tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70622480337929336952011-10-06T15:34:54.875-04:00This blog is dedicated to keeping you updated about the First Church family and my thoughts on leadership and church health. All comments are moderated and only comments in response to current topics will be posted. If you have any ideas for future blog topics, please contact me directly at leadpastor@allentownnazarene.org.Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.comBlogger131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-5735272812652103682011-02-23T23:55:00.000-05:002011-02-23T23:55:09.306-05:00

This week I've been attending our denominational M11 Conference.  It's a group of leaders from the Church of the Nazarene in the USA and Canada all coming together for a series of meetings and workshops. While I expected that this would be a great event, I did not expect God to show up in the way that He did.  For years I've said "You cannot be in the presence of a Holy God and remain the same."

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-26202113935497563942011-01-08T11:50:00.000-05:002011-01-08T11:50:48.388-05:00

As I am writing this post, there is a light snow falling outside. I love the snow because it makes everything beautiful and simple. Life tends to be put on hold for a few brief hours. Schools are closed, schedules are changed, families spend more time together at home. Then, life kicks back into gear, the busyness of life begins again, and we are reminded that life is way too complicated.

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-72328705922744857552010-08-18T12:20:00.000-04:002010-08-18T12:20:28.722-04:00

I'm currently working to develop a new system in our church for moving people into places of ministry where they are best equipped to serve as God created them to serve. This will involve working with Trevor Oates as an intern beginning now through the beginning of January 2011. We'll be putting together a reproducible system that will involve online spiritual gift testing, a ministry interview

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-59056111006076305942010-07-14T10:19:00.000-04:002010-07-14T10:19:04.125-04:00

This past weekend we finished our series on the DNA of a Healthy Church. We discussed the idea of the missional church. In a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to the Christian faith we need to take a good look at the effectiveness of the church. Our methods need to change while keeping our message the same. In his book "Church Unique," Will Mancini shares three shifts that he sees

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-22288621141956049332010-06-30T18:45:00.000-04:002010-06-30T18:45:26.762-04:00

This past weekend we discussed the idea of community. We defined community as "a unified body of individuals: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest [Christ] living together within a larger society." Real community is what the world is craving for today: that place where you can be real and authentic, where you can let people see the real you. We discussed the three

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-72617192225528949492010-06-25T18:41:00.000-04:002010-06-25T18:41:22.832-04:00

I went to another great seminar yesterday. It was "The Top 3 Growth Barriers Live!" seminar with Nelson Searcy, Lead Pastor of the Journey Church in NYC. We spent three hours discussing the 3 common church growth barriers that all churches face, no matter what their size. The three barriers are space, self-development of the pastor, and sharing. First, the physical space can limit growth.

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-39513755726359126912010-06-21T15:49:00.002-04:002010-06-21T15:49:29.754-04:00

This past Sunday we discussed the idea that the church is a family. Family goes the extra mile to work out their differences and bring about unity in the church. Let’s dialogue about a couple of questions: Which concept of the church as a family do you struggle with the most? Unity? Patience? Kindness? Love? or Forgiveness? Also, since I didn’t post anything about the first two messages

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-13008729348175522572010-06-21T15:48:00.002-04:002010-06-21T15:48:53.013-04:00

It’s been a long time since I’ve added posts to this blog. There have been lots of reasons. At first it was not liking the format/program I was using. Then, I put redoing the blog on my long-range “To Do” list. Then, I kept moving it to my long, long, long, long-range “To Do” list. Add in a little forgetfulness and some procrastination, and there you have it. Anyhow, I’m back and will try

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-56786468040412037142009-02-18T13:47:00.002-05:002009-02-18T13:49:20.031-05:00

This past Sunday discussed God's love and our response. God gave us Jesus Christ to be the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross. In response to that love we are to love God and love others - in a way that bears fruit. What are some of the practical ways that you respond to God's love?

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-44684266843362223722008-12-08T09:34:00.003-05:002008-12-08T09:36:29.733-05:00

This past Sunday, we discussed the topic of Peace. What is it? How do I find true peace? Share a story of how God worked in a situation in your life and brought peace to a difficult situation or relationship.

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-67819778080179275732008-12-01T14:33:00.004-05:002008-12-01T14:37:31.233-05:00

This past Sunday we talked about the hope of Christmas. Christ's coming to earth brought hope into a dark and "hopeless" situation. We challenged you to think about a time when God intervened in your life and brought about a solution to a hopeless situation. Here's part two of the challenge. Why not share your story with us on the blog? Let others learn from your circumstance or situation

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-13056530824692019742008-11-24T10:23:00.002-05:002008-11-24T10:29:04.366-05:00

This past weekend we looked at how Jesus modeled leadership. The greater the impact or influence he had in peoples lives, the smaller the number of people in the group. He shared his teachings with the crowdsHe shared his ministry with the 72 disciplesHe shared his responsibility with the 12 apostlesHe shared his life with his 3 closest friends - Peter, James, and JohnIn reproducing your

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062248033792933695.post-27469758067398828302008-11-19T10:39:00.003-05:002008-11-19T10:45:04.845-05:00

One of my main goals with this blog is to create a place where we can discuss further the message from the past Sunday. How did it impact you? What questions did it leave in your mind? What do you want to talk about in relation to the message that we didn't have time to discuss on Sunday?So, let's get started !!During the past six weeks we've been discussing the subject of how you and I are

Ray Starkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08168487335487376023noreply@blogger.com0