ADJUST YOUR THEOLOGY OR YOUR SKIRT

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dress“… I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid…” Ruth 3:9.

“…and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness…” Ezekiel 16:8.

“…ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew…” Zechariah 8:23.

I do not believe in immodesty of any kind nor do I believe the dress standards you set for your church workers are wrong. However, there are a few pastors and evangelist who act as if there is a universal biblical dress code that applies to all believers and every local church. Their task is to enforce this standard on everyone or discredit their ministry.

If there is a universal biblical standard, you had better get out your “skirt” and press it for next Sunday’s service. As the above text shows, men wore skirts! If a universal standard does not exist, then why create division between churches and fellow believers over such issues? Are these pastors and evangelists so lonely that they must have everyone else give up the things they give up?

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]How people dress is a cultural matter.[/pullquote]

How people dress is a cultural matter. Ignorance of Bible customs and times, forces one to think the Bible was written about them and their part of the world. The following should open the eyes of those who constantly harp about how people dress.  “…ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew…” Zechariah 8:23. A wise thing to do is stick with the Bible. You can find enough sermons for the time and place, if you can rightly divide it.

IT’S ALL ABOUT SERVICE #3

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flat tireSome years ago a staff member was driving our church van and noticed that the right front tire needed air. He went to different stations and found that each required 50 cents for air. Finally, he pulled into a tire shop and told them that he didn’t have any money, could they please put some air in his tire. The manager motioned him into the stall, where they fixed the tire and filled it with air. After handing him the keys, the manager said, “No charge.”

I was in the market for new tires, and as you can guess, I purchased them at that store. As I paid, I asked the manager if he had any idea why I purchased tires from him. He said he would like to know why. I told him the above story. He said something I will never forget. “Pastor Blue, I know you can purchase tires anywhere in town, all I can give you is service.”

Some pastors flatter themselves that they have the only truth in the city, and then complain, “The lost will not come because they just can’t stand the truth.” I don’t think that is the problem. If we give people the best service in town, they are more likely to open up to the gospel and the Church. Remember, people can find another church in your town, all you can give them is service.

THE SALES DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT

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Service

 

By Ken Blue

Romans 12:1  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

No doubt there will be some who will think it sacrilegious to compare the ministries of a church to the sales department, and the service department of a business, however, the comparison is valid, and justifiable.

In most business these two departments exist, and are distinct. For example, walk on any car lot, and experience the onslaught of salesmen. These men and women are dressed to the max; they are friendly, outgoing, and persistent. You buy the car, just to get them off your back. However, you soon discover that the service depart is a different story.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Outreach and well-structured ministries are the two indispensables of any church.[/pullquote]

I know businesses that I would never enter again, nor would I recommend them to any of my friends. Seldom is it because of the salesmen, or the greeters we are turned off with. In most cases it will be the faulty service you experience. I just had a lady, this week, tell me of a church she and her husband visited several years ago, and when it was time to shake hands, and greet the visitors, no one acknowledged their presence. That was some twenty years ago. People don’t forget bad experiences, and they are quick to tell others.

Whether we want to admit it or not, if a church cannot sell itself to the community, and the visitors, people will not come. You may object by saying we are not in the selling business, we are in the gospel business. The sad truth is, many churches are not in the selling business and because of this, they can’t even give the gospel away! First impressions are the ones that last.

Every church should wrap itself in soul winning. You must plan everything with the lost in mind. Let your church become a soul trap. In addition, you must be just as diligent about having a perfect service department. Pastor, please take note; there are others churches your people could attend. If you don’t provide the services they feel they need, you will lose them. Soul winning and well-structured ministries are the two indispensables.

SERVICE IS THE KEY

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It’s All About Service #1

service

By Ken Blue

A few years ago I visited the Eagle Hardware store in our town. It was a man’s shopping paradise, with tools everywhere! As I entered the large double-doors, a man wearing an employee vest came out of an aisle on my left. We almost collided. I asked where I could locate a particular electrical item. He said, “Come with me.”

I followed him down the main aisle about one hundred feet, and then we turned to the right and walked another hundred and fifty feet. He then turned left and we walked fifty feet to the place where he knelt to the floor on one knee and took the item from the bottom shelf. He smiled and said, “Here you are sir.” I asked, “Are you the owner of this store?”  “No sir,” he said, “I only work here, but I do want you to come again.” I assured him I would. Not only would I return, I would tell all my friends.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Wouldn’t it be great if the people who visit our churches left feeling like they had received same special service?[/pullquote]

Wouldn’t it be great if the people who visit our churches left feeling they had received the same special service I received from a hardware employee? Instead of telling our guest where the bathrooms are, or where the nurseries are, why not train our greeters and ushers to walk with them and help them with their smallest needs. You may not be the preacher, but you will be telling the guest, “You are valuable to us, and we really want you to come again.”  Not only are they likely to return, they will also tell their friends. You see, it’s all about the service.

ONE OUT OF TEN AIN’T BAD

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One out of Ten Ain’t Bad

One out of ten“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” Luke 17:17-18

In the early days of my ministry I invited people to church, and they looked me straight in the eye and said, “I’ll see you Sunday.” If I got ten promises, I expected ten people. I soon discovered that most people do not keep their commitments. Since I had no way of knowing who would come, my only option was to raise the odds; I would get more promises.

Some pastors are disappointed when they count the meager returns. But don’t despair, if you get ten professions and one returns, you are doing as good as Jesus did. The way to raise the returns is to raise the professions. I would rather have ten returns out of a hundred than one out of ten.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The way to raise the returns is to raise the professions.[/pullquote]

Remember, no one knows who really get’s saved. We don’t know how and when the Holy Spirit is working in the heart of another. Don’t let the fear of picking “green fruit” or the possibility of getting a “still birth” keep you from winning people to Jesus. There are three parts to winning people to Christ.

# 1. Your part: get them to trust Jesus.
# 2. Their part: trusting Him.
# 3. God’s part: saving them.

If you only get one out of ten, it ain’t bad.