Sermons That Will Be Remembered and Practiced

Brief and helpful thoughts about becoming a better communicator/preacher.

Stop Preaching Boring Sermons

Memorial Day

Develop People and Leaders - Seek To Avoid These Pitfalls

Develop People and Leaders

Happy Memorial Day

A Personal Confession

...be quick to listen... James 1:19a

R12:1-2

With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Romans 12:1-2 JB Phillips

John 14:6

A Friendly Sky Outlook

The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and that the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us. A. W. Tozer

The Eye Of The Storm

This is taken from Growing Seeds. Find them on fb and on the net.

The eye of a storm, located in the center of a hurricane, is a region of mostly calm weather. The "eye" or center, is surrounded by the "eyewall", a ring of towering thunderstorms where the most severe weather occurs. When we experience the towering thunderstorms of life, the most sever obstacles and challenges, we must position ourselves in the center, maintain our calm and harness the strength to overcome.  Christ periodically left his disciples to be alone and perhaps center himself. Today, find your center in the quiet of the mind and bathe in the peace and stillness only found within. In the garden of the spirit, we reclaim Eden and the genesis of creation. All the noise of life's swirling changes are merely a bluster of billowing distractions. Let your eye stay fixed on the center, on the power of peace within. Harness the force of the storm by letting go and steady your eye in the middle of the mind with God.

Pentecost Sunday

A Shine Prayer

Heavenly Father, work in my life in such a way that people will see you shining forth. Help me to break free from the selfishness and sin that prevent me from being conformed to your image and expressing your holiness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Max Lucado from YouVersion.com

I Am Not In Church

Sure, I have visited churches several times, but I gave up.

For the most part, the people were unfriendly in the churches. No one greeted me unless it was some contrived greeting time. No one noticed me while they gathered in their holy huddles. One church member sat down by me and told me I was sitting in her pew. I decided to leave right then.

I am not in church.

But I really would like to know more about Christianity. Unfortunately, most of the sermons I hear seem watered down. Too many of the preachers tend to shy away from dealing with the biblical text straight on. I want to learn, but they just seem to want to please.

I am not in church.

I could make you a list of over 100 things churches are against. The topics range from the serious to the ridiculous. I sure would like to find a church that also tells me what they are for.

I am not in church.

But I need help. I know I need help. There are times I hurt badly and seek answers. I was hoping to find some of those answers at church. I was hoping to meet people who cared. I was hoping to be in place where I am treated with dignity and care.

I am not in church.

My co-worker goes to church. I even know where he’s a member. But he’s never invited me. My neighbor goes to church. My children play with her children. I see their family go to church every Sunday. But she’s never invited me. I would go if she did. I would definitely go.

I am not in church.

But church members don’t seem to care. They seem too busy to care. No one speaks to me. No one invites me. No one shows concern for me.

I am not in church.

I am not anti-church. I am not anti-Christian. I am really seeking answers. I am really looking for people who care.

I am not in church.

But I think I would like to be.

ThomRainer.com

Many Thoughts

Be A Movement Person

Live a Stirring Life

Each of us should lead a life stirring enough to start a movement. We should yearn to change the world. We should love unquenchably, dream unfalteringly, and work unceasingly.

We should close our ears to the manifold voices of compromise and perch ourselves on the branch of truth. We should champion the value of people, proclaim the forgiveness of God, and claim the promise of heaven.

And we should lead a life stirring enough to cause a movement. A movement comes of age when one life harvests the seeds planted by countless lives in previous generations. A movement occurs when one person, no greater or lesser than those who have gone before, lives a forceful life in the fullness of time.

Let’s live lives stirring and forceful enough to cause a movement. A true mark of the visionary is his willingness to lay down his life for those whom he’ll never see.

Will the movement come in our generation? I hope so. But even if it doesn’t, even if we never see it, it will occur. And we’ll be part of it.

From Max Lucado's new 365-day devotional God Is With You Every Day [2015] 

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

Philippians 2:14-16 NASB

http://bible.com/100/php.2.14-16.nasb

Prayer For Personal Revival and Renewal

Taken from powertochange.com

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24 TLB).

Confession of sin is necessary for fellowship with God and revival among God’s people. The word ‘confess’ has as its root meaning, ‘to say the same as.’ Confession, then, is agreeing with God about your sin.

Below you will find a series of questions to help you think through areas of your life that may need cleansing. On reading these questions, as you are convicted of sin, confess it at once to God. Be willing to make it right. Then you can claim cleansing and forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (NIV).

Be sure to name your sin to God: “Lord, I have not put You first in my plans,” or, “I have neglected Your Word and prayer.” Do not make the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life. Proverbs 28:13 says: “He [or she] who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (NIV).

You may wish to write down the specific sins that come to mind as you read the questions. Then, when you’re finished confessing, tear the paper into bits and throw it away as a reminder that God does indeed cleanse you from “all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9b). Embrace the promise of Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Personal revival from the presence of the Lord begins today – if you desire it:

• Matthew 6:12-15
  
  • Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge?
  • Anyone you haven’t forgiven?Anyone you hate?Anyone you do not love?
  • Are there misunderstandings that you are unwilling to forget?
  • Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment or jealousy?
  • Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well spoken of?
  • Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another?

• Matthew 6:33
  
  • Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first?
  • Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires, rather than seeking and following God’s will?
  • Do any of the following, in any way, interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambition, pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money or your plans?

• Mark 16:15
  
  • Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ?
  • Have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for the Lord Jesus Christ?
  • Has your life not shown the Lord Jesus to the lost?

• John 13:35
  
  • Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of another?
  • Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another?
  • Are you guilty of any contention or strife?
  • Do you quarrel, argue or engage in heated discussions?
  • Are you a partaker in any division or party spirit?
  • Are there people whom you deliberately slight?

• Acts 20:35
  
  • Have you robbed God by withholding His due of your time, talents and treasure?
  • Have you failed to support Kingdom work either by service, prayer or giving?

• 1 Corinthians 4:2
  
  • Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord’s work?
  • Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord, but doing nothing about it?

• 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
  • Are you careless in any way with your body?
  • Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit?
  • Are you guilty of intemperance in eating or drinking?
  • Do you have any habits which defile the body?

• 1 Corinthians 10:31
  
  • Do you take the slightest credit for anything good about yourself, rather than give all the glory to God?
  • Do you talk of what you have done rather than of what Christ has done?
  • Do your statements begin mostly with ‘I’?
  • Are your feelings easily hurt?
  • Have you made a pretense of being something that you are not?

• Ephesians 3:20
  
  • Are you self-conscious rather than Christ-conscious?
  • Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should in serving God?

• Ephesians 4:28
  
  • Do you underpay?
  • Do you do very little in your work?
  • Have you been careless in the payment of your debts?
  • Have you sought to evade payment of debts?
  • Do you waste time? Do you waste time for others?

• Ephesians 4:31
  
  • Do you complain?
  • Do you find fault?
  • Do you have a critical attitude towards any person or thing?
  • Are you irritable or cranky?
  • Do you ever carry hidden anger?
  • Do you become impatient with others?
  • Are you ever harsh or unkind?

• Ephesians 5:16
  
  • Do you listen to unedifying radio or TV programs?
  • Do you read unworthy magazines or websites?
  • Do you find it necessary to seek satisfaction from any questionable source?
  • Are you doing certain things that show you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ?

• Ephesians 5:20
  
  • Have you neglected to thank Him for all things: the seemingly bad as well as the good?
  • Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word?
  • Do you worry?
  • Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of on the facts of God’s Word?

• Philippians 1:21
  
  • Are you taken up with the cares of this life?
  • Is your conversation or heart joy over ‘things’ rather than the Lord and His Word?
  • Does anything mean more to you than living for and pleasing Christ?

• Philippians 2:14
  
  • Do you ever, by word or deed, seek to hurt someone?
  • Do you gossip?
  • Do you speak unkindly concerning people when they are not present?
  • Do you carry prejudice against true Christians because they are of some different group than yours or because they do not see everything exactly as you do?

• Philippians 4:4
  
  • Have you neglected to seek to be pleasing to Him in all things?
  • Do you carry any bitterness toward God?
  • Have you complained against Him in any way?
  • Have you been dissatisfied with His provision for you?
  • Is there any unwillingness in your heart to obey God fully?
  • Do you have any reservations as to what you would or would not do concerning anything that might be His will?
  • Have you disobeyed some direct leading from Him?

• Colossians 3:9
  
  • Do you engage in empty and unprofitable conversation?
  • Do you ever lie?
  • Do you ever exaggerate? Cheat? Steal?
  • Do you overcharge?

• 2 Timothy 2:22
  
  • Do you have any personal habits that are not pure?
  • Do you allow impure thoughts about the opposite sex to stay in your mind?
  • Do you read that which is impure or suggests unholy things?
  • Do you indulge in any entertainment that is unclean?
  • Are you guilty of the lustful look?

If you are looking for a deeply satisfying relationship with God, I encourage you to pray by faith and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2016

Please click on the links below for helpful information regarding Pentecost Sunday.

Pentecost Sunday - Brief Article

Pentecost Sunday - More Information - Good Article

May 15 - Pentecost Sunday

Hope Quotes - Leonard Sweet from FB

Faith does not just find God in the past, but finds God in the future. Can you thank God, this minute, not just for what has been, but for what is coming?

The gifts of God are found in fields of obedience and trust.

Pentecost makes all of us Spirit whisperers, people who charge the real with spirit.

God, as an artist, has a distinctive style: symmetric, succinct, exuberant, lavish, a flair for surprise, and a lover of variety.

Pentecost

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.     Acts 2:1-4 The Message

Pentecost Painting

Be Wise

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:5-6

Revival in 1905 - Pray. Confess. Obey. Repeat.

Many have heard of the Great Welsh Revival of 1904-1905. It touched all classes and ages. Newspapers kept tally as the churches swelled with new converts—over 100,000 in one six-month period. In Cardiff police reported a 60% decrease in drunkenness and 40% fewer people in jail at the New Year of 1905. In Glamorgan the convictions for drunkenness decreased from 11,282 in 1904 to 5,615 in 1907. Stocks of Welsh Bibles were sold out. Profanity was so diminished in the coal mines that the pitponies dragging the coal carts in the tunnels did not understand their commands any more and stood still, confused. Even children held their own meetings in homes and barns.
What is not as well known is the fact that the power of revival spread to America as well as many other countries. Welsh immigrants who lived in Pennsylvania were receiving news of the homeland. Suddenly in December 1904 an awakening began in Wilkes-Barre, and the Rev. J.D. Roberts in one month instructed 123 converts.
By early spring the Methodists in Philadelphia were claiming ten thousand converts, the greatest ingathering since 1880. In Schenectady, New York, the local Ministerial Association heard reports of the great revival in Wales and united all evangelical denominations in meetings for prayer and evangelistic rallies. By January 22, 1905 all the evangelical congregations in the city were packed with awakened and seeking people. In Troy, New York the awakening began during the January week of prayer held in the Second Presbyterian church, and spread to 29 other churches in the city.
Throughout New England the revival spread in the spring of 1905. J. Edwin Orr wrote that “the movement was characterized by an intense sensation of the presence of God in the congregations, as in the Welsh Revival. . . The churches were obviously in the midst of a revival of greater Power and extent than New England had known since 1858.”
The southern states were not overlooked by the Lord. Late in 1904, the Atlanta newspapers reported that nearly a thousand businessmen had united in intercession for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On November 2, with unprecedented unanimity, stores, factories and offices closed in the middle of the day for prayer. Georgia’s Supreme Court adjourned.
In Louisville, Kentucky the press reported “the most remarkable revival ever known in the city is now interesting Louisville. . . Fifty-eight of the leading business firms of the city are closed at the noon hour” for prayer meetings. In March 1905 Henry Clay Morrison said, “The whole city is breathing a spiritual atmosphere. . . Everywhere in shop and store, in the mill and on the street, salvation is the one topic of conversation.”
In Redwood Falls, Minnesota the awakening brought out six hundred men, women and children to interdenominational meetings during temperatures of 22 degrees below zero. A wave of revival touched many of the churches of the Minneapolis area, and W.B. Riley told of a movement in Spring Valley where a sixth of the population professed conversion.

This is taken from Desiring God, JohnPiper.

Pray, Confess, Obey. Repeat.

Happy Mother's Day

Pray - Hope

                                  

Prayer Marathon

Pray continually. I Thes. 5:17

Do you struggle to maintain a consistent prayer life? Many of us do. We know that prayer is important, but it can also be downright difficult. We have moments of deep communion with God and then we have times when it feels like we’re just going through the motions. Why do we struggle so in our prayers?

The life of faith is a marathon. The ups, the downs, and the plateaus in our prayer life are a reflection of this race. And just as in a marathon we need to keep running, so we keep praying. The point is: Don’t give up!

That is God’s encouragement too. The apostle Paul said, “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17), “keep on praying” (Rom. 12:12 nlt), and “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2). All of these statements carry the idea of remaining steadfast and continuing in the work of prayer.

And because God, our heavenly Father, is a personal being, we can develop a time of close communion with Him, just as we do with our close human relationships. A. W. Tozer writes that as we learn to pray, our prayer life can grow “from the initial most casual brush to the fullest, most intimate communion of which the human soul is capable.” And that’s what we really want—deep communication with God. It happens when we keep praying.

Dear Father, we often struggle to spend time with You. Help us to make the time, and help us sense Your goodness and presence.

There is never a day when we don’t need to pray.

ODB 5-5-16

Today - National Day of Prayer

National Prayer To Pray At Noon.

Dear heavenly Father, we come to You today as a humble people desperate for Your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation.  First, we thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.

This is why our hearts are so broken over how You continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and our institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that Your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of Your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society.

It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by Your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians but rather to publicly declare and live out Your truth in a spirit of love so that You feel welcome in our country once again.

Thank You for Your promise to hear our prayers when we call to You with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to You today, Father. On behalf of Your church, we affirm afresh the priority You are to us that You would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring You glory through the advancement of Your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives, and in the lives of our churches and our government leaders. We confidently invite heaven’s intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise You in advance for Your answer.

In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

by Dr. Tony Evans

Praise and Worship

If you praise and worship Jesus with your mouth, and your life does not praise and worship him, there's something wrong!

Kieth Green