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Welcome to Preachers' Meeting
We are glad you have dropped by!
You will notice some posts below that relate to various topics of discussion by our online community of preachers.
One of the purposes of Preachers' Meeting is to provide a place for young ministers or those recently called to preach to interact around the principles in a course of study recommended by our local group of preachers in the Southern Illinois area.
We invite you to look in on our conversations. If you would like to add comments as a guest, you are welcome to do so.
If this looks interesting to you, you may join us as we start a new session. You can look in the side bar (or sometimes it is moved to right below this post) to see the weekly requirements. We start new courses every 8 or 9 weeks. As already mentioned, you are welcome to comment as a guest before that time.
Below these posts, you will see the word, "comments." Just click on it, and you will see a box on the right side of the screen where you may add your comments.
Look around. Enjoy yourself, and come back often!
You will notice some posts below that relate to various topics of discussion by our online community of preachers.
One of the purposes of Preachers' Meeting is to provide a place for young ministers or those recently called to preach to interact around the principles in a course of study recommended by our local group of preachers in the Southern Illinois area.
We invite you to look in on our conversations. If you would like to add comments as a guest, you are welcome to do so.
If this looks interesting to you, you may join us as we start a new session. You can look in the side bar (or sometimes it is moved to right below this post) to see the weekly requirements. We start new courses every 8 or 9 weeks. As already mentioned, you are welcome to comment as a guest before that time.
Below these posts, you will see the word, "comments." Just click on it, and you will see a box on the right side of the screen where you may add your comments.
Look around. Enjoy yourself, and come back often!
Weekly Requirements
Here is a review of the general requirements for each week.
You have three assignments each week
(1) Make at least two initial posts in your posting area. The first one will be the name of the course, and the names (or numbers of the DVD's) of the chapters or lectures you will be covering during the week. The second one will be a comment on one of those chapters. You will receive one point for getting the first post in on Tuesday or Wednesday. You will also get a point for getting at least one more initial post in.
(2) Go to your fellow student's posting areas, and ask them a question or make comments about their intial posts. You will recieve one point for completing this assignment before 12:00 a.m. on Friday morning (that would be before midnight on Thursday).
(3) Answer the questions asked.
(4) On Fridays, I will also give directions for making remaining posts during the week. Be sure and read those, and take them into account when making at least one of your remaining posts.
In all, we want to make at least nine posts during the week. You will receive points for that as follows:
9 or more posts - 12 points
6-8 posts - 10 points
3-5 posts - 6 points
1-2 posts - 3 points
You will have the extra points you had accumulated by getting things in on time. Those are bonus points that will be used only to move your grade closer to 100 if you need them. They will be awarded each week if needed to move your grade up to 12 for the week. If you do not need them for that week, they will be carried over to the next week(s). Remember the posts that count for points will be at least three sentences long.
You have three assignments each week
(1) Make at least two initial posts in your posting area. The first one will be the name of the course, and the names (or numbers of the DVD's) of the chapters or lectures you will be covering during the week. The second one will be a comment on one of those chapters. You will receive one point for getting the first post in on Tuesday or Wednesday. You will also get a point for getting at least one more initial post in.
(2) Go to your fellow student's posting areas, and ask them a question or make comments about their intial posts. You will recieve one point for completing this assignment before 12:00 a.m. on Friday morning (that would be before midnight on Thursday).
(3) Answer the questions asked.
(4) On Fridays, I will also give directions for making remaining posts during the week. Be sure and read those, and take them into account when making at least one of your remaining posts.
In all, we want to make at least nine posts during the week. You will receive points for that as follows:
9 or more posts - 12 points
6-8 posts - 10 points
3-5 posts - 6 points
1-2 posts - 3 points
You will have the extra points you had accumulated by getting things in on time. Those are bonus points that will be used only to move your grade closer to 100 if you need them. They will be awarded each week if needed to move your grade up to 12 for the week. If you do not need them for that week, they will be carried over to the next week(s). Remember the posts that count for points will be at least three sentences long.
Thoughts on Application
Roger gave some good thoughts on application:
"Chapter 75, titled: 'Apply Within' is a lesson in application. The writer explains why it is sometimes difficult applying a sermon to real life situations. I will list some of the reasons application is not applied to our lives.
"First it is "hard work", it is hard to find application to every situation in the congregation,
"second, is wrong assumptions, assuming the audience is able to apply any and all biblical truths is totally a wrong assumption,
"third, is fear, fear of being to deep or to simplistic in the text and failing at application, and then there is training or lack thereof,
"many preachers know the text, and the history and the order of things but are totally untrained in application. One gentleman said it this way," how can you be a good football player when you can pass the ball, or when you can kick the ball, or when you can run with the ball but you don't know the rules of the game."
"Chapter 75, titled: 'Apply Within' is a lesson in application. The writer explains why it is sometimes difficult applying a sermon to real life situations. I will list some of the reasons application is not applied to our lives.
"First it is "hard work", it is hard to find application to every situation in the congregation,
"second, is wrong assumptions, assuming the audience is able to apply any and all biblical truths is totally a wrong assumption,
"third, is fear, fear of being to deep or to simplistic in the text and failing at application, and then there is training or lack thereof,
"many preachers know the text, and the history and the order of things but are totally untrained in application. One gentleman said it this way," how can you be a good football player when you can pass the ball, or when you can kick the ball, or when you can run with the ball but you don't know the rules of the game."
About Me
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2009
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June
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- Paul's Letters
- Course 8 Week 6 First Question
- Course 8 Week 6 Initial Posts
- Course 8 Week 6 Main Posting Area
- Focusing on the Homegoing
- Sunday
- A Homegoing and a Sunday School Record
- Course 8 Begining of Week 5
- Course 8 week 5 Main Posting Area
- End of Week
- No title
- More Reluctant Leadership--Response Postings
- Relucant Leaders
- The Drive for Evangelism
- Course 8 Week 4 Main Posting Area
- How God Shapes Our Lives
- Man Goes to His Long Home
- Response Postings
- The Childhood of Jesus
- Course 8 Week 3
- Course 8 Week 3 Main Posting Area
- Course 8 Week 2 Last Day
- Union--Relationships
- Exclusivist!
- Relationships--Response Postings
- Our Questions
- Taking the Gospel into All the World
- Course 8 Week 2 Main Posting Area
- Course 8 Week 2
- Course 8 End of Week 1
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June
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Good Links
Marriage Tips and Other Ideas
Good Articles
Marriage Seminar
If you live in the souther Illinois area, we would like to invite you to a Couples' Marriage Enrichment Seminar on Saturday, February 27. It starts at 6:00 p.m and will run to 9:00 p.m.
After the welcome, there will be a dinner. Then there will be an opening session, followed by two breakout sessions, then a short closing.
The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Randy Carney (That's me :)!) and Roger and Janet Dutton will be speaking during the breakout sessions (That's Roger, who is commenting on this blog during this term!). Randy and Rhonda (my wife!) Carney will also have a breakout session discussing "Keys to Marital Bliss."
The Keynote Address will be on the topic of "The Way to a Successful Marriage: The Shocking and Surprising Truth."
Roger and Janet will be talking about "Hope for Restoring your marriage."
The cost is $15.00 per couple and that includes a dinner and all seminar materials. A nursery and childcare will be available. (Please indicate that you need these services when you register.) A book table with resources from Handfuls on Purpose Christian Bookstore will be available.
The seminar is for couples of all ages, ranging from newlyweds to marriage veterans!
To register, call 618-627-2228 to let the church know how may will be attending. Payment can be made at the event. (Make checks to TFBC.) For more information, call the church at 618-627-2228.
After the welcome, there will be a dinner. Then there will be an opening session, followed by two breakout sessions, then a short closing.
The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Randy Carney (That's me :)!) and Roger and Janet Dutton will be speaking during the breakout sessions (That's Roger, who is commenting on this blog during this term!). Randy and Rhonda (my wife!) Carney will also have a breakout session discussing "Keys to Marital Bliss."
The Keynote Address will be on the topic of "The Way to a Successful Marriage: The Shocking and Surprising Truth."
Roger and Janet will be talking about "Hope for Restoring your marriage."
The cost is $15.00 per couple and that includes a dinner and all seminar materials. A nursery and childcare will be available. (Please indicate that you need these services when you register.) A book table with resources from Handfuls on Purpose Christian Bookstore will be available.
The seminar is for couples of all ages, ranging from newlyweds to marriage veterans!
To register, call 618-627-2228 to let the church know how may will be attending. Payment can be made at the event. (Make checks to TFBC.) For more information, call the church at 618-627-2228.
The Greatest Love
Since Valentine's Day falls on Sunday this year, I imagine there will be a ton of sermons going out on the topic of love.
Paul talked about love and respect in marriage (Ephesians 5), but he was really saying that that was an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church.
Christ
Left Heaven to come to this earth.
He
Overcame adversity while here. He even conquered death!
He
Valued mankind so much that He gave Himself on the cross.
He desires fellowship with us. He reconciled the world to Himself, so that people could have an
Intimate realtionship with Him.
He meets all of our
Needs.
He is the supreme example of
Giving.
Do you see the word, LOVING, there? That is what He is--our LOVING Savior! Because of that, we should love one another.
Paul talked about love and respect in marriage (Ephesians 5), but he was really saying that that was an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church.
Christ
Left Heaven to come to this earth.
He
Overcame adversity while here. He even conquered death!
He
Valued mankind so much that He gave Himself on the cross.
He desires fellowship with us. He reconciled the world to Himself, so that people could have an
Intimate realtionship with Him.
He meets all of our
Needs.
He is the supreme example of
Giving.
Do you see the word, LOVING, there? That is what He is--our LOVING Savior! Because of that, we should love one another.
Course 11 Week 4
Scroll down to the week 4 area to begin commenting.
Dealing with the Closed American Mind
One of the chapters Roger is reading is entitled, (something like) "Dealing with the Closed American Mind." I don't know if it is mentioned in the chapter, but I suspect that if you tak about something where a person has a felt need, you can gain their hearing somewhat.
What are your thoughts?
You may scroll down and comment in the week 3 comments area. Visitors are welcome to comment also.
What are your thoughts?
You may scroll down and comment in the week 3 comments area. Visitors are welcome to comment also.
Connecting with Postmoderns
This is something most preachers do every Sunday. If you have young unchurched visitors in your church, you will be trying to reach postmoderns. Even some of your church youth are more influenced by postmodernism than by their previous Sunday school teaching.
Here is my reply to one of Roger's posts:
"Roger, what tips stand out to you for commecting with postmoderns? I think the term modern referred to an age in history that related to new thoughts in science, etc. (If I am off base, refresh my memory.) Post modern refers to the time following that era. Connecting with postmoderns is something you have to do, whether you realize it or not, almost every time you preach."
I will post some of his answers here if he sees the question in time.
Here is my reply to one of Roger's posts:
"Roger, what tips stand out to you for commecting with postmoderns? I think the term modern referred to an age in history that related to new thoughts in science, etc. (If I am off base, refresh my memory.) Post modern refers to the time following that era. Connecting with postmoderns is something you have to do, whether you realize it or not, almost every time you preach."
I will post some of his answers here if he sees the question in time.
Preaching--Proclamation of God's Word
Preaching, by one definition, is the proclamation of God's Word. As such, a person, can take the Scriptural passage and find some of its main points and emphasize those points.
While I believe we should learn all we can about the grammatical construction of the words of Scripture, and that we should learn all we can about the historical setting for when those words were originally spoken; the nice thing about proclaiming the Word is that you can just take what the text says and emphasize it. Then the Word will not return void.
People with all different types of backgrounds have been called to preach throughout the centuries. Some very "unlearned" (as the world would put it) men have had great results by simply taking the main ideas of Scripture and simply emphasizing them. As long as we do not twist the meaning, this simply shows the amazing power of the Word of God.
While I believe we should learn all we can about the grammatical construction of the words of Scripture, and that we should learn all we can about the historical setting for when those words were originally spoken; the nice thing about proclaiming the Word is that you can just take what the text says and emphasize it. Then the Word will not return void.
People with all different types of backgrounds have been called to preach throughout the centuries. Some very "unlearned" (as the world would put it) men have had great results by simply taking the main ideas of Scripture and simply emphasizing them. As long as we do not twist the meaning, this simply shows the amazing power of the Word of God.
New Format
I am going to try putting my comments for each day in this left sidebar. The comments areas for the remaining weeks are displayed to the right. That is where you will place your comments for each week.
38 comments:
Tyler, you have two bonus points carried over from last week. Roger, you have used all your bonus points from previous weeks. Sean, you have one bonus point carried over from last week.
Corey, you had no bonus points to carry over.
This week I'll be reading chapter 1: Is the Old Testiment Worth the Effort? And the Preface. Well truthfully I have already read them because this book is REALLY interesting.
The Preface talks mainly about what the book is about and what he was thinking of writing in it. Of course thats most prefaces(if not all). In it he explains the books he will cover: History, Prophets, Poetry, and wisdom lit., or in other words : Job Deuteronomy, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and The Prophets
Corey,
You are the early bird this week!
Well I've had to switch studies instead of the O.T. survey I started , I will be reading a book written by Henry and Tom Blackaby titled, The Man God Uses.
This week I will be reading chapter one in Henry and Tom Blackaby's book "The Man God Uses".The title of chapter one is " The Character of the Man God Uses"
My course this round is a book titles "The New Testament: Its Background & Message" by Thomas Lea & David Black. I will do 3 chapters a week.
Ch 4- The Canon,Text, and Genre of the NT
Ch 5- Learning About Jesus
Ch 6- The Synoptic Problem
The title of my course is CHURCH GROWTH. The instructor is Terry Forrest. I will be watching three DVDs this week. The title of my book is SURPRISING INSIGHTS FROM THE UNCHURCHED. The author is Thom S. Rainer. I will be reading two chapters this week.
3. Relationships That Click
6. Impressed By First Impressions
The first chapter for this week is called "Relationships that Click". It is about the stats of those who came to church because a relative or friend invited them. Fifty-seven percent of formerly unchurched people said that relationships had a big part in choosing a church.
In the book written by Henry and Tom Blackaby titled "The Man God Uses",chapter one is titled," The Character of the Man God Uses', the authors talk about the eight qualities of good character and they are as follows;
1. Holiness
2. A Pure Heart
3. A Contrite Heart
4. Fear of God
5. Faithfulness
6. Obedience
7. Seeks and Loves God
8. Servant of the Lord
57 % is a clear majority. Isn't it, Tyler. That many say that relationships had a part in getting them to come to church.
What about all of us? Did relationships play a part in our coming to church--or did we decide to attend a church from some other reason?
In my case, of course, my parents took me to church--so, relationships played a part. Another thing, though, is that one of my best friends in grade school attended our church. Another one attended church, just a couple of miles further away. After that, my circle of friends seemed to be formed from people (kids) whose families went to church.
Ok, the auther of this book begins with explaining the importance of the Old Testiment. But because some people can't understand it, they tend to avoid, or pick and choose. Then he says that this can backfire for the reason that they don't get the whole story!!!!(which I will add many athiests today do just that to try to destroy the bible, problem is, they miss the road of spikes infront of that, and end up running in to a problem, sometimes draggings others with them, what i mean by that is because they only read that small insert they then no NOTHING about the situation at hand which can ultimately change something from being wrong to right, or vise versa.)
He also explains that neither testiment is enough. In other words, neither testiment is complete without the other. The old Testiment might be 3/4ths of the bible, but its only half of the story(ironic but true). The old testiment is the preface, and the new testiment is the end, and ultimately enough the beginning as well(the end of the Bible in whole, but the Beginning of finding Life, and knowing God more itimately.)(I add that some of that I added to as my own thought on the situation, I could be wrong though.)
Ch 4 talks breifly on the texts of the NT and which ones were cannonized. It said it took hundreds of years for them to be officially cannonized. They had to be written by an apostle or someone under one, and had to be "inspired" by God. They also mention that Revelations was disputed more that any. Also Hebrews and 2 Peter because they didnt know for sure who wrote them.
It also spoke of synagouges, if I read it right, they were formed from group of Jews that couldnt go to the temple because of location. They claim that Jesus taught at these around the temple because gentiles were only allowed in the outer parts of the temple. I found it interesting that as they described what they done at the synagouge, it is very similiar to what we do in church now. Synagouge is greek for church, but I guess I wasnt aware that the structure of our services were modeled after this.
After reading the book Tyler is reading this time, the things they describe thet works seemed obvious. I feel I've been fortunate to be a part of a church that has been growing. I could agree with what the book said. But my question is, whats the formula to keep it going?
The nest DVD talks about three different types of people. First, there is the exclusivist who believes that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. There is also teh pluralist who thinks that there are multiple ways to heaven. Thirdly, there is the inclusivist, or universalist, that believes that Jesus is the way unless someone has never heard of Him. I bet you can guess what we are.
I think a lot about church growth in general. I think one of the fall-backs that we have is we don't take time to get to know visitors and new members. We sometimes fall into the trap of just staying with our "little groups". I hope that I can be better at getting to know people that I don't know that well. What do you guys think about ways we can help our churches grow?
The list Roger put up looks tough, but I strive to be all those. The only way to have the 1st 2 is have Jesus in your heart. Do we ask God to use us, and how often? Have you feared asking Him use you?
That list is hard I agree, but which one do each of you think is the hardest? I think Obedience is the hardest myself.
He also covers in the book the lack of knowledge proclaimed Christians have of the old testiment. One example is half of all american adults cannot recognize Genesis as the first book of the Bible. And 14% think Joan of Ark was Noahs wife!
That second one reflects two problems with us today. The first is the lack of knowledge of the Old Testiment(which is why im doing this thing I'm calling 'The Old Testiment Fast' which I will be keeping record of all knowledge i didnt previously know or knew as much about.). And two the lack of knowledge in COMMON history(which reflects our poor school system)
Corey, you have three bonus points for this week.
Roger,you have two bonus points for this week.
Sean, you have three bonus points for this week.
Tyler, you have three bonus points for this week.
I think that most of us are afraid to ask God to use us. What are we afraid of? I think that we are afraid that He may ask us do do something for Him. I try to be better at listening for the Lord to tell me to do something than I used to be. I hope to be like Isaiah when he said, "Here I am, send me".
There are two times when relationships helped me to choose a church. When I first got back to the Lord, I went to the same church that my dad went to. I was there for a while when I met Kevin McNeely at a revival. I was impressed by his preaching and his heart for people. Something told me that he would be my pastor someday. I am thankful to God that He has sent me to where I am!
In Henry Blackaby's book "The Man God Uses",chapter one deals with the character of the man God uses, character being who you are when no one is looking and what you are willing to stand for when someone is looking. To have strong christian character is the result of your heart's desire to obey God.
In CH 5 of my book it discusses the theories on when Jesus was born thru scripture and moon phases. They conclude that they aren't sure what season Jesus was born. They seem sure that it wasn't in the winter. Te year I think they conclused was 7-8 B.C. I cant be positive because the book is in the house and I'm in the office.
They also discuss the length of his ministry. They go by who was ruling at the time and John mentions Jesus being at 3 different passover feasts. But in the end they figure 3 years. They say that John includes more of his Judean ministry than the other Gospels.
It talks a little about other writings about Jesus that are not the Bible. They aren't many, one is the writings of Josephus. Another talks of Jesus but as a passing phrase and is described as mystical. I believe it was from someone in Greece. I've wondered myself why God chose to bring His plan of salvation into the world this way. Why it wasnt "global" I guess is what I mean. We can look back and see it well enough, but what of the people then or before.
I resolve myself to figure that God is the ultimate judge and He defintely knows what He's doing, and Romans 1 says that man has no excuse. It makes sense to me, but I guess that "Farther Along", well know all about it. Any thoughts on this?
On the subject of Randy's question, my parents took me to church and it was always a part of my life in some way. I'm sure that has a lot to do with why I went back. One thing about relationships in the church is that after I left Grange Hall and came back 10 -12 years later. I appreciated the relationships with the ones I had with them in a way I had never thought before. It was good, thats the only way I can desrcibe it.
I think about the same thing that you mentioned, Sean. I do think that it is interesting how the book of Acts is set up. It starts by stating Jesus' great commission to start in Judea and then spread to the ends of the earth. At the end of the book, the gospel is spread all the way to the "center of the world" at that time. It is neat, though, that we are still working on the "ends of the earth" part.
I am excited about VBS coming up next week. I am so glad that God is allowing me to help out. I thank God for those who have a heart to increase the kingdom of God. The children are the future church and they need all the guidence that they can get.
Is God Really Good? that is one of the questions asked in Chapter 1. One show that he is good is the convenent he made with the jews.
The next one he shows is Christs sacrafice. I've always heard that the cross is the proof of His love. This i agree with for the fact that i dont see many people being crusified for thoughs they hate.
At the end of Philip Yancey's Father-in-laws' life, his father-in-law went through a big spiritual battle.(i might add he lived a great life serving Christ.) Near the end his life seemed like clear rebelion, but it produced so much faith in his life! So sometimes thoughs 'faithless' times, are like thoughs times where God reveals things to you that increase your faith.
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