10 Reasons Church Members Don’t Invite Others to Church

10 Reasons Church Members Don’t Invite Others to Church

  1. “I just don’t think about it.”
  2. “I’m afraid I’ll be rejected.”
  3. “The music isn’t that good.”
  4. “The preaching isn’t strong.”
  5. “We’ve got too many church problems right now.”
  6. “Our church is already too crowded.”
  7. “Nobody ever challenged me to invite anyone.”
  8. “I don’t know how to start the conversation.”
  9. “It’s the Spirit’s job—not mine—to bring people to church.”
  10. “It’s too far for people to come.”

Some highlights from today’s Rainer Report:

  • When you invite someone to church with whom you have a relationship, they often will accept the invitation.
  • Relationships is the number one factor for someone accepting an invitation to visit a church—not the music style.
  • Introversion is no excuse to disobey the Great Commission.
  • When church members invite others to church, it creates a culture of inviting and builds momentum in the church.

Books mentioned today:

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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The border wall: Pros and cons and 3 biblical facts

President Trump spoke to the nation last night from the Oval Office, seeking support for building a wall on our border with Mexico. Democratic Party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer then responded.

From our inception, Denison Forum has been nonpartisan. Our mission is not to endorse political leaders or positions but to apply God’s word to the questions of our day, equipping Christians to change our culture by engaging contemporary issues with biblical truth.

As a result, my purpose today is not to offer my opinion on the border wall. Rather, it is to summarize arguments that have been made for and against the project, then to consider biblical principles relevant to this issue and our larger influence in the culture.

Arguments for the border wall

The southern border shared by the United States and Mexico spans 1,969 miles. Approximately 700 miles of border fencing have been completed as part of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 signed by President George W. Bush. These barriers are mostly near urban areas and international bridges.

The US Customs and Border Patrol uses patrols to guard more remote borderlands. It spends $4 billion a year, utilizing 58,000 personnel, 16,875 vehicles, 269 aircraft, 300 watercraft, 300 camera towers, and aerial drones.

Despite these efforts, the Government Accounting Office reports that just 44 percent of the border is under “operational control.” Nearly two-thirds are “monitored” while the rest are “low-level monitored.” It also estimates that only 61 percent of those attempting to cross the border illegally are intercepted.

Building a secure fence or wall could make it more difficult to cross our border illegally. When a fence was constructed on the San Diego border and patrols were increased, the number of people attempting to cross illegally dropped from 600,000 in the early 1990s to 39,000 in 2015.

Illegal drugs flow across our southern border. Some illegal immigrants have committed terrible…

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‘Satan is real’, Franklin Graham warns Christian Bale over Golden Globe speech joke

Commenting after the glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles, the US evangelist said the Bible had “a lot to say” about Satan.

On a post published on Facebook, he added: “Satan is a real being and the Word of God has a lot to say about him and his future.

 

“I am thankful to the One who conquered death and saved my soul with His own blood, Jesus Christ.

“He invited me to spend eternity with Him in Heaven because I repented of my sins and put my faith and trust in Him – and He will do the same for you.”

Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP

 

Bale, 44, received the award for best actor in a musical or comedy for his performance in Vice as the former vice president Dick Cheney.

On stage, he said: “Thank you Satan, for giving me inspiration for this role.”

 

In his response, Graham, 66, also quoted Revelation 20:10 which says: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever”.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

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Bishop of Hereford announces retirement

The end of his public ministry shall be marked during a service inside Hereford Cathedral at 11am on 23rd November. He successor is yet to be decided.

Bishop Richard said: “I thank God daily for the privilege of being Bishop of Hereford.

 

“I love the people and the area, and I have wonderful colleagues. I shall be sad to leave the diocese, but that’s still nearly a year ahead!”

Bishop Richard moved in 2014 to the West Midlands from the North East of England, where he was formerly the suffragan bishop of Hull.

 

The Bishop of Ludlow Rt Revd Alistair Magowan said: “Bishop Richard has brought energy and vigour to leading the Diocese during his five years here in Hereford.

“It has been a privilege to be his colleague and I am grateful for the way he has allowed me to share with him in leadership.”

Bob & Anne Powell/Wikimedia Commons https://www.panoramio.com/photo/12338774

 

The diocese said: “He sought to empower church members in their roles and responsibilities through the development of lay ministry, local ministry development groups and greater…

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Christian professor facing calls to quit over homosexuality comments

More than 350 people have signed a petition which accuses Prof John Finnis of “a long record of extremely discriminatory views against many groups of disadvantaged people”.

The emeritus professor of law and legal philosophy told The Oxford Student newspaper: “The petition travesties my position, and my testimony in American constitutional litigation.

 

“Anyone who consults the Law Faculty website and follows the links in the petition can see the petition’s many errors.

“I stand by all these writings. There is not a ‘phobic’ sentence in them.”

The petition alleges that Finnis described homosexuality as “destructive”.

Wikimedia Commons/Michael D Beckwith

 

It also alleges he compared homosexual acts to bestiality in a 1994 paper published by the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy.

The article, called ‘Law, Morality and Sexual Orientation’, says “the deliberate genital coupling of persons of the same sex is repudiated…”.

Signatories also urge the University of Oxford to “clarify its official position” on academics who hold discriminatory views.

 

A spokesperson for the institution said: “Oxford University and the Faculty of Law promote an inclusive culture which respects the rights and dignity of all staff and students.

“We are clear we do not tolerate any form of harassment of individuals on any…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Smartphones risk paving way for Antichrist, head of Russian church warns

Patriarch Kirill said the Church does not oppose technological advancements but the internet-connected devices created the possibility for “universal control over humanity”.

During an interview on Russian state television, he said the gadgets allow someone to know “exactly where you are, know exactly what you are interested in, know exactly what you are afraid of”.

 

He continued: “Such control from one place forebodes the coming of the Antichrist.

“The Antichrist is the person that will be at the head of the world wide web controlling all of humanity. That means that the structure itself poses a danger.

Sergey Vlasov/Russian Orthodox Church Press Service via AP

 

“There shouldn’t be a single centre, at least not in the foreseeable future, if we don’t want to bring on the apocalypse.”

Christians tend to regard the Antichrist as the polar opposite and personal opponent of Christ. His coming is counted among signs pointing to the end of the world.

 

Biblical warnings concerning the Antichrist are found in books including 1 John.

1 John 2:18 says: “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”

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TREM Devotional 9 January 2019 – The Devil Will Not Stop You

Topic: The Devil Will Not Stop You [TREM Devotional 9 January 2019]

“The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob…” Genesis 49:23, 24 KJV

I come your way today to tell you that the devil will not stop you. No matter how many shots the enemy throws at you, you will fulfil God’s purpose for your life. Even when his brothers were against him, Joseph never lost his focus because he knew what God had said concerning him. His brothers threw him into the pit but the pit could not hold him, because he wasn’t meant for the pit. He was simply too good for the pit. Beloved, you are too good to not drive your car! You are too good to not have your wedding! The devil is too late. If you are single, we shall see your wedding come to pass. If you are believing God for a car, we shall see you drive your car.

They sold Joseph into slavery but God was with him. Potiphar left everything in his house in the hand of Joseph but Potiphar’s house was not the destination. Don’t get comfortable in Potiphar’s house. Yes, it was good for that moment but that wasn’t the destination. Potiphar’s house was not the destination, therefore, the rug had to be pulled from under him because of the prophetic destiny he was carrying. Beloved, when God zeroes in on you, don’t expect everything to be all right. Many of us often pray “God bless me”. And when God now zeroes in, you think the devil will just fold his hands and be looking at you? No! He will come against you. But he cannot stop you.

Child of God, every promise of God doesn’t depend on you to bring it to pass. The power to bring it to pass is inside the Word. Your part is to believe it. All things are possible to him that believes.

Further Reading: Genesis 31:1-21, 41:39-44

Daily Bible Reading: Morning: Gen 23, 24 / Evening- Matt. 7

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

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Open Heaven 9 January 2019 Prayer Points on Today – You Need Strategic Planning

Open Heaven 9 January 2019 Prayer Points on Today – You Need Strategic Planning

You Need Strategic Planning

1.Thank You, Father, for creating me in Your image and for making me a partaker of Your divine nature.

Also Read: Open Heaven 9 January 2019 Daily Devotional

2.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus name.

3.Father, You are the source of all wisdom, please, give me divine wisdom for strategic planning of my life’s affairs, in Jesus name.

4.Father, empower me to always seek Your face for divine guidance, direction and assistance, before embarking on any project in life, in Jesus name.

5.Father, please, increase me in wisdom, stature and in favour, with You my God, and with men, in Jesus name.

6.Father, let men, women, children and angels, go out of their way to favour and help me this year, in Jesus name.

7.Father, let Your good hand be upon me, throughout this year, and let all my requests and petitions be granted, expressly, in Jesus name.

8.Father, please, give me divine wisdom that I need to succeed at every point and junction of my life’s journey and endeavours, in Jesus name.

9.Father, please, help me to live through today, without committing a single sin, in Jesus name.

10.Father, bless Your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, with more wisdom, knowledge and understanding; and uphold him till the end, in Jesus name.

11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures; help him to overcome every challenge of getting these prayer points across to Your children timely, on daily basis, in Jesus name.

12.Your Personal petitions. (Philippians 4:6)

13.In Jesus name I pray. (John 14:13-14; 15:16)

14.Thank you Father for answered prayers. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

These prayers have no expiry date! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus name.

Kindly, purchase your own hard copy or online version of the Open Heavens devotional & buy for your friends too, as a potent evangelism tool. God bless you, as you sow, into Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s book Ministry, in Jesus name.

Open Heaven 9 January 2019 Prayer Points on Today – You Need Strategic Planning

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MFM Daily Devotional 9 January 2019 – How to Become Great in the Kingdom of God (II)

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 9 January 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – How to Become Great in the Kingdom of God (II)

TOPIC: How to Become Great in the Kingdom of God (II) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 9 January 2019)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:6-11

MEMORY VERSE: “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;” – Matthew 20:26

The MESSAGE:

The second key to becoming great in the kingdom of God is to have a servant’s heart. Jesus exemplified this when he washed His disciples’ feet. A servant’s heart is the genuine and right disposition or attitude to serve God and others without reservation. Jesus Christ had a servant’s heart and a shepherd’s heart also. In God’s kingdom, if you want to become great, you must be willing to serve God and others. Jesus said you will have to humble yourself and serve because the way to the top is down and if anyone desires to be the first, he shall be the last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35).

The concept of lowering oneself to serve others in order to become great is diametrically opposed to the world’s concept of greatness: winning at all costs. Jesus used the word, diakonos, which is translated as servant or minister. The English word for deacon comes from this word. But are you surprised? We are in the world but not of the world! The word which the Apostle Paul uses for servant is another extraordinary word, huperetes, which means “under-rower”. The apostles analogy is in reference to ancient warship that were propelled by muscular men chained to their oars below deck. In their part of the ship, one hears groaning, men labouring at the oars. It is not like the upper deck, wind-swept, sunlit and fragrant with ocean breeze. Those below deck typify servants, men and women who are unseen, without applause and who are dying to self. The real power of the boat is found below deck.

Although Jesus is clearly greater than the apostles, His behaviour during His earthly ministry was one of serving them (John 13:3-17, Philippians 2:6-11). Beloved, the message is very clear: anyone who would follow Jesus and be great in the kingdom of God should be the servant of all. Jesus once said, “As you have seen me do, go and do likewise also.” Resolve to be an imitator of Christ today. It pays!

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
WE SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS.

PROPHETIC WORD:
The peace of God that passes all understanding is yours today.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

  1. My Father, empower me to seek Your presence today, in the name of Jesus.
  2. Create in me a hunger to be where You are always, in the name of Jesus.
  3. Father, as I pour out my heart to You, let me hear You talk back to me, in the name of Jesus.
    EVENING
  4. O God, I want to be Your friend, show me Your glory today, in the name of Jesus.
  5. O Lord, I desire to walk with You, every day of my life, in the name of Jesus.
  6. Mercy of God, overshadow my life, in the name of Jesus.
  7. O Ark of Glory, come into my tabernacle after the order of Obed-Edom, in Jesus’ name.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

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DCLM Daily Manna 9 January 2019 – Be Open to Counsel

Topic: Be Open to Counsel [DCLM Daily Manna 9 January 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Exodus 18:13-27 (KJV)

Key Verse:Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God” (Exodus 18:19).

MESSAGE:

One of the secrets that make for success in life’s endeavour is the ability to be disposed to counsel. The truth is that no matter one’s experiences and attainments in life, one cannot possibly know everything. There is the need to count on the wisdom, knowledge and experiences of others if one is really going to go far in one’s calling.

From our passage today, we cannot but be challenged by the attitude of Moses to the counsel of his father-in-law. Jethro, who came to visit his son-in-law observed with interest and concern how Moses carried out his leadership responsibility. He was worried that if Moses, though having a good intention and doing a good work, should carry on the way he was going, he would soon wear out. He therefore counseled him to select capable hands to whom he would delegate some responsibilities while he would only see to very important matters.

It is instructive that Moses who had received his call and ministry directly from God did not despise the counsel of his father-in-law. There are a number of lessons we can take away from this. One is that divine call does not excuse us from equipping ourselves with necessary training and skills that can help us perform better in our calling. Two, we do not become perfect and absolute in knowledge just because we have been called directly by God. Three, to help us fulfil our call and mandate, God surrounds us with people whose knowledge, experiences and skills we need to succeed. Four, no matter how good and logical a counsel may be, it is important that we seek God’s face for His final word on it. Five, no leader is under any obligation to take to the counsel of others. He must understand that he is solely responsible for the outcome of whatever decision he takes. We need to be open to counsel if we must succeed in life.

Thought For The Day: You cannot always know everything; be open to wise advice.

Bible Reading In One Year: Genesis 26-28

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

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