2009-01-05
The micro-church: Making small groups smaller

Most churches know how important Sunday school or small groups are for the spiritual development of congregation members. What most churches don't know is what size small groups should be to be effective. Consultant Josh Hunt notes how more church leaders and consultants are seeing the impact of smaller groups of two or three believers, who can really help one another through life transformation.

2008-12-17
Five steps to a strategic, mission- and vision-minded budget
It’s end-of-year budgeting season in most churches. Consultant and author Aubrey Malphurs offers some sound advice for leaders interested in not only allotting where to spend money but doing so with a clear strategy to fund the congregation’s core values in accomplishing a specific, biblical mission.



2008-12-09
Software offers virtual potlucks, electronic collection plates
More church management software offers Web-based tools to simplify data, money and volunteer tracking--all on the Internet.


2008-12-02
Christmas booklist: Thoughtful gifts for church leaders and consultants

It’s that time of year again when our hearts turn to giving. This December, as we do each year, Church Central is pleased to present the annual Christmas booklist. You can drool over it. Print it out and post it somewhere for your friends or family to find. Or you can use it to find great ideas for Christmas gifts for all your acquaintances in church leadership.

2008-11-19
Church turnaround begins with fearless Christian leadership

Changing a church starts with you--whether you're a leader or a lay person. Recognized church consultant Bill Easum writes that taking a journey of faith individually is the way to start an entire congregation on the path to change.

2008-11-12
BOOK REVIEW: 'Winning the Real Battle at Church'

Looking for a resource to address church conflict? New workbook offers six-week discipleship course to deal with division.

2008-11-05
Las Vegas church creates its own social networking site

You know this Las Vegas church. Remember Senior Pastor Jud Wilhite’s 2007 book “Stripped” that rocked some folks in the church world with its real-life stories of grace for the untouchables; strippers, drugs addicts and homosexuals. (BTW he has another grace-filled volume due out in December, ca


2008-11-05
Las Vegas church creates its own social networking site

You know this Las Vegas church. Remember Senior Pastor Jud Wilhite’s 2007 book “Stripped” that rocked some folks in the church world with its real-life stories of grace for the untouchables; strippers, drugs addicts and homosexuals. (BTW he has another grace-filled volume due out in December, ca


2008-11-05
Las Vegas church creates its own social networking site

You know this Las Vegas church. Remember Senior Pastor Jud Wilhite’s 2007 book “Stripped” that rocked some folks in the church world with its real-life stories of grace for the untouchables; strippers, drugs addicts and homosexuals. (BTW he has another grace-filled volume due out in December, called “Uncensored Grace: Stories of Hope from the Streets of Vegas.” Hold onto your pews—or maybe just let them go.)

2008-10-31
Seven reasons why you can afford a good church consultant
Why bring in a ministry consultant when a good one costs so much? Can you even afford one? Church consultant Aubrey Malphurs offers advice about the expense of an outside specialist. 


2008-10-28
Can your church afford a consultant?
Many churches know when the time comes to hire an outside consultant to help them re-create healthy ministries. However, finding the funding for a consultant is not always a priority. Church consultant Aubrey Malphurs offers valuable insight on how congregations can afford to hire help.


2008-10-28
Can your church afford a consultant?
Many churches know when the time comes to hire an outside consultant to help them re-create healthy ministries. However, finding the funding for a consultant is not always a priority. Church consultant Aubrey Malphurs offers valuable insight on how congregations can afford to hire help.


2008-10-24
Consider the issues before preaching about politics
The Church is taking a higher profile than ever in the political arena, as evidenced by two new books about contenders on the presidential ballot. However, a recent survey shows a slight majority of Christians think the Church should stay out of politics. Before preaching any politically-oriented sermons this fall, read what two pastors have to say about the danger of politics in the pulpit. 


2008-10-20
Money Matters: How to develop donors
Teaching Christians to give is an essential part of discipleship. Even during difficult economic times churches must provide stewardship lessons. Here are seven ways to increase generosity in your church.


2008-10-08
Three reproducing movements that may stem church decline
At the very time when many voices are pronouncing the end of the institutional church and the rise of the emergent church, we’re witnessing the birth of three major reproductive movements—church planting, multi-site, and raising up leaders—all of which have the potential to turn around the decline of Christianity in the West and advance the Kingdom worldwide. 


2008-09-30
Seven qualifications to look for in a church consultant
How can a church effectively choose a good church consultant? Dr. Aubrey Malphurs suggests seven credentials to look for when searching for someone who will guide your ministry and could change your church.


2008-09-30
Finding ministry encouragement and your RPE
Reaching the point at which you think you simply can't go on happens more often than not in ministry. Church consultant Tom Fillinger puts exhaustion and encouragement in runner's terms, extolling pastors to run the good race—by tuning in the encouragement they can foster around them.


2008-09-29
Reflections on 'Pulpit Freedom Sunday'
A Christian legal issues group promoted Sunday for preaching sermons opposing certain candidates whose stances allegedly conflict with scripture. The campaign stirred up opposition, but ultimately less than three dozen churches participated. That may be a good thing, since the campaign went too far in crossing the fine line dividing church and state.


2008-09-24
BOOK REVIEW: 'Building to Glory: Creating Sacred Space in a Secular World'
What does your church building tell people about your congregation? A new book on church architecture guides church leaders through a discussion of form and function in order to think through building choices as ministry choices, too.


2008-09-23
Church missions that create lasting change
Watching hurricanes tear through communities in the southern United States and the Caribbean should stir Christians toward compassion and acting upon the immediate needs of others. Perhaps the people in your church are considering reaching out to help. But how do these emergency response mission projects work in the context of an entire church missions program? Can a short-term emergency relief trip really transform lives through the good news of Jesus? Here is a closer look at one successful missions model that brings community transformation.


2008-09-18
Measuring transformation in ministry
Checking church attendance, counting the number of baptisms and adding up the offerings can provide one picture of the health of a congregation. But finding a way to measure the effectiveness of discipleship efforts by assessing changed lives provides a more accurate portrait of what is most important in a church.


2008-09-16
Seven steps toward meeting the challenge of the Great Commission
How can your church make disciples of Christ throughout the world? Dr. Chuck Lawless offers some perspective on the ever-growing need for global outreach and some simple starting points for any congregation to move toward world evangelization.


2008-09-10
Making sense of calling and ambition
Why are you in ministry? Was your calling definitive and specific, or did you gravitate to a career in ministry through giftedness and ambition? Maybe we'll never really know why we do what we do. But after four decades of ministry work, one pastor realized his calling and his ambition were two different things.


2008-09-05
How churches can mix religion and politics legally
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has released a guide to permissible and impermissible political activities, based on tax exemptions listed in the Internal Revenue Service code. Although a complete version is available on line, as a service to our readers Church Central offers the most frequently asked questions and answers for church leaders in the heat of a hot political season.


2008-09-03
What makes a church group grow?
Sunday school and small group consultant, Josh Hunt, surveyed more than a thousand group leaders to find out exactly what is necessary for a class or group to grow. He collected his findings into three categories: things that don't matter much, things that matter a little, and things that matter most. Are you spending your time on energy on the things that matter most?