in /by

There has always existed, within the framework of church history, two extreme views regarding the role of tongues in public worship services. Unfortunately, in both their theological positions and practice, churches have tended to swing to either one extreme or the other. My assessment on the matter comes from over three decades of ministry in the capacities of a church planter, pastor, and teacher of biblical languages. … read more

Tesouros – O antigo e o novo de Tony Cooke

April 12, 2020 in /by

Eu estava participando de um culto em uma igreja uma vez e, durante o momento do louvor, a congregação cantou algumas das mais recentes canções de adoração. Logo em seguida, houve uma transição direta para um dos belos e antigos hinos da igreja.  Foi um momento de louvor poderoso e comovente, e eu apreciei a riqueza do novo e do antigo – ambos louvores exaltavam a Cristo, e a Presença de Deus foi facilmente percebida em ambos. … read more

What To Do When a House is On Fire

April 12, 2020 in /by

Here’s what is not helpful when a house is on fire: Cite statistics on how many people die in different ways than in house fires. Downplay the significance of the fire because it only appears to be in one small section of the house and probably won’t turn into anything significant. Debate on whether to alert your neighbor, because after all, it might violate their right to privacy. … read more

Book Recommendation

April 12, 2020 in /by

As a pastor, what is the most unique and innovative ministry that you have seen? Maybe it’s a ministry that your church does that is unique to you, or maybe it’s something that you’ve heard of someone doing that is totally “out of the box.” I’d love to hear creative ways that people communicate the love of God and meet the needs of others.

Men’s Ministry by Pastor Ron McKey

March 10, 2020 in /by

According to recent data, only 1 in 6 men attend weekend services. We are not connecting with them. In fact, most times when we do address men in our Churches, we are telling them what they are doing wrong or how they are neglecting their responsibilities. Who wants to be told on a regular basis that you are not doing a good job? … read more

Onde Descontos não se Aplicam de Tony Cooke

March 10, 2020 in /by

Acabamos de passar pelo natal – uma época do ano em que todos estão à procura de descontos. Talvez você tenha acordado super cedo na véspera de natal e tenha batalhado com a multidão ou talvez tenha vasculhado a internet, tentando pegar um ou mais presentes com um grande desconto. Todo mundo adora fazer um bom negócio quando se trata de comprar presentes, não é verdade? … read more

Unique and Innovative Ministries

March 9, 2020 in /by

As a pastor, what is the most unique and innovative ministry that you have seen? Maybe it’s a ministry that your church does that is unique to you, or maybe it’s something that you’ve heard of someone doing that is totally “out of the box.” I’d love to hear creative ways that people communicate the love of God and meet the needs of others.

Ablaze With God’s Word—The Fiery Effect of God’s Word in the Heart by Rick Renner

March 9, 2020 in /by

If you want to keep your spiritual life fiery hot for the rest of your life on earth, you need to maintain a consistent intake of the Word of God. It’s the first key to keeping your heart ablaze for Jesus because it is foundational to all the other types of fuel you need to add to the fire in your heart: prayer, the Holy Spirit, worship, a passion for souls, generosity, holiness, humility, regard for authority, and the fear of the Lord. … read more

Forty Years Ago: Back to Where We Started

March 9, 2020 in /by

As Lisa and I prepare to head back to Australia next month, we do so with some really great memories. When we finished our first year of Bible school in the spring of 1980, our very first venture in ministry was to Australia. It was quite an initiation into faith and ministry for us at that age (we were 21 and 22 years old at the time)! … read more

A Supernatural Life

February 12, 2020 in /by

There are many moral, ethical, and practical implications in what the Bible teaches, but at the core of God’s involvement in our lives is the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. There are descriptions in the New Testament of how the Holy Spirit works in the life of a believer—a work that actually starts before we even come into faith. … read more

Encouragement

February 12, 2020 in /by

In 2 Corinthians 7:5-6, Paul talks about a time when he was troubled and discouraged, and yet he was comforted and encouraged by the coming of Titus. As a pastor, what types of things have brought you the most encouragement when you were facing a difficult time. Can you give a specific example or two?

Journey at the End of Life by Jodi Diehl

January 8, 2020 in /by

Unless we die an instantaneous death, it is a journey we will all be forced to face, with very little preparation, skills, resources or past experiences to guide us through. Honestly, when was the last time you searched your favorite bookstore for resources on how to die strong? Again, even those two words do not naturally fall together. … read more

Treasures—Old and New

January 8, 2020 in /by

I was attending a church service once, and during the worship time the congregation sang some of the newer worship choruses. This was followed by a seamless transition into one of the beautiful, old hymns of the church. It was a powerful and moving time of worship, and I appreciated the richness of both the new and the old—both were Christ-exalting, and God’s Presence was readily sensed in both. … read more

Handling the Swings

January 8, 2020 in /by

As a pastor, you encounter people’s highest highs and lowest lows. We know Paul said to rejoice with those that rejoice, and to weep with those that weep (Rom 12:15), but how do you personally manage ministering to people individually during such times? Also, do you have any thoughts on directing your pulpit ministry when you know that some people in your congregation are celebrating great victories, and at the same time, others are going through great challenges?

Encorajadoras lições de John Wesley

December 5, 2019 in /by

Até sua morte em 1791, aos 88 anos, Wesley havia viajado 250.000 milhas, ministrando a Palavra de Deus (maior parte a cavalo). Ele pregou 42.000 sermões e escreveu 250 livros e panfletos. Ao longo de sua vida e ministério, Wesley experimentou e testemunhou muitas manifestações do poder sobrenatural de Deus. … read more

Where Discounts Don’t Apply

December 5, 2019 in /by

We are at a time of the year when everyone is looking for discounts. Maybe you got up super early on black Friday and fought the crowds, or perhaps you scoured the internet on Cyber- Monday endeavoring to snag one or more gifts at a deep discount. Everybody loves getting a great deal on gifts, don’t they? But some things in life are so sacred that only paying full price is appropriate. God paid full price for us when Jesus died on the cross—truly the debt of our sin was paid in full. … read more

Pronto a deixar-Te?

November 13, 2019 in /by

A parte que vem chamando a minha atenção é a que diz: “Sinto que sou vacilante, pronto a deixar-te, meu Deus”. Vendo as coisas na perspectiva do nascido de novo, eu quero contestá-la. Tenho vontade de dizer, “Sou uma nova criatura em Cristo. Eu tenho a vida e a natureza de Deus dentro de mim. … read more

When God’s Plans Interrupt Your Plans

November 13, 2019 in /by

Have you ever had a preconceived idea of what you thought you were going to do, only to have God interject a different plan—his plan—into your agenda? How did you deal with that? Were you flexible, and did you willingly make the required adjustments? All of the great biblical heroes experienced and responded favorably to a divine interruption. God disrupted their regular routines in a huge way. … read more

Church Revitalization

November 10, 2019 in /by

It seems like our church has been in a slump recently… like we’re going through the motions and are seeing some decline. What have other pastors done when they felt it was necessary to revitalize their congregation.

Lições Tiradas de Reis Passados

October 13, 2019 in /by

Algum tempo atrás, eu estava lendo sobre os diversos reis que passaram pelo Antigo Testamento e me deparei com a seguinte descrição que me deixei espantou! En 2 Crônicas 21:20 (NTLH), Jeorão tinha trinta e dois anos de idade quando se tornou rei de Judá. Ele governou em Jerusalém oito anos. Quando morreu, ninguém sentiu falta dele; ele foi sepultado na Cidade de Davi, mas não nos túmulos dos reis.
Aqui também diz que ele “foi sepultado na Cidade de Davi, mas não nos túmulos dos reis”. … read more