Category Archives: Church

Lessons Learned From Wee Bobby

Posted on May 9, 2019 by russellmckinney

Many years ago, in a small village church in southern Scotland, the church leaders were questioning the elderly pastor as to why the church wasn’t growing. To those leaders, a dismissal seemed in order. They said to the pastor, “No … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Church, Commitment, Decisions, Evangelism, Giving, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Parenting, Pastors, Preaching, Sacrifice, Salvation, Service, Submission, The Gospel, The Holy Spirit, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?”

Posted on April 22, 2019 by russellmckinney

“Why sit here until we die?” That question is at the heart of one of the Bible’s most incredible stories, 2 Kings 7:1-20, and it’s a question that still has relevance to a multitude of situations today. So, let’s talk … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adversity, Attitude, Change, Choices, Church, Complaining, Contentment, Courage, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Faith, Fear, God's Timing, God's Guidance, God's Provision, God's Will, Inner Peace, Needs, Problems, Seeking Advice, Suffering, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Difference Between Pit Stops & Racing

Posted on April 5, 2019 by russellmckinney

It’s been said that Christians need to be the church rather than just go to church. Truer words were never spoken. When church is a once-a-week-event rather than a seven-day-a-week lifestyle, it runs the risk of becoming little more than a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Work, Ministry, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Sports, Talents, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Lot of Moving Parts But Not Much Production

Posted on April 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

There was once an inventor who built an amazing machine. It was six feet high and five feet long and had a total of 5,626 parts (wheels, gears, shafts, chains, belts, etc.), to say nothing of all the nuts, bolts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Church, Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Ministry, Priorities, Service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Snapshot of Our Churches in 2019

Posted on March 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

LifeWay is the publishing department of the Southern Baptist Convention. Last month they released the findings of a study that was conducted between the dates of January 14 and January 30 of 2019. 1,000 pastors of Protestant churches were called … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Change, Church, Church Attendance, Communication, Current Events, Discernment, Evangelism, God's Word, God's Work, Ministry, Pastors, Personal, Preaching, Scripture, Sunday School, The Bible, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Difference Between Doors & Discipleship

Posted on March 25, 2019 by russellmckinney

Minister and author John Seamands tells the story of a German soldier who was wounded in battle. The wound was minor and the soldier wasn’t particularly concerned about it, but he was nevertheless ordered to go to the military hospital … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Elderly, Evangelism, Faithfulness, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Pastors, Sunday School, Teaching, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Tale of Emanuel Nenger

Posted on March 15, 2019 by russellmckinney

Emanuel Nenger arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, from Germany sometime around 1876. He got work as a sign painter and eventually bought a farm in Westfield, New Jersey. But all of that was more or less just a front. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Good Works, Individuality, Influence, Ministry, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Stewardship, Talents | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Popcorn Poppers & Irons

Posted on March 13, 2019 by russellmckinney

Some of us are old enough to remember eating popcorn made from a popcorn popper rather than a microwave. We’re also old enough to remember when people not only owned irons but actually used them. The following story stems from … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Church, Communication, Current Events, Discernment, Evangelism, God's Work, Ministry, Music, Personal, Preaching, Priorities, Sunday School, The Gospel, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dying Chickens

Posted on March 9, 2019 by russellmckinney

A farmer had 600 chickens. Half of them died and the other half started acting sickly. He called the local agricultural agent, told him the situation, and asked, “What should I do?” The agent said, “You need to give the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Bible Study, Change, Children, Church, Counsel, Decisions, Disobedience, Dying To Self, Family, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Word, Marriage, Money, Needs, Obedience, Parenting, Prayer, Problems, Rebellion, Scripture, The Bible, The Holy Spirit, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Breaking Away from Family & Upbringing

Posted on November 28, 2018 by russellmckinney

If you are a Christian who was born into a “Christian” household, let me ask you a question: If you had been born into a household that was not “Christian,” would you have still believed in Jesus Christ at some … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Children, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Courage, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Dying To Self, Faith, Faithfulness, Family, Fatherhood, Fear, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Husbands, Individuality, Obedience, Parenting, Salvation, Service, Submission, Trusting In God, Wives, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment