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.
Too many church leaders spend too much time on too many things that aren’t essential to an effective church.
But what are the essential elements of an effective church? Good news. I’ve found the definitive list and today I’m going to share it with you.
Finally, a Definitive List of Every Essential Element for an Effective Church Read More »
Most church growth proponents agree and teach that church growth is not a plan or a solution. But too many of them see it as a goal.
And because of that bigger-is-our-goal mentality, too many struggling pastors leave their church growth conferences thinking bigger is a plan and a solution, too. And why wouldn’t they? They’ve spent several days in the awesome facilities of a booming church. The facility is proof that this stuff works. And they want that too.
The problem is, they’ve been wowed by the successes, but they haven’t been told about any of the churches that tried the same methods and failed.
Bigger Is Not a Plan, a Goal Or a Solution for Your Church’s Struggles Read More »
For years, we used to spend a lot of time and money to create an Easter invitation flyer. Then we’d spend way too much money to print it and run it in a neighborhood magazine or newspaper. But we received very little benefit from all that work and expense.
With social media, we changed our tactics. We started creating our own flyers and making them available for church members to post on their social media pages. Not only was it free but, since people are always putting stuff like that on social media anyway, it felt less like advertising and more like chatting with friends.
This year, we’re taking it a step further. In addition to creating an Easter flyer for the church, we’re helping everyone at the church create their own personalized invitation. In today’s post, I’ll show you how we’re doing it.
A Fun, Free Way For Church Members to Invite Friends for Easter (Or Any Time) Read More »
People are not less committed than they used to be. They just commit differently. But too many churches haven’t caught up to that reality. So how do we get people to commit to the church we pastor? Especially when our church is small and struggling?
I don’t have all the answers, not by a long shot. But I’ve learned a handful of principles over three decades of ministry that have helped our church become a place people are excited to be committed to.
These steps won’t cost you any extra money and very little extra time – the extra time because of the learning curve. It’s not about adding to your already limited schedule and overtaxed budget. It’s not about doing things bigger. It’s about focusing on doing church better. Working smarter, not harder.
7 Steps to Start Becoming a Church People Want to Commit To 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 »
Beyond the surprisingly few essentials, there is no right way to do church.
As soon as we pick any method as the right method, we take a great risk. First, because it causes us to look down on other ways of doing church and, by extension, the fellow believers who worship that way. Second, because as soon as that method becomes stale or irrelevant, the Gospel appears to be stale and irrelevant, too.
The Gospel is always bigger than my, your, or anyone else’s method.
Diversify or Die? The Future of the Church Is Stronger In Many Baskets Read More »
It’s not easy to create a culture of change and adaptability in a Small Church. But it is essential. This post is about the most effective, renewal process I know. I call it the Closet Rule.
The #1 Rule to Help Reduce Church Clutter and Renew Effective Ministry 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 »
Dirt Matters is a very good book. For many churches it could be a very important book. This is not a book of methods and gimmicks that have to be transposed for your size. It’s about fundamentals that apply to every church of any size.
Stuff We Like: Dirt Matters, by Jim Powell Read More »
