2017
Recently, I was in a roomful of pastors when one of them said “Pastoral ministry can be harder on our spouses than on us.”
Every head in the room nodded in silent agreement.
Then someone asked “why”?
Here are some of the reasons we discovered that evening. ...
Small church internships have a lot to offer both the intern and the church.
But they have to be done right. If not, they’re a nightmare.
For over a dozen years, our small church has operated a successful internship ministry. Here are ten essential lessons we’ve learned, ...
We don’t measure the things that matter.
We measure the things we manage.
One of the unquestioned premises of the church growth movement is that when something matters to us, we measure it. So we count things like church attendance in an attempt to measure a church’s ...
Why don’t people wear their Sunday Best for church any more?
A lot of older churchgoers (that is, my generation) seem to be worried about that lately.
I’d like to respond to that question with a couple of my own.
When did the members of my generation become such old ...
We’ve invested a lot into the art and science of church growth in the last 50 years.
It makes me wonder. After such a massive output of time, energy, research and money, have we become like the proverbial man with a hammer who sees everything as a nail?
Is that why church ...
Was yesterday a tough Sunday, pastor?
Again?
You did everything you know to do.
You prepared, prayed and studied all week long.
A couple days ahead of time, you got in touch with volunteers to remind them this was their Sunday to teach, sing, usher, and so on.
You arrived early, ...
Interning at a church is one of the best ways to prepare for pastoral ministry. Or to determine that pastoral ministry is not your calling (a distinction that is essential to know - and the sooner, the better.)
It’s also a wonderful opportunity for a church to expand its ...
People use a lot of excuses for not putting their best foot forward in pastoral ministry.
- “I love preaching, but I hate studying”
- “Teamwork isn't my strong suit – I’m an introvert”
- “I get impatient when things don't change fast enough”
People who don’t go to church, don’t want to go to church. They’re not rolling out of bed late on Sunday morning wishing they had somewhere more churchy to be.
In fact, a growing number of people who do go to church don’t want to go, either. If we don’t ...
Brand loyalty is dead.
Good riddance.
The so-called good-old-days when a person committed to a church, then stuck with it no matter what, have come to an end. But many churches don’t know it yet.
The same goes for denominations. Today, even fully committed believers are unlikely ...
I’m not a podcaster. But I’m becoming an avid listener.
If you’re a podcaster looking for an audience, I’m the kind of person you’re looking for. Someone who wants great content and will come back for more once I find it.
So what makes a great podcast ...
Leaders are learners. It’s an axiom as old as leadership itself.
I used to say leaders are readers. But that’s never been entirely true. Because you don’t need to be an avid reader to be a constant learner.
Some learn by collaboration and conversation. Some by ...
What does your church do well? And how long does it take a first-time guest to experience it?
Your response to those questions is a huge factor in how well your church attracts and keeps new people.
According to church leadership experts, most people will subconsciously decide ...
Do all healthy things grow?
Yes.
If a church is healthy, will it grow?
Also, yes.
Will that growth always result in larger congregational attendance?
Not so fast.
When Church Growth Theory Meets Church Life Reality
I know it seems logical.
If a church is healthy they’ll be reaching ...
I have no idea what the right way to do church is.
And I'm growing increasingly skeptical of anyone who says they know.
Sure, I write about it. But most of the time it's little more than "here's something that helps me and my church. Maybe it can help you and ...
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