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POPSUse a Little Salt I read a great article by the "Made to Stick" authors, Dan and Chip Heath in the November 2008 edition of Fast Company. This article is for anyone who makes a presentation in which they want people to listen. If pastors used these principles, then they will have more people on the edge of their seats waiting. The sentence you must remember: Curiosity must come before content. It is our job to make the listener want to listen. Pique their curiosity.
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POPSAtheist Ad In London, an Humanistic group is purchasing ads on the sides of buses. The quote from the ad is the first in the clipped quotes. The second clipped quote is from Richard Dawkins, probably the most famous atheist. He thinks those who believe in God have checked their brains at the door. However, the greater thought you put to God, the more faith you have, not less. When you deal with the issues with life--like the quote put on the buses--it should lead you to God. The last quote is from a Christian. The issue with Atheism is that they don't deal with real life. "Don't worry, be happy" doesn't deal with the questions people are really asking. If people decided to run an ad like this in your town, don't fret, but engage people in the discussion. God can and will use these to bring people to a greater understanding of who he is.
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POPSLEGO is Sexist Is this on people's radar screen? Or is this just one group who thinks everyone cares that boys and girls are playing in blue and pink rooms?
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POPSGet Back to Jesus Somewhat of a follow up to the clips made from yesterday's blog. It is so easy to get sucked into planting a church and the "nuts and bolts" of what it takes and forget that we are making disciples. It actually takes longer to make disciples than it does to start a church. Jesus spent 3 years with his disciples. It took a betrayal, deserting, misunderstanding and the Holy Spirit to come to start the church. These ideas are what I'm trying to remind myself daily.
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POPSThe role of the Gospel These are clips from an article by Ed Stetzer. He goes on to say that the church has found ways to make spirituality more relevant to everyday life, but have left out the gospel in the process. We must stand firm on the power of God's revealed Word. It is tough when you think that they other person doesn't want to hear. That's not our issue though. The only way to see true change is to give the power of the Gospel.
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POPSWhen I Speak From Todd Wagner via Tim Stevens, www.leadingsmart.com. This is a great quote that reminds us of what our goal really is in speaking/preaching. This actually changes my perspective a little bit about entertaining in preaching. We do want to truly entertain in preaching. We want to hold people's attention. However, different people do that different ways. I have been under humorous preachers, but they didn't entertain, they amused. I have been under other preachers who held someone's attention without humor. Andy Stanley preached this last week about how they want people to be challenged each week. Challenges will hold peoples attention. The Bible is challenging. Use it and see people be entertained.
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POPSPeople Reading God's Word Although I haven't used youversion.com, it is really causing a lot of good to happen. For instance, this quote is nothing but good. 6.2 million minutes over the course of two weeks reading the Bible! That is only those who have an iphone/itouch and who actually use this program. That is very good news. Spend time in the Bible. Nothing will change you like engaging in it.
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POPSGo to a Baseball Game The article is about studies that say married couples who have fun together--no matter the activity--are happier. Makes sense right? These "fun" activities are the first to go when times are tight. "Tight" might be in time, finances, or emotions. Find some way to have fun with your spouse this week.
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POPSDelayed Obedience Chase Hilgenbrinck left professional soccer to go to Catholic seminary for 6 years to become a priest. These two paragraphs go together--one after another. He is going because God has told him to. Let's don't worry about theological differences, many Baptists need to take this example.
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POPSChastity This is one quote from quite possibly the best apologetic I have ever encountered on chastity/purity. He is right on with his observations. It goes being not having sex to having the type of life-giving experience that it was intended to be.
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POPSGap Year This is a great article about a gap year either before college or in college. Students often go to college because that is what is expected and that is how they can get more money. That is a pattern for potential failure. I am intrigued by the idea that more churches are providing opportunities for gap students. What could a church do to help "mature" a student in a gap year?
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POPSThis is Why This quote was found on Ed Stetzer's Blog. It is from Rob Zinn, senior pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, CA. You may wonder why I have chosen to go to NY to plant a church and leave a youth ministry that by all accounts is growing and the future looks brighter than the past. This is why. We must reach a culture who doesn't know in a way that they will understand. It cannot be the same as the majority of churches in America. It must be different. Not because one is wrong, but because one will not win all.
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POPSOn Wednesday Nights, Count on This On Wednesday nights, you can count on a blog at this site outlining the service. Students, Parents, Staff, you can come to find out what is happening on Wednesday nights. Students, you are asked to leave comments to people can know how God is using you and speaking to you.
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POPSDon't Try This At Home I'm not sure what to do with this. The headline caught my attention. The rest of the article was even better. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
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POPSWho Teaches Kids to Lie? Apparently it is us as parents. This is a great article from Albert Mohler about where kids get the ability to lie. Seems like they simply watch us lie as parents. They see us tell lies to "keep face" socially. We don't want confrontation so we don't tell the truth. We then teach our children to lie about these same socially awkward situations. For example, what do you want your child to do if they don't receive a gift they like? It may not be polite to tell the truth, but it also isn't polite to lie. This was a very convicting article. It is worth the read. However, if you are not ready to confront our lies, then don't read. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1101.
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POPSCustomer Service in Church We are taking our leaders through thinking about customer service inside a church. Below is a definition of customer service that was found on wikipedia. Our product, I believe, is the Gospel of Jesus. That He lived, died and rose again on the third day. That He did this for the forgiveness of sins. That we have to repent and ask to receive this forgiveness. We can take this too far because there are some expectations that we cannot meet. We must not come down on the dying to self aspect of the Gospel just because we think that people don't want to hear that, it is not "customer friendly." However, we have an obligation as Christians and the church to make this Gospel as attractive as possible. That the only stumbling block is the cross, and not anything that we put down in front of people. How can the church's "customer service" be better?
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POPSAllowing Non-Perfection Here is a story I just read that describes one person's journey to God through a friend. This is the type of stories I'd like to see begin to happen. It all up to us to be there when the a person's world falls apart.
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