All Things Are Possible! Really?
According to Scripture, you are the next chapter in the life and ministry of Jesus. You were created to finish what Jesus “began to do and teach.” (Acts 1:1) And here is the kicker – what God achieves through you will be greater than what Jesus did. (John 14:12) I want you to give these two […]
Why Are so Many Churches Mean-Spirited?
A pastor I’m coaching asked me “Why are there so many dysfunctional, mean-spirited people in the church?” His question is well founded. There are more dysfunctional churches in the U.S. than there are healthy churches. I would guess the percentage of unhealthy churches approaches 60% of all churches. And the smaller the church is, the […]
Church Planters Must Be Graciously Ruthless
I tell church planters, “If you can’t show someone the door and go home and sleep well that night, you shouldn’t plant.” One of the things we’ve learned over the years is that planting a church is hard, lonely work. If you can’t let criticism run off your back like water off a duck and aren’t […]
Why Your Church Won’t Be the Exception
I just returned from a church growth training event at a local church where we reviewed and evaluated their vision. Their vision statement was a bit wordy, but overall it got high marks. However, this question arose from some of the members: “What about those in the congregation who don’t support the vision… those who don’t […]
Behaviors, Treating Unhealthy Behaviors
There are all kinds of understandings about the attacks by members — especially those who proclaim themselves to be spiritually advanced, actively involved, long-term members, big givers, etc., etc.– that I know rationally before and after personal attacks. Here are 12 of them. 1. Such persons have been treating most if not all the pastors/clergy this way for years […]
Anatomy of a Poison Pen Letter
Every effective pastor gets a poison pen letter at least once during their careers. They’re never nice to get and they can cause a lot of anxiety and self-doubt. Frankly, they can send an otherwise well-adjusted, healthy pastor into a tailspin. They shouldn’t, but shouldn’t doesn’t cut it in the real world. When one of […]