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The Church is not the Titanic (a mini manifesto)
I'm not trying to stick my head in the sand. I can read a bar graph as well the next guy. I know The Church is struggling. I also know that for myself, and for every church I've been a part of, there …1 comment- Mitch Todd -
6 distinct FLASH MOB secrets for your church
Do you tear up at those YouTube flash mob videos where unsuspecting people are suddenly serenaded by dozens of extraordinarily talented strangers? I do—every time! I've tried to figure out why …- Doug Lawrence -
Critical Abilities, Part 5
Engaging the Power! In this final piece I want to present one more critical ability necessary for missional leaders to turn churches around and get them on the right track toward healthy growth. If …- John Ewart -
Staying Power: Pastor Gordon pleads to not be fired
At the weekend retreat, an elder of Clarkston Church drew me aside. "We've decided to call for Pastor Gordon's removal. This weekend has been one long sales job. He's trying to get us to buy his …- Bob Whitesel -
Five warning signs of declining church health
December 17, 2004, should have been a day of celebration. Nellie Jo and I had been married 27 years on that date. We were in Naples, Florida, enjoying the sunshine and each other. Then the phone …- Thom Rainer -
Eight Reasons Church Leaders Should Talk about Money More
1. According to the gospels, Jesus talked about money and possessions frequently. It seems like it is worthy of more of church leaders' attention than we give it in our preaching and teaching. 2 …1 comment- Margaret Marcuson -
Four forces leaders can’t control
Leadership Principle #17: Don't waste time asking why some things happen. You'll never know for sure. "'Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.'" – Est 4:14 …1 comment- Tom Harper -
Critical Abilities, Part 5
Stump and Stone Removal I have been presenting critical abilities a missional leader must possess in order to lead a church in either revitalization or new growth. These abilities build on one …- John Ewart -
Balance: The Pursuit of Mediocrity
Balance is a good thing to have in life. Balance is a good thing if you're crossing a creek on a log, riding a bike, or carrying a baby in one arm and a sack of groceries in the other. Balance is a …- Hal West -
3 radical worship ideas
When I was a child, I thought as a child, and had lots of ideas, but when I grew up and worked in a church, I was afraid to have an original thought of any kind. Have you ever had the feeling you're …- Doug Lawrence -
Two laws of protecting your church from critics
Leadership Principle #16: Protect your organization's core and culture with a thick wall built by people who want to save their own skin. "'The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile …2 comments- Tom Harper -
Do not mistake caffeine for the Holy Spirit
I'm somewhat of a walking and talking billboard for 5 hour energy drinks. You know them? Those little red and yellow bottles that claim to pack a punch? They really work for me. They give me a boost …- Mitch Todd -
Critical Abilities, Part 4
Building Bridges or Sliding on Thin Ice. The first critical ability a missional leader must possess is the ability to understand the true mission. Secondly, and this must be built on the first …- John Ewart -
5 Lessons I'm Learning About Life From A Very Pregnant Lady
My wife is very pregnant. There is something odd about that phrasing, isn't there? "Ummmm, very pregnant? Either you are or you're not." Should the state of being pregnant really be quantified? Lyons …- Charlie Lyons -
Continuing church vs. state challenges
Presidential election years have a way of stirring voters' interest, particularly in our 24-7 electronically-wired society. Yet church leaders caught up in the frenzied speculation and anticipation …- Thom Rainer -
Church Leaders Need to Be the Grown-Ups
When my kids were teenagers I developed three rules for parenting teenagers: Don't take it too seriously. Don't take it personally. Pay more attention to your goals for yourself than your goals for …1 comment- Margaret Marcuson -
Construct a temple first, build culture second
Leadership Principle #15 – Identify the one thing your organization can't do without. Build it up, then build a culture around it. "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are …- Tom Harper -
6 things you'll do well this weekend...
...and 6 things you may not get right. Yes, that's what I said, for every wonderful thing we do to prepare for worship there's probably an opposite, and maybe equal thing we get wrong. There is no …1 comment- Doug Lawrence -
Has Internet Evangelism Reached the Tipping Point?
A senior staff member of a church operating an Internet campus recently told me that they no longer debate the theological pros and cons of Internet ministry. Using the Internet for evangelism and …- Gordon Marcy -
Critical Abilities, Part 3
Critical Abilities Part 3: Train-building and Saint Francis Last time I shared that the first critical ability a missional leader must possess is the ability to understand the true mission. If we …- John Ewart
