By Joel Southerland On March 1st, 2010
5 thoughts on the weekend….
1. Liberty you did a great job the whole weekend. Thank you for your attendance and for your commitment to Super Sunday and Revival. Even though we didn’t reach our goal, you filled the building and the parking lot up to capacity.
2. We had guests everywhere – especially Sunday. We will reap the rewards of that for a while. If you invited someone, make sure you reconnect with them this week to see if they have any questions about the church.
3. “Wild Bill” did a fantastic job of preaching exactly what we needed to hear! Thanks to Bro. Bill for bringing it hard and straight!
4. We had 4 saved Sunday!! To God be the Glory!!
5. We baptized 18 last night – awesome! Lets keep it up and see more saved and baptized in 2010 than we ever have before in our history! And speaking of last night, what an amazing service to END revival with. The building was full with the balcony nearly full – that was amazing!
3 thoughts looking forward…
1. I am starting a 2 week [4 sermon] series called “Christianity – a little dab WON’T do ya” this Sunday. Too often the average Christian wants just enough of God to ease their conscious and we need to understand that is not how God wants His relationship with you to work. So, I’m preaching it hard starting this week. Don’t miss and be praying.
2. Too often we have a post-Super Sunday let down the weekend after – don’t let it happen. Teachers and SS leaders make sure you do your job of contacting and encouraging this week so that we stay on a high in church and Sunday School.
3. Bro. Bill commented on the incredible joy our church has – he talked to me about it in depth. So, don’t let that subside. This Sunday, show up withe the joy of Jesus filling your hearts and showing on your face and attitude!
Blessings…
By Joel Southerland On February 4th, 2010
According to new stats released by Barna, having your youth in Sunday School makes a huge difference later on in life. If you consistently go to Sunday School when you are young it has a direct bearing on church attendance when you grow up.
According to Barna, “More than 8 in 10 adults in the U.S. claim they had weekly religious education before age 12. Of those, 69 percent now attend religious programs weekly.”
What does that mean?
Parents that means you cannot overestimate the importance of having your child in church when they are young. Being part of a good children’s program and youth program has a great impact on their spiritual lives later on.
So, to all of the parents reading – here are some admonitions:
1. Model a consistent Christian life for your child / teen. It is even better if they see Jesus in you!
2. Make Sunday School and Wednesday night youth worship/AWANA’s part of your regular routine without fail. I know your child has homework on Wednesdays but if they need to stay up a few minutes late it won’t harm them for life. Being detached from the youth group might. Make sure they are in Sunday School every Sunday. Don’t be a “hit or miss” family when it comes to Sunday School – your children will pay the price later on!
3. Make Christ the center of your home. Talk about Jesus / church all the time in a positive way. Don’t ever let them hear you complain about something going on at church.
We all want our children to grow up to be good citizens and good Christians. It doesn’t happen by accident!
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
By Joel Southerland On October 27th, 2009
A church in London was recently told to be quiet – literally! [Read about it here: http://bit.ly/2miyW6 ]
They were worshiping too loud – causing a disturbance – making too much noise – GOOD FOR THEM!!
Wouldn’t it be awesome if people complained that YOUR/OUR church made too much noise? I don’t mean just audible noise – I mean the “news” kind of noise. The kind of “noise” that told about how:
- God was at work in the church
- Lives were being changed
- Sin was being confessed & forsook
- Exciting worship was being engaged
- The community was being changed
- People were leaving false religions and turning to Christ
- The Gospel was being preached on every street corner
- Too much Jesus was going on
Let’s do it! Let’s go out into the world and make a lot of “noise” about Jesus!!
Go to work ~ school ~ community ~and make much ado about Jesus!!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.