Churches are largely volunteer groups, which operate on limited budgets. Social capital helps improve the chance that your church can reach significant goals. The old tradition in some countries of farmers helping other farmers bring in their harvest is an example of social capital. That is, though we need to look at each situation on … Continue reading –>
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Prov. 22:1, NIV). How does the concept expressed here relate to our community witness and outreach? What is “social capital”? When you make investments in a bank account, its value grows. Social capital consists of positive, productive … Continue reading –>
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in an African country is growing rapidly. What is the secret? Church leaders have stated that there is a strong connection between this growth and the unselfish and unconditional service of the church members to people in communities throughout the country. The widespread confidence in the Seventh-day Adventist Church came to … Continue reading –>
After desiring their good, showing sympathy, and ministering to their needs, Jesus “won their confidence.” Confidence in Latin is composed of the words con,meaning “with,” and fides meaning “faith.” Throughout the Bible several words are employed to get across the meaning of the word faith. In Hebrew the main root for “faith” is amn, from … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 15:6, Num. 14:11, 1 Cor. 3:1-9, Dan. 6:1-3, Neh. 2:1-9, Deut. 4:1-9, Acts 2:42-47. Memory Text: “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities” (Luke 5:15, ESV). For several years, a Seventh-day Adventist … Continue reading –>
Read Deuteronomy 15:11, Job 29:11-17, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 19:17, Acts 3:6, James 1:27-2:5; Ellen G. White, “Pioneering in Australia,” pp. 327-338, in Welfare Ministry. Paul, like Jesus, was involved in meeting the expressed needs of people. We can see this, for example, in the famous story of Paul at Mars Hill in Athens. In Acts … Continue reading –>
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Prov. 16:3, NIV). Once your church has a clear vision of how it can minister to the community, it is important to develop a plan whereby all church departments can work together in order to make this vision a reality. Even though … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 9:36-42. What did Dorcas do in Joppa when she discovered the needs around her? In Acts 9:41 what does the phrase “the believers, especially the widows” (NIV) imply? Dorcas was a disciple of action. “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha” (Acts 9:36, NIV). Can it be said, “In [the name of … Continue reading –>
Jesus, as the Lord, knew more about the people than they knew about themselves. There are many accounts in the Gospels where Jesus showed that He not only knew what people were thinking at the present (see Mark 2:8)-He knew their histories as well (John 4:18). Read Psalm 139:1-13. What is the Word of God … Continue reading –>
Read Mark 10:46-52 and John 5:1-9. In both cases, Jesus asked questions. Why would He do that? Notice, in both cases, that Jesus asked what they wanted, even though it was obvious what they wanted. And even if it weren’t, Jesus would have known what those needs were anyway. However, by asking these questions, Jesus … Continue reading –>
