The results are in and ChurchMag’s list of top church tech blogs for 2013 has been released. This year there was more competition than ever before and the result is an expanded resource of 30 great websites which combined technology and faith.
ChristianDroid is proud once again to have made the list of the top 30 church tech blogs as determined by ChurchMag. Congratulations to all the sites that make up this years top 30.
Remember when you were young, meeting up with your friends on the playground to play some ball. Maybe where you grew up the “in” sport was football, basketball, or baseball. Some of us would even play all three depending on the time of year and what professional sport was being played at the time. It seemed that back then there was a much greater break between the professional sports seasons, but that doesn’t really matter. Regardless of what sport was being played they all started the same.
Each sports game would start with the obligatory choosing sides. You would gather with your friends and two kids, usually the most athletic of the group, would be the team captains. The captains would line everyone up and then begin to choose sides. I remember those days standing in the line, no I was never the most athletic, waiting to be chosen.
Each time I stood in that line, one thought always went through my head. Pick me, pick me. I never said this aloud of course but the thought was always going thought my head. I was always anxious to be picked. I wanted to be chosen. I wanted to get in the game.
Photo Credit: Stuck in Customs via Compfight cc
Leading people to Christ by example, is the basis of Chapter 5 of I Am A Church Member. This chapter is titled “I Will Lead My Family To Be Healthy Church Members,” and was this week’s chapter of study in our Sunday School class. Rainer points out in this chapter that as church members we are to lead by example. We are to be an example of a good church member to our family, our friends, and our coworkers.
Of course, we should all know that it is important for us to set a good example for our family and community. However, this is something that is much easier said than done. All too often, church members will relax their attitudes about their church and their membership as Christians as soon as they walk out the door. Whether we like it or not, we must accept the fact that as Christians the rest of the world is looking at us to make their decisions about our church. We must keep in mind that we are called to be good church members not only when we are in the building but in all walks of life as well.
As interesting and helpful as these concepts are, this chapter provided us this week with discussions that were focused on much more than just being a good example. In chapter 5, Rainer tells the story of a long time mentor that he had in church when he first became a father.
I didn’t know it at the time, but Bob was watching me. He was concerned for me. He loved my youthful enthusiasm, but he knew what was coming. The more I got involved, the more I would see the imperfections of the church, the pastor, the staff, and other church members. Bob had seen the pattern repeatedly. Get excited about church. Get more involved. Discover the imperfections of the church. Get discouraged about the church. Leave the church. Continue Reading…
Each week for the past four weeks, the Sunday School Class that I lead at church has been taking a look at Thom Rainer’s book, I Am A Church Member. This week we discussed Chapter 4, I Will Pray For My Church Leaders.
At first glance, one might assume that this would be the least convicting chapter in this book, as Rainer explains what it means to be a church member. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that even though the ideas mentioned in this chapter are easy to understand they do require as much focus and effort on the part of the member as the other chapters that we have covered.
I don’t think that anyone would deny that our church leaders need our prayers. However, how many of us actually take time out of our day, each day, to pray for them. The answer should be 100% of us but sadly this is not the case. Our church leaders are usually under appreciated and most always taken for granted.
Many feel that since the pastor (or minister, preacher, or whatever you call your worship leader) is getting paid then he or she should always be there whenever, or wherever we feel they should. Many feel that the pastor works for them personally and should do things the way the member wants them done. Some even feel like the man behind the pulpit on Sunday mornings has the cushiest job in the world. After all, who else only works for a couple of hours each Sunday and then spends the rest of the week at their leisure.
Selfishness: devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one’s own interests, benefits, welfare,etc., regardless of others.
Does this sound familiar? I am sure that all of us can look at one point in our lives where we have been guilty of being selfish. After all, isn’t it human nature? Not really, I think that is just an excuse. After all, God doesn’t call us to be selfish. Rather Jesus tells us that we should be the exact opposite.
And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Luke 13:30
All throughout the New Testament, Jesus teaches us how to serve others. So why should it be any different when we attend church? Simple, it shouldn’t!
This past week my Sunday School class took at look at chapter 3 of Thom Rainer’s book, I Am A Church Member; I Will Not Let My Church Be about My Preferences and Desires. In this chapter Rainer discusses the fact that the word “servant” occurs fifty-seven times in the New Testament and the word “serve” appears an additional fifty-eight times. That should give us some clue as to how we are expected to act towards others. Continue Reading…
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