SermonCentral.com - Your Sermon Resource Center
September 14, 2009
Topic: Basic Christianity

Dear Church Leader:

There is power in fresh eyes. I see that power when I write, and my editor sees (and fixes) things I don’t see. She often rescues me from looking stupid. I also see the power of fresh eyes when a new employee joins the SermonCentral team. I tell them specifically, “In the coming weeks, you are going to see things that we don’t see. Please take careful notes about things we aren’t doing as well as what we can be doing.” The insights we learn are invaluable.

Greg Atkinson has a ministry that brings fresh eyes to churches: his Secret Shopper ministry. He’s gleaned insights by visiting churches incognito (with the awareness of church leadership). In today’s article, “Lessons from a Church Secret Shopper,” Greg freely shares many things he’s learned firsthand as he’s visited churches across the country.

There is much to discover by allowing fresh eyes to look at your church. Consider engaging Greg as an expert to assist in this process. Or, assign an visitor from your community to experience your church and offer you feedback, and be sure to ask rigorous questions about their experience. Then be prepared to do the hard work of applying what you discover through fresh eyes. You’ll be glad you did.

Whatever it takes,

Ron Forseth
General Editor
SermonCentral.com



Greg Atkinson

Lessons From a Church Secret-Shopper

by Greg Atkinson
GregAtkinson.com

Full Article

Recently, we had the hallway in our home painted by some professional painters. The smell constantly reminded us of this each time we left and returned to our house. Once we spent enough time indoors, our noses got used to the strong smell, and we got to where we didn’t even notice it. Then I went out to get the mail one day, and when I walked back in—whoa! I was hit with the strong smell of paint once again.

What am I saying? Churches can have something about them that “stinks” to a first-time visitor, but perhaps the leadership doesn’t notice or remember. Church leaders can lose their fresh perspective—their “new eyes” or, as in my case, new nose.

Why does this matter? Because people matter, and you’ve only got one chance to make a first impression. You’ve heard it said before, but it’s true: Many people will make up their minds whether or not they will return to your church long before you stand up to preach. It’s easy for a church to drift into ineffectual ministry. There are endless examples of stagnated churches. But if you have a desire to reach more and more people for Christ—changing your community, city and eventually the world—then I think I have something to share that will help you do that. We simply cannot afford to grow easy with the way our church presents itself to new guests, any more than we can grow easy with our discipleship, our worship, or our preaching. There’s simply too much at stake in the spiritual health and safety of visitors; they’re people like my parents, your children, his co-worker, her best friend, and countless others throughout the community who need to know Christ.

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This Week's Sermons

How Would God Define a Christian?
by Larry Moyer
Matthew 7:21-23

If you were to ask the average person, “What is a Christian?” you would get a variety of answers. Some would say, “A Christian is someone who goes to church every Sunday.” Others would say, “Oh no, a Christian is a member of a church because after all some go every Sunday who are not members.” Then others wouldn’t even mention the word church in their definition. …But when you really think about it, it doesn’t matter what you or I think. That is, God won’t examine me by your definition and He won’t examine you by mine. Instead, the important question is, what does the Lord say? How does God define a Christian?

Full Sermon »

Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
by Lee Strobel
John 14:6

Jesus often surprised people with teachings that cut across the grain of human nature. Lose your life to save it. The first will be last. The meek will inherit the earth. Rejoice in persecution. Pray for your enemies. It’s better to give than receive. Turn the other cheek. But, by far, the most outrageous assertion Jesus ever made—His most politically incorrect claim of all—was when He declared in JOHN 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.”

Full Sermon »

First Things First: “Salvation is Found in Jesus Alone”
by Jim Black
Acts 4:8-12

There were a lot of things one could believe in the ancient world. There were all manner of Greek or Roman ‘gods’ one could worship… just take your pick! Epicureanism was a common philosophy. So was Stoicism. There were all kinds of mystery religions and pagan worship ideas. There were all kinds of things one could believe in… just like today. That’s why the principle we’re going to talk about today is probably the most controversial of everything we’ve said up to this point in this series: First Things First!

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The Greatest Verse
by Jerry Smith
John 3:16

I know that more the odds of every one of us in here have heard this verse is pretty good. In fact I’m pretty sure that most of us know definitely have this verse memorized. I read something recently that said a Sunday school teacher kept a copy of this verse in a walnut shell on his desk because he was taught long ago that John 3:16 is the Gospel in a nutshell. Makes sense to me. I suppose if there was ever a verse that could change the world this would be the one. Today I want to break it down a little and examine it a piece at a time so that we can see what it tells us.

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Three Good Reasons
by Russell Brownworth
2 Corinthians 6:2

This morning I would like to give you three good reasons. The reasons are the very things I would want you to share with me if you met me on the street and found out I had never made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as my savior. If I was stubborn I would want you to argue with me—hot and heavy if necessary. I would want you to give me three good reasons for putting aside my pride and getting right down on my knees to pray—ask God to forgive my sins for Christ’s sake and to allow me to give my life to Him. Here are three good reasons to be saved today.

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This Week's Videos

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Redemption
Time: 6:26

Reflect on the very basics of biblical theology—God created; we ran; he offers a way back home. Use these videos to begin exploring the big themes of the Bible.
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A Man Fell in a Hole
Time: 3:01

A modern parable, this insightful video illustration examines the life of a man searching through the false promises of other religions and finding his salvation in Christ.
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Video Offered by: SermonSpice

Unless You Be Born Again—Countdown
Time: 2:55

This music video countdown, great for youth or adult, gives the major and key verses of the Christian faith to achieve salvation.
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Resurrection
Time: 1:47

This powerful clip takes a dramatic look at the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His simple gift of salvation to everyone who believes.
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Wash Me
Time: 4:41

Wash Me is quite simply, the plan of salvation. It explains that when people don’t want to come to church because things are not right in their lives, it’s like saying your car has to be clean before you go through a car wash!
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This Week's Sermon Illustrations

Which Way Should I Go?
Source: Daily Walk, May 31, 1992

In Alice in Wonderland, when Alice comes to a junction in the road that leads in different directions, she asks the Cheshire Cat, “Cheshire-Puss…would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”…

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If I Can’t Be Good Enough
Contributor: A. Todd Coget

Little Billy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother, “How do you expect to get into heaven?” …

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Born-Again Doesn’t Mean What It Used To
Source: EP News Service 1-28-00 & PWB 2-18-00

According to University of California-Santa Barbara researcher and author Wade Clark Roof, 1/3 of American’s 77 million baby boomers identify themselves as born-again, but only 55% of those have any link to a conservative Protestant church. …

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Can Anyone Hear Me?
Contributor: Keith Davis

Jack was out jogging one day and as he passed a cliff, he got too close and fell. Grabbing hold of a branch he was stranded. No way up and certainly no way down. He began to scream, “Hello up there, can anyone hear me?” He yelled for hours and was about to give up when he heard a voice. …

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No Room
Source: Alexander Berdyaev

There is no longer any room in the world for a merely external form of Christianity, based upon custom. The world is entering upon a period of catastrophe …

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The Wrong Horse
Source: Herb Miller. Actions Speak Louder Than Words. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989, p. 15.
Contributor: John Williams III

Two Kentucky farmers who owned racing stables had developed a keen rivalry. One spring, each of them entered a horse in a local steeplechase. Thinking that a professional rider might help him outdo his friend, one of the farmers engaged a crack jockey. The two horses were leading the race at the last fence, but it proved too tough for them. Both horses fell, unseating their riders. But this calamity did not stop the professional jockey.…

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Do All You Can
Contributor: Manuel Amparo

Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, …

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Theology in the Pew
Source: Article quoted from the October 11, 2002 “Pastor’s Weekly Briefing” provided by Focus on the Family
Contributor: Ronald Keller

A large share of people who attend Protestant or Catholic churches have adopted beliefs that conflict with the teachings of the Bible and their church, according to the latest release from the Barna Research Group …

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Gentlemen, This is a Football
Contributor: R. David Reynolds

If you honestly want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century, “Sunday Morning Is Not Enough”: “GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A FOOTBALL!” “This quote comes from a story about legendary football coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers. Each year he would gather his players for training camp.…

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Punching Holes in the Darkness
Contributor: Lanny Carpenter

Robert Louis Stevenson, author of books such as Treasure Island, when a young child, one evening was looking out front window of house fascinated by lamplighter coming down street, lighting old fashion gas street lamps. …

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