The World Doesn’t Need More Pastors
When I restarted a church in 1969, I shared the following mission statement: “Every member a minister.” In 1982 the statement changed to “Every person a minister.” In 1990 the statement changed again to “Every person a missionary.” When I left that church in 1993, 80 percent of the people were involved in some form […]
We Are Created to ….
Ever wondered why you’re on this earth? Ever wondered what your ultimate purpose in life is? I know there were times when I did, until the day I met Jesus and all that changed. It should also change for you if you know Jesus. Notice, I didn’t say God, because that is too generic these […]
From Doers to Equippers – Part One
In the majority of established churches in the U. S., the paid staff does most of the daily ministry. All one has to do is read passages like Ephesians 4:11-12 and I Peter 2:9 to see that God never intended for churches to function that way. What Christianity needs today is a fresh view of […]
Use and Misuse of Signs
Signs are a plus if you use them correctly, but they are a waste of money if you use them incorrectly. Let’s look at the difference. A church down the street from me purchased a beautiful digital sign a couple of years ago. I have to drive by that church almost every day. Of course, […]
From Doers to Equippers – Part Three
What happens during the transition? The pastor must carefully and slowly chip away at destroying the dependent culture and establishing a growth culture. For eight years, I chipped away at changing the culture to one of equipping. I spent those 8 years filtering out whom I had to see and get fired and whom I […]
From Doers to Equippers – Part Two
Making the transition from doers to equippers is perhaps one of the hardest transitions to make. So, let’s take it step by step. Step one begins with the pastor. The pastor has to demonstrate this change or no one else will. Why is this change so hard for pastors? Because it’s easier and less time-consuming […]