Ministry Resources & Tools | Christian Ministry Training Blog

Everybody Likes Freebies

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Freebies Mean No Cost for You

Free Ministry Resources - Freebies Everybody seems to like freebies … especially when they truly are free with no strings attached. For something to truly be free means that it comes without a cost to you … a gift.

I see many searches in the web site statistics for free resources. And, so many people have made requests through the contact form for free material that after much prayer a decision was made that those kinds of requests would no longer receive a response. Despite that policy being stated on the contact form, requests for free material (and free money) still come in regularly.

Free Material from Ministry Tools Resource Center

In the event you have not come across the freebies offered by Ministry Tools Resource Center, here is what you will find:

on the MinTools.com site:

40 Day Challenge to Help You Maintain a Healthy Perspective explained as Pillars of Truth to Support You in Life

Decision-Making Principles which is from the article Biblical Principles for Decision-Making

you will find one of the Bible teacher devotionals from the Be-Attitudes for Teachers Devotional Guide

you will find one of the teaching methods found in the Sharpening Your Bible Teaching Methods Resource

a spiritual gifts test free to take online

plus near a thousand pages of ministry training and spiritual growth articles you may freely read

and numerous pages with lists of ministry resources for the various types of ministries and holidays, saving you research time

on the TrainBibleTeachers.com site you will find:

some free teacher training sessions you may use:

handout of an acrostic on the Bible teaching-learning process you may freely distribute to teachers in your sphere of ministry

handout of an acrostic of the word CHANGED explaining the kind of change God desires which you may freely distribute to teachers in your sphere of ministry

plus over 60 resource pages to assist you in finding resources on a variety of teacher training topics, freeing up your time

and help for Christian Education Directors, Sunday School Superintendents, and others responsible for teacher training in the Train Bible Teachers Blog

on the TrainChurchLeaders.com site you will find:

a number of pages looking at leadership basics, qualities, and skills

and a practicum to help you apply those basics to common tasks or issues leaders face

Freebies Cost Somebody Something

Let’s remember that even the greatest free gift ever … eternal life in Christ Jesus (Jn. 1:12-13; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9) … was not free. It cost Jesus His life!

For Ministry Tools Resource Center, providing freebies could mean the loss of a sale which translates into less money for the ministry. It costs time initially to put all this material together to provide it freely to the Body of Christ as well as money to keep it up. An online ministry incurs costs which is why everything we offer can’t be free, as much as I truly would love to make everything a freebie.

Ministry Tools that Encourage Us in Serving

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

In a previous post we considered how the following ministry tools equip us for serving. These same tools are what encourage us to persevere in serving.

Click on to enlarge in Pinterest & Repin.

Tools God Provides to Encourage Us in Ministry

The ministry tools God uses to encourage us in serving include the following:

God’s Word:

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom. 15:4)

Understanding God’s purpose for the written Word, should provide us with hope. We can be encouraged by the example of God’s faithfulness in times past.

The Cross of Jesus:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb. 12:2-3)

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thess. 2:16-17)

Understanding all Jesus did for us on the cross and how great His grace is toward us, should provide us with motivation. We can be encouraged by Jesus’ example of suffering in the process of serving and know it is worth it in the end.

The Holy Spirit:

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. (Acts 9:31)

Understanding the role of the Holy Spirit as the Counselor, Comforter, and Helper in both times of persecution and peace should provide us with a sense of contentment regardless of our circumstances. We can be encouraged by the example of the early church knowing that the same Spirit is both with us and in us each step of our way.

Knowing that God has “given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him” (2 Pet. 1:3) should be a very encouraging reality for us as we serve.

Ministry Tools that Equip Us for Serving

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 5 Comments ↓

God empowers us to serve through the use of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-11). He prepares us to serve through gifted teachers and leaders (Eph. 4:11-13). He uses our spiritual gifts to help determine our part in the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:16). And, God has given us tools to enable us to wisely and effectively use our gifts in serving.

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Tools God Provides to Equip Us

The ministry tools God uses to equip us for serving include the following:

His Word:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Grab hold of this ministry tool: Align all you do with the Word of God.

The Cross of Jesus:

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross … (Heb. 12:2-3)

Grab hold of this ministry tool: Look to Jesus, not just as your example, but as the source and sustainer of all you do because of the shedding of His blood on the cross.

The Holy Spirit:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever … (Jn. 14:16-18)

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn. 14:26)

… be filled with the Spirit … (Eph. 5:15-21)

Grab hold of this ministry tool: Yield control to the Spirit so ministry is about the Lord … done for and through Him.

Of course, part of the way we grab hold of these ministry tools is through prayer and study of His Word … abiding in Him.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn. 15:5)

Tapping into the Riches of the Knowledge of God

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 4 Comments ↓

The Knowledge of God is limitless.

Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? (Rom. 11:33-34)

As the One of whom there is no greater, God must be all-knowing. He must be able to see the big picture and fit all the particulars together in the best possible way.

Of significance is that Romans 11:33 does not say that God’s knowledge is deep, although it is. Rather, the riches of His wisdom and knowledge are deep. Out of His knowledge comes great benefit which He shares with us.

How the Limitless Knowledge of God Helps Us

The knowledge God has of us enables us to know our own heart, thoughts, and ways.

For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 Jn. 3:20)

The psalmist asked God to search and know his heart, thoughts, and ways (Ps. 139:23-24) because he believed in the omniscience of God which included God having intimate knowledge of all there was to know about him (Ps. 139:1-4). David’s prayer was more for his own benefit, a request for God to make known to him what God already knew about him. This was important because God’s knowledge, taken to heart, would help keep David on track.

God’s Knowledge keeps us on track.

We will stay on track morally if we act like He knows our ways. We will stay on track attitudinally if we manage ourselves like He knows our thoughts. We will stay on track motivationally if we pursue life like He knows our hearts. We will stay on track in ministry if we serve like He knows the beginning from the end.

The knowledge of God, as opposed to our limited understanding, takes us beyond our own limitations.

Our knowledge, in contrast to His, is so limited. If we don’t rely on His knowledge, we won’t always meet the challenges of ministry. We won’t always get it right. For example:

Because we can’t know the motivations of people’s hearts, sometimes we might misinterpret their behavior.
Since we don’t always know the end we sometimes might give up prematurely.
Not knowing all the possibilities at times, we sometimes might get stuck in our methodology.
Because we don’t usually know much beyond our own frame of reference and experience sometimes we might lead and serve according to our own limited perspective and personality bent.

We will falter in our ways if we do not trust in Him with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6) because we don’t see the big picture. We will be short-sighted in how we perceive hardships if we do not yield to His use of life’s difficulties to bring about a greater good. If we truly believe and live like God knows the beginning from the end, we will enjoy the reality of being “more than conquerors through Him” in all these things (Rom. 8:37).

Let’s acknowledge the futility of trusting in our own understanding and trust in the One who has unlimited knowledge. Let’s tap into the riches of God’s knowledge!

God’s knowledge is just one of many attributes we need to tap into. Get alphabetical listings of His attributes in the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download.

Thank You Idea for Ministry Workers

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Thank You in the Bulletin When I was the Christian Education Director of a church I looked for different ways to express thanks to our ministry workers. One way I did that was to add a small blurb to the bulletin. I ran each one for two weeks in a row in the event the worker missed seeing it the first week. I included a little information about the work they did, perhaps the sacrifice it entailed, so others had a better understanding of why they too should be grateful for these servants.

Thank You Idea Examples

I came across a file with some of these bulletin thank-you notes and thought I would share them with you. If you do something similar, you would need to personalize the remarks to your situation.

A Special Thank-You for our Nursery Workers: Each week, for the entire duration of our morning worship service, we have a nursery for babies from birth to two years of age. Once a month some of our people willingly miss an entire service to care for these little ones. A special thank-you goes to . . .

We’re Glad for Children’s Church Workers: Children have a hard time sitting still. And, they learn differently than adults. Consequently, during the sermon, we dismiss children from three years of age thru grade 2 for classes on their own age-level. Thank-you to those who faithfully teach these children every month on a given Sunday: . . .

A Special Thank-You for Our Sunday School Teachers: From 9:15 to 10:15 every Sunday morning we have a special teaching time with classes for all ages. This requires people to teach who are willing to invest time into preparation. We praise God for the following such people: . . .

We Need Those Wednesday Night Children & Youth Workers: Every Wednesday night while the adults meet for prayer, our children and youth have their own groups which are a little less structured and more fun-filled than a Sunday School class yet very instructional and prayerfully impacting. Thank-you to those who are part of a regular monthly or in some cases bi-monthly schedule with the children: . . . . And to all of you who fill in the gaps . . ., we couldn’t do it without you!

Don’t use bulletins anymore? What about a church newsletter? Maybe a bulletin board? If I was a Director of Christian Education today with all the online social networks, I am sure I would probably use that venue too.

For More Ideas to Encourage: Dealing with Discouragement & Disillusionment in Bible Teaching Resources

Your View of the Holiness of God Matters in Ministry

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Holy Church Because of the Holiness of God
God has saved us and called us to a holy life . . . (2 Tim. 1:9)

We’re to be holy because He’s holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Consequently, the holiness of God must matter in ministry.

About the Holiness of God

We often think of the holiness of God as something that should instill fear as His holiness defines His expectations for us –“just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Stepping outside of those boundaries leads to spiritual death for the unbeliever because “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) and “without holiness, no one will see God” (Heb. 12:14). Lack of holiness in the believer can lead to discipline as “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness” (Heb. 12:10-11).

We could get to feeling like we are in trouble. No matter how many years we have been a Christian and have served the Lord, we will fall short. And, the people we work with and serve will not be holy. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:10). Your experience has probably confirmed this truth.

Yet, God’s holiness is as much of a blessing to us as His love and grace.

Perspective in Ministry Because of a Holy God

Through God’s holiness we find perspective to endure ministry hardships and difficult people. Here’s why:

God’s holiness can be a source of hope and encouragement.
Because of God’s holiness, even on the worst ministry day, we can know that there is something better. This sin ridden world will one day be consumed by His holy fire and a new heaven and earth will be ushered in (2 Peter 3:10-13). Knowing this gives us reason to join with the heavenly creatures in Revelations 4:8 saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”
God’s holiness can be a tool that helps us be more understanding of those we serve.
God’s holiness points us to His grace as He “saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim. 1:9). Realizing that only by His grace will we be holy, we should be more patient and understanding of those with whom and to whom we minister.

Your view of the holiness of God matters in ministry but so do His other attributes. Check out the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download for alphabetical renderings about who God is and what He does for us.