Ten Things to Do with First Time Guests

First time guests won’t become second time guests unless we make a good impression. Consider these suggestions working with your guests: Call them “guests” not “visitors.”  The term visitor denotes that they are just passing through and will probably not be back. Do you have a visitor’s bedroom or a…

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The Invasion of the Chris-ters!

OK…what is a Chris-ter? Well, it is those folks who attend our worship on Christmas and Easter only, hence Christmas and Easter equals…Chris-ters. When I pastored we always had an increase in worship on those two Sundays because the Chris-ters really came out and boosted our attendance. So what should…

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Patriotism or Gospel?

We’ve just finished July 4 celebrations across the country.  People in our neighborhood are still shooting fireworks.  Pastors and church leaders walk a thin line when it comes to how much time and emphasis we give to celebrating and incorporating patriotic music or symbols into worship services. Churches must maintain…

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Rainer’s Ten Warning Signs

In a recent blog Dr. Thom Rainer listed 10 warning signs for churches from his years of consulting.    If a church had four or more of these signs present, he would let the leadership know that remedial efforts were in order. If six or more signs were present, then he became…

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Five Ways to Make Disciples, Part 1

This series of blogs will examine five levels or methods of discipleship that should and can be happening in every church. I welcome your feedback and ideas. Let me know how you are making disciples in your church. The first level we will examine is the Pastor’s (Staff) Discipleship Ministry.…

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What Does a Healthy Church Look Like?

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…

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Getting Churches Un-Stuck

Do you enjoy change? Is it a threat to you personally? We live in a day when everything is changing. Bob Dylan was right, “the times they are a changin.” It does not take very long for our cell phones, computers, TV sets, etc. to all become obsolete. Do you…

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3-Minute Rule

Last night, we were hosted by the Mt. Washington First Baptist Church where the new International Mission Board chairman, Dr. Paul Chitwood, serves as pastor. Darryl Wilson of The Sunday School Revolutionary, Alan Witham, and I, led an assimilation conference as a part of our tour around Kentucky. During one of…

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Raw Worship

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 Can you remember the most moving worship service you ever attended? I can, because it was only two days ago, on Easter Sunday. My wife and I entered the Chapel Service at the Lackland Air…

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