One would think that out of 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,101 verses that make up the Bible (KJV), getting sermon ideas would come easily, but it doesn’t.  I often wonder if pastors and preachers have overload on the information contained in the sacred scriptures and go into vapor lock when trying to come up with next Sunday’s sermon.  Even though the Bible can be read out loud in about 70 hours, understanding and getting your congregation to understand all that’s contained takes years and years.

A study by the Barna Research Group found that pastors spend an average of 3-5 hours per week preparing their sermons.  It’s tough to become well equipped enough to teach a congregation the intricate precepts on different subjects in the Bible on 3 hours a week.  Pastors get so busy with other pastoral duties such as counseling people, visiting the elderly and the sick that it makes it difficult to make time for sermon ideas.

Pastors have told me that they must rely upon their experiences throughout the week, or current news or something that God lays upon their heart for the subject of their sermons.  Those are all fine and dandy, but can leave a preacher stressed out if nothing happens to stand out during the week.  Or, it may not be until Friday night when an idea strikes them, leaving them no time for study.  Getting sermon ideas shouldn’t be left up to chance.

2 Timothy 2:15 says that we are to study to show ourselves approved and to rightly divide the word of truth; the most important thing you do as a pastor is take care of His sheep by teaching them the written word of God.  With this blog/website, I am committed to keeping those of you who follow it, up to date on current news topics and different tips learned from experienced pastors on how they do it week in and week out.  There are many helpful products on the internet that can be bought to help with your quest; I will showcase those for you as well.  If you have any tips for other pastors who may be struggling for sermon ideas, please leave your comments.

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From the Field: Nepal from HeartCry Missionary Society on Vimeo.

A third lawsuit was filed against Long on Wednesday. It contains explicit accusations of another sexual relationship he allegedly had with a young boy who was a member of New Birth Christian Church.

Jamal Parris said he was 14 when he and his mother joined Long’s church in Lithonia.

The lawsuit states, “Long would encourage Jamal Parris to call him ‘Daddy’.”

It also states, “Long engaged in sexual touching during their encounters and then escalated the activity to oral sodomy and other acts of sexual gratification.”

And, “Long would discuss the Holy Scripture to justify and support the sexual activity.”

Bernstein said Parris and the other two alleged victims said Long used his power as the preacher along with gifts of cars, houses, jewelry and money to force the boys to have sex with him.

Bernstein said the sex took place in hotels and at the church.

“The boys call it the guest house where you can look out the window and you can see the church. He takes them there,” said Bernstein.

Long has a history of speaking out against homosexuality.

Read more of the story here…

She filed for divorce.

Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Superior Court on Feb. 1, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.

Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime.

His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly every day. He travels the globe in his ministry’s plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls “Miracle Crusades” that include spiritual healings.

Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family.

Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.

He is one of six televangelists under investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether he complied with IRS rules for nonprofits. Hinn has said on his Web site that external auditors ensure his compliance with IRS regulations and that in 2008, 88 percent of the money he collected was spent on ministry.

Benny Hinn Ministries is based in Grapevine, Texas, and operates a church and television studio in Aliso Viejo in California’s Orange County, according to its Web site.

Read the full story Here

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Listen to this great teaching by Pastor John MacArthur, below:

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A Free Press for a Free People on 11/5/09

Army major kills 12 soldiers, wounds 31 in mass shooting at Texas military base…

Read the full story…

Being a political junkie, and a conservative Christian, I have done my fair share of spreading anti Barack Obama rhetoric.  Every time the president spoke or his administration endeavored to pass some liberal agenda, I would voice my opinion.  As a conservative in my beliefs it was only natural to want to speak out against the president’s policies because I believed they were destroying America as we know it.

But, is this how we should act as Christians?  What does the Bible have to say about how to treat our leaders/kings/rulers?  To be honest, I didn’t really like what I found!  What I found in scripture really slapped me upside the head and put a huge dent in my ego.

I had read Romans chapter 13 hundreds of times throughout the years and I knew that it said that we are to be subject to higher powers.  I knew that it said God has ordained the rulers and they are put in place to carry out justice to evil doers.  I had no problem with that aspect.  However, what about those rulers that aren’t godly?  They can’t possibly be “ministers of God” too, can they?

Isn’t it up to the Christian to speak out against ungodly leaders?  That’s what I always thought, until I heard a sermon called “Being a Good Citizen of America” by Pastor Jeff Arthur.  That sermon opened my eyes to how I am suppose to conduct myself as an ambassador for Christ.  In the sermon he leads you through 1 Timothy 2: 1-3 and how first of all we are to pray for our leaders.  Then secondly he goes through 1 Peter 2: 13-14 and how we are to submit to their ordinances.  We are to obey laws and follow rules!

The only time that we are to disobey laws is when they are contrary to God’s word.

So how do we go about changing leadership that we don’t agree with?  I don’t think we use more government and more laws.  I think we do what the apostle Paul did in Acts 19.  He spread the gospel so much that it turned people’s hearts away from their sin.

You want to end abortion in our country?  Spread the gospel!  You want to destroy the homosexual agenda that is intertwined with the educational establishments in America?  Spread the gospel!

Protesting with pictures of dead babies isn’t going to change the heart of the person getting the abortion.  Getting laws changed making it illegal will probably never happen and it doesn’t change the heart of the person either.  The gospel of Jesus Christ changes the heart and is the only answer to America’s problems.

I’ll end with this final thought:  Proverbs 21: 1 says that the heart of the kings are in the hand of the Lord and the Lord turns them which ever way He chooses.  So no more anti Barack Obama rants will be coming out of my mouth.  I will pray for our country, and our leaders.

Listen to the sermon below if you too would like to hear a biblical presentation about how a Christian should conduct their self concerning our elected leaders.

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Posted via email from Anthony’s posterous