Small groups
Lyle Schaller wrote many years ago, "New people need new groups." Schaller said that existing groups don't assimilate new members well, and churches should start new groups for new people. About a year ago Debbie and I started a Sunday morning class for younger adults, which
1 Corinthians
Here's the sermon I'm preaching tomorrow from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. I hope your Sunday is great! Running To Win 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a
economics
Two stories encouraged me this week -- the school employees who took one day's pay cut to save the jobs of 7 colleagues; and, a politician's wife who offered a house rent-free to a homeless woman and her family. In this increasingly difficult economy maybe we
Culture
I keep getting emails announcing that I've been selected for a PhD. I wish they would send it to me because I'm actually having to study to complete my DMin at Fuller, not to mention pay the tuition. Plus, the program at Fuller can take seven
Congregation
This is my 500th post here at Confessions of a Small-Church Pastor! Amazing, isn't it? I had no idea in December, 2006, that this blog would still be going strong over two years later. But here we are and you're the reason for it. Your words
Leadership
If you could ask Andy Stanley any question about small churches, what would it be? Outreach magazine wants to give small church pastors the opportunity to ask Andy Stanley a question about small church outreach. Selected questions will be featured in Outreach magazine's annual Small Church Issue later
Congregation
Newspapers must either change or die in this new media age, and churches could learn something from them. My friend, Jim Stovall, teaches journalism at the University of Tennessee, and sees the death of newspapers as a positive development for journalism. Does that sound strange? Jim sees it this way:
Culture
The Law of Mobility, generally credited to Russ McGuire and also known as McGuire’s Law, states – The value of any product or service increases with its mobility. – The Power of Mobility, Russell McGuire, p 42. In his book, McGuire cites several examples of companies that increased the value of
Culture
Youth culture sees the Michael Phelps pot-smoking incident much differently than the adult world does. Three Billion, a blog about youth culture, says, You've got to feel sorry for Michael Phelps. A lifetime of training, early mornings, injuries, pain, performing on a global stage to billions of people
Congregation
Looking at the Pastoral Ministry section of almost any Christian bookstore, you might get the idea that congregations want great preaching, inspiring vision, and larger-than-life leadership from their pastor. While those extraordinary gifts are possessed by some pastors, most church members want four very simple things from their pastor: 1.
Resources
In my quest to rival Rupert Murdoch in the world of media, I have amassed a plethora of sites where my stuff and other people's stuff can be seen: * NewChurchReport.com: More improvements make this church news, views, and ideas site a must-check daily. I edit the News
Resources
Here's the video promo I did for the fine folks at Outreach for the National Outreach Convention -- NOC09 -- in San Diego, November 4-6, 2009. I hope you'll join me and thousands of other church leaders in San Diego. NOC is always a great event