Church attendance is down in the western world. Why? Because church members don’t attend as consistently as they used to. That’s not the only reason church attendance is down, of course. It’s not even the main reason. But it’s definitely a trend I have seen as a pastor. And it needs to be addressed. But how? […]
Church Members Aren’t Attending as Often – Are They Trying to Tell Us Something? Read More »
Big churches have a reputation for being overly programmed and impersonal. Small Churches have a reputation for being backwards and lazy. I’ve always fought against those characterizations, believing them to be unfair caricatures. But a recent conversation made me realize that those stereotypes have their foundations in some sad realities. I was talking with a
Big and Impersonal, Or Small and Pathetic: Are Those My Only Church Options? Read More »
Going to church has never been the point. Jesus didn’t tell us to “work really hard to gather people into large crowds to fill up your church buildings. Then I’ll know that you love me.” But when you look at how most pastors (including me) spend much of our time and energy, sometimes it feels like we
Jesus Never Told Us To Fill Church Buildings Read More »
It had taken me months to say yes to this idea myself. But I expected them to say yes as soon as they heard it. That wasn’t a fair request to make of them, especially when the idea was a big one.
They needed time to let it soak in their hearts, just like I had needed time for it to soak into mine.
Do Your Church Leaders Always Say No to Innovative Ideas? Try This Read More »
The church needs to be more digital. For Small Churches especially, the digital world can level the playing field and give us a broader reach and wider ministry than we currently have.
We need more churches taking advantage of online services, podcasts, livestreaming, social media, blogging, you name it.
But church will never be digital. Screen-to-screen is no substitute for face-to-face. Digital reality cannot replace actual reality.
Online Church Is Great, But It’s Not Enough Read More »
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. Many churches just don’t know it yet. Maybe that’s why I keep hearing ministers harping on the same old complaints. “My church can’t get good volunteers any more!” “People aren’t as faithful as they used to be.” And, my personal [ahem] favorite, “What’s wrong with this generation? You can’t count on them for anything.”
If those complaints sound familiar (as in, you’ve heard them come from your own mouth) please take this in the way I’m giving it – with all the love in my heart. Stop whining about people’s lack of commitment to your church and give them something worth committing to!
People Aren’t As Loyal to Their Church Anymore – Good For Them Read More »
I like quirky churches. And I’m pretty sure God does, too. Just take a look at the astonishing variety of churches in the New Testament.
Quirky churches don’t mess with the fundamentals. And they don’t worry about passing fads. Quirky churches are the ones that dare to do the bible stuff in a way that works for them and the people God is calling them to reach. No matter how strange it looks to everyone else.
In Celebration of Quirky Churches Read More »
Because of our size, Small Churches are more capable of changing than our larger counterparts. Here are 6 steps many innovative Small Churches have taken to bake change into the core of who they are.
Adapt Or Die: 6 Ways to Create a Change Culture In Your Church Read More »
Writing a mission statement should be one of the last things a church does, not one of the first. The only real hope that a church will follow through on their mission statement is if it’s based on what the church is already doing.
Your Church’s Mission Statement: Do It First, Write It Later Read More »
Have we been doing vision-casting wrong? I think so. For maybe a generation or more. I was at a church conference not long ago where the leader spent all his time trying to convince the assembled leadership team to get behind his vision for the group. They like the leader, but very few of the
5 Problems With Top-Down Vision-Casting – And a New Testament Alternative Read More »
