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John Archives - B. Thomas Free Bulletin Articles https://beethomas.com/tag/john/ Simple Solutions, Free Bulletin Articles and Free Website Content Tue, 16 May 2017 23:38:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 Restoration (back to God’s plan) https://beethomas.com/restoration-back-gods-plan/ Fri, 12 May 2017 15:24:21 +0000 http://beethomas.com/?p=1216 In a column on art restoration, Robert Fulford writes, “A scholar came upon a striking fact: in the year 1516, the Brancacci Chapel in Florence burned half a barrel of oil every day, just to keep its votive lamps flickering. The oil of course produced soot, which floated upwards and coated the art on the walls. Multiply that half-barrel by the days of the year, multiply again by the number of years this practice was followed (say, 400), then factor in the wax from candles lit by individual worshippers.” Believe me, that's a lot of soot covering up the artistic masterpieces in that chapel.

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]]> This free church bulletin article was written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking the book link at the end of this free bulletin article will help more content to be placed on this site. Donate your own church bulletin article here.

free Bulletin articlesBible Passage: John 21:15-17

In a column on art restoration, Robert Fulford writes, “A scholar came upon a striking fact: in the year 1516, the Brancacci Chapel in Florence burned half a barrel of oil every day, just to keep its votive lamps flickering. The oil of course produced soot, which floated upwards and coated the art on the walls. Multiply that half-barrel by the days of the year, multiply again by the number of years this practice was followed (say, 400), then factor in the wax from candles lit by individual worshippers.”

Art restoration, God is also in that business. He wants to restore his greatest creation. Think about it seriously, that’s you and me. We too have a lot of burning oil and candle smoke in our lives that have clouded up our original beauty. We have a lot of other trash and muck that muddies up our original beauty. The most important aspect of our beauty is that we were all masterpieces in God’s art gallery at birth. Then life happens, and the beauty of a sinless life slowly fades away. That’s when we need to be restored, back to our original relationship with God.

Relationships are key to God’s desire for restoration. Okay, stop. Close your eyes. Say a prayer to God right now. Pray to him to help you identify two relationships that need to be restored. Think of a broken relationship with a close friend. Think of a family relationship that has been severed. God is the father of restored relationships. He wants your broken ones healed. Is your pride stopping God’s will from being accomplished? Okay, now you can close your eyes and pray that prayer.

Eyes open? Think about Jesus and how he restored people. He did so by giving life or physical healing. He also did this with relationships. He predicted that Peter would deny him. Peter said he wouldn’t. Well, Peter did and Jesus stared at him when he did so. Oooh, that’s frightening. Jesus died. How did Peter feel about himself, about his doomed relationship with Christ? When Jesus appeared after his resurrection, he restored his relationship with Peter. My Bible labels that section, “Jesus reinstates Peter.” That’s Jesus for you, the master of art restoration. Some would definitely say Peter was “a piece of art.”

Before reading further, STOP! Did you pray earlier? Have you identified a friend and a family member with whom a relationship needs restored. That’s not an easy thing to do. It’s not easy to admit that something in your life is disconnected from God’s plan. I am praying for you today. I will be praying that you will have your relationships restored soon. Don’t think about whose turn it is to talk, yours or theirs. Don’t think about how they did you wrong. Be the big person God wants you to be. Get that relationship restored. It cannot be done without you taking the first step. Remember, I’ll be down on my knees praying for your first step.

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]]> Suggestion-Free Church Bulletin Articles https://beethomas.com/suggestion-free-church-bulletin-articles/ Tue, 25 Apr 2017 20:43:01 +0000 http://beethomas.com/?p=1176 When I was young, one of my favorite Bible verses was John 3:16. Not until twenty-five years later did I even know what was said in the following verse. I now see that John 3:17 is probably more popular among our younger generations than John 3:16. The reason for this, is because it fits a popular worldview today.

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]]> This free church bulletin article was written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking the book link at the end of this free bulletin article will help more content to be placed on this site. Donate your own bulletin article here.

free Bulletin articlesBible Passage: John 3:16-17

When I was young, one of my favorite Bible verses was John 3:16. Not until twenty-five years later did I even know what was said in the following verse. I now see that John 3:17 is probably more popular among our younger generations than John 3:16. The reason for this, is because it fits a popular worldview today. This worldview is one of tolerance and political correctness. As I stated last week, there is a problem that needs to be fixed. No one wants to be told that the only way to get to heaven is through Jesus. Saying that there is only one way to get to any location (especially heaven) is now considered intolerant and shallow minded.

A generation or two ago, the words of Jesus Loves Me were sometimes enough to convince someone to become a Christian. That is no longer the case. This generation is not falling in line behind Jesus, ready to follow, because someone tells them that Jesus loves them. There are teens, young adults, even older adults now talking back to the church, yelling at God. If the congregation you attend is doing the same things as they always have, and their attendance and spiritual growth of the congregation is declining, don’t expect to get a different result. I once heard a definition of insanity as, “doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.”

In doing things different, I do not mean singing different songs; although in certain locations it might be helpful to add a song from the late 20th century to the repertoire. What I am really speaking about is connecting with people, making God real for this generation, being a serving and sincere Christian to those around you. This new generation wants to see sincere Christianity, or relationship oriented Christianity.

People are tired of being judged. John 3:17 says this about our savior, “God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him (NCV).” Jesus’ job was not just to judge, but to save. There are generations itching for Jesus today, but they don’t want the condemnation that often comes with church attendance. This doesn’t mean not calling a sin a sin. But it does mean loving both types of people on the front pew, the 50 year old lady with pierced ears, and the 17 year old girl with a pierced nose, eyebrows, or tongue. Instead of judging who a person is by their piercings, we should rejoice in the savior they have in common, the savior of this world who suffered his own piercings. *

People are not the same today as they used to be. We need to take this into account or we may lose an entire generation. Small groups where people can connect, dynamic young adult classes, more life application in our sermons, and sincere long lasting friendships are a must in the church of today.

We can never change the gospel of Christ. We shall never stop preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. But we must get back to the bedrock of the 1st century church. The church of the 1st century was one centered on relationships and fellowship (Ac.2:42-47); mentoring leadership (2 Tim 2:2) , and love (I Jn 3:11; Col. 3:14) . It was in the context of these aspects, that the message of Christ was spread throughout the world.

* A paraphrase of Prof. Randy Harris, Feb. 25, 2005 keynote lecture at ACU lectures.

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]]> Send Me a Sign – Free Bulletin Articles https://beethomas.com/send-sign-free-bulletin-articles/ Mon, 24 Apr 2017 01:16:15 +0000 http://beethomas.com/?p=1134 The book of John is filled with signs, not miracles. Same thing? Yeah, but there is more significance to a sign; a sign points to something greater. The signs in the book of John pointed to Jesus, his divine nature, and his ability to save lives. After Jesus’ seventh sign, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders finally understood. This sign cements Jesus’ position as someone they must kill.

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]]> This free church bulletin article was written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking the book link at the end of this free bulletin article will help more content to be placed on this site. Donate your own free bulletin articles here.

free Bulletin articlesBible Passage: John 11:1-37

The book of John is filled with signs, not miracles. Same thing? Yeah, but there is more significance to a sign; a sign points to something greater. The signs in the book of John pointed to Jesus, his divine nature, and his ability to save lives. After Jesus’ seventh sign, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders finally understood. This sign cements Jesus’ position as someone they must kill (John 11:53).

A Scottish preacher, Billy Wilson, used the following illustration to make a point about signs. In the movie The Man with Two Brains, Steve Martin’s character went to his dead wife’s picture to ask if she would mind if he married a specific woman. Steve Martin’s character looked at the picture and asked her to give him a sign if she would not approve of the marriage. The painting begins to move, the fireplace below the painting shakes, everything in the room vibrates as if an earthquake has just hit. Unaware of the events (or more likely ignoring them) he continues, “Just give me a sign, any sign!”

We’re a lot like that. A Bible could fall in front of us, our car could break down in front of a certain church five days in a row, a parent or co-worker could invite you to church, your favorite restaurant could be torn down and a church built in its place, you could win round trip tickets to Christchurch, New Zealand, or maybe a minister may move in next door to you. You may never see the signs that may point to something greater like, maybe you should visit church for the first time in years, months, or weeks. Maybe there is indeed a good message for you there. In fact, I know there is a good message there for both you and me.

Why did I write something today about signs? Well, I received another rejection today on one of my picture books. This particular picture book has now received five form rejections without any comments whatsoever. That is not a good sign, but it may be a sign that the story is just not right for the market. If I keep sending that manuscript to publishers and continue getting rejections, I just might be the one needlessly saying to God, “Send me a sign, any sign.”

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]]> Jesus Wept – Free Church Bulletin Articles https://beethomas.com/jesus-wept-free-church-bulletin-articles/ Mon, 24 Apr 2017 01:08:07 +0000 http://beethomas.com/?p=1128 In some churches, Jesus is held up as a miracle worker and someone who seems to be beyond our grasp. We may think, “how in the world can we, sinful men and women, ever identify with Jesus?” He did this miracle. He did that miracle. He never sinned. We may come away with the idea that He’s too different from us.

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]]> These free church bulletin articles are written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking the book link at the end of this free bulletin article will help more content to be placed on this site. Donate your own bulletin article here.

free Bulletin articlesBible Passage: John 11:35

In some churches, Jesus is held up as a miracle worker and someone who seems to be beyond our grasp. We may think, “how in the world can we, sinful men and women, ever identify with Jesus?” He did this miracle. He did that miracle. He never sinned. We may come away with the idea that He’s too different from us.

But God came to earth in the flesh to identify with us. There are times when we see the human attributes of Jesus. There are times he thirsts, times he hungers, times when he is angry, and then there is that favorite memory verse of Vacation Bible School students, “Jesus wept.” – John 11:35.

There are many reasons suggested by scholars for why Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. He was either sad at the passing of a friend, he was upset at the lack of faith on the part of Mary and Martha, or he was upset and sad that sin entered the world and brought heartache to the people he loved. Whichever reason you believe to be the case, the point is that Jesus cried tears just like you and me. This is just one example of Jesus’ emotions. They were real. Jesus was real. He actually felt the same feelings we do at times.

When you go to God in prayer over any matter; remember that He knows how you feel. God is not aloof and far off. He has connected with mankind on a close personal level through Jesus.

God is waiting to hear from you. He wants to step into your life to personally help you. However, he cannot force himself on you. He cannot force you to want him. Take that next step that will get you closer to God. If you are a Christian, you still need to be one step closer to God than you are today. If you are a non-Christian, that next step may be a Bible study with a friend, it may be baptism, it may be opening your Bible for the first time in years. Whatever that next step is, take it. God won’t force you to take that step, but he is there to help you in case that next step is a dooozy.

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]]> Pick a Medicine, Any Medicine https://beethomas.com/pick-a-medicine-any-medicine/ Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:31:12 +0000 http://beethomas.com/?p=1108 Never would any of us accept a doctor telling us to “pick a medicine, any medicine” as if he were a street corner magician, even if he added the caveat that it was all made to make us feel better. However, our society does this more and more when it comes to religion. Society says, “Pick a religion, any religion; it all takes you to the same place.”

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]]> This free church bulletin article was written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking the book link at the end of this free bulletin article will help more content to be placed on this site. Donate your own free church bulletin article here.

free Bulletin articlesBible Passage: John 14:6

A patient visits a doctor complaining of stomach pains. After the examination, the doctor says the patient is indeed ill. He needs some medicine to make him better. The patient understands his need for medicine and thanks the doctor.

Pointing to the shelves behind him the doctor tells his patient, “Pick a medicine from these shelves.”

The patient is shocked, “Which one should I take?” he asks.

“It doesn’t matter,” answers the doctor, “They’re all supposed to make you feel better.”

Never would any of us accept a doctor telling us to “pick a medicine, any medicine” as if he were a street corner magician, even if he added the caveat that it was all made to make us feel better. However, our society does this more and more when it comes to religion. Society says, “Pick a religion, any religion; it all takes you to the same place.”

Our children hear this at school. We see this in the movies we watch. The talk shows we watch in the afternoon bash us with the same type of lies. “There is no truth” is the only truth taught on most college campuses these days.

What are we to do? Should we do anything at all? I guess the one thing we must understand is that we are living in a different world today than thirty, twenty, even ten years ago.

We live in a world where John 14:6 is classified as politically incorrect and intolerant. It reads, “I am the way, the truth, and the light, no on goes to the Father but through me.”

The question still stands, “What are we to do?” Next week, lets look a bit closer at this question.

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]]> He Has Overcome the World https://beethomas.com/he-has-overcome-the-world/ Sun, 16 Apr 2017 17:30:38 +0000 http://beethomas.com/?p=991 Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.” My question today, what has the “world” thrown at you lately? Cancer? A cheating spouse? A job dismissal? A computer that crashes every day? A child that finds themselves in constant trouble? A combination of any of the above?

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]]> This free church bulletin article was written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking the book link at the end of this free bulletin article will help more content to be placed on this site. Donate your own bulletin article here.

Bulletin Digest alternativeBible Passage: John 16:33

Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.” My question today, what has the “world” thrown at you lately? Cancer? A cheating spouse? A job dismissal? A computer that crashes every day? A child that finds themselves in constant trouble? A combination of any of the above? You can add your own dilemma to this list. Jesus can help you overcome any problem you ever encounter, I mean “EVER” encounter. Jesus can do this but oftentimes we prevent him by trying to take care of it ourselves. I will be spending an extra amount of time in prayer today. I would like to know your needs, those things the “world” has been throwing at you. I’ll pray for your problems to go away, or I can simply pray that you can get out of the way as Jesus takes over. Email me soon, so I can lift you up before the Father. Pet problems, people problems, hey, even hit me with your praises.

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