Church bulletin covers and other art by artist Stushie. Unique crayon and digital worship art
Over the years, I’ve created many Pentecost drawings for churches. The following Pentecost art pieces and Pentecost coloring pages include my latest Pentecost designs for this year. These can be used for both the Common and Narrative lectionaries.
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A final set of drawings and coloring pages for Pentecost.
Paid subscribers and donors can copy and download various sizes for use.
John 17:9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. (NIV)
I see a lot of memes on Facebook that appear to condemn the Church for not being the Church that the world expects. The memes usually attack the Church for being hypocritical, intolerant, and not compassionate enough. There is some truth to what is posted, but these barbs often don’t offer a solution. It’s very easy to poke the Church in the eye for being so blind, but the negativity of those posts doesn’t act as an encouraging remedy; instead, they discourage folks from changing because there’s no guidance to do so being presented.
When Jesus established the Church, He didn’t go looking for perfect people – He wouldn’t have found them anyway. What He did do was to take a bunch of sinners and set them on the right path toward God. Despite their weaknesses and faults, sinfulness and selfish ways, He managed to put together a band of devoted people who would try to live their lives according to His teachings. He never expected them to be perfect which is why in today’s highlighted verse we have something that Jesus constantly did – He prayed for the ones given to Him by God; He prayed for His Church.
Today’s Church has many problems and issues, but that’s what you get when sinful people are called by God. Despite the setbacks that the pandemic brought upon the Church worldwide, the world still needs Christ’s Spirit of compassion, healing, and love to fix our broken planet – which is why Christ is still praying for His Church and this is what we should be doing for our local congregations, national denominations, and international situations. The Church is Christ’s Bride and will always exist, even beyond Time itself.
Point to ponder: What should I be praying for in my local congregation?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, the Church exists because You brought it into being. Its purpose is to spread the Good News of the Gospel through word and deed. Despite our sinful and fallen ways, You still pray for Your Church and for us. Help us to align our prayers with Your will for the whole Church. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Two new drawings for Pentecost. Can be used for bulletins, postcards, marketing, worship screens, and social media.
Paid subscribers and donors can copy and download various sizes.
Other Pentecost drawings can be found at this link: Pentecost.
Narrative lectionary art and coloring page for Easter 7 of Year 2 – 1 Corinthians passage.
Paid subscribers and donors can copy and download various sizes. See menu for details.
Bulletin art and coloring pages for Psalm 1 and John 17 – the Easter 7B readings.
Paid subscribers and donors can click and download for use.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (NIV)
This is one of those Bible verses that is mistakenly used by people who believe in the Prosperity Gospel. They focus on the second part of the verse where Jesus states that ‘whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’ They think it means that to get anything they want, they just have to ask for it, using Christ’s name as their guarantor, so God will be compelled to give them whatever they desire. But that is not based on faith, it’s actually a form of magic which is called an enchantment. God becomes the Great Genie in the Sky who grants people their wishes, so long as they use the right words.
This mistake occurs because people forget about the first part of the verse where Jesus states that He chose and appointed people to follow Him for one purpose – to bear fruit; in other words, to expand God’s Kingdom and make faith prosperous, not the person, nor their individual desires. It’s what God wants that is important, not what we want. Christ’s name is honored by being associated with the bearing of fruit and is not trivialized or taken in vain by trying to coerce God into doing what we want. We align ourselves to God’s purpose – the sharing of His love through the life, work, and ministry of His Son – instead of maligning God by expecting Him to give us everything we desire.
So next time when we’re praying about something that matters to us, let’s be careful about what we ask for, by personally pondering whether or not we are attempting to manipulate God to our will, rather than consolidate ourselves to God’s will.
Point to ponder: When I pray in Jesus’ Name, am I asking for things that will bear fruit for God’s Kingdom or just myself?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we come to You very often with our needs, wishes, desires, and dreams. We pray for things that we want and forget to ask You what it is that You want for us. Help us to reconsider how we pray and what we ask of You, in order to make our requests more fruitful for God’s Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Thank you for your subscriptions and for continuing to support this ministry.
Over the years, I’ve created thousands of drawings which hundreds of churches are using all over the world. I am constantly humbled by your support. I’m also delighted to receive emails with images of your church bulletins or colored drawings that your Church Kids have completed. Please keep sending them to me – they make me feel connected to your important ministries. Just send me an email to stushie57@outlook.com.
I’ve kept the subscription to $25 US dollars per annum, so that it doesn’t impact your church budgets. I like to think that for less than 50 cents per week, you’re adding quality to your ministries.
The paid subscription is really a yearlong license to use my work for any purposes that will help your church. This includes worship bulletins, newsletters, coloring pages for children, marketing and on your websites, including social media.
I’ve also been able to support several missions with your contributions, which is a wonderful way to bless others.
May God continue to bless your work in the church and communities you serve.
John Stuart aka Stushie
My latest book of devotions has just been published. This time, I’ve uploaded it as an ebook for Kindle and also as a paperback edition. Some of you were asking for this option. Both editions are available at the following links now, in the US and internationally.Narrative Lectionary art – Year 2 Easter 6 1 Corinthians 13 art and coloring page.
Paid subscribers and donors can copy and download various sizes.
Stushie Art 