How to Get to Know Unchurched People
Over the years, I’ve noticed there’s some significant confusion about the Great Commission. For several centuries, the church has interpreted it as “Go ye into all the world,” which of course is a translation for the more appropriate term ethnic groups (lit. ethnos). In today’s language, we would accurately say, “Go and make disciples of all […]
Seven Clues You’re On the Right Track
I had a conversation with a pastor in the midst of a church turnaround/transformation the other day. During that conversation he asked what behaviors should a church leader be looking for that would give her/him clues as to whether the congregation was effectively transforming. I thought about it and here’s my list of the top […]
The Spiritual Leadership of the Board
Most churches underestimate the importance of the board members as “spiritual leaders”. Board members are often elected or appointed because of specific skills (teaching, finance, property management, etc.). However, as management responsibilities are delegated to a trusted, gifted few, it becomes more important that the board members be models for the spiritual life. They need to be […]
Think System, Act Program
Planners need to think about the overall flow of the discipling process, but make concrete the programs that will deliver the anticipated result of mature Christians and missionaries. Especially consider how individuals will be mentored into the next steps of spiritual growth, and how various programs will interconnect with each other for a comprehensive experience […]
Growing A Church
There’s an axiom in the consulting world that goes: “Only two things grow a church … and about a million things keep it from growing.” Of course the second part is an exaggeration, to a certain extent, but the first part holds true across our nation. Let me help explode a couple of myths that […]
How Can We Measure Congregational Effectiveness?
People are always asking me if it is possible to measure the effectiveness of a church. My answer is “Yes!” The problem isn’t – can it be measured – but, by what standard do we measure the effectiveness of a church. Too many people want to measure effectiveness around church health. I don’t think church […]