by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 24, 2015 | Christian, Christianity, Encouragement, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Motivation, Prayer, Religion, Sunday Worship Experience, Worship
Some believe the local church is dead and that her best days are behind her. The church is not dead, its alive. Her best days are now and ahead. I believe, as Bill Hybels says, “the local church is the hope of the world.”
I grew up attending church. Many of my earliest memories are times spent at the Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago, with church people, or in church services. So when I meet people who aren’t regular attenders it’s a surprise to find that sometimes they don’t know why you might be a part of it.
Why go to church? What’s the benefit of attending regularly? When you understand the “why” it makes it easier to understand the “when” and “where.” (more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | May 9, 2011 | Apple/Mac, Christian, Christianity, Prayer, Preaching, Technology, Tools
I finished last week’s post mentioning how how I used my iPhone, Cloud Storage, and a few Apps to prepare messages in 10 minutes or less. Let’s face it – there’s no way we can escape technology. It’s here to stay and we may as well leverage it for the glory of God. Furthermore, given the consumerist mindset of most church goers, presenting a real and relevant word (grounded in biblical truth) remains challenging. Communicators must learn to quickly “size” up their audience and adjust their message for maximum impact. I had to do this this earlier this year while preaching at another church.
As a pastor, I’m invited to preach at other churches during their pastoral or church anniversaries. While worshiping, God begin to impress upon my heart that the message I prepared wasn’t quite right for the occasion. I quickly discerned the room was filled with broken people who had looks of despair in their eyes. I came to encourage the pastor, but discerned that the people needed a Word from the Lord. I prayed and God revealed they need encouragement, healing, and empowerment. I opened my Bible, pulled out my iPhone 4, placed it in my Bible (to hide it), and began crafting a “NEW” message.
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Mar 23, 2011 | Accountability, Fasting, Prayer, Self-Leadership
Today begins our corporate (church wide) Daniel Fast. We’re fasting for three specific purposes:
- Let’s Do It For Them (Special Offering to Renovate our facilities)
- Spiritual Renewal
- Praise and Worship Conference (March 25-26) and Concert (March 27, 2011 @ 6pm)
What is the Daniel Fast?
The Daniel Fast is a biblically based partial fast. It is a method of fasting that men, women and young people all over the world are using as they enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting. There are two anchoring scriptures for the Daniel Fast. In Daniel 1 the Prophet ate only vegetables (that would have included fruits) and drank only water.
So from these scriptures we see two of the guidelines for the fast:
1. Only fruits and vegetables
2. Only water for a beverage
Then in Daniel 10 we read that the Prophet ate no meat nor any precious breads or foods and he drank no wine for 21 days. So from this scripture, we get a third guideline:
3. No sweeteners and no breads
Another important guideline is drawn from Jewish fasting principles, where no leaven is used during the fast. So that’s why yeast, baking powder and the like are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.
The Daniel Fast for the body, soul and spirit. (more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Oct 8, 2010 | Christian, Christianity, Empowerment, Goals, Money and Finance, Prayer, Vision
This past Sunday, I shared with our congregation how I selected 20 people to pray for who were generous, faithful, and cared about the poor, oppressed, and marginalized.
I’m praying that God would make them wealthy (multi-millionaires) so they could reach back and help the poor & permanent underclass.
Why? Jesus was/is ALWAYS on the side of the poor, oppressed, and marginalized AND someone has to speak for the voiceless. Also, it’s time for a shift of wealth into the hands of Kingdom-minded people with integrity to do the right thing!
I prayed before selecting people because they had to meet the following criteria:
- Compassionate
- Unselfish
- Have extraordinary faith
- Have a genuine concern for the poor
- A heart for empowering those who are less fortunate
This Sunday, I extended an invitation for others to join my list & WHAT A RESPONSE! If you meet the aforementioned criteria, you may want to consider getting in on this prayer. If you are selfish, lack integrity, & want to be wealthy for the sake of being wealthy, please reconsider your priorities before deciding to join.
In the meantime, the Lord wants you to get your financial house in order before the harvest comes & the hardest step is getting started!
Here’s what you can start doing NOW:
- Stop signing up for more debt!
- Save $2,500 and save in your emergency fund – pay minimum payments on all debt until you have $2,500!
- Find out which debts you owe and how much you owe
- Seek to reduce or eliminate the interest you are paying
- Calculate your debt freedom date – using the free tool @ HERE
- Pay minimum payments on all debts except the smallest one
- Attack the smallest debt with as much money as possible
- As each debt is paid off, use the freed up payment money to add to the payment of the next smallest debt.
- Repeat steps 6 thru 8 until you become debt free!!!
You CAN do this!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 2, 2010 | Christian, Christianity, Easter Weekend, Prayer, Preaching, Sunday Worship Experience, Worship
Wow! There’s something INCREDIBLE going on @ Mars Hill! It’s in the atmosphere & all I can say, “It’s a move of God!” We’re busy attending to last minute details in order to offer THREE excellent worship experiences for the broken, battered, & bruised! Please join us and experience “Resurrection Power” this Easter!
Good Friday Worship @ Mars Hill!
Friday, April 2, 2010 @ 7pm
Mars Hill Baptist Church
5916 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
www.marshillchgo.org
Good Friday is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified. Why is Good Friday referred to as “good”? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27). However, the results of Christ’s death are very good!
Tonight’s message: “One Tough Week”
Come Alive This Easter @ Mars Hill!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
SERVICE TIMES:
8:ooAM
10:30AM
Mars Hill Baptist Church
5916 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
www.marshillchgo.org
I’m starting a brand new series this Easter called, “Cheaters.” Why the title “Cheaters?” Everyday, we face a variety of responsibilities and opportunities: work..family..hobbies…sports leagues…community events…the list is endless. Each of these things competes for out most valuable resource, OUR TIME. To give each of these the time it deserves or demands would require more time than we have. So, we cheat. We give up something in hopes of gaining something else of greater value. So, we cheat! Come hear a life changing message that’ll cause you to reevaluate everything you do! As a matter of fact, grab three friends and bring them with you and discuss how you’ll “cheat.” Trust me, this series will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Sunday’s message: “What’s My Number?”
What are your plans this weekend?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 18, 2010 | Accountability, Fasting, Prayer
WHAT!? No TV? Are you CRAZY?
No, we’re doing a media fast. Like any kind of fast, this kind of cleansing is tough but the benefits are worth it. David Lewis, who coined the phrase information fatigue syndrome, writes: “Information is supposed to speed the flow of commerce, but it often just clogs the pipes.”
The daily onslaught of news, entertainment, e-mail, advertisements, and other media often prevents us from being able to process any of it at all. And the time we spend absorbing this information cuts heavily into the time we could be spending on activities that nourish us rather than drain us . . .
Research has shown that both news and television programming can have an intense effect on mood, even causing sadness and anxiety. Without the “noise” of the media running through your head, you are freer to focus your attention inward. Ideas will present themselves to you more readily, and you will find yourself available to revel in the small joys of your own life. You also will be freer to live in the present moment, rather than focusing on what’s going on in the news or your favorite soap opera.
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