From the files: 1. Be enthusiastic about the church. 2. Invite a prospective member at least each month. 3. Appreciate your leaders. 4. Tell others about your leaders. 5. Make the services enthusiastic. 6. Arrive and start on time. 7. End on time. 8. Shake at least 25 hands at each assembly. 9. Encourage those … Continue reading First 20 of 101 Ways to Build a Contagious Church
church family
Will You Join Me in Prayer
James simple says, " . . . Pray for one another . . ." (Jas 5:16). Paul says, "Praying always" and "Pray without ceasing" (Eph 6:18; 1 Ths 5:17). We receive encouragement from scriptures to intercede on behalf of others. This past week many have asked me to pray for them and with them, not … Continue reading Will You Join Me in Prayer
Which Type of Church
This week I spent time reading and commenting on a couple of blogs about churches. One discussed denominational titles and one discussed who or what churches should we consider to be evangelical. I am not sure any of that really matters if we are not following God's word in how we claim to obey e … Continue reading Which Type of Church
Showing Friendliness
Rob and Lanetta would not consider themselves great neighbors, but they felt they were friendly. One morning they discussed how they could improve and concluded that they should make a better effort at being friendly. Later that month Lanetta noticed a moving van at the house across the street. Having baked a couple of loaves … Continue reading Showing Friendliness
Top Twenty Tips on Encouragement
As I work on a lesson on Encouraging One Another, I came across the following tips in my files. I am not sure where I collected them, so don't give me credit for originality on this one. I am pretty sure I read these on another blog about this time last year. 1. Look for … Continue reading Top Twenty Tips on Encouragement
The Greatest Command
In the song The Greatest Command: The Altos sing, Love one another, for love is of God, He who loves is born of God, And knows God He who does not love, does not know God For God is love, God is Love The Basses provide support singing, Love bears all things, believes all things, … Continue reading The Greatest Command
A Special Christian
Who is your favorite Bible character? Whose example stands out to you? Maybe you thought of Abraham, David, Peter, Paul, or Joseph. Raise your hand if your first thought was about Epaphroditus. . . . I didn't think so. Some of you are even thinking, "Epaphro - who?" Epaphroditus is not one of those characters … Continue reading A Special Christian
So Wide as a Church Door
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, that most of us read in high school, Mercutio, Romeo's friend, receives a would in a street fight. When asked, Mercutio describes the wound this way, "'Tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a churh door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve." I suppose that Shakespeare had … Continue reading So Wide as a Church Door
Have You Told Them You Love Them?
Just this past week, Amy and I both read Dr. Gary Chapman's book, The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts. Many people are recommending this book, and now I understand why. In our 22 years of marriage (08.12.1989 to the present) some of our friends' marriages struggled to live in love and … Continue reading Have You Told Them You Love Them?
Growth Formula
There are a number of reasons why I love the church family that assembles in Parrish. These reasons include, but are not limited to: 1) a great family atmosphere, 2) really good singing, 3) we are very friendly, 4) we seem to possess a willingness to help others, 5) we love the Lord. I will … Continue reading Growth Formula
Driving Thought 