Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 100

Update on Church Welcoming Ministries: What’s Missing?

Podcast Episode #600

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The welcoming ministry at your church is incredibly vital to the growth of your church. Thom and Sam celebrate the progress being made and discuss how churches can continue to strengthen this ministry.

Highlights:

Celebrating the progress!
The forgotten role of outside greeters
Bring the tents back!
Signage, signage, signage
Still needed: sanctuary/worship service greeters

Other highlights:

Church greeters are not just for the inside of the building.
Welcome tents serve as a visual point of reference for guests.
Most church members don’t think about signage because they don’t need signage.
A church without good signage is like a home that says “no trespassing”.


How do we close the gap between visitors who arrive early and members who are always late?

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

End of Year Sale
Becoming a Welcoming Church
We Want You Here
Signage Checklist


Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you’re listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Scrappy Church.

Five Reasons Why I Am Hopeful for Churches in 2020

By Thom S. Rainer

Perhaps my optimism is influenced by the Christmas season and the hope of the Christ child whose birth we celebrate in two days.

But I think it’s more than that. Much more.

Let me be clear. I know there are many struggling churches. I know there are many hurting and beaten up pastors. I don’t have my head in the sand. On the contrary, I deal with these churches and leaders almost every day.

My optimism is fueled by several indicators I have been noticing. While many of my data points are anecdotal and observational, I see them as nevertheless real and powerful. Let me put them out there and allow you the opportunity to respond. 

Church leaders and members are moving from denial to seeking help. A church can’t change unless its leaders and members admit the church needs help. Just at our organization alone, Church Answers, we are inundated with requests for help. Our starter revitalization resource, Revitalize Bundle, is being utilized by hundreds of churches. A church can’t turnaround unless it admits it needs a turnaround.




Countless church members are taking a stand against the silliness and negativity in churches. Just this past week, I have heard from seven churches where members in the churches had a “counter rebellion.” They are sick and tired of the naysayers and bullies who are discouraging and distracting other church members and, particularly, the pastor. For the most part, they are letting the negative and pernicious naysayers know they will not tolerate such behavior. 




There is a renewed interest to become outwardly focused. Many well-intending churches are inwardly focused. Few of their resources are used to evangelize the community in which the church resides. Discipleship is largely seen as efforts to provide content to the members. But more churches are actually loving and evangelizing their respective communities. More churches realize that Great Commission discipleship begins with “Therefore, go.” 




There is a renewed commitment to the community. The focus to move outwardly is complemented by an increased love of the community where the church is located. The address of your church facilities is not an accident. God put every church in a community to love and serve that community. It is an incredible movement of God to see a church fall deeply in love with those who live and work near them. 




Unity is returning to many churches. Jesus could not have been clearer in John 13:35: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (NLT).” For many years, the world has looked at Christians and church members as purveyors of negativity and fighters over minutia. I once decided I would take a week and write down all the different fights I saw among Christians and report it in one of my articles. After one day and 57 issues, I gave up. The exercise in itself was a downer. But, more and more, I see signs of hope. Church members are becoming more unified. Many are putting their preferences aside for the sake of others and the good of their churches. I pray we may soon be to that point where the early church was described in this manner: “all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, NLT). 

Reality is tough. Answers are not easy. But there is hope. God is turning the hearts of more and more church leaders and members. 

In a week, I will give you my thoughts on the trends for churches in 2020. 

Have a Christ-filled Christmas! I so appreciate all of you in this community. You are a blessing to me.

Pray for Miami Shores Baptist Church

Location: Moraine, Ohio

Pastor: Doug Surber

Weekly Worship: Sunday at 11:00 AM, Eastern

Fast Facts: Miami Shores Baptist Church started in 1961. Over the past 55 years, the church has had only two full-time pastors. The church has built three buildings and invested in a bus ministry. They had some very big attendance days of over 700 people, but the church is now declining in numbers. The average attendance at Miami Shores is less than 100 most Sundays.

In the next 2-3 years the city of Moraine has plans for over 100 new homes to be built within one mile of the church. Please pray for Miami Shores as they develop a good plan to reach these new residents with the gospel. Also pray for the church to find a part-time music minister.

Miami Shores will host their Christmas service today and a Men’s Summit in January. Please pray that God will use the church to reach their community for Christ through these two events.

Website: MiamiShoresBaptist.com

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

Four Occasions When a Pastor Should Draw a Line in the Sand

Podcast Episode #599

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Nations on the verge of war use it. A group of children on the playground may even physically draw it. Regardless of who evokes it, the metaphor of a line in the sand is strong. Thom and Sam discuss the four occasions when a pastor should draw a line in the sand.

Highlights:

When there is a threat to core and foundational biblical issues.
When the pastor’s family is being attacked.
When there is a toxic person wreaking havoc.
When the church refuses to reach beyond its walls.

Other highlights:

A definition of heresy and what it’s not. Don’t overuse or expand the definition of heresy but defend the Gospel at all costs.
Always ask the question of intent and patterns when facing criticism of family.
A line in the sand may look like moving on to another calling.
A critic is rarely a toxic person.
What to do with an intentionally inward focused church.




Sam Rainer Online
End of Year Sale


Episode Sponsors

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

Vanderbloemen has 12 Vanderbloemen Differences that allow them to serve their clients better than anyone else. One of those is Theology Matters. Vanderbloemen’s staff has more seminary and theological experience than any other search firm with 250+ collective years of church leadership experience.

To learn more about all 12 of Vanderbloemen’s Differences, visit VanderDifference.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.

When Is a Church Too Far Gone? – Revitalize and Replant Episode #124

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Today, Thom and Mark answer questions from podcast listeners specifically dealing with churches struggling to make needed changes. The real question is, “Is my church too far gone?”

From Ed:

I have been filling in for a month at a church that has dwindled to 25 active members and they are asking me to stay on as pastor. My early impression is that this church may be too far gone. We are facing some financial strain soon due to deferred maintenance on our building. It feels like I’m just here to help them die with dignity. What are some signs that I have arrived too late?

From Ken:

In my church when I say “we are trying something new,” it’s often heard as “you were doing things all wrong.” How can I better communicate the need for doing new things in the church without the potential uproar or people getting their feelings hurt?

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Cool Solutions











Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

10 Marks of a Good Staff Meeting

By Chuck Lawless

Over the years, I’ve been in a lot of staff meetings in different organizations. As I think about those meetings, here are the characteristics of meetings I thought were most productive:

1. The leader was a man whose spiritual walk I trusted. I cannot underestimate the power of this truth. When I genuinely trust the leader, I’m ready to listen. On the other hand, I dreaded going to meetings led by someone whose walk with God I questioned.

2. The people gathered were people I knew and loved. That is, the team really was a team. We knew each other’s families. We played together outside of the office. Meetings were fun because we were a team living out a vision.

3. The meetings were prayer-saturated. Prayer was not just a perfunctory beginning and ending task. We seriously prayed for each other, for the organization, for God’s vision and guidance. In some meetings, we prayed more than we discussed.

4. They started and ended on time. The amount of time varied, particularly because of our commitment to prayer – but we knew exactly how much time to set aside. The leader respected our time.

5. We had a clear agenda from the beginning. We had no question as we went to the meeting that we were going to discuss stuff that mattered. If we ever varied from the agenda, the reason for doing so was obvious and necessary.

6. Every person there was enlisted ahead of time to contribute. This aspect I especially appreciated – the leader asked each of us ahead of time to bring something to the table. We thus had time to prepare, and we knew our voice was going to be heard.

7. Discussion was real – not just reports or announcements. Too many staff meetings are quick reports from staff and a monologue from the leader. The best meetings I’ve attended have been decidedly different.

8. The leader reigned in diverting conversations. That’s because we had a plan at the start and a goal to reach.

9. The leader shepherded us more than supervised us. Here’s what I felt after leaving these best meetings: informed, challenged, excited, appreciated, and loved. My leader asked me about me, encouraged me, and made me want to be on the team. A good leader can do that even in a brief meeting.

10. My action steps were clear at the end. Before we left the room, I knew exactly what my next steps were to be. I could write them down and then get started.

What other characteristics of a good meeting would you add?

Understanding the Differences between Church Adoption, Church Fostering, and Church Revitalization

Podcast Episode #598

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What is the difference between church adoption, church fostering, and church revitalization? Thom and Sam have a helpful and interesting discussion on new trends taking place in North American congregations.

Highlights:

Church adoption: a church comes into the family.
Church fostering: a church is brought into the family for the short term.
Church revitalization: a church regains health internally.

Other highlights:

The term of adoption has been helpful and provided context for the new relationship.
Church fostering may lead to church adoption, but the goal should be to help and provide leadership for a season.
There is no loss in church fostering. It is simply called ministry.
The unintended by-product of church fostering, adoption, and revitalization is the creation of a strong leadership pipeline.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Church Answers
Revitalization Bundle
End of Year Sale


Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen has been serving churches for nine years, but did you know that Vanderbloemen also serves Christian schools, nonprofits, and Christian businesses? So if you’re listening, and you know a Christian school, nonprofit, or values-based business that is hiring, contact our friends at Vanderbloemen for your staffing needs.

For more information, visit Vanderbloemen.com.

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Scrappy Church.

Nine Good Reasons to Attend Church Weekly

By Thom S. Rainer 

I think I’ve heard most of the excuses.

“You don’t need to attend church to be a good Christian.”

“We give our family priority when we miss church to do sports on Sunday.” 

“My church really doesn’t meet my needs.”

 “I’m not getting fed at my church.”

 “Sunday is really the only day we have off.”

 “My church has a bunch of hypocrites.”

 I will deal with these and other lame excuses later. For now, I want to focus on the positive. Why is it important for us to attend church services regularly, usually weekly? Allow me to share nine reasons.

    The local church was God’s plan in the New Testament. From the founding of the first local church in Jerusalem to the growth of new congregations throughout the Roman Empire, the New Testament is clear. God wanted His people gathering regularly and faithfully. And lest we forget, all of these congregations had problems. All of these churches had problem people. Hypocrisy was real and pervasive, but it was not a valid excuse to give up the local church.




    The Bible speaks clearly about the priority of local congregations. If you read the New Testament from Acts to Revelation, you will see that a gathered church was not just one important factor for the Christian, it was one of the highest priorities. After the ascension of Jesus, the local church was truly “the body of Christ.” 




    We are commanded and designed to enjoy worshipping the one true God as a gathered community. What if church members really did one thing in worship services? What if they asked God to let them see Him and know Him fully as the church gathered together? What if that was the priority over evaluating the style of music? What if that was more important than the preacher preaching five minutes more than you deemed appropriate?




    A unified church can stand strong in a culture turning away from God. We can’t be a unified church with sporadic attendance. We can’t stand together if we aren’t persistently gathered together. Do you remember how the early church in Jerusalem reached a culture opposed to God? The outside world saw the unity and joy of the church and wanted to know more about this Jesus they worshipped. Remember, they were “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those were being saved” (Acts 2:47). A faithfully attended church is a unified church. A unified church is an evangelistic church. 




    The world looks at our priorities and evaluates what we deem as important. Expanding on the previous point, we can’t expect the community we serve to get excited about our church if the members of the community see it to be a low priority among the members. The twice-a-month attendees make the church an afterthought. The once-a-month attendee hardly thinks about the church at all.




    Accountability takes place in the local church. When we gather together worshipping with others, we are holding each other up and accountable. When we belong to a small group in the church, our absence is conspicuous. We need people holding us accountable in love. We need others looking after us. Accountability is indeed a good thing. 




    Families that attend church faithfully and regularly are happier and healthier families. The research from the secular world is overwhelming. Study after study shows that families who are in church almost every week are among those with the best-adjusted children. Marriages are healthier. Small children grow to become mature and joyous adults. Though these studies are affirming, we can see throughout the New Testament how God has a clear and compelling plan for His children and their families to gather together regularly and faithfully.




    Discipleship takes place in the local church. There seems to be this big mystery about discipleship. How do we do discipleship? Exactly what is discipleship? How does that work in the local church? Remember, discipleship is simply becoming more like Christ. We become more like Christ as we gather and worship together. We become more like Christ when we belong to a small group and do community together. We become more like Christ as we listen to the preached Word every week. We become more like Christ as we do ministry and evangelism through our local church. For sure, discipleship can take place outside the local church. But the New Testament clearly demonstrates the local congregation is God’s “Plan A” for growing as a disciple.




    God gives us great joy when we serve others through the local church. For sure, there are some grumpy and miserable church members. They seem to have a common trait. There are things in the church that aren’t going their way. They are not getting their worship style. They are not getting themselves fed. They don’t like the way the pastor does things because it’s not their way. They focus on three people: me, myself, and I. But we can experience incredible joy as we serve others, as we put others before ourselves, as we don’t focus on our own preferences and desires. We experience incredible joy as we serve other church members and those who reside in our community. 

All of these nine reasons, of course, presume we are faithful attenders. We are neither obedient nor are we able to experience the full joy of our church if we attend once or twice a month or even less. 

Faithful weekly church attendance is important. It brings us joy. It helps us to grow spiritually. It is one of the primary characteristics of a healthy family.

Above all, it is an act of obedience to God.

And that’s what really matters.

Pray for Oak Grove Baptist Church

Location: Elmo, Texas

Pastor: Brian West

Weekly Worship: Sunday at 10 AM, Central

Fast Facts: Oak Grove Baptist Church in Elmo, Texas recently flooded due to a broken supply line to a restroom. Over half of their education space, kitchen, fellowship hall, and bathrooms are being repaired from the water damage. The church gives thanks to God that their worship center was spared. The church is located in an economically disadvantaged community, so they are praying for God’s provision and care during this difficult season.

Oak Grove is near the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex, and their once rural area is quickly becoming a suburb. Please pray the church transitions well as their neighborhood culture changes. Also pray for their Carols & Candles event on Wednesday, December 18th and their Christmas program on Sunday, December 22nd. May God be glorified at Oake Grove this Christmas season!

Website: OGBCElmo.org

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

One Key Reason Many Churches Are Fighting Attendance Declines (Update)

Podcast Episode #597

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We hear more and more about attendance frequency becoming a pain point for many churches. After over a decade of having this conversation, Thom and Sam discuss the one key reason many churches are still fighting attendance declines.

Highlights:

Revisiting the Concept of Attendance Frequency
The Priority/Expectations Factor
The Weekend Worker Demographic
The Focus on Us Instead of Them
Groups, groups, groups

Other highlights:

For the church to exist it must gather.
One of three people in the U.S. workforce is unable to attend a Sunday morning service due to a work conflict.
The gig and entrepreneurial economy are having an impact on church attendance.
Personal preferences always kill priorities. 
Group involvement can have a huge impact on church frequency.




I Am a Church Member
I Will – Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian
Gen Z Webinar


Episode Sponsors

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

Vanderbloemen has 12 Vanderbloemen Differences that allow them to serve their clients better than anyone else. One of those is Theology Matters. Vanderbloemen’s staff has more seminary and theological experience than any other search firm with 250+ collective years of church leadership experience.

To learn more about all 12 of Vanderbloemen’s Differences, visit VanderDifference.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.