Your Family is Important (Preachers' Convention 2011)

A manufacturing plant was in full swing one day. The company’s massive machine was humming along, taking in the raw materials at one end and churning out the finished product at the other. Suddenly, the machine stopped and ground to a halt. Workers climbed all over it like ants to get it started again. The plant’s manager stormed out of his office to find out why his multi-million dollar machine wasn’t making him any money. He listened to his people saying they couldn’t figure it out, and he told them to call a technician.

Soon a tech arrived, and the manager frantically explained to him that he needed his machine back as soon as possible. The technician listened patiently, took one look at the massive hulk of motionless metal, and immediately walked over to a small panel, opening a tiny door inside to see a screw. The technician took a screwdriver and turned the screw one-quarter turn to the right, and the machine suddenly came back to life as if nothing was wrong.

The manager hurried over to thank the technician, shook his hand, and asked what he owed him for saving his company. The technician answered, “$100,000.00” The manager looked at him and said, “You were here less than two minutes and just turned one screw. How can you charge so much? Give me an itemized bill.”

The technician calmly wrote out on a piece of paper:

Turning of one screw - $1.00

Knowing which screw to turn $99,999.00

I wish I could tell you this morning that I knew exactly what screw to turn to help our families, however I am still experimenting with it. I am not a technician so I can’t bill you for the information I share with you today.

At a three-day retreat for pastors and their wives, one session consisted of testimonies about how the Lord had blessed our lives and ministries. One young preacher’s wife stood up and began nervously, “The Bible promises, ‘No good thing does the Lord withhold from them that walk uprightly.’ Well,” she said sincerely, “my husband is one of those ‘no good things’!”[i]

I am glad this doesn’t have to completely be a fact of life. Life hands us a lot of things, but there is nothing as important as keeping our marriages and families intact. One has said, “Marriages are made in heaven, but we are responsible for the maintenance work..[ii]

I would like to ask you this morning, how important is your family? The family is under attack today are we willing to defend it?

· 50% of marriages end in divorce[iii]

· 4.5 million teens turn 20 yearly odds of reaching them are 10 to 1[iv]

· Barna’s data shows that primarily “what you believe by the time you are 13 is what you will die believing”[v]

· To give us a little more perspective here are some statistics showing more dropping the torch than passing the torch,

o Builders (those born 1927-1945): 65% Bible-based believers

o Boomers (those born 1946 -1964) 35% Bible-based believers

o Busters (those born 1965 – 1983) 16% Bible-based believers

o Bridgers (or Millennials, 1984 – Now) 4% Bible-based believers[vi]

Family is important; it is the building block of society. The family is not only important but is the greatest asset we have. Psalm 127:1-5 gives us a good look at why our family is important. The Psalm seems to have been written by David for his son Solomon. It tells us first of all

1. We labor in vain unless the LORD is in control

2. Children are a heritage of the Lord

3. Children can be trained and aimed by the will and wisdom of the parents

4. The man is happy who has his quiver full of them

For a family to function properly it has to be on the same page. We find in 1Co 11:3 what I call the Holy Hierarchy of the Home “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”

So we have in this order God, Christ, husband, wife, and then children.

We find this addressed at greater length in Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Dr. John MacArthur writes on the subject of wives submitting to their husbands, “Wives is not qualified, and therefore applies to every Christian wife, regardless of her social standing, education, intelligence, spiritual maturity or giftedness, age, experience, or any other consideration. Nor is it qualified by her husband’s intelligence, character, attitude, spiritual condition, or any other consideration. Paul says categorically to all believing wives: be subject to your own husbands.[vii]

Notice the command is to be subject hupotassō {who-pa-tasso} (5293) or to relinquish your rights. That is why the last name of the husband is taken at marriage. It is not synonymous with the verb obey found in Ephesians 6, that is commanded of children to their parents.

Subject does not mean they cower to every whim of the husband. It does not mean the wife is never allowed to disagree. In fact Ruth Bell Graham once said, “If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.—Ruth Graham[viii]

We find this theme picked up again in Titus 2:5 where it says of women; To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

It is continued in 1Pe 3:1-5 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (2) While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. (3) Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (5) For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

Going back to Ephesians chapters 5-6 where again the wife is subject to a loving husband and can I stress that “Husbands love your wives” and the children obey their parents and Colossians 3 where instructions and guidelines are found to help establish a holy home. Instruction and insight such as; wives submitting to their husbands, husbands loving their wives, and not being bitter against them or to withhold the love that they so desire and long for.

How many times are you asked by your wife, even though you just told her yesterday, “Do you still love me?” Part of her make-up is made to crave or desire your love and affection. It can be shown in many ways, and I won’t take the time to go into the variety of ways to show your love to her, but she needs to not only hear it but know it.

The chapter continues on with children obeying their parents and fathers not provoking meaning that we show respect to them. Paul in the Colossian Epistle ends verse 20 of Chapter 3 with this phrase, “For this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

If our families are not rescued, our society as we know it will crumble. Our culture is trying its best to do away with the traditional marriage of one man to one woman for life. It is not only our privilege but our duty to protect, preserve, and prepare our families for the onslaught of this world. We must purpose that if failure comes it will come despite all our best efforts, not because of inexcusable mistakes.

One of the most important things we can do to protect and preserve our families is family worship –

I. 1. Make time for family worship; keep it interesting and spiritual.

The old cliché is so accurate, “the family who prays together stays together.” Life will hit us all with hard places, and the devil will see to it that your family has it’s fair amount of storms and rough places, and may I say that only faith in God through corporate family prayer will sustain, solidify, and support your home.

The first thing we have to do to have family worship is to;

A. Make Time – This is the greatest investment you will ever make. It does not mean that every child that has had family devotions or family worship will become a Christian but his chances are many times greater.

1. I like the choice of words for this point “Make Time” and that is exactly what it is going to be. There will never be a perfect time.

A. Some examples

1. Some try Mornings after breakfast or at breakfast

2. Some afternoon

3. Some after dinner or at dinner

4. Some at bedtime.

A. We have found that right before bedtime is a good time. The boys are starting to settle down some and able to concentrate a little more.

B. Family Worship – George Barna reports that fewer than 10 percent of parents who regularly attend church have consistent family time with God[ix]

1. Should be led by Dad as head of household and spiritual leader of home

a. Doesn’t mean he has to do all the talking or praying

2. Again “Family Worship” should include the whole family and I would suggest anyone else who might be there.

C. Balance of Spirituality and Interest – Some have made the horrifying statement that we have to make the “Word come alive” Indicating probably unconsciously that somehow the Bible is dead, or lost its relevance, or needs our help in some way. The Word will speak for itself. But it is important that we don’t make it sound dull or dead. It helps if we take the Word for what it says and apply it in our own lives before we try it on the family.

1. Maybe your three year old sits still while you read a chapter or two from the Bible to them, but mine doesn’t do to well. So we have tried a number of things from that to reading Bible stories and this year we are trying something different. We take the Bible and tell them a story from it, (Usually one with an applicable lesson to their age group) and then do some type of activity to reinforce the fact, whether a craft or color or game or such like. We then all have opportunity to say something we need to pray for and then pray. This can be done in unity or one at a time depending on how comfortable your family is at praying individually in front of everyone else.

2. Family worship should include –

a. Biblical principles, doctrine, and lessons

b. Prayer for each other’s needs as well as needs of family and others

c. Music is optional but can be a great asset to family worship

d. Activities appropriate for the age groups present.

1. If it is just a husband and wife, you might not need the crafts, and coloring pages to reinforce the Biblical lesson, but you might need to memorize passages of scripture, make lists of how you can apply the Bible truth, etc.

2. If you have toddlers and teens you might use variety having a lesson focused on the younger ones one night and the teens the next etc. Or you could also use the same lesson with two applications.

Someone compiled this list of twelve convincing reasons for having family devotions

1. It unifies the family and sweetens home life.

2. It cultivates the Christian graces and relieves tension and misunderstanding that sometimes threaten the fellowship of the home.

3. It aids our boys and girls in becoming Christians, and helps them to develop ideals that guide them in vital Christian living.

4. It yields spiritual resources for daily tasks and assists us in cultivating dependence upon God.

5. It strengthens us in the face of adversities and disappointments and enables us to trust Christ implicitly in all of life’s circumstances.

6. It makes us conscious during the day of the abiding presence of our Savior and Friend.

7. It bears a Christian witness to the guests in our home.

8. It undergirds the Christian teaching of the Sunday School and the ministry of the church.

9. It affords opportunity for the Christian family to pray for and to sharpen its concern for non-Christian families.

10. It helps us to give a right place to spiritual values and saves us from an undue concern for the temporal things of life.

11. It encourages us to put Christianity into practice in our homes.

12. It honors God and provides an excellent outlet for the expression of our gratitude for the abundance of daily mercies and blessings which come from Him.[x]

II. 2. Keep communication open; listen to their needs and their chatter. (I’m assuming this means spouse and children)

A woman went to a lawyer and said she wanted a divorce. The lawyer got out his note pad, and proceeded to ask her some questions.

“Do you have any grounds?” he inquired.

“Oh, yes,” she replied. “About three-quarters of an acre.”

The lawyer paused for a moment, then queried, “Do you have a grudge?”

“No,” the woman answered quickly. “But we do have a lovely carport.”

Again the lawyer paused and then asked, “Does he beat you up?”

“No. I get up before he does every morning,” the woman reported.

Finally the lawyer blurted, “Lady, why do you want to divorce your husband?”

“It’s because,” she explained, “that man can’t carry on an intelligent conversation.”

Brent Barlow in Salt Lake City Desert News [xi]

Communication is extremely important, and has been inexcusably neglected in our families. Let me share with you some interesting statistics.

· 1 in 4 young people say they have never had a meaningful conversation with their dads.“…. is it any wonder that 76 percent of the 1,200 teens surveyed in USA Today actually want their parents to spend more time with them?” - USA Today [xii]

· A recent survey by America’s most popular teen magazine revealed that only 4.1% of the teenage girls in America feel they could to go their father to talk about a serious problem. Even more recently, USA Today published the eye-opening results of a study of teens under stress. When asked where they turn to for help in a crisis, the most popular choice was music, the second choice was peers, and the third was TV. Amazing as it may sound, moms were down the list at number thirty-one, and dads were forty-eighth. [xiii]

· In a survey by the American Sociological Review, working women said they talk with their husbands an average of 12 minutes each day.

Focus in the Family, January, 1990, p. 8[xiv]

· Communication experts say that the average woman speaks over 25,000 words a day while the average man speaks only a little over 10,000. What does this mean in marital terms? . . . On average a wife will say she needs to spend 45 minutes to an hour each day in meaningful conversation with her husband. What does her husband sitting next to her say is enough time for meaningful conversation? Fifteen to twenty minutes—once or twice a week!

Gary Smalley and John Trent, Husbands and Wives[xv]

· Married couples have nothing more to say to each other after 8 years, according to a study. Professor Hans Jurgens asked 5000 German husbands and wives how often they talked to each other. After 2 years of marriage, most of them managed two or three minutes of chat over breakfast, more than 20 minutes over the evening meal and a few more minutes in bed. By the sixth year, that was down to 10 minutes a day. A state of “almost total speechlessness” was reached by the eighth year of marriage. Daily Mirror (London) [xvi]

It is important to talk with your children and spouses even about the embarrassing topics. Why you ask? If you don’t, someone else probably will and they may not have the same values and morals that you do.

A few ways to keep communication lines open

1. Honesty and openness between parent and child and spouse

2. Freedom and comfort to talk about ANYTHING to you

3. Doing what you can to stimulate in a respectful way conversation.

Communication is a two way street. It is not a lecture, a shouting match, or a one sided conversation.

1. A part of communication is hearing what you are listening to.

Well-known Broadway producer Jed Harris once became convinced he was losing his hearing. He visited a specialist, who pulled out a gold watch and asked “Can you hear this ticking?”

“Of course,” Harris replied.

The specialist walked to the door and asked the question again.

Harris concentrated and said, “Yes, I can hear it clearly.”

Then the doctor walked into the next room and repeated the question a third time. A third time Harris said he could hear the ticking.

“Mr. Harris,” the doctor concluded, “there is nothing wrong with your hearing. You just don’t listen.” [xvii]

2. Another part of communication is talking

We are told that communication is; • Verbal—what I say 7%

• Vocal—how I say it 38%

• Visual—how I look, body language, act, etc. 55%[xviii]

III. 3. Spend time together; take a trip, play a game, work on a hobby, eat together, etc.

Spending time together is lacking in our modern culture. This is another way to invest in your family. Yearly vacations or special trips to the zoo or a museum or some other place that is both entertaining and educational such as camping fishing, hunting, playing games at home all of those things where parents and children can all participate and learn from each other. These should not be a time to criticize, but to draw the family together.

Family meals are an excellent time of this but should not be the exclusive time spent together. “The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA). recently reported on a national phone survey of 1,000 teens and 829 parents of teens. Eating dinner as a family helped kids in many ways. It helped them get better grades, and kept them away from cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana, and more.”[xix]

Time spent together should be;

1. Quality- What is quality time?

a. Should include eye contact

i. Put down the paper, put the computer to sleep and focus one spouse and children

b. Should include affirming physical touch

i. To Kids

1. This can include rough housing

2. High fives

3. Hugs, etc.

ii. To Spouse

1. The ways you physically show your spouse your love.

c. Should be comfortable for all involved.

i. Not all families like the same activities.

1. Some of my favorite memories is just sitting around as a family having a good time with one another.

a. Being free to be ourselves lots of laughs, and fun.

2. Some may prefer to be outside on a baseball diamond together, or basketball court, or fishing hole (That is another of my favorite memories)

2. Quantity – I think the worst thing we can do for family time is to set a timer. I know we are on tight schedules, but family time should be given priority and freedom.

a. I don’t care much for the statement, “It isn’t quantity family time, but quality”

i. We better make sure we are spending time with our children or someone else will.

3. Collectively

a. Everyone in the family should be included.

i. And being included means all inferiorities have to be laid aside.

ii. When a child is favored above another it creates conflict and an unwanted feeling, a left out feeling.

iii. Not only include them literally but in attitude as well.

b. Can be creative and new things.

i. Sometimes we do things that aren’t necessarily our favorite thing to do because we love someone.

1. Dr. Dobson tells a story about Lisa and her husband Greg.

a. Greg loved to shoot was expert marksman, travelled a lot in shooting competitions. And would bring home trophies.

b. Lisa had no interest in marksmanship in fact she didn’t like guns period. To make matters worse she missed Greg terribly while he was away. Their marriage was headed for trouble

c. Solution – Lisa asked Greg to teach her how to shoot a rifle, soon she joined him in his travels, and eventually even started competing herself in the shooting events.

d. Surprise, - Lisa actually liked shooting, and was a good shot, and even started bringing home more trophies than Greg.

i. What sometimes seems like an obstacle might really be an opportunity.

ii. The best of times always seem to come in pairs.

2. Maybe if your marriage is feeling the strain of life because “life is so daily”

a. You should try something that you normally wouldn’t do but it keeps the two of you together.

IV. 4. Consideration and respect are important. (I’m going to change the word consideration to Love from Eph. 5:33)

The most consistent research finding about what is different in the communication of strangers and people married to each other is that married people are ruder to each other than they are to strangers. They interrupt their spouses more, put their spouses down more, and are less complimentary to each other.*[xx]

Often the difference between a successful marriage and a mediocre one consists of leaving about three things a day unsaid.[xxi]

The three T’s to get at the heart of a woman

1) Time

2) Talk

3) Touch

Consideration and respect are not only important they are commanded by God.

“Love alone is not enough….5 out of 10 marriages today are ending in divorce because love alone is not enough. Yes Love is vital especially for the wife, but what we have missed is the husbands need for respect[xxii].”

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence (respect) herhusband.

This is not a suggestion that we chose to agree with and comply or leave to others. It is not only commanded by God but is his design for a Godly holy happy home.

What this is saying is women need love and men need respect. “When a husband feels disrespected it is especially hard to love his wife. When a wife feels unloved it is especially hard to respect her husband…When a husband feels disrespected he has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel unloving to his wife. Perhaps the command to love was given to him precisely for this reason. When a wife feels unloved she has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel disrespectful to her husband. Perhaps the command to respect was given to her precisely for this reason.[xxiii]”

Chrysostom commented on this verse,

“Love is most powerfully present when accompanied by respect. For what she loves she also reveres and what she reveres she also loves. She reveres him as the head and loves him as a member of the whole body.[xxiv]”

“The husband must never lose sight of the romance vital to a dynamic marriage; the wife must never lose sight of the reverence vital to a dynamic marriage.”[xxv]

I. Avoid Fault finding

a. The formula for a happy marriage? It’s the same as the one for living in California: when you find a fault, don’t dwell on it.—Jay Trachman, One to One[xxvi]

To keep your marriage brimming

With love in the loving cup

Whenever you’re wrong, admit it

Whenever you’re right, shut up!—Ogden Nash[xxvii]

II. “You can be right, but wrong at the top of your voice” or attitude, or spirit etc.

a. A part of love and respect or reverence is taking care that our tone of voice, our attitude, and the spirit with which we say things, is loving and respectful

V. Conclusion

The Houston police department years ago put out a leaflet called “How To Ruin Your Children.” And it was guaranteed to be 99 percent effective. In part, this is what is said:

a) Principle #1—“Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants.”

b) Principle #2—“When he picks up bad words, laugh at him.”

c) Principle #3—“Never give him any spiritual training. Let him wait until he’s twenty-one years old, and then let him decide for himself.”

d) Principle #4—“Avoid using the word ‘wrong.’ It may develop a serious guilt complex.”

e) Principle #5—“Pick up everything he leaves lying around, so he will be experienced in throwing responsibility on everybody else.”[xxviii]

Now one of the greatest things we can do to our children, in all of our efforts of Family Worship, of learning to communicate, of spending time together, of showing love and respect, is to pass on our Heritage of Holiness. If we are not teaching them the great truths more than just a tradition or it’s the way we’ve always believed or because Bro. So and So preached it that way, we will lose them. Don’t let it be said of us as the sad case of the writer when he penned,

To our forefathers, our faith was an experience.

To our fathers, our faith was an inheritance.

To us, our faith is a convenience.

To our children, our faith is a nuisance.[xxix]

[i]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 543 [ii]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 529 [iii] Love & Respect Emerson E [iv] Ron Luce Battle Cry for a Generation p. 32 [v] George Barna http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=153 [vi] Rainer Thom S., The Bridger Generation (Cited by Luce Ron Battle Cry for a Generation p 30) [vii]MacArthur, John: Ephesians. Chicago : Moody Press, 1996, c1986, S. 280 [viii]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 541 [ix] http://www.faithbeginsathome.com/event.html [x] AMG Bible Illustrations. electronic ed. Chattanooga : AMG Publishers, 2000 (Logos Library System; Bible Illustrations Series) [xi]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xii]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xiii]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xiv]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xv]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xvi]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xvii]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xviii]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002 [xix] http://children.webmd.com/guide/family-dinners-are-important * John Gottman, A Couple’s Guide to Communication (Champaign, IL: Research Press, 1976). 45. [xx]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 533 [xxi]Streiker, Lowell D.: Nelson's Big Book of Laughter : Thousands of Smiles from A to Z. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 262 [xxii] Love and Respect Emerson E [xxiii] Love and Respect Emerson E [xxiv]Edwards, M. J.: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 1999 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture NT 8), S. 200 [xxv]Phillips, John: Ephesians. Revised 2004. Moody Bible Institute : Chicago, IL, 1982 [xxvi]Streiker, Lowell D.: Nelson's Big Book of Laughter : Thousands of Smiles from A to Z. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 259 [xxvii]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 528 [xxviii]MacArthur, John: The Fulfilled Family. Chicago : Moody Press, 1997, c1985 [xxix]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Biblical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

Preachers' Convention 2011

Troy, MO

Wednesday Morning, April 20, 2011

The Preacher's Personal life

A. Proper Use of Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Meier

1. Evaluate your "schedule".

2. Keep balanced; where do I use too much time?

3. Devotions, Quantity vs. Quality

4. Redeeming the time; fill in the gaps with wholesome activities.

5. How can I improve; don't just think about improvement, do it!

B. Personal Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Stanbery

1. Read the Word; Feed your soul.

2. Pray: Wait on God.

3. Read good books; strengthen your faith.

4. Study; Show yourself approved of God. 2 Tim 2:15

C. Your Family is Important . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Curtis Gordon

1. Make time for family worship; keep it interesting and spiritual.

2. Keep communication open; listen to their needs and their chatter.

3. Spend time together; take a trip, play a game, work on a hobby, eat together, etc.

4. Consideration and respect are important.

D. Stewardship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albert Schaper

1. "Gain all you can"; gain without hurting mind or body.

2. "Save all you can"; don't be extravagant.

3. "Give all you can"; plan your spending and remember others.

4. Avoid unnecessary debt; Credit Cards, etc.

Wednesday Afternoon, April 20, 2011

The Pastor and His Church and Community

A. Leadership of the Flock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Gordon

1. Feed your flock; preach the Word.

2. Visit your flock; make your "rounds".

3. Instruct your flock; articles of faith and rules (why we believe - Scriptural basis).

4. Care for your flock; be there when they need you.

B. Discipleship of the Flock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Goins

1. How to disciple new converts.

2. Build your Sunday school; teachers - better teaching, pray for and visit their class.

3. Church membership responsibilities.

4. Branches of the Bible Holiness Church; home missions, foreign missions, schools.

C. Reach Out to Your Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Davolt

1. Senior Citizens: Shut-ins, nursing homes.

2. Neighbors; (do they know there's a BHC on their block?) door to door visitation.

3. How should tracts be used?

4. Street meetings; (check with community ordinances).

D. Community Involvement - with discretion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Schenck

1. Volunteer; time and talents - to benefits, fund raisers, elections, etc.

2. Giving to the "needy": when to say "no" or should we? (Matt. 5:42)

3. Keep informed; what's going on?

4. Let your voice be heard; newspaper editorials and articles, town meetings, etc.

5. Holding office in the Community.

Thursday Morning, April 21, 2011

The World in Turmoil I

A. The Effects on the Home I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Akard

1. Financial stress, unemployment, home foreclosures, greed, dishonesty, etc.

2. Marriage, Live-ins, Broken Homes, Adultery.

3. What does the Bible teach concerning the above.

B. The Effects on the Home II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kimberly Griffith

1. Entertainment; Video Games, TV, Cell Phones, facebook

2. Permissiveness - Behavior - Discipline

a. Personal behavior

b. Parental behavior

c. Society in general

3. Can the wrong kind of music affect us Spiritually or create crisis?

C. The Effects on the Church I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Duane Johnson

1. Do prevailing world conditions promote a greater desire for God or lukewarmness? Re 3:16

2. Why are teens and young adults leaving the church?

3. What affect does worldliness have on the church?

4. How do we keep Christianity from being destroyed, or God being eliminated from our life?

D. The Effects on the Church II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Hollenbeck

1. How did the Apostles in the early church deal with turmoil?

2. How can that work for us today?

3. What is the basic role of the Church?

4. Are we fulfilling that role?

Thursday Afternoon, April 21, 2011

The World in Turmoil II

A. The Effects on Our Nation I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Knight

1. Was our government established using Biblical principles?

2. Are we drifting from our founding principles?

3. Is our government facing collapse?

4. Have we lost the culture war?

5. Are we having separation of God and State instead of Church and State?

B. The Effects on Our Nation II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phyllis Turner

1. Is a Humanistic world view affecting our Nation? Our Church?

2. Comment on the predicted food shortage, extreme food cost, etc.

3. Since the Bible says “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal” should a true Christian submit to illegal and unconstitutional control, or physically resist such control?

4. Do Bible School Standards of today become the standards of the parsonage tomorrow?

5. Do Public School Standards of today become the standards of government tomorrow?

6. Is student discipline being given to the courts?

C. The Signs of the Times I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Jackson Carl Knight

1. Is terrorism ushering in the “time of trouble” prophesied in the Bible?

2. What is the Muslim world’s intent?

3. Is the Muslim world using terrorism to intimidate and subjugate the non-Muslim world?

4. Is there a less aggressive version of the Koran being distributed that portrays a false view of Muslim religion?

5. What would be the affect of instituting Sharia Law?

D. The Signs of the Times II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edgar Wegener

1. Are we (the world) at the very end of the last days?

2. What part will the Muslim world play in the coming invasion of Israel by Gog and Magog and their allies?

3. Will a Muslim leader be a part of the satanic triumvirate; the Beast or the False Prophet?

4. Who is Allah? Could he be the Baal of the Old Testament?

5. What about Communism?

Friday Morning, April 22, 2011

The Challenges of The Church

A. Remove Not the Ancient Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nathan Detmer

1. Worldly Music. Eph. 5:19

2. Worldliness in lifestyle. Phil. 1:27

3. Is our government purposely against our churches? (What about gun laws?)

4. To what extent should the church oppose government regulations which we feel are contrary to the church? Rom. 13:1 and following verses.

B. Materialism - Self over Savior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bobby Jones

1. Can money be a determent to God's work? Mt. 6:24

2. Effect upon pastor. What about ministers who must work?

3. Effect upon laity. (Keeping up with the Joneses) (Credit card debt)

4. Budgeting. What does Bible say about money management? Rom. 13:8

C. Relevant outreach- How to be effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Williams

1. Should the church have an actual program for outreach?

2. We are to be Light. (People are attracted to light) Mt. 5:14-16

3. Need of the Spirit (Holy Ghost attracted on the Day of Pentecost- 3000 saved)

4. Great Commission is still in effect today. Mt 28:18 -20

5. Children and Youth: Vacation Bible School I Weekly Service

D. Dealing with False Religions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Hollenbeck

1. Define what mean by false religions. Name some groups.

2. Stay with scripture, but don't neglect personal testimony.

3. What causes people to fall into false religions? (Reject truth) Rom. 1:25

4. How can those who are deceived be won to the Lord?

Friday Afternoon, April 22, 2011

The Church Triumphant

A. A right perspective of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Gordon

1. Recognize God’s sovereignty and power.

2. Does God rule in the affairs of even wicked men?

3. Can the church be triumphant without the filling of the Spirit?

4. How can the church be motivated to pray until revival comes?

B. Settle the questions / personal revival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Knipmeyer

1. Responsibility of the laity

a. Saved to the uttermost: up-to-date, know-so salvation.

b. Sanctified holy: A clear witness of the Spirit.

2. 2 Chr. 7:14. How can we REALLY implement this?

3. Can we learn anything from the mega church movement?

4. How can personal revival affect the rest of the church?

C. Prayer, praise, and worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chad Snider

1. Heb. 13: 15 - Explain a “sacrifice” of praise. .

2. Explain how praise can affect our worship. Ps. 34, etc.

3. Is our technology a help or hindrance to our worship?

4. Is it possible to attend church and not worship? How?

D. The Churches' Triumphant reign with Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam Lorton

1. The return of Christ in glory and changes on earth under His Government Rev. 19

2. Describe end time events just preceding the millennia! reign of Christ. Rev 20

3. What role will Israel have in these events? Rom. 11:26, and Zech 12:10

4. The hope of Christ's return as constant triumph and Victory of the Church I Cor. 15:19 and other parts of 1 Cor. 15

Wednesday Evening, April 20, 2011

Practical helps for the Laity I

A. Loyalty to the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Davolt

1. Points to consider.

a. Conduct.

b. Attendance [where your membership is, if possible].

c. Conversation;

d. Prayer.

e. Finance

2, Support Your Pastor in:

a. Prayer.

b. Finance.

c. Attitude.

d. Conversation.

3. Know what your Pastor does for the church.

4. Know what the pastor's wife does for the church.

B. Use Wisdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Walden

1. Be considerate of other people and churches.

a. Do not give out negative information in prayer request or in testimonies.

2. Participate.

a. Use your talents.

b. Use your hands.

3. Contend for the Faith, Pray for Revival, Pull for the Spirit.

Thursday Evening, April 21, 2011

Practical Helps for the Laity II

A. Tithing / Offering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Schenck

1. Explain Tithing.

2. Explain Offering.

3. What was tithing used for under the Old Testament law?

4. Where should our tithe be given?

5. Is our system of giving tithe to the pastor Biblical?

6. Where should we give our tithe and offerings while on vacation?

7. What is our obligation to our pastor, during camp meetings?

B. Loyalty to God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lula Newport

1. What is our mandate from God?

2. Can a true Christian continue to be disloyal?

3. Should our main emphasis be on our initial experiences, or on our continuing relationship with God?

4. How can we show God He is our everything?