Where would we be without our weekly notice sheets? They’re an invaluable hub of communication. But all too often they don’t get read or they don’t get read with joy.
The problem is, church notice sheets tend to be quite good at setting out what is happening or needed. But they are often very bad at focusing us all on why such things are happening and why our involvement is so vital. Week after week, they invite us to ‘do things’ rather than encourage us to reflect, pray and function as the body of Christ is called to do (1Cor 12:12-31). They encourage us to become burdened instead of inspiring us to serve.
It’s time to put Jesus back at the centre of our notice sheets!
Next time you are advertising a service or event, try to avoid merely saying where and when it’s happening. Remind people why it’s happening. And how it fits with the overall mission and vision of the church. Is it an exciting opportunity to get to know Jesus better? Or an event that is great for introducing non-believers to Christianity? Let people know how it will enhance their personal relationship with God or equip them to serve him more.
And the next time you are looking for a volunteer, be clear that you’re not just looking for someone to do a task, but that the role is a chance to serve our heavenly Father, using Spiritual gifts in ways that glorify Jesus. It’s an opportunity to be part of the mission of God and the mission of the church. And prayerfully getting involved will help both personal growth and progress the gospel.
With Jesus right at the centre, we might just find that people start reading the notice sheet that little bit more enthusiastically!
This blog post was originally posted on The Good Book Blog on September 28th 2011.
Atrocities in the world flash across our screens daily. Newspapers detail the horrors of terrorism, torture, murder and injustice. People around us crumble under the weight of relationship strife, bereavement, illness and more. Our own lives too, at times, plunge to the depths.
And sometimes, just sometimes, the question crosses our mind: has God really got everything under control?
Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, couldn't have been more convinced about the answer.... continue reading
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
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For years the word stuck in my throat. The six letters that Jesus used so often, seemed unimaginable to me. Father. A term worse than a swear-word - a title that made my skin crawl.
For years my father hurt me. For years his words blighted my life. "I wish you'd never been born" - "You disgust me" - "I hate you" - "Why can't you do anything right?" - "Just get out of my sight". It's not what a father is supposed to say but it's what he did say. What he said most days. It's what he meant from the depths of his heart.
Soon I learned to shudder whenever I heard the word, "father". I couldn't say it. I couldn't think about it. I couldn't love it - couldn't love him.... continue reading
One of the reasons we want to encourage systematic Bible preaching and teaching in churches is because it forces us to focus on the harder parts of scripture. If we just pick and choose, we end up filtering out the difficult bits, or the things that will stretch us or disturb us.
It's the same with daily Bible reading. Over about a five year period, if you stick with our popular Explore daily Bible reading notes, you'll work your way through the whole Bible, and be exposed to the whole counsel of God. Including all the tough bits, the stories that make you squirm, and the parts that just have you scratching your head in bewilderment!
Image caption: Brooklyn Museum - Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees - James Tissot - Public Domain... continue reading
A Christian need never feel harassed, nor experience helplessness. Never.
Why?
Because a Christian is never without a shepherd.
Life is full of harassed-inspiring challenges and busy-ness, and helplessness-inducing events and unknowns. It’s what Jesus noticed about people as he travelled round, preaching and healing; it’s what aroused his compassion for them:
“He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9 v 36)
If you don’t have a “shepherd”—someone to rely on who is in control, who knows what they are doing, and cares about you as their own possession—then you’re going to know the feeling of being harassed and helpless, because you’re thrown back on your own abilities, and life is so often too big or confusing for our minds and strength to handle. If you don’t have a shepherd, you will be harassed and helpless.... continue reading
1. Compelled by Joy ebook just £4.99 till midday Thursday
Get the ebook versions of Compelled by Joy for just £4.99!
2. If you want to be a leader, you’ve got to be a reader
An article from Dave Harvey at ‘Am I Called?’ (and Part 2)
3. How long it takes to read the world’s most popular books
An interesting infographic from ShortList.com.
4. The BIble - 6 reasons why pages are better than pixels
Dai Hankey ’bigs up’ the Good Book.
5. New Student Tips
A series of tips for new students (and everyone else) from David Murray including this one on time management.
6. And finally...
Our video of the week, in case you missed it, the Live Grow Know Trailer:
Found something that you think should make it on to the On to a Good Thing round-up? Send it to: ontoagoodthing@thegoodbook.co.uk
If you go to a church where the teaching is sound then you will know some great truths about God. You will be able to articulate something of his love, his mercy, his grace, his sovereignty and his immense kindness and provision towards humans in general and you in particular. And amen to that! What a privilege to know such amazing facts.
However, if you are like many other Christians, these facts don't always make it from your head to your heart. They certainly don't always make that 7 inch drop in my life...
Yes, the doctrine of God's sovereignty is exciting but when a job is lost, a relative dies, accidents happen, then a deep sense of life feeling out of control creeps in. And, if we're honest, it doesn't always need to be something that major to engender those feelings ... a bad day at work can do it. Or kids that just wont obey the curfew or do their homework.... continue reading
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour,
who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
Psalm 68:19-20
