“In the semester-based system, groups last for approximately three months. At the end of that three-month semester, there is a month to six weeks where groups are not meeting. Then the new semester begins and everyone is in a group again for three months. Then they have another break. When small group members are in a system that is … Read More
The Power of Vacation: Keeping Your Tank Full (Part 2)
In last week’s first part of this blog series, I started a conversation about vacation and shared a few strategies for taking some time off. Here are the next two strategies you should consider when planning your next vacation: Prepare for your vacation to ensure it’s a true vacation. Nothing will frustrate you or your family more than if your vacation gets … Read More
Tension Keeps Your Hearers Stuck to the Sermon
Today’s guest post comes to us from Yancey Arrington for PreachingToday.com. You know that feeling of being locked in as preacher? When you depart from the pulpit confident that the message you intended to give was the one given. You witnessed congregants lean forward and engage every movement of your message. All the words pouring from your mouth feel less … Read More
Sunday Scripture: A Leader’s Life is an Example to Others
“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7 (NLT)
Schuller on Attempting Greatness
“I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed.” – Robert H. Schuller, pastor, evangelist, author, and motivational speaker September 16, 1926 – April 2, 2015
New Poll Finds Even Religious Americans Feel the Good Vibrations
Today’s guest post comes to us from Yonat Shimron for ReligionNews.com. A new Pew Research poll shows that beyond a small band of reliably predictable “Sunday Stalwarts,” as the survey calls them, American religiosity is pretty casual, with less than a quarter of Americans attending worship services weekly but nearly all religious groups adhering to some New Age beliefs. The … Read More
Adapting a Cultural Norm for Maximum Small Groups Success
“Taking a cue from the early gospel spreaders, my team and I asked an unusual question as we built the Activate system: What current cultural norms can be adapted to help give small groups momentum and success? The most obvious answer is the academic calendar. Our culture is defined by its educational system. People adhere to the flow of … Read More
The Power of Vacation: Keeping Your Tank Full (Part 1)
Like most pastors, you may struggle when it comes to planning your time away. In my early years of church planting, when I was bivocational, I was greatly challenged in this area until I discovered the power of taking some extended time off. Though the word “vacation” is not found in the Bible, there’s nothing unspiritual about taking a vacation. … Read More
4 Dangers Facing Pastors
Today’s guest post comes to us from Mark Dance for FactsandTrends.net. Real dangers were lurking among the crowds Jesus was feeding, healing, and teaching. These same dangers still exist in the congregations we serve today. Some are more obvious than others, so I’d like to point out a few. A PASTOR NEEDS PROTECTION FROM CRITICS. As Jesus was teaching at the … Read More
Sunday Scripture: Leaders Trust in God
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)