Growing a Sunday School

David Ashcraft

January 27

It's amazing how quickly a church can grow just by adding Sunday School classes. And for most churches, a growing Sunday School is the only method of growth. Read More about how the numbes work out for churches in Kentucky.

Rose Publishing

January 17, 2011

David Ashcraft

If you are interested in good reference materials try Rose Publishing. Rose Publishing, Inc. publishes full-color easy-to-use Bible reference materials, including Bible charts, Bible maps, Bible timelines and biblical reference pamphlets for pastors, Bible study leaders, New Member Classes, and small groups. They specializes in graphics-rich Bible teaching aids. Its mission is to make Bible and Christian topics easy to understand and more interesting. Read More

R.C. Sproul on how God changes us

"The key method Paul underscores as the means to the transformed life is by the “renewal of the mind.” This means nothing more and nothing less than education. Serious education. In-depth education. Disciplined education in the things of God. It calls for a mastery of the Word of God. We need to be people whose lives have changed because our minds have changed." Read More

How to Spot a Healthy Church in 30 Seconds

Joe McKeever
January 14, 2011

As one pastor put it, "If the building is in a state of disrepair and if the people are unfriendly, those are dead giveaways. If there are no greeters for the church and no helps for first-time visitors, you decide very quickly this must be an unhealthy church."

Other signs are so obvious they require very little comment: a sparse crowd, lackluster singing, uninspired sermons, and unfriendly congregations.

But the question is: How would you tell that a church is healthy in a few seconds? Read More

Is the Christian Experience Valid

January 13, 2011
David Ashcraft

Interesting title for a Sunday School lesson, "Is the Christian Experience Valid?" Psalms 34:8 says,"Taste and see that the Lord is good." I thought about a paraphrase, "Try it, you'll like it." I thought of my baby grandson, always putting things into his mouth to "try them."

There is refuge in the Lord; quietness with Him. We can read about someone's experience, but the ultimate witness is to be able to say, "I know from personal experience that the Lord is good."

The Captain and the King - Opinion - PatriotPost.US

The Captain and the King by Peggy Noonan

Shepherds

January 9, 2010
David Ashcraft

At our after Christmas party, the Crosswalk class members participated in a survey to determine which character from the nativity scene we are most like. Most of us identified with the shepherds in the story. The survey instrument said of us, "Congratulations! You're about as loyal as a person can get. You love animals and being out in nature where life is nice and simple. Taking care of your family and your small group of close friends is very important to you. In the future, you'll be the person everyone goes to when they're feeling a bit down because you make everyone feel special and safe. Take care of that flock!"

I think we are in good company; Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd.