The Presbyter's Page
Electronic Edition – March 2001
Original articles published February 2001
Section 12 - LA
District UPCI
Donald Bryan - Presbyter
The electronic editions of The Presbyter's
Page are never sent unsolicited. If you believe you have received this
newsletter in error, or wish to be removed from our mailing list, visit our web
site at: http://www.pentecostalsonline.org/articles.html.
Near the top of that page, you will find a box
where you may unsubscribe simply by entering your e-mail address, highlighting
the "unsubscribe" button and clicking on the "Submit"
button.
Brother Donald Bryan may be contacted directly
at DBryanUPC@aol.com. You can
also contact us by writing to webmaster@pentecostalsonline.org.
Sermon
Thought: “Staying Encouraged In A
Discouraged World"
Seven Ways
to Take Your Church's Spiritual Temperature
Sermon Thought:
“Staying
Encouraged In A Discouraged World”
Scripture Text – Numbers 13:1-2, 17-33 & Deut. 1:21, 28-30
The day the twelve spies returned with their report on the land of Canaan could have been one of the greatest days in the history of Israel. But because of doubt and discouragement in the hearts of the people, this day brought defeat for the nation of Israel. I’m reminded how the church has a choice today, as Israel did on that day.
We can arise and stay encouraged and reap great benefits, or we can stay discouraged and doubtful, and remain defeated in all we do. I choose to stay encouraged and to encourage others.
How do we stay encouraged in a discouraged world?
A. Don’t get your eyes on people (Deut. 1:28).
B. Don’t listen to murmuring and complaining of others (Numbers 14:2).
C. Don’t fear what others think. This is dangerous in the Spiritual realm (Numbers 13:28, 32-33).
D. Have faith in God even when others doubt (Numbers 13:30).
E. Live right before God even when others don’t. Examples Moses, Joshua & Caleb.
F. Keep worshipping God even when others won’t. Genuine worship wasn’t present among the people of Israel.
G. Don’t allow yourself to become bound by circumstances. We’re not living under circumstances; we’re living under the blood!
H. Have the courage to stand alone, because many times you’ll have to. True Christians aren’t out to win a popularity contest.
I. Hold fast to God’s promises even when others have turned loose. God never breaks His promises. They are always there for us to claim.
J. Remember that you have the power to keep Satan under your feet.
There’s no doubt about it, we can remain encouraged
in a discouraged world.
Arise out of your moment and mindset of desperation. Lift up your eyes unto the hills; your help comes from the Lord.
Ideas On Baby Dedications
Listed are some ideas we use in Slidell for these dedications:
1. We ask parents to commit to 10 spiritual convictions that they will teach the child.
2. We provide a New Testament Bible as the baby’s first Bible. It is the parenting handbook.
3. We also provide a small green plant to symbolize the tenderness of the child. Just as the plant needs nurturing, so does the child.
Remember, human action can be modified to some extent, but human nature cannot be changed.
Remember that it is not best to swap horses when crossing streams.
Touch people with the better angels of your nature.
Remember, everyone likes a compliment.
Seven
Ways to Take Your Church’s Spiritual Temperature
Have you ever wondered what makes some churches seem
so vibrant? We’re not talking about
phony excitement, but a genuine display of God’s warmth and love.
Use these qualities to help gauge where your church is spiritually.
1.
There’s a buzz in the air. And it’s a
loud and positive buzz. When people are
growing, they tend to feel good about where their church is headed. You might see them making an effort to
fellowship or hanging around longer after services are over. When you ask, “How has God been working in
your life?” they actually have a quick answer.
2.
You see new faces. The buzz goes out the door and
draws new people in who want to see for themselves what’s going on. Then when they experience it, they’re drawn
back over and over and develop a desire to stay for good.
3.
Your volunteer force is strong. If getting
workers for your ministries is more painful than tooth extraction, overall
spiritual growth could be lacking. But
when people are excited to serve, it means they’ve grown to a place where they
want to serve out of love for God.
4.
Small group ministry happens without feeling programmed. When people want to fellowship and study God’s Word together, you
won’t be able to stop small groups from happening. But if spiritual growth is stagnant, people will be just as happy
to stay home.
5.
People are compelled to care for each other. Care grows out of truly knowing each other and realizing that the
ties to God’s family can be as strong as ties to our biological families.
6.
People are using their spiritual gifts. In other words, people are serving where they’re content. They’re aware of their spiritual gifts and
where they can best use them.
7.
Lay leaders desire to lead. In fact,
they may even lead without your leadership!
God may choose to work more effectively through your lay leaders than
through you. Don’t try to stop that
from happening – it’s a good thing!
A vital leader seldom waits for failure before appraising his or her leadership skills. These eight questions will help you evaluate your leadership strengths and weaknesses. You can then fine-tune your personal development program accordingly.
1.
How and where do I have influence?
Influence – not position or power – makes a leader successful. What is my current level of influence at
work? How often do others turn to me
for direction or approval? Do I see
evidence of my influence both above and below me on the organizational
chart? Who influences me and how? Remember we often adopt both the strengths
and weaknesses of those around us, so make sure you are not being influenced in
a way that leads you away from your goals.
In what new arenas can I extend my influence?
2.
Where can I improve my people skills?
Someone can lead for a season based on position or problem-solving
ability, but success in the long run depends on the ability to get along with
and develop people. How can I improve
my listening skills? How can I discover
what motivates those whom I lead? Am I
willing to ask more questions and get more input from others?
3.
Do I have a positive outlook? A positive
attitude alone doesn’t identify a capacity for leadership, but a negative
spirit will always diminish a person’s leadership potential. The ability to master my own emotions gives
me a sizeable advantage during crisis situations. Never forget that a crisis situation is precisely when leadership
is most noticed and valued.
4.
Do I see evidence of growth in self-discipline? Am I disciplined in my use of time? Do I willingly delay gratification in order to achieve worthwhile
goals? Are there any evidences of lack
of self-discipline in my appearance or work habits?
5.
Do I have a proven track record of success in my field? Busyness is not an accurate indicator of success. Some people work like crazy and never
accomplish anything. Past success is a
key predictor of future success. What
have I accomplished that I am proud of?
How does my experiences relate to what I need today? Am I willing to put forth the effort again?
6.
How are my problem-solving skills? Many
people are impressed with their ability to spot a problem. Identifying a problem is easy; just about
anyone can do it. Leaders must solve
problems. In fact, where there are no
problems, there is no need for leadership.
Problem solvers don’t dwell on what went wrong or who was to blame. Instead, they spend their energies on
finding a solution.
7.
Do I refuse to accept the status quo?
Growing
leaders value progress over security.
Not only are they dissatisfied with what is; they have a vision for what
it can be. The person who resists the
status quo is willing to take a risk, be different, and pay the price for
victory.
8.
Do I have a big-picture mindset?
How
often do you step back to maintain perspective, especially in the face of
distractions or pressure? Keeping a
sense of direction when the fog of fatigue sets in is a trait of a gifted
leader.
Self-evaluation is not for the faint-hearted. An honest assessment by these diagnostic questions will make you
aware of at least a couple of areas where you need to sharpen your skills. The question is – Will you?
“People Stop Growing When
The Price Gets Too High.”
Visit our on-line Christian
Bookstore formed in association with Amazon.com by clicking on the button
below. See some of the newest titles in
Christian literature or in Christian music.
Interested in something specific?
You can conduct searches by author, title or subject.
A
Handbook of Basic Doctrines : A Compilation of Scripture References
by David
K. Bernard
Our Price: $3.95
This book contains a list of scriptural references
to all the basic doctrines taught by the United Pentecostal Church. With it you can look up references quickly
to be able to give an answer to those who ask you why you believe what you
believe.
Prayer
Takes Wings
by Thetus
Tenney
List
Price: $9.99 Our Price: $8.99 You Save: $1.00
(10%)
Do you believe
that angels are directly involved in your daily life? You should-because they
most definitely are. Angels are often used by God to answer your prayers. Now
you can learn about the relationship between prayer and the directed
intervention of angels in our worldly existence. Step inside the heavenly realm
and see what the Word of God really tells us about God’s mighty ministers,
guardians and defenders. If you have ever wondered, Are angels watching over
me? Thetus Tenney answers yes.
Spread the Word!
If you enjoyed visiting our site,
Click
here to recommend us to your friends
We
welcome your comments and questions.
You can reach us by e-mail at: webmaster@pentecostalsonline.org