Mixed Motives

June 11, 2014 by admin

I decided to renew my USA Today newspaper subscription. It’s not really my number-one source for news anymore. The home and car radios provide that. I seldom watch the news on television, but I do review news stories on the Internet.

The reason for my decision to extend my subscription for another year was that I’m used to looking for Sunday Soundbytes in the USA Today. I’ve been writing these church-related bits for over 20 years now, and for whatever the reason, they’re easier for me to find in this newspaper format than they are from other resources. So I guess I basically pay for and read the newspaper not for the news, but for another reason!

I’m thinking, if I’m not careful, the same could be true regarding my reading of Scripture. Do I read the Bible because it’s my primary source of material for the never-ending supply of sermons I write, or is it because I need a guidebook for my life as a follower of Jesus? Because the two purposes overlap, sometimes it’s hard to keep straight what my motives are.

Is this a problem you as a pastor recognize as well? I find it helpful every so often to remind myself as to which of the two approaches need to be kept in mind.

“My main reason I’m spending this time in Your Word is to allow You to shine a light on my life as a believer.” Or, “I’m looking for sermon material once again, Lord.” Which is it?

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Sunday Soundbyte for During Your Pastoral Prayer

October 22, 2009 by admin

Some of our people are discouraged, Lord. Though they’ve worked hard, hard work doesn’t seem to get them where they want to go. They’re like Chicago working hard for a 2016 Olympics hosting nod, and their bid doesn’t even get them past the first round of voting. I need You, Lord, to encourage those in our congregation who have just had it with “trying harder” comments.

Soundbye for During Your Pastoral Prayer or Sunday Sermon. Use my Sunday Soundbytes in your Sunday sermons or church service to convey timeless biblical truths about modern day events. You have my permission.

Sermon Ideas from David Mains

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Just a Reminder Sunday Soundbyte

October 20, 2009 by admin

The word is out that this year Social Security recipients won’t be getting a cost-of-living adjustment. Because inflation is so low, this will be the first time since the automatic cost-of-living hikes went into effect back in 1975 that there won’t be one. The law says that if prices drop the benefits still can’t. On the other hand, an automatic raise isn’t necessarily guaranteed.

Maybe some of the billions in bailout money that went to banks should have been put aside for our seniors, huh?

Are there ways you let seniors in our ranks know they are appreciated? And might this week be a good time to do that?

Sermon Ideas from David Mains

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Atonement Sermon Ideas

October 19, 2009 by admin

Ted Kennedy’s autobiography, True Compass, was completed just before his death from brain cancer. In it he writes about the 1969 accident on Chappaquiddick Island in which Mary Jo Kopechne was killed. Kennedy describes his own actions as “inexcusable” and notes that “atonement is a process that never ends.”

His thought is noble, but not biblical. The Apostle John writes these wonderful words in his First Epistle, chapter 4 verse 10:

“This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Sermon Ideas from David Mains