Go Luke 14:12-24 “Go” is the fourth sermon in the series “Gather, Grow, Go” which is our theme for the year. CONTEXT: Jesus is sitting in the company of leading Pharisee (14:1) who has invited many people to his home. Jesus has just healed a man in his home. Then Jesus spoke to the invited guests about their attitudes. The guests were competing for the best seats in the house. Therefore, Jesus teaches about humility to the invited guests (14:7-11).... Read more
Grow Mark 4:26-29 Grow is the second sermon in our series: “Gather, Grow, Go” which is our theme for the year. Have you ever wondered how God grows you spiritually? Do you sometimes feel frustrated or discouraged by your lack of progress in your faith journey? Do you wish you could see more fruit in your life and in the lives of others? If so, you are not alone. Many of us struggle with these questions and feelings. But the... Read more
Gather Hebrews 10:24-25 Today we are continuing our sermon series on Gather, Grow, and Go. (See Gather Grow Go for part one in this series.) We have been learning about the three essential aspects of our Christian life: gathering as God’s people, growing in our faith and maturity, and going out to share the gospel and serve others. With each of these aspects, we look at how to use our present system of Sunday School to help us fulfill our... Read more
Gather Grow Go Matthew 28:16-20 As we begin 2024, I want to challenge the church with a new set of strategies. Three simple words: Gather Grow Go. Say these words with me: Gather Grow Go. That’s the strategic challenge for our church. It is reflected in the word of the Great Commission given by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. If we want to strengthen our church, then we need to Gather, Grow, and Go. GATHER GROW GO AS THE... Read more
How My Prayer Can Have an Eternal Impact on Others Acts 16:25-34 Here we see a process that shows how my prayer can have an eternal impact on others. I pray. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25, CSB) You know how my prayer can have an eternal impact on other? It can happen when I pray. Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to... Read more
The How to Be HUMBLE in My Prayer Life Acts 18:9-14 Here we see in this parable how to be humble in my prayer life. Humility is a two-way street. I learn to trust in God and not myself. I also learn not to look down on others. Prayer is one way we can practice humility. The purpose of humility is described in the first verse: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were... Read more
The Mystery of Israel Romans 11:25-27 The mystery of Israel impacts our world. We live in a troubled world, where we see violence, hatred, and injustice every day. One of the most complex and controversial issues in our world is the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. As Christians, we may wonder how we should relate to Israel and the Palestinians, and what God’s will is for them. The Bible has a lot to say about this... Read more
The Challenge of Pastoral Burnout A recent blog post has been circulating, entitled “Departure: Why I Left the Church.” The author Alexander Lang accurately addresses many of the challenges of being a pastor. Many of his insights resonated with me, and they illustrate the challenge of pastoral burnout. Quitting the Ministry For example, Lang cites a survey from Barna, which shows why 42% of pastors have considered quitting the ministry: The reasons for this are myriad, but the top five... Read more
Ideas for More Engaging Sermons Introduction Sermon preparation can be one of the hardest challenges that pastors may face. Many people today want to be entertained, and engagement is the key to keep their attention. Making sermons more engaging with your audience can be very challenging. Here are some ideas for more engaging sermons. TEN IDEAS FOR MORE ENGAGING SERMONS Efforts by the pastor Be passionate: Your passion for the sermon material will be contagious and help to maintain your... Read more
Augustine said, “God is more anxious to bestow his blessings on us than we are to receive them.” Though Jabez is an obscure biblical character, his unforgettable prayer teaches us that God is listening. Jabez believed God would hear and heed prayer. God also wants us to ask for great things. We approach the throne of grace with boldness. HOW TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PRAYER LIFE 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 presents a man, Jabez, who had developed a strategic prayer life.... Read more
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