...Preaching That Changes Lives Michael Fabarez Rethink Your Task Chapter 1 — “Understand the Life-changing Power of Preaching” • If the church is unhealthy, it is the result (at least in part), of unhealthy preaching. “Though the church may be enhanced by a few creative, well-placed amenities, be assured that she cannot survive without the consistent, accurate, and authoritative preaching that intends, in every instance, to transform its hearers.” [p. 5; my emphasis (unless otherwise noted, all italicized comments are Fabarez’ emphasis, not mine).] • The NT uses three primary word families to denote the importance of preaching: khrussw, aggellw, didaskw. They all point to the authoritative, life-changing message that the teacher and preacher are empowered to deliver to God’s people. This was the expectation of Paul (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Tim. 1:3; Eph. 4:1). [pp. 7-9] • The basic question for every sermon is whether it produced change in the lives of the hearers. “…we can no longer evaluate our sermons solely on the basis of theological or exegetical soundness.…we must purpose to evaluate every sermon we preach in light of the biblical change it brings about in the lives of our congregants!” [pp. 9-10] Chapter 2 — “Adopt a Life-changing Method of Preaching” • A definition of expository preaching: it will have these primary components — 1. it clearly derives its content from the Bible; 2. it accurately explains what the Bible is saying; and 3. it effects...
Words: 2945 - Pages: 12
...practices” retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices/index/cfm / Our former employee claims that because of a change in the company’s work schedule, her shift falls on Sunday. This makes her unable to worship. Assuming this employee did not ask her supervisor to change her work schedule, or ask if she can switch with another employee. She does not have a valid case. Title VII of the Civil Right Act, 1964 is “prohibits employers with at least 15 employees or employment agencies and unions from discriminating employment based on race, color, sex, religion, age, or origin “ retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_religion/ It is illegal for an employer to treat any employee differently, harass, refuse a request to accommodate based on there religious values and practice. I don’t think this employee have any valid case because we changed the work schedule for our entire production employees. We did not treat this employee differently. She did not give us any written request to change her work schedule, so she can’t say we denied her request. Based on the situation the employee does not have any valid reason under Constructive discharge. If she decides to proceed with this case, we can prove that she doesn’t have a case, because the employee quit before talking to the supervisor. If we change her schedule so that she doesn’t have to work her shift when it falls on holy day, it will impose a hardship on other workers. In one of the appeals court case...
Words: 655 - Pages: 3
...knit community. There is a close relationship between everyone in town even though it looks as if everyone is all over the place. I’m sure you will find it quite nice here. Radislav: Well Rabbi, I would love to hear more in detail about the community and what it has to offer. May I speak with you in a more formal setting? Rabbi: It would be my pleasure Radislav. I happen to be on my way to Temple in the center of town. I have scheduled an emergency prayer service for my congregation. With all the bad things happening in the world; hurricanes, tsunamis, terrorist attacks, wars, disease outbreaks and so on, many people are in the “dumps” so to speak. I feel that my congregation needs a time to come together and pray for the ones affected, and to pray for their own self-worth. I myself am directlyaffected. My son has died of cancer and my daughter is a paraplegic. I myself too have it very hard on myself. Would you like to...
Words: 1488 - Pages: 6
...1. Goals Essay I could start with some catchy motivational quote that gets people on their feet every morning and sends them out into the world to fight for a better, more successful you. This is what every person reads and is inspired by for a short time, but that’s not what I need to succeed. Dreams are roughly what people hope to come true, but also not what I need to succeed. Luck is for those who think winning and accomplishing something was not possible in their mind to begin with and is also not what I need to succeed. I need extensive incentive that drives beyond just a quote, a dream, or luck. I have three long term goals that form into one big picture motivated by my wife and children and will mold me into a role model for my family, a further successful employee at my job, and sturdier financial provider for my family. These three goals consist of completing my Associates of arts with a concentration in business, a bachelors of arts in business management, and advancing my career in the oil and gas industry. First, obtaining my Associates with a concentration in business is the shortest of my long terms goals. I have broken down this degree plan into three short term goals that will ultimately help myself achieve these goals by the summer of 2015. Each course I have viewed at Patten University is broken down into 8 units. I have set a goal to finish one unit every two days. This will approximately take two and a half weeks per class. Which leads to my second short...
Words: 3015 - Pages: 13
...25 Rules of being close to Allah SWT =) 1. Start off each day with 'adhkaar al-istiyqaadh' (waking up Supplications), thanking Allah for waking up in good shape. 2. Put Allah first in your life. 3. Broaden your horizons - learn 5 new verses from the Quran every day, travel to pray far in the mosque to brighten your day,take up a booklet having supplications and read them. 4. Pray Salaat Al-dhuhaa (after sunrise). 5. If someone says something mean ;to you, just shrug it off and dismiss it in a friendly, laidback manner, and pray that Allah shall forgive them. 6. When you get angry, remember Allah, and how short and worthless life is to waste in being Angry. 7. Remember that you can never have too many friends, but you can have few quality friends that help you fulfill the purpose of your creation (i.e. live for Allah). 8. When you're happy, try to share your happiness with others. Thank Allah for that, and pray its continuation. 9. When something bad or embarrassing happens to you, just think that it could always be worse, remember the reward of patience,and thank Allah that it's not worse than it is. 10. Do something extra of goodness once in a while, like feeding a poor person, or caressing an orphan's head. 11. Never stop believing that you can win Allah's love and thus work For it. Then you can win the love of Allah's slaves. 12. Spend some time thinking of Allah's amazing creation. 13. Always love those who love...
Words: 567 - Pages: 3
...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Ministry Integration Project Submitted to: Dr. Steve Waechter in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the completion of this course SEMI 500 By Sherral R. Alford 10/10/2014 Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………1 Family Integration Project……………………………….................1 Spousal Interview……………………………………………………4 Seminary Schedule…………………………………………………..8 Spiritual Formation Refection………………………………………9 Bibliography………………………………………………………….10 Grading Rubric……………………………………………………….11 ii Introduction This paper discusses how the stress and demands of ministries and their families encounter during Seminary. It will further cover an...
Words: 2138 - Pages: 9
...that the company discriminated against the Muslim workers when it refused to allow them to pray according to their religious beliefs. The employees were able to prove that disparate impact and treatment existed and that the company retaliated against them by firing employees when they requested that their evening break be moved so that they could break their fast and pray at sundown during the month of Ramadan, which is an Islamic holiday that requires Muslims to fast from sun up to sundown. JBS-Swift did not make reasonable accommodation for employees’ religious beliefs when scheduling them to work. They also did not provide the option for employees to use personal leave for holiday time not specified in the employee manual. In contrasting the solutions to the Tyson Foods situation and the JBS-Swift situation, Tyson Foods’ solution to accommodate the employees who celebrate Eid ul-Fitr involved having eight paid holidays, which included a personal holiday that had to be approved by a supervisor. JBS-Swift set up special prayer rooms at its plants and allowed Muslim workers to pray 5 times per day. I think that JBS-Swift is likely to have the greatest positive impact on the company because it’s decision to provide a place on site and allow the employees time to pray on the job keeps the employees on-site and allows production to continue. Non-Muslim employees who do not have to pray five times daily should be given the option to use...
Words: 497 - Pages: 2
...Prayer in School Katrina, Anthony, and Tab October 5, 2011 BCOM/275 Prayer in School Throughout our society, prayer in school has become extinct. Prayer is a form of communication or a way of talking to God or other saints (Richert, N.D.). Although prayer in school may focus on religion, violate the first amendment, and separation of church and state, there are both advantages and disadvantages of prayer in our schools. Being that we are a diverse society and everyone has his or her own personal opinion on prayer in our schools; it still remains one of the most controversial issues today. The decision to take prayer out of public schools has become one of the most controversial issues throughout our society. The argument of whether or not prayer should be allowed in public schools is still misunderstood. When determining whether or not prayer should be allowed in public schools, it is important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages. In our society, 90% of America’s youngsters attend public schools. The children that attend public schools come from homes that espouse a variety of religious and philosophical beliefs (www.au.org). The pros and cons of prayer in public schools are not a cut and dry issue. There are many avenues to this matter. Pros arguments that have been expressed by people that approve of prayer in schools argue to banish prayer takes away the student’s freedom and molds them to be like non-religious students (www.religioninschools...
Words: 2048 - Pages: 9
...explaining how religious traditions describe and encourage the relationships with the divine, with sacred time, with sacred space or the natural world, and with each other. This paper will also point out some critical issues in the study of religion with specific examples from my own Hindu religion. Relationship with divine is a very restricted role with little opportunity for spiritual maturity or personal empowerment. A child has to value and pay attention to their parents and obey the rules and regulation set by the them. Scared time is usually the day of special prayer according to religious calendar, days of fasting, or just a day person takes out to dedicate to the god. This helps the family members to get together on a precise day and pray together have a little family bonding where people can moralize from their sacred books. This will help learn about the religion and devotion to the lord. Most Hindu people consider Monday, Tuesday, and Friday their scared time. On these days, they do not eat any kind of meat, drink liquor, and some also fast and go to place of worship either at home or temple. Most people recite Ramayana (the holy Hindu book) and educate their younger age group about the religious conviction. During these scared days, elders sometimes coach traditional musical instruments and devotional songs to their young ones. Sacred time provide believers with meaning and access...
Words: 486 - Pages: 2
...31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor Brothers, pray for us. (1 Thess 5:25 ESV) “Let the thought sink deep into the heart of every church, that their minister will be such a minister as their prayers make him. … How perilous is the condition of that minister ... whose heart is not encouraged, whose hands are not strengthened, and who is not upheld by the prayers of his people! … “It is at a fearful expense that ministers are ever allowed to enter the pulpit without being preceded, accompanied, and followed by the earnest prayers of the churches. It is no marvel that the pulpit is so powerless, and ministers so often disheartened when there are so few to hold up their hands. … When the churches cease to pray for ministers, ministers will no longer be a blessing to the churches.” Gardiner Spring (1785-1873) There is no greater gift you can give your pastor and the spiritual leaders of your church than to pray for them. Pastors cannot win the battle alone; they need committed intercessors to lift them up in fervent, specific prayer. Imagine how the power of God might be released in our churches if we were to pray faithfully for our pastors. Pastors are human—they face the same challenges that their people do, with some additional ones! They grow tired in ministry, are tempted to sin, and may find it difficult to balance their many roles and responsibilities. They need the encouragement and support of those they lead. Prayer for your pastor is crucial to the spiritual health of...
Words: 2010 - Pages: 9
...Personal and Environmental Factors Influencing the High School Students’ Behavior during Eucharistic Celebration CLE AREA – High School Department I. Introduction A. The Eucharist and Canossa School Sta. Rosa The Eucharist is one of the most important and vital aspects of faith. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims it, the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life (cf. CCC 1324). Thus, it is just proper that a Catholic school provides regular opportunities for students to develop a loving devotion to the Holy Eucharist especially in the Celebration of the Holy Mass. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the campus reflects vividly Canossa School Sta. Rosa’s vision and mission that aims at the education and formation of S.M.A.R.T. Canossian with the Heart. Responding to this call of placing the Eucharist at the center of its students’ life, Canossa, with its aim to make Jesus known and loved, faithfully reminds its students to attend regularly the Sunday Mass and occasionally invites them to celebrate the Holy Eucharist inside the campus during first Fridays and during special feasts and solemnities. B. The Importance of Active Participation during the Eucharistic Celebration The Second Vatican Council states clearly that the “Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation...
Words: 3406 - Pages: 14
...Associate Level Material Appendix A Meditation Worksheet Directions: Locate two resources on the Internet that explain meditation techniques. Copy and paste the web address into the top of the matrix. After reviewing the website, provide a brief summary for each source. Below your summary, list two interesting facts you learned from each site. Try the techniques you located in your Internet search. Provide a brief description of what happened in your experience. Be sure to answer the two questions below the matrix also. Web Address (URL): | http://www.ehow.com/how_2031438_practice-mindfulness-meditation.html | http://www.freemeditations.com/christian_meditation.html | Summary of resource: | Mindfulness Meditation is getting to a calm state blocking all other thoughts out and becoming aware of the moment you are in. The best way to achieve this is by finding a quite dim area and sitting on the floor with your legs crossed and back straight concentrating on the area a few inches in front of you. It is suggested to keep the sessions between 10-20 minutes but trying to do it as many times throughout the day as possible or needed. | Christian meditation is about seeking God as a believer. It is growing spiritually by using scriptures in the Bible to get insight and putting it into daily actions and thoughts. Christian meditation would also practice prayer. | Two interestingFacts: | 1. 2,500 years old originally taught by Buddha. 2. Practiced by millions today...
Words: 691 - Pages: 3
...Keeping the laws will not make you one bit more like the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Himself Who makes you like Him. But you need to spend time with Him to achieve that. Martin Luther’s barber asked him, "How do you pray?" Luther explained: "A good barber must have his thoughts, mind and eyes concentrated upon the razor and the beard and not forget where he is in his stroke and shave. If he keeps talking or thinking of something else, he is likely to cut a man's mouth or nose—or even his throat. So anything that is to be done well ought to occupy the whole man. … Quiet time therefore demands full concentration if it will be effective. (No wondering thought) How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time “Oh how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97 The Proper Period Decide on the right time. And don't try to find time — make time. It is recommended you do it early in the day. Psalm 5:3 says, “… in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” You don't take the trip and then read the map. Spend time alone with God to begin your day. However, a careful study of your schedule will provide you with the most suitable time. The Proper Place Find a place where you can focus (without distractions). Jesus said enter into your closet and pray (see...
Words: 775 - Pages: 4
...members. In addition to that, I associate with the Fatima prayer group in Grand Blanc, Michigan as well as the Immaculate Heart of Mary prayer group in Markham in Ontario, Canada. Both groups do not mainly consist of Filipinos, but also have families from different countries and ethnic groups. This includes Caucasians, African Americans, Italians, and Vietnamese. For the former, a pilgrimage statue of Our Lady of Fatima is passed around among families to be prayed at. For instance, the group will bring the statue to an assigned family to pray as a group and leave it at their house so that the family will pray on their own for 7 to 14 days. Then the prayer group will meet on the last day to pick up the statue and pass it onto the next family. Secondly, the group in Canada prays every day, but the entire group tries to meet once a week, as their work schedule permits, to pray the Cenacle, which includes the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy. They also pray for special occasions, such as the Feast of Saints, as a whole group. Insights Emerged from Self-Exploration After evaluating each of the inquiries, the process helped me reflect on who I am and my cultural identity. In learning both the Filipino and American values, they shaped me as a person by combining the best of these two cultures. Moreover, it further helped me put my sense of belonging into perspective, that I embodied the two cultures. As a result, the survey gave me an introspection about multicultural competence. The essential...
Words: 919 - Pages: 4
...would love to be a part of the business. Alice’s husband, a non-Christian, opposes her involvement and told her that he expects her to remain a stay-at-home mom to their daughters, Ally and Lisa, ages 13 and 15. Betty’s neighbor Erma, a non-Christian, has also expressed an interest in participating in the business as a way to earn some extra income. As a consultant, I will address the pluses and minuses of the following business forms so that Betty might adopt a business structure that is the best fit for her success. “A Sole Proprietorship, is a business owned by one person with no formal legal structure. The advantage is simple. Just start your business; there's no additional paperwork. You don't file corporate income tax; just file a Schedule "C" with your personal income taxes. The disadvantages are you have no personal liability protection. If your business is sued, you could lose everything you own, and in some cases, your spouse could lose his or her assets, too. A Partnership is a business with more than one owner who actively engages in the management of the company. The advantages are no required legal forms, (although you'd be well advised to draw up a partnership agreement). There is no double taxation, the profits pass through to the partners. The disadvantages are where each partner has unlimited personal liability, even for actions taken by other partners. Be warned, if you go into business with others, you've got a partnership in the eyes of the law whether...
Words: 1063 - Pages: 5
