What does it take to lead a congregation? Intelligence and charisma count, for sure, but Saddleback Church’s Rick Warren says nothing is more important than vision. “You must constantly answer the question: Why are we here? If you don’t know the answer, you can’t lead,” Warren writes. Check out his essay on how to develop […]
Sure, Martin Luther shook the 16th century church with his insights about justification by grace through faith, but did you know he had some downright prophetic observations on wealth? Money is a deeply spiritual matter, that reveals and challenges us to love God and neighbor. This article in Luther Seminary’s “Word & World” explains it […]
In a culture where Sundays have become just like our busy weekend Saturday, it’s important to remember that keeping the Sabbath day holy is not just a good tip for your mental and physical health, it’s a commandment — one of the Big Ten! Make it a part of your 2018 Christian education plan to […]
It’s the beginning of a New Year. Are you going to dust off your perennial list of resolutions for a healthy New Year — the same ones you’ve managed over the last 10 years to forget about by February? This year reframe your resolutions to make them more achievable, says this article from health.com. Not […]
As North Americans, we live in a money-crazed culture, filled with contradictory messages about wealth and human value — even in church, from pastors, preachers and biblical interpreters. What’s a faithful Christian to think ? This insightful article from Christianity Today may help navigate the choppy waters with a look at some of the most […]
Start 2018 on the right environmental foot! Print a creation-related Bible passage in every Sunday bulletin. This great file from Lutherans Restoring Creation will help you out with 52 brief passages that deal with issues of environmental stewardship. You could make them more meaningful by providing insights or commentary from your own community and context.
This is a great all-in-one resource for your congregation’s monthly stewardship communications. You’ll find “cut-and-paste” short “Stewardship Snippets” tied to the RCL readings for every Sunday’s bulletin, articles for your monthly newsletter or website. Not only that, you’ll find links for resources to “Teach,” “Preach,” “Lead,” “Think’, and “Do” stewardship. Prepared by SOLI web editor […]
Not all lessons are learned in Sunday school. Storybooks that your children will cherish can teach them important lessons in generosity, abundance, sharing, community, family and other stewardship topics. Instead of buying the child on your list the latest toy du jour that will be forgotten by New Year’s Day, consider these suggested by Familius. […]
The last thing you probably want for Christmas is a cold, flu or an injury to ruin your celebration of the incarnation of Our Lord. So here’s a helpful message from the federal Centers for Disease Control: “Brighten the holidays by making your health and safety a priority. Take steps to keep you and your […]
Here’s a holiday worship service that celebrates the year’s blessings with a community meal featuring a very special soup of Puerto Rico. “We are a culture of abundance,” writes Pastor Thea Racelis. “We live into our belief that God has given us enough to go around if we just share!” (Photo: Rool Paap, Creative Commons) […]
