Dynamic Scripture Bible Study: John 8:31-32 – The Truth Shall Make You Free
John 8:31-32 31
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…KJV.
Casting Your Cares On The Lord: Living the No Stress Life
Casting your cares on the Lord is just as much a commandment as the big 10. Doing it will rid your life of worry.
Resilience: Greater Is He That Is In Me Than He That Is In The World
Resilience should be the hallmark of the Christian. The bible says that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4). We as the Body of Christ…we as Christians are commanded to go out into all the world and make disciples of the lost. We are commanded to go out into all the world and preach the gospel. In order to carry out these orders, we’re going to have to go out into hostile territory. The bible says that we are in the world, but we’re not of the world. This world is not our home.
The Law of Faith
The Law of Faith is just as reliable as any natural laws we have here in the earth. A law will work anywhere in the world. A law will work for anyone who will work the law. When the rules that govern a law are operated properly, the law will work every single time with no exceptions.
Characteristics of a Good Church – Being All Inclusive
A good church is all inclusive. Sometimes, either subconsciously or deliberately clicks or exclusive groups are formed within the church. When this happens, certain segments of society can be made to feel less welcome than others. Why are we willing, as a church body to exclude anyone based upon sin, their past, or any other irrelevant issue? There is no entity on the face of the earth that should be more inclusive than the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Being Willing to Walk Alone In This Life
Being willing to walk alone in this life is a challenge that most Christians undertake without factoring in the cause of such an act. The bible calls us peculiar people. We don’t act the way the world acts. We don’t see things the way the world sees things. Neither do we think about things the way the world thinks about things. Our marching orders have been given to us by God through His Word, the Lord Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Church Should Be A Refuge In A Time Of Need
Church should be a refuge when things in life go wrong. I thank God for all the social services our government provides. Many of us would have been in out on the streets without them. However, I believe that the church should stand head and shoulders above anything that the world has to offer. Your church should be a haven of refuge in a time of need. Particularly if you’re attending a church with thousands of members.
If you’ve lost your job, there should be available resources to connect you with members within your congregation to help you find another. If you have an appliance that breaks down, there should be some sort of broadcast to the congregation concerning your need.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Serving Your Community
Serving your community should be a hallmark of your local church. Your church should be known in the neighborhood. It should be more than just a pretty building on the corner. What better opportunity to witness for Christ than to get out, canvas the neighborhood, see if there are any needs and help facilitate meeting those needs.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Church Growth
Church Growth is something that should take place organically. Church Growth is the byproduct of the presence of God. Your church should be growing daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. Why would you want to be a part of a church that’s stagnant?
Several times in the bible it says that the Word of the Lord went forth and people were added to the church. Now, if the Word of the Lord is supposedly going forth out of your church, yet people aren’t being added to it, you might want to ask yourself why? I can’t find anywhere in scripture where it says the Word of the Lord went forth and things remained the same.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Mid-Week Services
It’s nice to be able to have the option of attending a church that offers mid-week services. I was fortunate enough to attend a church that offered 9 services throughout the week at one point. For most of my life I’ve had to work on Sunday. So for me, it was nice going to a church where my work schedule didn’t prohibit me from attending church.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Transparency From Our Church Leaders
Transparency from our church leaders is not optional. Transparency from our church leaders, or the lack of it can make or break a church. I believe that we as parishioners inadvertently place our leaders on pedestals that they should not be placed on. If we never hear about any shortcomings, blunders, or challenges that our church leaders are experiencing we won’t be able to identify with them.
It endears church leaders to the congregants when they share with us their mess ups, shortcomings and challenges. If you as a leader come to your congregants with testimonies of the great things that God has done in your life but are reluctant to share the areas where you’re challenged, you’re out of balance. You’ll lose credibility. You become unrelatable and your parishioners won’t be able to identify with you. Why? Because all you share is the good and not the bad.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Racial Diversity In The Church
Racial diversity is rare within most churches. If a good meal is cooked, people will show up. Look at the popular restaurants in your town. People will drive far and wide for good food.
People don’t choose which restaurants they go to because of race. They choose restaurants because of the food. Because of the ambiance, or the wait staff or because of the overall experience. The same is true in the church. If the good Word of God is going forth people will come. People of all races will come.
Characteristics of a Good Church: 24/7 Access to Pastoral Staff
Access to Pastoral Staff ranks very high among the list of characteristics of a good church. People are hurting right now. We’re going through tough times right now. Physically, socially, financially people around us are in need. The pandemic has caused increased levels of depression, and even suicide in the world as well as within the Body of Christ.
Part of the church’s responsibility is to minister to it’s people. A great part of this ministry includes accessibility. As a church member you should be able to reach a member of the ministerial staff 24/7.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Political Involvement
Political involvement from the church is a fairly new phenomenon. We’re in a day and age when political involvement from the church is imperative on a local, state, and national level.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Statement of Faith
A Statement of Faith is something that your new church should be able to supply you with. Your church should be able to tell you what their vision is. They should be able to articulate what their mission is. There should be a statement of faith associated with your church
If you’re joining a church and you don’t know what they believe, and they don’t know what they believe it’s an accident waiting to happen. There should be a clear cut vision. A mission statement or a statement of faith.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Involvement Within the Church
Characteristics of a good church can be hard to identify when caught up in the emotions that come with searching for a church home. Empowering it’s members to get involved is one such characteristic.
Wisdom would dictate that the new member would sit under the ministry to somewhat understand the mission and direction of the church. But there must come a time when members become contributors to the church community by serving.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Willing to Teach on Taboo Topics
Characteristics of a good church are depend on many different variables. This one is a biggie.
There seems to be certain topics that the church shy’s away from. Subjects like tithes and offerings, praying in tongues, the gifts of the Spirit and how they manifest, Satan and demonic activity such as demonic oppression and possession, laying hands on the sick and healing in general are rarely talked about in church.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Offering Salvation
Offering salvation to the lost should be the number one function of every ministry. Everything else is secondary to saving the lost. Accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior is foundational. It’s the door that every Christian enters through.
Put yourself in the position of someone who is lost. You stumble into church at your lowest point in life. You say to yourself “I want to accept Jesus as my lord and savior”. So you sit through the service.
Characteristics of a Good Church: Intro
The Characteristics of a Good Church series is designed to bring up topics that you may want to think about and or pray about if you’re searching for a new church. I’ll be discussing various topics related to the local church community in every video.