ABCFastDirectory.com ABCFastDirectory - Church Photo Directory and Church Membership Software

A little known fact about the early church during the New Testament period (i.e. Book of Acts) is that they did not meet in large facilities for worship.  Most of the time they met in someone’s home and there they studied the Scriptures, read letters from apostles, shared the Lord’s Supper, were baptized, heard sermons, prayed and sang praises to God.  Official above ground churches would not come along until a few centuries later.  During the Roman persecution, some Christian congregations even had to meet in the catacombs (burial places) underneath the city streets and buildings.  But, by and large they met in one another’s home.  On some of the major networks on Sunday mornings, there are some ministers whose stage area behind them is decorated as a home would be in order to create a greater sense of family and togetherness….with 3,000 people!  Let’s hope there are a lot of bathrooms in that house!

A movement that began to gain attention in the mid 90’s is still very much part of Christian ministry in churches today.

Home Study Groups offer church members (and visitors) an opportunity to gather together in homes for study, prayer and fellowship. Unfortunately, for those who come to Sunday worship at 11 (the usual time) and then are not seen again until the following Sunday have little opportunity to get to know their fellow Christians.  A Sunday School class has a better chance but even they usually meet for around 45 minutes or so before the worship service begins.  Whereas as a Home Study Group (HSG) has the flexibility to start around 7pm and end an hour or so later.  A church I served previously had a well established program (for older congregations this concept is really out of the box and may take some time to adopt) and our HSG met every other week and we had a tremendous time.  Not only did we enjoy a quality study, cake and coffee, but more than that we shared our lives together.  Therefore it was not uncommon for meetings to start at 7 and not finish in terms of people leaving until 8:30 and sometimes later.  No one minded because we were having such a good time together!

The laughter you share will leave you smiling the whole drive home. The pie and coffee will satisfy your stomach.  But the real treasure in HSG is the way that your lives are shared. As you talk and get to know one another, burdens will surface and soon you will discover that others have the same worries, fears, delights and hopes that you do.  You will be practicing what the Bible teaches us to do as we help shoulder one another’s trials and difficulties. This is what happens when the church begins behaving as the church is designed to.  Finding studies is easy to do.  Most denominational offices will be able to point you or the pastor in the right direction.  Web sites such as Christianbook.com are well stocked with books and curriculum for HSG.  Avail yourself of those materials and begin to form groups whose subsequent friendships will be lasting connections.  HSG’s are best put together in terms of geographical proximity to one another.  This makes it easier for them to get together and reducing travel time means less of a hassle for them.  Also, this takes away the tendency for people to gather in peer groups.  This way you learn and grow from those who are both younger and older than you.

Now, begin the adventure!

Fear is something that is part of the human experience from the time we are young children up until we draw our last breathe in this world.  The kinds of fears people experience run the full scale from heights, snakes, job loss, to ones I did not know existed “apeirophobia- the fear of infinity.”  I’m not even sure how you fear infinity on a practical level but apparently someone does. I read something one time where one of the Ringling Brothers trapeze artists refused to travel by plane, even though they offered to put a net underneath it.  Not long ago while flipping the channels on television during a much needed time off and there on a day time talk show was a guest who was petrified of bananas.  That would be Bananaphobia.  Of course, these are some of the odd ball fears that we certainly don’t run into every day.  But in reality there is something that each of us fears.  Frankly, I have a fear of the unknown.  I always like to see what’s coming even if I don’t like it.  I do not like to be surprised or caught off guard.  I was thrown a surprise party one time and, understandably, I let them off the hook.

A biblical concept but one that is often overlooked is the fear of the Lord, rightly fearing God.  Not many sermons are preached these days on this topic and that’s unfortunate for the blessing that many are deprived of on account of that reluctance.  Oswald Chamber is quoted saying, “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.”  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  What is bigger than God?  What is there that we can fear that he does not have complete and utter sovereignty and authority over?  Nothing.  Rightly fearing the Lord means the rest of our lives are in their proper place, even our fears.  In Psalms, David writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Essentially, you need to put your fears in perspective. Everyone has them. What might petrify someone makes someone else excited. What someone finds scary another person goes to a movie theatre to see, and can't get scared enough. How you deal with your fears determines whether you are immobilized or you can live your day normally. Remember, fears are just thoughts, they are an interpretation of a situation that you are presented with.

The phrases above -- by really only needing to 'fear' the Lord, means that you realize -- you really don't need to worry. You can trust that He, or whatever you perceive to be a higher power, can take your worries and fears and deal with them for you. Fear is a shadow. It doesn't exist except in your mind. Fear is an indication that you may need to stop a second, and think about things rationally. But that is key -- deal with it, come up with a plan of attack to overcome with it. Identify why you are fearful or something, see if there is any legitimacy to it, and act appropriately.

One of my favorite sayings in relation to fear is, “Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered and no one was there.”  Another fear knocks on the door of my heart all the time: the fear of man.  One of the authors of Proverbs writes “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” (Prov. 29:25)  Being afraid of what people will think of us is a very common fear.  Preachers avoid topics or even true convictions for fear of what people will think.  What the writer said is true, it is a trap, a trap that is impossible to escape.  But the minister or layman who fears the Lord and trusts in him is freed from that snare and can live in liberty.  Like the apostle Peter who was invited to come out and walk on the water with Jesus, his legitimate fear of the raging waters was overcome by faith until he took his eyes off Jesus then began to succumb to them.  But with eyes of faith locked upon Ch

We live in a fast paced, fast food, media saturated, noise polluted time.  We are bombarded by expectations, pressures, commitments and deadlines.  This does not bode well for living well, to say nothing of living long.  It is hard to escape entirely or permanently from our surroundings.  What we need are times of peace, calm, serenity and tranquility.  These things at times seem unattainable.  Maybe that’s why tranquility follows tranquilizer in the dictionary!  If however we consider the parts of our lives (soul, mind and body) and the impact of stress, then we understand just how much we need times of respite.  With a little effort we will also find that they are far from unattainable but are actually within our reach.

First, we need rest for our souls. When you are well rested, it makes it easier to accomplish many other things. “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (6:16)   The ancient paths, the good way all lead back to the Lord.  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  (Matthew 11:28-29)  Is your soul weighed down by the many anxieties and worries that you carry?  Take time each morning, before the day gets going and in prayer, lay before Christ all that troubles your heart and thank him for the day.  Leave the burdens with him.

Second, we need rest for our minds. If you are like me you spend most of your day juggling thoughts and trying to remember all that you need to do.  Those things must still be done.  But instead of trying to keep them all up in the head.  Write them down, check them off as they are completed.  You will sleep better and have fewer headaches.  Don’t stop there though.  For mental relaxation I take a quick drive to the local lawn and garden center.  I spend about ten minutes near the water fountains (not the ones you drink from).  During one summer, I helped a friend install water features in backyards.  It was normally water splashing down into a pool where sometimes colorful fish swam.  Client after client insisted that the relaxation provided by the sounds of falling, trickling or splashing water instantly relaxed them.  Japanese gardens for centuries, perhaps millennia, have demonstrated that. If that is impractical, purchase a sound effects compact disc that includes waterfalls or the ocean.  Lean back in your chair for merely twenty minutes and emerge mentally reenergized.

Third, we need rest for our bodies. Television is notorious for robbing us of bodily rest.  Turn it off.  Most tv’s can record a show for you.  Study shows that people who regularly get 7-8 hours of sleep live longer than those who sleep for less than seven or more than eight. Enjoy a warm drink and dim lighting 30 minutes before lights out.  Sunday is the day God designed for his people to worship him togther AND to rest from their labors.  Don’t cut grass.  Don’t work out.  No strenuous physical activity at all.  Our bodies need that time to repair, drive out impurities, and restore itself.  Take a nap or rock in a chair.  Buy a hammock on Friday, install it Saturday and swing back and forth on it Sunday (after church J ).

The stresses of this life are real and are demanding.  But we don’t have to succumb to them.  God has graciously given us ways to deal with the strains of the life.  Give rest to your soul by casting upon him the worries and fears on him, because he cares for you.  Give rest to your mind by handling tasks smartly and using creation to melt away the mental fatigue.  Give rest to your body by ceasing from work when it is time and getting enough hours of sleep.  Practicing these will not only lead to longer life but a life better lived where times of peace and tranquility

A biblical concept that receives little fan fare or attention unless the church budget is running low or a building campaign is set to begin is that of tithing.  The story is told of a young boy who was no longer wearing bow ties but now neckties like his father.  He was proud of this but became quite panicked when he heard the minister make an announcement during the service.  Anxiously, and gripping his tie, he looked at his dad and said, “Why did the minister just say they were going to collect the ties and offerings?”  Unfortunately, many Christian adults suffer the same malady as the little boy, not sure at all of what tithing is.  Tithing is a portion of our income.  It is a way of learning to trust God and honor him.  Tithing is not only a command of God upon his people since before the days of Moses, but a great joy with many delights and benefits to those who practice it.

In reality, tithing is a simple concept to grasp: 10% of our income.  “Tithe” simply means “tenth.”  A tithe is one-tenth or 10 percent of our income.  As God is One who does not put on us more than we can bear, he gave us a simple, easy to remember number so as to not confuse us or make thing complex.  God has given us all that we have.  100% of our possessions and income are traced back to the benevolent, providential hand of God.  Therefore, we always have, when we are paid, one hundred percent of our income, then ten percent of that goes back to the Lord.  Whether a minimum wage earner or a millionaire, the percentage remains the same.  By returning to the Lord a sizeable portion of our income we are in effect saying to God, “In response to your generosity to me, I give this back to you, asking for you to meet my needs and see to it that I have the provisions necessary for this life.”

What are some of the benefits to you when you tithe?

First off, you help other people. Through your church, they are able to redirect funds to people that need help, whether it is food, shelter, or something else. Sometimes someone might be embarrassed to receive money directly from another church member, whereas when it is through a church, they can receive the help they need without any embarrassment.
Second, you help yourself. How? By tithing, and actually being able to allocate 10% of your income -- you are learning how to save. You are learning how to allocate part of your income for other purposes. This makes it easier for you to do the same in other areas of your life, important areas -- such as vacation money, tuition money for your children, rainy day money, and so forth.

To begin tithing is not complicated, here’s how:

Depending on when and how often you are paid each month, determine what your monthly income is and multiply it by .10, that number is your monthly tithe.
Make it the first check you write.  Doing this ensures that we honor the Lord and live on the remainder.
How the church receives it is up to you.  I suppose I am old-fashioned but there is something to the idea of bringing our offering to the worship service and placing it in the plate, bag or box.
Don’t forget to praise the Lord!  He who has given us a fine measure of the good things of this life deserves our praise.  Doing so changes our attitude about giving.

What does your tithe accomplish?  Many things!  First, it obeys God’s commands.  Then, it is the way to guarantee that the storehouse of the Lord is full and able to fund the ministries of the church.  Think of all the needy people in the community who can turn to the church!  Remember: it is more blessed to give than to receive.  The joyous feeling of giving well is incomparable.  That is a blessing that you will know!  The other blessing is that it causes us to reevaluate our financial priorities and understand with greater clarity what is truly important in this life and worth spending our money on.  If you are a tithing Christian then you know all thes

Is our church a “successful” church? That is a good question for every congregation to ask. Of course we also want to ask what do we mean by “successful” and in whose eyes are we successful? It’s relatively easy to look at a company to see if they are successful. If they are adding more employees, needing more trucks and building more buildings then we say they are a success. Or consider our professional or collegiate ball teams. That’s even easier to see if they are a success: are they winning more games than they are losing? But the church is different. This article will express three aspects that determine whether a church is successful or not. It must be understood that if the world looks at our church and calls us a success but God would not then we gain nothing. If, on the other hand, God calls us a success then no matter what anyone else says, a success we are.

The first measure of success is -- are you teaching what you set out to do? For example, if you are teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, are you preaching and teaching it? What is the good news? It’s very simple! Jesus came to us from heaven, was born a baby, lived a sinless life and paid for sins by dying on the cross. His sacrifice was accepted by God the Father as evidenced by the resurrection which we celebrate on Easter Sunday. This is the heart and soul of who Christians are.  If we stand courageously and faithfully on this then we are the lights on the city hills. Let John 3:16 always be our banner “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”


The second measure of a successful church is -- How do they take care of one another? “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16) God expects us to look after one another and to do good to each other. We may sense the absence of a smile from a friend, inquire of it and help carry their burden. It’s always wonderful, isn’t it, when someone comes to help us carry the heavy weights the world places upon us. Remember that good feeling and right thing and bless someone by doing it for them. Share from our abundance. You may share your wealth, but also share your wisdom, your jokes, your smiles, your hugs, and, if you are a guy, share your tree stand or fishing boat. The apostle Paul tell us “each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)Interestingly enough, when you start to help others, you find you are actually helping yourself. How so? You are learning from other people's experience, saving yourself from having to go through the same pain and/or suffering. You are developing friendships (so if you ever need to talk to someone, someone is willing to listen because you listened to them). And you learn what is truly valuable in life. While of course 'things' like nice cars, beautiful watches and so forth are important and have their place, relationships with others helps make a life more fulfilling. After all -- can you imagine having a fancy corvette -- but no one to show it off to? :) What would be the fun in that???


The third measure of a successful church is how they take care of what God has given them. Take care of your facilities. Does the sanctuary need a fresh coat of paint? Has the leak from the roof been fixed so that along with the prevention of water damage, drops of water aren’t landing on people during church? Is the parking lot properly lit so people are safe in the evenings? Change dead light bulbs and check the fire extinguishers to be sure they are ready. Consider giving the church kitchen some needed updating. A good way to scare off parents with young children is to have a playground with outdated, worn equipment so spend some money and bring it up to date. If there are any “green thumbs” in the chu

Beep! Beep! Beep! The alarm clock goes off and soon a pot of coffee is filling the air with the unmistakable promise of a good morning. It’s Sunday and soon you will be heading off for church….if you could just find those shoes you or that tie were wanting to wear. Let’s face it, come Sunday morning, normal universal physics no longer apply and things go missing that Saturday night were properly placed. A smile is on your face after a good week has come to completion and now it is time to gather the family and go to church and worship the Lord.

The trouble is, not everyone is as excited to go as you are. Sometimes and for various reasons our children may be hesitant to want to go to church. Perhaps if you think back upon your own childhood you may recall not always having the fondest of memories as you experienced church. Perhaps they sang songs you were not familiar with, the preacher used words you didn’t understand, the pews were uncomfortable, or if your parents were like my parents I had to wear shoes that I believe were intended for discomfort. So how do you cultivate in your child a love for Sundays and for going to church? What you can do so that they go not just willingly but happily?

First, be organized and make your children feel relaxed. Sunday morning rush is one of the most detrimental anxieties plaguing Sunday morning. Pick out your clothes and theirs the night before, if something needs ironed be sure to do it then and not at 9 a.m. I assure you, an outlet will rebel or a previously unnoticed stain on your favorite shirt will emerge. Give children baths or showers the night before. Again the idea is to minimize the rush and the scurrying to and fro.


Make it a special day. When I was young, we stopped by our local Dunkin’ Doughnuts on the way in and I always got the cinnamon twists and one powdered doughnut. Perhaps Dad can make his special pancakes, throw in some bacon and eggs and make it a special morning, because it is.


Treat them like important people.  When you are at church, be sure to introduce them not only to children but to adults as well so that they have relationships with a good range of people. The minister will seem less of a stranger if you have him over for lunch. Maybe a game of catch or h.o.r.s.e. outside will help your child make a connection on a more personal level. If the children in the church are not from your child’s school district then make occasions for the families to get together. Some churches have a special “children’s sermons or children’ s time” where the minister teaches them something either from the sermon or a Bible verse and connects it to their lives. Either before, after or quietly during, explain to your child the various parts of the service and why they are important. Maybe you yourself are not sure, ministers love to answer these kinds of questions. Ask them what they learned in Sunday School or in the worship service and praise them for interacting with what was being taught.


Get your children involved. No one likes just 'having' to go somewhere to sit and listen. But if they are involved, then everything else becomes interesting. Something else that is often times overlooked is involving children in the ministry aspects of the church. Children want to do important things. Pay attention to when a group of people are planning to go to a widow’s house and rake leaves. Your child could draw a happy picture for them with a Bible verse written on it and even lend a hand to raking those leaves. A homeless shelter will sometimes have children there who just want to play and color with another child. These are ways where not only does the little boy or girl or even teenager spend time with others from the church, they are also helping someone else. Whenever I am working on something at home I am reminded that God wired children with the desire to help because I hear their inquiry often “can I