Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000
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A survey of hundreds of pastors has allowed us to compile a preliminary list of measurable quality factors in the life of a congregation in ranking order. The twelve factors are:
1. Bible knowledge. Church members are increasing in their grasp of the teachings of the Bible. They can integrate
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Tony Abram on Jul 16, 2005
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I recall the story of the sea captain who was a Christian and given to much prayer. A great storm was blowing and someone came the wheelhouse where the Captain was. It was a great storm. A man shouted to the Captain, "Why are you not praying?" The Captain said, "I pray during the calm and when the
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Contributed by Roger Haber on Oct 24, 2006
Let’s start with a true/false quiz:
• I am growing in my intimacy with God and faithfulness to his word.
• I am growing in real relationships with others in a small group.
• I am growing in my service to God and others.
• I am growing in reaching my pre-Christian relationships for
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Baptist
Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 29, 2008
In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India.
So one Sunday he decided
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Baptist
Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 17, 2007
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Church Unity?
I read about a church that split, and that split began over an argument at a potluck supper when a lady brought a congealed salad she made with Cool Whip instead of real whipping cream. There’s a book entitled War In The Pews that talks about real-life instances which are absolutely
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Baptist
I spent many years as a teacher in Further Education. My subject was business studies and one of the topics that I taught was marketing. It is said that to market any product or service successfully you have to pay attention to the 4 ps. These stand for Product, Price, Place and Promotion. In
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Episcopal/Anglican
Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Feb 21, 2005
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The Ring vs. The Shire
Frodo is a Hobbit of the Shire, where the rule of life could be taken directly from 1 Thessalonians 4:11 – "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,"
But he carries the ring of power and all it’s
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*other
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, not withstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship in service, may still be left to their loneliness. The final breakthrough to fellowship does not occur because, though
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 9, 2025
[101]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOD OF SMALL THINGS
Some people like to think big. There is this fallacy that big is better, especially in the American culture. God does not work with big. He uses availability, particularly in His children.
I once preached on this topic showing that God uses
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 22, 2025
[173]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOOK UP LOOK UP
Two lines I wrote in the poem are:-
“Your heart is where your mind is set.
Your mind is what your heart has fixed.”
This is not a circular argument and is allied with this verse – {{Colossians 3:2 “SET YOUR MIND on the things above, not on the
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 21, 2025
[207]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD
If I am a fool I will act like a fool. If I care for no one, you will probably find me at parties drinking and smoking pot. You see our behaviour flows from what we are inside.
James had something to say about this – {{James
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 28, 2025
[215]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - HIS PRECIOUS REDEEMED ONES
In my messages and sermons, sometimes I raise the plight of suffering Christians enduring persecution such as we observe in many nations in Africa. It makes me think of these suffering ones and how the Lord views them.
They are
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2026
[310]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGH THE FIG TREE DOES NOT BLOSSOM
There is a poem called “I Will Still Praise God My Saviour” which is longer than this one. This one may have been the first part and got added to it just later. It is the same but the last stanza is added to the other
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 18, 2026
[311]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS – PRECIOUS ONES FROM HEBREWS
This poem contains many references to verses in Hebrews. The book of Hebrews was written to Jews and that is why it has so many images of the Levitical priesthood and sacrifices. It was written by Paul and would be in line
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 8, 2026
[331]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WE NEED THE LORD ALWAYS
In the past, maybe 150 years ago, divers who dived for pearls in clams, would have a tube for air going from a boat on the surface and it was operated by a pump. I think the tube might have been made from rubber. There was no such thing
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 16, 2026
[350]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WORTHY WORTHY IS THE LAMB
The setting for this poem is Revelation chapters 4 and 5. The scene is in heaven where the Bride of Christ is gathered, a mighty number of people purchased by the blood of the Lamb.
As should be the case, Jesus is in the midst.
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