As you study what other people are doing in churches, it is important not to think that methods are the sole key to what has happened in any successful setting. Obviously, God can supersede the poorest of plans.

The vital aspect of any consistently successful church is a combination of honest evaluation, clear direction, hard work, and supernatural anointing. As you study what others have done and are doing, make certain you keep focused on what God has brought about beyond the efforts of the people in any given location.

Especially in sharing with you here about my own church experiences, I want to identify God’s part quickly before I attempt to show you how philosophy and methodology are related. I have been privileged to experience success. Every part of that success has come as a gift from God. Even the components that resulted from our ingenuity and hard work came to us from God’s gracious Hand.

This is a day when outstanding demonstrations of God’s power are desperately needed. We say we are called of God, and then we quit before seeing Him carry us through. I am convinced we have given up too many battles God expected us to win.

We are no longer people of daring. Concepts are very important. But, they are not enough in themselves. What has carried us on are those time when, with our back to the wall, we have cried out to God and He has seen us through. I hope this comes out strongly as I share with you. A successful church is not the private possession of those who worship there. Rather, such a church always belongs to God. He is the One who nurtures and sustains the church, as a testimony to His grace and power.

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about? Or, what will you preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon? David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help you learn how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons. Just click here to visit David Mains’ website.

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In offering you some timely suggestions for your ministry, I always want to emphasize the word “suggest.” I don’t believe any particular methodology holds the answer to all problems in every local church.

Long ago, in the early days of my ministry as the innovative church I pastored in the heart of Chicago began to realize some success, the Board chairman opined, “We are not interested in establishing in McDonald’s fashion a church franchise.” He was right. We did not then, and I do not now, have the answer to every problem facing every local church.

However, I have experienced first hand the explosion of creative forms and expressions that have occurred in the contemporary church. Thus, I believe that I can serve as a very adequate commentator on what might work to solve problems you face in your ministry.

Just reading the thoughts I offer here, and through other Mainstay Ministries outlets, could trigger new thoughts regarding the specific situations you face in your local setting. Or perhaps my thoughts will serve as a starting place for you to begin exploring pathways that will lead you to the solutions you need for your situation.

In either case, I will be pleased if I can lend inspiration through my sharing. I believe that all local churches must come to grips with certain primary philosophical elements that I will present in this blog. The outworking of the philosophy, the methodology, is not limited to what I suggest.

After all, we serve a God who imbues us with limitless creativity and capacity to follow His leading. He longs to revive His church and waits patiently for congregations in our land, and in this time, to come alive again. He also waits for you to willingly seek the pathway He lays out before you.

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You can learn how to develop highly relevant Sunday sermons that grab the attention of your congregation and help your listeners respond effectively to the deep truths of God’s Word. David Mains and Mainstay Ministries have a whole range of helpful solutions. Do you need to prepare a Topical Sermon, an Advent Sermon, a Christmas Sermon, an Easter Sermon, a Sermon Series, or any other Sunday Sermon? You can find help on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons. Just click here to visit David Mains’ website.

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Pastors and prophets have different thought patterns.

Pastors tend to see themselves more as shepherds. They care about their flock and how the individual members are doing. As much as possible they want to be there for their people, not only in the good times, but also the bad.

Prophets are more likely to focus on the bigger picture. They think nationally or internationally. They speak about the condition of the church in America … or North America … or the church world-wide.

Each role is needed, and sometimes a given individual can fill both at the same time.

In my perspective, the sermon-type material one reads in the Bible is more prophetic than pastoral. This is especially true in the Old Testament. I realize that I am generalizing, but that’s in order to make a point.

I believe it’s time that American pastors need to think a little more prophetically. Instead of just asking “How is my congregation doing?” they need to start questioning “What’s happening church-wise in America?” The sad truth is that the church is rapidly losing its influence in our land.

You would never guess this, however, from what you hear week after week from most of our pulpits. It’s like everything’s fine. What’s the worry? The next generation will inherit a country much like the present generation did. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Put more simply, the American church is in desperate need of a wide sweeping revival. But in the churches I visit I’m not hearing that call.

It’s more like the voices are telling me, “Calm down. Everything’s fine. These things have their cycles. There will be better days ahead, just wait and see.”

I don’t think so.

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Whether you need to create a Topical Sermon, an Advent Sermon, a Christmas Sermon, an Easter Sermon, a Sermon Series, or any other Sunday Sermon, David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

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