Stage 1–The Empty Pew Sleeping late Weekend visits Excuses No resolve Deepening neglect Stage 2–An Empty Heart No time for God No time for prayer Not interested in the Bible Spiritual cobwebs More excuses Stage 3–An Empty life Influence for God–nil Influence for church–nil Example to children on selecting the best–nil Influence on neighbors–nil Materialism… Continue reading Tragedy in four stages
Category: Illustrations and Research
Stories, news events, testimonies, history and more.
President Obama Drops Creator Reference from Declaration of Independence
This is a man speaking with a tele-prompter. If not, I would say perhaps a memory lapse caused it… but at 22:30 he begin quoting the Declaration and says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Mr.… Continue reading President Obama Drops Creator Reference from Declaration of Independence
The Perils of ‘Wanna be Cool’ Christianity
‘How can we stop the oil gusher?” may have been the question of the summer for most Americans. Yet for many evangelical pastors and leaders, the leaking well is nothing compared to the threat posed by an ongoing gusher of a different sort: Young people pouring out of their churches, never to return. As a… Continue reading The Perils of ‘Wanna be Cool’ Christianity
Seven Sins of Dying Churches
The Book, “Essential Church? Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts” by authors, Thom S. Rainer and Sam Rainer III, identifies seven sins of dying churches that serve as the driving factors behind losing the generational battle – the battle for every generation to see the significance of the church. Sin 1: Doctrine Dilution “Teaching anything less… Continue reading Seven Sins of Dying Churches
Iranian Pastor Facing Execution
TEHRAN, IRAN (Worthy News)– A well-known Iranian pastor faces execution after two judges agreed to make him “liable to capital punishment,” as part of a crackdown on the growing Protestant church movement in the Islamic nation, Worthy News and its parner agency BosNewsLife learned Tuesday, July 13. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was detained in June along… Continue reading Iranian Pastor Facing Execution
Man, shot in head, notices five years later
Ignorant sins? Deep, forgotten wounds? Tue, Aug 24 2010 BERLIN (Reuters) – A Polish man living in Germany went about his business for about five years without noticing he had been shot in the head because he was drunk when it happened. Police in the western city of Bochum said on Tuesday doctors found a… Continue reading Man, shot in head, notices five years later
Woman buries brother, discovers dead son
This article can be used for numerous cases as a sermon illustration: not realizing a brother/sister has fallen away until it’s already too late. the reality of calamity and trial in our lives… How grief adds to grief. Job? any other ideas? Fri, Aug 20 2010 PARIS (Reuters) – A French woman discovered her 42-year-old… Continue reading Woman buries brother, discovers dead son
Compound Names of Jehovah
From some notes I had… someone may find it useful for teaching or preaching… Jehovah – The Lord – Exodus 6:2-3 Jehovah-Adon Kal Ha’arets- The Lord of Earth – Joshua 3:13 Jehovah-Bara – The Lord Creator – Isaiah 40:28 Jehovah-Chatsahi – The Lord my Strength – Psalm 27:1 Jehovah-Chereb – The Lord the Sword –… Continue reading Compound Names of Jehovah
The Value of Time
To realize The value of a sister/brother Ask someone Who doesn’t have one. To realize The value of ten years: Ask a newly Divorced couple. To realize The value of four years: Ask a graduate. To realize The value of one year: Ask a student who Has failed a final exam. To realize The value… Continue reading The Value of Time
A Mocker or a Marveler?
Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Acts 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. Some men marvelled, others mocked. Marvelled: something that causes wonder, admiration, or astonishment; a wonderful thing. Mocked: To attack or treat with… Continue reading A Mocker or a Marveler?