Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Apr 5, 2009
based on 2 ratings
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JOY-SUCKERS
A "joy sucker" is someone who is determined to create either discouragement or hardship on your ministry. "Joy suckers" take on all shapes and sizes, but most often they are negative in their outlook, disappointed with their family, in need of attention or enamored with their own
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Baptist
Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 26, 2010
DRY TRUTH OR DYNAMIC LIES?
During my first year of ministry here, I asked a hypothetical question: If you had the choice of attending a church where the pastor believed and taught the Bible but was dry and not a very good speaker, or a church where the pastor believed that the Bible contained many
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Independent/Bible
Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 7, 2010
A Few Need to Die
Warren Wiersbe, Be Strong. (p. 30)
It is unfortunate but true that sometimes the only way a ministry can move forward is by conducting a few funerals. A pastor friend of mine pleaded with his church board to build a new educational [building] to house an exploding Sunday
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Baptist
Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 6, 2012
based on 2 ratings
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HOLY JOY
Richard Foster describes holy joy like this:
"Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. ...It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride. ...Utter abandonment to God is done freely and with celebration. And so I urge you to enjoy this ministry of self-surrender. ...The saints
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Nazarene
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
based on 1 rating
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I think of David Livingstone, the pioneer missionary to Africa, who walked over 29,000 miles. His wife died early in their ministry and he faced stiff opposition from his Scottish brethren. He ministered half blind. His kind of perseverance spurs me on. As I walk, I remember the words in his diary:
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Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
based on 3 ratings
| 1,673 views
I like the old story about the guy who came to church with his family. As they were driving home afterward he was complaining about everything. He said, “The music was too loud. The sermon was too long. The announcements were unclear. The building was hot. The people were unfriendly.” He went on &
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Contributed by Don Hawks on Jun 22, 2007
The teachings of John Wesley were very instrumental in my identifying with the United Methodist approach to practicing the Christian life. Wesley of course was an 18th-century Anglican clergyman and Christian theologian who was an early leader in the Methodist movement. In addition to Wesley’s
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Denomination:
Methodist
Contributed by Peter Loughman on May 15, 2008
TOO IMPORTANT FOR MINISTRY
Years ago the retired church janitor had passed away and the family had asked the Senior Pastor to do the funeral services. The Senior Pastor informed me that I was to do the funeral service and not he, because, (and I am not making this up) because, “as senior pastor,
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 25, 2008
based on 1 rating
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I read of a candidate for ordination into the ministry. He was having an interview with the bishop on the day before the ordination service. Feeling his unworthiness he said, "Bishop, if you knew how unworthy I am to be ordained by you, you would never lay hands on me."
The dear bishop replied,
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Baptist
Cymbala shares in his book, "Fresh Power":
"But just as there are people who watch from the bleachers and never know the challenge of competing on the court, we have millions of churchgoers who sit in pews every week without ever entering the game. They sacrifice nothing, strain toward no ministry
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 6, 2004
based on 7 ratings
| 7,937 views
Forgiveness in Action
Pastor Hayes a man in his middle forties, was well-loved by his congregation, and faithful to God and to his family. He enjoyed a successful ministry in an exuberantly vital, growing church. Just when everything seemed to be going well, a cloud came over this man and his
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Wesleyan
Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 22, 2004
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| 1,959 views
• No one imagined that Charles Dutton would have achieved anything, for he spent many years imprisoned for manslaughter. But when someone asked this now-successful Broadway star of "The Piano Lesson" how he managed to make such a remarkable transition, he replied, "Unlike the
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Stan Rodda on Oct 13, 2004
I talked about the wealthy CEO who is wondering if there is more out there, the happy family that is actually falling apart because no one understands them, the successful entrepreneur who is unfulfilled in his job, and the popular student who even though everyone wants to be like them they are
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Apr 9, 2008
The difficulty some have in entering the doorway to the kingdom of God is like the experience of the boy who got his hand caught inside an expensive vase. His upset parents applied soapsuds and cooking oil without success.
When they seemed ready to break the vase as the only way to
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Denomination:
Pentecostal
Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 22, 2004
A soaring buzzard gliding over Alabama collided with a turboprop Marine trainer. The collision, spreading feathers and broken glass through both of the trainer cockpits, knocked out the flight instructor and his student. The instructor, regaining consciousness thought the student was dead so he
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Art Good on Jun 7, 2007
Check out the people you listen to on the radio, CD’s, the shows you watch, the people we cheer for on the football fields, and the basketball courts, how many of them are anti-Christian in their life, in their lyrics? Yet we put up posters of them, and pay for their CD’s and their DVD’s and watch
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Denomination:
Wesleyan
Sermon Central