In my doctoral research, I discovered that dropouts tend to have two or fewer “friends they can call on in time of need” in their Sunday School class. Those who had six or more friends tended to be the most frequent attenders. Relationships (plural) matter! In your disciple-making strategy, don’t…
As you put together your personal or church plan to make disciples, allow me to offer some questions for you to consider: Group size. What size(s) will you include? Content delivery is possible in large groups, but disciple-making is nearly always accomplished in smallest groups: one-on-one, one-on-two, one-on three, etc.…
Who is involved in your disciple-making? There are three important “Who’s” of disciple-making. Let’s look at each of them: WHO: Jesus. When we follow Jesus, He promises to make us fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). We are all apostles (sent ones) who are sent to make disciples of all nations…
I am attending the Discipleship Track at Exponential in Orlando, Florida. The Forum panel includes some major names in discipleship: Robby Gallaty, Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, Alex Absolom, Ariyana Rimson, and Bill Hull. Their focus has been walking through discipleship arenas/spaces (from Discipleship That Fits): public, social, personal, transparent, and divine.…
Most churches have new members join. It is the life and future of a congregation. No new members equals no new growth. Healthy churches not only reach new people but they keep and involve them. Most people that join a church do so with excitement and anticipation. A new member…
I recently met with a church that was having consistent baptisms but not experiencing net growth. They asked me to help them plan some strategies that would keep those they reached. About the same time I read Tom Rainer’s blog on “closing the back door.” How does a church keep…
Have you noticed how many things have gone retro… clothes, cars, furniture, appliances. Vinyl records are making a comeback. I wish I had kept my leisure suits because I am sure they will return soon! Maybe even my bell bottom pants I wore in college. Some are nostalgic and want…
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…
Religion News Service reports that a new Gallup Poll found that Americans’ self-reported church attendance has increased slightly since 2008. When asked “How often do you attend church, synagogue, or mosque?” 43.1 percent of Americans in 2010 said they attended church “at least once a week” or “almost every week.”…
Last week we shared a blog entitled “What does a Healthy Church Look Like.” There are foundational steps that leaders must take in order to create healthy church environments that promote growth. The growth of your church depends on members who are biblical healthy in their relationship with the Lord.…
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.