There are probably few images more evocative than the manger – that of the shepherds and the Wise Men kneeling before the babe, Christ Jesus. We know that it is unlikely that the two groups were there at the same time, and also, the Biblical record doesn’t include the angels that we place around the…
DetailsAlmost everyone has used an automobile GPS navigation system. We turn it on. It finds our location on the face of the earth within a few feet. It identifies the street we are on and the direction in which our vehicle is headed. We input a destination – even points along some route. We set…
DetailsA PERSONAL STORY A number of years ago, while serving on the State Council for the Church of God in California, I drove to Sacramento for a board meeting. I was near empty when I pulled into the office parking lot. The meeting was scheduled to last until supper, but instead, it ran past ten…
DetailsThe most common mistake is sacrificing the plan for the people; or the people for the plan. A plan will not be effective unless your leaders own it. As someone has observed, no plans survive enemy engagement. Your plan will meet resistance and require resolve. You may be forced to retreat and reteach the values…
DetailsThe majority of the world lives without the hope offered by Christ. The open door to God’s throne is a unique post-resurrection-ascension-enthronement Christian notion and unique privilege. That we can pray, pour out our souls to a God who cares, is an incredible privilege. That we get answers from God is beyond incredible. Sadly, prayer…
DetailsIn order to be a house of prayer, your church must put prayer in the middle of your Sunday Morning worship. This may be challenging, as this prayer time can be overcome with personal prayer requests. Everyone is so needy: including us! Everywhere we look, we can see people who are heavy laden and burdened…
DetailsInvocation – the formal recognition of God’s Presence, and the surrender of the time and contour of the meeting to His leadership. The request for blessing and favor, the refusal to take for granted His Presence. The submission to do as He commanded, namely, to humbly, but boldly ask in faith, giving glory to Him!…
DetailsThe first step in learning to be a house of prayer is – prayer. The congregation needs to gather to pray together. This is not merely people praying in the same room. It is people, the church, praying as one, from the office of the church; and in addition, embracing the discipline of daily, personal…
DetailsIn order to encourage a flourishing prayer ministry, you need a physical space to nurture, practice and train in the area of prayer. The choir needs a practice room. The youth need a center for their activities. Christian education and discipleship ministries need education space. No one disagrees. The prayer ministry also needs a space…
DetailsEveryone should be challenged to pray for their neighbors. C.S. Lewis offers a forceful charge, “Next to the blessed sacrament, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” The Scripture makes it clear – God has ordered our boundaries. He moved the family in next door to us (Acts 17:26). He parked the…
Details
