Tanner-price Ame Church

The biggest factor separating the successful from the unsuccessful, the extraordinary from the mediocre, is one's expectation of greatness in his/her own life. No one is perfect, and everyone falls short on a daily basis, but those who expect greatness overcome their shortcomings to live extraordinary lives because they have internalized the prosperous promises in the word of God over their lives. When we realize how great God says we are, we ascend to another dimension of holy living because we are no longer susceptible to enemy's attacks on our self-esteem. When realize our greatness, we recognize we are already victorious!

We need to pray. However, while prayer is the most important aspect of Christian living, it is also its most misunderstood and neglected practice. While no method or style of prayer is superior to another, there are specific types of prayer that are most effective for particular situations. Furthermore, the spirit with which we approach God in prayer can either help or hinder our efforts. These and other issues underscore our need to get a firm grasp on this spiritual discipline. With all that is going on in the world right now and with where God is taking us as a church, we need to learn how to pray fervently and effectively, with a right spirit and a correct focus. By exploring misconceptions about prayer, examining and exploring types of prayer, discussing prayer materials, looking at examples of prayer warriors, and learning the correct approaches to prayer, we will become more effective in this most important area in our lives. Similar to the old clich

Scent is a powerful thing. Not only is our sense of smell the most powerful tied to memory, but our bodily scent is one of the most substantial facets of our physical makeup. Fair or not, our scent speaks volumes to others with whom we interact about who we are. In order to be godly SENT, we must have a godly SCENT about ourselves so we can make a difference in whatever venue or situation God places us. What we give off, take in, and surround ourselves with impacts our apostolic aroma.

We invest in various tools, mechanisms, and processes that help prevent us from becoming victims of natural identity theft, but what tools do we have to protect us from spiritual identity theft? The apostle Paul cautions the Romans about the downward moral spiral into a reprobate state that can take place in your life when you fail to do that. Protecting our identity requires our remembering who we are in Christ, and our tools for doing so include honing our ability to remember our makeup, our mandate, and our mission.

We need to pray. However, while prayer is the most important aspect of Christian living, it is also its most misunderstood and neglected practice. While no method or style of prayer is superior to another, there are specific types of prayer that are most effective for particular situations. Furthermore, the spirit with which we approach God in prayer can either help or hinder our efforts. These and other issues underscore our need to get a firm grasp on this spiritual discipline. With all that is going on in the world right now and with where God is taking us as a church, we need to learn how to pray fervently and effectively, with a right spirit and a correct focus. By exploring misconceptions about prayer, examining and exploring types of prayer, discussing prayer materials, looking at examples of prayer warriors, and learning the correct approaches to prayer, we will become more effective in this most important area in our lives. Because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for the sin

Sometimes, we're just not on our A-Game. The cares of this life often discourage us; our worries and fears cripple us; our enemies cause a bad spirit to rise up in us; and the attention we give to our obstacles makes it very difficult for us to see God in our situation, but just a few moments with the master can change all of that. Examining Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we can see that a few moments with the master will change our mind, our actions, our spirits, our thoughts, and most importantly, our lives.

We need to pray. However, while prayer is the most important aspect of Christian living, it is also its most misunderstood and neglected practice. While no method or style of prayer is superior to another, there are specific types of prayer that are most effective for particular situations. Furthermore, the spirit with which we approach God in prayer can either help or hinder our efforts. These and other issues underscore our need to get a firm grasp on this spiritual discipline. With all that is going on in the world right now and with where God is taking us as a church, we need to learn how to pray fervently and effectively, with a right spirit and a correct focus. By exploring misconceptions about prayer, examining and exploring types of prayer, discussing prayer materials, looking at examples of prayer warriors, and learning the correct approaches to prayer, we will become more effective in this most important area in our lives.

We have so many attacks, people, circumstances, past thoughts, disappointments, and other roadblocks that would try to discourage us and make us lose our hope, but because of the incredible inheritance we have in Christ Jesus, we never have a reason to lose our hope, no matter how difficult things may get or how hard it might be to carry on. Flex those "hope muscles" and keep believing, whether it makes sense or not! People of God, be empowered!

Prophecy is something we regard as so mysterious, but in all actuality, it is a gift God has given to each of us who have a relationship with God and who speak with God's heart and mind. When we commit to viewing the world as God sees it, we, one, speak the future into the present, and two, elevate our expectations about what God can do in our lives and about what we can do in the kingdom. When we earnestly ourselves ask the question, "What are you talking about," we start the process of reforming and transforming both our speech and everything else around us.

Leadership is sorely lacking in the Church today, not just in the local assembly, but in the body of Christ at large. Not only have there been numerous reports of “front-liners” of the faith going through divorce, getting caught up in scandals of extramarital infidelity, and being investigated for misappropriation of funds, but congregations at large are unable to thrive, or sometimes, even survive, if their leader is removed, assigned elsewhere, or passes. These concerns, combined with other internal issues, lead to a lack of continuity or consistency in the local church. Moreover, the young people in our churches are suffering spiritually, and much of the reason for that is our inability to project Jesus to them in a palatable way. All of these factors point to a dying need to understand and redefine leadership. Since the beginning of time, God has had a vision for humankind, and He has entrusted His chosen vessels with communicating that vision to get as many onboard as possib

Just as reflecting on agape love made the apostle Paul think about his level of maturity in his letter to the Corinthians, the love of Jesus ought to move us to a level of maturity that will propel us from stagnancy and contentment with merely being to a place of expectancy and passion for doing. We at Tanner-Price experienced the love of Jesus in a great way during Conference Year 2008-09, and that love has positioned us for greater expectations and greater works in Conference Year 2009-10.

Just as numerous corporations in this economic downturn have found themselves at a crossroad, necessitating that they make tough, but important changes to ensure their survival, the AME church finds herself in a very similar position. The evangelistic mandate on the church begs that we ask two questions central to our making the right decision at this crossroad regarding the future relevance and effectiveness of the church: Who are you talking to? and What are you talking about? (Preached at the 126th Canadian Annual Conference - Evangelism Day)

How many sermons have you heard that regard "church folk" negatively? Church Folk have traditionally been regarded negatively in the preaching experience, illustrated by the consistent antagonism of the scribes and Pharisees against the ministry of Jesus. Paul's address to the Ephesians, however, gives us a set of Christlike characteristics radically redefining who church folk should be.

Anytime you're moving in the right direction and operating in the complete and perfect will of God, the enemy will be knocking at your door because what he hates more than anything is progress. Visionary leaders understand that and have the wisdom to identify and withstand all attacks to the vision God has for their lives. Nehemiah gives us a great example of this wisdom and how it makes us more effective leaders.

Leadership is sorely lacking in the Church today, not just in the local assembly, but in the body of Christ at large. Not only have there been numerous reports of “front-liners” of the faith going through divorce, getting caught up in scandals of extramarital infidelity, and being investigated for misappropriation of funds, but congregations at large are unable to thrive, or sometimes, even survive, if their leader is removed, assigned elsewhere, or passes. These concerns, combined with other internal issues, lead to a lack of continuity or consistency in the local church. Moreover, the young people in our churches are suffering spiritually, and much of the reason for that is our inability to project Jesus to them in a palatable way. All of these factors point to a dying need to understand and redefine leadership. Not only is the Bible replete with examples of effective and ineffective leadership, but Scripture also teaches us very plainly that God's leaders are proactive powerho

A visionary leader leads by example. He/she sacrifices the comfort and privilege of position to truly address the needs of his/her people. Once again looking at the visionary leadership of Nehemiah, we see his relentless pursuit of integrity at all costs, and, in the process, we are taught the true meaning of practicing what we preach.

If we are in the perfect will of God, doing exactly what He's called us to do, and truly making a difference in this world while we're doing it, we can be sure to face opposition along the way. Opposition is not something to shun or cower to; rather, it's something to we should all embrace because it means God is pleased. Nehemiah shows us that the visionary has the courage and wisdom to know exactly hot to handle opposition and how to stay focused in the face of it.

Leadership is sorely lacking in the Church today, not just in the local assembly, but in the body of Christ at large. Not only have there been numerous reports of “front-liners” of the faith going through divorce, getting caught up in scandals of extramarital infidelity, and being investigated for misappropriation of funds, but congregations at large are unable to thrive, or sometimes, even survive, if their leader is removed, assigned elsewhere, or passes. These concerns, combined with other internal issues, lead to a lack of continuity or consistency in the local church. Moreover, the young people in our churches are suffering spiritually, and much of the reason for that is our inability to project Jesus to them in a palatable way. All of these factors point to a dying need to redefine and understand leadership. By discussing our own ideas of leadership, viewing church leadership models, discerning individual leadership styles, and looking at what the Bible has to say about lead

Being a visionary is so much more than simply being immensely talented, having great dreams and ambitions, and being an influential leader. The prophet Nehemiah illustrates to us that the most important things visionaries must have are the ability to respond to a problem, the humility to identify themselves in the problem, and the willingness to do something about it, regardless of low position or perceived lack of influence. Do we have a responsibility to use what God has given us not just for personal prosperity, but to enhance the lives of others? The answer has been and always will be YES!

The boredom and near-death ordeal of Eutychus presents many unanswered questions, but the one clear answer we do see in this story is that young people need, more than anything, prayerful attention and engagement. We may not always know how to relate to young people from a ministry standpoint, but we must still make the effort. Any agenda to grow the kingdom that doesn't include both involving and ensuring the spiritual growth of young people is an ill-fated, unsustainable one.