Everything today is moving at a rapid pace. In the West we value our time and this has created an instant, must have it now mind set. Anything we desire must be done with great speed because we have other things to accomplish. We do not like to wait, not…
How do you define spiritual maturity? Whatever way or method you define it, most of us would agree that there is a direct connection to discipleship and spiritual growth or maturity. A lack of intentional discipleship equals spiritual immaturity. Many of our churches are attempting to get some handles on…
The Bully! Pulpit, a pop culture news blog, reports that rumors that Michael Jackson accepted Christ may have been false. Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest last week at the age of 50, was rumored by some to have become a Christian just weeks before his death. Mark Moring reported…
One of the most important things a church does is to follow up on guests who visit the church or any activity sponsored by the church. It is a key to church growth. Each church must customize what works best in their particular setting. Churches today are rethinking the follow…
We spend lots of time searching for God’s perfect will and wondering if we are fulfilling our God given path for life. A disciple should always pray to be at the very center of God’s will for his or her life. Sometimes we are not where God wants us to…
Bill Easum in his book “A Second Resurrection,” (Abingdon, 2007) lists eight steps to reverse spiritual decline in churches. He says that spiritual death doesn’t have to happen in the life of a church. Even in churches that seem to not have a chance at surviving there is still hope…
On May 11, Baptist Press quoted Henry Blackaby on his thoughts about the Great Commission Resurgence. His answers are very insightful to churches on why we are not growing and reaching this culture with the Gospel. I am not going to be the color commentator on his comments, or put…
Romans 12:13 says, “Practice hospitality.” Churches need to be places that are hospitable, friendly, loving, and welcoming. They should be places where people smile and one can easily see the love of Jesus. This is Part 3 in this series on making guests feel welcome, but to be honest we…
Getting ready for company is an important element to growing churches. Growing churches expect guests each Sunday and spend much energy and time getting ready for their arrival. When the James Gang have company coming to our house I usually do the vacuuming and I must tell you, I am…
Churches spend lots of energy, money, and time enhancing the worship experience. We spend some really big bucks on sound, video projecting, lighting, banners, worship music, etc. That is a good thing, but is it enough? For that matter if a pastor spends 20 hours preparing for his message on Sunday,…
Two encounters are critical. First, the leader encounters God in His Word and is changed. Second, the leader guides the group to have a life-changing encounter.
In John 13:34-35, three times Jesus said, “Love one another.” Your group is the ideal place to practice and launch the kind of love for one another that shows the world that we are His disciples.