|
30 Sep 2008
|
|
|
|
30 Sep 2008
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
29 Sep 2008
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
25 Sep 2008
|
|
|
|
23 Sep 2008
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
18 Sep 2008
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
17 Sep 2008
|
|
|
|
10 Sep 2008
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
05 Sep 2008
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
03 Sep 2008
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
25 Aug 2008
|
|
Is "The Shack" an opportunity or a heresy?
|
|
A novel published by a company so small it initially shipped copies from the co-founder's garage has sold more than a million copies. Despite "The Shack's" popularity, many have criticized it as heresy and unscriptural. However, rather than joining such debates, pastors and church leaders should recognize the book presents them a golden opportunity to engage the public in spiritual conversations.
|
|
|
|
20 Aug 2008
|
|
|
|
20 Aug 2008
|
|
Re-thinking church community
|
|
Understanding the fundamentals of how people naturally connect is a critical component of creating a healthy church community. Realizing the impact of cultural norms on the Christian life is also proving to be a serious challenge to American churches intent on helping create the space and time in most people's frenzied lives for meaningful relationships.
|
|
|
|
15 Aug 2008
|
|
|
|
12 Aug 2008
|
|
The art and science of creating a welcoming congregation
|
|
Churches that smile, shake hands, and then expect new people to figure out how a congregation works, are sure to be disappointed in the number of visitors who return. Consultant, professor and author Gary McIntosh recommends churches take a proactive approach to hosting guests, using both the science and art of making people feel welcome.
|
|
|
|
12 Aug 2008
|
|
Five ways to welcome guests
|
|
Welcoming guests is serious business, since it can influence the way people look at God and church for years to come. Church consultant and university professor Gary McIntosh suggests ways of reaching out to newcomers that will make them feel welcome and increase the chances that they will return.
|
|
|
|
05 Aug 2008
|
|
Saddleback's political forum forges new trail along church and state line
|
|
The influential Saddleback Church will thrust the Church as a whole into the limelight soon with a forum featuring presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain. Regardless of how pastors view this event, it may well spark questions from church goers about their political views. Church leaders need to decide now whether, and how, they will address the topic of politics during the presidential race.
|
|
|
|
28 Jul 2008
|
|
Church attendance can strengthen society
|
|
A report from the Center for Marriage and Families shows that regular church attendance has numerous benefits for individuals and society, such as happier marriages, decreased divorce rates and improved social stability. This is the kind of good news that deserves to be spotlighted from pulpits, whether inside the Church or in other venues.
|
|
|
|
22 Jul 2008
|
|
Defining church membership not an easy task
|
|
There is generally a gap between church membership and average weekly attendance. At its annual meeting, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution calling on its churches to practice regenerate church membership and repent of failures to live up to that commitment. However, in a rapidly-changing social environment, will such moves do much to move people? Better that churches practice meaningful service and casting a vision beyond the four walls.
|
|
|
|
12 Mar 2003
|
|
|
|
30 Nov 0002
|
|
Are churches keeping up with texting times?
|
|
The increasing popularity of text and instant messaging among younger Americans provides a new opportunity for church leaders to communicate, and new points of entry for faith discussions.
|
|
|
|
26 Jun 2008
|
|
Downsizing for evangelism
|
|
A former denominational leader has established a new, non-profit organization aimed at helping pastors and lay leaders to reach a generation that is often turned off by traditional forms of church. This conversational form of evangelism aims to forsake mass crusade-style events to touch the world on a more personal level.
|
|
|
|
19 Jun 2008
|
|
Are trendy churches a thing of the past?
|
|
No one knows what the next decade holds for the Church. But if we are wise we can learn from the lessons of the past, coupled with current trends, to form a fuzzy outline of what is to come in ministry.
|
|
|
|
12 Jun 2008
|
|
Be wary of judging situations by soundbites
|
|
Both would-be presidential candidates have rejected pastoral endorsements based on supposed intemperate statements by the ministers. However, judging a pastor based on short sound clips or other material that appears on the Internet is an unsound practice. So is using scant evidence to determine whether a move of God is valid. Instead of criticizing revival-oriented events, we should pray for all who lift up Christ's name.
|
|
|
|
03 Jun 2008
|
|
Largest protestant denomination may be cut in half by 2030
|
|
In a recent interview, the outgoing president of the Southern Baptist Convention warned that unless its members face reality, by 2030 the denomination could shrink from 44,000 to 20,000 churches. There are other signs that shifts and upheaval can be expected in the years ahead. The key to meeting this challenge will be preparing for change instead of resisting it.
|
|
|
|
30 May 2008
|
|
What one thing would you ask God to do?
|
|
An online discussion among four megachurch pastors wound up creating a worldwide project that will involve high-tech pulpit exchanges at approximately 1,000 churches during June. In answering the question, "Lord, make us (what)?" the leaders of this experiment have opened additional possibilities that could strengthen unity within the Church.
|
|
|
|
20 May 2008
|
|
Giving goes on despite gasoline-fueled inflation
|
|
A recent survey by LifeWay Research showed that 76 percent of Southern Baptist churches are at or above 2008 budget targets despite soaring prices for gasoline, food and other supplies. This trend can be seen in other denominations, showing that God's people still know how to be generous. With much of the world facing catastrophe, the spirit of giving will become more significant in the days ahead.
|
|
|
|
30 Nov 0002
|
|
Christians sharing health care costs alternative to insurance
|
|
High health care costs are of concern to everyone, but especially small churches that can't afford to provide medical coverage to their pastor or other staff members. An alternative to insurance is health care cost sharing ministries, which help their members pay each other's bills. Though not legally insurance, they may be an affordable replacement.
|
|
|
|
07 May 2008
|
|
Should churches pray for lower gas prices?
|
|
A Washington, D.C. community organizer attracted considerable news coverage recently when he led public pray-ins for cheaper gasoline prices. While the skyrocketing cost of fuel affects everyone and especially harms those in poverty, the Church needs to remember its prayers should extend further. In a world alarmed by high gas prices, believers need to be ready to share the reason they have hope.
|
|
|
|
23 Apr 2008
|
|
"Expelled" deserves grassroots support from the Church
|
|
A new documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," exposes the censorship, ridicule and loss of job facing anyone in academic or other fields who dares to question Charles Darwin's evolutionary theories. Though not a gospel-based film, in exposing widespread attacks on God in the scientific community, it deserves support from the Church.
|
|
|
|
11 Apr 2008
|
|
The Church can make a difference in divorce rates
|
|
In a recently-completed survey, Christians didn't fare much better than the rest of society when it comes to divorce rates. Study director George Barna says Americans are becoming so accustomed to divorce many see it as a rite of passage. But with good planning and a long-term commitment, the Church can make a difference in reducing the incidence of divorce.
|
|
|
|
08 Apr 2008
|
|
|
|
02 Apr 2008
|
|
Bad economy, rising costs chance for Church to shine
|
|
The rising cost of basic necessities amid a weak economy contains a silver lining: crisis creates opportunities for the Church to shine. Many congregations are meeting the challenge, as shown by stories about the ways churches are reaching out to their communities.
|
|
|
|
28 Mar 2008
|
|
Earth-friendly is good for church finances and evangelism
|
|
A leading Bible publisher recently announced it will discontinue the use of synthetic covers, symbolizing environmental moves that are increasing across the Christian world. Not only can energy saving steps save considerable sums of money, they can create opportunities to witness with the non-church-going world. That creates a win-win situation.
|
|
|
|
17 Mar 2008
|
|
Churches may find themselves embroiled in sticky situations
|
|
The pastor of a church in Fort Worth, Texas has withstood an effort to oust him in a dispute linked to a controversy over gay couples being pictured in the church's directory. The incident is only one of many examples cropping up involving sticky situations over sexual and gender identity. As uncomfortable as such situations may be, churches of all kinds are likely to face them in the times to come.
|
|
|
|
12 Mar 2008
|
|
|
|
07 Mar 2008
|
|
Fluid church habits put new spin on the numbers
|
|
Research by demographer George Barna shows that the habits of church-going adults are rapidly changing, encompassing more than one form of faith community. Research by demographer George Barna shows that the habits of church-going adults are rapidly changing, encompassing more than one form of faith community.
|
|
|
|
03 Mar 2008
|
|
Could church sex offender list keep congregations safe?
|
|
A Nashville newspaper has called for a national database of Southern Baptist clergy charged with sexual abuse, a step the convention's executive committee has been investigating. This is a sticky issue that is likely to affect denominations of all kinds, as victims of these crimes speak out and press for damages.
|
|
|
|
27 Feb 2008
|
|
|
|
25 Feb 2008
|
|
|
|
15 Feb 2008
|
|
Prayer support is a pearl of great price
|
|
The assistant editor of Church Central went through double bypass heart surgery recently, a major ordeal that brought home the value of prayer. That and expressions of encouragement and support emphasizes the vital nature of prayer chains and other efforts to support people who have various needs.
|
|
