July 2004

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Bible Bytes -- 7/31/2004

"This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting -- God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone...

Published Sat, Jul 31 2004 9:10 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Bible Bytes
Ask Rick Muchow

From Tim serving in Munroe Falls, Ohio QUESTION: Vocal Tips? I was a high school band director for many years prior to becoming a worship leader. As such, I'm much more able to express musical concepts in simple terms to the band (most of whom are...

Published Sat, Jul 31 2004 8:57 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Start a pastor-to-pastor research team to enhance your sermons

Editor's note: This ToolBox classic provides further information about sermon research teams discussed in Rick's article a couple of weeks ago. Preparing sermons is one of the most delightful and painful experiences that a pastor faces...

Published Sat, Jul 31 2004 8:04 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Perspectives
Mary Southerland: How to deal with stress (part 4)

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of...

Published Wed, Jul 28 2004 9:04 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Issue #165:
Church membership covenant: Expect what the Bible expects

Why do some churches have so many people on their membership rolls, when those members give little or no evidence of Christian commitment or even conversion? Why do some churches find it difficult to motivate members to give, serve, pray and share their faith? The answer could be that the members were allowed to join with no expectations placed upon their membership ...
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Published Wed, Jul 28 2004 12:00 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Issue Archives
Bible Bytes -- 7/25/2004

"Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: '… Go to...

Published Sun, Jul 25 2004 8:03 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Bible Bytes
Saddleback Sayings -- 7/25/2004

"When God is near, you lose your fear." Rick Warren

Published Sun, Jul 25 2004 7:54 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Saddleback Sayings, Rick Warren
Building the five conditions of biblical faith

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Decades ago when T.W. Hunt was about to become a leader at a boys camp in Spain, he asked God to give him the type of biblical faith Paul, Timothy and Peter possessed. "I expected to get zapped and then drive into camp with...

Published Sun, Jul 25 2004 7:38 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Warren: Using the harvest principle in ministry

If you cooperate with God’s laws, then you’re going to benefit from them. On the other hand, if you ignore these spiritual laws in your life, you’re the one that’s harmed by them or frustrated by them. You don’t have to fully understand the...

Published Sun, Jul 25 2004 7:33 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Survey finds Protestants in America losing majority status

Many Former Protestants Now Claim No Religion At All, Survey Says CHICAGO (ANS)--A recent survey has found that the United States will no longer be the majority Protestant nation in years to come, due to a precipitous decline in affiliation with...

Published Sun, Jul 25 2004 6:54 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Concern for First Amendment rights on the rise, survey says

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)--Americans' confidence in the First Amendment, which fell after the attacks of 9/11, is up again, according to a new survey. The First Amendment Center of Nashville, Tenn., has released its 2004 survey results on the "State...

Published Sun, Jul 25 2004 6:39 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Timely Insights Into Timeless Truth, Kenneth Brown (Authentic, 2004)

This is a nice book for quick sermon illustrations or devotional material. It's designed to dig into a timeless truth quickly -- sort of a 'one minute wisdom' resource. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932805095/pastorscom02

Published Sun, Jul 25 2004 6:29 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Book Look
Mary Southerland: How to deal with stress (part 3)

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of...

Published Wed, Jul 21 2004 9:57 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Issue #164:
Get your people off committees and into ministry

If you are struggling to get people to come to committee meetings, maybe the people are not the problem -- maybe it is the committees themselves.

We have no committees at Saddleback. We do, however, have 150 different lay ministries. Our paid staff does the maintenance of the church, and the time that our lay ministers volunteer is used for actual ministry ...
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Published Wed, Jul 21 2004 12:00 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Issue Archives
Personal issues dominate 2004 AIDS conference

BANGKOK, Thailand (ANS)--July 16, 2004 marked the closing ceremony of the 15th International AIDS Conference. “With almost 20,000 attendees, this has been the largest, most participatory conference of HIV/AIDS yet,” remarked Dr. Helene Gayle...

Published Tue, Jul 20 2004 9:33 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library