February 2004

Sort by: Most Recent | Most Viewed | Most Commented

Saddleback Sayings -- 2/28/2004

"One of my favorite sermon features is what we call 'point and play,' where we emphasize each point through music. We always do a 'point and play' message at Easter and Christmas Eve. For example, with one Easter sermon, we divided...

Published Sat, Feb 28 2004 7:48 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Saddleback Sayings, Rick Warren
Bible Bytes -- 2/28/2004

"Christ sacrificed his life's blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us." Eph. 1:7 CEV

Published Sat, Feb 28 2004 7:32 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Bible Bytes
Missions giving not keeping up with church offering increases

This is a trend found not only among Baptists ... "Churches seem to be turning inward. They seem to be emphasizing the comfort and happiness of members over the transformation of those members." DALLAS (ABP)--The amount of money flowing...

Published Sat, Feb 28 2004 6:54 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Invest and Invite: a successful strategy for reaching the lost

COLLEYVILLE, Texas (BP)--Personal evangelism is one of the most effective methods of sharing the Gospel with friends, family and strangers. According to an article written by Thom S. Rainer, author of Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven...

Published Sat, Feb 28 2004 6:18 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Hobby Lobby purchases vacant theater for growing church

BRANSON, Mo. (BP)--Pastor Larry Craig still finds it hard to believe. "It was like God said, 'You tried and couldn't do it. Now let me show you what I can do,'" said Craig, who has served at Skyline Church in Branson, Mo., the last...

Published Sat, Feb 28 2004 7:45 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Pastor, are you overworking?

As ministers, we approach each day as if we're working for God, and our mission is literally to save the world. But the fact is -- there will always be more work to do in ministry, and that's why we must deliberately take time away from work....

Published Sat, Feb 28 2004 6:04 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor
Take that first step toward your vision

You may be overflowing with vision for your ministry, but there is a point where you have to stop thinking about it and talking about it, and instead, start doing something about it - moving your vision toward a tangible reality. I've met thousands...

Published Sat, Feb 28 2004 5:45 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor
How much does Jesus love those with AIDS?

"Honestly, I don't think it matters what plan you and your congregation employ to become involved in solving this worldwide crisis. The problem is so huge that we probably need a thousand plans. But let's stop discussing it, and let's...

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 6:55 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor
Creating strong sermon points

It has been my experience that books on preaching lift up the wrong kind of sermons as examples. They tend to teach you to prepare academic outlines so vague and general that they are robbed of power. For instance, here's an outline for...

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 6:51 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor
Why must I understand my S.H.A.P.E.?

Freedom comes from doing what you're gifted to do. Rick Warren At Saddleback, we talk about the five different factors that make up a person’s S.H.A.P.E.: S piritual gift(s), H eart, A bilities, P ersonalities, and E xperiences. Why is this important...

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 6:30 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor, Why must I understand my S.H.A.P.E.?
Use your uniqueness in service to God

You don't have to travel very far until you discover that God loves variety. Did you know he made more than 300,000 species of beetles alone? Would you call that creative overkill? Don’t you think the world could have gotten along just fine with...

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 6:25 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor
Resist discouragement

... G reat people are really just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. Great people don’t know how to quit. Rick Warren I believe procrastination is the number one enemy of your life mission. You know what you’re supposed to...

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 1:13 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor, Resist discouragement
Whatever you give to God, he'll use!

You're welcome to use this testimony within your church as an example of how your members can use any of their gifts, hobbies, or interests as a way to serve God. Our society does not understand the difference between celebrities and heroes....

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 1:10 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor
What to do when you are discouraged

Given enough time, somebody’s going to throw out all your trophies. That’s because earthly rewards don’t last. Rick Warren Ministry is hard work, folks. It’s very hard and it takes a lot of energy to accomplish it all. In life, the “why” always determines...

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 1:02 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor, Reason and reward
Are you running the race God asked you to run?

During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, the last runner to finish in the marathon was an athlete from Tanzania. He’d had a difficult race, to say the least: he’d stumbled at one point and ended up bruised, bloodied – and with a broken leg! But he didn...

Published Fri, Feb 27 2004 12:54 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor