Church
Guaranteed Appointments Eliminated
Guaranteed appointments for Elders in the UM Church has just ended. Click HERE to read more. And I have noticed an increase in Facebook chatter responding in a negative way, which I don’t understand. Let me explain… I worked in the corporate world (or as some church people call it, “The Real World”) from 1993-2002. [...]
Why Do We Do What We Do???
During my years as a pastor, I have noticed there are a great many programs that are not effective in making disciples. There are church’s that have large budgets, multiple programs and have NO professions of faith or baptisms. Why are we doing what we do in church if it’s not making disciples? After all, [...]
Stewardship According to John Wesley
An outline of John Wesley‘s Sermon on Stewardship: “The Good Steward” Summary: Wesley uses this sermon to explain that we as God’s Stewards are not the owners of what God entrust to us, but temporary custodians. This applies to our souls, bodies, possessions, time, abilities and opportunities. Wesley states in this sermon that there will [...]
“All In”
When we read a sermon title on “Stewardship”, we know we are going to hear about giving our money to the church. The “money part” is often couched within the other aspects of living a life of faith. As members in the United Methodist Church, we vow to be faithful with our prayers, our presence, [...]
Growing Generosity by Julie Holly
“We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, [...]
The Important Invitation
“Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” -1 Chronicles 29:11 (NRSV Translation) This verse is part of King David’s ongoing [...]
The Danger of Riches
“The Danger of Riches” 1 Timothy 6:9 Summary: As the population of the Methodist grew, the found themselves with more members who were wealthy. Wesley used this sermon to speak on the dangers of wealth and how it could be inlet to sin. He describes how people should gain as much as they can, save [...]
Stewardship Article by Ron Schultz
The line was long as people moved toward the altar to leave an offering. Some put in large , impressive amounts of money. One poor widow stepped forward and gave two small copper coins. Jesus declared to His followers that the two copper coins from the poor Widow was more than anyone else had given. [...]
10 Ways to Live Above Your Life’s Circumstances | All Pro Dad
10 Ways to Live Above Your Life’s Circumstances | All Pro Dad. Here are 10 Ways we can live above life’s circumstances: Be clear about what defines you: Make sure know who you are, understand that you were created with a purpose, be crystal clear about what makes you tick. Live according to values that [...]
20% More?
Studies over several decades asked American families if they were happy. A large majority said No. “What would you need to be happy?” the study asked. The answer was about 20% more in income. Stop for a second. Are you happy? If not, how much more would you need to be happy? More than 20%… [...]
John Wesley’s View on Money
As we begin our sermon series on the use of money, I thought it would be appropriate to give you an outline on John Wesley‘s view of money. This sermon can be broken down to 3 points: Gain All You Can, Save All You Can, and Give All You Can. “The Use of Money” Summary: [...]
The Transforming “I Will”
On a clear, cool Fall Sunday morning a young family makes their way to the altar of a local United Methodist Church. They had been attending the services for three months. After conversations with the pastor, and prayerful consideration, they made the decision to become members of the congregation. As they approached the chancel rail [...]
Wesley’s Sermon: “The Use of Money”
Summary: Wesley uses this sermon to outline the proper use of earning, possessions and wealth with a very articulate statement: “Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” He uses this as an opportunity to insist that we are not owners of our assets, but stewards. Introduction: There will be an [...]
Are You An Aquarium Keeping Leader?
“Focus on the people you want to reach, and you’ll keep the people you want to keep.” People ask me all the time how we’ve been able to see so many people come to Christ in five years. Outside of the favor of God, I could give you a lot of specifics. Tell you a [...]
The New Traditional Church
Wow, this is a very thought provoking article by Tony Morgan. I hope you will take a moment to read. The New Traditional Church | TonyMorganLive.com.
6 HUGE Mistakes a Pastor Can Make
I’m now coming up on my 10th year in ministry and I’ve discovered some mistakes (some I’ve made and some I’ve seen) which can greatly limit a pastors ministry. Here is what I have found: Mistake 1. Micro-managing your staff/volunteers. If there is a need to micro-manage because the job may not get done correctly, [...]
7 Ways Satan Attacks the Church
“Satan certainly loves to disrupt what God’s church is doing,” says Ron Edmondson. via 7 Ways Satan Attacks the Church.
What Is It? The Wesley Quadrilateral…
The Wesley quadrilateral is a method of exploring and understanding God. John Wesley adopted and adapted three of these position from the Church of England (Scripture, Reason, and Tradition), and he added Experience to form the quadrilateral. Scripture John Wesley believed as I do, that Scripture must be primary among the other sources. Wesley believed [...]
5 Signs Your Church Underperforms
Great article by Mark Howell Mark Howell serves as Community Life Pastor at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, IL. He founded SmallGroupResources.net, offering consulting and coaching services to help churches across North America launch, build and sustain healthy small group ministries. He spent four years on the consulting staff at Lifetogether and often contributes [...]
Dissension in the Church
”Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:14-16 NIV I’ve been around a great many churches in [...]
