In my last post, I pointed out that the “C” in C.L.O.S.I.N.G. the Back Door stands for Creating A Welcoming Environment. Creating a welcoming environment involves OPENING the front door of your church in order to increase the number of first-time guests. A church cannot grow without visitors. The “L” in C.L.O.S.I.N.G. the…
The “C” in C.L.O.S.I.N.G. the Back Door stands for Creating A Welcoming Environment. Two of the keys to church growth is getting more people to visit and then keeping them once they do. In order to keep them long-term, they must be assimilated through relationship-building and church involvement. As a pastor, take the necessary…
Tomorrow evening, some of my buddies and I are kicking off an eight-stop assimilation tour across the state of Kentucky. The tour spreads through March – May of this year. Joining me on the tour will be Darryl Wilson from The Sunday School Revolutionary along with our Kentucky Baptist Strategists, Glen Cummins, Mike James,…
When it comes to assimilation, relationship-building is most important, but other key factors exist. Another way to improve the rate-of-return of first-time guests is by improving the worship service. Without question, innovative churches like Willow Creek Community Church, Saddleback Community Church, Granger Community Church, Fellowship Church, and North Point Community Church have…
As a young man, Benjamin Franklin resolved to attain the habits of virtue that would lead to success by making a game out of self-improvement. He wrote thirteen key virtues in a notebook, one to a page, and checked off each instance in the day when he failed in one…
Okay, let’s finish the helpful article by Tobin Berry at Pastors.com where he discussed A to Z steps that can help a person move to a deeper spiritual life in Christ. You can see steps A – H in A to Z Guide for Spiritual Growth, Part 1 and steps I…
In this post, I will continue with the article by Tobin Berry at Pastors.com that offers A to Z steps that will move a person to a deeper spiritual life in Christ. You can see steps A – H in A to Z Guide for Spiritual Growth, Part 1. INSTITUTE…
A few weeks ago, I came across this guide for spiritual growth posted on Rick Warren’s Pastors.com by Tobin Berry. He called the piece an A to Z guide to a purpose-driven life. Berry wrote, “If you are looking to grow deeper spiritually in the coming months, try one of the…
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed.” Romans 12:2 (Phillips) Gordon MacDonald’s book, Ordering Your Private World, is was one of the most helpful books I have ever read. I highly…
Please forgive me for being a little more personal than usual tonight. Three weeks ago my son left for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. As expected, I did not hear from him at all during the last three weeks. At times, the desire to hear…
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.