Four Stupid Things Pastors Do That Ruin Their Ministry

Podcast Episode #375

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Pastors and church staff do a lot of great things. Unfortunately, they sometimes do some stupid things too.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • The internet has made both sermon plagiarism and detecting sermon plagiarism easier.
  • Pastor, if you’re plagiarizing sermons, I guarantee you that people know it.
  • Church credit cards can be very helpful. They can also be very harmful when abused.
  • If you’re currently involved in one of these four danger areas, the first thing to do is to stop.
  • Don’t. Do. Stupid.

The four dangers we discuss are:

  1. Flirting dangerously with sexual boundaries.
  2. Plagiarism.
  3. Financial stupidity.
  4. Social media madness.

 


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Christian student awaits High Court ruling

Felix Ngole was thrown off a social work programme at Sheffield University last year after he referenced homosexuality in comments his made on social media.

 

The 39 year old from Barnsley claimed bosses at the institution unfairly prevented him from completing a postgraduate degree after he lawfully expressed a traditional Christian opinion.

Deputy High Court judge Rowena Collins-Rice, who considered rival claims during a trial in London earlier this month, is scheduled to deliver a ruling today.

Christian Concern

 

Lawyers representing Sheffield University argued that Mr Ngole showed “no insight” in his remarks and the move to bar him from the course was fair.

But Mr Ngole said his rights to freedom of speech and thought, as protected under the European Convention on Human Rights, had been broken.

Ngole indicated his opposition to homosexuality when he quoted Leviticus 20:13 – which reads: “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination” – during a debate on Facebook.

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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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DCLM Daily Manna 27 October, 2017 by Pastor Kumuyi – Ever Dependable God!

Topic: Ever Dependable God! — Friday October 27, 2017.

Text: Jeremiah 17:12-18

Key Verse: “As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee” (Jeremiah 17:16).

One night, a house caught fire and a boy, who was inside, could only escape to the roof. His father, on the ground with outstretch arms, called on him to jump, so that he would catch him. The boy could not see him, except the flame, smoke and blackness. He was afraid and protested “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”

In our dealing with God, what matters really is relying on His promises and not looking at the challenges we daily face. In our text, Jeremiah acknowledged God’s supremacy in all things. Jeremiah said God would put to shame those who had neglected Him while their names would be completely obliterated. With faith that God could also rescue him from his enemies, Jeremiah praised and appreciated Him for His favour, comfort and overflowing fullness. In spite of their derision, Jeremiah said that he was not deterred and that he would still look after the people, like a shepherd after his sheep, and would never have pleasure in their misfortune. He asked God not only shelter and protection from his enemies, but also prove to his attackers that they were guilty.
Let us conduct an introspection here! Are you deterred from doing God’s will because of people’s mockery? Do you take comfort in God’s business in spite of your challenges, or you abandon it because of the reproach of people? Yours is to rely on God for protection and help. Whatever challenge or sickness, must be taken to God for healing and deliverance. His hands can bind up the trouble conscience and heal the broken heart. As the greatest Physician, God can cure the worst of diseases. Trust Him.

Thought For The Day: Faith in God is believing what we do not see.

The Bible In One Year: Songs 1-4

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.


Joyce Meyer’s Daily 27 October 2017 Devotional: How to Develop Your Gifts

Joyce Meyer's Daily 27 October 2017 Devotional: How to Develop Your Gifts

Topic: How to Develop Your Gifts [Friday October 27, 2017]

Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness. — Romans 6:13

People ask me all the time how to discover and develop the gifts God has given them. Here are a few helpful steps I’ve discovered:

1. Focus on the strengths God gave you. Concentrating on your strengths will help you fulfill the calling God has put on your life.

2. Exercise your gift. Find something you like to do and that you do well, and do it over and over again. Want to know what will happen? You will feel better about yourself because you won’t be constantly failing.

3. Have the courage to be different. Unhappiness comes when you try to be like everyone else rather than embracing the unique person you are.

4. Learn to cope with criticism. Have enough confidence in who you are in Christ that you can listen to others and be open to change without feeling you have to agree with their viewpoint or attain their approval.

God has planted greatness in you. Let today be the beginning of a great adventure as you step out and use the gifts He’s given you.

Prayer Starter: God, I want to cultivate and develop the gifts You’ve given me. Give me the courage to follow You and develop the gifts and abilities You’ve put inside me.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries


Fireworks Factory Explosion Kills at Least 47, Injures Dozen .

Policemen stand at the site of an explosion at a fireworks factory at Kosambi village in Tangerang, Indonesia.
Policemen stand at the site of an explosion at a fireworks factory at Kosambi village in Tangerang, Indonesia. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)

We have an interesting story, well told, from .. . charismapodcastnetwork.com.


Two explosions and a fire at a fireworks factory in the western outskirts of Indonesia’s capital killed 47 people and injured dozens on Thursday, police said, and the death toll was expected to rise.

Thick plumes of dark smoke billowed from…

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

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Open Heavens 28 October 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Poverty or Riches?

Open Heavens 28 October 2017: Saturday daily devotional, Poverty or Riches?

Topic: Poverty or Riches? — Saturday 28, October 2017.

Memorise: The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. – Proverbs 22:7

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 (KJV)

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Bible in One Year: Hebrews 5-8, Hosea 3-4, Hymn: Sing Hymn 10 – There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing

MESSAGE:

It is the ultimate desire of our Father to see that we are all blessed. He wants all His children to dwell in His blessings (Psalms 92:13-14). It is not His desire that our lives should be at the mercy of unbelievers. The more wealth the Lord empowers us with, the more His Kingdom on earth should increase. Don’t believe those who tell you that as a child of God, you are not supposed to be wealthy. This is a false doctrine! It is written in God’s word that you are to lend to nations and not borrow (Deuteronomy 15:6). It is also recorded in God’s word that the blessings of the Lord make rich and add no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). Furthermore, God says in His word that He wishes above all things that you prosper and be in good health (3 John 1:2). God has the key to all things, including all the wealth of this world. Psalm 24:1 says,

“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 29 October 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Turn Prophecies Into Realities

Although God’s word contains all these truths about wealth, as long as believers doubt their efficacy, they will never be able to access God’s wealth. Before you can take possession of God’s wealth, you need to have certain keys that will separate you from poverty and bring you to a realm of unprecedented riches in God. If the Almighty God gives you the power to get wealth, everything you touch automatically turns to riches. You need to acknowledge the fact that true and enduring wealth only comes from God. Deuteronomy 8:18 says,

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

Experiencing true riches is not about millions coming into your account. There are people who have experienced this several times, without the grace to retain such riches. God wants to bless you and also give you the power to retain His blessings. The type of riches that comes without any element of sorrow in it is what God desires for you and your children’s children.

God is against wealth obtained through sin. It doesn’t matter how much you contribute to the work of God, if your money is not earned legitimately, you are placing a curse on yourself, and your contributions to kingdom projects will not deliver you from God’s judgement (Proverbs 21:27). If God’s children would fear and obey His principles for wealth creation, poverty will become a thing of the past in their lives. You have to hate poverty because a poor man will always live another man’s life. If you seek the righteousness of God, all other things will be added to you.

Prayer Point: Father, separate me from all forms of ungodly riches and poverty.

HYMN 14: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

[Chorus]
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing–
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
[Chorus]

3. There shall be showers of blessing:
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
[Chorus]

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
[Chorus]

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.


‘Da Vinci Code’ Author Dan Brown Abandons Christianity .

Author Dan Brown
Author Dan Brown (REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo)

Join us on the new C-Pop podcast where Taylor and Jessilyn discuss, debate and sometimes deride pop culture with a strong sense of humor and a focus on Christ. . charismapodcastnetwork.com.


Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code and Origin, among other hit novels, told BBC Hardtalk that he has abandoned a Christian belief-system, but isn’t quite ready to call himself an atheist.

“I no longer believe in the God of my childhood that some…

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

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TREM’s Daily Devotional 27 October 2017 by Dr. Mike Okonkwo – Call On The Name Of Jesus

TREM’s Daily Devotional 27 October 2017 by Dr. Mike Okonkwo - Call On The Name Of Jesus

Topic: Call On The Name Of Jesus — Friday October 27, 2017.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10 KJV)

In times of trouble God’s people must learn to run into the strong tower. You run into the strong tower by remembering the name of the Lord. Romans 10:13 (KJV) says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Merely calling the name “Jesus” when you are overwhelmed will save you. David said that ‘when my heart is overwhelmed I will run to the rock that is higher than I.’ When the enemy begins to roar and rage, there is a higher rock you should run to.

You will be surprised how many people have been delivered from challenges, difficulties, and pressures of life by simply calling the name of Jesus. People have been healed delivered and set free because the Bible says that he has been given a name above all the names of sickness or disease. I have heard of cases of people who were diagnosed with medically impossible cases and they kept on calling the name of Jesus countless times, and because the scripture says that whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus shall be saved, by the time the doctors came back they were surprised to discover that the conditions have changed.

God said I will use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. When you don’t know what to do, call the name of Jesus. When your heart is overwhelmed, call the name of Jesus. The devil does not want you to mention that name. Remember in the book of Acts when the Apostles were preaching, the Pharisees and Sadducees said to them you can preach but don’t mention that name. If that name is taken out of our message we don’t have any more power because it is only at the name of Jesus that every knee bows. If there is ever a time that we need to shout that name, more than ever, before it is now.

Further Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Jeremiah 12-14; Evening- 2 Timothy 1

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.