Saturday, April 28, 2018

Restored Failures


Leslie Koh: A guest band was leading praise and worship at our church, and their passion for the Lord was moving. We could see—and feel—their enthusiasm.

   Then the musicians revealed that they were all ex-prisoners. Suddenly their songs took on special meaning, and I saw why their words of praise meant so much to them Their worship was a testimony of lives broken and restored. (Google image, Shattered lives restored).

Thursday, April 26, 2018

#48 Your Accountability as a Leader, Part 1



Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Acts 20 contains Paul's final exhortations to the leaders at Ephesus. First Paul testified. He called them to witness how he had lived and served among them as their founding pastor.

   He challenged them to remember his service from the first day on (vv. 18-27). (Google image, The Apostle Paul

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

#47 Questions You Will Face Before God




Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: God is very clear in His words. You as shepherd are awesomely accountable. You have spiritual responsibility for every person in your group.

   You are also in large measure responsible for every former member, especially if he is now unshepherded. Before God you will one day give account of your shepherd role, answering such questions as: (Google image, Preach the Word)

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Self-Discipline: The Missing Element in Christianity


James H. Cagle: The Bible says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27).

   The body is the external part of a man that is subject to the internal man.  The body serves the will of the inner man.  The body is never judged for what it does.  The inner man, because he is at the helm and in control is judged for what he did with his outer man, the vessel, the body (2 Cor.5:10). (Google image, Man: man slip art #11). 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

#46 The Shepherd's Accountability


Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: The shepherd is always accountable for all who are in his flock. Zechariah warned that God's anger burns against unfaithful shepherd-leaders. 

   "My anger burns against the shepherds and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock" (Zech. 10:3). (Google image, Preacher)

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

#45 The Shepherd Must be with His People in their Times of Need


Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Just as David knew that God his Shepherd was near him ("you are with me"—Ps. 23:4). especially in every time of need, so your people must know that you, their shepherd, are always available and ready to share their hours of need.

   In times of sickness, death, family problems, or other crises of life, you as shepherd must get to your people as quickly as possible. Often you can help meet their need, but always your presence with them is reassuring. That is what a shepherd is for. David was strengthened because, as he said to God, "You are with me." (Google image, David the shepherd)

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Offenses Will Come


Jean Oathout: As offenses will comemay today's post shed light on how we need to deal with what comes our way, and what we can learn about the affect others have on us when we are offended.

   When someone offends us, we begin building a wall in that relationship to protect ourselves. We process everything through the information we have, whether we are right or wrong in our assumption that the offense was worthy of hurting us. (Google image, The BAIT of SATAN

Thursday, April 12, 2018

#44 The Shepherd Must Give Guidance to His People


Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: As a spiritual leader, the shepherd is so closely watched and his words and example so often followed that he leads or misleads in many aspects of living.

   The principles he proclaims and the biblical standards of conduct he teaches can have a profound effect upon his people. Their righteous attitudes and actions then affect society and government. (Google image, Preacher)

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

#43 The Shepherd Aids Spiritual Restoration


Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: It is a fact of church life that from time to time one member or other needs spiritual restoration (Ps. 23:3).

   Satan is ever present to tempt Christians to spiritual negligence, to cool off and relax spiritually, or to yield to the allurements and spirit of the world. (Google image, Encourage one another)

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Thoughts and Prayers Are Nice, But . . .


Ron Hutchcraft- "Again and again, cable news networks announce "Breaking News." All too often it's heart-breaking news.
     A school shooting. A quake or a crash. A storm, a fire, a flood. (From Hutchcraft blog

Thursday, April 5, 2018

#42 The Shepherd Leads Constantly to Spiritual Refreshment


Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Every Christian needs special times of spiritual refreshment. "He leads me beside quiet waters" (Ps. 23:2) speaks of God's provision of constant opportunities for spiritual thirst to be quenched. 

   It is normal for a Christian to long for more and more of God. Christians without spiritual thirst are spiritually ill. Google image, Besides still waters)

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

#41 The Shepherd's Role


Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: No better picture of the role of a shepherd can be found than that provided by David, the shepherd-king, in Psalm 23. From his boyhood he knew the life of a shepherd.

   He lived out in the fields with his sheep so he came to know his sheep well. Even in the beginning of his service for Saul he still went back and forth to his flock. (Google image, Out to pasture)