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VALENTINE CARD
Do you ever think that
just a card doesn't do justice to how you feel? Do you read through
all the cards on the rack and reject them? Too silly, too flowery,
to blunt, too vague - you finally decide to go home and make a card,
in spite of your artistic inabilities. Even then, the words cannot
really express your heart. Suggestion: Make up your own card.
Whoever gets it will love it.
Here
is a 97 page study guide for making the most of your marriage.
Subjects include: What did you expect? Goals. Fulfilling intimacy.
Decision making. In-Laws or Outlaws? Communication. Finances, and
many more. Great for husband and wife to do together or for a
couples study group. Price only $9.99.
ENCOURAGING WIDOWS
Stay connected. Do not assume we
need "space" to grieve. There is already a huge hole in our
universe. Please invite us to anything. We may decline but
will appreciate being asked. Do not tell us the story of losing your
friend or close relative. We may be able to listen to your story
later, but not now. Please call asking specific questions such as:
"May I run an errand for you? Meet you for coffee?" Do not say,
"Call me if you need anything." Do say, "I've been thinking of you
and praying for you." - by Miriam Neff
AN ATHEIST & A
MARINE
A United States Marine was attending
some college courses between assignments. He had completed
assignments in Iraq and Afganistan. One of the courses had a
professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the
ACLU.
One day the professor shocked the
class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated,
"God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this
platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten
minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm
still waiting."
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got
out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him,
knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The
Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other
students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in
silence.
The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at
the Marine and asked, "What the heck is the matter with you? Why did
you do that?"
The Marine calmly replied, "God was too busy today protecting
America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff
and act like an idiot. So, He sent me."
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
Many churches today are doing a great job communicating with
members and prospects by their monthly email newsletter. If you
don't have have it yet, why not give it a try? Ask several talented
people to do the home work. The cost is minimal and the returns very
high. People without a computer should receive a hard copy. For an
excellent example, Google Zion Lutheran Church, Petosky, MI, and go
to Newsletter.
A PROMISE TO YOU
"But this is what the Lord says... 'Fear not, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.'" Isaiah
43:1-2
TEN RULES FOR USING CHURCH BUILDINGS
If you open it, close it.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you unlock it, lock it.
It you break it, repair it.
If you can't fix it, report it to the church office.
If you drop it, pick it up.
If you use it, don't abuse it.
If you make a mess, clean
it up.
If you move it, replace it.
If you don't know how it works, leave it alone.
Thank you!
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 Would You Love Me A
Little?
by Don
Ginkel
There was a four-year-old boy.
He had no parents, came from the slums, and was taken to an
orphanage. The first night was quite an experience. When bed
time came, after the first bath he had in some time, the
matron took him to a bed with clean white sheets. He said, "Do
you want ME to get in THERE?" After tucking him in the
matron reached down and kissed him good night. "What did you
do THAT for?" he said, and he rubbed off the
kiss.
The next morning, when he saw
the lady who put him to bed, he said, "Would you mind doing
that again... what you did last night?" He had never been
kissed before. It did something to him that warmed him inside.
In about a week's time the matron said the boy was coming
around three or four times a day. He'd look up at her with a
soft look on his face and say, "Would you love me a little?"
After some time it was felt Tommy was ready for
adoption.
One day he was brought into a
room to meet a man and woman. The matron asked Tommy if he
would like to go home with the woman. Tommy looked at the
floor and didn't say anything. The lady said, "I'll give
you a rocking horse and all sorts of play things." She
kept on talking, trying to tell him how nice it would be at
their home. After a bit Tommy looked up at her and said,
"Would you love me a little?"[Complete Article]
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 Worlds Easiest Outreach
Strategy
Pastor Bob has developed a 20-hour evangelism course to
help members share their faith. They will learn an outline,
several Bible passages, and practice how to deal with
objections. For six weeks Bob advertised the new program in
the church bulletin, newsletters, and mentioned it from the
pulpit.
When the first night arrived, Pastor
Bob was surprised - and a little discouraged - when seven
people (out of 400 in worship) showed up. The seven people who
responded probably have the gift of evangelist, and should be
trained by Bob's program. But the rest of the church is
waiting to be trained in "relational witnessing." They just
don't know it. Neither does Pastor Bob.
Focus on these
issues:
- Start cultivating your congregation
to have outreach thinking. Ask your key leaders to read the
book The Jesus Enterprise: How You Engage Culture to
Reach the Unchurched.
- Continue the cultivation of the
members of the church in a massive biblical worldview
campaign like the 70 Days of Vision using the
book Discover Your Windows: Lining Up With God's
Vision and 70 Days of Vision Campaign Resource
Kit.
- Meanwhile, at every meeting,
gathering, Bible class, or function, take a few minutes and
ask if members would like to share what God is doing in
their lives.[Complete Article]
Dr. Kent Hunter (LCMS) is
nationally known as the Church Doctor. You can contact him at
(800) 626-8515, or visit his website at www.churchdoctor.org. |
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Stack of Stuff
Building
A Membership Class
"Don -
Our new membership class began with more than we
expected today! Can we please order an additional 12
copies of I Have Good News For
You for as soon as you can ship them to us? We
used the bulletin inserts you sent last time,
plus letters, plus postcards, plus
personal contact - 19 new folks! A blessing in
every way. My first exposure to your material was
way back in the mid-1970s. It worked for me then, and I
still prefer it these many years later. Pastor Dave
Zachrich (LCMS), Tallmadge, Oh."
On
Sunday, February 10th, why not have a worship
service that precedes Valentines Day that's full of
encouragement from God's Word on that big word - LOVE?
We have a special sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:5
entitled, "Loving Enough to
Be Hurt." It's His Word.
It packs a wallop. It's in Word. Adopt or adapt as you
see fit. If you have a sermon that is special to you,
why not email it to us? We'd love to have
it.
"We
need risk takers in the church today. Without
risk takers church-governing boards have a tendency to
play it safe because they are composed of cautious
people. After years of safe, practical decisions, a
church begins to decline. Men leave. A growing church is
a risk-taking church." Page 76 of Why Men Hate Going to
Church by David Murrow.
Over 150,000 churches use the
Church Copyright License (CCLI). Not to do so can
present real problems. You can call them at
1-800-234-2446 or visit www.ccli.com.
Something to think about: "A
building is certainly not a necessity in obeying the
evangelism imperative, but appealing church facilities
can increase a newly churched person's comfort level in
inviting others to church." - Thom S. Rainer.
Two mammoth opportunities for
congregations today. 1. The Sunday School. It's in
serious decline. To some kids it's boring and
many parents don't want their children to go
through that. Please read the article:
Kingdom Quest below. 2.
Children who need to go to church "on their level." Read
Kids Church below. Dr. Roger
Theimer (LCMS) has teamed up with other talented
educators and editors to create these fresh materials.
We're delighted to provide both programs to assist
congregations in meeting the challenge of children's
ministries today.
Whether visitors are "seekers" or
transfers, your church and everything it does
is under scrutiny. At the Center for Leadership
Development, we've surveyed more than 800 congregations.
Visitors identified as most important for attracting
them to a church and keeping them
there:
- clear
sense of purpose
- strong communication of the Word of God
- warmth of the pastor
- evangelistic emphasis
- a
meaningful and enriching worship service with a
quality music ministry.
Of
course, other areas are also important, like a place to
make meaningful connections with others, engaging and
enriching children's and your programs, and a strong
emphasis on prayer. - by the right
fit
Any good ideas to share? Please
consider sending us descriptions of activities,
programs, experiences, etc. you've found particularly
useful in your ministry. Hit info@churchpress.com
An overview of The Five Languages of
Love -
- Words
of affirmation or building someone up with positive
words.
- Acts
of service or doing something to show love to a spouse
or child.
- Giving gifts or providing visible symbols of
love.
- Quality time or spending time with a loved one
and focusing exclusively on him or her.
- Physical touch or providing the emotional power
of physical touch.
"Therefore, my dear
brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in
vain." (1 Corinthians
15:58) |
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Informal Worship
by Randy
Hitts
Zion Lutheran Church in Petoskey, MI,
holds an informal worship service
on Monday evenings at
7:00. The weekend employed, younger generations, and
vacationing visitors are available at this time, but they
prefer a less formal service.
Let me welcome you to our service. Come in wearing your
golf shorts or work clothes, that's fine. Pastor Kenny is the
one with the friendly smile, wearing jeans and a polo shirt
and talking to the visitors. Our band is at the corner of the
pulpit. The drummer, guitar players, keyboardist, and singers
take up a lot of space. That's okay, because the pastor often
walks the isle to preach and interact during the worship
service. He may even stand by you to sing. Looking around you
will see many children that choose not to go to the pajama
party nursery. They think it is more fun to be in church. [Complete
Article] |
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Kingdom Quest 
An engaging small
group/large group Sunday School format, focuses on high-impact
discipleship while giving kids a great time experiencing
Jesus. It develops relationships in small groups while
applying the lessons to their lives. The large group
presentation uses interactive teaching methods: drama,
puppets, game shows, videos and much more. Best of all,
lessons come as a download or on CD so you can easily adapt,
reproduce, and recycle them. Kingdom Quest is available for
four age groups: Ages 2 & 3, Ages 4-5-K, Grades 1-4 and
Grades 5 & 6.
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 Kid's
Church
An age-appropriate word and
worship, can be used on Sunday mornings independently,
alongside Kingdom Quest or as a midweek program. The
interactive large group format requires fewer volunteers.
Children gather for worship, active Bible discovery, learning
games and prayer. Lessons come as a download or CD so you can
easily adapt, reproduce, and recycle them. It is available for
two age groups: Ages 4-5-K and Grades 1-4.
Both Kingdom Quest and Kid's Church
offer 58 lessons per curriculum year and provide flexibility
and enough lessons to recycle the curriculum year after year.
The curriculum for the first year is available now. The second, third and fourth year curriculum
will be available through Church Press in the following
years. Discounts are available based on church size -
phone orders only. Call 1-888-772-8878. Ask how you can
receive a Sample Lesson CD and Information
DVD.
Go to www.churchpress.com/Children'sMinistry
for additional information.
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Take Time For
Lent
LENT
TAKES TIME.
Wednesday night services we're suppose to
attend;
Daily Bible study; Holy Week services, non-stop
church.
LENT TAKES TIME.
Sorry, we don't have time! Wish we did!
Up early, on the go all day long;
Trying to keep up with all the demands;
Dead tired when we finally get home;
Lent? Out of sync with our busy times!
LENT TAKES TIME.
Time out from the busyness;
Time out from trying to stay on top of
things;
Time out from being schedule driven;
Time to deny yourself, take up the cross and follow
Jesus!
HE TOOK TIME!
Jesus didn't say, "Gotta go";
Jesus didn't say, "Catch you later";
Jesus didn't say, "How long will it take?"
HE TOOK TIME!
For you He fasted 40 days in the
wilderness;
For you He walked the land, preaching,
teaching;
For you He spent long hours in prayer;
For you Jesus took time on the cross, a time of hell so
you can have eternity in heaven;
"DENY YOURSELF AND FOLLOW
ME!"
Jesus, help me surrender my schedule to You. Holy
Spirit, give me the courage to leave some things undone.
Father, make me out of sync with this world and in sync with
Yours. Teach me to number my days and apply my heart to
wisdom. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
Suggestion: Use the above in a
letter to all members and prospects before Ash Wednesday
giving details of your Lenten services. Pastor - sign with
your own personal appeal for sacrifice and growth in this
Lenten season.
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Choices We
Make
by Bob Tasler
"Just because You can, Doesn't Mean You Should." That was
the title to a sermon I wrote several years ago about choices
we make in a privileged society. That sentiment is still
valid, whether it's about things we can do, things we say, or
how we spend our time. Just because we can do it, doesn't mean
we should. In life we will see open doors before us, but
doesn't mean we should go through them all. We need wisdom and
the guidance of God's Word to help us decide which to
take.
We who live in a wealthy nation have more choices, and
the more we have, the more apt we may be to make bad ones. Our
computer can take us to many places; should we therefore go
there? Just because it feels good, should we do it? Just
because it tastes good, is affordable or is fun, should we go
there? [Complete
Article]
Rev. Bob Tasler (LCMS) lives in Castle Rock, CO.
He writes a weekly message like the one above and emails it to
hundreds of people around the country free. You may subscribe
by emailing him.
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