2017

Small Church Ministry
Jesus Didn’t Wake Up this Morning Depressed By the Size of Your Church
Mondays can be tough for pastors of struggling churches. But Christ is with you. And he has good news.
Jesus Didn’t Wake Up this Morning Depressed By the Size of Your Church
Image: Ed | Flickr

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, ...

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Small Church Ministry
10 Steps to Get an Internship Ministry Started In a Small Church
Most small churches would love to have interns. But how do you overcome that massive initial step of getting your first intern?

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 ...

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Church Leadership
Please Stop Saying ‘It’s Just the Way I Am’ to Excuse Mediocrity In Ministry
If anything hinders our ability to do what God has called us to do, we don’t have the option to let it slide.

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”
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Innovative Ministry
7 Steps to Start Becoming a Church People Want to Commit To
A lot of recently unchurched people are like some of the rowdy kids in school. They’re ditching because they’re not being challenged.
7 Steps to Start Becoming a Church People Want to Commit To

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 ...

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Church & Culture
People Aren’t as Loyal to a Church Or Denomination Anymore – Good For Them
We need to stop whining about people’s lack of commitment to our churches and give them something - and someone - worth committing to.

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 ...

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Church Leadership
8 Characteristics of a Great Podcast (Plus Some Church Leadership Podcasts I Like)
If you're a podcaster, here's one listener's blunt assessment of what works and what doesn’t. This is the stuff your friends won't tell you.

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 ...

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Church Leadership
8 Reasons I’ve Started Listening to Church Leadership Podcasts Lately
Listening will never replace reading. But podcasts have become a significant and valuable part of my church leadership learning experience.

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 ...

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Innovative Ministry
Front-Load the Value: Creating a Better Experience for First-Time Church Guests
Is your church service putting your worst foot forward instead of your best? Here's a simple way to reverse that.

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 ...

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Innovative Ministry
3 Ways Some Churches Grow Without Getting Bigger
Butts-in-the-seats growth is great. But it’s not going to happen for every church. That's never a reason to give up, coast along, or offer excuses.

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 ...

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Innovative Ministry
The Right Way to Do Church?
Let's stop looking for a one-size-fits-all way to do church. And stop insisting on it for others.
The Right Way to Do Church?

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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Small Church Ministry
7 Reasons to Consider a Small Church Internship
Small churches have unique characteristics, quirks and blessings that can only be learned by having ministry experience in them.

Church internships are great. For the church and for the intern.

If they’re done right (yes, that’s a big “if”), they can confirm or define a call to ministry, provide real-life experience, enhance classroom learning, and bless a local church.

If you’re ...

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Christian Unity
Supporting Small Churches Does Not Mean Bashing Big Churches
When we bash churches for becoming big, we fail to recognize the power of the gospel to draw people to Jesus, in both large and small crowds.

I like big- and megachurches. I wish there were more of them.

I like small churches even more. I wish there were a lot more of them.

As I continue to write and speak about the value of small churches, I’m noticing a disturbing mini-trend that I want to opt out of. It’s ...

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Church Leadership
Your Struggling Church Can Turn Around Today – But Greatness Takes Time
If you’re pastoring a church that has or is turning around, here's some great news - and possibly your greatest challenge.
Your Struggling Church Can Turn Around Today – But Greatness Takes Time

Your struggling church can turn around this year.

This month.

This weekend.

Because turnarounds can happen in an instant.

If you’re in a church that needs a turnaround, that’s the good news.

Now here’s some hard news. Good, but hard.

Turnarounds can happen fast. ...

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Church Leadership
3 Simple Words That Can Help Your Sermons Stick
A simple practice every pastor can do on Monday that can help last weekend's message have the impact you want.

Impact.

It’s what every pastor wants from our Sunday sermons (or talks, messages, homilies – take your pick).

We want to have impact. We want the message to stick. We want the words we speak to help people follow Jesus more closely.

Sermons aren’t just about Sunday. ...

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Small Church Ministry
Are You a Small Church Pastor? So Was Jesus
If you pastor a small church Jesus knows what you're going through, because he felt it, too.

Jesus was a small church pastor.

Every time I say that, people rush to remind me that massive crowds followed Jesus. Which, of course, is true.

It’s also true that Jesus is the founder, the savior, the builder and sustainer of the Church – all believers at all times ...

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