Contributed by Daryl Grimes on Sep 25, 2009
A good friend of mine, who has been sober and drug-free now for many, many years shared his testimony with me several years ago. After being caught in the 1970’s as a teenager with cocaine his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball Player was over. He used this discouragement and depression as
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Baptist
The chief executive of a large and successful chain of stores made a striking statement about the future of his company. He said that a hundred years from now it would be either greatly changed or nonexistent. The same can be said about any church. If a church fails to change with the times it will
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Pentecostal
Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008
So what is a vision? George Barna defines it as, "Vision for ministry is a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances." Vision is more than simply what could be. It’s something that must
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Methodist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006
based on 3 ratings
| 7,415 views
Church Tech: 9 out of 10 Protestant pastors have Internet access, and about half of all Protestant churches maintain a church Web site, according to a recent Ellison Research study. While 90% of ministers are online, only a third of those use a content filter on their church office computer. 88%
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Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006
based on 2 ratings
| 4,659 views
Ever heard of the "bowling alone syndrome" or "refrigerator rights?" If not, that makes you an average out-of-touch-with-pop-culture American. Society is changing and every ministry and marketer needs to adapt or die. Here are three vital new sociological labels C. Jeff Woods, author of
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Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 28, 2003
based on 15 ratings
| 7,567 views
THE BATTLE AND A GARDEN-- COMMUNION MEDITATION
It is interesting that Jesus went to the “Garden of Gethsemane” on the Mount of Olives. The garden still exists today, including a number of olive trees which may date back to the time of Jesus. “Gethsemane” comes to us from the Hebrew into the
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Independent/Bible
Contributed by C Jordan on Aug 15, 2009
John Piper:
"Luke celebrates this solution. The widows were cared for, and the ministry of the Word of God was not forsaken. Both were utterly crucial. Either could have undermined the church and ended its amazing growth. The solution was the diversity of gifts and calling. The solution was a
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*other
Contributed by David Gant on Feb 14, 2004
based on 77 ratings
| 4,233 views
SEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT
We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect. Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with interviews or by calling at least three references. The
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Baptist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006
based on 2 ratings
| 1,483 views
The LA Times recently stated “Pastors are the single most occupationally frustrated group in America.” Eventually 30%-40% of religious leaders drop out of the ministry and about 75% go through a period of stress so great that they consider quitting. Incidents of mental breakdown are so high that
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THINK STEPS, NOT PROGRAMS
In his book, Seven Practices of Effective Ministry, Andy Stanley writes: "Think Steps, Not Programs" (p. 88). The idea is this: Instead of having a strategic vision that focuses on programs, you have a strategic vision of a people-process, a pathway that takes people from
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 7, 2010
Bound by Tradition
Warren Wiersbe tells us, “Over the years I have seen churches . . . flounder and almost destroy themselves in futile attempts to embalm the past and escape the future. Their theme song was, ‘As it was in the beginning, so shall it ever be, world without end, Amen.’ Often I’ve
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Baptist
Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 12, 2004
1. For 16 years, John Kovac was a “tenant of a tunnel.” John and a few others lived underground in an abandoned railroad tunnel in New York City. When Amtrak bought the tunnel and prepared to reopen it, John was forced to look for a place to live above ground.
According to The New York Times, Mr.
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Pentecostal