August 2004

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Mary Southerland: how to deal with stress (part 9)

“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 Tue, Aug 31 2004 9:26 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Small groups: if at first you don't succeed ... (part 2 of 4)

Editor's note: This is the second in a four-part series on small groups. Part one: Why SMALL groups are such a big deal and getting bigger everyday! After five years of championing small groups at Willow Creek Community Church, Brett Eastman...

Published Tue, Aug 31 2004 8:59 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Leading through preaching: an interview with John Maxwell

John Maxwell is one of the contemporary church's leading authorities on leadership. For many years a pastor, today Maxwell's ministry focuses on writing and teaching about Christian leadership through his conferences, books and resources from...

Published Tue, Aug 31 2004 7:22 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness

Tomorrow morning, I don’t have to decide if I’m going to read God’s Word and spend time in prayer with him. Meeting with the Lord is a discipline long-rooted in my morning routines, and my commitment to it simplifies my spirituality. It’s one less decision...

Published Fri, Aug 27 2004 7:38 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Perspectives
African-American churches rally for traditional marriages

FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP)--Energized and angered by comparisons between the fight for homosexual unions and the civil-rights movement, many African-American churches are turning out to stand for traditional marriages. African-American churches across the...

Published Fri, Aug 27 2004 7:32 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Americans favor Christian symbols, Barna says

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An overwhelming majority of Americans favor allowing traditional Christian values and symbols in the nation's culture, according to a study by the Barna Group. Barna even concludes that tens of millions of Americans would support...

Published Fri, Aug 27 2004 7:26 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Apartment complexes waiting for church outreach, leader says

Editor's note: Although this article is focused on Texas, we believe it offers some good suggestions for outreach in any urban community. DALLAS (BP)--More than 60 percent of Texans live in apartment units, and 96 percent of those tenants are unsaved...

Published Fri, Aug 27 2004 7:22 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Digital ‘Short Film Awards' for churches and individuals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A “Short Film Awards” competition -- linking technology with evangelism -- has been announced by the e-business department of LifeWay Christian Resources. Digital films up to three minutes in length may be submitted in one...

Published Fri, Aug 27 2004 7:18 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
A biblical model for setting ministry objectives (part 2)

In the last issue of the Ministry ToolBox, we walked through the first five steps necessary to establish objectives in your ministry. As a model, I used the story of how Abraham's servant, Eliezer, found Isaac a wife. This week, let's look...

Published Fri, Aug 27 2004 7:05 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Purpose-Driven Pastor
Mary Southerland: how to deal with stress (part 8)

“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 Thu, Aug 26 2004 10:00 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Piracy may transform Christian music industry

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)--Piracy continues to ravage the music industry -- including the Christian music industry -- as illegal compact discs and Internet downloads push people out of work and drive creativity and variety out of the Christian music industry...

Published Thu, Aug 26 2004 9:54 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Archaeologist skeptical of ‘John the Baptist cave'

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--The announcement that a cave used by John the Baptist has been discovered has not convinced all archaeologists that he ever used the site. Steven Ortiz, director of the Center for Archaeological Research at New Orleans Seminary, said...

Published Thu, Aug 26 2004 9:52 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Five practical steps toward abiding in Christ

Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from the book, Master Life: Developing a Rich Personal Relationship with the Master by Avery T. Willis (Broadman & Holman, 1998; pages 11-16). We highly recommend this study; it comes in book form and as a...

Published Thu, Aug 26 2004 9:50 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
It is time to ask for a change of heart

Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from the book Revive Us Again by Walter C. Kaiser Jr. (Broadman & Holman, 1999; pages 197-205). Samaria was the first place outside Jerusalem to experience revival fires after Pentecost. This revival announced...

Published Thu, Aug 26 2004 9:48 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library
Sermons should be 'custom-built to change lives'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Effective preaching must move beyond mere explanation of biblical facts and teach listeners how to apply God's truths to their lives, according to the authors of Preaching with Bold Assurance (Broadman & Holman, 2003). Hershael...

Published Thu, Aug 26 2004 9:46 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library