“Get the right people on the bus” has been one of the most popular sayings in church leadership circles over the last few years. It sounds right. But it’s not. At all. The phrase comes from the world of business. Specifically from Jim Collins and his very good business book, Good to Great. The idea is […]
There Are No “Right” People for Your Church, Just People Read More »
I’m a fan and supporter of Small Churches and their hard-working, dedicated leaders. After all, I’m one of you. You are my peers in ministry and my friends. In yesterday’s post, I told you about a conversation I had with a friend who was having a hard time finding a good Small Church in the
OK… So, Yesterday’s Post Hit a Nerve Or Two Read More »
Our grandparents took relationships for granted and needed to build structures. Our kids and grandkids take those structures for granted and need to build relationships.
Big churches and Small Churches bring different gifts to the body of Christ. They also face different sets of temptations, based on their size.
The biggest problem with church size isn’t that there are too many big congregations or too many small ones. I also don’t think there is an ideal church size or a bad church size.
The biggest problem with church size is when we use it as one more excuse for Christians to throw stones at each other.
Big Church Sins vs. Small Church Sins: Who’ll Throw the First Stone? Read More »
I wish Easter wasn’t called Easter. It would be great if everyone knew it as Resurrection Sunday. But they don’t. So, while our church uses both terms, Easter is our go-to – especially when we invite people to join us.
If your church doesn’t use the word Easter, I’m not arguing that you should. But here are five reasons why we do.
Yes, My Church Still Calls It Easter – Here are 5 Reasons Why Read More »
The body of Christ needs house churches, megachurches and every size in between. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks so.
In today’s podcast, with Jeff and Jonny from 200Churches.com, we talk about the content of one of my earliest posts, “Hi, I’m Karl and I’m NOT a Megachurch Basher”, and why I had to write it.
We Love Megachurches, Too! (Podcast) Read More »
You’ve heard of someone Going Postal? Maybe we should be more concerned about them Going Pastoral.
Ministry is not for the faint of heart. The stats mount up every day about how hazardous it can be for our emotional, financial, even spiritual health. But, according to Forbes magazine, it may not be that ministry makes you crazy, as much as it attracts people who are crazy. Clergyperson is #8 on the list of jobs most likely to attract psychopaths.
Do You Have to Be Crazy to Go Into Full-Time Ministry? (An Overdue Conversation) Read More »
Since the Day of Pentecost, all believers have the Holy Spirit living in us from the moment of salvation, so we carry his presence with us. This means that every act of my life, whether alone or in the company of others, can and should be an act of worship.
But I still go to church every weekend. And I would go every weekend, even if I wasn’t a pastor.
Why?
I don’t go to church to worship Jesus. I go to church to worship Jesus with other people. Because I need to worship Jesus in the company of others. We all do.
I Don’t Go to Church to Worship Jesus Read More »
Since launching NewSmallChurch.com and publishing The Grasshopper Myth, I’ve found myself in some unusual places.
Ministering to US Military Chaplains in Germany and Small Church pastors in Croatia are some of the highlights. But, of all the places I never thought I’d be, the most surprising to me wasn’t on the other side of the world. It was a visit to a place less than five miles from my house – the TV studio of TBN.
A couple months ago, I appeared on their flagship Praise the Lord show, at the invitation of guest host, Phil Munsey.
The Grasshopper Myth? On TBN? Really? (Video) Read More »
There’s a big gap in our pastoral leadership training. If you want advice and training about how to grow a big church, you have lots of great material to choose from. But do you want to know how to pastor your current Small Church well? You’re pretty much on your own.
To make matters worse, there don’t seem to be a lot of church leaders expressing concern about this massive oversight.
In today’s podcast, Jeff and Jonny of 200Churches.com interview me about that gap. Plus, we address the importance of connecting with other Small Church pastors, equipping Small Church leaders with the tools that work for their size, and why Small Churches are ideally suited to be the innovators in the body of Christ.
Small Church Pastors Should Stand Tall (Podcast) Read More »
