Thursday, September 30, 2010

101 Ways To Help Your Pastor

Every pastor, regardless of age, years of experience, and size of congregation, needs help from time to time. It is the responsibility of the congregation to meet the needs when they arise. Listed below are 101 ways one can help their pastor in various categories/areas. It is very likely that someone could add to this list. If so, submit your ideas in the comment section below!
In Prayer By Praying...

-1 For his safety as he travels about.
-2 For his good health - physically.
-3 For his wife.
-4 For his children.
-5 For his personal financial needs.
-6 For his emotional needs - depression, etc.
-7 For his spiritual needs - grace, peace, mercy.
-8 For his personal walk with God - spiritual growth.
-9 For his besetting sins and character flaws.
-10 For his witness - to be faithful to it.
-11 For his witness - boldness.
-12 For power/unction of Holy Ghost on his life and ministry.
-13 For his effectiveness as a leader.
-14 For his effectiveness as a husband.
-15 For his effectiveness as a father.
-16 For him to have many open doors of ministry.
-17 For his open doors to be prolonged and sustained.
-18 That he would be delivered from unreasonable people.
-19 That he would be delivered from wicked people.
-20 That he would be delivered from ensnaring people.

When You Are In Public...

-21 By always promoting his good qualities.
-22 By never involving yourself in gossip about him.
-23 By highlighting the helpful lessons and messages which he has preached recently.
-24 By treating him with highest respect.
-25 By defending him when criticized in a Christ-like way.

When You Are At Church...

-26 By seeking ways to be more involved in church activities.
-27 By seeking ways to possibly take the leadership roles in activities. BE AVAILABLE!
-28 By being faithful to all the public worship services unless Providentially hindered.
-29 By being on time.
-30 By being polite to others.
-31 By keeping church politics to a minimum.
-32 By being willing to give your seat up to others; including visitors.
-33 By picking up any trash on the floors and in the churchyard. Also by straightening things up that are out of place.
-34 By keeping restrooms looking neat and clean.
-35 By turning lights off.

When Your Church Has Business Meetings...

-36 By attending each meeting.
-37 By having a co-operative spirit.
-38 By agreeing to disagree agreeably.
-39 By only offering helpful suggestions.
-40 By not carrying grudges to or from a meeting.

With Church Problems...

-41 By not being one.
-42 By not trying to think FOR the pastor.
-43 By not jumping the gun and thinking the pastor is not doing anything about a particular situation that means a lot to you.
-44 By staying out of the way unless directly involved.
-45 By not gossiping about problems with other church members.
-46 By praying for wisdom to be given to pastor on how to handle the problem(s) at hand.
-47 By praying for the individuals/groups involved to do what is right.

With Enlisting More Laborers...

-48 By being one.
-49 By training others to take your place... if you hold a position.
-50 By praying for more laborers.

When Approaching Him...

-51 By speaking to pastor in the way you want to be spoken to.
-52 By not assuming pastor has been made aware of your specific need or circumstance.
-53 By not demanding an answer to anything.
-54 By not putting him into a corner with no way to come out.
-55 By keeping your questions and problems till after the worship service.
-56 By waiting until there is nobody around for privacy.
-57 By trying to speak with pastor initially in a public area, and not in the office first. - testimony

As A Deacon...

-58 By making visits for him.
-59 By shielding him from unnecessary nonsense.
-60 By praying for him.
-61 By never seeking to undermine in any form or fashion.
-62 By speaking positively of him; especially when around those who are disgruntled.
-63 By being on the lookout for potential issues and ready to help.

Monetarily...

-64 By helping to provide a livable wage as a church member.
-65 By supporting a yearly raise.
-66 By paying (church)  for his gas. - visits, etc.
-67 By providing (church) a retirement package.
-68 By covering health insurance for him and family. (church)
-69 By giving him a love gift at Christmas.
-70 By giving him a birthday present.
-71 By providing a monthly library fund for the purchase of new books. This helps him when developing a series and other studies.

By Being friendly...

-72 Seeking to have him and family over for dinner.
-73 Enjoying recreational activities with him and his family.
-74 Even when you are in a disagreement him.

By Promoting His Ministry...

-75 In an ad in the paper at your own expense.
-76 On the radio in an advertisement, etc.
-77 On facebook. - Fanpage of church/pastor
-78 On twitter.
-79 Giving away CD's cassette tapes, and DVD's of his messages to your friends and co-workers.
-80 When sending emails to your friends and acquaintances.

In Sharing The Gospel Of Jesus Christ...

-81 By participating in door to door soul-winning.
-82 By participating in a neighborhood literature distribution campaign.
-83 By helping at tract tables at flea markets and fairs.
-84 By having unsaved friends over for a party and inviting your pastor over to witness to them.
-85 By helping a group who goes street preaching.
-86 By helping in a jail ministry.
-87 By helping in other church ministries.

While He Is Preaching...

-88 By paying attention.
-89 By not talking. This can distract others from hearing the message.
-90 BY TURNING YOUR CELL PHONE OFF!
-91 Try to keep babies quiet. Though unwanted, it is sometimes best to take small babies to a nursery area.
-92 Smile! Sour looks can be discouraging.
-93 Shout "AMEN!" when God speaks to your heart about something the preacher says. This will encourage your pastor while he is preaching.

Behind The Scenes...

-94 By encouraging others to encourage the pastor.
-95 By sending an anonymous gift of a favorite snack, etc
-96 By helping to organize a "Pastor's Appreciation Day" for him.
-97 By taking care of known projects that he has around his home.
-98 By doing something special for his children.

With His Vehicle...

-99 By being sure his oil is changed regularly.
-100 By providing new tires when necessary.
-101 By possibly helping with a car payment.

Bottom Line...

This list is the tip of the iceberg when it come to ideas to help your pastor. If you have thought of something not mentioned, then please leave it in the comment section below. Thanks for your participation!

Thanks to:  
Andrew Schank at:  http://workingpastor.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 27, 2010

Faithful Friends

Proverbs 27:6 "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

A true friend will always be faithful, even when their words hurt. Often they're the only one who will tell us the truth. But the level of friendship may change, and our friends will change over time - yesterday's best friend may not even be on next year's Christmas card list! Praise the Lord that HE is always there for us like no other friend could ever be: Proverbs 18:24b "...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  And, HE will never change.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Jesus Christ is...The Heart of the house, The unseen Guest at every meal, And the silent Listener to every conversation.
(Repost from Sis Danielle Taylor)

Fool's Ears

"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words." Proverbs 23:9

Ever give advice to someone and they just look at you with a blank look and you know in your heart they'll just go do what they were going to do anyway? This might explain it a bit!! No matter how much Biblical advice you might offer to some, they will never listen. And, that includes the "advice" of the road to salvation. But, we should not give up. You don't know when the door might be open and their heart softened.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Trial by fire

" The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts."  Proverbs 17:3

The gold and/or silver smiths must get their fires really hot, just the right temperature, in order to melt the fine metal and bring forth the trash so it can be discarded before they can get the best gold and silver. Just as with silver and gold, we should always remember to be thankful the Lord finds us worthy to go through His trials, and know that when we come out on the other side we'll be much better for it. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Prayer Request

Please remember my Grandma in prayer.

She's been feeling bad since Saturday. Lindsey and I had been planning to go visit this week for a while but had about decided to postpone due to her feeling poorly until talking to my Aunt Sunday evening. So we decided to go on Monday morning. She seemed a bit better when we arrived than she had sounded over the weekend. However, this morning after breakfast, she was again saying she felt really bad. Her Occupational Therapist came by and checked her out and suggested it could be some dehydration. Grandma was also running a low grade fever and her blood pressure was a bit off. A nurse is supposed to come check her out, but it could be "a couple days". I decided it would be best if we came on back home today. This evening she sounded really pitiful on the phone. I'm very concerned, but there's nothing I can do but pray, and I ask that you all help me with that.
Thank you,
Lisa

Update as of Thursday...
Grandma still sounds puny on the phone. Nurse came on Wednesday and checked her out, but nothing major. Said to monitor fluid intake and blood pressure.  Thanks for the prayers...

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Homecoming 2010

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Homecoming 2010

Virtuous Woman II

Back in May, I talked about "A Virtuous Woman" mentioned in Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." 

Today in Proverbs 12, we see another reference to "A Virtuous Woman":
"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."

Each time the Bible talks of the Virtuous Woman, it also mentions how valuable she is to her husband. He can "trust in her", she is a "crown" to him.

Sometimes as wives, it's easy for us to forget how much we can affect our husbands. Although, some women know this all to well and use this to tear their husbands down.  We must remember we're their help meet, not the other way around!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Sanctification

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate , saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. II Corinthians 6.17
It's sad that we as "Christians" have forgotten that we are to separate our selves from the world. 
We shouldn't look like the world - in other words our dress - in that we should be MODEST.  (1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,); We shouldn't act like the world - In conversation - Not how we talk, but how we act, see definition below - (I Timothy 4:12 be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;); And, we shouldn't talk like the world - see I Timothy 4:12 for this as well. 
CONVERSATION, n.
1. General course of manners; behavior; deportment; especially as it respects morals.



Answer to comments (I can't leave a comment to my own blog!)... Just me Bro Mark!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Intercessory Prayer

We are supposed to pray for our brethren, but did you know we are to also pray on "behalf" of others? There are those who are not able to pray on their own behalf. For the lost, the only prayer God hears is the prayer of salvation. So it's up to us to pray for them. Pray for their salvation. That God will convict and save them. And, don't give up! HE is faithful!
Well Glory! Another soul snatched out of hell's grasp! Praise the Lord!