Aug 30, 2012

Self-leadership


The Apostle Paul addresses his spiritual son Timothy;

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Tim 4:16

All leaders have be able to lead themselves before they can lead others. Make your own personal check-list on what you believe is important. Then check it off every month.

My check-list:

1) A strong inner life (prayer, fasting, Bible-meditation, speaking in tongues, worship and systematical Bible studies).
2) Meeting and sharing the gospel with seekers and non-Christians every week.
3) Meeting new Christians and disciple new Jesus-followers every week.
4) Regular hard physical training.
5) The Sabbath. One day off every week and few weeks vacation every year.
6) Spending quality time with my family and having family Bible-studies.

This list is not written in the order I prioritize things, everything is important!

I'm teaching at our Bible School this week, performing a wedding on Saturday and preaching at our celabrations on Sunday! Hope to see you on Sunday!

See ya!

Aug 26, 2012

Discipleship


Last week was intense; new people moved into our basement, our Bible School started, administration, life coaching, pastors-meeting, meeting with our house church leaders, church BBQ and then our kick-off Sunday... The kids went back to school and Maria and I are back to work full speed after vacation. We are doing it all at the same time, like it always is when a new term starts you know :)...
Church BBQ on Saturday...
We had a great Kick-Off Sunday today!

I met a couple on Friday (the 24th) for some discipling, they had prayed a salvation prayer the previous Sunday (the 19th). We talked about the Biblical meaning of salvation, water baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit... Their questions were so great and straight forward. We read the Bible and prayed together. I so enjoyed it! To speak with newly saved with focus on the absolute foundations of faith is so sweet. Discipling gives you enegry like nothing else! I love to meet new Jesus-disciples! Today, after our second celebration I baptized them. We buried 31 and 24 years without Jesus and new lives begun! We will meet again in a few days to speak about the Biblical baptism in the Holy Spirit and also a wedding. There is nothing better!

See ya!

Aug 24, 2012

Video greeting!


Aug 21, 2012

Kick Off Weekend!


Everything is sooo exciting now... My daughter Alicia (13 years old) picked up Candace Gilkey (19 years old) at Arlanda Int Airport. Candace is the daughter of one of my best friends, Chris Gilkey, and she will attend our Leadership Academy this year. Tonight Linnea Bergström will move in as well, she will be Candace's room-mate...

Students are arriving from all over the world now; it will be a large class at SOS Mission Bible School and Leadership Academy this fall!  I am looking forward to the new school format with a discipleship school and a leadership school that is starting in just a couple of days.
Yes! Our youth ministry, SOS Youth, has its kick-off this Friday and the church will enjoy a large cook out at the Rålambhovs Park on Saturday fron 12 noon. We'll meet under the large tree... you know?!

Our kick-off for this fall will take place at our celebrations (12 noon and 4 pm) this Sunday as well. Come early because it will be a full program and we'll present new sub-targets and faith-goals for 2012 and go through all the events for this fall. I guarantee that it will be a very exciting message :)!

In a couple of hours I'll meet with my pastoral team to pray and cast vision... Exciting with a new fall and school start again!

See ya!

Aug 19, 2012

You Have To Read This!


I'm at the end of a wonderful 2 week vacation... Sunbathing and swimming eight warm days in Bodrum, Turkey and just now deer-hunting in Småland, Sweden...

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not, and you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”— Therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”— Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
Is 30:15-16

I am reflecting over priorities and quality decisions. Some people never think, stop and make annual accounts. The Amritzer family does a very neccesary and essential "check-up" twice every year, once in January and once in August. We ask ourselves; What do we want to reach, do and experience? Are we living right? Are we using our time correctly? Do we have to make some radical changes?

Life can actually slip away if you just keep on running. Everything you want and have planned to do can be gone in a second due to sickness, death or a family crisis. Do now what needs to be done but do it without stress. Do not prolong the changes. Does this sound like a contradiction? To hear from heaven and see clearly we need to slow down and stand still from time to time. You need to stop to consult the map, compass and to set a new course. Soon you can continue running towards your goal, full of life and not old and bitter. If you do not stop now and then you will get lost, dehydrated and dejected.

If you dare stop for water you will win the race. Life should not chase you, instead you should be chasing life with God and enjoy the adventurous journey. Dare to rest so you can win. Dare to reflect and make the necessary changes in order to realize God's grand dreams and plans for your life. The Amritzer's have done just that, and we are now running forward with full force. Full speed ahead! Arrange festivals among unreached people groups, write new books and plant more churches! :)



See ya!

Aug 16, 2012

Kick-Off Weekend!


I am enjoying the summer (even though we´ve had a lot of rain...). I am loving all the bbq´s with friends, enjoying time with my family and the fact that the kids are off for the summer! But, I am also looking forward to our Kick-Off Weekend later this month! Don´t miss it! We´ll meet at the Rålambshovs park August 25th for a long lovely cook out. Bring everything in your fridge and we´ll throw it on the grill for you :)! The following day (August 26th) we start this fall´s celebrations! You do not want to miss this party-weekend!

Click here to listen to our podcast :)!

See ya!

Aug 9, 2012

Did you apply yet?

It's hard to believe that we are already in the month of August! Our Bible School will begin in just a couple of weeks! We have received many applications and we will have large classes this year! It feels great! If you haven't applied yet, do it here.

Looking forward to seeing you on the first day of school, August 23rd! ;)

See ya!

Aug 4, 2012

Shepherd in Stockholm

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve."
1 Peter 5:2

I'm pastoring in my beloved Stockholm this week and loving every minute of it! The love for the church God has entrusted us to shepherd is increasing in us. Maria and I love SOS Church with all our hearts! I'm coaching and helping faithful church members, having lunch with new saved Christians, holding pre-marriage counseling sessions, as well as enjoying BBQ parties in the Swedish summer evenings... :)



Peter, the disciple says the following about the 'ministry of the pastor' in the scripture above:

1. The leaders in the church are shepherds for the flock of God.
In other words, God has entrusted us with his own flock of sheep. He asks us to babysit, watch over and pastor his own church until he returns. We want to do our best of course.

2. The leaders were to work, not because they had to but out of their free will.
In other words, they are to do it with joy because God trusted them with the task to watch over and take care of his own flock. What a trust! What a privilege! Jesus asked us to be his 'stand-in'.

3) 
The leaders were to work with dedicated hearts without any interest in what they could gain from it.
In other words, the church should not care for the livelihood, food and other expenses of the pastors. The shepherds are to care for the flock and not the other way around. The pastors, leaders receive their reward and salary from the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Himself! With devoted hearts we shepherd Jesus' sheep and show them all the care as much as we have the ability to.. Jesus cares for his shepherds.


Tomorrow I'm preaching in SOS Church at our noon and 4 pm celebrations. I hope to have the joy of seeing you there, to be able to feed you with God's own Word and also give you a warm hug!

See ya!

Aug 1, 2012

Part 2!

I've got a lot of positive feedback on the seminar we had this spring, that's why we're having a second part! Don't miss part two of the seminar "God wants to make you rich!".