Author Archives: Andrew Schank

About Andrew Schank

Andrew Schank is an Independent Baptist Missionary/Pastor who loves to blog about spiritual matters! His main ministry website is http://www.togetherinthegap.com. Andrew is also a contributing author to two other blogs/websites including http://linked2leadership.com and http://www.ifbkjv.com. Pastor Schank's Church website is http://www.greatcommissionbaptist.org
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What Manner Of Love

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This outline reminds us about God’s love for us. Though there is absolutely no way we can duplicate it exactly, we must strive to do our best in sharing God’s love by word and in deed!


Title: “What Manner Of Love!”

Text: I John 3:1-2

(1 John 3:1-2) “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”  (KJV)

Introduction:

•    Everyone wants to be loved, we say! Yet we, all too often, fail display the love we speak of!
•    Many of us tend to talk big on love and yet deliver love very little.
•    We speak of love as if it is a loose term! However, love is a word that has a rich and deep meaning that needs to be contemplated!
•    The human mind and tongue have a hard time teaming up to convey what manner of love that God has bestowed upon us!
•    It is my hope that I can share with you some new things and yet reiterate some familiar things about the love of God!
•    May the scales be removed from your eyes as you here about God’s love.
•    May each of us that are saved start displaying the manner of love that we so enjoy from our Heavenly Father!

Proposition: There are four things I want to share with you about the love of God that should encourage you this morning!

I.    Notice That God’s Love Is Undeserving!

A.    Many major on the fact that God is a loving God to the extent that no one should be sent to Hell!

B.    Those who think that obviously believe that they deserve God’s love. This is pride!

C.    Much to the contrary! We deserve nothing!

D.    Consider:

(Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (KJV)

E.    As a sinner, we were enemies, yet God sent His Son to Calvary!

F.    I believe this love of God is absolutely unmerited!

II.    Notice That God’s Love Is Undying!

(Jeremiah 31:3) “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”  (KJV)

A.    God’s love for His children is undying and changeless!

B.    May each of us learn to love in this manner!

C.    This is unconditional love!

D.    Very few humans have the ability to love in this capacity!

III.    Notice That God’s Love Is Unselfish!

A.    God loved man so much that He spared not His Son!

(Romans 8:32) “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”  (KJV)

B.    If anyone is sent to Hell it is because they have turned their nose up at the greatest display of love to man.

C.    God loved this world more than anything and He showed it vividly!

(John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (KJV)

IV.    Notice That God’s Love Is Unique!

A.    This love we have been speaking of is unique to God and can only truly be exhibited by His children. Look back at our text!

(1 John 3:1) “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”  (KJV)

B.    The manner of God’s love is unknown to the world!

C.    It takes time for a sinner to fully come to grips with what kind of love that God has loved him with!

D.    The world knows nothing about God’s love!

Conclusion:

To The Sinner:

•    Don’t reject God’s love!
•    Repent and be saved!

To The Christian:

•    It ought to perplex you as you think about God’s love! Perhaps, this should move you to love people differently than you do now.

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By John Phillips / Kregel Academic & Professional

These 100 devotions cover less than 2 pages each and are focused on specific texts of Scripture, arranged from Genesis to Revelation. Dr. Phillips, who has been associated with Moody Institute for many years, is author of a multi-volume commentary of the entire Bible. Ideal for sermon illustrations, to augment bible studies or as devotional thoughts.

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4 Ways Pastors Can Better Connect With People In Their Pulpit Ministry

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Pastor Andrew SchankPreaching is explicitly ordained of God to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to help the subsequent disciples mature in their faith. Though other methods can be employed, God has made it absolutely clear that preaching and the pulpit ministry should be preeminent! Since it is so important, every pastor should seek to better get the message across so as to be more effective.

(1 Corinthians 1:18) “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  (KJV)
(1 Corinthians 1:21) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”  (KJV)
(Romans 10:17) “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  (KJV)

Golden Rule For The Pulpit Ministry…

Pastors can make a better connection by not preaching AT their congregation, but by preaching TO them! Ultimately, every man of God has to have unction of God’s Holy Spirit on him to be effective. However, pastors can be a sharper tool in the Master’s hand by paying attention to four simple things while they are preaching God’s Word.

#1 – Smile

Some preachers could smile a little more while behind the pulpit. Even though preaching is a serious issue, pastors can make better connections when they do not have a scowl on the face a majority of the time. By no means am I advocating the replacing of sober preaching with a comedy routine, but I am proposing that you can better connect with a soul more by a warm smile appropriate to the occasion.

#2 – Eye Contact

Every pastor is different in personality, however, there is no substitute for looking someone in the eye from behind the pulpit while sharing a message from Heaven. Whether you are reproving, rebuking or exhorting, eye contact is a very good way to make a better connection with the congregation. One word of caution though… do not look at the same person all of the time! lol

#3 – Sincerity

The issue of sincerity is lacking a great deal in many pulpits today. Hirelings and professionals, may be perceived as entertainers and salesmen, but sincerity, by definition, is far superior to anything they can muster. Nothing rivals preaching on Hell with a tear in your eye! One should not be a phony for people know when you are preaching from your heart!

#4 – Familiarity

When preaching God’s Word we have to remember what a preacher of yesteryear stated, “God said to feed my lambs, not my giraffes!” How true! Keep the cookies on the bottom shelf when sharing a message from God. Use words that are FAMILIAR to your people. Yes, you can teach them new ones, but do not use your superior skills with the kings English to devalue anyone.

**********

Please Share Another Way(s) A Pastor Can Be More Effective When Preaching God’s Word!

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Being A Useful Servant By Pastor Dan Reed | Manna For Your Day

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Dr. Dan Reed was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1951. He was saved at the Woodland Avenue Baptist Church in 1973 while studying engineering at Auburn University. Sensing the call to preach in 1973 he enrolled at Tennessee Temple College under the ministry of Dr. Lee Roberson. Finishing his B.A. in December of 1975 he was called to Emden, Missouri , a town of 61, to pastor the Community Baptist Church. Pastor Reed has started two churches and two Christian schools during his 33-year ministry. He is currently the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church of Acworth, Georgia. (Learn more about Dr. Reed HERE)

ON BEING A USEFUL SERVANT

Scripture Reading: II Tim. 2:20-26

Text: II Tim. 2:21″If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, and meet for the Master’s use.”

Paul is writing to the young pastor, Timothy, telling him in this passage how to be  “Meet for the Master’s use.” In other words he is telling Timothy how to become useful. Really we should not ask to be used, we should ask the Lord to make us useful. If we become a willing and fit vessel, then God will use us. He gives Timothy here some key qualities to make us useful.

I. Purity- 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

He gives here 5 characteristics of a pure heart. Fleeing from our own lusts, following the path of right living, growing our faith, pure and discerning love, and a desire for peace and harmony are characteristics of having a single minded eye in service, not for our own glory but God’s! Paul tells Timothy, “Make sure you get in the right preacher’s fellowship, stay around men who have a pure heart!” Purity is a necessity if God is to use any of us.

II. Discernment- 2:23 “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”

Discernment is the ability to distinguish the truth from error and half-truth. To be useful we must know what we must stand for and what we must not argue over. We can lose our usefulness by being too picky or too lenient. Bob Jones Sr. used to say that balance is the toughest thing about the Christian life. Sometimes we lose our ability to help some people because we are not discerning enough to know what we can look over and what we must contend for!

III. Gentleness- 2:24 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient.”

Gentleness is godly strength. If a man breaks his ankle and lady tries to lift him up, she cannot be gentle because she does not have the strength. But if a lady or child breaks their ankle and a strong man picks them up, they can be very gentle and yet get the job done. David said of God, “Thy gentleness hath made be great.” To be able to be gentle with those we are trying to help makes us useful to a greater number of people. Yes, perhaps some people will respond to intimidation techniques, but whether they do or not does not make them right. I believe the opposite of gentleness is intimidation. Some leaders who cannot convince by using the Word of God and loving gentleness, use intimidation techniques. This is not a quality of a servant of the Lord!

IV. Meekness- 2:25 “In meekness…”  Meekness is “power under control.” It is losing your rights. The Psalmist said, “The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way.” If I would be useful, I must develop this attribute which both Jesus and Paul and Moses were said to have which makes me “teachable”. I must let God work through me in His way not force my will on others.

V. Prayerfulness- 2:25,26 “Instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth…” Only God can really change people. I must constantly depend on His power as I preach and teach and go soulwinning..” I desire to be used, O Lord, make me useful!”

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