Issue #281
10/18/2006
Thank God for your weaknesses
by Rick Warren
I'm glad God uses my weaknesses in ministry. Why? It's in those weaknesses where God gets the most glory. I don't know what weaknesses you have, but I'm convinced that God wants to use those weaknesses. I've seen this in my own life as God has used something that is extremely painful to me to bless others. What weakness does God want to use in you? [more]
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Saddleback Resources

Saddleback Resources


Celebrate Recovery Kit


The Purpose Driven Church Conference on DVD

 
 

  

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Introduce your congregation to the persecuted church
by Ronald  Boyd-MacMillan

Christians all around the world are being persecuted for their faith. Yet in many of these places where persecution is rampant, the Church is growing mightily. How do you introduce your congregation to these persecuted Christian brothers and sisters? Ronald Boyd-MacMillan's answer is certain to surprise you. [more]


Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
William D. Mounce (Zondervan, 2006)  

This book is being called the Vine's of the 21st Century in reference to one of the classic reference books of the past century, Vine's Expository Dictionary. The book is ideal for church leaders who want to do careful, word-by-word Bible studies but have never learned Greek or Hebrew. You'll be able to look up terms in English, find their Greek or Hebrew equivalents, and get added insight into what the word really meant in its original context.

 
   


"Jesus doesn’t say, ‘Come to me all who are burdened and I’ll give you more to do.’ He says he’ll give you rest." - Rick Warren



"It's better to have a partner than go it alone." - Eccl. 4:9 (MSG)

"Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, 'Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?' 'No, Lord,' she said. And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'" - John 8:10-11 (NLT)



Six months of Rev! magazine free! - Rev! magazine is offering Toolbox readers a free six-month subscription. Pastor Rick writes a regular column for this magazine, which provides great insights and ideas to help you be more effective in ministry.
Clean stand-up comedy clips - Need some clean comedy to cheer you up? Check out these clips of Christian comedians. You can also buy the full DVD on this Web site.
Global Rich List: Where do you rank? - Having trouble explaining to your congregation just how materially blessed they are? The Global Rich List might help. Just put in your yearly salary, and the site will tell you what percentage of the world's population is richer than you. Could provide great insight for your next stewardship message or missions study.
Baseball reference Web site - With the World Series starting this weekend, you might have the minds of many parishioners drifting off to the ballpark during your sermon. On this site, you can find just about anything you ever wanted to know about the American pastime, including all sorts of interesting – and not so interesting – statistics. 
Free teleconference on outreach ideas related to The Nativity Story - Outreach Inc. is hosting a free teleconference to discuss outreach ideas surrounding this December's major motion picture release about the birth of Christ. The teleconference (9 a.m. PST, Oct. 24) will include Mike Rich, the movie's screenwriter; Jonathan Bock, of New Line Cinema; and Lynne Marian, vice president of Outreach, Inc.


Confessions of an inadequate pastor - Craig Groeschel

Loneliness rampant in many pastorates - John Hall and Hannah Elliott

Preparing for the next Great Awakening - Manda Gibson

Kay Warren joins CNN Inspire Summit at New York’s Time Warner Center - Staff

Pastor finds peace through PDL as he escapes fierce alligator attack - Tobin Perry

Five easy ways to help your listeners remember your sermons - Charles Arn

Preaching about worldviews - Bayard Taylor

The power of rest (Part 2) - Mary Southerland



“The hallmark of western civilization has been rugged individualism. Because of our philosophy of life, we are used to the personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘my’ and ‘me.’ We have not been taught to think in terms of ‘we’ and ‘our’ and ‘us.’ Consequently, we individualize many references to corporate experience in the New Testament, thus often emphasizing personal prayer. The facts are that more is said in the book of Acts and the epistles about corporate prayer, corporate learning of biblical truth, corporate evangelism, and corporate Christian maturity and growth than about the personal aspects of these Christian disciplines … The personal dimensions of Christianity are difficult to maintain and practice unless they grow out of a proper corporate experience on a regular basis.” - Gene Getz in Praying for One Another (Chariot Victor, 1982)

"The greatest need we have is not to do things, but to believe things." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

"Nearly half the world’s population now lives in cities. That total will reach 60 percent by 2030. By 2015, the number of megacities with populations topping 10 million will reach 23. Beyond the massive physical and social challenges posed by such giants, Christians have yet to find effective strategies for evangelizing them." - Source: Erich Bridges, International Mission Board

"We need to understand that the wild card in all of our efforts at church growth is the sovereignty of God. God causes the church to grow for his own pleasure and to advance his sovereign purposes not ours." - Samuel D. Rima, Re-thinking the Successful Church (Baker, 2002)

Faith-based groups received 10.5 percent of USAID dollars to nongovernmental aid organizations in fiscal year 2001. By 2005, that proportion had almost doubled (19.9 percent). - Source: Boston Globe (Oct. 8, 2006)

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