Thank you for your support of Communicate Jesus in 2011. Here’s a list of the most viewed posts of 2011.

These are posts that were created in 2011 – there’s still a ‘long tail‘ in operation – the most viewed post every day is a post from 2009 – ‘30 ideas for community outreach‘!

1. 15 examples of church newsletters and bulletins
2. Video: ONE (promo for John Piper/John Lennox event)
3. 10 church welcome packs
4. 10 common mistakes in Facebook advertising
5. 7 creative Easter marketing concepts
6. Video Bible readings at City on a Hill
7. Billboard: Dear Aussie Muslims
8. 5 reasons to use video for church Bible readings
9. A pre-service video to introduce newcomers to church
10. 7 more ideas for Easter marketing campaigns

I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2012.

I started pondering the pros and cons of buying Christian books online when I discovered that I could buy a book (Wayne Grudem’s ‘Systematic Theology’) for $22 cheaper online than from my local Christian bookstore.

Earlier this week, Tim Challies shared his thoughts on buying from the local Christian bookstore versus buying on Amazon. He wrote this article because:

“I regularly receive emails rebuking me for supporting Amazon by pointing readers there after I review a book. Sometimes I receive emails rebuking me for supporting any online retailer, whether that is Amazon or a Christian ecommerce bookstore. According to the people who write me, I ought to point readers to their local, community bookstores. But I am not convinced that there is an “ought” in this situation—that one option is morally superior to the other.’”

It was a good discussion, but didn’t cover all of the arguments for and against. I wrote these up when I first started to think through this topic – and here they are. What would you add to these lists?

Continue reading…

Here’s a story I heard recently that is a lesson to all ministry leaders.

A large regional evangelistic event recently took place in South-West Sydney.

Praise God – many local churches got involved.

The ministry team of one church enthusiastically encouraged everyone in their church to invite friends.

On the day of the event, the members of the church gathered outside the venue. Lots of people had invited friends. Lots of people that is, apart from the ministry team.

Continue reading…