based on 3 ratings
| 3,003 views
Baptism seems like such a small thing. Water and a few words. Yet it’s a big thing. It unites us to Christ and makes His story our story. It’s a big deal. That’s why families travel from long distances to see a baby being baptized. That’s why pastors hurry to the hospital to baptize a baby who may
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Lutheran
Contributed by Richard Francis on May 10, 2009
Peterson observed further “The story of David is not a story of what God wants us to be, but a story of God working with the raw material of our lives as he finds us” and he also then writes “Naivety regarding sin is dangerous as we follow Jesus, but an obsession with sin is decidedly unhealthy. It
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
WHAT'S A PARABLE?
Some have defined the word parable as "a story by which something real in life is used as a means of presenting a moral thought." Others have said a parable "puts the known next to the unknown so that we may learn." They are usually a story or a narrative taken from nature or
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*other
Contributed by Don Jones on Jan 11, 2007
based on 2 ratings
| 1,603 views
Rev. David E. Cox passed along this observation to his congregation one day. My youngest son, Brandon, is quite the newcomer as an author. No, he does not have the capabilities of writing splendid poetry like Maya Angelou nor leaves his readers in suspense like Stephen L. Carter, but with every
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Sep 4, 2008
When I was in New York, I taught confirmation. I’m delighted to announce that Scott Roby and the confirmation teachers are planning to use the materials (updated, of course) that I used. The strength of the curriculum is that each student has a mentor, an adult from the congregation.
The young
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 22, 2001
based on 47 ratings
| 6,107 views
DESPAIR
During the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century, German pastor Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to flee from their home. One night as they stayed in a small village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and cried openly in despair. To comfort her, Gerhardt reminded her of
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Paul Fritz on May 20, 2002
based on 55 ratings
| 2,894 views
Title: God Moves in a Mysterious Way
The hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Way has been a source of great comfort and blessing to many of God’s people since William Cowper wrote it in the 18th century. Yet few people know of the unusual circumstances that led to its composition.
William
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
based on 3 ratings
| 2,082 views
Can you recall a time when you were close to God? So close, I mean, you could swear you heard the rustle of angels’ wings? Maybe there was an expansive feeling within, perhaps a tear at the corner of your eye?
I recall such a time. Believe it or not, I was in church. I was a student at Austin
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 29, 2004
For many years a country church in Iowa set aside one Sunday annually for youth to conduct the entire service. The young people did it all; call to worship, invocation, prayer, special music, announcements, choir, and one young person would deliver the sermon. One year a 16 year old boy was told
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Jeff Simms on Apr 4, 2004
Could we with ink the oceans fill
And were the skies of parchment made
And every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the oceans dry,
Nor could that scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky
Frederick M.
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Baptist
based on 40 ratings
| 2,743 views
I’ve been a pastor a long time, and I’ve encouraged a multitude of folks to get regular about worshipping. But I’ve also been told a similar multitude of times, Preacher, you don’t have to go to church to worship.
Now, I would say that that is true; I am also certain that if you say you believe
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United Methodist
Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Apr 2, 2007
based on 2 ratings
| 3,699 views
“Decision Without Procrastination"
"During the early days of the ministry of Dwight L. Moody, the great evangelist launched a series of meetings in Chicago with promise of the largest crowds that he had ever addressed up to that time. He was speaking of the life of Christ, and on the first Sunday
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Baptist
Some people don’t need much of an excuse to stay home from church. If it even looks like it might rain, they don’t want to risk getting a little wet. The hymn writer Frances Havergal gave several reasons for attending church—especially on rainy days.
1. God has blessed the Lord’s Day, making no
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Denomination:
Lutheran