“Information plus inspiration plus action leads to transformation. God provides the inspiration; we provide the information and the call to action.” – Nelson Searcy and Jason Hatley The above quote is from p. 36 of Engage: A Guide to Creating Life-Transforming Worship Services. Engage is your step-by-step, stress-free guide to planning creative worship … Read More
Lazy Staff Syndrome
Today’s guest blog comes to us from Tony Morgan, Chief Strategic Officer and founder of The Unstuck Group. I can’t believe I’m writing this article. I had always assumed that Christ-followers would always model a healthy work ethic, especially if they’re paid to engage ministry. My assumption is challenged, though, by a growing culture of laziness infecting many of our … Read More
The Magic Seven: Do this when the service ends… – Part 4 of 4
Last week in Part 3 of this series, we started to talk about how you can create opportunities to connect with your guests in the seven minutes after the church service ends. In the conclusion of our four part series, here are the remaining ways you can best connect with your guests: THE SEVEN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDS As the bookend to … Read More
John Wesley’s Rules for Preachers
Today’s guest post comes to us from Nathan Finn for BetweenTheTimes.com John Wesley (1703-1791) was one of the key leaders of the Evangelical Awakening in Britain during the mid-eighteenth century. Circumstances drove Wesley to adopt itinerant evangelistic preaching, an idea he picked up from his friend and former student George Whitefield. Once Wesley embraced itinerancy, he extended his movement’s influence by … Read More
Monday is for Follow-up: Gifts from God
“Actions always speak louder than words. There’s no getting around this truth: How you respond when you’ve been given a gift – and what you do with the gift itself – proves just how much you really appreciate it. So have you gotten any gifts lately? Think about that question another way: Did you have any first-time guests at your … Read More
Keys to Worship Planning: Honoring God Through Excellence
“We are a reflection of God’s character on this earth. God isn’t sloppy or ill prepared; he’s excellent. And excellence on our part honors him. Where you and I get into trouble is in thinking that excellence is the same as perfection. It isn’t. We will never be perfect this side of heaven. But that doesn’t mean we can’t … Read More
Global Megachurch Growth
Small churches out number U.S. megachurches nine to one. Each has their own unique local and global tasks. When John Vaughan, founder of Church Growth Today (1980), wrote the book, The World’s 20 Largest Churches (1985), there were only 27 known non-Catholic churches in the world with 6,000 plus weekend attendance. Eleven were in the United States. Today, more than … Read More
The Magic Seven: Do this when the service ends… – Part 3 of 4
Last week in Part 2 of this series, we wrapped up how you can connect with your guests during the seven minutes before your Sunday service begins. We pick up today with how you can create opportunities in the seven minutes after the service ends. THE SEVEN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDS As the bookend to your Sunday service, these seven … Read More
Ten Observations about the New Testament Church
Today’s guest post comes to us from Scot McKnight, a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. Scot has also authored more than fifty books and is the Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL. A local church has the capacity to adjust itself to its environment and, so long as the … Read More