Sermon

Distinguished Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner Releases Book Chronicling First 50 Days of the Israel-Hamas War

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 21, 2023

After the events of October 7 – his 50th birthday -- Rabbi Kirshner was left grappling with an extraordinary array of emotions. In processing his feelings and seeking to provide guidance to his congregation, he was compelled to write. What was conceived as a blog became an article and then a sermon. But he continued to write, every day for 50 consecutive days, chronicling the events on-the-ground in Gaza and his own emotional reaction. In doing so, Streams of Shattered Consciousness came to life.

Key Points: 
  • Rabbi Kirshner's in-the-moment account of the 50 days following Hamas' October 7 attacks is an incredibly timely meditation on conflict, faith, ethics and meaning.
  • So many things and feelings that happened during those 50 days we already forgot -- this book will make sure it is part of history."
  • After the events of October 7 – his 50th birthday -- Rabbi Kirshner was left grappling with an extraordinary array of emotions.
  • But he continued to write, every day for 50 consecutive days, chronicling the events on-the-ground in Gaza and his own emotional reaction.

For the Third Time, New Heaven New Earth Church of Jesus Graduates More Than 100,000 Theology Students in One Year

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, November 19, 2023

A total of 108,084 theology students graduated from the church's Zion Christian Mission Center as part of Class 114.

Key Points: 
  • A total of 108,084 theology students graduated from the church's Zion Christian Mission Center as part of Class 114.
  • Sunday's graduation was not the first time Shincheonji Church managed to graduate over 100,000 students all at once.
  • Outside of South Korea, graduates from Class 114 include 35,792 graduates from other countries in Asia, 12,676 graduates from Africa, 2,927 graduates from Europe, 2,904 graduates from the Americas and 871 graduates from Oceania.
  • For more information about New Heaven New Earth Shincheonji Church of Jesus, please visit scjamericas.org or send an email to [email protected] .

Salem Church Products to Join the Gloo Family of Brands

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 4, 2023

BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gloo, the leading technology platform dedicated to connecting the faith ecosystem and releasing its collective might, announced plans for the acquisition of Salem Church Products, a business that provides multimedia resources to pastors and church leaders through websites such as WorshipHouse Media, SermonSearch, ChurchStaffing, and Children's Ministry Deals. The acquisition is part of the larger Gloo growth plan to serve the Church with a comprehensive marketplace of diverse offerings.

Key Points: 
  • "The Salem Church Products brands are an incredible addition to the Gloo platform," said Scott Beck, CEO of Gloo.
  • Salem Church Products equips over 150,000 church leaders a year with a range of digital products, including worship videos, sermon content, staffing resources and Sunday school curriculum.
  • "We're excited to serve a wider variety of church leaders, staff and volunteers with the resources provided by Salem Church Products," said Brad Hill, chief solutions officer at Gloo.
  • The acquisition is focused on Salem Church Products, a division of Salem Media Group, which will be rebranded in November.

Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson made a suggestion during the 1963 March on Washington − and it changed a good speech to a majestic sermon on an American dream

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 25, 2023

Known around the world as the “Queen of Gospel,” Jackson used her powerful voice to work in the Civil Rights Movement.

Key Points: 
  • Known around the world as the “Queen of Gospel,” Jackson used her powerful voice to work in the Civil Rights Movement.
  • But on Aug. 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, something didn’t quite sound right to Jackson as she listened to King deliver his prepared speech.
  • For the estimated 250,000 who joined the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that day, they heard King deliver one of his seminal sermons.
  • The other voice, the one King listened to and heeded, belonged to Mahalia Jackson.

An international phenomenon

    • In 1956, she was the first gospel singer to perform at Carnegie Hall.
    • The popular “Ed Sullivan Show” made Jackson a household name by frequently asking her to perform.
    • But international fame did not make Jackson forget her religious upbringing and commitment to fight for equal rights.
    • In “As the Spirit Moves Mahalia,” prominent Black writer Ralph Ellison wrote about the meaning of Jackson’s voice.

Mahalia and Martin

    • Jackson and King first met at the National Baptist Convention in Alabama in 1956.
    • King asked her if she could support his work there by singing and inspiring civil rights activists during the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott.
    • In her own right, Jackson became a visible fixture within the Civil Rights Movement.

Jackson’s voice in a movement

    • If music was the soul of the movement, strategic thinking was at its core.
    • The March on Washington was considered the culminating event of the historic Civil Rights Movement.
    • Till’s death and the subsequent acquittal of three white men charged with the brutal murder was one of the turning points of the movement.
    • Among the building blocks of the Civil Rights Movement was music.

Church Streaming Company Today Sermon Has Announced the Release of a New Sermon Series Titled Fakaza

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 25, 2023

The community forum aims to shine a light on the African philosophy underlying the word Fakaza.

Key Points: 
  • Johannesburg, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - August 25, 2023) - South African based digital streaming website Today Sermon has announced the launch of a new sermon series titled Fakaza , Fakaza Deep , and Fakaza Duo .
  • The series will address several ideas relevant to the modern-day Christian and help nurture the faith of the next generation.
  • The content of the site has been designed and curated by a team of trained pastors who conduct worship services.
  • They can also reach out to the company if they have any queries: todaysermon.com .

Outreach, Inc. to Join the Gloo Family of Brands

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 23, 2023

BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gloo, the leading technology platform dedicated to connecting the faith ecosystem and releasing its collective might, announced plans for a major strategic investment in Outreach, Inc., a Colorado Springs-based company whose mission is to equip the Church to reach their communities for Jesus Christ. The investment is part of the larger Gloo growth plan to serve the Church with a comprehensive marketplace of diverse offerings.

Key Points: 
  • The investment is part of the larger Gloo growth plan to serve the Church with a comprehensive marketplace of diverse offerings.
  • "We are thrilled about the opportunity to welcome Outreach, Inc. to the Gloo family of brands and partners that are focused on serving the big C Church," said Scott Beck, CEO of Gloo.
  • "Outreach has faithfully served the Church for 27 years with best-in-class journalism, growth content, marketing resources, and church engagement capabilities.
  • I'm excited about the synergies Outreach and Gloo will bring as we serve the Church now and in the future."

Can chatbots write inspirational and wise sermons?

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 6, 2023

Indeed, programs like ChatGPT, that can produce a sermon in seconds, might seem attractive to busy clergy.

Key Points: 
  • Indeed, programs like ChatGPT, that can produce a sermon in seconds, might seem attractive to busy clergy.
  • But several religious leaders, including rabbis serving Jewish congregations as well as Christian Protestant pastors, have conflicting feelings about utilizing chatbots in preparing sermons.

Historical practice

    • In the early centuries of Christianity, preaching was largely reserved for bishops, considered to be the successors to Jesus’ apostles.
    • In some religious orders, priests became famous traveling preachers, although much of the time they were preaching in other settings, not during Mass.
    • During the next few centuries, preaching brief sermons or homilies became increasingly important during the celebration of Sunday Mass.

Insight and inspiration

    • In the decades since Vatican II ended in 1965, preaching in the Catholic tradition has been emphasized as a “primary duty” of all priests.
    • The sermon is meant to inspire people in their ordinary lives of faith.
    • It must also be shaped by an awareness of the needs and lived experience of the worshipping community in the pews.

Use with caution

    • Chatbots have been known to make some factual blunders or invent sources completely.
    • Above all, I believe chatbots, as of now, are not capable of preparing a text suitable for being offered as a sermon.
    • Perhaps Baptist pastor Hershael York, Dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has put it best.

Yemen’s Houthi Grand Mufti targets Baha’is—UN Security Council to consider Yemen next week

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 9, 2023

The Baha’i International Community (BIC) has reason to believe that the detainees are being mistreated in custody.

Key Points: 
  • The Baha’i International Community (BIC) has reason to believe that the detainees are being mistreated in custody.
  • The Grand Mufti confirmed the arrest of the 17 Baha’is by security services before leveling several false and incendiary allegations, claiming that the Baha’i community is supported by foreign powers and had plans to harm the country.
  • The Grand Mufti further emphasized that anyone who changes their religion from Islam should be killed.
  • Houthi and Iranian religious and political authorities have also, on repeated occasions, accused the Baha’i community of a range of lurid moral and financial transgressions.

empty tomb®, inc.'s Mission Match® Offers a Tool to Churches to Reverse Long-Standing Trends Found in New Edition of The State of Church Giving Series

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., April 19, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Contents summary of this press release:

Key Points: 
  • As church membership and giving trend downward in the U.S., Mission Match offers a tool for churches to counter the trends.
  • The 32nd edition in empty tomb's The State of Church Giving series finds membership and giving trends continued through 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic.
  • The new book, The State of Church Giving through 2020: A Theology for an Age of Affluence, is being released in April 2023.
  • In addition to documenting church giving and membership trends, empty tomb also offers congregations a tool to reverse those trends.

Pushpay Announces New Product Innovations to Help Streamline Ministry Operations and Increase Engagement in the Church

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 30, 2023

Today the Company announced an enhanced global navigation experience, which further unifies its products across all digital platforms.

Key Points: 
  • Today the Company announced an enhanced global navigation experience, which further unifies its products across all digital platforms.
  • Pushpay continues to innovate and deliver technology that meets the growing needs of the Church in a digital era.
  • In fact, Pushpay research shows the significant role technology plays in the Church today, with 94 percent indicating that technology is important to helping them achieve their mission.
  • New capabilities also help improve financial planning confidence for the Church, and supports them in achieving pledge campaign goals.