To Whom Are You Speaking?

When someone starts talking, it helps if you know whether they are speaking to you, to someone else, or maybe even talking aloud to themselves. I’m suggesting the same is true regarding singing hymns.

It really helps to know if the words are addressed to God, like “How great Thou art.” Or, if the words are addressed to others in the congregation, “Rise up, O men of God.” Or, even if the words are addressed to one’s self: “Be still my soul, the Lord is on my side.”

Now, one very good way you can find out is simply by getting to church early and just reading through the hymns listed in the bulletin. Or, if you don’t have that opportunity, you can get some idea by scanning the first several lines while the intro is being played.

Someone’s words lose their meaning if you can’t tell to whom they’re being said. And, it can be that way with hymns as well. So, just let this particular “word to the wise” be sufficient.

 


I am grateful that I continue to hear how positively readers are responding to my latest book entitled The Sermon Sucking Black Hole—Why You Can’t Remember on Monday What Your Minister Preached on Sunday. This book is available at Amazon.com by clicking here.

In this book, I offer some solid tips to the people sitting in the congregation to help them remember what their pastor has said from the pulpit.


You will find a variety of other helpful resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

 

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Living Longer

Recently I was talking with a research psychiatrist in our nation’s capital. This doctor worked for the National Institute of Mental Health, a Federal government office.

“Yes,” he said, “our research shows that people who do attend regularly definitely live longer.”

“People who attend what?” you ask. The sports center, flower shows, the theater? No, and you know what I’m going to say, don’t you? It’s what I talk about all the time.

People who attend church regularly definitely do live longer. That’s what the research showed, according to this good doctor I talked with in our Nation’s capital. Well, I don’t see it as the primary reason to be in church each weekend. But, it’s kind of a nice side benefit.

So I say, God bless you, friend! See you in church! And, may you have a long life!

 


I am grateful that I continue to hear how positively readers are responding to my latest book entitled The Sermon Sucking Black Hole—Why You Can’t Remember on Monday What Your Minister Preached on Sunday. This book is available at Amazon.com by clicking here.

In this book, I offer some solid tips to the people sitting in the congregation to help them remember what their pastor has said from the pulpit.


You will find a variety of other helpful resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

 

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The Mark of Revival

What do people at your church talk about the most?

In some churches, it’s the pastor. In others, it’s the building, or the music program, or maybe the doctrine, or activities, or the fellowship. But, when authentic revival marks a church, you know what people talk most about? Let me tell you.

When a church is marked by revival, what people talk about most is the Lord. They’re aware of His presence. In fact, they are almost in awe of it. Most specifically, they talk about Christ and His marvelous love, which is as it should be because, after all, He is the Lord of the church.

So they fall in love with Jesus again. Sound good? Oh, I’m sure it does. And, I’m confident it sounds good to our Lord, as well.

 


I am grateful that I continue to hear how positively readers are responding to my latest book entitled The Sermon Sucking Black Hole—Why You Can’t Remember on Monday What Your Minister Preached on Sunday. This book is available at Amazon.com by clicking here.

In this book, I offer some solid tips to the people sitting in the congregation to help them remember what their pastor has said from the pulpit.


You will find a variety of other helpful resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

 

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Cheerful Giving

Describe for me your feelings when you put your offering in the plate at church, all right? Are you happy, sad, or resentful? Too many people seem as emotionless as a robot at such times.

Here’s a good thought to bring to mind when making your contribution. But first, let me hasten to say that if it sounds too upbeat, let me respond to your feeling by sharing with you that it comes from one of the greatest thinkers of all time. More than that, he’s writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s the suggestion I’m offering you today. I’m reading from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, and this is the Amplified Bible:

“God loves, that is He takes pleasure in, prizes above all other things, a cheerful, joyous, prompt-to-do-it giver whose heart is in his giving.”

Well, let that be your attitude this weekend, and see if it makes a difference.

 


I am grateful that I continue to hear how positively readers are responding to my latest book entitled The Sermon Sucking Black Hole—Why You Can’t Remember on Monday What Your Minister Preached on Sunday. This book is available at Amazon.com by clicking here.

In this book, I offer some solid tips to the people sitting in the congregation to help them remember what their pastor has said from the pulpit.


You will find a variety of other helpful resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

 

Share and Enjoy

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  • Delicious
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  • StumbleUpon
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