December 2008
Church Press Newsletter

God sent forth Jesus, that true Redeemer; He sent forth Jesus and set me free. Therefore I'll say again: God loves me dearly, God loves me dearly, loves even me!

Christmas Is For Children

a sermon with video clip by Don Ginkel for any Sunday in Advent or Christmas

I believe that Christmas is for all children of all ages, and I believe that little children have a way of teaching those of us who are adults how to believe in Jesus. They believe when they do not understand certain words or even when they get words wrong.

I heard of a little boy who learned a prayer called "Martin Luther's Morning Prayer." In that prayer there is a phrase that says, "May the wicked foe have no power over us." For seven years he had prayed that prayer and finally he asked his pastor, "What does it mean that the wicked foam is to have no power over us?" All those years he had been praying that the wicked foam would have no power over him until he found out that it wasn't that but the wicked foe. But yet, he believed.

I can remember learning the Apostles' Creed as a small child, and there is a phrase in that creed which says, "From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead." I always wondered as a little child why God would judge dead people and quick people, but not slow people. Yet, I believed the creed. [Complete Article]

Mr. Contrarian

by Kent Hunter

The meeting ended about a half hour later than scheduled. But that didn't stop Tom from grabbing Jim in the parking lot. "Hey, what's with George lately? I don't want to gossip, but is it just me, or is George against everything the pastor is for?"

Jim knew George well. They went to school together. "Oh, that's just George. He was like that in the seventh grade... and he's been that way ever since."

The problem is that George made the meeting go long. Thirty minutes times ten men is 300 people minutes wasted. Worse than that, George continually discourages the pastor and other leaders, especially these elders. Should George be asked to consider some other ministry in the church? Probably so! [Complete Article]

Stack of Stuff

When the loss of all mankind

was discussed in eternity by the Trinity, the Lord willingly said, "I will go. I will place the weight of the sins of all people, including the person reading this, on Myself. I will take the punishment for all their sin on the cross."

He was the only Baby designed for death, physical and everlasting. He would be punished as we should have been punished forever in hell.

Oh, the height of Jesus' love, Higher than the heavens above,

Deeper than the depths of sea, Lasting to eternity.

Love that found me - wondrous thought -

Found me when I sought Him not."

I give myself to Jesus because nobody has loved me like that. No one else will ever love me like that. No one else can - but Jesus!

A worship service

for the Third Sunday in Advent, but with slight changes can be used for any Advent service. In Microsoft Word. Easy to adopt or adapt.

Go Christmas Caroling

Invite everyone in your church to go caroling, and have them invite their unchurched friends to come along. Do this early on Saturday evening or Sunday evening. Remind people to dress warmly. Plan for enough people to have three, four, or five groups to go to designated areas around the church. Pastor should give verbal encouragement at a worship service. In advance choose a leader for each group. Prepare copies of the songs, just two verses of six carols. Sing at least two carols at each home (might check in advance to see if you can also sing at nursing homes, retirement apartments, etc.) If possible, have each caroler hold a battery powered candle. Ring the doorbell and start singing. When finished wish your guests a Merry Christmas and give a them handout from the church which invites them to join in worship services. You might also staple a church business card to the handout sheet. Return to the church fellowship hall for warm and cold drinks including hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. Remember that all this takes minimal planning and the "payoff" is great.

If you know of

someone who has lost a job, this might be a good time to invite them out for breakfast to listen, encourage, and brainstorm with them. If a number of people in your congregation are unemployed, it may be helpful to start a support group. For some folks, food stuffs and occasional cash would be a huge help. "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (1 John 3:17).

Please feel free

to use any of the articles in our monthly Newsletter for your bulletins, newsletters, and discussion points at committee meetings.

Dr. Craig Loving

contributes articles for this Newsletter. If you have a few minutes, we suggest that you view his website starting with the Welcome page. He is not only a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, but the Lord has blessed him with many, many talents in the area of counseling. There are some gifted disciples in life that we need to be acquainted with and Dr. Loving is one of them.

"Pastor - It was exciting

to read your November Newsletter and find that the book, The Love Dare, available. Our youngest son and his wife took us to the movie FIREPROOF and the theater was packed on a Tuesday evening. The theater had already held the movie OVER for the 4th week. It was so awesome to see people of all ages attend this magnificent movie. I would like to order 5 copies of The Love Dare. My husband and I intend to give them to all our children as a very special Christmas gift this year." - Darlene, Sioux Falls, SD (To order your copy of this book, click The Love Dare. 213 pages. Only $14.99. It will be shipped within two days.)

Children's Christmas Talk

Text: John 3:16

Object: A blender

Did you receive any gifts last Christmas? Name one gift you received last Christmas. A doll, a bicycle, a toy puppy. Last Christmas one of my sons gave this to me. Do you know what it is? A blender. There are all kinds of buttons here. What are you suppose to do with these buttons? Push them! But you need to push the right one. Which button is the right one to push? [Complete Article]

Teaching the Teachers

One of the best things we can do for our teaching staff (Sunday School, Midweek, etc.) is to teach them. In our parish ministry we have found that meeting twice a month for training really pays big dividends. We suggest a two hour session twice a month preferably with the pastor doing the teaching. The enthusiasm and instruction from the pastor is critical. Remember that the old rule-of-thumb is still good today: a teacher should know ten times as much as the students! We like this breakdown:

A one hour detailed study of the text for the following Sunday including application of text to the teachers and then the students.
Thirty minutes on methodology. First know what to teach and then how to teach.
Last thirty minutes on problem solving and brainstorming.

We are now carrying the Family Ministry Curriculum titled Faith Legacy Series

This is a DVD-based training curriculum to help families grow spiritually in their homes. Parents meet for three 60-90 minute sessions with other parents of same-age children. The sessions include DVD teachings interspersed with small group discussion. When the course is completed, parents speak a personalized blessing over their child while giving the child a blessing object. This blessing event can take place in a worship service so the whole church can better support parents helping their children know, love and follow Jesus.

Faith Legacy Series are available every two years.

Birth - Faith Chest
Age 2 - Picture Bible
Age 4 - Worship Kit
Age 6 - Towel and Basin
Age 8 - First Bible.

Each DVD set includes a Getting Started DVD, Facilitator and Participant Handbooks on CD, and the teaching/discussion sessions on three separate DVDs. Implementation is as easy as 1-2-3. Email us today and ask for your free Faith Legacy Information DVD, #680. Be sure to include your name, church name, and address.

"Y'all Pray For Us!"

by Bob Tasler

It was Sunday morning in a small church in the south. About a hundred or so people were present to hear the Word of God, sing His praises and have fellowship together. Little six-year-old Tommy Jackson was full of vim and vinegar, squirming when he should have been sitting and jabbering when he should be quiet. Pastor's sermon that day was on prayer and it was appropriate, for Tommy's Mom and Dad had been praying for him to be quiet all morning. But to no avail. Tommy would not sit and be still and would not be quiet.

Finally during the offering Tommy dropped a hymnal on the floor with a loud bang and he blurted out: "Damn!" His mortified Dad grabbed him by the seat of his pants, tossed him over his shoulder and headed down the aisle for the back door. Everyone, Tommy included, knew what was coming next. Just as he disappeared out the door, Tommy said loudly, "Y'all pray for us!" [Complete Article] (you need to finish this)

Stages of Change:
How to help people preparing to change

by Craig Loving

At first glance, the element of making preparations to change might appear like a minor, even insignificant element. "Just do it," the saying goes. "You know that what you're doing is wrong. Just stop it. Just change. Just do something different."

May I suggest that, much to the contrary, changes attempted from a "just do it" mentality will be erratic, unfocused, and doomed. Changes attempted after careful preparation have no guarantee of success. But changes attempted with no preparation beforehand are guaranteed to fail. It makes as much sense to attempt to change without making a plan as to take a trip around the world without consulting a map.

Here are five ways you can help people make plans for change. Be flexible in incorporating them in collaborating on a change-plan. Some people need more help with one aspect, and less help with another. However, be sure to include all five elements. [Complete Article]

10 Ways to Pray for Barack Obama

by J. Lee Grady

Whether you are happy about the election results or not, all Christians must unite in prayer for our new president. Please don't forsake this responsibility. It's over. We've reached the end of the longest, angriest and most nerve-wracking presidential campaign in American history. Finally the "I approve this message" ads have ceased. The endless robot phone calls have stopped ringing. The debates, and the annoying post-debate comments from "experts," are history - until the next election cycle.

More than half the nation is celebrating today while others are mourning. We are a divided nation, split into unhappy fragments by abortion, gay marriage, global warming, a failed economy and an unpopular war. Those who voted for Barack Obama have claimed a historic victory; some on McCain's side are already looking for scapegoats. Politics is politics. (Link)

Do It Because of Jesus

During the busy weeks prior to Christmas thoughtful Christians go out of their way to show their love for others. Here are a few suggestions. You may think of more. Put them in your bulletin or newsletter.

Babysit for someone while they shop.
Shovel snow for someone this winter who could use the help.
Invite at least one person to join you in worship Christmas Eve.
Drive others to church for worship.
"Adopt" someone in a care center, not just for Christmas, but for an indefinite period of time.
Use your special talents (what are they?) where needed.
Invite someone who is alone for the holidays over for dinner.
Ask the Lord for guidance in using you in meaningful ways to bring glory to Him - He will direct you.

Joyful Offering Time

Recently Nadine and I visited a Spanish-speaking church in Pennsylvania. It was unbelievably friendly. When they discovered we were not Hispanic or bi-lingual, they immediately offered the services of a translator. Their worship services go from 1 ½ to 2 hours. But the most striking aspect of their worship was the offering. The pastor led in prayer. Two ushers stood in front each holding an offering plate and the worship band began playing joyful hymns. First the children walked up the center isle to the ushers with their gifts, smiling, and touching people on the way up, then placed their gifts in the plates and returned to their seats on the outside aisle, again touching worshipers on the way - the teens did the same. Next young adults did the same, and next the older adults. We have never witnessed so much joy at offering time. Once again the pastor led in a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord.

I realize that spiritual enthusiasm and euphoria does not mean that a genuine worship of God is involved; this, however, begs an answer to the question: Can we non-Hispanic (I am 100% German) Christians be more joyful as we bring our gifts to the Lord? The joy of giving is written on many pages of the Bible. Two scriptures encourage us: "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7) and "The people rejoiced at the willing response... for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly" (1 Chronicles 29:9). ONE GOOD SUGGESTION: Periodically have worshipers personally bring their gifts to the altar while the congregation sings a hymn of praise.