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Goals 1-24-16

1/24/2016

Goals Worthy of Consideration and Prayers
In a recent sermon, I listed reasons for confidence and concern pertaining to the future of the church in Milan.
Reasons for confidence include:

An impressive number of infants, toddlers, children (and more on the way).
Committed parents that consistently bring their children to Bible classes and services.
Committed young men that may one day serve as elders, deacons and preachers.
Your amazing generosity and involvement in a plethora of good works.
God’s desire that the church in Milan increase for His glory.

Reasons for concern include:

Lack of elders (and deacons).
Shortage of teachers (along with the lack of an Educational Director).
Shortage of men that are capable of leading in our services.
Lack of outreach (by consistently meeting a need in our community).
Lack of plans for expansion.
Lack of regular activities for our children and teens.

I then proposed several goals that will address some of the aforementioned concerns:

By Dec. 31, 2016 we locate and purchase property of sufficient size to erect a building

accommodating between 200 & 250 people.

By July 1, 2018 we employ a full-time youth, educational & outreach minister.
By May 1, 2020 we break ground on our new church building.
By Nov. 1, 2021 we conduct our first service in our new facility.
By Dec. 31, 2022 we appoint 3 elders & several deacons.

Next week: What it will require to achieve these goals.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis

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Parking Lot Sermons 1-16-16

1/16/2016

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Parking Lot Sermons
When I resided in Clarksburg, West Virginia, I frequently passed a church building that rarely failed to impress me. I'm not referring to the physical structure, although it was large and attractive. What struck me was the parking lot; specifically, the number of cars that were typically parked there.
Although the lot was generally full during their Sunday morning worship, that is not what caught my eye. What amazed me was the fact that their lot was nearly full by 9:15 AM on Sundays – 15 minutes prior to Sunday school. That's not all. Whenever I passed the building at 5:45 p.m. on Sundays (15 minutes prior to their evening service), the parking lot was often 75% full. It was the same prior to their midweek service on Wednesdays.
There's more. On many weekdays and Saturdays, I routinely observed 25 to 40 cars parked in their lot. Apparently, this is a church that believes that a church building should be utilized far more than 3 to 4 hours weekly.
My point? Although I did not attend a service in that building, I was constantly tempted to do so. Why? Because the parking lot persuasively "preached" to me that this particular church is passionate about worship, learning, serving and growing.
Come to think of it, every church parking lot "preaches” on Sundays, Wednesdays, and on other days. But what is the message? Is it that “Once-a-week attendance is preferred here.” Or, “Bible class is not very important.” Or, “This facility is closed 95% of the time.”
What is our parking lot "preaching” to our community? May God help us to improve these "sermons" for His glory, the edification of His church, and the salvation of souls!
“I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psa. 122:1)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis

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30 Scriptures to Inspire Jan 10, 2016

1/10/2016

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*** 30 SCRIPTURES TO INSPIRE YOU IN 2016 ***
(By request, I am publishing the 30 Scriptures I shared in my sermon last Sunday night. This list includes some of the most inspirational and instructive passages in the Bible.)
Instructions: For each day of 2016, read one of the passages below, beginning with # 1. After reading, take a few moments to meditate on its meaning, pray for understanding and/or application, then reread the passage once more.
Because most of these passages require less than 30 seconds to read, do this in addition to your normal daily Bible reading. However, if you are not in the habit of reading your Bible daily, reading one of these Scriptures daily (as suggested above) will be a great place to start. May God bless you as a result of meditating on these powerful passages!
1. JOSH. 1:8-9                                 2. PSA. 1:1-3                              3. PSA. 27:1-3
4. PSA. 37:1-9                                  5. PSA. 51:9-13                         6. PSA. 100
7. PROV. 3:5-6                                 8. ISA. 40:28-31                         9. ISA. 41:10-13
10. ISA. 54:13-17                             11. JER. 29:11-13                     12. LAM. 3:22-25
13. MT. 5:14-16                                14. MT. 6:9-15                      15. MT. 6:31-34
16. LK. 6:37-38                                17. JN. 3:14-18                          18. ACTS 2:41-47
19. ROM. 8:26-38                            20. ROM. 8:31-39                     21. ROM. 12:1-2
22. 1 COR. 6:9-11                            23. 1 COR. 9:19-22                    24. EPH. 4:31-5:2
25. PHIL. 4:4-8                                 26. COL. 3:13-17                        27. 1 TIM. 6:6-10
28. JAM. 2:1-9                                  29. 2 PET. 3:10-13                      30. REV. 21:1-8
“So shall MY WORD be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall ACCOMPLISH what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” [ISA 55:11]
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis

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Goals 1-24-16

Parking Lot Sermons 1-16-16

30 Scriptures to Inspire Jan 10, 2016

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