Why would a church decide not to have an effective Discipleship program?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said,

Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth which has a place for the Fatherhood of God, but omits Christ as the living Son. … There is trust in God, but no following of Christ.

Discipleship is more than a call; it is a lifestyle that is never to stop, that must never stop until we are called home to eternity with our Lord. It is the instigation and flow for the Christian life; it is our continual devotion, worship, learning, growth, and practice in Christ as LORD over all.

So, are you a Christian who really seeks to follow Jesus? If not, what is in the way of His Way? What could possibly be better for you and those around you?

It all comes down to the decision of whether we will make our faith real and impacting, relinquishing our pride to allow us to learn, grow, and teach others, or we will plant our rears in the pew, thus making our only impact our butt prints in that pew! Let us make sure our impact comes from a life transformed and passed on to the people around us!

Read more: http://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=37331&columnid=3844


What do you think?

We have a Radio Opportunity!

Dear Friends and Supporters, We as a ministry have a wonderful opportunity before us and we need your partnership!

Dr. Krejcir, “With the Word” (name pending, any ideas?) radio show…

KKLA, 99.5 FM, America’s largest Christian radio station, reaching all of Southern California by air and the rest of the world by Web, have invited Richard our Director to do a radio program! This will be a 3 minute devotional each day of week. It will run 5:15am, Monday through Friday, with an option to do a 20 minute Sunday morning show as well. We hope and pray this can be an inspirational blessing to all.

Can you imagine the opportunity to be in the homes of over 100,000 people who listen to that time slot with a potential to reach 20 million each day with the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus Christ? In a world where most of the “on air” personalities do not teach the Word or give false doctrines (not the case with KKLA!), we have an opportunity to be used by Christ for His Kingdom. What a door God has opened for us. We need you to make this work!This ministry opportunity will not be cheap, but KKLA has lowered its price, and wants to make this happen. So, we do not want to let this opportunity go by. Our board and national staff are very excited because through this opportunity, many more doors will be opened too.

The cost is, $100 per program, for 5 programs a week for a 13-week minimum commitment to start. Thus, we need to raise $6,500 to start.

Perhaps you can prayer and support this endeavor and even ask others too. Can you sponsor one show for $100, a week for $500, or a month for $2,000, or more, or perhaps you or you know someone who would underwrite it for a sponsorship to their business?

Our goal is to make this an ongoing ministry and we need to raise $26,000 per year (this is way below the normal price). This is almost the entire US budget for Into Thy Word, so we do not have the means to do this. But with yours and others partnership we do!

If you would like to help us with our potential radio ministry, you can mail a donation to:

Into Thy Word Ministries
129 South Lotus Avenue
Pasadena, Ca 91107

Or online at our totally new website at http://www.intothyword.org/

Click here to Donate!
You may contact me through email for more info info@intothyword.com

Please pray for this new ministry opportunity. We do not have the budget or the resources to make this happen. In fact, we are very much struggling now and need prayer and support more than ever, as the ministry giving is way down too, while our expenses and opportunities are up!
Yet, I know that the results will be marvelous and not only will our ministry grow and be a blessing to you and many others. We have the opportunity to nourish more souls through God’s Word and help them come to a deeper and saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. All because of your partnership!

Thank-you for all who have supported and prayed for us!!!

May God continue to Bless and keep you, Serving the Lord through Into Thy Word Ministries

Num 6:24

Please pass this on to anyone who you may think would be interested…

Aug, 2007 www.intothyword.com

Is the Discipline of Solitude Working in You?

How would you define Solitude?

What gets in the way of you getting away for some Solitude?

The Discipline of Solitude is the practice of our “waiting for God” to act and complete His will, so our focus is on Him and then He fills us. This is an aspect of private prayer and worship, but instead of doing the talking we cling to Christ in silence and do the listening. This means we still ourselves to hear what God has to say. This is about our willingness to be examined by God, to hear His voice and see His call because we have moved anything that is in the way of Him. This is best served when we understand God’s holiness and pause and have expectancy as His faithful, as if we are waiting for the sentence rendered by a jury or judge. But the sentence is great for they will see God! For this to happen we must still our rashness and busyness so the center of our being, our mind, will and emotions is focused on Christ and His will. Our will and desires are the things that have all of our attention and direction that need to be quieted before our Holy Lord so He can fill us up. It is all about Him and not about me! In this way, The Holy Spirit can motivate and also examine our attitudes, to see if there is room, (and there should be lots of it) for improvement in our relationships with both God and those around us!

Principle Scriptures on the Discipline of Solitude: Psalm 4:7; 46; 130; Habakkuk 2:20; Matthew 5:8 6: 4-7; Mark 3:13; 6:31-32, 46; Luke 6:12; John 3:30; Galatians 1:13-17

For more: http://www.intothyword.org/articles_view.asp?articleid=37460&columnid=3803

Is Christ LORD, Lord, or lord over your church?

Out of learning why churches fail, we also learned why they succeeded. The churches that were healthy, growing spiritually, and socially vibrant have significant aspects that set them apart from the failing churches.

Why Churches Succeed

http://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=35972&columnid=3958

These factors are displayed in order of relevance and importance. Each one of these factors creates a harmony, contentment, and atmosphere for a churchgoer to come to church services and fellowship, and then to invite others. When they feel this church is “home,” they will learn and grow, then desire to become a member, become active, experience and give love and Fruit, and be able to serve our Lord there. Each of these themes is significant as they motivate, inspire, and spur people on to feel part of something greater than themselves.

The main, significant factor over all else of why churches succeed is this one point: they were centered upon Christ as LORD! They were not centered on a personality, a vision, a denomination, an emerging paradigm, or a set of trends. They were “souled out” to Christ as central and sovereign. Each of these points relate to the Lordship of Christ.

What do you think?

How can your church become a conduit for the work of the Gospel, the moving of the Spirit, and the glorification of our Lord?

What is in the way?

What needs to take place to know Christ, to be effective, and to grow spiritually—“true spirituality” as Schaeffer challenged us with?

Pastors, would you like to take a Survey?

We have been doing some research for the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development http://www.truespirituality.org/

A startling study of pastors, their devotional life and its correlation to church success and failures, was recently completed, which we are now compiling the results of.

I am asking pastors that I know a few of questions for validity comparison, this will be confidential:

To make it as easy as possible, put an * or bold your answer and then reply back.

How many days a week do you spend on your daily devotions:

More than 6 days?
More than 5 days?
More than 4 days?
More than 3 days?
More than 2 days?
More than 1 day?
No days spent?

How much time on average is spent on your daily devotions:

More than 60 minutes a day?
More than 45 minutes a day?
More than 30 minutes a day?
More than 20 minutes a day?
More than 15 minutes a day?
More than 10 minutes a day?
More than 5 minutes a day?
Less than 5 minutes a day?
None at all?

How healthy is your church (How much Fruit of the Spirit is exhibited):

Very healthy (Christ is glorified and people are growing in faith)?
Mostly healthy (Attention is placed on trends and personalities and not so much on the centrality of Christ, but Bible is being taught)?
Some what healthy (Church is a daily grind, a lot of problems, but Gospel is preached)?
Not vary healthy (church is riddled with conflict, gossip and strife, poor Bible teaching)?

Of other pastors you know and work with, do they take seriously their daily devotions and growth of their faith? (you can put an * or a number by each column)

Very seriously?
Some what seriously?
Not vary seriously?
Not at all?

Do you think building a devotional life is the key important priority for a pastor and a church?

Very much?
Some what?
Not vary much?
Not at all?

If you have time, a sentence or two:

What has been the impact on your church because of your devotional life?




What has been the impact on your personal and family life because of your devotional life?




Reflect on what has been your personal participation in devotions, discipleship, through accountability, personal Bible study, devotions and prayer for the purpose of your personal spiritual growth?





Thanks and be blessed!

Richard (This was very convicting to me personally too!)
Num 6:24

Volunteers in the Church Thought

Pastors and Leaders of good and growing churches empower the people in their care.

They do not see or use volunteers just as helpers, but as the tools and the prime resources with which to glorify God, and enablers of the goals of missions and needs to be reached. They do this by encouragement, training, and organization, all centered to have the people of God growing in and receiving the Spirit in order to reach the full potential that God has for them. If a pastor, coach, or key supervisor gives special recognition and encouragement even once, that leader and/or volunteer will usually remain very faithful and loyal to the church!

(Romans 12; John 4:23; Colossians 1:24-29; 1 Timothy 4:15-16)

Why do churches not do this?

How is your church with its volunteers?

Our new website!

We are almost done developing our new website!

After over six months, 3 full time people and a host of web professionals working on it, we are there, now online and live!

www.intothyword.org

What do you think?

We are having a few technical issues launching our new site. We are working to resolve the bugs and still have a few hundred content items to upload, so far we have over 1,000 online now.

Meanwhile most is on Bible Study Articles page and everything is still on our old site too: www.intothyword.com

Our old site now has a new template, url and name,

www.withtheword.org

We still need to raise $15,000 for this endeavor. Thank-you for who have contributed! Please keep us in prayer over this and consider partnering with us for this needed project...

Keep this in prayer and check it out and let us know what you think: