Don't Run From Suffering: Embrace It

Luke 9:23 (The Message)

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."

"Church Growth & Marketing"

by Josh Helm | 6/28/2010

The question is asked "What can we do because the economy is down we don't have money to advertise to draw people into our programs at our church?" "How will we ever compete with these big mega churches who have all that money?"

Now I realize that this might not be the popular opinion obviously because the majority of preachers are continuing with the same rhetoric as we have been hearing for quite some time. Besides that popular opinion does not mean immunity from error. They continue building programs and pushing church growth schemes down the throats of God's people trying to manipulate what they have in order to turn it into more numbers and ultimately glory for them. There is a sense that it is not an agenda influenced by God almighty but an agenda filled with self ambition, absorption and self promotion. You see it is sad to say but "america church" today has