This week has been crazy... 3 days on the road, 2 days spent visiting with my little nephew and family as he under went heart surgery. 1 day moving our daughter into a new place and now getting ready for an awesome (1) day at church!
The sabbath day.... after this week I am beginning to understand why the Lord says to take 1 day and rest in Him....
Don't forget Sunday September 13th is Back to Church Sunday.... Will you join me in inviting friends, neighbors and others to come back to church and regain their rest in the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 says they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.
I don't know about you, but I am ready to have my strength renewed.... more next week.
Pastor John
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
It's back to school and time to go back to church!
The Power of The Invitation
Here in Missouri every August is back to school month. Kids meet new friends and get reacquainted with old friends. Teachers work to create an environment that is inviting and fun for kids, in addition teachers work to create an excitement about coming back to school.
What would happen if we invited our friends back to church?
What if we had an environment that was welcoming, fun and exciting?
What would happen if we asked the question: How about coming with me to church on Sunday?
Perhaps one of the most underestimated reasons people return to the Church is that someone simply invited them back. Overall, 41% of the formerly churched said that they would return to the local church if a friend or acquaintance invited them. Younger adults are even more influenced by the power of the invitation. Approximately 60% of those ages 18–35 would consider attending or returning to church if someone they knew asked them to come back. A simple, yet powerful invitation is all it may take to prompt a homecoming.
Who are you going to invite to church on Sunday?
Pastor John
Here in Missouri every August is back to school month. Kids meet new friends and get reacquainted with old friends. Teachers work to create an environment that is inviting and fun for kids, in addition teachers work to create an excitement about coming back to school.
What would happen if we invited our friends back to church?
What if we had an environment that was welcoming, fun and exciting?
What would happen if we asked the question: How about coming with me to church on Sunday?
Perhaps one of the most underestimated reasons people return to the Church is that someone simply invited them back. Overall, 41% of the formerly churched said that they would return to the local church if a friend or acquaintance invited them. Younger adults are even more influenced by the power of the invitation. Approximately 60% of those ages 18–35 would consider attending or returning to church if someone they knew asked them to come back. A simple, yet powerful invitation is all it may take to prompt a homecoming.
Who are you going to invite to church on Sunday?
Pastor John
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Ministry or Program?
I've been thinking this week about all that we do (the busyness) in the church. Are we providing a ministry or are we doing programs? And is there a difference? I decided to look up the definition via www.dictionary.com.
The definition of a ministry is: The act of serving or One that serves as a means
The definition if a program is: a plan of action to accomplish a specified end or a plan or schedule of activities, procedures, etc., to be followed.
Here's our reflection... are you a minister or a program director?
Jesus set the example for us. He was a minister. His passion, His purpose, His entire ministry was that of one who came to serve. Jesus' plan was to reach lost and dying people. He did that in so many ways. His ministry was to see individuals come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
With Jesus as our model, let me ask you. Are you focusing your attention on serving or is your attention on programming? It's not about getting through a curriculum or gaining titles, pins, certificates, badges, etc. Programs don't save souls... Jesus does. It's about knowing Jesus. And serving Jesus!
So this week, let's all be ministers and let someone else be the program directors! Don't forget to invite a friend to church this week too!
Pastor John
The definition of a ministry is: The act of serving or One that serves as a means
The definition if a program is: a plan of action to accomplish a specified end or a plan or schedule of activities, procedures, etc., to be followed.
Here's our reflection... are you a minister or a program director?
Jesus set the example for us. He was a minister. His passion, His purpose, His entire ministry was that of one who came to serve. Jesus' plan was to reach lost and dying people. He did that in so many ways. His ministry was to see individuals come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
With Jesus as our model, let me ask you. Are you focusing your attention on serving or is your attention on programming? It's not about getting through a curriculum or gaining titles, pins, certificates, badges, etc. Programs don't save souls... Jesus does. It's about knowing Jesus. And serving Jesus!
So this week, let's all be ministers and let someone else be the program directors! Don't forget to invite a friend to church this week too!
Pastor John
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Want to make a difference?
Being a missional church is not an easy task in today's society. Church is looked at as being boring, not relevant and for an "older person". We must model for our culture what it really means to be a Christian. Jesus was anything but boring! He was constantly stirring the crowd, challenging the religious leaders and making bold statements. He was so out there that the leaders of the day wanted Him dead!
I don't know about you... but I am ready to make a difference in this culture... look at this statement from Outreach ministries in their guide Back to church.
”I Want to Make a Difference.” - Taken from Back to Church
Almost a third of the formerly churched mentioned that if they were to return to church, they would want to be part of a local body where they could make a difference. By and large, people within the church feel more fulfilled in their lives when they sense that God is using them. And churches with high expectations of their members are actually more likely to draw people back into the fold. People want to serve and know that they are contributing to something significant. Making new members aware that the bar is set high for their contribution does not deter them,
but rather motivates them to be a part of the local church.
If those that are not in the church would come back if they could make a difference, why are we that are in the church not willing to create those opportunities to make a difference? Hmmmm
Join me this fall in bringing people back to church... not by creating a building or an organization, but by being a living organism that will change the world if we just let God truly be in charge.
Pastor John
I don't know about you... but I am ready to make a difference in this culture... look at this statement from Outreach ministries in their guide Back to church.
”I Want to Make a Difference.” - Taken from Back to Church
Almost a third of the formerly churched mentioned that if they were to return to church, they would want to be part of a local body where they could make a difference. By and large, people within the church feel more fulfilled in their lives when they sense that God is using them. And churches with high expectations of their members are actually more likely to draw people back into the fold. People want to serve and know that they are contributing to something significant. Making new members aware that the bar is set high for their contribution does not deter them,
but rather motivates them to be a part of the local church.
If those that are not in the church would come back if they could make a difference, why are we that are in the church not willing to create those opportunities to make a difference? Hmmmm
Join me this fall in bringing people back to church... not by creating a building or an organization, but by being a living organism that will change the world if we just let God truly be in charge.
Pastor John
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