Russia is very right to attack Ukraine and Ukraine too is very right to defend itself. NATO is also right to help defend Ukraine. But which of these interests is God's perfect will? Which interest will benefit God's kingdom more? I believe that the defense of Ukraine will by far profit the advancement of God's kingdom more. Lord, Thy will be done. We need peace in Ukraine.
Cain left God's presence and "succeeded" in building a city. He never returned to God. The prodigal son left his father's house and was a failure in a far country. His failure made him to return to his father. May I never succeed if I ever wander away from God's presence or His perfect will for my life.
@NotMyName I fit into the person you need but I'm not in the US. I can assure you of my prayers for the recovery of your child. The healing hands of Jesus Christ of Nazareth will touch your baby. Amen.
Understanding the way the priests in the Old Testament bore the ark of the covenant will give leaders the requisite leadership wisdom. The ark was borne by four priests on their level shoulders to avoid lopsidedness. The priests were forbidden to carry the ark on their heads or on a cart. If you want to live long as a leader, please don't carry the work on your head. Select people whose shoulders are of the same level with yours to help you bear the responsibilities of your leadership.
Many people have wrongly perceived discipleship to be meant for only young converts or for those undergoing preparatory classes for water baptism. That could be the reason why some pastors don't participate in the Sunday school or small group Bible study classes. No believer ever graduates from discipleship till death. We can only quit discipleship when we think we have become perfectly like Jesus with no need for more spiritual growth.
I've realized that "pulpit ministry" (ministering from the pulpit) is one of the least forms of ministry by which we can impact lives and do genuine biblical discipleship. As good as pulpit ministry is, we should start making it look less attractive and rather emphasize more on one-on-one discipleship, small group meetings, and the house church model.
The man behind the pulpit is mostly like an actor. He may not be the same man at home who lives with his wife, kids, etc. Whatever he says or does behind the pulpit shouldn't be taken at face value until we know the kind of life he lives outside the pulpit.
Genuine one-on-one discipleship provides the disciple the privilege of knowing and touching the Pastor. It's that intimate relationship between a disciple and a discipler that truly transforms the disciple.
This was the example that Jesus set for us. His disciples lived with Him, ate with Him, and slept with Him. We need to close the gap between the pulpit and the pew.
As powerful as city-wide and mass crusades are, there can be no revival unless the church returns to personal (one-on-one) evangelism.
Personal evangelism has been tested over the years to be far more effective than mass crusades.
Mass crusade is like keeping several empty bottles outside while it's raining for them to get filled. That would be a difficult task. The heavy rain will cause an erosion while the bottles may never get full. Even if anyone gets full, it stands the risk of spilling its content.
But personal evangelism is like taking a container of water and pouring it directly into the bottles, one at a time. By this way, more bottles will get filled within a shorter time and lots of resources will be preserved.