Using That New Technology Gift for God’s Glory

December 31, 2017

Some of you got some new technology toys for Christmas this year, or maybe you gave some to your children. Regardless of which it might have been, no one has to tell you that with technology comes great responsibility. These devices, whether they are smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, or computers, can be used for the advancement of God’s kingdom, or simple joy to a child playing a game.

Here are few articles that we gathered to help you get a jump start using your new devices, and if you are a parent or grandparent, there are some “must reads” in this list for your children.

For Parents:

Not Just SnapChat: 6 More Dangerous Apps Parents Need to Know About

Jenny Rapson, the editor of ForEveryMom.com explains how these six super-popular apps can be very risky and dangerous for your children to use. You may or may not have heard of apps like BeeTalk, Whisper, or Flinch, but they could spell big trouble for your kids. (Read here)

7 Tips for Parents of Teens in a Technology-Crazed World

Lead Pastor (and parent of a teenage daughter) Brandon Cox provides what he describes as a bit of a SWOT analysis on the current cultural conundrum of our technology-crazed world. (Read here)

Tech & Teens: A Parent’s Guide

Student Minister Michael Guyer gives a concise guide for parents of children in our digital age. The thesis of his article states, “We must help our teenagers to see and use technology as their servant rather than their master.” (Read here)

Why My Kids Won’t Be Using Facebook’s Messenger Kids App

Jenny Rapson provides insight why Facebook’s Messenger Kids App might be too much of a security risk for your children. In her post, she writes, “One parent reviewer on Common Sense Media says, ‘As a teacher and parent, read the TOS [terms of service]. The collection of data is definitely problematic and I would not recommend using this at all. Way too much data to collect…’” (Read here)

These YouTube Channels are Maliciously Targeting Young Children with Terrifying Content

It’s a disturbing reality that not even content for children has not escaped the malicious grasp of those who want to ruin digital content for everyone. (Read here)

For Church Leaders:

20 Great Tools and Apps for Pastors

Pastor Brandon Kelley gives 20 great tools and apps that every pastor can use for sermon preparation, team management, productivity, social media, and personal growth. (Read here)

How Christian Parents Can Use Social Media

Jonathan Smith is the director of Technology at Faith Ministries. He gives great insight into how the church “can take their knowledge of social media and use it to help parents help their kids become more like Christ.” (Read here)

Preach From Your iPad, but Be Careful

Pastor Brandon Hilgemann provides some practical tips for using your iPad while preaching. These are great helpful and simple practices every preacher using an iPad during their sermon should consider. (Read here)

Turning Your iPad Into an Intercessory Prayer List

Dr. Ronnie Floyd writes how he turned the Notes app into an intercessory prayer list. It’s very simple to use and it can sync with your phone as well, providing the information you need wherever you are, no matter the device you are on. Dr. Floyd says, “In the past, a challenge of using a prayer list has been keeping it current and relevant. With the Notes app, I can easily keep my list current. I can add to my list upon hearing a need, wherever I happen to be at the time. A current, relevant prayer list increases the usability of such a list.” (Read here)

Technology can be used for the glory of God but remember just like many other things, if not used properly it can be extremely dangerous. Safeguards, especially accountability with your spouse, and brothers and sisters in Christ is a must if you decide to use any form of technology. Peter tells us to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The internet is one of the most dangerous places the devil prowls, disguising himself as an angel of light, be on guard at all times.

Let’s redeem technology well and be part of advancing the Kingdom of God.

Grit Over Genius: How to Make a Great 2018

Dan Reiland

December 29, 2017

There is something universally exciting about a new year.

Hopes and dreams, a clean slate, taking new territory, and big plans are greatly anticipated.

New Year’s resolutions and wishful thinking rarely help you achieve what you desire. Realizing the 2018 you dream about requires preparation, discipline and focus.

You will encounter setbacks, speedbumps and surprises you didn’t see coming. But the size and clarity of your vision for the year will help provide the grit you need to keep going.

There is a direct correlation between your purpose, plan and preparation, and the year you will actually experience. Execution without preparation is just busyness.

When you include significant amounts of prayer, you are setting yourself up for a great year.

A Seven-Point Game Plan to Set You Up for a Great 2018:

1) Restore key relationships

Restoration is one of the great themes of Scripture. It’s a primary responsibility for all Christ followers. On a practical level, it’s nearly impossible to function at your peak potential if you are distracted by broken, hurting or dysfunctional relationships.

From the proverbial elephant in the room at work to a significant family breakdown, do whatever it takes to restore any relationship that is core in your life. From your boss to your spouse, make it right.

2) Forgive those who have hurt you

Jesus modeled forgiveness for us. It’s not always easy, but it’s not an option. You may or may not be in a key relationship with someone you need to forgive, but either way, forgiving those who have hurt or wronged you is essential.

Lack of forgiveness is like a cancer that eats at you from the inside. It’s often unseen, but the results can be devastating if not dealt with.

Forgiving someone doesn’t always happen fast, but it always begins in a moment. I’ve counseled with many people who say, “I just can’t quite get there.” That is understandable, but you can start.

Forgiving is a decision that is made in your mind and is connected to how you feel. God will then give you the grace to complete the process.

3) Evaluate your results from 2017

Set aside a minimum of one hour. Have your calendar handy. Write clear notes on your major accomplishments and major mistakes or failures.

Think through what caused the successes and what caused the breakdowns.

What did you learn?
How did you grow?
What will you do differently?

This doesn’t have to be a super long “dissertation” kind of arduous process, but it does need to be an honest process. My experience is that this piece can be done in less than two hours.

8 Reasons Why I Choose to Be a Friend to My Pastor

Chuck Lawless

December 29, 2017

I’m excited to be a part of our church in Wake Forest, Restoration Church, and I love my pastor. I’m proud of him and enjoy working beside him. I’m also honored to carry some of his burdens for him. Here’s why all of us need to be a friend to our pastors.

They carry a heavy burden. They’re responsible for caring for our souls (Heb. 13:17), and it’s hard to find a weightier responsibility. I feel it as part of a pastoral staff, and I remember it well when I served as a senior pastor.
They have to balance a lot of stuff. Even the best pastoral time managers face the reality that life sometimes gets in the way of a schedule. Not getting stuff done, though, is usually not an option for a pastor.
They’re responsible for proclaiming God’s Word to us each week. That means they have to spend time with God and His Word, let that Word work them over personally, and then bring the Word to us in a clear and passionate way. That’s heavy.
They sometimes bear burdens alone. Their calling sometimes demands that be the case. My pastor doesn’t tell me all he carries, but that doesn’t matter to me—I simply hope that my friendship with him brings him some joy in tough times.
They’re sometimes lonely. I know, because I’ve been there. Pastors are sometimes placed on so many pedestals that few people remember they’re just human beings who need friends.
They appreciate encouragement. My schedule doesn’t always allow me to just hang out with my pastor. I can always, though, send him an email or text of encouragement from wherever I am in the world.
They need prayer support. All of us have the privilege to pray for the pastors who lead us, and each of us can make that happen. True friendship is sometimes expressed from our knees in our prayer closet.
They can be fun. One of the things I most love to do is laugh with my pastor. I know when he’s laughing, he’s enjoying what he’s doing. And, because he’s fun, I’d be missing out if he weren’t my friend.

What are your thoughts about this topic?

This article originally appeared here.

Top Things From 2017 You Need to Know Now

Christine Yount Jones

December 29, 2017

Life’s busy. Especially when you’re a church leader. To help you out, we scanned the top trends of 2017 to give you this listicle of what you need to know for 2017 and 2018.

What You Need to Know

There are a lot of things we can tell you about that happened in 2017. These are the most important for you to know as a church leader.

What You Need to Know About Culture in 2017

If it’s true that we put our money where our mouth is, then this report from Thenumbers.com will help you see how your favorite movies fared in 2017. There were over 700 movies that sold 1,197,554,799 tickets and grossed over $10 billion! Want to know the movies coming in 2018, here’s a calendar with the latest.

Who doesn’t love a good Ted Talk? Check out ted.com’s list of the top-14 Ted Talks in 2017. Megan Phelps-Roper describes life in Westboro Baptist Church, Tim Ferriss on why you should define your fears instead of your goals, Anjan Chatterjee on how your brain decides what’s beautiful…and much more here.

A new word added to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary this year is binge-watch. And these are Netflix’s top-10 binged shows in 2017. No, you don’t have to watch them but it’s a good idea to know what people are talking about when they mention dressing like 11 for Halloween. For more about the over 1,000 new words, read here.

And the words people googled en masse tell us much about what’s on their hearts and minds. Find out the top googled words here.

What You Need to Know About Technology in 2017

For the technophile, check out Time magazine’s top-10 gadgets that no respectable techno geek can be without. To learn more about gadgets you never even knew you needed, read more here.

The 10 most significant scientific discoveries of the year include editing a human embryo and a synthetic device to imitate a woman’s uterus.

And medical discoveries abounded in 2017. Read the Prevention.com list here and the Reader’s Digest list here.

What You Need to Know About Ministry in 2017

When you’re curious about what makes churches grow, check out Outreach Magazine’s top-100 list for insights into the fastest growing churches in America.

And while you’re at it, read the top-12 read articles on churchleaders.com to see what intrigued your peers and gave them ideas for more effective ministry.

Get in touch with what matters to the people you’re trying to reach with this list of demographic trends that affect them from Pew Research.

What You Need to Know About News in 2017

In case you missed it, here were the top-10 news stories in 2017. It was a stormy year! The weather outside was frightful and the boogey-man in Korea was blustery.

And news on the tech front features everything from Facebook to bitcoins. Read more here.

We all know a picture says a thousand words, but what about a political cartoon? These are USAToday’s top 10.

What to Read if You Haven’t Yet

Here are just a few lists of the top books in 2017 from various sources.

CNBC: The 13 Best Business Books

Strategy-Business.com’s Top 3 Business Books

Desiringgod.org’s Top 17 Books of 2017

Thegospelcoalition’s best books from Kevin Deyoung

What You Need to Know About 2018

Getting ready for the coming year, check out…

The top-10 Social-Media Trends to Prepare for in 2018 from Entrepreneur.com.

And it looks like it’s going to be “more of the same” with the public agenda, according to a report from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Here’s to an amazing 2018! We at churchleaders.com are rooting for you and praying this will be a year that you experience God’s presence and blessings in everything.

10 Christians Dead in Egypt After Yet Another Church Attack

Bob Ditmer

December 29, 2017

At least 10 are dead after yet another church attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt.

There were two attacks in the Helwan area south of Cairo. In the first, gunmen tried to storm the Coptic Orthodox Church of Mar Mina but were intercepted by police.

About an hour later, a Coptic-owned shop in the same area was attacked, leaving two dead.

The first attack appears to have taken place when police patrolling the Mar Mina church noticed two men behaving suspiciously, reports the BBC’s Radwa Gamal in Cairo.

They approached the men, who began firing.

The attack comes amid tightened security around churches and Christian facilities ahead of the Coptic Orthodox Christian celebrations of Christmas on January 7. Police have been stationed outside churches and in nearby streets across Cairo. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has personally chaired meetings with his top security chiefs in recent days to discuss security during New Year’s Eve and the Orthodox Christmas.

More than 100 Christians have been killed in Egypt in the past year—most attacks claimed by the local branch of the so-called Islamic State group.

These are just the latest attacks in what has been a bloody year for Coptic Christians in Egypt this year. Several of the attacks were carried out by ISIS and its affiliates.

In May, gunmen killed at least 28 Coptic Christians aboard a bus traveling along a desert road on the way to a monastery.

On Palm Sunday, 49 people were killed in bombings at two churches in Tanta and Alexandria. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, though it offered no proof of its connections to it.

Earlier in the week, the Islamic State terror group called on its supporters around the world to carry out New Year’s Eve attacks on churches and other public places, demanding violence regardless if children are present or not.

Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population, have long complained of discrimination in the Muslim-majority nation, and say authorities have often failed to protect them from sectarian attacks.

Fox News reports that just last week, hundreds of Muslim demonstrators stormed an unlicensed church south of Cairo wounding three people. The demonstrators shouted anti-Christian slogans and called for the church’s demolition, the diocese in the area said at the time. The demonstrators destroyed the church’s contents and assaulted Christians inside before security personnel arrived and dispersed them.

Healthy Church Growth: Programs vs. Path

Tony Morgan

December 28, 2017

I’ve observed something interesting in healthy, growing churches over the last several years.

The ones experiencing the most healthy growth tend to approach discipleship as a path. The leaders spend time thinking on how to best help people along in their journey following Christ. They spend their energy simplifying to offer people a series of next steps.

By contrast, many of the churches I see that are in decline have an overwhelming number of programs available to attendees and even the community, but no cohesive path that helps people learn which steps to take and when.

I drew this illustration and shared it on my blog a couple of years ago:

As you might imagine, there are several key differences between both types of churches:

1. How They Define “The Win”

Over-programmed churches see the win as getting more people involved in more activities. They wouldn’t say that, but it’s how they operate.

Ask any staff member about the momentum or success they are seeing in ministry, and you will almost always hear reports of how many people attended their last event, class or study.

Churches with a path see the win as helping more people take a next step. That common understanding unifies staff and simplifies decision making. If there’s no way to measure whether or not it helps people take a next step, they’re probably not going to do it.

2. How They Decide What Gets Communicated

Over-programmed churches communicate everything. There’s competition among ministry leaders for people’s attention, and they often complain about lack of communications support for their area. The communications director is frustrated because there can be no strategy when everything is communicated all of the time.

Churches with a path communicate one thing. They help people take one step at a time. Communications is clear.

3. How They Structure the Team

Over-programmed churches staff and structure their team around all of their programs. This naturally creates ministry silos and turf wars.

And, as I’m sure you can guess, churches with a path staff and structure their team around the path. This fosters collaboration as all staff are focused on helping people take their next step.

4. How They Engage Volunteers

More programs mean more demand for volunteers. Over-programmed churches often feel like they don’t have enough volunteers, even when they have a high percentage of people engaged. They spread the pool of people they have too thin.

More focus means there’s less competition for volunteers and more freedom for people to serve based on their gifts and strengths, rather than just filling positions for an ever-growing list of needs.

6 Requirements for Cultivating Community in a Church

Rick Warren

December 28, 2017

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind… Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Luke 10:27 (NCV)

Cultivating community requires commitment
If you’re tired of fake fellowship and you would like to cultivate real fellowship and a loving community in your small group, Sunday school class and church, you’ll need to make some tough choices and take some risks.

Cultivating community takes honesty
Real fellowship depends on frankness. In fact, the tunnel of conflict is the passageway to intimacy in any relationship. Until you care enough to confront and resolve the underlying barriers, you will never grow close to each other.

Cultivating community takes humility
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others. Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don’t think of themselves.

Cultivating community takes courtesy
The truth is, we all have quirks and annoying traits. But community has nothing to do with compatibility. The basis for our fellowship is our relationship to God: we are family.

Cultivating community takes confidentiality.
Only in the safe environment of warm acceptance and trusted confidentiality will people open up and share their deepest hurts, needs and mistakes.

Confidentiality does not mean keeping silent while your brother or sister sins. It means that what is shared in your group needs to stay in your group, and the group needs to deal with it, not gossip to others about it.

Cultivating community takes frequency.
You must have frequent, regular contact with your group in order to build genuine fellowship. Relationships take time.

When you look at the list of characteristics, isn’t it obvious why genuine fellowship is so rare?

But the benefits of sharing life together far outweigh the costs, and it prepares us for heaven.

This article originally appeared here.

Answering the Top Questions From Today’s Parents, Part 3

Jonathan McKee

December 28, 2017

How do I regulate screen time with a high functioning autistic kid?

When your kids push you away and go silent, how do you reconnect?

Is there a way to receive your kids’ texts directly on your device?

These are just a few of the countless questions I just received from parents…and for three days I’ve been answering them in this blog. Each day I’m narrowing it down to the top 10.

Here are the final 10 answers to the last 10 questions…

QUESTIONS FROM TODAY’S PARENTS, PART II

1. What suggestions do you have about young people creating their online identity? For ex: professionals are told to have LinkedIn with followers because we have to network. As adults, we have a social media presence or we are considered odd. How do we guide them in understanding their online identity?

I think here’s a perfect opportunity to teach our kids truth and see how that truth seeps into the other areas of their lives like “online identity.” In other words, the more we teach our kids who they are “in Christ” (II Cor 5:17) and their mission of “we don’t preach ourselves, we preach Christ the Lord” (II Cor 4:5), the more they’ll know how to live this out in every area of their lives, including online.

For Further Reading: The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices, Chapter 8: Take more “Selflessies”, Chapter 9: Like Me

2. How do you defend “right” to check text with the argument that you are invading their privacy?

I wrote about this very subject a few year’s back because it was a huge issue with my daughter, but as you’ll notice, I didn’t post any answers in that article, I just left it open for comments (quite a discussion in that comment section).

Bottom line: I think we need to consider THE SEGUE.

THE SEGUE is a principle I spend an entire chapter on in my book If I Had a Parenting Do Over, I discuss it in Lesson 5 of our free parenting curriculum of the same title, and it’s a principal that Andy Stanley shared that he uses with his kids. It’s the principle of starting strict and then lightening up as our kids grow toward adulthood. In fact, I even recommend letting your kids have NO RULES their senior year. So my 12-year-old is going to have to get used to me looking at her texts. But my 17-year-old won’t. Conversation is a must at both ages, but it’s silly to squeeze tight boundaries on a kid who is going to be leaving the house in five months. This is where our conversations with them have much more impact that rules.

For Further Reading: If I Had a Parenting Do Over, Chapter 5: The Segue

3. How do we handle disturbing behavior by our kid’s friends? Do we stay out of it? Or do we engage the school or parents?

My two cents is that you have plenty of conversations with your own kids about who they hang out with—even stepping in and saying, “Sorry, you’re not going to Jackson’s house,” if need be. Again, more boundaries when young…less when older. But I wouldn’t contact other parents unless their kids were hurting themselves or others. I would talk with the kid directly with humility and grace.

4. Do you have advice for a single mother with little resources and no father figure? I have two teenage boys who I feel like I can’t control.

My advice to you would be the same that I’ve been giving every parent—a balance of bonding and boundaries. But in addition, I would really seek out environments that provide good male role models—churches, youth groups, sports teams, schools with positive male teachers. Those male influences can have an amazing impact in their lives. Embrace that.

Sticky Faith did some amazing research on the power of mentors (I highlight some of that in this article about teens’ need for mentors), and they really emphasize the more mentors the better. In fact, they recommend five or more. So start thinking through what that might look like in your boy’s lives: mom, grandpa, coach, youth pastor, small group leader, best friend’s dad, etc. The old adage “It takes a village” is proving more true than ever before.

5. Is there any reason to keep some discussions with your kids about apps, social media failures, etc. private from your spouse?

Nope. Parents should be on the same page.

5 Ways the Children’s Ministry Leader Can Connect Well With Church Leadership

Greg Baird

December 28, 2017

The Children’s Ministry Leader can sometimes find themselves in difficult circumstances. Let’s be real—Children’s Ministry is not always viewed in the highest esteem by church leadership. Oftentimes it’s viewed—implicitly or explicitly—as childcare. Because of this, and because of the way I’ve seen Children’s Ministry Leaders act before church leadership, sometimes our communication comes across like the guy in the cartoon to the right—“blah, blah, blah.” Completely ineffective and, frankly, never even heard or recognized.

The Children’s Ministry Leader carries themselves and communicates can make a big difference, gaining influence with church leaders on behalf of the Children’s Ministry.

Here are a few practices I’ve learned that help the Children’s Ministry Leader connect well with church leadership in order to begin changing the environment when it comes to Children’s Ministry:

Carry yourself with “leadership presence”

My first full-time ministry role was as Children’s Pastor for none other than John Maxwell. Yes, that John Maxwell, guru of leadership. Can I tell you that I cringe as I remember how I acted when I was initially around him? I’m sure my natural shyness and complete lack of understanding of leadership at the time came forth in every conversation. I’m not sure how I lasted there, but my hunch is that as I intentionally tried to implement his teaching on leadership, I was able to begin carrying myself as a leader.

What does that mean?

It means contributing to the leadership conversation.
It means speaking with confidence. It means engaging with other leaders around you.
It means coming to the table with ideas. It means asking questions and proactively seeking solutions.
It means intentionally aligning your own leadership with the leadership you follow.

Be real and expect them to be real

Trying to be someone you are not is a relationship killer. Be respectful, but be real with your leadership. Of course, as you start out you are learning the natural boundaries, but ultimately you are you, so be you. Relax, enjoy the development of the relationship, seek to understand them and realize that they are human, just like you are.

“But they keep things on a very surface level,” you say. I understand. That doesn’t mean that you have to. And, while you may never go very deep in your relationship, don’t assume that you can’t and never try by not being real with them. Expect “real” on both sides until it’s proven otherwise.

Do your job…and do it well

One of the best things you can do to enhance your connection with your leadership team is to simply do your job well. As you lead well, your credibility across the board (including with church leadership) will increase. This enhances communication and connection as you have opportunity to engage with them.

Communicate effectively

Here are just a few things I’ve learned about communicating with leadership (in a church or any other organization):

Be succinct. In most cases, leadership is very busy. Depending on how much they value your area and your role, you may or may not get a lot of time with them. In one church, I had four face-to-face meetings with the Senior Pastor…in four years. You better believe I knew exactly what I wanted to talk about and how I wanted to say it—succinctly!
Be positive. Frankly, church leadership doesn’t want to know that you can’t find enough volunteers! You may need to present challenges to leadership, but always frame it positively. Do not dump on them!
Communicate with stories. Facts and figures are fine, but they don’t energize or communicate vision. Stories do. So instead of telling them how many kids made decisions at VBS, tell them a story of one or two and drop in the total number within that story. Instead of telling them you had so many kids respond for baptism, tell them a heartfelt story of one. Instead of telling them you need to develop an equipping ministry for parents, tell them a story that illustrates why.

Bring solutions, not problems

This follows closely with communicating effectively and being positive. In reality, church leadership don’t have time for most of the problems you are facing, nor should they feel responsible for them. That’s your job! So instead of bringing the problem to them seeking a solution, solve the problem and let them know how you did so. Believe me, if they think it should go in a different direction, they will let you know. And, if it’s a problem you feel they must weigh in on before you move forward, bring several possible options (solutions) to them rather than just stating the problem.

Connecting with church leadership is vital to the success of your ministry. You can’t do it alone, and the greater the connection, the greater the support. The greater the support, the greater the possibilities of succeeding in so many areas you are trying to grow your ministry.

How have you connected with church leaders?

This article originally appeared here.

The One Sure Mark of Christian Maturity

Tim Challies

December 28, 2017

I suppose we all know that as Christians we are meant to grow up, to mature. We begin as infants in the faith and need to develop into adults. The New Testament writers insist that we must all make this transition from milk to meat, from the children’s table to the grown-up’s feast. And yet even though we are aware that we must go through this maturing process, many of us are prone to measure maturity in the wrong ways. We are easily fooled. This is especially true, I think, in a tradition like the Reformed one, which (rightly) places a heavy emphasis on learning and on the facts of the faith.

The Bible is the means God uses to complete us, to finish us, to bring us to maturity.

When Paul writes to Timothy, he talks to him about the nature and purpose of the Bible and says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That word complete is related to maturity. Paul says that Timothy, and by extension me and you and all of us, is incomplete, unfinished and immature. The Bible is the means God uses to complete us, to finish us, to bring us to maturity.

But what does it mean to be a mature Christian? I think we tend to believe that mature Christians are the ones who know a lot of facts about the Bible. Mature Christians are the ones who have their theology down cold. But look what Paul says: “That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Paul does not say, “That the man of God may be complete, knowing the books of the Bible in reverse order,” or “That the man of God may be complete, able to explain and define supralapsarianism against infralapsarianism.” He does not say, “That the man of God may be complete, able to provide a structural outline of each of Paul’s epistles.” Those are all good things, but they are not Paul’s emphasis. They may be signs of maturity, but they may also be masks that cover up immaturity.

When Paul talks about completion and maturity, he points to actions, to deeds, to “every good work.” The Bible has the power to mature us, and as we commit ourselves to reading, understanding and obeying it, we necessarily grow up in the faith. That maturity is displayed in the good works we do more than in the knowledge we recite. And this is exactly what God wants for us—he wants us to be mature and maturing doers of good who delight to do good for others. This emphasis on good deeds is a significant theme in the New Testament (see Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14, etc) and the very reason why God saved us.

Dear Millennials, This Is Why You Need the Church

Bob Ditmer

December 28, 2017

Do you think you don’t need the church? Do you consider yourself a lone wolf? You might want to think again.

Church attendance in America is declining. Recent surveys claim 38 percent of Americans are churchgoers but only half that number actually find their way to church on any given Sunday. When you look at younger Americans in particular, the news is even more depressing. Sadly, only 28% of younger Americans between 23 and 37 attend church.

There are plenty of reasons why millennials are leaving the church but one that this video concentrates on is a feeling that the church isn’t needed anymore. If they want to hear messages that convict or encourage them there are thousands available on YouTube and via podcasts that they can listen to while sitting on the couch in their sweatpants.

But the video points out those recorded sermons can’t replace the community that is needed when difficult times come.

The video uses wolves to tell that story. Wolves need a pack to take down larger animals in the winter when smaller prey are in hibernation. A lone wolf is no match for an elk. Without the help of others, the lone wolf will starve and die.

Using winter as a euphemism for the struggles in life that visit everyone at some point, like health problems or the loss of a job, the video likens the church to a wolf pack. Fellow Christians will help you survive the tough times.

Heidi Charalambous of NewSpring finds four reasons Christians need church.

We need other Christians. If you want to know what you believe, listen to what your friends say. The more time we spend around people who ridicule God, the more we allow their attitudes to affect our thoughts and attitudes (Psalm 1:1-2). The more time we spend with God’s people and in His presence, the more like Jesus we become. That’s why the writer of Hebrews encouraged Christians at that time not to give up meeting together. If we want to hold unswervingly to our faith, we need to surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to follow Jesus even when it’s hard, to have faith when everything seems hopeless, and to rely on Jesus even when we think we can do everything on our own (Hebrews 10:23-25).
We need opportunities to discover our spiritual gifts. Every one us has a skill God wants to use to help others know Him and follow Him. The Bible calls these skills spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12), and we discover our spiritual gifts the same way we discover any other kind of special talent. Kobe Bryant realized he was great at basketball when he started playing basketball. Katy Perry discovered she could could sing when she started singing. We will never uncover what God has equipped and called us to do if we don’t get involved.
We need authority. We don’t have to believe anything anyone tells us about God. He appointed men and women in the church to lead us and to teach us (Hebrews 13:17). God gave us the Bible and the church so we can know what’s from Him. Through the church’s authority structure, we can test and see what’s of God and what isn’t when we can’t tell on our own. When we’ve prayed, read the Bible and still aren’t sure what to do, the church is where we go for advice.
We never stop needing grace. Church people are not perfect people. We are forgiven, but we are still sinners. No matter how long we’ve been following Jesus, we are going to screw up, fall short and sin. And when we do, we need a place where we can come to be healed, restored and renewed. That place is the church. The sunroof in my little red Galant ruined me. I can’t imagine owning a car without a sunroof ever again. The same is true when it comes to church. As I made friends, joined a group and started serving, God changed me. I woke up one day and realized I couldn’t imagine not being involved in church. Church is no longer just nice; it’s necessary.

The 12 Most Read Articles for ChurchLeaders in 2017

Bob Ditmer

December 28, 2017

The 12 most viewed articles on churchleaders.com for 2017 can tell you a lot about those leading the church. Whether it’s tips on building a great marriage, how to perform a soul-check, celebrating a moment when Jesus was honored in culture, or grieving with a sister in Christ, these headlines point to the church striving to be the church.

# 1 Simone Biles Steals the Show

Simone Biles’ Dance to ‘Good, Good Father’ Is Incredibly Personal and God-Focused
The gymnast who picked up five medals at the Olympic games in Rio entered the world of dance competition on Dancing With the Stars. On April 10, 2017, Biles pulled the competition into the spiritual realm, moving the audience to tears with her deeply personal rendition of a dance set to “Good, Good Father” by Chris Tomlin.

# 2 Everyone Wants to Know How to Divorce-Proof Their Marriage

12 Habits That Lead to Divorce
There are 876,000 divorces every year in America. One way to stem the tide of broken marriages is by identifying traits early on that lead to divorce. Taken individually these habits don’t seem like they could end a marriage, but they create a slippery slope that too often leads to the dissolution of a marriage.

#3 The Hashtag Heard Round the World

The Hashtag #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear Is Blowing Up Twitter and Pointing Out Misogyny in the Church
Christian author Sarah Bessey started a discussion about the role of women in the church with a social media hashtag that quickly elicited thousands of responses. Bessey believes women’s talents have been ignored in the church and looks forward to the day when “they will be celebrated as Deborah instead of silenced as Jezebel.”

#4 Joel Osteen Stirs Controversy—Again

What’s the Problem With Joel Osteen?
A pastor writes about the criticism he received for promoting a Joel Osteen event. He describes the complaints directed at Osteen and offers his reason for still supporting the controversial evangelist. He asks Christians to stop tearing down ministers whose methods they don’t understand.

#5 Sad News From Proverbs 31 Ministries

President of Proverbs 31, Lysa TerKeurst, Ends Her Marriage of 25 Years Due to Infidelity and Substance Abuse
The author whose Bible studies asked women to find contentment in God and fight for their marriages explains why she ended her own marriage. TerKeurst asks for prayer for her and her family in helping her endure the ordeal.

#6 If Missionaries Spoke Freely

Ten Things That Your Missionary Will Not Tell You
A missionary shares some of the most difficult aspects of presenting the Gospel to another culture. The challenges include loneliness, poverty and concern for the future well-being of their children. The article is a reminder of the great sacrifice of being a missionary of the Gospel.

#7 Francis Chan Has Some Surprising Words for Facebook Employees

Francis Chan to Facebook Employees: Why I Asked God to Make Me Rich and Why I Left My Megachurch
The popular pastor talks to Facebook workers about Christianity, the difficulty of remaining humble when you are considered a celebrity preacher and why he would leave a megachurch behind to create small churches.

#8 Ravi Zacharias Talks About Suicide

Ravi Zacharias: Does Suicide Send You to Hell?
As a teenager, the popular apologist and evangelist tried to kill himself in the midst of family and academic struggles. His personal story gives a unique perspective into the spiritual implications of ending your life.

#9 Soul Check

7 Signs You Are a Counterfeit Christian
No one wants to be something other than they claim to be. Unfortunately, many Christians are just that and many don’t even know it. Writer Frank Powell asks some hard questions of Christians wondering if they are the real deal or just fakes.

#10 Another Soul Check

What Are the Signs of an Emotionally Mature Christian?
Whether using this list as a self-assessment tool or as qualities for which to strive, author Pete Scazzero offers 11 indicators that your faith and your emotions are working in harmony to make you more Christ-like.

#11 How to: Have a Blast With Children

17 Just for Fun Games for Church or Home
These are suggestions for making the most of a small gathering of children or a night at home with the family. The BALLOON/PLUNGER RELAY GAME and BLOOMER BASKETBALL are just a couple that are fun and exciting.

#12 If Jesus Wrote an Open Letter to the Gay Community

5 Things Jesus Says to the Gay Community
Using scripture as a guide, NewSpring Church presents five messages it believes Jesus would give to homosexuals. Each of the five present Jesus as understanding, forgiving and expecting his children to follow his example.

5 Ways Your Parking Lot Might Be Holding Back the Redemptive Potential of Your Church

Rich Birch

December 27, 2017

Believe it or not, your parking lot could be the thing that is holding back the potential of your church. In fact, your church might not be living up to its total calling because of what is happening at the parking lot. We call this site unSeminary. Today, we’re diving into an issue we can guarantee that no seminary has talked about anywhere before:

Your Parking Lot Might Be Limiting the Redemptive Potential of Your Church!

Cars have a profound impact on the manner in which we “do” church across the country. As the adoption of the car took off in the first half of last century, our approach to churches changed and morphed accordingly. The local parish gave way to the regional church which ended up paving the way for the entire mega-church movement, which became a fertile ground for the multisite movement. We would do well to understand the impact of cars and connecting our parking lots to our ministry because they are so connected to what we do. Here are a few ways that parking lots might be negatively impacting your ministry.

A Full Parking Lot Is Limiting Your Church

Obviously, most church leaders are inside their buildings when their services start. Your people might know that you have a problem and you’re never around to see it. Full parking lots are a great sign because that implies lots of people are attending your church. However, if they are “too full” like a packed auditorium, it can actually turn people off.

Most municipalities’ bylaws are inadequate to tackle the required parking spots per seat in the main auditorium. Lots of cities typically only require one spot for every four seats in your auditorium. (I know one city by us that only requires one for every 40!) My experience suggests that your church needs one spot for every two seats in your auditorium. Most legacy church buildings were not built with this much space and might get cramped every week.

If your parking lot is more than 70 percent full as your services are starting, it’s time to start looking for better parking solutions. You want your guests to be able to find a spot easily.

Four Tactics for Dealing With a Full Parking Lot:

Street Parking – Diving into your municipality’s parking bylaws might reveal that your area allows street parking on Sunday. In many regions, the rules pertaining to weekend street parking are different during the week. It’s worthwhile investing the time to figure out if this type of opportunity exists on the streets around your building.
Cross Use Agreements – Look around your immediate neighbors and find someone who you could borrow spots from. Oftentimes, other businesses and organizations will be open to you using their empty parking spots. However it’s much better to approach them and talk about it rather than just starting to use it.
Park Your Leaders Off Site – Those who volunteer and lead at your church should be encouraged (or even required) to park off your location. Cast vision with them around the idea of creating more space for visitors and ask them to do the extra walk.
Shuttle Buses – Churches facing a more acute parking problem might need to resort to off-site parking that isn’t adjacent to their property and might need to offer remote parking supported by shuttle buses. This approach should ideally be the “last stop” before you look at building more parking spaces. It can be a great solution and provide good service for families connecting with your church.

Do You Have a Healthy Leader’s Brain? (Quiz)

Charles Stone

December 27, 2017

God gave us an amazing three-pound part of our body called the brain. And today, the brain is big. Books about the brain are flying off the shelves. Neuroscientists are studying the brain like never before. And millions of dollars are being spent on research. So how can we keep a healthy leader’s brain? Dr. David Rock and Dr. Daniel Siegal combed years of research to assimilate what they call the “Healthy Mind Platter,” seven activities that help people, including leaders, maximize that three-pound wonder. I’ve put my own spin on their findings and listed those seven activities below that, when practiced, can help leaders maximize their effectiveness.

Leaders will keep their brains healthy when they make time for these activities. Both the Bible and brain science help us see their importance. Mentally check the ones you practice consistently.

I take time to focus.
- Brain science tells us that when we deeply focus (like when we plan or prepare a sermon), the brain makes deep connections.
- Jesus challenged the crowds to think deeply about the cost of discipleship (Luke 14,25-33).
I take time for fun.
- Having fun allows for novelty and spontaneity which helps the brain make new connections.
- Children were attracted to Jesus. Although we don’t have any direct biblical references, I believe children saw Jesus as someone both approachable and fun to be with.
I take time for family and friends.
- Neuroscientists are learning that the brain is a social organ and when we build relationships it deepens our relational brain circuitry.
- One of the hallmarks of Christianity is true community, spending time with others in deep relationships (Acts 4).
I take time to exercise.
- Brain research abounds about how exercise improves brain functioning.
- The Scriptures tell us that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit which implies we should take care of them. Exercise is one way to do that (1 Cor. 6.18-19).
I take time for stillness.
- Researchers have found that when we quiet our inner world through meditation, we are able to regulate our emotions better and think more clearly.
- Often Scripture tells us to be still before the Lord. When we reflect and meditate on Him and His Word, we not only draw close to him, but it keeps our brain healthy as well (Is 46.10).
I take time to simply chill (down time).
- When we allow our brains to be non-focused (mind wander or daydream) our creativity increases.
- I doubt that Jesus held a non-stop theology class with His disciples. I imagine that at times he simple chilled out with His disciples with no specific goal in mind, except to enjoy each other and enjoy God’s creation.
I take time for adequate sleep.
- When we sleep our memories deepen and our brain recovers from the day’s stress.
- I’m encouraged that when Jesus got tired, he slept, even in a storm (Mk 4.38).

How many of these practices do you consistently practice? Which one is toughest for you?

This article originally appeared here.

10 Community Questions Pastors Should Be Prepared to Answer

Chuck Lawless

December 27, 2017

When I do a church consultation, I usually want to know if pastoral leaders know the answers to the questions below. Too often, they don’t—and that finding usually coincides with finding a church that is inwardly focused.

Is your community growing, stagnant or declining? This question ought to be an easy one, but I’m surprised by how many pastors aren’t sure of the answer.
What is the ethnic makeup of your community? It’s hard to reach a community you don’t really know.
What percentage of your community does not look like your church? Many pastors assume their congregation reflects the community, but that’s not always accurate.
What’s the age demographic of your community? In many cases, pastors are shocked when they learn how young their community is (primarily because their church is older).
What’s the fastest growing age segment of your community’s population? Pastors who can’t answer that question usually aren’t thinking strategically about the future.
How many people in your community attend church every Sunday? This answer is usually easier to find than the number of unchurched people in your community—but it answers both questions.
How many languages are spoken in homes in your community? You might be surprised by this answer. Just because people speak English in public doesn’t mean that’s the language they use every day—or the language in which they would most prefer to worship.
What’s the average household income in your community? Sometimes it’s quite different than the assumed average income in the church, reminding us again that our congregations don’t always reflect our community.
What is the name of the primary political leader in your community? Maybe it’s a council chairperson, a mayor or someone with another title; regardless of the position, though, you should know this person.
What’s the growth goal/plan for the community in the next decade? Pastors who are thinking about the future know this information.

What questions would you add? How many of these questions can you answer?

This article originally appeared here.

Why Doesn’t God Answer All My Prayers? Because Some of Them Are Stupid

Karl Vaters

December 27, 2017

Why doesn’t god answer my prayers, someone might ask.

Well, one reason could be that God doesn’t do stupid things.

No matter how many times we say “please.” No matter how much faith we have. No matter how hard we pray.

He does strange things. Hard-to-understand things. Even things that can seem totally messed up and cruel from our limited vantage point.

But he never does stupid things.

Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers?

I’ve come to believe that the main reason for my unanswered prayers is that I keep praying stupid prayers, asking God to do stupid things.

I can hear some objections already. “There are no stupid prayers!” But there are. I know. I’ve prayed some.

In fact, Jesus introduced the Lord’s Prayer by telling the disciples not to pray stupid prayers like the hypocrites and pagans do (Matthew 5:6-7).

People regularly ask God for stupid things.

“Help me win the lottery.”
“Bring my cheating boyfriend back to me.”
“Help me lose weight while I eat whatever I want and never exercise.”
“Bless me now, even though I’ve been ignoring you for years.”
“Make me smart enough to pass the test I didn’t study for.”
“Give me a bigger ministry than the church down the street.”

Then we get mad when God says “no” to our stupid prayers. Sincere, but stupid.

(This post only answers one side of the unanswered prayer issue. I address the other, more painful, side in my next post, ‘Why Doesn’t God Answer My Non-Stupid Prayers?‘)

Start with Pre-Approved Prayers

Prayer may be the most overlooked aspect of Christian life and pastoral ministry. Even though we know it’s the most important.

We need to become better pray-ers. But how?

Start with prayers God has already said he’ll answer.

Take a look at the Lord’s Prayer, for example. What if we practiced being better pray-ers by praying…

A Series of Bold Moves

Brian Jones

December 27, 2017

At some point—after having worked through everything you need to work through—the only way to break through your next attendance barrier is to commit yourself to what I call “a series of bold moves.”

The good news is the “bold moves” I’m talking about are almost always the same for each attendance barrier. Meaning, if you can’t break the 200 barrier or the 2,000 barrier, chances are your comrades in the trenches trying to break through those same exact attendance barriers will need to commit themselves to making the same bold moves to move the congregations they serve forward.

The bad news is these bold moves can be frightening to attempt, which is why most Senior Pastors never actually try to implement them.

Recently I had Joshua 1:9 emblazoned on the wall of my office in large decals. You know the verse, right?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

I wanted to be reminded of this verse every single time I walk into my study.

Why?

Lack of know-how is usually not the thing that holds me back. Fear holds me back. Fear of how people will react. Fear of what my ministry would look like if I didn’t self-sabotage it. Fear of being successful. Fear of hard work.

As crazy as it sounds—it’s easier to walk up to a growth barrier and then high-tail it back to Egypt. There’s food in Egypt. And familiarity. And comfort. People complain back in Egypt, but not as much as in the desert. Most importantly, I don’t really need to rely on God back in Egypt. To make it through the desert I must trust that manna will fall from the sky.

Friends, after everything has been tweaked and moved and recalibrated, it comes down to choosing action over fear.

Here are four of the most common “bold moves” that need to be made, and the unique manifestation of them to be found at each size.

Staffing “Bold Moves”

100 Barrier

At the 100 barrier, the bold move to be made with regard to staffing is simply to step out on faith and put the Senior Pastor on the payroll full-time.

200 Barrier

At 200 the bold move is to bring on a second staff member. Lay leader boards almost always think this person should be someone who covers both youth and children. This is a mistake. It needs to be a worship pastor, then children’s (see my article on The 3 Buckets).

400 Barrier

At 400 the bold move is to stop hiring anyone that has a pulse that can simply keep plates spinning, and to hire what I call a single “blue chip” staff member—this is the person who is simply GREAT at what they do. This person is almost always someone you can’t really afford at the time, and could get a job at a church four times your size. Their presence immediately changes your staff culture.

600 Barrier

At 600 you should have four full-time staff members (other than yourself) who cover four keys areas: worship, children, youth and adults. The bold move at this stage will always be to CUT other things to get these four bases covered.

800 Barrier

This attendance barrier is almost always broken by hiring an Executive Pastor. Not before this, and certainly not much after this attendance range. My bold move at this stage was to raise funding for my Executive Pastor through a capital Campaign, otherwise, I never would have been able to afford him.

Brett McCracken: Christianity Is Meant to Be Uncomfortable

Jason Daye

December 27, 2017

Brett McCracken is a writer and journalist based in Southern California. He is the author of several books including Hipster Christianity: When Church & Cool Collide and Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, CNN.com, The Princeton Theological Review. He speaks and lectures frequently at universities, churches and conferences. Brett and his wife Kira live in Santa Ana, California and are active in their local church, Southlands, where Brett serves as a pastor/elder.

Key Questions:

Explain your statement, ‘what we want from a church is almost never what we get.”

How can we embrace the discomfort of the gospel and welcome new people to our church?

What relationships do you see between the ways that we lead church and the types of disciples that are being made?

Give us some practical examples of how you are practicing uncomfortable community.

[SUBSCRIBE] For more ChurchLeaders podcasts click here!

Key Quotes:

“We can’t be afraid of being honest about the costliness of Christianity. We don’t want to hide that or downplay that.”

“We don’t want to cater to specific demographics and audiences so that we end up having homogeneous communities.”

“I see the vision for the church as being one of the kind of messiness of a diversity of people endeavoring together in spite of their different backgrounds, in spite of their different preferences to have unity and to pursue holiness and righteousness and worship together.”

“If we are to grow in our communities and small groups we need to go to those difficult places to challenge one another.”

“Sin and brokenness we’ve equated with authenticity but that’s a false equation because our brokenness and sin is actually inauthentic to who we were created to be.”

“I would challenge pastors to own the weirdness and the strangeness of Christianity and to see that as an opportunity and not a liability.”

Mentioned in the Show:

Uncomfortable

BrettMccracken.com

Brett on ChurchLeaders:

What to Do if You’re Chronically Frustrated at Church

Church Should Feel Uncomfortable

Should You Use Music Stands?

Bob Kauflin

December 26, 2017

In the past few years, a number of voices have emerged encouraging church musicians to lose their music stands.

I don’t think anyone is saying it’s a matter “of first importance” to put the music stands away. But people have said if you really want to serve your church, you won’t use them.

Reasons to Strike the Music Stands

Here are some of the most common reasons people give for losing the stands.

In many churches, a separation already exists due to a stage. Removing the stands removes the visible barrier.
Musicians and vocalists tend to stare at their stands. When you remove them, musicians look up, look out and are more engaged.
Singing and playing without stands forces you to memorize music and communicates a higher standard of preparation and excellence. It’s unprofessional and uncaring to use them.
If you’re nervous about forgetting lyrics, you can use a confidence monitor, i.e., project the lyrics on the back wall.

A Few Thoughts

While I appreciate and even applaud the impulses that lie behind church musicians going without music, it seems unwise to make it the rule or even the most-preferred practice.

We’re working with volunteers. Asking musicians to memorize the music each week assumes they’re full-time, specifically dedicated to that role in the church, or have enough time during the week to commit songs to memory. Those aren’t the kind of people I normally serve with at my church! While I appreciate musicians who know their music well, I’d rather have them free from anxiety when they’re leading.

We’re freer to make Sunday morning changes. Due to the limited amount of time our band rehearses, we come up with arrangements on Sunday mornings when we practice. That allows us to make last-minute changes, adjust arrangements to the musicians that are actually there, and make music rather than simply play it.

We want to sing the right songs. Memorizing all the songs tends to push us toward using shorter, more repetitive songs, or songs we’ve been singing for years. It doesn’t have to have that effect but often does. I shouldn’t determine the songs I lead on Sundays by how easy they are to memorize (think Psalm 119). God tells us the word of Christ is to dwell in us richly as we sing (Col. 3:16), and that implies at times I’ll lead songs that go beyond popular fare.

We want to identify the real causes. Singing with stands doesn’t communicate a lack of care, love or engagement any more than a pastor using notes for his message does. It becomes a negative factor only when he reads mechanically, rarely looking up at the congregation. But I’d rather have him be sure of what he’s going to say than try to commit his message to memory and stumble along the way. And I’ve been ministered to in profound ways by both singers and preachers who have notes in front of them.

We sing in community. Finally, it’s participation, not performance, that should characterize our meetings. We’re singing with the congregation, not to or at them. Rather than being a barrier between us and the congregation, music stands can actually be a unifying element. They communicate we’re not musical professionals, that we can forget lyrics, and that we too can get distracted. Our congregations look at a screen (or a hymnal), but we’d never say they’re insincere or “unprepared” to worship God. Needy, imperfect and dependent, we look to Jesus to perfect all our offerings of worship (1 Pet. 2:5). (HT to Allen Dicharry for this last insight)

Some Questions We Can Ask

If this is an issue at your church, these questions might help you reach some conclusions, whether that’s to go with stands or without them.

Are we allowing the use of music stands to be more of a focus than the God we’re worshiping and the people we’re singing with?
If so, get your head out of the stands. Go over the music in advance and use it simply as a reference. Develop the skill of looking at the line you’re about to sing, then looking up and singing it with the congregation. Try flattening out and lowering the stand, or moving it to the side, to reduce the physical barrier. Using music stands only separates you from the congregation when they’re a visual obstacle or you’re overly dependent on them.

Are we seeking to serve our congregation well?
Maximize whatever limited time you have to prepare. During rehearsals, sing and play as though there was a congregation in front of you. Sing to the empty seats. In a few days or in a few minutes, they’ll be filled with God’s people. If you do choose to go without stands and can afford it, consider adding a “confidence monitor,” lyrics projected either on the back wall or a television monitor. Besides helping the vocalists with the lyrics, a monitor also helps the leader know when the projectionist is putting the lyrics up.

5 Moves to Integrate Theology Into Your Ministry

Hershael York

December 26, 2017

1. SATURATE YOUR PREACHING AND CONVERSATION WITH BIBLE TRUTH

If, as Paul says, those Old Testament stories were given to us as examples, then we should use them that way. When you are addressing deacons, elders, students or any group in the church, learn to work in Bible narratives and show how they apply to everyday life and decisions.

2. ADDRESS THE SITUATIONS THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT

Do not, in the name of being faithful, stick to your preaching plan so rigidly that you fail to speak truth into significant events that shock or affect the sensibilities of your congregation. The death of a local teenager, the closing of the town’s largest employer or a 9/11-type national tragedy all demand biblical answers to the questions in everyone’s mind. Show them how the Word of God addresses those types of events and how the gospel is the ultimate need.

3. MAKE THEM FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS

Being in ministry means learning to live with the disappointment of people. Sometimes you will genuinely let them down because of your shortcomings and failures, and sometimes they will have unrealistic expectations. If you build your ministry on yourself and on your abilities, this disillusionment—both yours and theirs—will be crippling. If, on the other hand, you show them that Jesus is the only one who never disappoints, that our hope is in him and that he alone is our standard and our strength, then their hope rests on Christ alone. Talk constantly about Jesus, about his attributes and about his grace and truth. We see more of God’s glory in Christ than Moses ever saw on Sinai. Jesus is lovely and he is ours.

4. PIVOT TO THE GOSPEL

Just as all the Scripture ultimately relates to Christ, so does all of life and knowledge. Ministry is usually done in the context of hurt, tragedy, sin and sin’s effects. In every one of those situations, comfort the hurting with soothing words of genuine pastoral affection, but find the way to turn toward how the gospel addresses this kind of situation with redemption, salvation, forgiveness and the resurrection.

5. STAY THERE

If you want a church to be saturated with truth, then stay there and walk through life with them. It takes time to lay the foundation, and more time to build the superstructure. Plant your life. Show them what a gospel-centered marriage and family looks like. Preach the Word—both testaments, law and gospel, all genres, creation, fall, longing, fulfillment, consummation. They won’t get that strategic grasp of the scriptures from six consecutive pastors, but they might from one who stays and lives life in community with them.

This article originally appeared here.

For Parents:

For Church Leaders:

A Seven-Point Game Plan to Set You Up for a Great 2018:

1) Restore key relationships

2) Forgive those who have hurt you

3) Evaluate your results from 2017

What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know About Culture in 2017

What You Need to Know About Technology in 2017

What You Need to Know About Ministry in 2017

What You Need to Know About News in 2017

What to Read if You Haven’t Yet

What You Need to Know About 2018

1. How They Define “The Win”

2. How They Decide What Gets Communicated

3. How They Structure the Team

4. How They Engage Volunteers

Carry yourself with “leadership presence”

Be real and expect them to be real

Do your job…and do it well

Communicate effectively

Bring solutions, not problems

How have you connected with church leaders?

# 1 Simone Biles Steals the Show

# 2 Everyone Wants to Know How to Divorce-Proof Their Marriage

#3 The Hashtag Heard Round the World

#4 Joel Osteen Stirs Controversy—Again

#5 Sad News From Proverbs 31 Ministries

#6 If Missionaries Spoke Freely

#7 Francis Chan Has Some Surprising Words for Facebook Employees

#8 Ravi Zacharias Talks About Suicide

#9 Soul Check

#10 Another Soul Check

#11 How to: Have a Blast With Children

#12 If Jesus Wrote an Open Letter to the Gay Community

A Full Parking Lot Is Limiting Your Church

Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers?

Start with Pre-Approved Prayers

Staffing “Bold Moves”

100 Barrier

200 Barrier

400 Barrier

600 Barrier

800 Barrier

Key Questions:

Key Quotes:

Mentioned in the Show:

Brett on ChurchLeaders:

Reasons to Strike the Music Stands

A Few Thoughts

Some Questions We Can Ask

1. SATURATE YOUR PREACHING AND CONVERSATION WITH BIBLE TRUTH

2. ADDRESS THE SITUATIONS THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT

3. MAKE THEM FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS

4. PIVOT TO THE GOSPEL

5. STAY THERE

New Articles

New Podcasts