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PROCEDURE

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By Ken Blue

1 a : a particular way of accomplishing something or of acting  b : a step in a procedure. 2 a : a series of steps followed in a regular definite order *legal procedure* *a surgical procedure*  b :  : a traditional or established way of doing things  b : PROTOCOL”

 Pastor, do you have a clearly defined procedure on how your church is going to reach young families, and the steps you will take after they profess to trust Christ?  Is this procedure in writing and on your calendar? Are your staff members and church leaders aware of it? If ask, could they clearly state your purpose statement and assimilation procedures? If not, guess who dropped the ball?

 The definition of a procedure is stated above, and is clear. It means you have an established way of accomplishing the assimilation of families into your church and the ministry for Christ. It is a series of steps. Are those steps clearly defined, and is each one well planned and implemented?   

 In the matter of bringing families from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity, there a four steps that must be clearly defined and employed. 1. You should have a class every four months for new members. This class is a requirement for membership, and teaches what your church is all about. Each class should take three to four hours to teach. 2. Four months later, there should be a class on how to study the Bible and grow in your new life. 3. four months later, a class should be taught on how and where one might serve the Lord in the local church. 4. Finally, four months later, a class should be taught on how to commit one’s life to God’s will for their life.

 Any pastor, sincere about the things we have stated above, should contact Pastor Murphy at Open Door. He said, on Easter weekend they had, “20 people to accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, we had over 100 visitors…”

 

 

 

 

SOME TIPS ON PREACHING

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By Ken Blue

Sometimes we confuse ourselves with the importance of the message. It is the message that is all important. I have seen men who were more in love with the telling of the thing, than they are with the thing they tell.

One young man prayed just before his sermon, “Lord, help me to be nothing as I preach.” An old saint on the front row was overheard saying, “Take it by faith, you are nothing.” Another young preacher bounced with pride  to the platform. On his way up, he slipped and fell. He hung his head in shame and embarrassment  as he came down. Someone told him if he had gone up the way he came down, he could have came down the way he went up.

There is no place in the pulpit for pride, arrogance, brashness, rudeness, or crudeness. Like John the Baptist, we are nothing more than a voice, and that involves wind.

The following article was provided to me by one of my sons. I should be a reminder to all of us.

“I had a professor one time… He said, ‘Class, you will forget almost everything I will teach you in here, so please remember this: that God spoke to Balaam through his ass, and He has been speaking through asses ever since. So, if God should choose to speak through you, you need not think too highly of yourself. And, if on meeting someone, right away you recognize what they are, listen to them anyway’.” ―Rich Mullins.

Some creatures make themselves asses. Some are born as such. Know the difference and go on with your ministry.

THE KEY IS LEADERSHIP

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(Be sure and listen to the great gospel songs)



DEATH


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DEATH




 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Death comes uninvited.


It takes the ones we love.


Hearts and arms are empty.


They are with God above.


 


The body once warm, is cold,


Lifeless like the potter’s clay.


God had warned our first parents.


Their sins would take them away.


 


Immanuel came uninvited,


And unknown to His own.


His welcome was an old rugged cross,


And a tomb made of stone.


 


Death has lost its power;


The grave, its victory.


The tombs now empty,


Christ conquered both for me.


 


We sorrow not as other,


Who have no certainty.


Trust is in His holy Word,


And eternal decree.


 


Death comes uninvited.


It takes the ones we love.


Hearts and arms are empty.


They are with God above.


 


IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME


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As many of you know, Open Door Baptist Church, led by Pastor Jason Murphy, had a total of 700 in attendance on the 4th of July weekend. There were 127 first time visitors who filled out visitor cards. In order that you might understand their work was more than a “flash in the pan,” the following was sent to me byPastorMurphy.


 


“Sunday, Aug. 7 at 4pm we held our third set of “Foundation classes” for this year. These classes help with guiding our new adults in spiritual growth and educating them as new believers and teaching them what it means to be a member of Open Door Baptist church.  In our “Membership” class we had 26 new people join the church.  And a total of 70 people went thru the discipleship classes on Aug 7th Praise the Lord!”


“Our people still take their family vacations, but the ministry moves on and people are getting saved and growing inChrist, I’m very excited for this fall we are having a Sunday school challenge – I’m challenging all our adults to try one of our 10 classes for four weeks. Sunday school was important in my spiritual growth and so I know it’s a vital thing if you want to “grow” spiritually and build relationships with other Christians.”


I challenge all the young pastors to contact Pastor Murphyand glean from his experience. Your great sermons will not increase the attendance at your church. There are key things you must also do. You can reach Pastor Murphyat: http://www.opendoorbaptist.com/.  It can be done, even in the good old summer time!