Sermon Summary (Feb. 19, 2012)

Posted on February 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Diet Locust (Jan./Feb. 2012)

Posted on February 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

The year’s off to a great start! Click here for your next helping of Diet Locust.

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How to Set Realistic Attendance Goals

Posted on February 9, 2012 | 2 Comments

It’s hard to ignore someone who is genuinely interested in my success and the spread of the Gospel; someone who humbly offers his opinion, recognizing that it is merely his opinion. I am grateful when such an individual approaches me and, like Moses’ father-in-law,  says, “The thing that thou doest is not good” (Exodus 18:17).

When the Pounders’ were here last year, Brian and I were knocking doors and talking about my services. He asked if I set weekly goals for meeting people and getting them into church. To be honest, that was something I didn’t do. I just worked diligently and hoped for a big crowd. Brian pointed out the importance of realistic numerical goals and how to go about setting them. With a little adaptation, I have implemented this simple process and now want to share it with you.

Assuming you at least keep attendance records, average your numbers from the last four weeks and add one. That is your goal for this week. For example, if your numbers were 5, 4, 5, and 2, the average is 4. Adding 1, this Sunday you would hope to have 5. (I’m using single digits both for simplicity and accurate portrayal of the situation here.) Of course there will be times you’ll have to do some rounding. If the average is 4.25, the goal would still be 5; if it was 4.75, the goal would be 6. Over time, as the average grows, the plus 1 will become plus 2, plus 5, and so on.

One of the first things I do when I get home on Sunday is set next week’s goal. There are numerous advantages to doing so: it allows me to pray more specifically during the week, it saves money when I go to buy refreshments or print materials, it forces my outreach to be more individual-oriented, and it minimizes discouragement–benefits I think we would all enjoy.

Do you have a process for setting attendance goals? Have you tried this method before? How has it worked for you?

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Sermon Summary (Feb. 5, 2012)

Posted on February 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Thorn in the Flesh

Posted on February 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

On several occasions Paul earnestly asked God to take this thorn away from him, whoever or whatever it might have been. Doubtlessly he was thinking of the benefits both to himself and to his ministry were it to be gone. Maybe he saw the thorn as hindering his effectiveness or restraining his influence; as a needless obstacle or constant distraction. So he prays and prays and prays. The last time he made his request, God responded with an emphatic no and helped Paul to see that the presence of the thorn was something God could use for His purposes and glory.

For the past two years I have asked God to send another family or couple to help us in Provo. During deputation I stood up 122 times and asked for help. I’ve mentioned it both subtly and directly in our newsletters. I see the benefits of having others here: fellowship, accountability, productivity, encouragement, and so on. Yet Paul’s words keep coming to my mind.

So I’m almost done asking.

Later this month I will be preaching at Faith FWB Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina. I am going to make one more plea for help. God may very well move on someone’s heart and we could leave that service having begun the practical discussion on their moving out here. However, if He doesn’t I know He will show us that His “strength is made perfect in weakness.”

I hope you will make arrangements to be in attendance. In the meantime, please pray that God will send both laborers and fruit to Provo.

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Sermon Summary (Jan. 29, 2012)

Posted on January 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

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How I’m Using My iPad 2

Posted on January 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

When my friends talked about their iPads they almost elevated them to the same status of the tablets upon which God wrote the Law. So when my in-laws visited last year and bought me an iPad 2 I was thrilled–I practically had one of the tablets upon which God wrote the Law!

Initially, I wasn’t sure how I was going to use such an amazing tool, but it wasn’t long before it became a part of my preaching and reading routines. I want to share a few of the apps that made that possible.

Dropbox This is a simple way of wirelessly transferring documents and photos. I use it primarily to put PDF versions of my sermons onto my iPad.

GoodReader This paid app is a great PDF reader with lots of annotating options. Plus, it allows you to swipe rather than scroll through a file. This is the app I preach from.

YouVersion I don’t use this app while I preach because I think your audience should see you using the Bible. However, I do use this during my personal study.

Nook To be honest, I haven’t given the iBooks or Kindle apps a try. My iPad replaced my Nook e-reader and since I already had a growing library I chose to stick with it.

FeeddlerPro This is also a paid app, though there is a free version. It pulls all of your blog subscriptions to one place, allows you to organize them in custom folders, and then share them across your social networks.

Please leave a comment and let me know if there is something that should be on this list that I’ve yet to discover.

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