AVM Femi Gbadebo OFR’s Post

As someone involved in Church marketing and helping Churches grow, you'd probably be surprised to learn that I'm against the "seeker-friendly" movement. This will ruffle some feathers, and it will make others relieved. But, I don't have that stance to please anyone, just to please God. The seeker-friendly movement may have some good in it, but it makes Church about the visitor. In reality, that shouldn't be who you're pleasing. But then, you'd say, "But aren't we supposed to make Church welcoming?" To which I'd say, "Sure, but you don't take Church down to an unchurched person's understanding, and you don't make Church about pleasing the guest at the Church." Church isn't for the non-Christian, even though we want them to attend. Church is the place where Christians learn about God and are refreshed/motivated to go out and live the Gospel. It's the place where Christians worship God, not a Saturday evening football game. So, even though I'm against the Seeker-Friendly Movement, here are some principles I do believe in: 1. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. No, this doesn't mean accepting sin, but it does mean hospitality. 2. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. It's Him we're to please when it comes to Church, not man. 3. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵. 1-on-1 connections are great to learn about the Gospel, but so is Sunday morning, at Church. 4. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. The Bible says in John 13:35: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." That's my take. What is yours? I'd like to hear your take as a Pastor in the comments below. #ChurchGrowth #SeekerFriendly #WelcomingChurch #Brand30

Psalms 122:1 (Amplified version) I WAS glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Let's go and worship our God in spirit and truth. Let's serve the Lord with our whole minds, hearts and lives. Let's love everyone the way Christ had loved us. He even gave his life to us so that we may live. Let's live intentionally so that we may give a very good account of how we spent our lives on earth. Let's live peacefully with ourselves, everyone and everything around us. Let's love every child the same way God loves children. No child deserves to be physically, or emotionally neglected. Every child is a child. They didn't choose their parents so don't deal with them with whatever their parents might have done to you. Let's be a blessing to ourselves and our Nation. Let's monitor our social and emotional well-being. Let's be intentionally present in our families, workplaces and places of worship. Let's remember that this earth is not a permanent home. #inclusiveeducation #children #sunday #sundaythoughts #educationalleadership #educationaltechnology #learning #teachingandlearning #britishcouncil #unescoworldheritage #unicef #teachers #bible #holybible #kindness #socialemotionallearning Edu George #learningthroughplay

Learn why #generosity toward God is so important and how it will change your life. https://zurl.co/FG6W #bibleandbusiness #christianbusinessowner @biblebusiness

Good Morning! Monday, February 26, 2024 Loneliness or isolation in faith journey (Hebrews 10:24-25) Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Loneliness and isolation can often accompany our faith journey, making it essential to surround ourselves with a supportive community. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us of the importance of gathering together, encouraging one another, and spurring each other on toward love and good deeds. In the early Christian church, believers met regularly in homes for fellowship, worship, and teaching (Acts 2:42-47). This communal lifestyle fostered deep relationships, mutual support, and a shared sense of purpose. Similarly, we must prioritize gathering with fellow believers to combat loneliness and isolation in our faith journey. Consider the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-8. Despite his significant role in Israel's history, Elijah felt isolated and alone in his ministry. God reminded him of the importance of community by providing him with food and water carried by an angel and later instructing him to anoint Elisha as his successor. Today, let us apply this scripture by seeking out opportunities to gather with other believers. Here are some practical ways to implement this: •Attend church services regularly •Join a small group or Bible study •Volunteer in church ministries •Reach out to a fellow Christian for prayer or encouragement Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of community and the encouragement we receive from fellow believers. Help us to remember the importance of gathering together and supporting one another. Teach us to be intentional about fostering deep relationships and sharing our faith journey with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Call to Action: Identify one way you can engage with a faith-based community this week. It could be attending a church service, joining a small group, or volunteering in a ministry. Reach out to a fellow Christian and share your plan, encouraging them to do the same. #MorningManna #morningdevotion #dailyinspiration #TreasureAndTruth

Good Morning! Monday, February 26, 2024 Loneliness or isolation in faith journey (Hebrews 10:24-25) Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Loneliness and isolation can often accompany our faith journey, making it essential to surround ourselves with a supportive community. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us of the importance of gathering together, encouraging one another, and spurring each other on toward love and good deeds. In the early Christian church, believers met regularly in homes for fellowship, worship, and teaching (Acts 2:42-47). This communal lifestyle fostered deep relationships, mutual support, and a shared sense of purpose. Similarly, we must prioritize gathering with fellow believers to combat loneliness and isolation in our faith journey. Consider the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-8. Despite his significant role in Israel's history, Elijah felt isolated and alone in his ministry. God reminded him of the importance of community by providing him with food and water carried by an angel and later instructing him to anoint Elisha as his successor. Today, let us apply this scripture by seeking out opportunities to gather with other believers. Here are some practical ways to implement this: •Attend church services regularly •Join a small group or Bible study •Volunteer in church ministries •Reach out to a fellow Christian for prayer or encouragement Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of community and the encouragement we receive from fellow believers. Help us to remember the importance of gathering together and supporting one another. Teach us to be intentional about fostering deep relationships and sharing our faith journey with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Call to Action: Identify one way you can engage with a faith-based community this week. It could be attending a church service, joining a small group, or volunteering in a ministry. Reach out to a fellow Christian and share your plan, encouraging them to do the same. #MorningManna #morningdevotion #dailyinspiration #TreasureAndTruth

Learn why #generosity toward God is so important and how it will change your life. https://zurl.co/FG6W #bibleandbusiness #christianbusinessowner @biblebusiness

Did you know that pride comes before the fall? It's a truth laid out in scripture, and it's something we can't afford to ignore – especially in our businesses. Let's unpack this: allowing pride to take root can lead to doors of opportunity to remain shut. It can lead to missing out on the abundant life God intends for us. But here's the beautiful part – God's laws, His word, are there to protect us, to guide us towards growth and connection. So, what's the first step towards reconnecting with the body of Christ? It's releasing that pride and humbly asking for help. The next step? Seek community – actively pressing in to those around us who have our back without judgment. Here's the thing: community isn't just about waiting to be invited. It's about taking initiative, reaching out, and engaging with others. Don't let assumptions or oversights keep you on the sidelines. Take responsibility for seeking out those connections. And remember, demonstrating God's love means actively engaging with others, even when it's uncomfortable. Whether you're an introvert or not, resisting community is a form of pride – and it's holding you back from the very resources and support you need. Let's break free from prideful barriers and embrace the richness of community that God has provided for us. Let's press in, seek out, and build meaningful connections that propel us towards growth and impact. #CommunityMatters #BreakFreeFromPride #KingdomBusiness

BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO CHURCH Hey Church Loving parents : bring your kids to Church. Fill their lives with the word of God: - Even if they sleep on the Church floor; - Even if must be persuaded by all means to keep them silent; - Even if you have to carry them all the time; - Even if you have to go out in the room to calm them down; - Even if your line must be like a whirlwind; - Even if they run, scream, busy themselves, and accompanied by the sharp gaze of the people around. About this, teach them slowly... Take them to Church. The world will teach them that “going to Church is not important”. The world will teach them that “just be nice, no need to go to Church”. The world will not teach them about Jesus. That is our duty. Let them know: ✔️How do you worship God. ✔️How do you pray. ✔️How you run to the Savior. A church without presence, sounds, shouts and cries of children, is a Church without a future. Credits: Rightful Owner And also dear Christian parents remember , don’t fall into the delusion that sunday school/ kids church is intended to ease you of your personal duties. The first and most natural condition of things is for Christian parents to train up your own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. #reminder #parents

"To know God is to know him as the one who gives life, who nourishes us, who cares for us. This is who God is. By studying together the actions of God in Scripture, we prepare our children to make a remarkable act of faith: to believe that when I receive the Eucharist, I am being fed by God. That one, simple belief opens them to being changed, just as it should open us to being changed over and over again." Read more about the approach that I developed for forming children for their First Communion in my most recent article in Our Sunday Visitor. https://lnkd.in/geyKZq3M

💡 Scripture Reflection: Galatians 6:10 (CEB) 💡 Let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, especially for those in the household of faith. Today’s reminder: Every interaction is an opportunity to make a difference. Whether in business or personal life, we’re called to uplift others. As professionals and leaders, how can we foster goodness in our communities? Let’s strive to reflect grace and compassion in everything we do. 🙏🏽 Reflection: Take a moment today to think about how your actions—big or small—can contribute to the well-being of others, especially those within your professional and faith communities. Together, we can create a positive impact, one interaction at a time. ✨ Prayer: May we be mindful of the opportunities to serve, showing kindness and compassion in all our encounters. Lord, guide us to be vessels of Your love in both our work and personal lives. Amen. #DevonaInspires #DailyScripture #LeadershipInAction #FaithAtWork #KindnessMatters #CommunityCare