Downscaling—it’s a timely discipline to master. Our government is deep in debt. The consumer debt is huge, and many Christians are maxed to their limit credit-wise.

Ministry—that’s another area where we have to stop thinking that bigger is always better, that to have a small church budget is a sign of failure.

I commend all leaders who say, “Let’s be realistic. What’s a proper budget to guide as at this time when many church members are having to cut back? If after praying we feel the church budget can be larger than last year, well, praise the Lord. And if smaller, praise the Lord.”

If Christians can learn to be joyful either way, I believe churches can too.

 

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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.

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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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Something I do that gives me great delight throughout the week is regularly saying good things about my church or my pastor. Like the other day some people were talking about how nobody seemed to care for people anymore.

“Oh, at our church people aren’t that way,” I said. “If folks there even get a hint that you’re sick, well, somebody calls on the phone or stops by with a full meal. They are great that way.” And then, I just kind of smiled.

“What’s that you’re talking about that worries you? Our minister preached on that last Sunday. Oh, I wish you could have heard him. His sermons are great!”

Short comments like that dropped into a conversation make people feel they are really missing something—which they are—by not being in church. Together, let’s make sure people really know what they’re missing.

 

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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.

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

 

Share and Enjoy

Monsoon season. I have been in the land of India before, but never during the time of heavy rains. So, one summer I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. Two or three times a day it rained—and I mean hard. I stood at the floor of my 5th-floor room and looked out and couldn’t see anything but rain. It was that heavy.

One morning, awakened by these rains in India, I got up to start my day kneeling by the bed to pray. I again asked for revival in the American church. What we need, Lord, is a spiritual monsoon season to wash things clean and to clear the air. Someday, Lord, do it. Please do it. Amen.

 

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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.

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

 

Share and Enjoy

Have you ever been asked this question: “How should I dress for church on Sunday morning?” If you invite friends to attend church with you, well, it’s not at all unusual to be asked that very question. All I say is that people go to church in every outfit imaginable.

I remember preaching in one service where the ushers wore tuxes and white gloves. And, in another, where teens collected the offering in shorts and tank-tops.

Let me report that the rule of thumb is to wear what you’ll feel comfortable in when going to meet Jesus. See, in His presence, you don’t want to feel overdressed, but you don’t want to feel under-dressed, either, or unkempt or too casual.

Why this given rule of thumb? Because Jesus will be there! No, you won’t be able to see Him, but He’ll see you. And with that in mind, you might just want to think a little about what you look like on the inside as well as the outside.

 

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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