Relevance in the RuralRelevance in the RuralHow to be relevant in ministry in a rural area Articles
Becoming a Contageous Christian (BOOK REVIEW)
2008-05-09 20:29:00 My wife had a required reading of Bill Hybles and Mark Mittleburg's book "Becoming a Contagious Christian " for her evangelism class. After she finished reading it, it set on my kitchen table for a few weeks. I was very intrigued by the cover and the back of the book and decided to read it for myself.After finishing "Becoming a Contagious Christian" a must say that this book is a MUST READ for helping you polish your personal evangelism. The Book breaks down evangelism into an easy formula that will help you to have maximum impact in your personal evangelism.HP+CP+CC=MI. High Potency (walking close to God and living out your faith) plus Close Proximity (being around those that do not have a relationship with Christ, befriending them and loving them), plus Clear Communication (presenting the gospel in a way that answers questions and is easy to understand) will in turn pay off with Maximum impact.I'm not the biggest fans of formulas, acronyms, and other things like that, but I reall... More About: Book Review , Review
ministry update
2008-05-05 16:32:00 Dear friends,I wanted to take a few minutes and update everyone on what God has been doing in mine and Tarans life.As many of you know we have tried to faithfully serve The Lord at South Greensburg Baptist Church in Greensburg Kentucky. This has been a wonderful place for ministry and we have had a wonderful 2 and a half years there. We love the people with all of our hearts and are thankful for all that they have done.But The Lord has called us to another church. We receieved a 100% vote from Living Faith Baptist Church in Hartford Kentucky (this is about 20 miles south of Owensboro in Ohio County). We are very excited to be able to be part of this church as we look forward to great things that God is going to do! We will be starting Living Faith the first Sunday in June. Our last Sunday will be on May 18th at South G. We will miss our people at South G very much. They have been very special to us and so wonderful. They will always have a special place in our hearts and we will alw... More About: Update , Ministry
Wonderful Mondays!
2008-04-28 15:37:00 Had a great day at Church yesterday. We finished "BIG LESSONS FROM LITTLE CRITTERS" and ended the evening on a great intimate worship. God was really moving as we just prayed and worshiped our great God. Now it's time for wonderful Mondays !Wonderful Mondays! What?! A lot of people get the "Monday Blues", not me. I actually really enjoy Mondays. Though it may sound weird, I actually use Mondays as my Sabbath. Let me explain.A lot of people will view the Sabbath day as Sunday and some that are orthodox will view it as on Saturday. For myself Sunday and Saturday is no day of rest. Every Saturday night I'm studying my sermon and getting spiritually and mentally prepared for the next day and obviously on Sunday (which is the busiest day of the week for me) I'm preaching and fulfilling my duties and my joy of pastoring. So what about the sabbath? Am I breaking it?A lot of people have been confused about what Sabbath really means. Lets look at what the Word says real quick about it. Loo...
How's your witness?
2008-04-22 19:38:00 Afer listening to a message by John Ortberg about Evangelism, he made reference to this video. It's pretty amazing! What would you do if you were in this womans shoes? And at her age!!! Do you think you would have done what she did? More About: Witness
Locusts
2008-04-21 15:27:00 We are almost done with "BIG LESSONS FROM LITTLE CRITTERS" I've really enjoyed preaching through this section of Proverbs. Yesterday we talked about the "LOCUST" (you can download the message over on the right). The message was about the importance of teamwork, especially connected with the church. After studying the "Locust" we can easily learn that "flying solo" can get you easily squashed while being connected to a community can be massive "unstoppable force"I am so thankful for my christian community. To have brothers and sisters that keep me accountable and people that I can share my thoughts and prayers with. I'm thankful for a Christian wife, that prays with me and for me, who loves Jesus! A Christian community is an absolute must. Last night we had Justin Carter come down and preach for us at the REFUGE. Justin is one of those great Christian friends that have been there for me. He brought a great message about drawing to Christ. I'm glad to have Justin as a person that ...
Big Lessons from Little Critters
2008-04-14 17:13:00 A week from yesterday we began a new series called "BIG LESSONS FROM LITTLE CRITTERS" Using the book of Proverbs chapter 30, we are told about four little creatures that have large amounts of wisdom.So far we've covered the ant and the Rock Badger (we weren't able to record the rock badger yesterday because the mp3 recorder ran out of batteries...thats what I get for not checking!)But we've been having a lot of fun with it. It's just amazing to think that some little critters can have more wisdom than us humans. It just goes to show us that God is an equipping God, and he can for sure equip us to do everyday task like managing our check books or quiet times, through his help. I'm also thankful for a God who lets me have fun with my messages, but also uses them for his glory and to communicate his word!We also had a great REFUGE last night (which is our sunday night coffee house church service). We took the Lord's Supper and worshiped Christ. I always love taking the Lor... More About: Critters , Lessons
Picture from inside the Empire State building
2008-04-13 14:50:00 Thought I'd share a pic of me and Taran from our trip to New York. (thanks Travis!) More About: Building , Picture , State , Empire , Inside
www.kennyrager.com
2008-04-11 01:43:00 Hey Guys,I finally purchased a domain name. My blog can now be found at www.kennyrager.comThanks a lot!
Who is the Reverend Gary Davis?
2008-04-05 22:38:00 Last night my wife and I were traveling back from Elizabethtown visiting her folks. Whenever we drive home late I always like to listen to talk radio, it helps me stay awake, so I always cruise A.M. Stations or the low NPR stations on F.M. Last night I heard an amazing show called American Routes featuring a section called "JEWS, BLUES, AND BEYOND"They were showcasing black gospel music featuring the old testament. I heard a man play guitar from the 40's named Reverend Gary Davis .I had never heard of the Reverend Gary Davis until last night, but I very much enjoyed his music. I don't know much about him, except he was an African American, blind, ragtime guitar player. I bought one of his Cd's off of Itunes and it is filled with great ragtime African American gospel. I really liked it alot. I'm not the biggest fan of ragtime music, but this just struck me and blessed me.I cruised youtube for The Reverend Gary Davis and I found this rare performance from the 60's on some televisi...
Who is the Reverend Gary Davis?
2008-04-05 22:38:00 Last night my wife and I were traveling back from Elizabethtown visiting her folks. Whenever we drive home late I always like to listen to talk radio, it helps me stay awake, so I always cruise A.M. Stations or the low NPR stations on F.M. Last night I heard an amazing show called American Routes featuring a section called "JEWS, BLUES, AND BEYOND"They were showcasing black gospel music featuring the old testament. I heard a man play guitar from the 40's named Reverend Gary Davis .I had never heard of the Reverend Gary Davis until last night, but I very much enjoyed his music. I don't know much about him, except he was an African American, blind, ragtime guitar player. I bought one of his Cd's off of Itunes and it is filled with great ragtime African American gospel. I really liked it alot. I'm not the biggest fan of ragtime music, but this just struck me and blessed me.I cruised youtube for The Reverend Gary Davis and I found this rare performance from the 60's on some televisi...
back from new jersey/new york
2008-04-01 04:57:00 I just wanted to take a few minutes and let everyone know that my wife and I made it back safe and sound from new jersey. We were able to fly to Philly and then meet up with our good friends Travis and Tiffany Claywell. Travis traveled with me and played piano in revival services for about a year. He's a dear friend and I appreciate his ministry and his family. We were able to go into New York a couple of days as well. We saw the statue of liberty and the Emprie state building. It was pretty incredible. I had never been to New York before and it was very overwhelming, but very much worth your time.During this time I celebrated my 25th birthday. My wife got me an amazing Batman Graphic Novel that I've been wanting and my dad hooked me up with a new flat screen monitor!! Not to mention my inlaws and my grandparents that were very generous! During this entire trip to New Jersey and my excellent birthday gifts, God has totally taught me a lesson in blessing people. So often we... More About: Back
back from new jersey/new york
2008-04-01 04:57:00 I just wanted to take a few minutes and let everyone know that my wife and I made it back safe and sound from new jersey. We were able to fly to Philly and then meet up with our good friends Travis and Tiffany Claywell. Travis traveled with me and played piano in revival services for about a year. He's a dear friend and I appreciate his ministry and his family. We were able to go into New York a couple of days as well. We saw the statue of liberty and the Emprie state building. It was pretty incredible. I had never been to New York before and it was very overwhelming, but very much worth your time.During this time I celebrated my 25th birthday. My wife got me an amazing Batman Graphic Novel that I've been wanting and my dad hooked me up with a new flat screen monitor!! Not to mention my inlaws and my grandparents that were very generous! During this entire trip to New Jersey and my excellent birthday gifts, God has totally taught me a lesson in blessing people. So often we... More About: Back
Tiresome but great, Holy Week
2008-03-22 21:51:00 This week has no doubt been a very exhausting week, but it has been a wonderful week. I had the privelage of speaking at a revival service in Salem Kentucky for Pinckneyville Baptist Church. We had seven salvations and were thankful how God moved. Brother Jeremiah Burdon is doing a wonderful job preaching and reaching Western Kentucky. We got home on Wednesday night pretty late, and the next couple of days I had to do some pastoral ministry. We ended the week last night by traveling to see my grandparents.I'm finally back home now and I'm excited about tomorrow. I love Easter. It's my favorite time of the year. In the midst of a busy schedule I'm pausing to remember the resurrected Savior.I hope and pray that you take time to remember that Jesus Christ is the Risen Lord and Savior. I know you are busy too, if not busier, but never forgot that He is alive. Because of his Life we have Life.Praise the Lord He is alive! More About: Great , Week , Holy
Tiresome but great, Holy Week
2008-03-22 21:51:00 This week has no doubt been a very exhausting week, but it has been a wonderful week. I had the privelage of speaking at a revival service in Salem Kentucky for Pinckneyville Baptist Church. We had seven salvations and were thankful how God moved. Brother Jeremiah Burdon is doing a wonderful job preaching and reaching Western Kentucky. We got home on Wednesday night pretty late, and the next couple of days I had to do some pastoral ministry. We ended the week last night by traveling to see my grandparents.I'm finally back home now and I'm excited about tomorrow. I love Easter. It's my favorite time of the year. In the midst of a busy schedule I'm pausing to remember the resurrected Savior.I hope and pray that you take time to remember that Jesus Christ is the Risen Lord and Savior. I know you are busy too, if not busier, but never forgot that He is alive. Because of his Life we have Life.Praise the Lord He is alive! More About: Great , Week , Holy
Sermon Helps
2008-03-15 17:10:00 I've added (on the side of the blog) a list of sermon helps. I found these through recommendation of Brother Dale Rose. They are very helpful for online sermon preparation. I hope you can use them. Just go over to the right side of the blog and look for "SERMON HELPS" Everything from Jokes to Stats to Illustrations. God bless! More About: Sermon
Sermon Helps
2008-03-15 17:10:00 I've added (on the side of the blog) a list of sermon helps. I found these through recommendation of Brother Dale Rose. They are very helpful for online sermon preparation. I hope you can use them. Just go over to the right side of the blog and look for "SERMON HELPS" Everything from Jokes to Stats to Illustrations. God bless! More About: Sermon
A Powerful Week!
2008-03-06 15:08:00 WOW!Last night our revival services concluded with Brother Dale Rose. They were amazing revival services filled with power from Jesus. In conclusion of the services we had seven salvations and many rededications of their faith. I really believe that God poured his power out during the revival. We spent several weeks in preperation for the revival by teaching, preaching, and prayer. I loved what Brother Dale Rose told me one night "Without prayer you won't have the power. Without publicity you won't have the people" Brother Dale preaches the Gospel in a very different way. He may carry a bag of rocks or he may raise a six foot Lazarus out of the baptistry. Our people were on the edge of their seats every night, but most importantly God was moving in a way that our church needed.Last week we attended the evangelism conference in Elizabethtown Kentucky and we heard a stat that was amazing. It is a proven fact that if a church conducts a revival they will baptize more people th... More About: Week
A Powerful Week!
2008-03-06 15:08:00 WOW!Last night our revival services concluded with Brother Dale Rose. They were amazing revival services filled with power from Jesus. In conclusion of the services we had seven salvations and many rededications of their faith. I really believe that God poured his power out during the revival. We spent several weeks in preperation for the revival by teaching, preaching, and prayer. I loved what Brother Dale Rose told me one night "Without prayer you won't have the power. Without publicity you won't have the people" Brother Dale preaches the Gospel in a very different way. He may carry a bag of rocks or he may raise a six foot Lazarus out of the baptistry. Our people were on the edge of their seats every night, but most importantly God was moving in a way that our church needed.Last week we attended the evangelism conference in Elizabethtown Kentucky and we heard a stat that was amazing. It is a proven fact that if a church conducts a revival they will baptize more people th... More About: Week
Jesus Saves from What? (Using the law as a form of evangelism)
2008-02-24 23:32:00 This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Northern Kentucky to preach for a youth minister buddy named Thom Brown. We had an incredible night of salvation and fun as we saw many come to know Christ.I preached a message that I've delivered several times using the ten commandments. In this message we understand that we can never live without breaking these commandments. Because of our sinful nature we are prone to be lawbreakers. We are sinful.I heard an old preacher once tell me "How can people know that they need Jesus before they know that they are lost?" I think this is a great question to ask. We are often inviting people to come to know Christ and make a decision for Christ without truly explaining WHY we need to make decisions for Christ. When asking someone if they want to follow Jesus is sometimes asking someone to vote for a particular candidate. Why should they vote for this person for no reason, and why should they "just" follow Christ without explanation.Ro... More About: Evangelism , Form
Jesus Saves from What? (Using the law as a form of evangelism)
2008-02-24 23:32:00 This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Northern Kentucky to preach for a youth minister buddy named Thom Brown. We had an incredible night of salvation and fun as we saw many come to know Christ.I preached a message that I've delivered several times using the ten commandments. In this message we understand that we can never live without breaking these commandments. Because of our sinful nature we are prone to be lawbreakers. We are sinful.I heard an old preacher once tell me "How can people know that they need Jesus before they know that they are lost?" I think this is a great question to ask. We are often inviting people to come to know Christ and make a decision for Christ without truly explaining WHY we need to make decisions for Christ. When asking someone if they want to follow Jesus is sometimes asking someone to vote for a particular candidate. Why should they vote for this person for no reason, and why should they "just" follow Christ without explanation.Ro... More About: Evangelism , Form
What if we prayed?
2008-02-19 05:10:00 Amazing video about the great Fulton Street Revival with Jeremiah Lamphiercheck it out
What if we prayed?
2008-02-19 05:10:00 Amazing video about the great Fulton Street Revival with Jeremiah Lamphiercheck it out
Preparing for Revival
2008-02-11 04:53:00 South Greensburg's scheduled revival is going to be March 2nd-5th, with evangelist Dale Rose. Dale is an incredible preacher of God's word. You can view his webiste by clicking on this... dale's websiteI believe if we really want a genuine revival our hearts need to be ready for God to send it. If you know me, you know that I have a great passion for God sending a powerful awakening in his people.If God's people truly grasp the greatness of Jesus, I believe a mighty revolution can sweep our nation. In preparing for my sermon, that I preached today, I read about Jonathan Edwards and the time he lived in.Actually before the great awakening the 1700's were a dark and sinful time. Yet as dark and sinful as it was, the peoples hearts were peirced and God sent a mighty revial. He can do the same today.What will revival look like if God sends it today? What will it look like in our families and churches? I know he is preparing us. I want to share a couple of great books that ... More About: Revival
Preparing for Revival
2008-02-11 04:53:00 South Greensburg's scheduled revival is going to be March 2nd-5th, with evangelist Dale Rose. Dale is an incredible preacher of God's word. You can view his webiste by clicking on this... dale's websiteI believe if we really want a genuine revival our hearts need to be ready for God to send it. If you know me, you know that I have a great passion for God sending a powerful awakening in his people.If God's people truly grasp the greatness of Jesus, I believe a mighty revolution can sweep our nation. In preparing for my sermon, that I preached today, I read about Jonathan Edwards and the time he lived in.Actually before the great awakening the 1700's were a dark and sinful time. Yet as dark and sinful as it was, the peoples hearts were peirced and God sent a mighty revial. He can do the same today.What will revival look like if God sends it today? What will it look like in our families and churches? I know he is preparing us. I want to share a couple of great books that ... More About: Revival
Love this skit
2008-01-31 04:59:00 Okay,I'm not usually the one to post you tube videos of youth groups doing skits, but I love this one. I think it's amazing. Even if you're not a fan of skits and dramas watch this. Wonderful use of the Lifehouse song-everything. More About: Love , Skit
Love this skit
2008-01-31 04:59:00 Okay,I'm not usually the one to post you tube videos of youth groups doing skits, but I love this one. I think it's amazing. Even if you're not a fan of skits and dramas watch this. Wonderful use of the Lifehouse song-everything. More About: Love , Skit
Kudos to Lindsey and Derek
2008-01-14 17:09:00 Yesterday was a great day. First we had an amazing Sunday Morning at South G. The last three weeks we have had someone join our church, as we've been talking about moving forward with vision, and yesterday we had three new people join. I was so excited to see people taking steps of faith and trusting in God for vision and hope. I know our church will be blessed with this kind of commitment. Last night I was able to travel to Jamestown First Baptist, and speak their youth group. My long time high school friend Lindsey and her husband Derek are the Youth ministers at the church. It was no doubt an amazing time.They meet in an old basement in a youth house next to the church. They have built a stage for worship, have a sound system, and the best part.....A DISCO BALL behind the pulpit. AMAZING!They've been doing an incredible job at reaching kids that maybe a lot of churches wouldn't want to reach. It was incredible to see these kids energy level and enthusiasm, especially since non... More About: Kudos
Kudos to Lindsey and Derek
2008-01-14 17:09:00 Yesterday was a great day. First we had an amazing Sunday Morning at South G. The last three weeks we have had someone join our church, as we've been talking about moving forward with vision, and yesterday we had three new people join. I was so excited to see people taking steps of faith and trusting in God for vision and hope. I know our church will be blessed with this kind of commitment. Last night I was able to travel to Jamestown First Baptist, and speak their youth group. My long time high school friend Lindsey and her husband Derek are the Youth ministers at the church. It was no doubt an amazing time.They meet in an old basement in a youth house next to the church. They have built a stage for worship, have a sound system, and the best part.....A DISCO BALL behind the pulpit. AMAZING!They've been doing an incredible job at reaching kids that maybe a lot of churches wouldn't want to reach. It was incredible to see these kids energy level and enthusiasm, especially since non... More About: Kudos
Some fun videos at the end of the day
2008-01-07 04:43:00 Well I'm sitting here with my wife after a GREAT day of ministry. Tonight we decided as a church to adopt a brand new constitution and by laws to help us to be faithful to what God wants. It's 100% in agreement, which is great confidence that God is doing great things! Now we're just relaxing after a great day. Me and Taran are just watching some fun videos on youtube and thought we'd share them with you.Very much worth your timeWe have Bob Dylan singing gospel, muppets with weezer, and the elderly doing the disco, God blessENJOY! More About: Videos
Looking forward to the New Year
More articles from this author:2007-12-31 21:13:00 Last night I had a great time at Horse Cave Baptist, Josh Houk invited me to come and preach the word for a couple of services for teenagers, with the green county original permeir band "STEADFAST". We had a pretty good time, one girl made a decision to come back to God after a time of rejection of God. It was a pretty cool night. I think I'm becomming an old man, since I'm married, because at midnight I was totally tired and ready for bed,,,,I never thought the day would come when I went to sleep at 10:30. WOW! What has the world come to.We also started a new sermon series yesterday at South G..."HELP! I'm spinning my tires in the mud!" A new series focusing on moving on with life and into the direction that God wants. We don't want to waste our time spinning in the mud when we can be going somewhere for God. I'm praying for South G as we move forward into a new year with vision and hopefully lots of movement from God. I'm thankful for my church and I ask God to cont... More About: New Year , Year , Forward 1, 2, 3 |
|
 |
|
 |
