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Articles for the ‘Spirituality & Religion’ Category

I love the quote, “The journey of a thousand begins with one step.  Likewise, the preaching of a great sermon begins with one thought. In this article I will share with you three simple methods of getting ideas for your sermon starters folder. These are not meant to replace your Bible study at all, but just ways to lead you into the Bible for a relevant preaching idea. Having a seedbed of starters is a great resource for any preacher or Bible teacher.

Idea Number 1: Record That Thought!
I wish I had all the great ideas for those sermons that never got preached because I failed to record the inspiration that whizzed through my mind. These are the big fish that got away because I did not set the hook. Writing down that inspired thought is the way the preacher sets the hook to reel in a good sermon.

Keep a little notebook with you, record it into your cell phone, send yourself a text message….just get a record of the thought some way. Have you ever awakened in the middle of a night having had a dream that was very vivid. You thought of getting up and writing down the details, but you thought it was so vivid and clear that you could never forget it. The next morning when you got up, you could not remember it to save your life. Where did the dream go? It went to the same place those great sermon starting ideas go that you didn’t write down.

Idea Number 2: Read That Title!
I have been amazed at the times I have read the title or headline of a newspaper article, an internet news story, the title of a book, and of course, the titles of other people’s sermons and gotten an idea that started me on a quick jog into sermon building paradise. Just the title which is the leader board of a story to follow can set your imagination in motion. With the idea that a title pops in your mind, you will often begin imagining what it is about before you ever read further. Your mind will begin building your own sermon just from the title. Notice these things and consciously think about them as sermon starters. Even billboards can stuff a sermon starter into your cranial cavity form time to time.

Idea Number 3: Research that Question!
This one will unleash an avalanche of sermon ideas for you. Think of questions that people ask about life, love, and problems and then research them. You will be swamped in an hour with a mountain of sermon ideas, sermon illustrations, and starting points for topics that people are hungry to hear about. Then you can add what the Bible teaches on that subject and you are on your way to helping others through a relevant heart touching Bible based sermon.

Now that you have three simple ideas for sermon starters, all that is left for you to do is to get started. That great sermon is just waiting to be thought of, inspired with creativity, and launched to waiting ears. God bless you as you get going.

Written by Eddie Lawrence, who is an author, pastor, and overseer of Sermon Seedbed a resource site for pastors and Bible teachers which provides free sermons and sermon outlines.

What are the characteristics of sermons that audiences hear and heed. Whatever they are, they will be good to add to your pastor resources. Let’s look at some of them.I suggest that there are four things to consider that sets a sermon that works apart from others.

1. First it is memorable. Let’s face it, if after the final “Amen!” is spoken, if everyone forgets what was said, then what was said was not that impressive. An audience has a hard time applying a message from one Sunday to the next, if they cannot remember what it was. So such a sermon has elements that make it memorable. Appropriate stories, powerful illustrations that actually are illustrative, and words employed that strike the memory of the audience are all important. Correct application of the sermon also marks the memory. That “this really hits home feeling will plant it into the memory field of the hearer.

2. Secondly, it connects on three levels. The sermon should be reasonable and make sense. It should connect intellectually. A sermon on faith can stretch a man’s natural mind, yet make sense that God would work in such a way since God is a spiritual being whose ways and thoughts are beyond ours. In other words, it makes sense that we cannot always understand God. But to bathe a sermon in ignorance of context, history, good exegesis, and bad exposition can be a hindrance to the hearer. It is amazing how Jesus taught in a way that common people could easily understand his illustrations, yet were tremendously stretched by his application.

The sermon should connect emotionally. Aim at the heart and those “gut” feelings will begin to be stirred within your hearers. Aiming only at the mind without regard to the heart is equally foolish. The heart level is where life change occurs. Preaching should be done within the crucible where real life occurs. Pain is real. Lust is real. Temptation is real. Desperation is real. A message may work in a mental lab and fall flat on its face on the street corner of the real world. This is where a sermon becomes relevant.

The last aspect of connecting has to do with the will. God made us with a will and we use it constantly. Your audience is continually deciding to tune in further or change the channel on you. Aim at the will. Target why what you are sharing is important. An old adage says, “A man persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still.” You may get the mind, and the heart, but the will is the decision maker. A good message answers the question, “Why does this matter?” This is the jugular of the will. Jesus did this, “Repent or you will perish!”

3. The third mark of a sermon that works is that it is true. For the preacher to build any sermon on a foundation that will not rest upon the eternal truth of Scripture is to plan to fail. Not only will the sermon fail but the people who apply it will as well. Truth is established. It has been set in place by God Himself through His Word. Build primarily on what He has said, not what someone else has said. Known and applied truth still sets men free.

4. The last mark of such a sermon is that it is incarnational. Now, that’s a big theological word that simply means, in is delivered through a human being. The man or woman somewhat becomes the message. It is not delivered apart from the personality through which it is being presented. The truth of the Gospel is that God became a man to rescue us from the ravages of sin. Through the art of preaching, truth is brought to men as the Spirit of God bears witness. Passion and concern mark the man who has been marked by the message.

In summary, make a mental check-list as you work on your weekly sermon and impose the following four questions:

 -In what ways, am I making this sermon easy to remember?

-In what ways, am I aiming at the heart of the audience?
-In what ways, am I supporting what I am saying with Scripture?

-In what ways, am I actively applying the sermon to my own life?

Certainly there are other elements to consider, but these four are important and I believe a part of sermons that work. I wish you much success in writing and delivering sermons that ultimately are lived out in the lives of your audience.

Written by: Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. of Sermon Seedbed which offers free pastor resources for pastors and Bible teachers.

Of late, we have been hearing about our beloved world coming to an end. Have you ever given a thought to it? They say that 12 21 2012 marls the last day of our earth, as per the Mayan calendar. The 2012 phenomenon, as believed to be, will comprise of a series of cataclysmic or transformative events that will occur on 21 12 2012; with this, will end a five 125-year long cycle and begin a New Era.

It is believed that post 21 12 2012, earth and her inhabitants will go through a positive transformation which might be either physical of spiritual. As per general beliefs, the world will undergo a major catastrophe as the earth will be in total alignment with the moon, the sun and the Milky Way’s black hole. 

Modern thinkers opine that then end of the current cycle will usher in global consciousness shift whereby the world will progress and foster a spiritual revolution. There are so many significances of this date and that’s what makes 21 12 2012 so talked about.

According to some, 2012 will end 26,000 year Precession of the Equinoxes cycle, whereas, some believe that it signifies the end of a 104,000 year cycle. With the end of a cycle, comes a new age. But you must not be scared; instead you must understand the prophecy which says that we all have to be more and more aware and we need to wake up and answer to the beckon call of the new era. Standing on the cross-road, we must enjoy the historical landmark that we witness and respond to it positively.

Mankind will be transformed into a complete harmony of nature and all her children. 21 12 2012 is going to bring one of the best and most significant moments we have ever seen!

Think of any memorial service and you see flowers. It really is barely astonishing that both funeral directors and florists declare that funeral wreaths and sprays come 3 rd in their leading 5 selling goods. Flowers have already been utilized at funerals for years and years. In ancient times, not simply were they decorative, they were practical, given that their perfume assisted to cover up unpleasant odours.

These days, flowers are seen as a classic expression of grieving and, as with the rest of the funeral, they feature a great amount of social grace. Floral sprays – and also what are frequently known as as sympathy plants – usually are sent direct to the memorial service residence when the death is announced. On the day of the funeral, these are put in the hearse, arranged on and across the coffin, accompanying the loved one on their ultimate journey.

Typically, the most popular funeral flowers consist of lilies, carnations, chrysanthemums, gladioli and also roses. Muted colors tones will always be common, in particular for a feminine touch, whilst red-colored suggests unequaled love and white signifies tranquility. The particular season may also impact on accessibility to certain flowers.

Nevertheless, florists are the experts and will often provide advice. They can create unique tributes, which range from easy ‘cottage garden’ baskets and arrangements to sophisticated, contemporary arrangements. Wreaths are a common option, since they are made by means of a circle, that is the symbol of eternal existence. Flower sprays tend to be equally well-liked. These lie flat, exhibiting the blossoms much more openly for viewing from just one single side.

The important thing to selecting proper flowers should be to pick an offering you think family members is likely to appreciate. Some families request that donations be made to a particular good cause instead of flowers. This is a more pragmatic approach, as floral tributes are usually discarded by funeral directors following two or three days and in the case of cremations they are usually disposed instantly following the service.

However, few funerals are totally without flowers. Unlike the commonly sombre tone and dress of the mourners, they bring in a warm component of beauty and colour. Flower tributes display regard to the deceased, whilst offering great comfort to the family members, as they visibly convey emotions that many find hard to put into words.

Even though traditional, floral tributes don’t need to always be limited by the time of funeral or cremation. A lot of funeral directors will tell you that bereaved families value receiving blossoms within the weeks and even a few months following the memorial service. They provide a comforting reminder that people have not forgotten their loved one, especially if combined with a little individual note.

Four Suggestions on How to Preach A Sermon

Imagine it! Knees wobbling! Heart racing! Sweat popping! Mind Swirling! What has happened? Are you in love? No, you have just been asked by your pastor to preach a sermon in an upcoming worship service. Yikes! What do you do? Quickly say “No!” and make up an excuse; or, pray for courage and seize the moment? Let me encourage you to go for it. Whether you have been called to be a preacher or not, it can be a very rewarding experience for you. Here are some preaching and sermon preparation pointers for you to consider:

1. Start Praying for Wisdom and Courage

This should go without saying, but I am saying it just the same. Ask God to help you, direct you, and use you for His glory. Pray for the people who will be there when you preach. Pray for yourself to be calm and courageous. Pray for the message to be meaningful and memorable.

2. Select a Relevant and Helpful Topic

Since you are going to preach, use the opportunity to give people a message that will help them in their daily lives. By all means, avoid the temptation of trying to impress people.

You will make a greater impression by giving them instructions that will help them live their lives more fully.

You can easily select a topic that will help people by simply considering the problems they face and the struggles they have to go through in life. Everyone needs encouragement. Everyone needs to know how to handle wrong emotions. Everyone has to learn how to forgive, and on and on the list could go. The Bible is a great resource manual for life and will give you the instruction you will need to pass on to others.

3. Use Stories that Clearly Illustrate Your Points

People remember and relate to stories,especially personal stories. Don’t shy away from speaking about your own struggles or triumphs. This makes for good sermon material.

Sharing how God helped you or blessed you will encourage others as well. This is the power of testimony at work. The introduction or beginning of the sermon is a good place for a personal story.
Even a humorous event that happened to you can be very impacting. Just make sure you are able to weave the aim of your sermon into the particular story you tell.

4. Keep it Moving and Keep it Short

It will be far easier than you think to have more to say than you have time to say it. Use a clear and simple outline and flow through it in a timely manner.

If you finish with people wanting more, you have done well. Even a great start can be lost in a long tedious sermon. Try to keep it around 25-35 minutes maximum.

There are many more suggestions that could be made, but take these four simple ones I have shared and keep them in mind when you preach a sermon for people who like you, need lifting up and blessed.

This article writtenby Eddie Lawrence who is a pastor, author and overseer of Sermon Seedbed, a site that offers free sermons and sermon outlines for pastors and Bible teachers.

Compatible Horoscopes is Important when you start dating someone seriously. Looking out
for the Star Sign Compatibility will ensure he or she is the right person for you. People
featuring distinct Horoscopes signs will occasionally be amazed to find that they are more
or less suitable for their partner because of their individual Horoscopes signs.

Even though Aries is normally seen as quite an outgoing horoscope sign, it could sometimes bring about jealousy to their partner. In actual Fact, those who are an Aries may seem to be quite flirty when in reality they are just being friendly.

When you’re looking at Taurus for zodiac sign compatibility, you will discover that sometimes, they could become possessive, which will in extreme cases ruin relationships, however , if properly handled can help you show your partner just how much you love them.

Libras are fortunate in regards to the dating world. Their horoscope sign is extremely romantic which happens to be of great help in a relationships. A significant factor of being a Libra is the capability to search for someone who loves you just as much as you love them. Usually having a Libra star sign can be quite a problem as you end up being very too intimate or romantic, but getting a person who shares the same sentiments as you sometimes can be quite difficult.

Scorpio star sign is an fascinating personality because it is quite sexually aggressive and like to have the upper hand in the relationship.
Possessing Scorpio zodiac sign might be good in the early stages of a relationship as you’ll be exciting to your partner and both of you will constantly want to be close to one another but soon after you might find your partner getting a little annoyed with your controlling approaches.

If your star sign compatibility match is not described here, then look for your Compatible Horoscopes here. Simply by clicking on the links you’ll find more great information on Horoscopes Signs and this will definitely enhance your dating life. Get Your Free Love Horoscope and zodiac signs compatibility done too.

THE FOUR KINDS OF DEATH

The following is a sermon on death that gives a biblical perspective on death.

1. THERE IS PHYSICAL DEATH
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

John 11:12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well. 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

In the epistle of James, if you look carefully, you will find there the biblical definition of death:

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. THERE IS SPIRITUAL DEATH
This is the condition of the living person who does not have eternal life.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

3. THERE IS THE SECOND DEATH
Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

4. There is a fourth death that is mentioned in Scripture as well. Visit Sermon Seedbed to learn about this fourth kind of death and see in this sermon death in its completeness.

This article written by Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. who is a pastor, author and overseer of Sermon Seedbed a free resource site for Pastors and Bible teachers. There you will find lots of sermon ideas and sermon outlines.

Most of us have heard of the research that says public speaking is the number one fear among Americans. Now imagine standing before a group of people in a public setting and speaking to them for the first time. Also imagine that they were waiting to hear you teach them about God, the Bible, and to tell them how to live their lives. Now you have a glimpse into the world of preaching.

I remember when I was first started sensing a call to preach in my life. I knew that it would involve preaching from the Bible to people, but I did not have a clue about how to preach. I scurried to the nearest Christian bookstore to see if they had a manual on how to preach. Fortunately there were a few books written by pastors to teach what they had learned to others who felt called to preach the Gospel. Not long thereafter, I discovered there was a whole field of study about the different aspects of preaching. It is called homiletics. I would read any books I could find about homiletics. I was a preacher studying how to preach.

Later I became a seminary student. My wife, children, and I packed our bags, sold our house, and moved to the big city so that I could pursue my Masters of Divinity degree. By that time, I had five years of preaching under my belt, but still so much to learn. Fortunately, the professors of the seminary knew that every wet behind the ears preacher boy needed training in the mechanics of preaching. One of our required classes was an entire year long study of homiletics. It was fun studying different preachers and learning how they put sermons together and how they delivered them to public audiences.

During that year of classes, we students were also required to preach a sermon in front of our peers to be critiqued by them. I know the great day of judgment will be a fearful day, but let me tell you; it was a fearful thing to stand in front of a room full of preachers and to preach to them with their critique sheets on their desks and pencils in their hands. We all survived and really learned a lot.

I know in a short article such as this, I cannot presume to teach anyone how to preach. But here are some thoughts to think about that may help get you started and help you gather some great information on the subject.

1. Since you are online reading this article, use your computer to also search for good preaching advice. Most pastors have a few personal tips that are meaningful and helpful to them. Glean this wisdom from pastors’ blogs and good preaching sites.

2. Surf through some sermon sites and look for eye catching titles. Just a sermon title can sometimes ignite your creativity and a whole message will follow. And often, that message may go in an entirely different direction than the one posted on the website where you found the title.

3. Study the sermon outlines of other preachers. This too will teach you how to look at a passage and see how it was broken apart for preaching purposes. This is a good way to learn.

4. Most sites have a newsletter that they send out. If you get just one idea per month from a newsletter, it is well worth the time it takes to scan over it. Learning from others is the way we all learn in all the different areas of our lives.

5. Nothing is to replace prayer, reliance on the Holy Spirit and a focus on Jesus. Keep these first things first, but also have an humble heart that allows you to recieve and learn from others.

God bless you and as you grow in your knowledge of “how to preach” then preach the Word!

This article is by Eddie Lawrence who is a pastor and overseer of Sermon Seedbed a website full of free sermons.

If you are not a Christian or just vaguely familiar with the religion, then you might have wondered what communion wafers are and what it’s for.

To let you know, these wafers are used during the Holy Communion to represent the body of Christ. Even though the symbolism is a bit complicated, the ingredients for the piece are actually quite simple.

It has hardly any taste at all, but it is this lack of taste that makes it such a great ritual piece. Since it hardly has any taste, you are allowed to focus on the meaning when you consume the wafer.

There are plenty of manufacturers for the communion wafer. Each of them have special ways of creating the wafer, however, most of them use the same basic ingredients.

These two common ingredients include water and pure wheat flour. Of course, as mentioned, other communion breads are created with more complex ingredients than the two, but this depends on the manufacturer.

Some of the other ingredients used in these recipes could include yeast or salt so that it can have a small hint of flavor.

However, there is one very special ingredient that is sometimes added when making these holy wafers and that is holy water.  

There are instances when makers would sprinkle a small amount of holy water on the dough. It is incorporated into the dough and then made into the holy wafers that we know and use today.

Most Christians are familiar with communion wafers, however, not everyone knows where or who makes them.

However, this isn’t very surprising since back in the day, the work of creating these wafers fell only to a select few.

History dictates that churches used to pick out only one baker that was tasked to create the wafer. Apart from that, there was a special oven designated for this purpose only so that the ritual of making the wafers was kept sacred.

As time passed, traditions changed and so did the secrecy to creating the wafers.

Today, there are several large manufacturers that create these wafers. They are no longer exclusively created by nuns or special bakers from the church.

Although there are plenty of manufacturers in this industry, there are still companies that hold a monopoly when it comes to being a supplier for these church wafers.

In fact, there is one company that is said to be the primary supplier for over three quarters of the churches in the US.

The history and significance of these holy wafers cannot be underestimated. Even though most non Christians might not be familiar with them, there is no doubt that it is an essential part of the faith as well as the ceremony of these churches.

If you are a Christian, taking part of the Holy Communion and taking in communion wafers should signify something far beyond the bland taste of this sacramental bread, it should symbolize and signify your faith in the Lord and his undying love for you as his child.

Now that you are aware of the importance of communion wafer, you may also consider the benefit and importance of having your personal communion cup or perhaps you may want to own a portable communion set.

Cross tattoos are a popular choice if you’re looking for a design that’s iconic and rich with symbolism. But the origin of the cross design is unknown. The cross is one of the oldest and most basic designs known to humans. It has been used to decorate all manner of things including pottery and cloth for as long as humans can remember.

In ancient times the cross was used as part of the Aztec, Egyptian, Greek and Norse cultures for many centuries. The symbol of the cross was also used by various pagan religions that pre-date Christianity by thousands of years, and as a consequence cross tattoos are almost as old as the cross design itself.

Eventually, due to the rise of Christianity and the cross being a sign of execution by crucifixion, it became a symbol of Jesus’s death and subsequent resurrection. The Christian cross (a vertical line intersected at right angles approximately one third from the top) is used by followers to profess their faith and the clergy to bestow blessings. These days Christian tattoos are an exceptionally popular way for people to express their Christian faith

So why are cross tattoos so popular?

The cross design has a number of practical advantages. To begin with, it’s widely recognised and socially acceptable in most places. But beyond that it can be scaled to almost any size, placed anywhere on the body and can be combined with virtually any tattoo design. For example, it could be used in conjunction with flowers, words, animals etc to add greater meaning and individuality to the design. For these reasons a cross design is a popular choice of first tattoo with millions of people.

And finally, as already mentioned they convey a wide range of meanings to a wide range of people. However, cross tattoos are not only a sign of religious faith. Due to the number of symbolic meanings that can be held by the wearer of a tattooed cross, one person may use it to represent their religious beliefs while another person may just like the design. However, for the purposes of this article, we’ll consider the main types of religious cross tattoo designs.

1) The Latin Cross

The design of the Latin cross is one of the most instantly recognisable in the world. It consists of a vertical line that is intersected at right angles by a shorter horizonal line about one third of the way from the top, and as such is the design most closely connected with Christianity.

This simple cross design is a good choice for a first time tattoo. The design can be scaled to any size, it’s socially acceptable, it has a wide range of religious and spiritual meanings and it can be added to by further designs in the future. For example, if you have a basic latin cross, you could add a dove to the design to symbolize peace, you could add a shamrock to represent the Irish culture, or you could add the name and date of death to pay tribute to someone special who has died.

2) The Celtic Cross

Celtic cross tattoos are one of the best looking and most symbolic designs available. The basic design involves a standard latin style or Christian cross with a Celtic knot placed over the area where both lines cross over. Alternatively the border of the cross is surrounded by a series of Celtic knots.

These Celtic knots are designed in such as way that the strands of the design have no beginning and no end. This simple and elegant design is taken as a powerful symbol of the never ending nature of human life, while the knot itself represents the joining together of the physical and spiritual worlds.

The Celtic cross makes a great tattoo design and thanks to its long and symbolic history it is extremely popular among people from Scotland, Ireland and Wales who have pride in their Celtic heritage.

3) The St. Andrew’s Cross

The St Andrew’s cross differs from the traditional style of cross as it is shaped more like an X than a T. History says that the St Andrew’s cross came about after St Peter (who felt he was unworthy of the same death as his Lord) was crucified upside down. St Andrew followed the same belief and so the modified cross became linked to his name.

So these tattoo designs are great if you want to be slightly different from the rest of the crowd. And as St Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, these cross tattoos are ideal for people with Scottish links who want to pay tribute to their ancestors.