Sermon for August 18, 2019 Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + Discussion Watch video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4PB1hZwQmw Program Transcript Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7 • Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 • Hebrews 11:29-12:2 • Luke 12:49-56 This week’s theme is Stay Connected to the Vine. The prophet Isaiah reminds Israel—through the example of a vineyard—how God … Continue reading "Sermon for August 18, 2019" Read the article
Sermon for August 11, 2019 Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + Discussion Watch video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zffvkh3259I Program Transcript Readings: Genesis 15:1-6 • Psalm 33:12-22 • Hebrew 11:1-3 • Luke 12:32-40 This week’s theme is Trust in God’s plan, not our own. Abraham tried to fulfill God’s promises his own way—through Ishmael—but … Continue reading "Sermon for August 11, 2019" Read the article
Sermon for August 4, 2019 Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + Discussion Watch video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtUH6nZlQi4 Program Transcript Readings: Hosea 11:1-11 • Psalm 107:1-9, 43 • Colossians 3:1-11 • Luke 12:13-21 This week’s theme is We belong to God. The prophet Hosea reminds Israel that God was always with them—even when … Continue reading "Sermon for August 4, 2019" Read the article
First impressions can bridge someone into the life of a faith community; it can also become a stumbling block. By Heber Ticas, pastor and Superintendent of Latin America. Maria had lived in isolation for about 13 years before encountering our spiritual family. She had fallen into a deep depression and a sense of emptiness after … Continue reading "Sunday Celebration First Impressions" Read the article
How do we assimilate people into our healthy congregations? By Randy Bloom, US East Regional Director When a renowned church leader taught that pastors need to get used to the idea that more people will come and go from church than come and stay, I felt encouraged and a bit frustrated. I was encouraged because … Continue reading "People Come, People Go; Some Stay" Read the article
By Randy Bloom. US East Regional Director Have you ever woken up on a Sunday morning and felt like staying home from church? I’m not keen on admitting it, but I have. Sometimes there were legitimate reasons such as illness or extreme exhaustion; but other times I was just being lazy. After getting up and … Continue reading "Thinking About Skipping Church?" Read the article
What is the first word that pops into your mind when you think of church? Fellowship? Potluck? Sermon? Worship? Communion? God? Hope? I’ve been blessed to travel to many countries around the world and meet people from several cultures. I’ve rubbed shoulders with the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh and Nepal, and with people … Continue reading "Church = Hope" Read the article
By Bill Hall, National Director, Canada I have been blessed to meet many people who have been an inspiration to me. One person I met on several occasions was a well-known Canadian actor who, unbeknown to many of his fans, once lived on the streets of Winnipeg, Canada. Because he is no stranger to poverty … Continue reading "Are You Willing to Change “That?”" Read the article
Part of being a healthy church is consistent communication. To support our local congregations, we have developed a local congregational branding kit. These resources are a starting point that can be edited and developed to reflect the unique context of each of our congregations. We pray that these resources will support you in joining with … Continue reading "Local Congregation Branding" Read the article
Sermon for July 28, 2019 Watch Listen Download/Subscribe Watch on YouTube Program Transcript + Discussion Watch video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHOnjIf7sBQ Program Transcript Readings: Genesis 18:20-21 • Psalm 138:1-8 • Colossians 2:6-10 • Luke 11:1-13 This week’s theme is God knows what he is doing. When Abraham barters with God over Sodom and Gomorrah, God already … Continue reading "Sermon for July 28, 2019" Read the article
