February 2000

The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Christians

Have you ever wondered why some people lose their faith, while others never do? What is it that makes certain Christians stronger than others? What causes people who were baptized into Christ and were once very excited about their new life with Him to turn around and become slaves to sin again? In this issue, we will examine seven habits which cause people to fall away from God. While this may seem a negative way of approaching the subject, it will be clear that if these habits break Christians, then the opposite habits will help to make them. more...

Murmuring and Complaining

""And the people complained against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?'"" (Exo. 15:23-24). more...

Poor Praying

To truly be an ""Ineffective Christian,"" prayer has to disappear from our lives. That is not to say that some reverent looking act accompanied by some solemn sounding words spoken in ""King-James English"" cannot remain. However, prayer as God presents it to us in the Bible cannot exist. more...

Bible Neglect

There are few things more dangerous to the spiritual health of Christians than a neglect of sincere, careful Bible study. Christians need to be immersed in God's word, for that is what makes them different. For instance, Christians are different from the ungodly, because study of His word has led them to the knowledge that an ungodly life will result in destruction (Jude 14-15; 2 Pet. 3:7). more...

A Refusal To Serve Others

""No one at that church ever called me when I was sick."" ""What programs do you offer for my children?"" ""Why don't they ever ask me to lead the singing?"" more...

Compartment Spirituality

How many times have you heard someone say ""We should serve God first, then family, and then self""? This is a popular approach to priorities life. Yet such prioritizing may just set one up to be a very ineffective and mediocre Christian. This is so because the list approach encourages what I call compartment spirituality. Let's learn more about this significant problem for saints today. more...

Poor Worship Habits

""I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord'"" (Ps. 122:1). more...

The Preacher's Pen

It may be winter where you are but already printers and publishers are sending out VBS promotional packets. They are anxious to get everyone thinking about these traditionally summertime activities. Interestingly, I saw an article recently about ""a new kind of VBS that's attracting more children than ever."" Who doesn't want more kids to come to VBS? I took the bait and read the article. Imagine my surprise to read about how a church in Chicago offers a ""Summer Funner Theater"" in which kids ""learn lines, songs, and choreography, and they play drama games."" Another church has found it can get capacity crowds by having soccer camp. Charging $25 per child more than 250 kids came for three hours every evening to learn soccer skills and play soccer. The article touted other churches offering basketball camps and even a Wet 'N Wild water camp. more...