Christian Leadership: How to Strengthen the Church One Believer At A Time!
As I was scanning the internet, I came across this article “How to Strengthen the Church One Believer At A Time!” on Mike Shroades Ministry Blog at http://mikeshroades.blogspot.com. I thought his 6 pillars were a good foundational start. Nonetheless, I am sure we can come up with some more. Leave your comments and suggestions below.
How to Strengthen the Church One Believer At A Time!
Whether you have been serving Jesus for decades, or if you find yourself new to the faith you can help strengthen the church as a whole. Over the years I have realized there are some common threads that runs through vibrant, healthy, growing churches.
And, I believe if the individual believer can implement these five pillars they will strengthen themselves…thus strengthening the local church…which strengthens the body of Christ.
There are Five Pillars of Strength every beliver should practice, and every local should offer to those involved. Teach these principles and watch what happens!
PILLAR I: Prayer! Prayer is where we tap into the power of God. Act 2 the disciples gathered in the Upper Room…the power of God falls…thousands come to Christ! Prayer brings power!
PILLAR II: Worship! Worship is the time we most often encounter Gods presence. Scripture declares that God lives in the praises of His people. Worship helps develop intimacy with God.
Christian Living: Planning for Fewer Financial Fights with Your Spouse
By Matt Bell
Money is a well-known source of conflict among married couples, but new research shows that the use of a simple-though-unpopular financial tool may help dial down financial fights. A national survey of over 600 married people I commissioned from the market research firm Synovate found that couples who use a budget to manage their money have fewer financial arguments than couples who do not use a budget.
Nearly 40 percent of all respondents said they have financial disagreements with their spouse either often or sometimes. However, those who use a budget that guides how much they save, invest, give, and spend — in detail — are less likely to have financial fights. Take a look at some of the numbers.
Percentage of couples who report financial disagreements “often” or “sometimes”:
All Respondents: 39%
Detailed budget users: 32%
General budget users: 38%
Don’t use a budget: 43%
About 44 percent of respondents said they seldom have financial disagreements. Another 17 percent said they never fight about money.
Of the people who come to the financial workshops I teach throughout the country, most don’t use a budget. And that’s pretty consistent with the population at large. The Synovate survey found that just 12 percent of married people use a detailed budget, 50 percent use a general budget (a somewhat misleading figure — I’ve discovered that people interpret “general budget” to mean everything from balancing one’s checkbook to trying to spend less than they make), and 38 percent do not use a budget.
Christian Leadership: 10 Questions To Ask Your Church Before The Next Service
“In the American church—most often—it’s the exact opposite, our “Product” is flawless (and I mean flawless), but our market research is usually lousy. That, too, is embarrassing! After all, George Barna can’t be expected to do it all!
There are a couple of things that would help this situation and they both involve a really honest discussion. “
As I scanned across the net today I came across this quote from Doug Lawrence and I thought it was pretty on the money.
In most cases not only dont we ask the questions so we can be “better” at “doing church” but in most cases we rarely are willing to think in terms of improvement because “it has always been done this way”
So in the spirt of change here are 10 sample questions. Can you think of any others we should ask? Be sure to leave a comment either way
# Were you looking forward to coming to the service?
# Did you do anything to prepare for being in worship today?
# Do you think you could have spent your time better if you had stayed at home?
# Given the complexity of your life, what would do instead of church?
# If we were offering premiums (and we’re probably not going to), what would be the “tipping point teaser” for getting you here every week?
# Generally speaking, do you feel welcomed when you come to our services or do you think we’re pretending to be glad to see you?
# Do you get anything out of worship that lasts past Tuesday when you come here?
# Do you wish somebody had asked you these questions years ago when you first started coming to church?
# What are folks saying about your attendance at church, and does it bother you when they’re critical?
# What’s the one thing you wish that we (the church) would finally “get” about you?
Christian Living: Billboards Claim Abortion Industry Targets Blacks
Black children are an endangered species, say billboards throughout Atlanta.
The new campaign sends out a blunt message but organizers behind the project want Georgians to know about “the holocaustic impact” abortion has had on the black community not just in the state but across the country.
Since 1973 more than 14 million black babies have died by abortion. Though African-Americans make up only 13 percent of the U.S. population, they have the highest abortion rate in the country. Nearly 40 percent of all pregnancies among black women end in induced abortion.
“I want to communicate to the African-American community that the African-American womb has become the most dangerous place to be for a baby,” the Rev. Clenard Childress, founder of BlackGenocide.org, said earlier.
Why Bother Creating an eBook?
Did you see this eBook news in the media like I did? The new number of eBook sales looks promising for all of us who are in business and need visibility and credibility for that.
In 2008, eBook sales were $150 million. And the forecast for 2010 is $2Billion sales.
Who doesn’t want to create wealth and income with the least amount of effort? Who of you in business doesn’t want to create yourself as a top expert in your field?
As a long time book coach, who has authored over 20 eBooks that bring in regular income each month, and clients who want guidance to bring out their best, the one answer that I’ve known and recommended for over 11 years, is to
Write a Short, Quality eBook
<–more–>Short means between 20 pages and 110 pages. It’s far easier to create a short book than a long print book that busy professionals don’t have time to read.
Quality means that you don’t just slap notes together; you create real chapters with real benefits to help you readers. Those chapters with branded things such as an engaging chapter title, your own brand of tips you offer, and a consistent format for each chapter. That means a beginning, middle, and end that are always engaging too. (most writers fall down on this one because their ego says their book is fine and just needs a little editing).They don’t realize they lecture on what they know instead of answering questions their readers want answered. Ho hum and with this style, your readers will stop reading and put your book down–the kiss of death to your sales. Another huge mistake is to not write your book for a particular audience. When your know this, your copy will flow easily and you won’t even need notes. Its part of what I teach in chapter writing.
Your busy audience today respects eBooks contrary to traditional publishing myths out there. They want particular information direct, fast, and easy-to-read. And, they can download an eBook instantly which beats driving and mailing hassles for print books. And, they easily can print an eBook out, and are willing to do so. .
Short List of eBook Benefits
1. Use your eBook as part of your promotion platform. This platform information is at my site under “Latest Publications.” This draws your specific audience to you and your book-selling site.
2. Generate substantial (about half or more) ongoing income for yourself or your business with your paid eBook. Like me, you can offer many discounted eBooks in addition to your main book packages.
3. Give your audiences a free eBook when they sign up for your newsletter and show the benefits of your newsletter in the landing page. Without benefits shared, you won’t’ get nearly as many sign ups. People are busy. They want certain information. Make sure you let them know how valuable it is.
4. Build incentive and great ongoing book sales from your growing opt-in list of people who come for your free reports, ezine, blog information and teleseminars. With a large data base email list, you can continue to follow up with your announcements, new tips, and offers via book downloads and your teleseminar MP3 recordings that your specific audience wants.
5. Build visibility and credibility from your eBooks. They are the #1 way to show you as the savvy expert or go to person in your field. You are an expert once you write that quality eBook.
6. Generate leads for higher priced products. If your audience likes your eBook, they may buy a coaching or bigger book package from you.
7. Jump start your business success with a quality eBook that has passed a book coach’s test.
Remember, you will move faster and get to the gold (your book and business goals) when you use an accountability coach, which is just one thing a book coach can do for you.
To get a real solutions for your challenges/ questions and a sample of what Judy Cullins can do for you, see her 1/2 hour breakthrough coaching.
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Christian Leadership: How Much Do We Pray? How Much Should We Pray?
Christian Leadership: How Much Do We Pray? How Much Should We Pray?
I recently was challenged by God concerning my personal prayer life. Not my preparing to preach prayer life, not my in front of the folks before or after church prayer life, not my visiting the sick prayer life, but my personal time with God prayer life.
You know, the one no one but God and you will ever see or know about for real!
So, I asked myself the questions: How much do I pray? How much should I pray?
I thought I would ask you, whats up in your prayer life? How much is a reasonable expectation we should have for our time in prayer? If you had a complete day with nothing on your schedule, how long would you pray?
The topic of this post could just as well have read, what do we really believe! I say that because even as church leaders, in general our actions don’t match our theology or doctrine. What a difference from the days of Peter, Paul, James, and John. Or even from more recent examples like William Seymour and the Azusa Revival congregants.
About 5 years ago the Lifeway research team released a survey that found the majority of pastors were dissatisfied with their personal prayer life.
Pastoral Ministry: How Much Of What We Do Would Be Recognized and Approved By The Apostles
Pastoral Ministry: How Much Of What We Do Would Be Recognized and Approved By The Apostles
Have you ever wondered, how much of what we do in church would be recognized and approved by the 1st century apostles. Regardless, of our Christian background we all have rituals that we perform as an act of worship. In fact, we call it worship service.
Unfortunately, I think much of what we call worship that honors God is entertainment that pleases flesh. Our society is fixated on performance and entertainment. The order and cadance of the music, in some places is scripted to bring our soulish nature to it highest level of responsiveness.
How far is our preaching from that which would put people to sleep so hard that they could fall from a window. As preachers we are especially adept at arousing the emotions of those who hear us. That may not be bad in and of itself, but has our content been watered down to the point of bland non-controversial doctrine in order to satisfy the sensibilities of the congregation?
2010: The YEAR of the Restored Warrior. Taking Back Lost Territory
Last night during watch service I spoke the word that 2010 is the year of the restored warrior, the revived warrior, the renewed warrior.
This is the year when those whose fire was almost out will return to battle with fresh energy and anointing.
Ministry Question of The Day: In 2009 What was your most significant Kingdom accomplishment?
Looking back on 2009 What was your most significant Kingdom accomplishment?
Was it on your list at the beginning of the year?
Please post your responses here or to the thread on http://facebook.com/bishopifeelgod
Please share this question with your friends on your wall for me!
Thanks
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How Do You Feel About Prayers Read From A Prayer Book?
I really wish that I did not, but I have a problem with written prayers, from some book, being read over me.
I trust the Holy Ghost in the person who is praying to be effective, not the words of someone who could be an old drunk writing prayer words for who knows what reason.
I would prefer for you to just pray for me, out of YOUR heart, you cannot get it wrong, the Holy Spirit will fix up what you mess up, just pray.
btw, I am not oppossed to books on prayer used for training newbies and new believers. I cut my teeth on
