It’s very easy for a church to lose its original focus. Our focus at Cogan Station from day one has been to reach the unreached and disciple the reached. This means that everything that happens in the church needs to have reaching the lost and discipleship as its overall purpose. Will it win souls, will it disciple, and will it glorify God?
A recent poll indicates that fewer people are going to church in 2008 than 1984. How sad that is, especially when we realize how fast the population is increasing. And to think; God’s church is decreasing not increasing; sad.
I want to make a special appeal to all who read this article. Will you become a committee of one to reach out and bring someone to Christ? You say, “How can I do this?” Here are some tips.
1.Pray daily for a list of unsaved, unchurched people you know. Make a list and use it every day.
2. Invite people to church at least twice a week. Ask them to be your guest on the Lord’s Day. Talk to everyone you see about your church.
3. Present the gospel to one person every two weeks. Better yet, be discipling someone all the time.
4. If you are not already, agree to be discipled and equipped to disciple. Volunteer to be a teacher, greeter, substitute teacher, etc. Find something to get involved with in the life of the church.
5. Look around on the Lord’s Day for guests and go out of your way to greet them and talk to them. Let people know you are delighted that they are here. Everyone can, and should be a greeter for Christ. Remember how wonderful it is to have friends and in turn, you be friendly.
6. Become familiar with the ministries here at Cogan Station so that you can encourage
people to get connected with a meaningful ministry. Help people find the Welcome
Center or classrooms, etc.
Remember, we are not saved to sit. We are won to win, converted to contact, regenerated to teach, filled to overflow and inspired to invite. Without a true passion for the salvation of souls we become passive and we do nothing. The church can become filled with saved, selfish people instead of saved, evangelistic people.
If you don’t have a burden for the lost, ask God to give you one. Remember, seek and you shall find, ask and it shall be given to you.
Yes, we all have a part. Salvation is of God, but he has ordained that the gospel message, beginning with your testimony, be communicated through you and me. The Holy Spirit does the convicting, but our lips and tongues do the talking. That’s how God planned it.
We, the body of Christ, have it to do. Let’s not let God or our leaders down. People are waiting for your call or invitation today. Don’t keep them waiting.
See ya in church,
Bud
It’s spring time, and almost summertime already. The yards are green, the flowers are beautiful, and the gardens are growing. The farmers are planting and the deer have their new fawns.
What a wonderful time of year; the season of optimism. People are on the rivers and lakes. Vacations are being planned and schools will soon complete another year. The
children are excited and playing sports already. It’s spring time!
There is something special about beginning another season. The past is forgotten and the newness brings out the best in everyone. We are a blessed nation and the opportunities are unlimited. Colleges are playing in tournaments for bragging rights in baseball and softball. It’s spring time again.
When the winter passes, then comes the warm weather and things begin to grow again; there is a new excitement in the air. People take pride in their yards and gardens. Buildings get new paint jobs and new face lifts. Why is all this happening? Because it’s spring time.
This is also a great time of year to look for other people who might need some help. Maybe they can mow a yard or just lend a hand at something else. A lot of times people who really need the help do not ask. You have to speak up first and volunteer. There is a great verse in the Bible which says “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Prov. 11:25. When you give of your time and talent to others, the rewards are tremendous. We have a man in our church who freely mows 4 or 5 lawns weekly for people who can’t mow themselves. Both he and the people are blessed by this act of kindness. It’s spring time. Go look for a blessing. It might be right under your nose.
We make our communities, our city, our churches, and our neighborhoods better by
having good attitudes and good work ethics. We have the personal responsibility to be good neighbors and good stewards of what God gives us.
Greed and selfishness never build relationships or our neighborhoods. Servanthood is the key to true happiness and fulfillment. We only have one life to live and the years that go by fast are limited at best. So, don’t let the winter time of your life find you with regrets wishing that you could have been a better servant.
What our world needs more than a better economy are better committed people to whatever task are before them. Our families need committed parents. Our jobs need committed employees. Our churches need committed members. Our communities need committed neighbors. Our nation needs committed citizens. Our friends need committed friendships. Our marriages need committed spouses.
Yes, it is spring time. It’s a great time to do some house cleaning and take inventory of your life and community. Maybe there are some things you need to do (or stop doing) for the betterment of mankind. Its spring time and the time is now--
Chaplain Bud
When you die, for what do you want to be remembered ? And, we will all die someday. What will people say at your funeral as they gather to comfort those you leave behind?
You see, I believe that each day of our lives we are preaching our own funeral. Our lives will speak louder, many times, after we are gone. Will people talk only of your career and accomplishments or will it be about your character? Will they have good to say about you or dance around the real truth about you?
Think! What is it in life that really has value? What has eternal value? What, more than just memories, have you given to this world? Have you spent your years here on earth as a giver or just a taker?
These are not easy questions nor are they simple questions. If you have been blessed to be a father or mother, you will live on in your children. If you have spent time with children, though not yours biologically, your efforts will also live on in them. What have they learned from you? Have you invested in the future of these children, building character, integrity and good moral values? Have you been a good example to follow? Have they learned how to treat and love others by your example? These are the things money can’t buy and have an eternal affect on families.
As you have been blessed to have a job, what will those fellow workers have to say about you? Will they say that you had a servant’s heart, did more than his share, was always willing to help others, was someone they liked to be around and work with? Or, will they say that they are glad you are gone because your only purpose for working was the money and that you only thought of yourself? Wouldn’t that be a sad commentary of a person’s legacy at work?
How about the community where you live? Are you the kind of neighbor people like to have in their community or are you a sorehead and negative about everything? Do you help other people? Do you ever mow a lawn for a shut-in or shovel snow for a widow? Do you help with the youth in some sport or volunteer to work at the park or ball field?
I learned a long time ago that when you help others get what they want, you will get what you want too. There is a Proverb that says that even better. “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)
Over the years I have had a lot of funerals. People very seldom refer to the dead person’s accomplishments or wealth. There is one exception and that being an accomplishment to help other people. What is referred to is their kindness, a giving, helping spirit, a special parent, their contribution to society, etc.
If you are able to read this article, you are not dead yet and still have time to prepare for your day when you leave this earth. Give people something good to say by which they will remember you. Prepare spiritually for your meeting with God. Leave a legacy and path for others to follow. Live every day as if it were your last but plan each day as if you will live forever.
Your life has more influence than you think. Both for good and for bad. Strive to make it count for good.
Chaplain Bud
The body of Christ, the church, never grows accidently, but intentionally. The church grows because it has a desire to grow. It grows both numerically and spiritually.
Some would say we are growing spiritually but not in numbers. That is impossible. If you are truly growing spiritually, numbers will be added. When we grow spiritually we produce fruit. No fruit, no growth. It’s that simple.
Jesus said, “He came to seek and save the lost.” That is why the Holy Spirit came. That is why Peter preached that great sermon at Pentecost. That is why the church exists today; “To seek and save the lost.”
To obey this command, the church must do some very important things. There is too much busy works in the church today. Too much time spent doing things that don’t build the kingdom but keeps the church from doing evangelism.
Churches grow because of good leaders; leaders with vision and passion for the lost; leaders who are risk takers and willing to do whatever it takes to motivate people to grow in numbers and spirit.
There is no substitute for the preaching of the Word. No program, song, or drama will take its place. There is a place for programs song, and drama. But, the preaching of the Word brings conviction and conviction brings change. Jesus was a preacher, John the Baptist was a preacher, Peter preached, Paul preached, Philip preached, Steven preached, and we must preach truth also. Churches are growing because the Word is being preached, and churches are dying because the Word is not being preached.
Another reason churches grow is because of good worship experiences. Great worship is not only singing, but praying and testimonies. Through worship we come into the presence of God as we sing and pray. We express our love and gratitude to God. In testimonies we share our burdens and blessings. Worship is about God and our relationship with Him. Until we truly worship we can’t experience love in God’s way.
Good worship is a key in evangelism. New people who are not believers get the picture of God’s love as they see believers worship. They not only see, but feel God’s love in the assembly. Then they hear the Word of Truth spoken with power and authority. This brings conviction and conviction brings change.
Now a growing church is prepared to minister to the new converts because they have small groups and accountability groups. New converts need to be connected quickly to the body or they may fall away. The secret is to be prepared for growth.
The world is craving true love and the true body of Christ has true love. Our job is to find hungry people, invite them to church and invest in their lives. It is time for the church to wake up to the fact that unless we do more of this we are going to have less.
It’s time to prioritize and evangelize for the Kingdom of God. We are Kingdom people, called to do Kingdom work. So let’s be about it. Church growth is everybody’s business. Do you want a blessing? Invite a friend to church.
See ya in church,
Bud