RSS
 

Archive for the ‘Epiphany’ Category

Sixth Sunday of Epiphany–Feb15

11 Feb

  Building Bridges– Today, many neighbors are isolated and do not know each other. In the past, neighborhoods were close knit communities where people worked and shopped nearby and helped each other in times of need.  Increasing mobility has separated housing from office and shopping areas and has made even stable neighborhoods into bedroom communities. People work and shop elsewhere and only come home to have supper and sleep. Extended family used to provide support but many live a long way from any family members an increasing number are not having children or only a couple and have no one to help after their parents are no longer able to. They have no one to reach out to in an emergency or in time of need. By getting to know your neighbors you can build bridges that help you be there when they need help and it opens opportunities to share the Gospel with them.

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Church & Society, Church ministry, Epiphany, evangelism, Faith in practice

 

Fifth Sunday of Epiphany-Feb 8

05 Feb

Reaching the Children-Neighborhood children often congregate at the homes of Christians who have children because they feel the love that the parents have for their children and they enjoy the peace that reigns in a Christian home. Often their own parents ignore them or may even verbally or physically abuse them. It provides an excellent opportunity to show them through personal example that someone cares about them. It provides an opportunity to show them that God loves them and cares about them. Christian parents and children can introduce neighborhood children to God’s love and His values for living through Bible stories and video lessons. Children may be interested in a Children’s Bible Club. The church family may teach it or provide space for someone from the church to teach it. There is no problem with needing transportation like in traditional Vacation Bible Schools since the children live in the neighborhood. As the neighborhood children hear the Gospel and see it demonstrated, they may eventually want to attend church and urge their parents to take them.

 

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Church ministry, Epiphany

 

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany-Feb 1

30 Jan

 

   – Sharing Christ Most Christians do not talk about church or the Gospel outside of church for fear of offending someone, so most people don’t know whether their neighbors attend church or not. While many Christians assume their neighbors attend a church somewhere, the fact is that most probably do not. If your neighbors attend church, their church may not provide fellowship and support and they may welcome friendship with other Christians, or their church may be too far away for them to participate in many church activities. If they do not attend church, they may be seeking a church but not know anyone who belongs to one providing an opportunity to invite them. Many of their neighbors have not had any contact with a church and do not have any reason to seek one. Those without Christ often live day to day, their only hope is to survive until tomorrow. They will not know that Christ can made a difference in their life until they see that it has made a difference in your life. As you visit your neighbors, you can witness to them about the benefits of attending church and may even get a chance to tell them about Christ.                                                                      

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Church ministry, Epiphany, holidays

 

Third Sunday of Epiphany-Jan 25

22 Jan

Luke 10:29-37 Get To Know Your Neighbors-One of the greatest problems to spreading the Gospel in America is the lack of contact between Christians and non-Christians. Even in settled neighborhoods where people own their homes, there is often little contact beyond polite waves over the fence and unfortunately, Christians are caught up in it as well. The best way to start is have members visit their neighbors to get to know them. Visiting one a week is not taxing but in five weeks will enable them to get to know the five families around them. We need to make deliberate efforts to spend time with our neighbors and get to know them. Visit them and take them cookies or a cake or invite them over for a backyard Bar B Q to allow time to get to know them. Do they go to church, if so where? Do they have family nearby to help in times of need? Are there needs the church family can help with? We will not know unless we get to know them. Others may have needs and not know who to turn to. Establishing contact enables you to help them find solutions to their needs. Many may not have needs when you visit, but as you maintain contact with the neighbors through periodic visits, the neighbors may experience situations they cannot handle and may turn to you for help. Since many families are isolated today and have no family nearby, a sickness, loss of job, or even death may require more resources than they can muster and provide an opportunity for the church to show Christ’s love. As Christ points out, our neighbors include more than just those who live around us.  They are people we interact with every day at school, at work, and as we shop. We often see them but rarely take the time to get to know them.

 

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Church ministry, Epiphany, evangelism, Faith in practice, holidays

 

Second Sunday of Epiphany-Jan 18

15 Jan

Modeling Christ  When we read the Gospels, we often see the teachings and miss what Jesus does. If we read them closely, we will notice that He met needs as He went along. He healed the blind man, the crippled man, and the leper. He also fed the people. He did it primarily because He cared about them, but He also did it because He knew those needs distracted those people from hearing what He had to say. Until He broke down the barrier, they could not concentrate on what He was saying. By meeting the need, He not only broke down the barrier, He also built a bridge to that person. Those people passed many people as they traveled but those people were only nameless faces, soon forgotten. Jesus was someone they would not soon forget. He wasn’t a nameless face, He was the one that healed them or fed them. He was the one who cared when no one else did. We have become accustomed to the government providing all those services, but we forget that Christians met those needs first and only later did the government become involved. Now we have all but given up our ministry to the government and people worship the government instead of God. The prevailing feeling among many Christians today, as well as non-Christians is “The government is my shepherd, I shall not want, It maketh me lie down in a nice house, and It provideth me with good food.”  Christ modeled the way we should live. Unfortunately, all we like sheep have gone astray.

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Church ministry, Epiphany, Faith in practice, holidays

 

First Sunday of Epiphany-Jan 11

10 Jan

Reveal the Reason- When my wife and I were young, we would go out before Christmas to see the light displays. They depicted all kinds of things from Manger scenes to Santa Claus scenes and many others. Today, there are far fewer displays, and most are just lights. They are nice to look at but not nearly as interesting. Epiphany reminds us that God cares for those who don’t know Him as well as those that do. Christmas is an excellent time to put up a display of the manger scene. Liberals have gotten them banned from a lot of public places, so it is up to churches and individual Christians to remind people why we celebrate Christmas. Children are curious. They may ask you, why do you have a display of people in the front yard? It gives you the opportunity to tell the Christmas story of how God sent Jesus to help us. Start planning now to be a witness for Christ next Christmas. Buy a commercial one or build your own. Christmas cards also give an opportunity to remind people why we celebrate. Now is a good time to get them because stores are getting rid of their Christmas stock at sale prices

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Christmas Season, Epiphany, holidays

 

Meaning of Epiphany-Jan 6-video

06 Jan

 
No Comments

Posted in Christmas Season, Epiphany, Holiday Intro-video, holidays, Videos

 

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany-Feb 2

30 Jan

Volunteer for Social Service Agencies. With increased cuts in funding to government poverty programs, many of those in need are turning to non-profit agencies like the Salvation Army for help. Such agencies are being overwhelmed with those in need and lack the funds to meet the needs. Many are in need of donations to meet the increased need. Many also lack funds to hire adequate staff. Volunteers are needed to answer the phones, interview clients, do filing and assist with data entry. Many jobs are fairly simple and the agencies provide training. Hours are usually flexible within their office hours and agencies are glad for whatever time you can provide. Many companies hiring require experience in addition to training and volunteering helps a worker gain experience and often provides access to companies and agencies they deal with who may be hiring. In addition, the company or agency they volunteer for may have an opening and will often hire someone they already know over a stranger.

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Epiphany, Faith in practice

 

Third Sunday of Epiphany-January 26

26 Jan

After School Program-Volunteer at after-school program. With the increasing number of single parent families and families where both parents work, many children do not have access to someplace to stay after school until their parents get home from work and with the increased crowding as families double up to save on housing costs, many children don’t have anywhere quiet to study. They may not have an environment conducive to learning if there are pre-school children in the home or other barriers to studying. As a result, after school programs are springing up to meet the need but do not have the funds for the staff needed. Many depend on volunteers to help them keep the doors open to tutor the children and help them with their homework. In addition, since the Covid epidemic, many schools are increasingly issuing homework online. Many kids do not have the access to computers and study areas needed. In addition, they may not have parental support.  As a result, many kids are falling farther and farther behind. Many churches have the facilities and members who can volunteer to help work with the kids and can give the children individual attention they cannot get at school or at home and show them God cares  about them. Many kids need a place to study, adequate technology, and supportive supervision, which churches can supply. Schools can sometimes help by printing off lessons, as well as helping with equipment for students to work on online classes. In addition, some children may not be able to attend school because of illness or disability and need tutoring in their home. Often subjects are elementary level and can be done by middle and high school students. Some schools have paid tutoring positions open. Though some may require college level education in the subject, many may require only a high school education.

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Children's Ministry, Church ministry, Epiphany

 

Second Sunday of Epiphany-Jan 17, 2025

17 Jan

Minister to the Homeless -You can show that God cares for someone who doesn’t know Him by volunteering at a homeless shelter-In the past, many people became homeless due to addictions to drugs and alcohol but today, many are losing their jobs through no fault of their own due to layoffs and plant closings and finding new jobs is difficult. Many new jobs do not pay them even close to their old jobs. Many are losing their homes with no way to pay the mortgage or rent. While the homeless were formerly individuals, an increasing number are families with children. Many homeless shelters are struggling to meet the need but lack funds to pay the staff needed and need volunteers to help sort donations, fix meals, clean, entertain children, teach budgeting and homemaking classes, to help residents to rebuild their lives.

 

 
No Comments

Posted in Church ministry, Epiphany

 
« Older Entries