In this category, you will find many inspirational stories to be used for your Church Bulletins, Church Newsletters and/or Inspirational E-mails.
One of the more difficult things for someone on a weekly basis is to prepare content for the church bulletin or newsletter.
Usually, it’s a tug-of-war trying to get information from department or ministry leaders concerning the events taking place soon. Plus, the attempt to get an article from the Pastor can be an adventure due to the busy-ness of their schedule.
We want to do our part by adding a new category called “Church Bulletin Articles”. These will be brief and inspirational and may be used within the context of the church communications to the congregation via e-mail, bulletin or newsletter.
Perhaps some of them would even work as Sermon Illustrations! Stop back often as we plan to build the selection in the weeks and months ahead.
In reality, all our letters can be easily modified for that purpose. So, some of the content will be similar to our letters, while most of it will be new stories.
1 Tim. 1:11 says, “in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” The phrase “the Blessed God” could be translated as “the happy God.” In John 15:11, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you.” Have you ever considered the fact that God is happy?
God is not gloomy or sad but is infinitely happy. He has been happy for eternity. The cup of his joy cannot be more full. Above all the uncertainties and anxieties of life, the calm smile of the happy God immutably shines. In what does God’s happiness consist? He is happy with the works of his hands. Psalm 104:31 says, “may the Lord rejoice in his works.” He is happy knowing that everything he has purposed will come to pass. He is happy in his people as Psalm 149:4 says, “For the Lord takes delight in his people.”
Thousands of years ago, there was a man named Isaiah. During the days of Isaiah, a King named Uzziah reigned and brought Judah to great power and prominence. However, Uzziah became proud, and God struck this proud King with leprosy. On the day the King died, Isaiah 6 records that Isaiah had a vision of God.
In this vision, the Lord is revealed to be a great king, sitting on a throne. The text says that “Above him stood the seraphim.” “Seraphim” are angelic beings whose unique task is to worship and praise God. Their name “seraphim” comes from the word “seraph,” which means “to burn.” The seraphim lived in the center of the fire of God’s glory, and they burned and shone with white-hot heated praise!
Hattie May Wiatt, a six-year-old girl, lived near Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia, USA. The Sunday school was very crowded. Russell H. Conwell, the minister, told her that one day they would have buildings big enough to allow everyone to attend. She said, ‘I hope you will. It is so crowded I am afraid to go there alone.’ He replied, ‘When we get the money we will construct one large enough to get all the children in.’
Two years later, in 1886, Hattie May died. After the funeral Hattie’s mother gave the minister a little bag they had found under their daughter’s pillow containing 57 cents in change that she had saved up. Alongside it was a note in her handwriting: ‘To help build bigger so that more children can go to Sunday school.’
If you are a parent, you know the joy that comes when a child needs our help. They run into our arms with a problem or with tears because of an injury. We long and love to help them. But when we need comfort, do we always go to our heavenly Father? Or do we seek other means of consolation?
Psalm 68:5 says, He is “a father to the fatherless.” 1 John 3:1 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” He has not only identified Himself as our Father, but He tells us how He acts as our Father.
World famous Billy Graham, inspiration for millions, started out with very humble beginnings. He loved playing ball. He grew up on a dairy farm. He loved his mom and would try to please her with small gifts like hand picked flowers. He became a fuller brush salesman, trying to persuade people to take the brushes in his case, as he would one day persuade people to take the gospel. As a young man, he gave his life to Christ at a revival and announced to his mother, “Oh, mother, I've been saved tonight.” After that his life was transformed with Billy showing behavior changes and a zeal for God.
