ALMOST SO CLOSE It's odd to think we might have been sun, moon, and stars unto each other; Only I turned down one little street as you went up another. -- Fanny Heaslip Lea
Sermon Illustrations
DESIGNED FOR FELLOWSHIP The scene is a baseball game in Peanuts. Charlie Brown is pitching, and Schroeder, the catcher, walks out to toss the ball to Charlie Brown, who complains to him, "Schroeder, you never…
MATURITY EXPOSES SELF Maturity will be most clearly visible in the way people relate to one another. Bible study habits, church activities, frequency of witnessing, discipline in lifestyle, time spent in prayer, willingness to sacrifice…
FIVE ASSIMILATION QUESTIONS The process of assimilation must answer the five basic questions of a newcomer in a positive way. 1. The assimilating church answers the question "Am I liked?" by quickly helping newcomers develop…
ADDICTED TO SELF Today we see the fruit of this fallen structure as never before. Self-preservation, Self-development, Self- nourishment, Self-care, Self-expression, Self-protection, Self-enhancement. . . . Move through your problems toward finding yourself! Depend on…
TOO MUCH HOLY HUDDLE Football teams gather frequently in their huddles. Fine, we understand. But if they stay in the huddle, you would lose the game as well as their fans. They gather in the…
USE THEM OR LOSE THEM As an individual you have only 168 hours in each week and a limited amount of energy. The only way you can extend and expand your time and leadership is…
THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIPS Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, famous evangelist, said that the New Testament records tell of forty people, each suffering from the same disease who were healed by Jesus. Of this number, thirty-four…
BASSES LOADED A number of years ago, the Seattle Symphony was doing Beethoven's Ninth under the baton of Milton Katims... At this point, you must understand two things: 1) There's a long segment in this…
THE LOCAL CHURCH Local churches have been commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ to shine as lights and actively participate with God's Spirit in the process of making disciples. Disciples are made complete as we…
LEADERS DRAW APART Instead of relying just on others for their affirmation, Christian leaders have a source of power and inspiration that transcends human wisdom and thinking. Leaders must develop a capacity for handling loneliness…
FOUR SERMON PREPARATION QUESTIONS Who is my audience? What are the concerns, troubles, and interests of my audience? What does the Bible say to these concerns, troubles, and interests? How can I MOST effectively communicate…
A Church Assimilation Process Overview by Michael Hodgin Effective church assimilation provides the means for those who are "on the outside" of the church to get "on the inside" of the church. People visit churches…
LEVELS OF FRIENDSHIP Bill Gothard notes: "Many fail to achieve meaningful friendships because they do not have a clear understanding of the levels of friendship." Thus, he gives some insight into four levels: Level 1:…
FRIENDSHIP TRAITS Some while back, an experimental psychologist pondered the question, "Why do I like some people and at the same time, dislike others?" Being a practical man, he decided to answer his own question.…
THINGS WE TALK ABOUT Let me tell you what people like to talk about: 1.THEMSELVES: They like to tell about what has happened to them, or what they've seen or done. Men talk about work,…
MEETING NEEDS OR LEADING WORSHIP As the church today gets more and more hip-- more and more need-oriented, responding to the buttons that people push in their pews--I find myself longing for more of a…
THE ABC'S OF FRIENDSHIP A lways be honest, would you want THEM to lie to you? B e there when they need you, or you may wind up alone. C heer them on, we all…
To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
