June 2006 Archives

What role can Grace Chapel play in helping to reverse the trend toward social isolation revealed in this CNN article?

Americans are more socially isolated than they were 20 years ago, separated by work, commuting and the single life, researchers reported on Friday.

Nearly a quarter of people surveyed said they had "zero" close friends with whom to discuss personal matters. More than 50 percent named two or fewer confidants, most often immediate family members, the researchers said.

"This is a big social change, and it indicates something that's not good for our society," said Duke University Professor Lynn Smith-Lovin, lead author on the study to be published in the American Sociological Review.

Thanks to Pastor Don for the article.

Here is Stan Toler's simple method for ministering personally to seven individuals in your congregation each day in a way that will have a great impact on the people you serve.

First, spend an hour one-on-one with a person in your church or community.

Second, spend 15 minutes writing brief notes to three people.

Third, spend 15 minutes making brief phone calls to three people.

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A summary of what's in the greatest book of all time.
by Jim Townsend

Wouldn't you love to be able to grasp what the entire Bible contains in just a few minutes? This compilation of the themes of the Bible will allow you to do just that. The following is a summary of what each book of the Bible contains. Keep it handy to refer to as you study and read.

Here's a sample of one book of the Bible:

2 Chronicles

• God supplies wisdom to those who want it (1)
• God values worship (3-5)
• God hears sincere prayers (6-7)
• God honors those who stand for what is right (14-17)
• God has his confronters (18)
• Some lives are a patchwork of obedience and disobedience (24)
• God is honored when leaders seek purification and reform (29-31, 34-35)
• Otherwise godly people can end life in a less than godly manner (32:24-33)
• Ungodly leaders wreak havoc on a nation (33)

By Sam Simmons

Many professions, like medicine, law, and teaching, recognize the importance of skills by requiring updates through an annual certification process. According to Reggie McNeal, ministry skills are not immune to becoming outdated and ineffective over time:

Many men and women who entered the ministry with a clear sense of call to make a difference feel overwhelmed, bewildered, defeated, and generally underprepared for the challenges they face. Having packed their bags for the journey of the church age, they now have no idea what should be in their leadership backpack for the current excursion. The portfolio of skills that once gave them standing in the community of faith no longer distinguishes them, ensures their effectiveness, or guarantees their continued leadership position. (The Present Future, pp. 7-8)

Do your ministry skills need updating? Are your ministry skills out of balance? Does your calling require you to focus your development in certain areas? Below is a list of skills helpful for ministry in the 21st century. You can use the list as a personal assessment tool or as a development guide for those you mentor.

Get the list of ministry skills here

Understanding Their Hearts and Minds
By Dr. Thom Rainer

1. Most of the unchurched prefer to attend church on Sunday morning if they attend.
2. Most of the unchurched feel guilty about not attending church.
3. Ninety-six percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if they are invited.
4. Very few of the unchurched had someone share with them how to become a Christian. And Christians have not been particularly influential in their lives.
5. Most of the unchurched have a positive view of pastors, ministers and the church.
6. Many of the unchurched have a church background.
7. Showing up at someone's home without an invitation was one of the biggest turnoffs articulated by the unchurched.
8. The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
9. The attitudes of the unchurched are not correlated to where they live, their ethnic or racial background, or their gender.
10. Many of the unchurched are far more concerned about the spiritual well-being of their children than themselves.

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