The world is changing. In good ways and bad. If you live in America’s Bible Belt (predominantly the Midwest and South) you are probably feeling the impact of these changes to a greater degree than those of us who live outside it. And those feelings are likely to grow for at least another generation. If […]
What does a pastor do when change is needed in order to reach a changing community – or simply to keep the current congregation alive – but we’re met with resistance from the very church members whose support and energy are needed to get the job done?
My most important advice to pastors facing this dilemma is easy to state, but very difficult to do. Don’t attack their comfort zone, ease their fears.
Don’t attack their comfort zone, ease their fears.
It’s easier to get someone to move from something familiar to something new by helping them see the advantages of the new idea than by attacking a familiar idea. And the first step in doing that is to make the new idea more appealing by making it less frightening.
Is Your Church Resisting Necessary Change? Try This Helpful Strategy Read More »
Preaching matters. According to no less an authority than the Apostle Paul, the spoken message of Christ crucified is one the ways God has chosen to bring his message of salvation to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). Because preaching matters, those of us who are entrusted to do so need to engage in it with
5 Preaching Styles In 25 Years (Here’s What I Changed And Why) Read More »
Yesterday, I was back in my home church after being gone for a month doing conferences and taking some vacation time with my wife, Shelley.
We’ve taken time away before, of course, but this time it was different. Because when I came back yesterday, for the first Sunday in over 25 years, I wasn’t the lead pastor any more.
I didn’t oversee yesterday’s service. I wasn’t responsible for coordinating the staff and volunteers. I don’t even have an office. But I got to participate in the celebration of installing my former youth pastor as our new lead pastor.
It felt different. And welcoming. And awkward. And wonderful.
In the past couple months, since announcing and writing about our pastoral transition (here, here and here), I’ve been asked a lot of questions, but most of them start with the same word.
Why?
Pastoral Transition: Why Change When You Don’t Have To? Read More »
Yesterday, I was back in my home church after being gone for a month doing conferences and taking some vacation time with my wife, Shelley.
We’ve taken time away before, of course, but this time it was different. Because when I came back yesterday, for the first Sunday in over 25 years, I wasn’t the lead pastor any more.
I didn’t oversee yesterday’s service. I wasn’t responsible for coordinating the staff and volunteers. I don’t even have an office. But I got to participate in the celebration of installing my former youth pastor as our new lead pastor.
It felt different. And welcoming. And awkward. And wonderful.
In the past couple months, since announcing and writing about our pastoral transition (here, here and here), I’ve been asked a lot of questions, but most of them start with the same word.
Why?
Pastoral Transition: Why Change When You Don’t Have To? Read More »
God’s timing is perfect.
When he does something in our lives unilaterally (as in, he doesn’t ask for our permission or cooperation) his timing is often quick, surprising and sometimes painful. It’s only when we see those events in the rear view mirror that we understand what he was doing – sometimes not even then.
But there are other times when God chooses to bring us in on a decision in advance. He gives us a choice. And a chance to participate with him.
When those circumstances have happened in my life, I’ve noticed that the Lord usually gives us a window of time to implement those changes – often a very large, generous window. This allows us the wonderful opportunity to see what God is about to do, discover our role in it, prepare for it to take place, and open the gate to turn it loose.
It’s like the hand-off zone in a relay race. The smaller the transition zone, the harder the hand-off. But the longer the zone, the smoother the hand-off can be.
The Pastoral Transition Zone: Catching God’s Timing For Your Church And Ministry Read More »
For many generations, people who went to church would attend every Sunday no matter what. Whether out of habit, culture, tradition, denominational identity, fear of reprisal, or a sincere commitment to Christ and his church, when the doors were open, they were going to walk through them.
That era is going, going … gone.
Today, people choose what church to attend based on a variety of factors. And the list keeps changing. As those old loyalties have drifted down the list, new factors are rising to take a place of greater prominence.
Among the highest reasons today are worship style, kids’ ministries and pastoral teaching. Those three barely registered with people a couple generations ago.
Pastoral transitions matter more now than ever because the role of the pastor has risen substantially on the list of reasons people do or don’t attend a church.
I don’t think the charisma or teaching style of the pastor should factor as high as it does. But it’s no worse than the denominational loyalty, family tradition and guilt-based cultural expectations that used to top the list.
Why Smooth Pastoral Transitions Matter More Now Than Ever Read More »
The next decade or two will be critical for the western church. The culture around us is experiencing a once-in-a-millennium shift right now. A recalibration of the way we think about everything from our morality, to our sexuality, to our identity, and our theology.
It’s only just beginning. And the pace of it is being propelled into hyper-speed by new technology.
So what’s the local church to do? We must hold two seemingly competing ideals in our hands at the same time.
Ideal #1: Stand strong on the unchanging principles of God’s Word.
Ideal #2: Adapt our methods to a fast-changing world.
If we hope to do these two things well, local congregations must reinforce the following 10 principles. And the sooner we get to work on them, the better.
Recalibrate: 10 Steps Every Church Must Take This Year, Or Be Dead In A Decade Read More »
The central message of the Bible and our faith is resurrection, salvation, renewal, transformation and rebirth.
In other words, change.
If you can’t get on board with change, you’re missing out on what following Jesus is all about.
The alternative to change isn’t stability. It’s stubbornness. Besides, no one needs help to stay the same.
Why Are Church Leaders Always Talking About Change? (7 Reasons) Read More »
It’s not always easy to fix long-term problems and implement needed changes in a church – especially when old, dysfunctional ways have taken root.
Sometimes we make our job harder than it needs to be, not by doing the wrong things, but by doing the right things at the wrong time.
Over the years, I’ve discovered three simple principles that have helped me and my church. They’re found in the following old fable.
The 3 Best Times to Bring Needed Change to a Church Read More »
