September 2, 2010 – 2:32 pm
We looked last week at the term plateau, church health, and church growth. Let’s think some about how to get off the plateau. Kirk Hadaway has conducted much research over the years with Southern Baptist churches in particular. He also attempted to determine the characteristics of plateaued churches and what he called, “Breakout churches”–those that [...]
This series of blogs will help you keep the people you reach and help you discern if your church is more like Teflon or Velcro? We have a twofold challenge…getting new people to attend and getting people to stick after they join and not slide off. Without new people coming to Christ and joining your [...]
Assimilation is all about the process of helping people find your church, join your church, and get involved using their gifts and talents for the kingdom. Of course, experiencing salvation in Christ would be the number one goal as you reach out to people with the Gospel. In a recent article, Rick Ezell lists five [...]
The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a PECULIAR people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” I think this was a prophetic word concerning a future denomination called Southern [...]
Recently, Leadership Journal printed again the eight criteria for church health from Natural Church Development. Each of these eight components can serve as an MRI to look underneath the surface of your church and evaluate the true health. Look at these and see if you have balance. Where are you strong? Where are you weak? [...]
Will they find it here? Churches and associations all across Kentucky are excited about “Find It Here.” This effort has involved prayer walking (or driving if you are out in the country), and delivering 1.5 million bags that contain a Gospel tract, information about local Baptist churches, and a special invitation to Easter Sunday worship [...]
February 26, 2010 – 11:05 am
In the next few blogs we are discussing Jesus’ Style of making disciples. My simple definition of discipleship is, “Discipleship is a decision to follow Christ followed by a daily walk.” There are definitions that are longer and deeper but this for me is the bottom line for discipleship. That initial decision is a step [...]
February 19, 2010 – 8:11 am
In the next few blogs we are going to talk about Jesus’ Style of making disciples. The word disciple is found 267 times in the New Testament. The word Christian is found 3 times in the New Testament. The word disciple (mathetes) is translated literally as a “learner.” My simple definition is, “Discipleship is a [...]
February 11, 2010 – 12:32 pm
Survey: Church, Ministers Not the Friendliest in Town Maybe you have seen the survey…Less than 18 percent of Americans say the church is the friendliest place in town. Whoa! Though the church is ranked second behind “my home,” which 35 percent of Americans listed, Group Publishing – which commissioned this survey – says the low [...]
February 2, 2010 – 10:18 am
What is the temperature in your church? Is it warm, cold, indifferent, just right? Do you need to reset the thermostat? 2 Cor. 13:12 says, “Greet one another warmly in the Lord.” Is their warmth in the greeting ministry of your church? Do people really feel welcomed and loved? Who is responsible for greeting people [...]