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November 2008
Church Press
Newsletter |
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"When the uproar
had ended, Paul sent for the disciples
and, after
encouraging them, said good-by
and set out for Macedonia. He traveled through
that area speaking many
words of
encouragement to the people"
(Acts
20:1-2).
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 Encouragement
Desperately
Needed! a sermon with
video clip by Don Ginkel for any
Sunday
1 Thessalonians 5:11,
"Therefore encourage one
another and build each other
up, just as in fact you are doing."
Even Christians experience discouragement.
Billy Graham once said, "The Christian life is not
a constant high. I have had my moments of deep
discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with
tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive
me,' or 'help me.'"
Everyone will experience discouragement in
their lives. The dictionary defines discouragement
as: "A feeling of despair in the face of
obstacles, a state of distraught and loss of sense
of enthusiasm, drive, or courage, the weakening of
confidence, dejection."
Satan's first attack on mankind was
to bring discouragement into the lives of
Adam and Eve. [Complete
Article] |
I
Can't Hear
You!
by Kent
Hunter
 Why does church
attendance dwindle? Sometimes it's the
atrocious music. Occasionally it's boring
preaching - or preaching that has no life
application. In some cases, divisive factions turn
people off. Among these and dozens of other
reasons, there is a surprising, often
subconscious, culprit: the sound system!
The most common sound system challenge is
echo. Why? It is unconscious to the listener. It
makes listening to the preacher a laborious task.
People find it "work" to listen, but they don't
realize why. After a while, those who are less
committed hear the Sunday alarm go off, turn over,
and go back to sleep.
We see the echo quite often, especially in
older church buildings. Architects used to build
sanctuaries around the pipe organ (or an electric
organ that sounds like one). The environment for
good organ sound includes hard surfaces in the
worship space. For speaking, through a sound
system, that type of building is horrible. [Complete
Article] |
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Stack of
Stuff
Our baby and God's
 "On November 2 we will be
privileged to baptize our new granddaughter,
Samantha G. Ginkel, at Thornton, PA. Our son David
and daughter-in-law Evelyn mailed an
invitation card
to their friends to join them for
this happy event. More than 40 people
have indicated they plan to attend. We're happy
for Samantha's birth and now for her second birth.
May God be praised!" DFG
Idea for outreach - the invitation
card
Have one of your members
make special invitation cards (use computer
and a photo printer) for parents to give at
the occasion of a baptism, confirmation, etc. Give
them sufficient copies to mail to all their
friends and relatives. Have your church buy
the paper and envelopes. If possible, have these
guests sit together with the parents. Sometimes
parents invite their guests to their home for
brunch. From experience we can tell you that this
gesture is very, very beneficial.
Click here to see the
card David and Evelyn sent to their
friends.
A keynote
speaker
at a convention of
priests came to the dais, shuffled his notes,
scanned his audience, and said thoughtfully,
"Where to begin? Where to begin?" A voice from the
crowd yelled: "As close to the end as
possible!"
"The other day a pastor
called
and placed an order. We
chatted for a bit about his church and his
ministry. He then asked this searching
question: 'Don, what do you have that I cannot do
without?' For me that was a 'home run' question.
We then had a most profitable conversation.
Brother pastor, if there is anything we can do to
stand beside you in ministry, give us a
call. P.S. Why not direct that pastor's
question to someone you feel might have a good
answer? The answer may prove very beneficial!" -
DFG
Frequently
encourage your people
to attend church when
they are out of town, AND, ask them to bring back
the bulletin, write their name on it, and hand it
to you the following Sunday. You'd be surprised at
the benefits of this good habit. Remember,
encourage them frequently.
Lord's Prayer video clip -
the scene from Flight 93 where Todd
Beamer asks a Verizon supervisor to pray the
Lord's Prayer with him over the phone before they
try and take over the plane. Reminds us that
this prayer is still the prayer of all
prayers. Click here (you may need
to scroll to bottom of page for the video
clip.)
Thank
you!
Rev. Dr. Richard J.
Davis, Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne,
IN, sends this note: "I just wanted to let
you know that quite a few seminary students whom I
interview each year mention that they taught
confirmation while out on vicarage year and that
they wish that there was more material to use.
That of course is when I mention Getting
Closer To God and your Old Testament study. I
also mention I Have Good News For You for
those looking for adult class material. I then
give them one of the catalogs you have sent my
way." NOTE: The 20 lesson Getting Closer to
God Bible study is not only
used for junior confirmands, but also adult
classes and Bible study groups.
A prayer of faith as seen in a
recent bulletin
Lord Jesus Christ, I
admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever
before dared to admit, but through You I am more
loved and accepted than I ever before dared to
hope. I thank You for paying my debt on the cross,
taking what I deserved in order to offer me
complete forgiveness. Knowing that You have been
raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and
trust You as my saving Lord. Amen.
What special
ministries can
your church start which
will build people up and bring glory to Jesus? The
list is almost endless. Suggestion: Bring ten to
twenty Christians together to brain-storm the
question. Provide some light refreshments. You'll
be pleasantly surprised at the list. Be in prayer
over this, and then ask the same group to pick out
two ministries and how your church can go about
starting them. Now, what are you waiting for?
Go do it!
Please consider a pantry food
bank
for your church and community. People are
losing jobs and seniors on limited fixed incomes
can be the objects of your love and care. Pastors
can use their needs for a personal visit for
encouragement and ministry.
How
to "flesh out" your
sermons
Prepare a Bible study on
each sermon with pertinent questions on the text
and supporting verses with application to daily
living. Place these hand-outs in the bulletins
each Sunday and have your Bible study groups go
deeper into your message. Your people will
experience faster growth, and you will not have
the feeling that "no one remembers the sermons."
Try it a few times and see for yourself. It really
works.
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What Is The Third
Jihad?
It is
Islam's vision for America. It is a movie about
the war which the main stream media is not talking
about. It reveals the enemy our government does
not want to talk about publicly. One person who is
not afraid to speak about the jihad is Dr. Zuhdi
Jasser, a Muslim American and former physician to
the U.S. Congress.
Interviews are conducted with radical
Islamists in the U.S. and leaders trying to stop
them, such as Rudy Giuliani, Clinton CIA Director
Jim Woosley, NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly,
Senator Joe Lieberman, former Homeland Security
Secretary Tom Ridge, and former terrorist group
member Tawfik Hamid.
It was said in the 1930's and should be said
today: "The only thing necessary for the
triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing." Please watch the free 30 minute
version here. (A full
length version is available for purchase.) Forward
the link to your friends. Thank you.
DFG |
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How Deep The Father's
Love For Us
HERE IS AN UPLIFTING SONG FOR
YOUR WORSHIP SERVICES THAT WILL BLESS EVERYONE.
It's by Stuart Townend. Take a moment to
view and listen to the three minute video -
click here.
IT'S VERY SPECIAL. We print just a few verses for
you.
How deep the Father's
love for us,
How vast beyond
on all measure,
That He should
give His only Son
To make a wretch His
treasure.
How great the pain of
searing loss,
The Father turns His
face away
As wounds which mar the
Chosen One,
Bring many sons to
glory.
Why should I gain from
His reward?
I cannot give an
answer.
But this I know with
all my heart,
His wounds have paid my
ransom.
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The National Election
For President
 It is one of
the most important ones in many years. A host
of items are on the agenda and many
of them are extremely critical such Supreme
Court appointments, massive entitlements, national
security, the huge national dept, etc. We believe
that abortion should be at the top of
the list.
On August 16th pastor Rick Warren of
Saddleback Church asked the two candidates this
question: "At what point does a baby get human
rights, in your
view?" McCain said simply that
it begins at conception. Senator Obama said:
"...Answering that question with specificity, you
know, is, uh, is, above my pay grade." To
which someone said, "If the question of when a
baby gets human rights is above your pay grade,
then so is the job of President."
Senator Obama has indicated that
the first thing he would do as president would be
to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. If this would
happen, it would overturn nearly every local,
state, and federal law dealing with abortion.
Earlier this year, when Senator
Obama was speaking on the subject of sex
education and abortion, he said, "I've got two
daughters, 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going
to teach them first of all about values and
morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want
them punished with a baby."
In contrast, the Holy Spirit moved King
David to write in Psalm 139:13-16, "You
created my inmost being; You knit me together
in my mother's womb. I praise You because I
am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works
are wonderful, I know that full well. My
frame was not hidden from You when I was made
in the secret place. When I was woven
together in the depths of the earth, Your
eyes saw my unformed body. All the days
ordained for me were written in Your
book before one of them came to be."
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A Special
Thanksgiving Service
Here is a
sermonic Bible
study by Don for use on Thanksgiving
Eve or Day. It's on Luke 17:11-19 and is entitled,
"Lord, Make Me Like The
Samaritan!" Easy to adopt or adapt.
Develop a thoughtful and
enthusiastic worship service. Special
music and instruments are great. Have lay
Christians read Scripture and lead in prayer.
Consider having a lay person give a personal
testimony. Make the service a bit more informal,
perhaps not using the pulpit or wearing a robe.
Deliver the message "down where the people are."
Send a special letter of invitation to all
members and all prospects. After worship serve
light refreshments in the fellowship hall.
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It's On Fire!
A surprise movie
hit from two Baptist pastors, Alex and Stephen
Kendrick, in Albany GA. FIREPROOF cost a mere
$500,000 with an all-volunteer cast, donated sets
- a drama about a fire captain endeavoring to
rekindle his marriage. On the brink of divorce,
fireman Caleb Holt, get's a "love dare" from his
dad - 40 days of Bible-based tasks to save his
marriage. It's a smash at the box office.
Mark Weitzel said FIREPROOF
prodded him to think differently about his wife
and marriage: "I thought it was an awesome movie.
It was good for marriages. We need to act as
'first date' sweethearts. I want to continually
treat my wife as if we are courting again... even
if we are 75."
Encourage
your people to see this top-rated movie
that's Christ-centered and Bible-centered and
which can have a powerful impact on their
lives. Find out where it is playing in your
community. Put it in your bulletins, newsletter,
and perhaps even mention it from the pulpit. Some
churches are buying out an evening showing,
inviting the community to attend free. Couples
from these churches often invite their unchurched
friends to join them. Great idea!
THE LOVE DARE book, 224
pages, is a 40 day challenge for husbands and
wives to understand and practice unconditional
love. It will help reinforce and enrich your
marriage, earn back the love you thought was lost,
and hear more about the One who not only designed
unconditional, sacrificial love - He illustrated
it. It's now available from Church Press at
20% off. Retail $14.99 - sale price $11.99 for
November. Email
us with the item number - #605S - with your name,
and church name and address or call 888-772-8878.
Pastors and churches may charge their order -
credit card required for others. Tell us if you
want your order sent by Media
Mail. |
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WEB
Rx
by Anthony
Coppedge, OUTREACH, 2007, page 44
To draw more visitors to your
church, learn one quick, easy change or addition
you can make to your church's Web site. First-time
visitors to your church's Web site want to know
what happens if and when they enter your building.
Make sure you answer the questions they're
asking.
- What are services like? Let them know if
it's contemporary, traditional, one hour or two,
chairs or pews, etc.
- What should I wear? Show what's typical
attire through pictures. For women, dresses? For
men, ties or no ties!
- Is childcare provided? In addition to
telling people that you have childcare, let them
know for what ages and where exactly they should
go to drop off
children.
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Children Need
More
 than a five-minute
children's talk at a worship service. Your
children's ministry should be dynamic,
hope-filled, and grace-giving. The children should
receive the best Bible teaching, learn why
and how their lives can bring glory to
God, and be shown how to live their faith and
share it with others.
Here is where a good,
Bible-based, Christ-centered worship service just
for kids hits a home run. It's called
Kids Church and it's for
ages 4-5-K and Grades 1-4. It's an
appropriate Word and worship service involving
dramas and story-telling, object lessons, videos,
and more! Few volunteers are needed, and it's
great for mid-week or summer, too!
Like to know more? Just email us
and ask for a free CD and DVD which describe
Kids Church and what it's
all about. For more information on these
materials, go to Children's
Ministry. | |
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