Newsletters
Home Blog Page 1076

National Prayer Breakfast: Faith Helps Us Cross the Aisle

By
Bob Ditmer
-
communicating with the unchurched

At a time when Washington seems more divided than ever, a sense of camaraderie, civility and humility pervaded the 66th National Prayer Breakfast.

Congressman Randy Hultgren, a Republican from Illinois, and Democratic Representative Charlie Crist of Florida, co-chaired the event as they do the weekly prayer gatherings on Capitol Hill.

Crist started the proceedings by referring to the Golden Rule. He says he’s worn a rubber bracelet for several years as a reminder that in the acrimonious field of politics, he should treat everyone the way he wants to be treated and the way Jesus wanted all of us to live—fairly and compassionately.

Hultgren said of the weekly gatherings, “We walk in as Republicans and Democrats from different generations, regions and backgrounds. We walk in with our own views but we always walk out with a little more understanding and a little more unified.”

He called the prayer times, including today’s National Prayer Breakfast, a “journey toward civility, reconciliation and love that Jesus taught us.”

Matthew 7:7 Quoted at National Prayer Breakfast

Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, said he is one of 25 to 30 lawmakers who gather from week to week to talk, pray and encourage each other.

He said the prayer times are highly personal as the politicians offer prayer requests for family, their personal lives, staff and their own needs. “It’s a vulnerable thing to say I have needs and I want you to know about it,” Lankford said.

He quipped, “Senators can’t do everything. In fact, we haven’t done much for a while.”

But he suggested that a sense of humility is not prevalent enough in the nation’s capitol reminding the many lawmakers on hand that times of prayer remind us that “we did not create the world but we can stop and talk to the one who did.”

According to Lankford, when lawmakers humble themselves there is a new atmosphere in the halls of power as we “gather with people who others would see as enemies or opponents and to sit down and say let’s try praying together.”

Lankford, who earned a divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, pointed out that just before Jesus gave us the Golden Rule he said in Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

He suggested we don’t treat each other the way Jesus instructed because we don’t stop to ask, seek and knock.

Lankford then prayed for humility in Washington to ask, seek and knock for guidance while admitting that “we don’t know everything or run everything but we have the chance to talk to the One who does.”

President Donald Trump also spoke at the event. His remarks were a bit of a departure from the earlier comments as he focused on God’s blessing of America and the ways God makes himself known.  

“We love God we see the Lord’s grace in service members who risk their lives to give us freedom, in teachers who work tirelessly for our students, in the police who sacrifice to keep us safe and sacrifice they do.”

“All we have to do is open our eyes and look around us and we see God’s hand in the courage of our fellow citizens. We see the power of God’s love at work in our soul and the power of God’s will to answer all of our prayers.”

Perhaps another way God will make himself known is through the answered prayers of a renewed sense of harmony in our nation’s capital.

15 Incredible Quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.

 

10 Things No One Ever Told You About Being a Pastor

By
Joe McKeever
-
communicating with the unchurched

I hate to see a young pastor get disillusioned by his first experience or two. But it happens, sad to say.

Those of us who have been in the field throughout all our adult years wish someone had told us a few things about this work. So, assuming we are speaking to beginning pastors, here are a few things we’d love to share…

1. They might not have told you how much fun pastoring can be.   

The redeemed of God are among the greatest people in the world (most of them) and they can enjoy life to the fullest. As pastor, you sometimes get to be in the thick of the fun. They love to laugh, to have adventures and to encourage each other.

As pastor, you get to dream up programs and ideas that will affect your community, touch lives, transform homes and reach the future—and then put it into effect with a huge corps of sweet-spirited workers as your team. How cool is that?

As for those who say working with church volunteers is not unlike herding cats, well, it can be a challenge sometimes. But that’s good also. God has not called us to a life of ease, but something difficult and good and eminently worthwhile.

2. They probably didn’t tell you there are often unexpected financial benefits to pastoring.

The government allows ministers to receive a housing allowance but pay no tax on it. And the church can set aside money for your mileage and other ministry expenses and cover them for you, instead of their coming out of your pocket. From time to time, generous church members may give you money, for no reason other than the goodness of their heart. Churches vary on this practice, of course, but of my six pastorates, two of them had generous members who took care of their preacher in this way. It was never a large amount, but a hundred dollars here and a hundred there can make life a lot easier.

A wealthy church member once bought me a new car. And wanted me to tell no one he had done it. A couple of times when my family was leaving on vacation, another member would walk across the street to my office and give me a few hundred dollar bills to help with expenses. Once he handed me a check for a thousand dollars to be put in the church account, but which I could use to help people. He wanted no tax credit for it, and I was accountable to no one but the Lord. (Those were different days then, and now we’d have more stringent rules as to how the pastor could draw on that account. But I never abused it. Oh, and he would replenish the funds from time to time. I was disappointed for any number of reasons when he died.)

3. They warned us to watch out for bullies among the deacons and eccentrics among the congregations, but no one prepared us for just how wonderful the great majority of the members would be. 

Some of the most Christlike and wonderful people I’ve ever known have honored me by calling me “Pastor.” And a few stop me to this day to say, “You’ll always be my pastor.” That’s about as good as it gets.

4. They didn’t tell us that church staff members come in all shapes and varieties, and that some need close supervision and guidance, while others are self-starters and highly motivated without pastoral input.  

There is no “one size fits all” counsel for administering the work of a church staff. What worked with one may not be effective with another. That’s why the large churches will often bring someone on board just to administer the work of the church staff members. No pastor has time enough to do this with more than two or three staffers.

If your pastor is expected to administer the work of several staffers, pray for the Lord to show him how to do this. It’s difficult. Someone once told me his staff members expected him to be the CEO of the membership but their pastor, whereas the congregation wanted him as their pastor and the staff’s CEO.

5. They told us that a working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew are good, but they never told us to leave most of that out of our sermons. 

Just preach the good news, pastor. People are no smarter or godlier knowing that the verb here is in the aorist tense and that this is the only place in the New Testament where that word is used. Study the Word, learn all you can, and then put it into the language of the people who will sit before you on Sunday.

6. They never told us that church members usually elect leaders based on popularity and worldly success, and not maturity, spirituality or wisdom.  

Consequently, a new pastor may find himself having to deal with church leaders who see the church as a business, have no use for doing anything by faith (some actually see faith as a form of escapism), and whose personal lives are an embarrassment to the kingdom. And yet, there they are and the congregation expects you to respect them and work with them.

In time, if you will remain there long enough to gain the people’s trust, you can change the system to make sure that only the godly and mature are placed in leadership. But until then, pray a lot and do the best you can.

The Heart of a Worship Leader: Being Led While Leading

By
John Williams
-
communicating with the unchurched

I guess I’ve always felt like I was somewhat of a leader. With my Type A personality, taking charge of situations has not always been easy, but I haven’t refused the challenge. However, I can say that being a church leader has presented more challenges than any other situation that I’ve experienced in my life. I’ve been on staff at my church now for almost seven years. I’ve served under difficult leadership, as well as leadership I could spend the rest of my ministry under, and I’ve learned a lot from both. I’ve learned how you should conduct yourself as a leader, and more importantly, how you shouldn’t. I’ve learned how to lead a church through difficult circumstances, and how to celebrate God’s victories within the church. I’ve learned that hasty decisions can reap disastrous consequences, and sometimes the best thing is to just sit still and wait on God to move, no matter how many people are telling you it’s wrong.

I’m sure we all have these types of stories. All of the experiences referenced above are lessons I have gleaned from those who have led me. No matter your current situation, or even past experiences, I just wanted to encourage you to encourage the leadership around you. Here are a few points to remember as you lead while being led.

1. SUPPORT YOUR PASTOR, EVEN WHEN YOU MAY NOT AGREE.

This is a difficult one for me, due to my own experience serving under leadership who consistently made poor and unbiblical choices; in such a case, the right thing to do was to strongly enforce accountability for the decisions being made. So please let me clarify; there’s a big difference between following a leader who you know has biblical convictions, and one who does not. One verse that always comes to mind is Hebrews 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” The call in this verse is first to the leader, then to the one being led. The responsibility to watch over someone else’s soul is the reason why we know being a leader is a “calling.” Who would want that responsibility otherwise? One day, your Pastor will have to give an account to God for every soul they were trusted to shepherd and disciple. If your Pastor’s heart is exactly that, then why cause strife for them by not being supportive? Even if you don’t agree with the plan, support your Pastor in their decisions. Remember that their call is to lead the flock, which you are a part of.

2. BE A SERVANT/LEADER TO YOUR PASTOR

Jesus himself was of this mindset; in order to lead effectively you must serve those around you. This practice will go a long way in building trust with your leadership. If your Pastor knows that your heart is to serve the church and the leadership of the church, you’re building a relationship that has a foundation of trust. Not only that, but you are allowing your leadership to more openly share their heart, which allows you to understand where God is leading them. Having this understanding opens the door for you to be ministered to, while ministering to others, which is incredible!

3. THERE’S LOTS TO LEARN, SO LISTEN UP!

There’s a good possibility that your Pastor has been in ministry for quite sometime. They’ve seen a lot. They’ve experienced times of growth, and times of drought. They’ve rejoiced and have prayed through times of blessing, and have returned to their knees in prayer during difficult times. I have learned, and continue to learn so much from my Pastor. I cherish every discipleship moment, and glean from his experiences. Sure, sometimes I think I’ve got it all figured out, like I’m the new guy with a new formula. I may think I’m full of the method, but my Pastor is full of the message. He’s lived it, breathed it, fought for it and has been humbled by it; there’s so much to learn from! One day, it will be our turn to do the same for others, but for now, just soak it in.

4. KNOW THAT ONLY ONE MAN ACHIEVED PERFECTION, EVER.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

I know I’m hitting it hard with Hebrews, but this verse is exactly my point. Only Jesus achieved perfection, so don’t expect it from your Pastor. I’m sure some of your congregants hold them in that light, but you can’t make that same mistake. You may not be held to that same standard, especially if you’re not the lead pastor. My Pastor knows my shortcomings, and I know that I can confide in him and receive sound biblical guidance. You should be that safe haven for your pastor as well. Let them know that they can be human around you! As silly as that may sound, it may be exactly what they need at certain moments, just as you and I do. Just as Christ shows every man unending grace, hopefully your Pastor follows that example, and we should as well. Understanding that your Pastor is not a perfect person will free you to learn from them that much more. If you put your Pastor on a pedestal, you’re setting yourself up for failure and missing the opportunity to grow as a leader.

One last word of encouragement: Pray for your Pastors and their families. The enemy in constantly on the prowl for them waiting to devour them and destroy their ministries. The power of prayer cannot be understated!

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

This article originally appeared here.

What Is the Purpose of a Small Group Leader?

By
Roger Carr
-
communicating with the unchurched

Are you thinking about becoming a small group leader? Or have you been a small group leader for a while but want to better understand what your role is all about? You should start by understanding the purpose of a small group leader.

If you asked people about the purpose of a small group leader, you will probably get a variety of answers.

To lead the group…

To organize the group meetings…

To facilitate the group discussions…

Purpose of a Small Group Leader

A clear purpose drives what the leader does as he or she performs in that role. It guides the decisions a small group leader makes. It provides a focus that will result in a more effective group.

So what is the purpose of a small group leader?

The purpose of a small group leader is to provide an experience that gives each member the best opportunities to mature as a disciple of Jesus.

Three Important Take-Aways for Small Group Leaders

There are a few ideas I want you to take away from this definition of a small group leader’s purpose.

1. A leader’s focus is on what is best for the members’ spiritual growth.

The focus can’t be about you as a small group leader. Everything needs to be focused on maximizing the potential of a transformation taking place in each of your member’s lives. The small group leader makes many decisions including the areas of group activities, learning methods, study topics, and role assignments. Each decision needs to take the purpose into account.

Ask,

Does this provide the best opportunity for my small group members to mature as a disciple of Jesus?

The answer will help you in your decision.

2. A leader’s experience doesn’t start and end with the meetings.

When I use the word “experience” in the purpose, it represents much more than the regularly scheduled small group meetings. It includes contact between the meetings. It includes encouraging and accountability practices. It includes learning experiences.

The role of a small group member is more than a meeting organizer, and the experiences created outside the meetings are just as important as those conducted during the meetings.

3. A good small group leader requires really knowing each member.

Determining how to create the best opportunities requires an understanding of who each member is and where they are at on their spiritual journey.

  • What is their level of spiritual maturity?
  • What is their preference for ways to worship God?
  • What is their primary learning style?
  • What is their personality type?
  • What are their current life challenges?
  • What are their spiritual gifts?

The more you get to know your group members, the better you can be at creating the needed experience for transformation opportunities.

It is a privilege to be a small group leader. It is exciting to watch members grow spiritually. This can even include them becoming a new Christian! It is also exciting to see the impact your members have on family, friends, and in local and global communities.

Keep your purpose in mind as you serve with joy.

Question: What do you believe the main purpose of a small group leader should be? 

This article originally appeared here.

Should Technology Be Allowed at Small Group Meetings?

 

7 Megachurch Lessons I Learned While on Staff

By
Jamie Blaine
-
communicating with the unchurched

The Bible tells a lot of stories. Rambling stories. Messy stories of messed-up people from Moses to Job, Jonah to the Revelator John. Stories that don’t always resolve or tie up neatly. You can’t trust a story that’s too clean. They taught us that in Psychology 101. True stories are raw and rough and they don’t always turn out the way we want. But there’s a power in unpolished stories.

Jesus told stories. And he was reluctant to explain. He left it for the people to make up their own minds.

This is simply my story of megachurch lessons I got while working at a megachurch.

Megachurch Lesson 1. Most churches become “mega” under one truly gifted pastor.

I’d been church hopping for a while when I decided to check out South Point, a mid-size congregation smack in the middle of downtown. They had a new, young pastor named Tommy Rush, a lanky fellow who wore his suits loose like a college basketball coach and when you met him, he looked you in the eye and made you feel special, like he was genuinely interested in what you had to say. His preaching seemed like he was talking just to you, and the way he described God made it sound like He is your oldest, truest friend—one you could lean on in good times or bad.

South Point was the only church I ever attended where the most seasoned believer or rank sinner could come and not leave jaded or unchanged. One of my most heathen friends shook his head slowly after one service and said, “Man, I’ve been waiting for someone to talk to me like that all my life…”

Megachurch Lesson 2. Bigger has its benefits…

With its 4,000-plus weekly attendance, South Point had a plethora of outreach ministries, multiple youth programs, a wellness center, coffee bar and thrift store. The parking lots were secure. Volunteers would deliver you from your car to the church door in a golf cart. The services started and ended on time. Worship was well produced and performed by talented musicians. The biggest acts were attracted to South Point, and even without all that, Brother Tommy’s preaching seemed to get better every week.

All of this worked to attract more people. I watched the church double. Then triple. They added an early service, then another on Saturday night. I decided to make South Point my home.

Megachurch Lesson 3. …but it can also be like high school all over again.

If you are a natural-born extrovert or good at networking, you have a huge advantage at the megachurch. If you were class president or head cheerleader, you’d do fine.

I was one of those people who slipped into the balcony or back pew and struggled to find a place to fit in. I don’t do well in groups. I’m better one-on-one. But most megachurches are geared toward groups and extroverts. I tried a few church mixers, but even though we had several thousand members, it seemed like once you met four or five people, you’d pretty much met them all. And they all appeared to be a lot more together and sure about things than I was. So I kept my mouth shut and stayed in the back with the other struggling, C-minus Christians.

But I knew I needed to try harder, to figure out some way to find my place.

Megachurch Lesson 4. There’s more business behind the scenes than you might think.

I was just out of grad school and somehow snagged a license to practice psychotherapy through a loophole in state regulations. Garrett Thomas and I worked together at the mental hospital, but then South Point asked him to start a counseling center. Their mission was to offer “professional counseling in an atmosphere of hope, healing and restoration,” and even though there was something about estrogen-heavy church slogans that made me want to tattoo a rattlesnake up my arm and join Mad Max’s gang—I still thought it was a solid idea to offer a ministry devoted to just listening. So when Garrett offered me a job, I took it.

The counseling center could only start me part-time, so I’d have to keep my side jobs at the psych ward and roller rink, but still…I thought I had arrived. I was going to work at the megachurch.

Things looked different behind the scenes. There was a thick pack of associate pastors, and many seemed straight corporate, like CEOs or the people who run a bank. But South Point was an enormous machine, right? If you just had sensitive artsy types the light bill wouldn’t get paid. You need business-minded people for balance. And for a while, it worked. South Point kept booming. We built a massive new sanctuary. Some said we were on our way to becoming the largest per capita church in America.

Then, just before I started, Brother Tommy left for an even bigger church. There was an undercurrent of panic, but slogans were circulated and a search committee formed to find a new pastor ASAP. Maybe South Point was moving to the next level. Weren’t Christians supposed to be hopeful? We were all determined to step up and carry on.

Megachurch Lesson 5. People are people, wherever you go.

How hard could megachurch counseling be? Everybody seemed so together and happy, like those people who conquered mountains and stood on top with hands lifted high. I’d never done any actual counseling before, but I figured church people would probably come to discuss the theological/philosophical meaning of life, and we could talk about stuff like why the Bible seems so mean and crazy sometimes with the Job and Moses thing, with seven-headed lions and locust armies and wild women driving tent stakes through the temples of men.

Nobody came to discuss locust armies or the meaning of life. People came bleeding out and dying from trying to keep up the façade. I saw cutters and closet binge drinkers and church singers hiding extramarital affairs. Dead marriages and depressive fatigues, ungovernable teens, phantom lusts, deviant compulsions, doubts, fears, anxiety in the night, secretly agnostic ministers and thoughts of suicide.

Every day was a new and desperate revelation. Monday: The preacher’s wife eats Xanax. Tuesday: The deacon struggles with porn. Wednesday: The church secretary can be a real witch sometimes. Thursday: The couple that leads the marriage workshop can’t stand each other, but fake it because they can’t afford to lose the gig. Friday: Closed, by grace. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places. I was beginning to understand why.

The biggest lesson I learned at the megachurch? What people claim corporately and believe privately are two very different things. Everybody’s wrecked behind the scenes. We’re all struggling and faking it somewhere along the way, praying no one finds out how messed up we truly are.

The megachurch people had similar problems to my psych ward people. In fact, they were pretty much the same—just a little better at camouflage when it counted.

Francis Chan on Failure to Help the Poor Could Send You to Hell

By
Francis Chan
-
francis chan on
Adobestock #310671112

Francis Chan on issues of today that matter in our church practices and relationship with God.

The other morning, I woke up to start writing, as I’ve been doing for the past few weeks, and I decided to do something different. I closed my laptop and just read through all of these passages on hell. I didn’t think about writing; I didn’t try to figure out all the nitty-gritty details of the text. I just let the New Testament speak in its power and simplicity, and here are some of the shocking things that God hit me with.

Francis Chan on: You Fool

Jesus threatens hell to those who curse their brother (Matt. 5:22). He’s not warning drinkers or smokers or murderers. Jesus preaches hellfire against those who have the audacity to attack a fellow human being with harsh words. It’s ironic—frightening, actually—that some people have written books, preached sermons or written blog posts about hell and missed this point completely. In fact, some people have slammed their Christian brothers and sisters in the process, simply because they have a different view of hell, missing the purpose of Matthew 5: Whoever calls his brother a fool may find himself guilty of hell.

Have you called your brother a fool lately? On a blog? On Facebook? Have you tweeted anything of the sort?

So often, these hell passages become fodder for debate, and people miss the point of the warning. Jesus didn’t speak of hell so that we could study, debate and write books about it. He gave us these passages so that we would live holy lives. Stop slandering one another, and live in peace and brotherly unity. Jesus evidently hates it when we tear into our brothers or sisters with demeaning words, words that fail to honor the people around us as the beautiful image-bearing creatures that they are.

Francis Chan on: Blessed Are the Poor

And what about the poor? Jesus is crystal clear about the necessity of reaching the poor. Yet many hellfire preachers are overfed and overpaid, living in luxury while doing nothing for the majority of Christians who live on less than two dollars a day. [2] Contrast that with Jesus, who in His longest sermon about judgment made helping the poor a vital criterion.

Put simply, failing to help the poor could damn you to hell.

I know, I know, everyone wants to qualify this. We want to add all sorts of footnotes to fix Jesus’ shaky theology in Matthew 25—justification is by faith, not by works; you don’t really have to help literal poor people, etc. [3]

On the flipside, some want to keep the stuff about helping the poor but take hell out of the picture. Sometimes, people even take Jesus out of the picture—fighting poverty, they believe, is an inherent virtue whether or not it’s rooted in the gospel.

Let’s keep the teeth of both truths. There’s a literal hell, and helping the poor is essential. Not only did Jesus teach both of these truths, He saw them as necessary and interrelated.

Francis Chan on: The Tongue of Fire

James doesn’t say much about hell in his short epistle. In fact, the word hell only occurs once. But this one instance is directed right at me, a teacher of the Bible. In the context of warning teachers that they will incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1), James says that the tongue is capable of burning up an entire forest (v. 5). “The tongue is a fire,” James says, and it is ignited by the fire of hell (v. 6). He doesn’t warn drunks, thieves or adulterers about going to hell. No doubt James agrees that sinners of all sorts will go to hell, but for some sobering reason, he saves his only explicit—and quite scathing—warning about hell for teachers of God’s Word.

The same goes for 2 Peter and Jude. These short letters are full of hellfire and emphasize that hell is a place for false teachers—those who claim to be speaking for God but are really only speaking for themselves. According to Peter and Jude, these teachers are among us, exploiting us with false words. They speak a lot about God, but the gods they really delight in are their own bellies and wallets. Peter and Jude say they are heading for hell.

Here Are the Christian Athletes to Watch at the Olympics

By
Bob Ditmer
-
communicating with the unchurched

What better place for Christian athletes to talk about the peace offered through Jesus Christ than at the Olympic Games, a venue intended to promote peace and unity through the medium of sports.  And at this year’s Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, several Christian athletes are competing. Here are a few you’ll want to watch.

Kelly Clark Christian Athletes

Kelly Clark is snowboarding’s most decorated Olympian. This will be her fifth appearance in the Winter Games.

Christian Athletes Tell Their Stories

It would not be a stretch to say Clark was introduced to God on the slopes. She was competing at an event where one of the contestants fell twice. The girl was in tears. A friend tried to console the fallen athlete saying, “Hey, it’s alright, God still loves you.”

Clark says the comment caught her attention and she couldn’t shake it. She went back to her hotel room in search of a Bible but didn’t know where to start.

“I found out that the girl who made the comment was staying in my hotel. I knocked on her door and said, ‘Hey, my name’s Kelly and I think you might be a Christian and I think you need to tell me about God.’

And at the same time I got a little nervous because I had never thought about God before a day in my life. I had never once wondered why we are here, I had never thought about Him, never been to church, nothing. I had no grid for any of this.

And so I spent the next four months thinking, ‘OK, God, if You’re real, reveal Yourself to me.’ I got to the end of my season and I asked myself a few questions like, ‘Could I ever wake up another day and not think about God?’ And the answer was ‘no’ because I was thinking about Him every day and He was real and in my life. And [another question I asked was]: ‘Could I ever run the other way and pretend He didn’t exist?’ That answer was also ‘no.’ And so I came to a conclusion and said, ‘Alright, Jesus, come and live life with me.’”

Clark is competing in the halfpipe.

Another halfpipe Christian Olympian is David Wise. This is David’s second Olympic appearance. Four years ago, in Sochi, he became the first Olympic gold medalist in men’s halfpipe skiing.

David Wise Christian Athletes

Wise has said his Christian faith gives him a sense of security that would not be found in the airborne sport of freestyle halfpipe skiing.

“Faith plays a huge role because it enables me to be confident,” Wise said in 2014. “I don’t have to worry about what’s happening or the outside influences as much because I feel like I can trust God, and he’s going to see me through. I can look back on my path and realize that God had a pretty significant part in taking care of me. It takes the pressure off and I can enjoy it.”

Faith Equals Confidence for Many Christian Athletes

Nick Goepper is also competing as a freestyle skier in the Winter Games. He says his faith brings confidence in both sports and life:

Nick Goepper Christian Athletes

“This past summer I got really sick for two months and had my tonsils removed. A week after that, I broke my hand and had to get surgery on it. The recovery was really frustrating because I had to skip three weeks at the beginning of the season. But I flipped it around and took it as a blessing. I said a lot of prayers and just asked God to do His thing. I did other things to compliment the recovery like getting the right sleep and taking care of my body. But I went back to the doctor after four weeks and he was ecstatic about the recovery of my hand. I take that as a tribute to my faith and my belief in doing the right things.

I like to quote the verse, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” I kind of envision me skiing and God is kind of like an eagle right next to me screeching in my ear that everything is going to be all good. I just try my best and that’s all I can ask for.”

Goepper won a bronze medal at the Sochi Olympic games.

Shane Doan just completed a stellar 21 year career in the NHL. He’ll be playing for Team Canada.   

Eric Bryant: How to Reach Those Who Aren’t Like You

By
Jason Daye
-
communicating with the unchurched

Eric Bryant is the pastor at Gateway Church in South Austin, a professor with Bethel Seminary, author of Not Like Me: Learning to Love, Serve, and Influence Our Divided World, creator of churchgrowthworkshop.com, and founder of www.ericbryant.org.

Key Questions for Eric Bryant:

How do you start a meaningful relationship with the unchurched?

Explain how we can influence both those we know and those who are unfamiliar to us.

What are some ways we can be more comfortable introducing spiritual issues?

How do we bridge the deep divides we see in culture today?

[SUBSCRIBE] For more ChurchLeaders podcasts click here!

Key Quotes from Eric Bryant:

“It’s not about targeting, it’s about being intentional with neighbors and co-workers and friends…to help them find what they’re looking for and that is a relationship with God through Jesus.”

“Everyone has a next step to take whether they are unsure or have been walking with Jesus for 40 years we all have a next step to take. We want to make sure we’re communicating to everyone along that way how to take that next step.”

“If we as pastors are not engaged in having conversations with people outside of Sunday, it will be hard to tell our church members how to do it.”

“I’ve heard some amazing explanations of where people are in their stories and i try to pinpoint moments in their lives that are similar to mine.”

“It’s not just listening to them tell their stories it’s listening to God and those whispers in our spirit to know what is important to bring up.”

“It’s really fun to see people embrace faith or come back with ‘I now know God is real, show me how.”

“In our culture it’s far more difficult to convince someone that there is a loving God than to convince them that they are sinful and broken.”

“Repentance is an opportunity, it’s not a punishment.”

“People are far more spiritually open than we realize when we lead with ‘this is what I believe do you believe the same?’ we eliminate opportunity. But when we ask ‘where are you in your journey, would you like to hear about mine?’ it keeps the door open to conversation.”

“The church can be the one place that’s safe no matter how you voted, what you look like or the decisions you’ve made in the past.”

“For those of us follow Jesus and waking up every day and asking God what adventure do you have for me today? Is there someone new that  you want me to meet or befriend?”

“A loving community is both inclusive and a place willing to have hard and honest conversations…the key is knowing when.”

Links Mentioned by Eric Bryant in the Show:

Not Like Me

www.ericbryant.org

Eric Bryant on ChurchLeaders:

Eric Bryant: The Suicidal Missionary

Eric Bryant: Why Do People Turn to Violence?

Here’s What You Need to Know if Your Church is Doing an Audio Upgrade

By
Bob Ditmer
-
communicating with the unchurched

Multisite Bayside church in Sacramento, California is a huge church with cutting-edge technology. But when Bayside took over the day-to-day operations at a potential new campus in Rocklin, California, the church had to find a way to do an audio overhaul on a shoestring budget while keeping its high technical standards.

The job went to Jake Cody, Bayside’s production director, who initially hoped the facility’s existing sound system in the 3,000-seat modern worship center would be sufficient.

He told Churchproduction.com, “What we found was an older audio system with limited coverage that was designed more for spoken word and musical theater. It just wasn’t up to standards for modern worship.” That left Cody and his team with the task of designing a concert-quality sound system for the space and without much money to accomplish it.

He turned to Yamaha, having worked on their systems in the past, and the company’s Nexo systems. According to Cody, in addition to great sound quality that aligns well with Bayside’s worship style and proven durability, Nexo components provide a strong economic advantage.

Yamaha also provided design software that took into account Rocklin’s auditorium—being deep, with a particularly wide seating area. In addition, a balcony area presented a large, flat face that needed to be avoided.

The audio team reviewed and tweaked the designs to tailor coverage to the room, produced a final parts list, and ordered equipment to be delivered on site.

For consistency with other Bayside campuses and for easy reconfiguration, the audio design at the Rocklin location would be set up touring style. Rather than a permanent install, where feasible, components were installed in road cases on wheels with snakes used for connectivity. Suspended audio components would be rigged with hoists. It allowed for quick reconfigurations for special events or holiday services.

Here are some other suggestions from a couple of church audio professionals if you’re considering changes at your church.

Mike O’Brien, a producer, mixer and audio engineer says the biggest mistake he sees churches make when they do a new audio system install or upgrade is not doing enough training, specifically failing to include the volunteer base in all phases of the installation.

He says if churches let key volunteers in on the process, at all stages, they are more likely to take ownership of the system “long after the hired guns have moved on.”

He also warns against going “crazy over wireless technology while ignoring the upgrades needed for source sounds, like drums, amps, and keyboards.”

Chris Carpenter, the Weekend Producer at Vineyard Cincinnati Church, adds the mistake of not matching the audio system to the demands of the size of the room, “Putting in one system right the first time is always less expensive than having to put in two systems.”

Both Carpenter and O’Brien are strong advocates for bringing in experts to help with the design and installation.  They recommend bringing in experts in the field to get the sound right and to save money in the long run.

Embrace a Deeper Obedience

By
Daniel Henderson
-
communicating with the unchurched

I like to say that “the worst of times are often the best of times—they just don’t feel like it at the time.” As counterintuitive as this seems, anyone who has been through tough times while drinking deeply of the grace of Christ knows it’s true.

This week I had an extensive conversation with a Christian brother who has recently endured horrific physical trials, multiple surgeries and life-threatening infections. He endured great pain, loss of income, mounting medical bills and a massive disruption of life as he knew it. Yet, he testified, “I would not trade those months and years for anything because we experienced such amazing provision from God in every area of my life. God gave me extraordinary time and freedom to learn and apply His word.”

Some people very close to me have recently experienced some difficult weeks in a relationship. The burden has been so heavy they have lost sleep, appetite and certainty. Yet, their love for God’s word and time spent with Him in prayer has accelerated so dramatically that grace has flooded their lives with indescribable strength.

I certainly have my own stories of hard days coupled with incredible mercies—and so do you. But why is this enigmatic principle such a common experience for Christ-followers? The Bible gives us some practical insight into why bad times can often turn out so good for us. Here are a few of these truths:

We Embrace a Deeper Obedience

Easy times can make us spiritually flabby while trials can awaken us to the value of God’s word. David wrote in Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” A few verses later he affirmed, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (119:71), and he told the Lord, “in faithfulness You have afflicted me” (119:75).

We Cultivate an Eternal Perspective

When we are coasting through this life on easy street our hearts become excessively charmed by the fleeting pleasures and possessions of this world. God uses troubles to loosen our grip on the attractions of this life and to reawaken us to the values and rewards of eternity. Paul affirmed this:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

We Develop Godly Character

In the long run, character counts more than comfort or convenience. James 1:2-3 tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Romans 5:3-4 affirms, “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Luxury and ease spoil character. Challenges and heartaches cultivate character when we receive Christ’s abundant grace in the midst of the tough times.

We Assure an Eternal Reward

Godly endurance is always rewarded as we are empowered to learn and grow through the difficult tests. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” In a similar fashion, the Apostle Peter reassures us, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Our Final Exam

When we stand before Christ in eternity He will not ask us how we enjoyed financial security or about our satisfaction with the creature comforts of life. Rather, we will be evaluated by the degree to which we grew to become like Christ. Most of this growth comes through the trials of life. Our tough times are not easy, nor are they permanent. But they are valuable beyond measure, both in this life and in the one to come.

This article originally appeared here.

10 Great Books Every Children’s Ministry Leader Should Read

By
Greg Baird
-
communicating with the unchurched

Reading. Most of us have every intention to read more, but few of us actually read much.

But reading is one of the easiest and best ways to grow ourselves. And as leaders, we have a responsibility to grow ourselves in order to lead well.

Statistics show that reading by leaders is in decline. In fact, the lack of reading on the leadership level has declined to the point that some might consider it a crisis. Michael Hyatt, in his article called “5 Ways Reading Makes You a Better Leader,” says, “A readership crisis is really a leadership crisis.” And it really is. If you are a leader who doesn’t read, don’t count on leading well for very long. In fact, Hyatt says that reading helps you lead better in these five ways:

  • Reading makes us better thinkers.
  • Reading improves our people skills.
  • Reading helps us master communication.
  • Reading helps us relax.
  • Reading keeps us young.

I’m pretty sure all of these will help you lead your ministry better!

With that in mind, I encourage you to read! I know it can be a challenge, but when we make it a priority and make it a habit, it is amazing how much reading you can get done. In fact, here’s a tip I was given early on that really helped me make reading a regular practice. Ready? Here it is: Commit to reading just one chapter a day.

Can you read one chapter per day? Virtually everyone can. And guess how many books you will read each year if you do this…about TWENTY FIVE books! Since less than half of all people read more than four books per year (see recent research here), reading 25 books would probably put you in the top 1 percent of readers. More importantly, it would go a long way toward equipping you to lead your ministry better.

10 Great Books Every Children’s Ministry Leader Should Read

These are in no particular order. I encourage you to choose what sequence to read them in based on your most immediate need.

1. Developing the Leader Within You (2.0) by John Maxwell

I began ministry under the leadership of John Maxwell, right about the time the original version of this book came out. In the 25 years since, I have leaned on what I learned from John more than any other source. This is the updated version of John’s classic and, in my opinion, is a must read for anyone leading anywhere.

What you will learn: foundational leadership principles which every ministry leader ought to master.

2. Amplified Leadership by Dan Reiland

Full disclosure: Dan is a good friend of mine and has been a mentor for 25 years. He’s also recognized as one of the best executive pastors in the country and one of the best ministry coaches—in fact, he is known as the “pastor’s coach”! He knows leadership and he knows ministry. And he has packaged that knowledge into what I would consider the best ministry leadership book available.

What you will learn: five practices to establish leadership, influence people and impact others.

3. Don’t Quit by Gina McClain and Jessica Bealer

Recently published, this book addresses some of the key issues that take down ministry leaders and cause them to walk away from their calling. Instead, we want to be leaders who “don’t quit.” But in order to survive and thrive in ministry long-term, we’ve got to have an intentional strategy to do it. This book provides that strategy.

What you will learn: strategies for dealing with specific, key issues with which virtually all ministry leaders struggle.

* Bonus recommendation: The Myth of Balance by Frank Bealer (Jessica’s husband)

4. How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins

One of the greatest myths of leadership is that you must be in charge in order to lead. This can be especially true for children’s ministry leaders. But it’s just not true, and great leaders don’t buy it. Great leaders lead with or without the authority and learn to unleash their influence wherever they are.

What you will learn: how to nurture your vision and cultivate influence, even when you lack authority in your organization.

The Busy Critic

By
Mike Leake
-
communicating with the unchurched

How busy is the most spiritual person you know?

Honestly, when I think of people I look up to spiritually, they don’t seem frazzled. They are active, they accomplish things within the kingdom of God, but they aren’t over-committed and in a frenzy of activity. In fact, they seem to know how to properly say “yes” and “no.”

But still we seem to wear busyness as a badge of honor. I’m reminded of the overly busy mayor in the Veggie Tales classic Who’s My Neighbor? Archibald cannot help poor Larry because he is:

“Busy, busy, dreadfully busy 
You’ve no idea what I have to do. 
Busy, busy, shockingly busy
Much, much too busy for you!

That little Veggie Tales video is so effective because it shows how our busyness can cause us to miss God’s work which is right in front of our face. I’m glad that church leaders are beginning to see this more and more. Many churches are pursuing a bit more simple church. We aren’t trying to keep the doors open eight days a week and have our schedules filled with church activities. We’ve gotten the memo that activity does not equal godliness.

One thing which many pastors have likely been surprised by is the kickback they get when they try to scale back. For some it’s likely just the death of a beloved program which causes the kickback. For others it might be fear that real and vital ministry will be neglected. But there is one possibility that might not seem obvious. In their book The Compelling Community, Dever and Dunlop I believe get to one of the underlying reasons why people fight against simple church:
[facebookPostLike]
In fact, church activity may especially attract the least spiritual. If there are any in your congregation who, like the Galatians, began “with the Spirit” but now seek to be “perfected by the flesh” (Gal. 3:3), they will likely be consumed with activity. What better shows that we are worthy of God’s affection than throwing ourselves into activity at church? The infrastructure and inner workings of your church offer more than sufficient cover for the works-focused person to take shelter from the gospel. In fact, some of the most active members of your church may in fact be the least spiritual. (Dever, 118)

This makes perfect sense. Busyness is often a mask to hide the fact that we are Christ-less. Simple church is messy church, because it’s an attempt to focus on organic relationships and authentic hospitality. It’s an effort to make things simple and to center everything on the church’s foundational gospel purposes. Taking away activity and propelling people toward biblical community will likely expose an emptiness. So it’s not surprising that when a church strips down programs and ministries and attempts to focus on organic relationships that they’ll receive significant kickback.

Now it’s possible that critics are correct and a vital ministry is being cut. As leaders we should hear the concerns and make sure we aren’t missing something vital. It’s also possible that simple nostalgia is taking place. In such a case we should give our people time to mourn and love them as we adjust to something different God might be doing in our midst. But it would also be wise to consider if some of the heat might be toppling a functional savior (busyness) and opening up the door for an opportunity to share the gospel.

This article originally appeared here.

10 of My Favorite Quotes From J. Oswald Sanders

By
Aaron Armstrong
-
communicating with the unchurched

Recently I’ve been reading Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders, which is a classic as far as Christian leadership books go. Sanders packed so much wisdom into this little book that every time I’ve read it, I find something new. Today, I want to take a moment and share a few of my favorite highlights from the book. These are sentences and passages that I find particularly challenging, convicting or encouraging (or some combination of all of the above):

  1. “Desiring to excel is not a sin. It is motivation that determines ambition’s character. Our Lord never taught against the urge to high achievement, but He did expose and condemn unworthy motivation.” (13)
  2. “If those who hold influence over others fail to lead toward the spiritual uplands, then surely the path to the lowlands will be well worn.” (20)
  3. “Neither strident nor flamboyant, God’s servant conducts a ministry that appears almost self-effacing. What a contrast to the arrogant self-advertising of so many hypesters today, both in and out of the church.” (25)
  4. “If we are disturbed by anything short of perfection in ourselves and others, that must go. The perfectionist sets goals beyond his reach, then sinks into false guilt when he falls short. Our world is imperfect, and we cannot expect the impossible. Setting modest, realistic goals will help a perfectionist move through a problem without discouragement.” (41)
  5. “If you would rather pick a fight than solve a problem, do not consider leading the church. The Christian teacher must be genial and gentle, not a lover of controversy.” (48)
  6. “While a leader cares for church and mission, he must not neglect the family, which is his primary and personal responsibility. The discharge of one duty in God’s kingdom does not excuse us from another.” (50)
  7. “A domineering manner, an unbridled ambition, an offensive strut, a tyrant’s talk—no attitude could be less fit for one who claims to be a servant of the Son of God.” (55)
  8. The spiritual leader will not procrastinate when faced with a decision, nor vacillate after making it. A sincere but faulty decision is better than weak-willed “trial balloons” or indecisive overtures. To postpone decision is really to decide for the status quo In most decisions the key element is not so much knowing what to do but in living with the results.” (70) (This one is cuts deep, by the way.)
  9. “When we lead by persuasion rather than command, patience is essential. Leaders rightly cultivate the art of persuasion that allows maximum individual decision making and ownership of a plan.” (83)
  10. “The leader cannot spent time on secondary matters while essential obligations scream for attention. A day needs careful planning. The person who wants to excel must select and reject, then concentrate on the most important items.” (113-114)

And these are all just in the first half of the book. As I shared above, every single one of these is challenging for me in some way, and there are several that I’m working through afresh right now with my responsibilities in my job. Leadership is not simple. It is not something you can do well just by trying to rely on your natural abilities or through sheer force of will. Success as a leader comes by the grace of God, and if we are leaders in any spiritual context, we must rely on him with all our being.

This article originally appeared here.

20 Points on Leading Millennials

By
Brad Lomenick
-
communicating with the unchurched

A good friend asked me the other day my thoughts on how to lead the millennial generation, basically those born after 1980. We gather thousands of leaders who fit this category on an annual basis, and most of our Catalyst staff are under the age of 30.

I have to admit—I don’t always get this right. As a 100 percent Gen Xer, my tendency is to lean away from several of these points and lead how I’ve been led over the years by Boomer and Busters. But I’m working on it….

So with that said, here you go, thoughts on leading Millennials:

1. Give them freedom with their schedule. I’ll admit; this one is tough for me.

2. Provide them projects, not a career. Career is just not the same anymore. They desire options, just like free agents.

3. Create a family environment. Work, family and social are all intertwined, so make sure the work environment is experiential and family oriented. Everything is connected.

4. Cause is important. Tie in compassion and justice to the “normal.” Causes and opportunities to give back are important.

5. Embrace social media. It’s here to stay.

6. They are more tech savvy than any other generation ever. Technology is the norm. XBOX, iPhones, laptops, iPads are just normal. If you want a response, text first, then call. Or DM first. Or send a Facebook message. Not anti calls though.

7. Lead each person uniquely. Don’t create standards or rules that apply to everyone. Customize your approach. (I’ll admit; this one is difficult, too!)

8. Make authenticity and honesty the standard for your corporate culture. Millennials are cynical at their core and don’t trust someone just because they are in charge.

9. Millennials are not as interested in “climbing the corporate ladder,” but instead are more concerned about making a difference and leaving their mark.

10. Give them opportunities early with major responsibility. They don’t want to wait their turn. They want to make a difference now and will find an outlet for influence and responsibility somewhere else if you don’t give it to them. Empower them early and often.

It’s Time to Take Another Look at the Religious ‘Nones’

By
Bob Ditmer
-
communicating with the unchurched

New research out of Harvard identifies why church leaders should pay more attention to religious “nones.” 

The research sheds light on a phenomenon known as religious switching. Religious switching identifies movements between categories including “Protestant,” “Catholic,” “Atheist,” “Agnostic” and “Nones.”

That last category has been an area of concern for the church as recent polling shows an increasing number of people leaving the church to claim no religious affiliation.

The Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES), includes a panel survey where the same people are asked questions over an extended period of time—for 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Looking as broadly as possible, the entire dataset shows how much change in American religious identity occurred between 2010 and 2014. The data revealed that nearly 1 in 5 Americans changed their faith identity over that four-year span.

But here is what’s really surprising the experts: A large number of “nones” changed categories. About 4 in 10 people from the “nothing in particular” group made a switch. Half of the defectors moved away from traditional faith to atheism and agnosticism (20 percent), while almost as many moved in the other direction and returned to the church (17.3 percent).

Of the 2010 nones, 13.3 percent became Protestant, and 4 percent became Catholic.

Religious nones are the second-largest religious tradition in the United States. According to the CCES, 55 million American adults claim their faith to be nothing in particular.

To extrapolate from the data, about 12 million Americans who fall into this category will drift to atheism and agnosticism, while another 12 million or so will become Protestant or Catholic. Dr. Ryan Burge, who did an analysis of the CCES, calls that a tremendous amount of volatility and also represents a great opportunity for churches.

Dr. Burge has academic and pastoral interests in the data on religious switching. He teaches political science at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and is also the pastor of First Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. In addition he regularly writes about religion and politics at Religion in Public.

Burge said the level of defection is significant. He told churchleaders.com, “For atheists it’s about 18 percent, and for agnostics and “nothing in particular” it’s over 40 percent. There is a term that is being thrown around in the literature: “liminal nones” meaning that they stand halfway in and halfway out of religion.”

Burge says the term “nones” has become a catch-all for three groups; atheists, agnostics and nothing in particulars (NIP).

“If I were to draw a diagram of what religion looks like I would put Catholic/Protestantism on one end of the line, then “nothing in particular” would be in the middle. Next would be agnostics, and then at the far other end of the line would be atheists. The reason that I say this is the movement is clear: About 20 percent of NIP’s affiliate with Christianity at some point in the future. On the other hand, when an agnostic shifts they are three times as likely to become an atheist as a NIP. And only about 4.5 percent of agnostics claim a Christian faith four years later. That means that they are further away from Christianity than NIP. Atheists are just die hards. Only 1.6 percent became Protestant/Catholic. They aren’t budging.”

That would be an academic description of the groups categorized as NIP. Dr. Joe McKeever gives another definition from a pastor’s perspective. McKeever is a retired pastor and now a popular blogger on church issues.

He called “nones” a collection of people, including many who have been hurt, run over or offended by the church, or they know someone who was.

The question left for church leaders is how to reach this diverse group whose fluidity is surprising many, including McKeever and Burge.

Burge says to be strategic:

“If I were going to teach a seminar on where churches should target their resources, I think the answer is clear, find those people who are just ambivalent about religion and say that they are “nothing in particular.” Spending any time trying to persuade an agnostic or an atheist is really not a good usage of time. Consider the fact that 95 percent of agnostics stay outside Christianity and so do 98.5 percent of atheists.”

And then he suggests you break that group down even further.

“There’s an attendance scale that goes: weekly+, weekly, monthly, yearly, seldom, never. A none that is always going to be a none averages very close to “never” on the attendance scale. A none that eventually claims a Christian affiliation is closer to “seldom” and when they do start claiming a Christian affiliation their attendance increases somewhat (about 10 percent or halfway between seldom and yearly). Find the person who comes to church once in a blue moon. They are not antagonistic to the faith. When they do attend church, I would imagine it’s critical that they find the experience worthwhile.”

And when they get there, McKeever says don’t water down what you do or your message.

He recalls a study of a booming church in West Virginia. The research was meant to find out what was causing the growth. The researchers kept getting the same answer: The new attendees wanted a church where the people “knew what it stood for.” McKeever told churchleaders.com, “If you have the truth, you need to say it because people are lost and hungry. After they’ve tried out some of these other things they will show up again.”

That viewpoint appears to be backed up by this latest research on the fluidity of nones.

VBS: To Do or Not to Do That’s the Question

By
Christina Embree
-
communicating with the unchurched

It’s VBS Season in the Kidmin World. I know it’s not even February but I promise you, ask just about any Children’s Pastor or Children’s Ministry director what they are doing this month and I can almost guarantee that their answer will be, “Getting things ready for VBS.” Whether that means picking the theme, getting their team together, resourcing from other members of the kidmin world or finalizing that budget, VBS is on the mind.

However, increasingly I see the question being asked, “Should we do VBS? Is it worth it? What do you do?” There are some legitimate concerns that prompt the asking of these questions.

  1. VBS as babysitting – Some are concerned that VBS is simply a free babysitting service that churches offer to parents in the summer. They think that because they see parents who enroll their kids in every VBS that every church has to offer all summer long.
  2. VBS as outreach – Others ask, “It is really outreach? Does it bear any fruit?” Sure, there are “decisions” made for Christ at almost every VBS every year often by the same kids if we are completely honest, but is that really answering God’s call to “make disciples.”
  3. VBS and the budget – VBS is expensive, both in terms of money and time. Curriculum, materials, food, use of the building all cost real money and volunteers, planning, marketing, registering, and hosting require a lot of time.

art-2941707_1920

And the list could go on. And heated and passionate debates usually follow. There are people who see VBS as the highlight of their Kidmin calendar. They can’t imagine going without. There are others who see it as the low point and wonder every year, “Why do we even do this?”

Then there are some who find creative ways to “get around” the VBS rut by doing things differently like hosting a series of mini-camps on weekends, offering Family VBS, doing mid-week activities to replace VBS, or going into neighborhoods and doing a true outreach with their VBS (going to the people, not asking the people to come to them).

No matter what side of the VBS equation we come down on, there are some things that we should keep in mind as we plan our event.

You see, I’m not sure there is a “right” answer that should be blanketed over every single church. There are right answers, but we need to carefully pursue them for our community, our context and our situation. I truly believe that if we are to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world today (the church as a whole that is), then we probably shouldn’t all look like hands or feet. We should probably together look like the body of Christ.

Here are four things we can do to ensure we are doing VBS the way God would have us do (or not do) it.

Define Your WHY – Why are you doing VBS?

This is important because it will drive everything we do. It becomes the filter that everything else passes through. When our Family Ministry Council decided to do a Family VBS, we wrote down our “whys” and ended up picking the first example written here. That “why” helped us plan everything we did because we knew our what our goal was. It wasn’t ambiguous or wordy but a clear, short reason to help us choose what was best for our community.

Ex: To give families a distraction-free place to interact with one another around faith formation.

Ex: To provide a place for families to grow deeper in their faith with one another and in community.

Ex: To offer free, fun activities for the children of the church and community to be together

Refine Your WHAT –What will your VBS involve?

A traditional VBS is a week-long, two to three hours each morning or night, and kids are dropped off. It is volunteer heavy, usually a snack is involved, media and music have an important presence, and crafts and teaching are inherent in the programming.

Using our WHY as a filter,  we asked, “How does this traditional format line-up?” For us, it didn’t work. We had to think outside the traditional VBS box. So we asked a new question.

WHAT then is needed to make our VBS fulfill our Why? Once we had our Why, we could then list out our needs. For example, we needed to have a meal each night so parents didn’t have to cook and feed dinner to their family before coming. That meant we needed to find a way to make that happen within our budget (so lots of donations) and our volunteer base (finding people to run the kitchen). Our Why became what helped us define our needs.

3 Ways to Make the Bible Central in Missional Communities

By
Logan Gentry
-
communicating with the unchurched

This is part of a series of posts on what a missional community is—check out the others and let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.

Last week, I suggested we change the language for Missional Communities, since it mostly communicates what they are not. I’ve heard many people read definitions of Missional Communities and view them as anti-Bible, but I really do believe they are Bible Study Plus. When I say Bible Study Plus, I mean they invite people to know God as He has revealed Himself through His Word, but then invite people to put their knowledge into action.

The Bible is God’s words about Himself. It informs us about who He is, what He has done, what He is doing and what that means for us. It can’t be ignored and must be central to the formation of a community around Jesus, since without the scriptures we wouldn’t know truly who Jesus is. The Bible was never intended to be an end in itself, but a primary means God has chosen to reveal His character, plan and desire for our lives.

Our communities made a subtle shift a few years ago to make the scriptures central to the community over the sermon. The dialogue was no longer in response to the sermon just preached on Sunday, but around the scripture passage for the upcoming sermon. The emphasis it placed on the scriptures led more people to think through and dialogue about the passage rather than respond to the speaker’s words.

While this has helped all of our communities be guided by a discussion of God centered on the Bible, a few helpful practices and resources have helped in making God’s word central for our Missional Communities.

One aspect that characterizes all of these best practices is the emphasis on understanding the character of God, His redemptive plan in Jesus Christ and how our lives must change to align with who God is and what He is doing.

Here are three ways to make the bible central in Missional Communities.

Story Prompts

Our community has learned a lot from two of our Brooklyn Community Group leaders, Matt and Katelyn, who are amazing at connecting with and caring for people. They have introduced us to the idea of a story prompt to start the dialogue for the community. Imagine an icebreaker prompt question that actually ties to the point of a scripture passage.

It’s a personal question with a deeper meaning and intent to bring our thoughts, feelings, desires or actions into play to allow God’s Word to speak into them. Like a hook for an essay or an introduction for a talk, it connects with the individual and invites them to wonder what God has to say about their ideas, emotions, wants or needs.

This has enhanced our conversation and I’ve seen people become more excited about God’s word as it connects with them on so many levels.

The Story of God

Soma Communities in Tacoma, Wa., developed a curriculum based on storytelling the redemptive plan of God. I have to admit I was skeptical at first as to how this would play out in a community group setting, but it was pretty amazing.

It breaks down the Bible into a story form from beginning to end in short stories, summarizing the major stories and themes about God. The stories are short and they are followed by questions for the community to process. They provide some ground rules to insure that people are dialoguing about the story that has been told, not jumping ahead of the story.

The storytelling approach actually highlights parts of the scriptures that are typically missed. I’ve heard from many people who have been in the church for years talk about how it has caused them to go back to God’s Word with new eyes.

Life Transformation Groups

I first learned about Life Transformation Groups from Neil Cole, added the thoughts of Jonathan Dodson and learned from experience the great value they contribute to knowing God and engaging in a community on mission. These are gender-specific groups of between two to four people (typically) that place a heavy emphasis on reading the scriptures, studying them deeply, confessing sin that the scriptures reveal and praying together.

These have impacted the community in two massive ways that I’ve seen. The first is how it enhances the entire community for everyone to be digesting and processing scripture outside of a typical gathering time. It’s amazing to watch people come to community ready to give and care for one another. The second is providing the best context for questions and personally applying the scriptures. I’ll have more on Life Transformation Groups tomorrow.

We Never Move on From God’s Word

God’s Word has stood through criticism and time, and remains the primary means by which we understand the character and nature of God. We don’t graduate from His Word, but reading and studying it as a textbook is not the end.

We must see the scriptures as the authority for the life of a Christian and the guide for the mission of the community. It is sufficient and clear in teaching us how to live in a way to honor God, find joy in life and extend the good news to others.

Missional Communities invite us to know God in His word with His people and join His redemptive plan for our lives and the world.

This article originally appeared here.

Why Most Churches That Start Small…Stay Small

By
Carey Nieuwhof
-
communicating with the unchurched

So…you want your church to grow, right?

When I ask ministry leaders whether they want to see growth, almost every leader I’ve ever talked to says yes.

Sure…there are some house church movements that want to stay small. And some long time or xenophobic churches have lost their appetite for growth. And there are always a few people who think big = evil.

But most leaders want their churches to grow…and for good reasons most of the time. They want to reach people with the life-changing love and forgiveness of Christ.

That is awesome.

But most churches don’t grow.

And most churches that start small stay small.

Why?

Almost Nobody Starts Big

Well, first of all, almost no church starts big. There are a few exceptions, like North Point.

But that’s the rare exception—almost all churches start small. Even megachurches most often start with five people meeting in a living room and grow from there.

Big doesn’t have to be the destination for everyone.

But clearly, if you want to reach your community, growth is a natural by-product of a mission being fulfilled.

I Don’t Want to Start Another Debate

February 2018 : Three Prayer Priorities for America

By
Ronnie Floyd
-
communicating with the unchurched

As we enter the month of February of 2018, I am asking you and your ministry to join us in praying for these three prayer priorities for our nation. How awesome it would be if we could mobilize thousands of ministries and churches to unite together in prayer for the United States of America.

Please share these with friends, pastors, churches, denominations, networks, ministries and Christian media. The more people we have praying together about the same things in our nation, the more we will see God move us forward together.

We will be praying for unity in America for the next several months. We revealed in November that Pray For America: UNITY is our 2018 theme for the National Day of Prayer. We chose this theme because we strongly believe this is God’s heart. Therefore, from now until and even beyond our Thursday, May 3, 2018, National Day of Prayer, we are going to call for, forward, and pray for unity in America.

Please do all you can to forward these major prayer priorities everywhere you go. Now is the time for us to clearly agree to pray in this manner for America:

1. Pray for unity of thought and strategy among our nation’s leadership over these critical issues in America today. #PRAY4UNITY

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

  • Lord, we ask You alone for wisdom for our leaders, so they will see these issues through Your eyes and lead us to unity from Your perspective.
  • Funding of the United States government
  • Immigration reform: DACA reform and border control
  • Economy and jobs
  • Infrastructure improvements
  • Education reform
  • National security
  • National defense and the military
  • Unity of thought and strategy for the good of the nation between the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate and the White House.

2. Pray that we agree clearly, unite visibly and pray extraordinarily for the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America. #PRAY4UNITY

“They all were continually united in prayer.” Acts 1:14

  • Preceding the epic movement of God on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, Jesus’ people were continually united in prayer.
  • Convict the church in America to wake up spiritually, agree clearly, unite visibly and pray extraordinarily for the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America to occur in our generation.
  • Call upon God to bring spiritual awakening now in America, shaping the future of America, just as the Great Spiritual Awakenings in our history have shaped our spiritual heritage as a nation.

3. Pray for God to intervene supernaturally across America as we call upon all Americans to pray for our nation on the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

“Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

  • LORD JESUS, use all relationships, social networking and all forms of media to mobilize millions of people to pray for America on Thursday, May 3.
  • HOLY SPIRIT, we ask You to move upon and call all generations, all ethnicities, all churches, all denominations, all networks and all languages to pray for America on May 3.
  • FATHER IN HEAVEN, may You increase exponentially the number of gatherings for prayer across America.
  • JESUS, we ask You to call all leaders of denominations, church networks, churches, government, education, business, cities and all communities in America to create thousands of gatherings that will saturate their regions in prayer for unity in America.
  • LORD JESUS CHRIST, as the National Day of Prayer Task Force leads in this national effort, please provide for the financial needs that exist as it forwards prayer in America.
  • HOLY SPIRIT, as Dr. Ronnie Floyd, the President of the National Day of Prayer, provides direction and leadership over this national prayer movement, please give Him Your direction and will in all things.
  • LORD JESUS, lead Dr. Ronnie Floyd, as he oversees and leads the National Observance of the National Day of Prayer from Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol Building on Thursday, May 3, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. EDT, calling all of America to prayer for America via television and live streaming nationally and internationally. #PRAY4UNITY
  • FATHER, provide wisdom, grace and stamina to the staff team of the National Day of Prayer Task Force and all who are working to bring these prayer gatherings together for May 3, 2018.

Thank you for all you are doing to forward prayer in America. Let’s do all we can to mobilize people to pray for America. Remember, our heart in these days is to #PRAY4UNITY, so join us in this national prayer movement. The time is now!

This article originally appeared here.

How to Connect People to Your Church

By
Church Fuel
-
communicating with the unchurched

There are lots of different people that walk through church doors on a Sunday morning.

Someone may walk through your doors that has never heard the gospel before.

Or someone who has always hated and had negative perceptions of the local church.

Then, you also have familiar faces that, almost literally, light up the building when they walk into the room. They’re your rockstar volunteers. They add to the health and growth of your church.

And your regular attenders, who are in all different places in their life and faith.

A disconnected church leads to disconnected people, who will eventually fizzle out or become attenders that show up for the important holidays or once a month and aren’t seen from again.

But a church with integral members who add to the lifeblood of the church—those connections will produce church growth and health, and help build the Kingdom of God. We all want these thriving people adding to the ministry of our local church.

So—how do you connect such diverse people to your local church?

1. Define what connection is. 

To start, if you want people to get connected to your church—you have to decide what that looks like.

Is it getting people in a small group? Giving? Regular Sunday attendance?

There are endless possibilities and every church might have a different answer. But it’s important to figure this out, so you can tangibly measure how many people are connecting to your church.

2. Give the Sunday service your all.

Your high-capacity volunteers may show up to Bible studies, youth or other church events in the middle of the week, but it is likely that your newer crowd will not.

Take advantage of the fact that the Sunday service experience is a place where most of your church members will be at all at one time. Seasoned and new believers alike.

This isn’t the time to give this 50 percent. When looking at your Sundays, ask yourself:

  • Is this the best our service can be?
  • What can we do to improve our music time? What kind of songs should we play? Are they theologically sound? Do they fit our culture?
  • How do we want to approach announcements? How much time do we allot for that?
  • What should the structure of the hour-long service look like?
  • How will we use media?
  • What system do we have for new guests? And for regular attenders?

We have several evaluation forms with Church Fuel’s resource library if you’re interested in a more detailed evaluation of your Sunday service.

3. Create a clear connection process.

We talked a little bit about what connection means.

It is so much more than having someone commit to regularly attending. That’s just dead weight.

Most of us want people engaging with our churches in some sort of way. This could look like joining a small group, committing to tithe regularly or serving on a team.

But how do people know where to start?

One of our favorite connection pipelines we’ve seen is City Church in Tallahassee, Fla.

There is a clear process in which new members go to a “first look” to meet some of the staff. Then, there’s a more in depth “101” class which presents the mission and vision of City Church. This gives new people, looking to get connected, the opportunity to hear about what groups there are, what teams to serve on and other ministry opportunities there are for them, and to figure out where their fit is.

And at the following “201” class, they are opted with the option to become a member.

Every church structure does not have to look like this one. It’s just a clear, thought-out system, and that makes it 10x easier for new people or people that have been around for a year to finally take the next step and become a part of their local church, rather than just a “consumer.”

4. Put someone in charge.

There is a reason so many churches have pastors that are solely Connections Pastors.

This job is no easy feat. The person has to be personable, good with names and good with keeping up with people.

But if you want to see growth in your church, you need someone (even if on a volunteer basis) that is overseeing and delegating the systems you have in place for getting people connected to your church.

5. Measure the results. 

At the end of the day, once you’ve put all the work into establishing what connection looks like and you have a system in place, you’ll need to measure it.

This way, you can look over these numbers and re-arrange your systems if need be.

This article originally appeared here.

 

1...1,0751,0761,077...1,190Page 1,076 of 1,190
855,266FansLike

New Articles

New Podcasts

Joby Martin

Joby Martin: What Happens When Pastors Finally Understand Grace

Jessica Lea -
Joby Martin joins “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast” to discuss what happens when a church leader has truly been run over by the “grace train" and understands the profound love and grace of God.
Jennie Allen

Best of 2024—Jennie Allen: Why Church Leaders Need To Pay Attention...

Jon Acuff

Best of 2024: Jon Acuff—How To Pursue Success Without Destroying Your...

Libin Abraham

Libin Abraham on God’s Surprising Job Description for the Pastor

ChurchLeaders.com is dedicated to resourcing, informing, and connecting a community of church leaders for greater Kingdom impact worldwide.
Contact us: support@churchleaders.com

Company

Trending

Popular Categories

© ChurchLeaders