September 2016

Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Fan the Flame
Let’s encourage, connect and equip innovative small church leaders as each one plays their part.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Fan the Flame
Image: Emilio Kuffer | Flickr

How can we activate the astonishing power of small churches?

As we’ve already seen in the previous two posts in this series (here and here), over one billion people worship Jesus in small churches tucked into every corner of the globe. What could we possibly do to light ...

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Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Strategic Placement
Small churches may be the most overlooked, under-appreciated and underutilized asset on earth. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Strategic Placement
Image: apasciuto | Flickr

Over one billion people choose to worship Jesus in small churches.

But the astonishing power of small churches is not just about the numbers. It’s about strategic placement.

This is where our small size becomes our advantage.

Small churches have found their way into every ...

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Small Church Ministry
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Over One Billion Served
This is the first in a five-part series that will dramatically alter the way we see small churches and their kingdom potential.
The Astonishing Power of Small Churches: Over One Billion Served
Image: ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓ | Flickr

More than one billion people choose to worship Jesus in small churches.

Yes, you read that right. One billion plus.

This has massive implications for the church, the world and how small churches see their role in the kingdom of God.

So many implications, that I’ll be writing ...

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Innovative Ministry
The World Needs a Better Ironing Board (Yes, This Is About the Church)
We need to introduce people to Jesus. And we need to get rid of anything that makes that task harder than it ought to be.
The World Needs a Better Ironing Board (Yes, This Is About the Church)
Image: greg | Flickr

What models and methods are we clinging to that make the basic functions of the church harder than they should be?

Serving Jesus isn’t supposed to be easy. Christ told us we had to take up our cross daily. But Jesus made the gospel as accessible as possible. Too easy, according ...

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Small Church Ministry
Why Don’t Small Churches Grow? (Actually, They Do)
The presumption that small churches don’t grow is false. Some grow numerically. Most grow spiritually. Many grow in both ways.
Why Don’t Small Churches Grow? (Actually, They Do)
Image: Jean | Flickr

Why don’t small churches grow?

When you run a website, as I do with NewSmallChurch.com, you get to see the search terms people use to find it.

That question is one that pops up all the time. So today I’m going to take a stab at answering it. But before I offer my answer, ...

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Church Leadership
Overcome Ministry Burnout By Learning to Say ‘No’
Saying ‘no’ isn’t a lack of faith. Sometimes it’s a necessary first step in narrowing our focus and strengthening our faith.
Overcome Ministry Burnout By Learning to Say ‘No’
Image: caesararum | Flickr

I can’t do it all.

Neither can you.

Even though I love saying ‘yes’.

Yes to God. Yes to people. Yes to crazy ideas that might turn out to be great ideas in disguise.

But I’ve learned that saying ‘yes’ means more when it’s balanced by the ...

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Why Successful Churches Aren’t Turning the World Upside-Down – But the Outcasts Might
Where are the Christian innovators who will put a dangerous passion for Jesus ahead of personal ministry success?
Why Successful Churches Aren’t Turning the World Upside-Down – But the Outcasts Might
Image: ricardo | Flickr

Jesus was the most culture-challenging, paradigm-shifting, tradition-breaking, change agent who ever lived.

How did his followers become so boring?

Want cutting-edge, society-shifting change? Church is the last place people expect to find it.

Want dry, stuffy, moldy, old traditions ...

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Church Leadership
Epidemic: Another Pastor Burned Out and Quit Last Sunday
The pain of one pastor is intensified under the unforgiving glare of the spotlight, while the pain of another is ignored. Both hurt equally.
Epidemic: Another Pastor Burned Out and Quit Last Sunday
Image: Caden Crawford Follow | Flickr

It never gets easier. No matter how many times you hear about it.

And we're hearing about it a lot more lately. In epidemic numbers.

Another pastor announced to his stunned congregation that he couldn't do it anymore. He loved them. He was proud of the kingdom work they'd ...

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Church Leadership
Finding God's Will for Your Life Is Easier than You Think
Many Christians overplay the importance of God's specific will, while underestimating the value of God's universal will.
Finding God's Will for Your Life Is Easier than You Think
Image: Sarah | Flickr

Finding God’s will for your life is not as difficult as we make it out to be.

In fact, 90 percent of God's will for my life is the same as 90 percent of God's will for your life. (Actual results may vary.)

If it was portrayed in a Venn diagram, the two circles would ...

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Church Leadership
5 Lies Pastors are Tempted to Tell – And How to Resist Them
No one wants bad news. So we're tempted to downplay the negatives, up-sell the positives and call it faith.
5 Lies Pastors are Tempted to Tell – And How to Resist Them
Image: Julian Carvajal | Flickr

In over 35 years of pastoral ministry, I've known and worked alongside hundreds of pastors. I've met thousands.

I can count the dishonest ones – the wolves in sheep's clothing – on one hand. With fingers left over.

But there are some lies that even the ...

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Small Church Ministry
Yes, There are Conferences for Small Church Pastors!
Having a small church pastor teach at pastoral conferences is such a new idea that some people don’t know what to make of it.
Yes, There are Conferences for Small Church Pastors!
Image: Josh Janssen | Flickr

Talking and writing about healthy small churches is a revolutionary idea. It shouldn’t be, but it is. And it probably will be for a while.

But dents are being made. Let me tell you about some that are happening now.

This fall, I’ve been invited to teach about small ...

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Christian Unity
“Small Church Pastors Should Quit” (and More Monday Google Searches)
I’ve always known that Mondays are hard for pastors. I now have direct evidence that they can be especially hard for small church pastors.
“Small Church Pastors Should Quit” (and More Monday Google Searches)
Image: Alon | Flickr

You give away a lot more than you realize when you’re on the internet.

Now that I operate a website, I get to see some of those secrets because I can read the search terms that have led people there.

I’ve always known that Mondays are hard for pastors. I now have direct ...

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Church Growth
A Big Church? Or a Healthy Church? What If You Had to Choose?
Usually, a choice for church health is also a choice for church growth. But not always. Sometimes it's one or the other.
A Big Church? Or a Healthy Church? What If You Had to Choose?
Image: Wonderlane | Flickr

I hate either/or choices. I like both/and.

But life doesn’t always give us that.

Take church growth and health, for instance.

Usually, a choice for church health is also a choice for church growth. But not always. Sometimes it's one or the other. Especially in a smaller ...

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