40 Ways to Increase Your Easter Attendance

40 days is a significant time period in the Bible.  In the Old Testament, when God destroyed the earth with water, He caused it to rain 40 days and 40 nights. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights receiving the 10 Commandments.  In the New Testament, Jesus was tempted for […]

But What About Us?

We were talking about preaching to your target audience – your Outreach Avatar – and one of my preaching students shared that one of his elders was complaining about the sermon du jour on his way out on a Sunday morning. “Why do you preach about things that don’t relate to us?”

The pastor explained […]

“I’m Not Being Spiritually Fed!”

When I served as a pastor – and in almost every church I served – one of the complaints I occasionally heard was that someone wasn’t being spiritually fed. Apparently, that’s not a new problem. Paul addressed the issue with the Corinthians and the writer of Hebrews addressed it as well. Apparently, those who complained […]

Bucks, Butts, or Disciples?

To become a part of the Next Level for Church Growth Pastors Group (a private Facebook Group), a pastor has to answer three questions. Question #2 is about Church Growth. It’s always amused me (not Ha Ha amusement) when some pastor pushes back and accuses me (and The Effective Church Group) about being one […]

The Role of the Transformational Senior Pastor

Over the years, there has been a good bit of talk about what a senior pastor is “supposed” to be doing when it comes to leading a church. However, it’s clear that the lead pastor’s tasks must be driven by whatever “stage” a church finds itself in. If the pastor is leading a traditional […]

Creating a ‘Truly’ On-Line Service

I have a few pet peeves. Drivers who don’t use their turn signals, cashiers who don’t say please and thank you and pastors who tell me they have online services when in essence all they do is video their existing in person services.

What are the differences between on-site services and on-line services? Too many […]

Three Things I’ve Learned

I was speaking with a pastor in Iowa the other day and shared that I’d just completed forty years in parish ministry. He offered some generous congratulatory sentiments and thanked me for my service. But then he paused and asked me a really great question: “What has God been showing you during that time?”

I […]

Too Tired to Try

“We’ve got lots of opportunities. What we don’t have are the members to take advantage of any of them. Everyone is exhausted.”

ExhaustedTiredDepletedWiped Out

Let’s be honest, the pandemic and the post-pandemic migration has been rough on all of us.

Sign Up for the Free Pastor’s Congregation Resurrection Facebook Live Training Here. (Tuesday, August 23, 1 […]

Ramp Up Your Digital Media Presence

Over the last couple of years, we have seen a tremendous upsurge of churches going online. Even though thousands of churches were unprepared for the drop off in attendance due to a pandemic, many realized they had to begin implementing a plan to help bounce back.  I believe that by creating an effective digital […]