Fueled by Prayer

December 4, 2007

"While discipleship defines the walk of the believer, prayer fuels this walk and gives power to make this walk honoring to God.” That quote comes from my Sunday School director. He’s a sagacious old man… The more I am in ministry, the more I see the necessity of prayer. Unfortunately, it is many times only a footnote in ministry “how-to” guides, books, and conferences. Quite frankly, you can do everything right in a church, but if you leave out prayer, then you open yourself to an onslaught Read more [...]

The Task Not Yet Complete

November 27, 2007

As reported by the Global Research Department of the International Mission Board, approximately 3.8 billion people across the globe remain unreached – they do not know Christ. And almost 2.4 billion, or over 60%, of these people are in four distinct regions – South Asia, the Pacific Rim, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. I must admit these figures seem daunting – the ends of the earth are still yet to be reached. The task of the Acts 1:8 imperative is not complete. As a Southern Baptist, Read more [...]

Thank You, Lord

November 19, 2007

Psalm 100 1 Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. 3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are His — His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the LORD is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations. Thank You, Lord, for a blessed life. Read more [...]

Beijing Bibles

November 13, 2007

Will the Chinese government allow athletes to bring Bibles to the 2008 Olympic Games? Reports are mixed, and certainty is clouded as to whether visitors into the country will be allowed to bring the Word of God. The latest reports state that each athlete can bring only one personal Bible. At issue is something more than a political statement. At issue is the authority of the Bible. Clearly, the Chinese government does not hold to the inerrancy, infallibility, or inspiration of Scripture. But these Read more [...]

The Faith/Church Disconnect

November 12, 2007

A Leadership Journal survey reports that for nearly half of self-professing Christians, involvement in a local church is a minimal part of their lives. In short, the church has become non-essential to them. A large segment of Christians are claiming faith but not keeping the fellowship of believers. This trend is one that many pastors know anecdotally, and it is one that is truly concerning. The church and Christ are inexplicably tied. The two cannot be separated; they are married to each other. Read more [...]

The Church Website: Overrated, Overdone, or More to Come?

November 8, 2007

USA Today reports that 82% of churches with over 200 in attendance have a website. Yet only 29% of churches with 100 or less in attendance have an online presence. There’s no doubt that many people are searching the web for churches. As a pastor, when I talk to those interested in our church, I get one predominant response: “Oh, give me your web address, and I’ll check you out.” Given the limited resources and budgets of churches (particularly those with under 200 people), and the infinite Read more [...]

The Puking Preacher

November 6, 2007

I now have my most embarrassing moment. I woke up at 5AM last Sunday with severe pains in my side and back. I didn’t feel sick, but I knew that something was not quite right. If you are a pastor reading this, then you know that early Sunday morning is not the greatest time to find a replacement to preach a sermon. So I decided to chance it and fight through the pain. I managed the pain through my Sunday School lesson, but they could tell I wasn’t in full form. They asked what was bothering Read more [...]

Our Changing Culture

November 1, 2007

As seen in the video, the way we learn is changing. What should the church do to best relay information about the unchanging gospel message of Jesus?

Is Our World Better Off without God?

October 29, 2007

A poll conducted by sociologists at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta seeks to answer if people really need God to be good. The outcome: forgiveness, generosity, concern, and patience are more important to people who believe in God than atheists. And the spread between the two groups is substantial. Forgiveness is “very important.” 84% of theists say yes, only 52% of atheists agree. Patience is “very important.” 72% of theists say yes, only 39% of atheists agree. Generosity is “very Read more [...]

SoCal Prayers

October 24, 2007

As many of you know, I blog for Outreach Magazine. As noted in the disclaimer on the “About Sam” tab, my opinions are my own. But it was the great people at Outreach that originally contacted me about starting this blog. They need our prayers right now. As you may not know, the Outreach offices are located in Vista, CA, which is halfway between San Diego and L.A. Many of them have evacuated the area due to the fires in the region. Please pray for the safety of everyone affected by this disaster, Read more [...]