http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/bible-commentary-and-bible-study-material

I use "widgetbox," a GREAT resource!  Check out my example here:

 

http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/bible-commentary-and-bible-study-material

 

How to be a better evangelist

 

      Yesterday was a great day, with excitement, energy, and passion talking about thinking souls.  Now, today, we are in the daily grind, routines, deadlines, and pressures to boot.  What can we do to translate a great idea into a great work?  How can you and I think souls today?

• Have you prayed about it? For opportunities, courage, perception, and attitude?
• Are you clearing your Saturday schedule at 6 P.M. to be here for the prayer meeting?
• Are you making a list of "prospects" or focusing on someone with whom to share the gospel?
• Have you grabbed some "tools" from our tool box?
• Have you jotted down the website for our podcasts, which include the lessons on "Identifying The New Testament Church"? bvccsermoncast.blogspot.com/
• Are you prepared to talk to somebody at church you don't recognize and who may not already be a member?
• Is there a family member you might encourage?
• Have you thought about forwarding Daily Bread, Bob Turner's "Leadership Fund," or some other devotional email that might open a door? http://leadershipfund.wordpress.com/; http://www.forthright.net/; http://bpsfuelforthought.wordpress.com/; http://www.faughnfamily.com/
• If you are paying your bills today and do not pay them online, what about sticking a tract or church bulletin inside?
• Is there someone you might email, Facebook inbox, or otherwise write and encourage, thus maybe opening a door for the gospel at some point?
• Have you tried that proven question, "Would you like to study the Bible with me?"

What kind of "soul harvest" can we have this year to the glory of God?  I don't know.  God is the limit, so that's exciting!  Yet, also, we must realize that we cannot hope for a harvest if we are not planting seeds, day by day, "as we are going" (cf. Matt. 28:19).  Think souls today, tomorrow, and every day!  This requires breaking old, bad habits-silence, fear, conformity, or whatever else keeps us from spreading the greatest news ever told!  I am praying for you, that you will think about and reach out to souls today.  Please do the same for me.

 

Neal Pollard

 

 

Baptized into Christ many years ago, and yet are STILL not producing fruit

 

    While we greatly emphasize God the Father and God the Son, it seems that the Holy Spirit, as God, is being neglected, especially as He pertains to the individual Christian life. The resulting "effect" of this "cause" is a scarcity of the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).  A scarcity of these characteristics, and it becomes little wonder that in many places Christianity means nothing more than getting a few good people together to hold a church service.

            Sometimes I think we get too "intellectual" about some of the clear and positive teachings of the Scriptures. For example, we take the subject of the Holy Spirit, we put it under a microscope, we analyze it, we debate it, we run it through every possible hypothetical situation, and think we have to answer every theological question before we can accept it!  If we cannot fully understand "how" God gives us the Spirit at baptism (Acts 2:38), or "how" the Spirit strengthens us in our inner man (Ephesians 3:16), then we think we are justified in shying away from the subject all together just in case we may "get it wrong."  In principle, it reminds me of the sin of the "one talent man" (Matthew 25:14-30), who, because of fear of doing something wrong, did nothing! The Master therefore, declared him to be an "unprofitable servant" and had him cast into "outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth" (vs 30).

            Without the Spirit, it is impossible to bear the "fruit of the Spirit." Granted, a new Christian may take some time to grow and mature to produce the fruit (2Corinthians 3:18, ESV – Note the present tense, are being transformed; and 1Corinthians 3:1-4, where Paul called the Corinthians "Brethren," yet "carnal babes in Christ" NKJV).

            How many of us know people who were baptized into Christ many years ago, and yet are STILL not producing fruit? Jesus told a parable in Luke 13:6-9 about a fig tree that had been nourished for three years but still produced no fruit. The owner ordered it cut down. However, the keeper of the vineyard pleaded, and the owner gave him one more year to produce fruit. If, after the year was complete and still no fruit was produced, then the keeper would cut it down. How many years has the Spirit been in your life? Does your life produce the fruit of the Spirit?

            Too often I've heard that having the Holy Spirit is of no advantage in this life, and is basically a "silent partner" in our salvation. When one believes that, it's no wonder Christianity has so little appeal to those we come into contact with everyday. The Holy Spirit will not forcefully produce fruit in your life. He comes to us in accordance with the Word, just like the Father and the Son comes to us only in accordance with obedience to the Word (John 14:23).

            Jesus told the disciples, "I am going away to the Father…and coming back to you" (John 14:28). Now, take some time to think about this: once Jesus returned to the Father in Heaven, He did NOT return in the flesh as the disciples would have thought,  however, the Holy Spirit DID return. Along with this, Jesus told the disciples once He returned to the Father, He would send them "another Helper" (John 14:16), (allon Helper, another of the same kind). What Jesus was to His disciples in the flesh, the Holy Spirit would be to His disciples in their spirit. On one occasion, Jesus said, "I and My Father are One" (Jn 10:30). Here, He is saying, "I and the Spirit are One." God and the Spirit are used interchangeably in Scripture, e.g. Acts 5:3-4.

            We all love Jesus and wish He could be here in the flesh right beside us to help and strengthen us. We don't have Him beside us, but we can have Him IN us. "The words I speak to you, they are spirit… (John 6:63). Don't you find that encouraging, exciting, and compelling, knowing that you can face this cold, mean, and unforgiving world with the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you?! No wonder Paul says, "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

                                                                                                              Toby Miller

Everett Dirksen

"There is no force so powerful as an idea whose time has come."

Everett Dirksen, United States Senator (1896-1969)

 

Herbert Bayard Swope

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure -- which is, 'Try to please everybody.' "

Herbert Bayard Swope, American journalist and editor (1882-1958)

 

Secret Gifts

I know it is still near enough to Christmas for you to think of that, but
that is not the point I am trying to make here. It's that sometimes life
gives you a surprise and you discover a gift you never knew you had. God's
word puts it this way, "And we know that God causes everything to work
together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his
purpose for them." (Romans 8:28, NLT)

About 20 years ago when we were missionaries to Kenya, East Africa I lost
about 50% of my hearing. I had malaria (this was one of many times) and the
doctor put me on pure quinine for an extended period of time. The results
were that it burned out the nerves in my ears and thus the hearing loss.

I never really thought much about it; you just live with it and get on with
life. Thankfully the latest pair of digital hearing aids have restored my
hearing to almost normal levels.

Through the years as I struggled to stay in touch with the world I slowly
picked up the ability to read lips. Granted, not as well as someone who had
actual training, but enough to pick up lots of lost words and conversations.
Again, this is not something I ever thought about; it just was part of life.

We have had one of our elderly members of our church in the hospital for the
past two weeks, much of that time in an induced coma. She is out of the coma
and beginning a very difficult recovery period. She has a tracheotomy which
keeps her from being able to speak and is unable to control a pencil well
enough to write.

When my wife and I visited yesterday, this sister was trying unsuccessfully
to communicate. It was frustrating to her and to her family and the nurses.
What a surprise when I discovered that I could read her lips and make her
needs known to the nurses and her family. I admit it was a struggle and she
had to say some of the words several times, but we found out where she was
hurting and what she needed at the time and were able to get her some help.
We even were able to answer some of her questions.

I wonder how many of you who read these words have secret or maybe hidden
gifts, simply because you have never tried to use them. Or perhaps you have
never been forced into a situation where they can be put to use. Maybe you
need to get out of your comfort zone and try to expand your gifts.

I wonder what God has prepared for you in your life? What's your secret
gift? You see, even when things seem like they are a disaster in your life,
there can be a hidden (secret) gift found there. Maybe you need to try new
things, maybe things you are just a little hesitant to try. The results may
surprise you as it did me! A hearing impairment as a blessing to someone
else, I never would have thought of that! But as Paul said, "we know that
God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God."

Russ Lawson

Henri Bergson, French philosopher

"Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought."

Henri Bergson, French philosopher (1859-1941)