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BULLETINS: BURDENS OR BLESSINGS?

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Church Bulletin Notes

Church Bulletin

By Ken Blue

It seems that there are some things churches are expected to do, and one of these is the church bulletin. Now, my purpose is not to “rant” against the bulletin, but to stir up your mind so the bulletin can become a meaningful tool and not just a traditional practice.

Many church bulletins are pathetic and a waste of money and time. They say the same nothing every week and every comment is in the exact location each week. There will be a list of songs, a last Sunday’s offering and attendance, and who works in the nursery this week. The only new news is the potluck next Sunday afternoon.

The bulletin must be clean and attractive. A church in Alaska called theirs the “Sunday News.” The purpose statement of the church should be on front or on the first page so it can’t be missed. Rather than a menu of songs, have the song leader or music director write articles about the history of one of the songs to be sung. Books are available on the history of hymns.

There should always be a different message in the bulletin from the pastor about some victory, and the philosophy of the church. Write on the subject of the month. Give a progress report on what is being accomplished and what the church vision is.

I recommend that the pastor’s sermon title and outline be in the bulletin. The title, the text, and the main points should be listed. Sometimes the sub points could be added. Leave a blank space where the key word is in each line. As you preach through the sermon, you will state the keywords and people will write them in. This keeps their mind on the subject and gives them the outline to take home. Learning is being processed through the ear, the eye, and the pen. Everything is being reinforced by the people’s participation.

You can make your bulletin count, and you should use it as a tool to communicate your message, your ministry, and your purpose. Stretch your imagination and vision and make the bulletin worth the investment.

I ask my wife what frustrated her most when she was doing the bulletin for our church. She said the thing that frustrated her most was that I did not get my notes to her in a timely manner. I’m sorry I asked.

I also ask Barb Hughes to give her insights on the church bulletin; here are some of her comments:

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Bulletins CAN BE a resourceful and informative vehicle of church news.[/pullquote]

hughes2_sm“I have been doing our church bulletin off and on since 1974, and have learned much. Bulletins CAN BE a resourceful and informative vehicle of church news. Sadly, many churches use them for carrying “fill ins” and “funnies” or inspirational drivel. These bulletins tend to be time and money wasters. Surely it’s not a surprise that members fail to read them.

Our church’s bulletin is a MINISTRY, first and foremost. It fulfills our Church motto (included on the cover) “Bible Baptist Church exists to lead people into a redemptive and growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.”  We post:

  • Meetings where people can get church information and services for preaching.
  • Opportunities to serve the Lord and outreach.
  • Fellowship news with other members of the church family.
  • Websites and email information is available.
  • Teaching cds and dvds are listed and updated weekly.
  • Changes of activities that members will need to know are noted.
  • The weekly and Sunday schedule of events is updated/changed every bulletin.
  • Help wanted ads are regularly posted. Filling open positions in a timely manner and who to contact.
  • Offerings and birthdays/ anniversaries are mentioned weekly (members can send cards to others).
  • A note of information and emphasis from the preacher for the current week.
  • Back of the bulletin has space available to record notes from messages.

FILLER is generally a scripture of encouragement or encouragement to get involved in stewardship and missions, instead of FLUFF.

Suggested ideas: Find someone who will do the bulletin as a ministry, not a burden, or a “useless task”. They should be fairly knowledgeable with programs that create newsletter pages. Make sure the bulletin is COMPLETELY updated and rearranged each week. You don’t want it to be BORING or TEDIOUS. (Some features can/should be in the same place each week to lend “stability” to the design.- schedule for example).

Filler material, if needed, should be uplifting and scriptural for the most part. We occasionally run some funny, but it’s rare. If the bulletin consists of mostly FILLER materials, consider NOT PUBLISHING for that week.

BIGGEST FRUSTRATION would be mechanical failures or my own failures to do the job, for whatever reason. If people do NOT provide their news, they don’t get published. I recently began designing our bulletin covers and print them directly onto the paper each week.”

Hope this helps!
Barb

A FRIEND INDEED

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FRIENDMY DEAR CHILDHOOD FRIEND

By Ken Blue

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24.

Last year Joyce, Rocky and I returned to the days of yesteryear in Northern Arkansas. We stayed in Mountain Home, and I was able to meet in the hotel lobby with my dear, childhood friend, Eldon Neel. I have been in contact with him through the year, and we talked of plans to get together in March of 2010.

Our conversations were reminiscent of the good times we had together over the years. Like most elderly people, we talked much about our ill health and our aches and pains. I was saddened by the news that Eldon was called home to be with the Lord a few weeks ago. I was surprised by the news.

I have also known Eldon’s wife, Jean, for the same number of years. We all lived in the same small community and attended the same one room school house. I thank God that He allowed me to have Eldon and Jean as my friends. In fact, Eldon was more than a friend; he was like a brother to me.

I know the family is grieved at their loss. The children and grandchildren should rejoice in what a great father and grandfather they had. Eldon was a good man and a great friend. May God bless all of you with good memories of his life.

WILL WE EVER “GET IT” FROM THE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD?

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LEARNING FROM THE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD

childrenBy Ken Blue

Today, Joyce and I took a stroll a few blocks down the street to the Wall-Mart Super Store. I rode my motorized wheel chair and Joyce “strolled” behind. Boy was I tired when we got there!

However, my purpose is not to write about our walkabout, but to share with you my first impression upon entering the store. The “children of this world” were preparing for a special day.  Now, you may not agree with me on special days or promotions, and that is fine. But, as I looked around I was reminded of a Bible verse that I believe might be relevant here. “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8.

Upon entering the store, everywhere you looked you were struck with the fact that a special day was approaching, and they were insuring that the customer did not miss it. Heart-shaped balloons were everywhere. Boxes of candy, cookies, and flowers graced the end of each aisle. Special Valentine cards were within easy access. They were trying to appeal to the customer’s interest, and they were confident that the customer would also browse the rest of the store. Of course Wall-Mart is trying to “sell” their commodities. The sad reality is that many churches can’t “give” theirs away.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]For the life of me, I can’t understand pastors who refuse to meet the needs of people in order to get them in the door.[/perfectpullquote]

For the life of me, I can’t understand pastors who refuse to accommodate, please, serve, appeal, help, assist, comfort, and meet the needs of people in order to get them in the door. If we can get them in the door, perhaps we can convince them to accept the “free gift” we have for them.

I’m aware that it is none of my businesses what you do. This is just my observation. If you are doing nothing and it works for you, keep doing nothing. But, for those who think they could learn something from the “children of this world,” we submit this Wall-Mart example.

BAPTIST VIRGINS?

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Interpretation and Application

ApplicationBy Ken Blue

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” Matthew 25:1.

Perhaps this parable is the greatest example of how pastors and evangelist evade and avoid the true interpretation of a text. They proceed with an application and entirely ignore the meaning of its teaching. One wonders if they have any concept of the intended teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The context from 24:34 and following is clear that the disciples are being instructed concerning prophecy, and the subject is the second advent of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. The word “Then” places this event in that time period.

Some would have us believe the kingdom of heaven is the church. The Bride is also held to be the church, and the virgins are also to represent the church, her companions. We are admonished to have our lamps trimmed and oil in our vessels. Then those who run out of oil are to go and buy from those who have extra.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Application is always appropriate after the true interpretation of the text.[/pullquote]

There isn’t a Baptist church within one hundred miles of these verses. The answer is in the context and in the prophecies concerning a remnant of Jews who will await the soon return of their Messiah. The following explains it exactly. “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.

Application is always appropriate after the true interpretation of the text; never in the reverse order. Let us stop trying to make the Scriptures say what they do not say, in order to defend a non-defensible position.

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

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By Ken Blue

“He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” Matthew 19:8.

In the time of man’s innocence, God created a perfect mate for man and the original plan was that the husband and wife remain together forever. This is what is meant by the latter part of verse 8, “…from the beginning it was not so.” However, because of the fall and wickedness of man, God in His mercy granted divorce and remarriage. To force women to remain with a husband who hated her would have been a fate greater than death. Many countries today do not grant the woman freedom from wicked and abusive husbands. Those women are tortured, burned, scarred by having acid thrown in their face and sometimes murdered. God was setting women free from these barbaric beasts.

Under the giving of the laws to Israel, divorce was granted. The following should clarify that. “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife…” Deuteronomy 24:1-4.

The text is clear. A woman may be given a bill of divorcement and she may go out and remarry. Her first husband is no longer her husband. He is her “former” husband. Her second husband is her latter husband and he too may divorce her if necessary. Nothing in the text suggests that she has two husbands at the same time; it is quite the opposite. She only has one husband at a time. However, if a man put away his wife without giving her a bill of divorcement and either of them became “joined” (What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 1 Corinthians 6:16) “to another,” they were committing an act of adultery.

Revelation is progressive. The truth about any subject is not all revealed at once. That is true in the matter of divorce and remarriage. In the beginning God’s original plan was one man and one woman forever. But sin entered and the cruelty of man moved God to grant divorce and remarriage.

Not only is a bill of divorcement sufficient grounds for remarriage, so is death of a spouse or desertion. Paul makes it clear that a person is not under bondage to the marriage vow if he or she is abandoned by the other. “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.” 1 Corinthians 7:15.

It is true, God hates divorce; so do I. Yet God gave Israel a bill of divorcement, and has put her away for a time, and called her Loammi. See Hosea 1:8. See also, Isaiah 62:4 “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.”