The Preaching Business by Charles Hodge
Only preachers preach. Church, get yourself a preacher. Tragically, we have office managers, lecturers, storytellers, speakers, psychologists, entertainers, comedians, but we don’t’ have preachers! A read sermon is a dead sermon. Foy Wallace used to say, “We have preacherettes preaching sermonettes to Christianettes who smoke cigarettes.” Too much preaching is not preaching. I am a country boy. I practiced preaching to cows. One cow ate my sermon notes; she dried up. In listing his jobs, Paul listed preaching before apostle and teacher (1 Timothy 2:7).
God’s sheep are starving at the Master’s table. Our brotherhood is starved for simple, plain gospel preaching. We cannot have a bully pulpit that beats people up; we do need a gospel pulpit that shakes people up. We hire preachers telling the church they are better than they are; we then fire them, telling the church they were worse than they are.
Brethren have become “lookers” rather than “listeners.” God calls us through our ears not our eyes. Preach it!
(Gospel Advocate, January 2009, p. 48)
Friday – What Will You Do This Weekend?
Random Acts of Kindness.
- Make a donation to your local animal shelter – treats, food, first aid supplies, toys or even cat litter.
- Give a donation to a charity as a gift for someone who already has everything.
- Write something nice about your waitperson on the back of the bill. Or, leave a larger than usual tip if the service has been exceptionally good.
- Donate blood.
- Send a card to a lonely person.
- Surprise someone in your house with breakfast in bed.
- After loading your groceries in the car, return your cart to the store. Better yet, offer to take a stranger’s cart too.
- Save box tops for education and donate to a local school, even if you don’t have children.
- Prepare treats for neighbors, emergency workers, mail carriers, coworkers or other community members, along with a note of appreciation.
- Bring a treat to share with coworkers.
Thursday – Make a Difference Today!
Random Acts of Kindness
· Flowers and chocolate are wonderful, but a smile is also a gift. Use it today!
· Find yourself at the grocery store and it’s not yet the weekend? Give your place at the checkout line to another person, such as someone in a hurry or a parent with restless little children.
· Send a letter to some former teachers, letting them know the difference they made in your life.
· Send a gift anonymously to a friend.
· Tell your children why you love them.
· Give a hug to a friend.
· Praise the work or attitude of an employees, supervisor or coworker.
· When a coworker needs to talk, meet him or her at lunch and listen with compassion.
· Place some flowers on the desk of each of your coworkers.
· Offer to help out with the not-so-pleasant tasks at work.
Wednesday – Be Helpful and Encouraging Today
Random Acts of Kindness
· Help someone struggling with heavy bags.
· Compliment someone you don’t really know about something they are wearing.
· Hold the door open for someone rushing to catch it.
· Write a kind note to relatives and friends, letting them know why they are special.
· Select some people in your life who you feel need a special life and send them a gift: flowers, tickets to a special event or even dinner for the two of you to share.
· Buy books for a day care or school.
· Write a note to your mother/father and tell them why they are special.
· Say something nice to everyone you meet today.
· Refrain from negative talk; concentrate on the positive.
Tuesday – Smile and Be Happy Today
Random Acts of Kindness
· Smile and say “hello” to someone you don’t know.
· Do not talk behind anyone’s back or spread rumors.
· Include a note or joke in your child’s or spouse’s lunchbox.
· Drive safely and courteously.
· Stop for a person waiting to cross the street.
· Show your appreciation to coworkers through words and notes.
· Call a loved one just to say “I love you” or to tell them what you appreciate about them.
· Leave a bouquet of flowers on a neighbor’s front step or to a co-worker anonymously.
· Pat someone on the back.
· Be a friend to a new coworker.
· Laugh out loud often and share your smile generously.
The Church Boss by Wayne Jackson
The apostle John is frequently characterized as the “apostle of love” because there is a marked interest in love in his writings. But love does not ignore wrongdoing, and John was not averse to rebuking error when the occasion demanded it.
In his letter to Gaius, John spoke of Diotrephes, a brother who was consumed (as indicated by the present participle form, “loveth”) with the desire for preeminence. “Preeminence” translates a Greek word which means “love of being first.” This disposition is the exact opposite of that which had been taught by the Spirit, namely that of putting others first (see Philippians 2:3,4). Underline “preeminence,” and record this reference in your margin.
Diotrephes even rejected the authority of John, an apostle of Christ. Accordingly, John states that when he arrives on the scene where this rebel is disturbing the church, he will recall and charge this man with the evil works he has done. The apostle is unwilling simply to “let bygones be bygones.” One of the sins of which Diotrephes was guilty was “prating against” John and those identified with him. The term denotes making “unjustified charges.” Make that notation. Too, he was ruling the local church, “casting out” those who did not agree with his dictatorial policies. The word “church” (v. 10), is used either in the local sense (i.e., he arbitrarily disfellowshipped some from the local congregation), or in the assembly sense (i.e., he refused them access to the worship services). Underline “church” in verse 10 and note: Local membership or denied assembly access. Unfortunately, the spirit of Diotrephes still troubles the brotherhood of Christ.
(http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1039-3-john-the-church-boss)
Monday – No Reason at All Day
Random Acts of Kindness.
· Give someone a compliment today.
· Write a thank you note to a friend, family member or co-worker who went out of his or her way to help you.
· Instead of writing the note, thank him or her in person!
· As you go about your day, pick up trash
· Call or write to someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time, just to say you’re thinking about them.
· Plan lunch with a coworker.
· Send a treat to a school or day-care center.
· Share positive news and quotes with others.
· Help an overworked colleague with some tasks
· No Reason at all Potluck: Why wait for the next birthday, or when a coworker leaves? Schedule a potluck for your group just because.
Apply, Apply, Apply!
Application Is Necessary For Our Lives
Step 1: Pray for insight on how to apply the passage.
Step 2: Meditate on the verse (s) you have chosen to study.
Step 3: Write out an application.
Step 4: Memorize a key verse from your study.
S-P-A-C-E-P-E-T-S – Acrostic.
Is there any…
Sin to confess? Do I need to make any restitution?
Promise to claim? Is it a universal promise? Have I met the condition (s)?
Attitude to change? Am I willing to work on a negative attitude and begin building toward a positive one?
Command to obey? Am I willing to do it no matter how I feel?
Example to follow? Is it a positive example for me to copy, or a negative one to avoid?
Prayer to pray? Is there anything I need to pray back to God?
Error to avoid? Is there any problem that I should be alert to or beware of?
Truth to believe? What new things can I learn about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or other biblical teachings?
Something to praise God for? Is there something here I can be thankful for?
(Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods)
