Let’s discuss the use of altar calls in church services. For the purpose of this blog post, an altar call is an event that takes place after preaching. It involves an invitation from the preacher to come to the front of the church in response to the message. For 1)
Five years ago we arrived at the church building on Sunday morning to discover graffiti and smashed eggs across the frontage of the church. As a church community, we mobilised to remove the marks and the eggs on the same day that they were discovered. No problem. Now go to
The most common mistake people make when choosing Bible software is choosing based on the quantity of resources available. If you talk about your Bible software in terms of “how many books you own,” you really have missed the point (but we won’t hold it against you). First and foremost,
Have you ever wished your church was more effective in evangelism? Or that your church could connect better with your community? You might be interested in these statistics. The 2006 National Church Life Survey found that: Only 16% of those surveyed actively sought opportunities to talk about their faith. Around
I debated whether to post this today. In the end, it’s not about singling out one guy. But sometimes dealing with a real situation can make a truth appropriately pointed. So here goes… The pre-story I recently read a post by an Australian pastor boasting that he was going to
Elizabeth, New Jersey. Great joy in a missionary meeting for prayer and testimony. Spoke afterward with Carl Johnson of Congo. He counseled Pete and me thus: 1) Never let the sun go down on the slightest miff between us. Walk in the light with no darkness between us; 2) Always
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1 Samuel 16 Saul was anointed while seeking asses; David while tending sheep. The kings came from things commonplace. “God looketh on the heart” (v. 7). Skill, fine features, pleasing manners—”personality”—can be had by external imposition, and God cares little for such. His eye is on the heart. Now external
Allegory is a great tool for illustrating a truth. Allegory is not evidence for that truth. Another way to say it is that allegory is designed to bring truth home. It is not designed to defend truth. To merely preach allegory is to preach without evidence and defence for the
Have you ever experienced this? You’re in church, singing with the congregation, and suddenly a line from the text becomes highlighted in your mind. You’re arrested by its truth. The music flows on while your heart is stirred up toward God. You feel a lump in your throat and your
Your church probably reaches out to children through teaching Scripture classes in public schools, or an AWANA club, or the occasional holiday Bible club. You might already be involved in one of these outreaches. If you’re not, perhaps you should! Here’s a couple statistics to think about: 1. More than
