It's fairly well known that the most effective window for evangelism are the teenage years.
But, I feel, for similar reasons, that there are two other windows for efficacious faith-development.
New parents and the elderly.
The reason these three life stages are more fruitful for evangelism have to do with the common threads of self assessment and a realigning of self identification.
As a teen you're establishing and testing your place in society.
As a new parent, everything in your life is reordered with the new arrival.
As you enter your later years, ceasing work or losing your spouse, you have the chance to assesses your values and what you want to do going forward.
Of course, people can come to faith at any age and life stage, but I think these three times are especially fertile to the message of the gospel.
For, Jesus invites us to make assessments about how we live.
The gospel challenges us to consider the things we stand for.
The church invites us to be a part of something larger than ourselves.
These are the things which are already stirring within the hearts and minds of teens, new parents and the elderly.
The continuing challenge to the church is to purposely seek to reach these people and offer them the words of eternal life.
Showing posts with label Humour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humour. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
A bible study of soft throws or curve balls?
Bible studies come in a lot of forms.
They vary depending on the make up of the participants, their chronological and spiritual maturity, the amount of time the group has been together, the length of time they have to meet, the openness to new members, the history of those involved, the nature of what book/theme/topic they are looking at and the preference of the leader.
At times, it will be appropriate for the study to be more surface level and exploratory.
On other occasions it will be fine for the group to be lead through a series of in-depth, technical or searching questions
Is one better?
Both have times when they are needed and useful.
And your group needs both.
At the core, the gospel message is simple and you should keep coming back to it. There's no problem when the answers bring you back to trusting in Jesus and being saved by God's grace.
On the other hand, we shouldn't be scared of delving into some of the more complex/confusing passages of the bible or topics. If we're going to develop an intellectually defendable faith, then the tough things of faith should be seriously wrestled with.
So, you need both.
Some weeks will reassure you of the beauty, truthfulness and simplicity of the gospel.
Other weeks can leave your brain whirling from the way you've been challenged of the new revelations which have unfolded.
The danger is when we don't get the balance right and only do one.
They vary depending on the make up of the participants, their chronological and spiritual maturity, the amount of time the group has been together, the length of time they have to meet, the openness to new members, the history of those involved, the nature of what book/theme/topic they are looking at and the preference of the leader.
At times, it will be appropriate for the study to be more surface level and exploratory.
On other occasions it will be fine for the group to be lead through a series of in-depth, technical or searching questions
Is one better?
Both have times when they are needed and useful.
And your group needs both.
At the core, the gospel message is simple and you should keep coming back to it. There's no problem when the answers bring you back to trusting in Jesus and being saved by God's grace.
On the other hand, we shouldn't be scared of delving into some of the more complex/confusing passages of the bible or topics. If we're going to develop an intellectually defendable faith, then the tough things of faith should be seriously wrestled with.
So, you need both.
Some weeks will reassure you of the beauty, truthfulness and simplicity of the gospel.
Other weeks can leave your brain whirling from the way you've been challenged of the new revelations which have unfolded.
The danger is when we don't get the balance right and only do one.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Wondering about the past
In 2005 I started sponsoring a child, then aged 8, from the Phillipines.
Today I found all the letters he sent me up until he moved in 2015.
Since then I've heard nothing.
After a decade...
Well over $5000 in sponsorship...
Dozens of letters...
Nothing.
Assuming that Compassion isn't a giant scam and the letters were genuine, thus making my kid alive and mobile at 18, all I can now do is wonder.
Did he go to university?
What does he do for work?
Is he married?
Does he have a family?
Is he still in poverty?
Is he even still alive?
What, if at all, does he think of me?
Does he still have, or even remember, my letters?
What would he say/write to me now?
Would I, if so inclined, be able to track him down?
Potentially, he now has a far better life because I was an, albeit small, part of it.
These questions remind me of the young people I've come in contact with at various churches as their youth minister.
What are they doing now?
What memories, if any, do they have of me?
How would they have described the youth ministry I were the leader of?
Are they connected with a church?
For many, even those I'm friends with on Facebook, I have no contact with.
All I'm left to do is wonder...
Today I found all the letters he sent me up until he moved in 2015.
Since then I've heard nothing.
After a decade...
Well over $5000 in sponsorship...
Dozens of letters...
Nothing.
Assuming that Compassion isn't a giant scam and the letters were genuine, thus making my kid alive and mobile at 18, all I can now do is wonder.
Did he go to university?
What does he do for work?
Is he married?
Does he have a family?
Is he still in poverty?
Is he even still alive?
What, if at all, does he think of me?
Does he still have, or even remember, my letters?
What would he say/write to me now?
Would I, if so inclined, be able to track him down?
Potentially, he now has a far better life because I was an, albeit small, part of it.
These questions remind me of the young people I've come in contact with at various churches as their youth minister.
What are they doing now?
What memories, if any, do they have of me?
How would they have described the youth ministry I were the leader of?
Are they connected with a church?
For many, even those I'm friends with on Facebook, I have no contact with.
All I'm left to do is wonder...
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Do we up the show for the special services?
Weddings.
Funerals.
Baptisms.
Easter.
Christmas.
All these church services have something in common - an increase in "outsiders" and an increase in effort and execution.
Last night I lead the Christmas Eve family service at my church and there was a good chance that there would be a significant number of guests.
The opportunity got me thinking of these extraordinary services which periodically spring up for those in ministry.
Are they viewed, judged, valued and prepared for differently to the regular services? And, should they be?
Do we value the attendance and opportunity higher for one of these special services?
Do we think those attending would be more or less judgemental or critical?
Are these questions a sign of the dedication those in ministry have to reaching those outside the church or are they signs that they take their usual congregants for granted?
I'd like to say that anyone up the front of a church will place the same value in any ministry, no matter who attends - purely regulars or guest - but I feel that our actions might show that it's the activity which draws in the new faces.
Funerals.
Baptisms.
Easter.
Christmas.
All these church services have something in common - an increase in "outsiders" and an increase in effort and execution.
Last night I lead the Christmas Eve family service at my church and there was a good chance that there would be a significant number of guests.
The opportunity got me thinking of these extraordinary services which periodically spring up for those in ministry.
Are they viewed, judged, valued and prepared for differently to the regular services? And, should they be?
Do we value the attendance and opportunity higher for one of these special services?
Do we think those attending would be more or less judgemental or critical?
Are these questions a sign of the dedication those in ministry have to reaching those outside the church or are they signs that they take their usual congregants for granted?
I'd like to say that anyone up the front of a church will place the same value in any ministry, no matter who attends - purely regulars or guest - but I feel that our actions might show that it's the activity which draws in the new faces.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
A WHAT meeting?
Last Sunday, if we were live streaming our evening service, I'd be Internet famous right now.
Whilst making an announcement about an upcoming, and important, congregational meeting I said something slightly alternate.
A conjugational meeting.
It was not unnoticed.
How the wires in my mind went from congregational to a mash-up of conjugal (if you're wondering why that might be a little awkward, then this might assist), I don't know, but at least I didn't make this guys mistake...
Whilst making an announcement about an upcoming, and important, congregational meeting I said something slightly alternate.
A conjugational meeting.
It was not unnoticed.
How the wires in my mind went from congregational to a mash-up of conjugal (if you're wondering why that might be a little awkward, then this might assist), I don't know, but at least I didn't make this guys mistake...
Monday, April 29, 2013
Luther was one bad MoFo
You didn't want to get on the wrong side of Martin Luther... http://ergofabulous.org/luther/
Friday, August 31, 2012
Michael W Awesome
This is how evangelism was done in the 80's.
I know it would've got me ready for the altar call...
I know it would've got me ready for the altar call...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tom's take: What do you do if your youth minister dies?
Today Tom and I are both writing on the same topic. You can check out what I wrote on his blog here. And yes, he is significantly higher on the hilarity scale then I am...
Also, with the absence of any noteworthy search results for this question, Tom and I are now the primary sources of information on the topic.
"What do you do if your youth minister dies?" Baldock posed this question to me when we were out to lunch a few weeks ago. I was a little worried when he posed it. I thought he was about to tell me he was dying. Turns out he's not. Or at least he's not dying any quicker than the rest of us.
So I don't know why he asked the question, I guess he thought it'd make a good blog topic. He may not be dying by he certainly isn't right in the head.
That said, let me tackle this most pressing of topics. What should you do if your youth minister dies?
1. First call emergency services
If the youth practitioner has died in some freak dodgeball or Honey-if-you-love-me accident you should call for an ambulance. And the police too. There could be foul play involved, it may just look like an accident. Don't disturb anything around the body. It's probably a crime scene. Youth Ministers make a lot of enemies. Chances are the cleaner, the church handyman and the lady who does the flowers all have a motive to kill the youth minister.
2. Provide counselling
If a 13 year-old was to see their beloved leader decapitated during a sock wrestling episode, it would seriously freak them out. You'd need to get in a team of trained professionals to look after the kids. You might also want to bring a change of clothes for them all. I know from experience the severed neck can spurt blood a very long way.
3. Organise the funeral
Turn that frown upside down. A funeral is a great way to bring the youth group together. Give each of the young people a role. You could get some handing out orders of service, some showing people to their seats. Have the drama group perform a skit and the dance group express themselves to some dc talk. You could even get one of the kids to do a sermon on death with an short clip from The Matrix to illustrate that the departed chose the red pill.
4. Hire a new youth minister
The best way to help kids deal with death is to replace the youth minister quickly. Young people have short attention spans. Especially the YouTube generation. Find a new youth minister and they'll forget the old one in a week. Just make sure you have the cleaner do a good job on the blood stains in the hall before youth starts on Friday, as long as he's not in jail that is.
I'm pretty sure this is exactly was Baldock was hoping for.
Also, with the absence of any noteworthy search results for this question, Tom and I are now the primary sources of information on the topic.
"What do you do if your youth minister dies?" Baldock posed this question to me when we were out to lunch a few weeks ago. I was a little worried when he posed it. I thought he was about to tell me he was dying. Turns out he's not. Or at least he's not dying any quicker than the rest of us.
So I don't know why he asked the question, I guess he thought it'd make a good blog topic. He may not be dying by he certainly isn't right in the head.
That said, let me tackle this most pressing of topics. What should you do if your youth minister dies?
1. First call emergency services
If the youth practitioner has died in some freak dodgeball or Honey-if-you-love-me accident you should call for an ambulance. And the police too. There could be foul play involved, it may just look like an accident. Don't disturb anything around the body. It's probably a crime scene. Youth Ministers make a lot of enemies. Chances are the cleaner, the church handyman and the lady who does the flowers all have a motive to kill the youth minister.
2. Provide counselling
If a 13 year-old was to see their beloved leader decapitated during a sock wrestling episode, it would seriously freak them out. You'd need to get in a team of trained professionals to look after the kids. You might also want to bring a change of clothes for them all. I know from experience the severed neck can spurt blood a very long way.
3. Organise the funeral
Turn that frown upside down. A funeral is a great way to bring the youth group together. Give each of the young people a role. You could get some handing out orders of service, some showing people to their seats. Have the drama group perform a skit and the dance group express themselves to some dc talk. You could even get one of the kids to do a sermon on death with an short clip from The Matrix to illustrate that the departed chose the red pill.
4. Hire a new youth minister
The best way to help kids deal with death is to replace the youth minister quickly. Young people have short attention spans. Especially the YouTube generation. Find a new youth minister and they'll forget the old one in a week. Just make sure you have the cleaner do a good job on the blood stains in the hall before youth starts on Friday, as long as he's not in jail that is.
I'm pretty sure this is exactly was Baldock was hoping for.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Why the wise men may not have had camels
I don't pretend to be cutting edge. I certainly don't pretend that i an at the forefront of YouTube clips.
I first spotted this a few days ago and it has been making the rounds of various websites...
For some reason, i just can't turn away when i watch this.
Note: No animals or people were actually injured in this clip. But the bloke leading the camel may have had his ego bruised.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Cat wins
I've been posting more stuff from YouTube lately.
Can you tell that it took me ages to work out how to embed and that i'm procrastinating from tweaking the talks for this weekend?
This just makes me laugh...
Can you tell that it took me ages to work out how to embed and that i'm procrastinating from tweaking the talks for this weekend?
This just makes me laugh...
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Slap happy
I don't know what the best part of this ad is...
That i can be in a great mood all day by slapping my troubles away?
That boring tuna is giving me a boring life?
That i will love his nuts?
That i will slap away every day (i thought that was a bad thing!)?
That the host is like a Harlem Globetrotter when shooting crap choppers into kitchen sinks?
That he knew watching onion on television makes me weep?
That i can now grate my bikini?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Good brotherly questions
Normally i don't post things that catch my eye on YouTube.
But... Holidays + bad, non-ratings period TV = Angry brother and "Why are you up a tree?" and "Why did you bang yourself in the head with a shoe?"
Need to kill a few minutes so it all make sense?
First you need to see this, then this.
Ah... Brotherly love and the questions we all want answered. If only we all had a "Squirrel Boy" with an anger management problem.
Apologies about the language. It's not really bad, but it could offend...
But... Holidays + bad, non-ratings period TV = Angry brother and "Why are you up a tree?" and "Why did you bang yourself in the head with a shoe?"
Need to kill a few minutes so it all make sense?
First you need to see this, then this.
Ah... Brotherly love and the questions we all want answered. If only we all had a "Squirrel Boy" with an anger management problem.
Apologies about the language. It's not really bad, but it could offend...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Time Efficient
Now that I'm on holidays i have plenty of time on my hands.
But not enough to view all six Rocky films.
Luckily... this is much more efficient...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDCxv3PH-hQ&feature=player_embedded
But not enough to view all six Rocky films.
Luckily... this is much more efficient...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDCxv3PH-hQ&feature=player_embedded
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)