If the purpose of excellent sermons are to address concerns, needs, and desires of a group of people such as a congregation, how can anyone set up a year's speaking agenda without having a substantial knowledge of his/her audience's lives? I believe the first order of things aught to be learning as much as possible about your congregation, then fashion sermons, bringing the Word of God to bear on the needs/desires/concerns of the congregation. I know all scripture is useful to teach, but your congregations are not faceless individuals, and like sponges absorb whatever is irrelevantly cast at them , all with the same issues. So, please, when fashioning any sermon, think about where your congregation sits, consider the experiences they may have had that may have encouraged, disappointed caused grief and joys of being counted among the elect.
May God bless you all in your calling, I know it may be difficult for many.
If the purpose of excellent sermons are to address concerns, needs, and desires of a group of people such as a congregation, how can anyone set up a year's speaking agenda without having a substantial knowledge of his/her audience's lives? I believe the first order of things aught to be learning as much as possible about your congregation, then fashion sermons, bringing the Word of God to bear on the needs/desires/concerns of the congregation. I know all scripture is useful to teach, but your congregations are not faceless individuals, and like sponges absorb whatever is irrelevantly cast at them , all with the same issues. So, please, when fashioning any sermon, think about where your congregation sits, consider the experiences they may have had that may have encouraged, disappointed caused grief and joys of being counted among the elect.
May God bless you all in your calling, I know it may be difficult for many.
Couple of comments: first I don’t think stirring up the sinful quagmire of ecclesiastical struggles of the past is helpful in arguing a similarity to the current discussion. It seems an attempt obfuscate the clear teaching of scripture by making this comparison only helps in potentially splitting the already fragile conditions of the CRCNA.
Second, whether or not you or I, or the church decides a matter, will have no effect on my salvation. Let’s instead, have discussions the may effect our salvation, unifying instead of disunity.
Has the author considered that historical same value gifting, to the church for example, may be supplemented by giving to other worthwhile projects/organizations, thereby increasing gifting, but not to just one organization?
Sorry, you know the old saying, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. We all have difficulty navigating through the life and career we've chosen. Hang in, it'll get better. It says so in scripture.
I think those are very good questions. Allow me to suggest that sometimes, as my late father in law once said, we see too many bears along the paths, meaning of course, we tend to perhaps worry about a lot of things that could go wrong. Somewhere we need to follow the Spirit's leading and dependent more on God's providence, that He will smooth the path when we first take a step. You could also "tag team" with another volunteer, so you're not in it alone.
As to the disillusionment, I think the number one remedy is a show of appreciation by those directly affected by your volunteerism. Thank you for the volunteer work that you do, God Bless
Am I correct by inferring that you suggest a new discussion, this time on the "process"? Me thinks this is a smoke screen to enhance a pre determined outcome. The powers that be are really asking, "does God really say......? In His Word. Do you really think that because your child has "come out" that God's clear intentions are not valid? I'm reminded of the scriptures where Jesus stated words "Anyone who love their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37 NIV. Is that not what we're doing here? Because our children seek a path not consistent with scripture, and, because we love them, we want to change the plain meaning of scripture to suit how we feel about our children.
Please stop challenging scripture and concentrate more on our salvation, and end of our earthly life which will come soon enough.
Thanks Sean, for taking the time to reply to my comment. I think you can form you own interpretation re: the percentage notation. As to the " horse out of the barn", I think it's better to try to put the horse back into the barn, lest it come out to trample you.
Posted in: Upcoming Webinar: Learn How You Can Easily Plan a Yearly Sermon Calendar
If the purpose of excellent sermons are to address concerns, needs, and desires of a group of people such as a congregation, how can anyone set up a year's speaking agenda without having a substantial knowledge of his/her audience's lives? I believe the first order of things aught to be learning as much as possible about your congregation, then fashion sermons, bringing the Word of God to bear on the needs/desires/concerns of the congregation. I know all scripture is useful to teach, but your congregations are not faceless individuals, and like sponges absorb whatever is irrelevantly cast at them , all with the same issues. So, please, when fashioning any sermon, think about where your congregation sits, consider the experiences they may have had that may have encouraged, disappointed caused grief and joys of being counted among the elect.
May God bless you all in your calling, I know it may be difficult for many.
Posted in: Upcoming Webinar: Learn How You Can Easily Plan a Yearly Sermon Calendar
If the purpose of excellent sermons are to address concerns, needs, and desires of a group of people such as a congregation, how can anyone set up a year's speaking agenda without having a substantial knowledge of his/her audience's lives? I believe the first order of things aught to be learning as much as possible about your congregation, then fashion sermons, bringing the Word of God to bear on the needs/desires/concerns of the congregation. I know all scripture is useful to teach, but your congregations are not faceless individuals, and like sponges absorb whatever is irrelevantly cast at them , all with the same issues. So, please, when fashioning any sermon, think about where your congregation sits, consider the experiences they may have had that may have encouraged, disappointed caused grief and joys of being counted among the elect.
May God bless you all in your calling, I know it may be difficult for many.
Posted in: Santa Claus, Contraception, and the CRCNA (Part 4)
Couple of comments: first I don’t think stirring up the sinful quagmire of ecclesiastical struggles of the past is helpful in arguing a similarity to the current discussion. It seems an attempt obfuscate the clear teaching of scripture by making this comparison only helps in potentially splitting the already fragile conditions of the CRCNA.
Second, whether or not you or I, or the church decides a matter, will have no effect on my salvation. Let’s instead, have discussions the may effect our salvation, unifying instead of disunity.
Respectfully, Alex Krikke.
Posted in: Want Stronger Givers?
Has the author considered that historical same value gifting, to the church for example, may be supplemented by giving to other worthwhile projects/organizations, thereby increasing gifting, but not to just one organization?
Posted in: How to Handle Pastoral Burnout in a COVID-Plus World
Sorry, you know the old saying, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. We all have difficulty navigating through the life and career we've chosen. Hang in, it'll get better. It says so in scripture.
Posted in: Share Your 3-Word Prayer for the Human Sexuality Conversation
All of Scripture
Posted in: Share Your 3-Word Prayer for the Human Sexuality Conversation
Sola Scriptura - selah
Posted in: Share Your 3-Word Prayer for the Human Sexuality Conversation
Sola Scriptura - Amen
Posted in: Volunteer Burnout
I think those are very good questions. Allow me to suggest that sometimes, as my late father in law once said, we see too many bears along the paths, meaning of course, we tend to perhaps worry about a lot of things that could go wrong. Somewhere we need to follow the Spirit's leading and dependent more on God's providence, that He will smooth the path when we first take a step. You could also "tag team" with another volunteer, so you're not in it alone.
As to the disillusionment, I think the number one remedy is a show of appreciation by those directly affected by your volunteerism.
Thank you for the volunteer work that you do, God Bless
Posted in: Just Decide Already! Can’t We Just Vote and Move On?
Am I correct by inferring that you suggest a new discussion, this time on the "process"? Me thinks this is a smoke screen to enhance a pre determined outcome. The powers that be are really asking, "does God really say......? In His Word. Do you really think that because your child has "come out" that God's clear intentions are not valid?
I'm reminded of the scriptures where Jesus stated words "Anyone who love their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37 NIV. Is that not what we're doing here? Because our children seek a path not consistent with scripture, and, because we love them, we want to change the plain meaning of scripture to suit how we feel about our children.
Please stop challenging scripture and concentrate more on our salvation, and end of our earthly life which will come soon enough.
Posted in: Human Sexuality Report: Ready to Rumble?
Why can't the"10%" not take a cue from the "90%" and quit pushing this potentially divisive subject?
Posted in: Human Sexuality Report: Ready to Rumble?
Thanks Sean, for taking the time to reply to my comment. I think you can form you own interpretation re: the percentage notation. As to the " horse out of the barn", I think it's better to try to put the horse back into the barn, lest it come out to trample you.