Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 124

Notable Voices and the Week in Review: April 20, 2019

From Around the Web:

The Spirit Is not Limited to a Certain Worship Style — Mike Harland

All churches worship uniquely and in a style that suits their context and community. There is no one way to worship. In this video, Mike Harland explains the piece of advice that he recommends worship leaders should ignore.

The 3 Hardest People to Disciple—and How to Reach Them — Facts & Trends

If you lead a Bible study group long enough, you’re going to run into some people who are hard to disciple. That doesn’t mean you write them off, of course. But it does mean you have to be savvy in how you disciple them, just like the way Andy Griffith was careful in how he dealt with the difficult people he encountered. What kinds of people might you encounter will be harder to disciple? In my experience, there are at least three kinds of people that prove challenging:

7 Suggestions for Preaching the Resurrection Story this Weekend — Chuck Lawless

Around the world, we will celebrate Resurrection Day this coming Sunday. Many people in many places will tell the resurrection story in many languages. If you’re one of those proclaimers, I humbly offer these suggestions for this weekend:

4 Reasons Pastoral Work is Different (and What You and I Should Do About It) — Jared Wilson

Now that I’m not a pastor, I have taken seriously one of my ministerial goals in serving pastors and advocating for pastors. To that end, if you’re one of those who thinks pastors whine too much and work too little, I want to share with you some reasons you may not have considered that pastoral work really is different.

This Week at ThomRainer.com:





















Six Things We Have Learned Since the Publication of Autopsy of a Deceased Church

After about a year of receiving questions and comments from readers, I saw a common theme emerging. The readers wanted to know what they could do to prevent their churches from dying. Ironically, a book about the death of churches became a book about hope for churches…READ MORE

Five Things That Masked the Death of a Church

Sometimes it is better for a church to have obvious conditions of decline and decay; members are most likely to notice…READ MORE

Seven Church Member Attitudes That Lead to the Death of Churches

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership

http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode528.mp3








Seven Symptoms of a Dying Church

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership

http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode529.mp3








Six Reasons Why Some Churches Chose Death over Revitalization

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant

http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Revitalize-and-Replant/RR-Episode089.mp3

Seven Symptoms of a Dying Church – Rainer on Leadership #529

Podcast Episode #529

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Dying churches often exhibit symptoms of dying along the way. Today we cover seven of these symptoms and how to combat them.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

When a church is in “fight mode, it is inwardly focused and likely not reaching people for Christ.
Meetings always seem to fill the time slot you give for them. Don’t give them more time than is actually needed to cover the business at hand.
There is usually to be plenty of blame being thrown around in dying churches.
Church vernacular can be off-putting to guests. It’s like hearing people speak in a foreign language.

The seven symptoms that we discuss are:

Continuous battles
Numerical declines of three or more years
Rooms as idols
Memorials and plaques
Prolonged meetings
Deflection of blame
Methodological stability

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Autopsy of a Deceased Church
Autopsy of a Deceased Church Video Study Guide
Church Answers
Seven Warnings about Memorials and Plaques in Your Church

Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network

Episode Sponsors

Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Midwestern offers more than 25 degrees at both undergraduate and masters level that are fully attainable online. From Business to Bible, Counseling to Christian education, prepare for your future at your own pace and in your own location.

Find out more at mbts.edu/online.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.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.

Six Reasons Why Some Churches Chose Death over Revitalization – Revitalize & Replant #089

SUBSCRIBE TODAY:
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Churches who die typically show common symptoms. Today, we discuss common reasons they decide to die instead of revitalize.

Episode Highlights:

So many churches are in denial that they just don’t see they are dying.
Steps for revitalization may seem obvious for some, but for many, they are not.
Hiring a young pastor is not the silver bullet for church revitalization.
The Christian life is not a call to a comfortable life.

The six reasons we discuss are:

“We didn’t know we were dying.”
“We didn’t know how to revitalize.”
“We thought we had the silver bullet for revitalization.”
“We were just uncomfortable with the change we would have to endure.”
“We are angry.”
“We are tired.”

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Autopsy of a Deceased Church
Autopsy of a Deceased Church Video Study Guide
No Silver Bullets
ChurchAnswers.com
Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com


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.

Five Things That Masked the Death of a Church

As we look at the incredible response to the book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, on its fifth anniversary, I think it’s worth noting why some members were really surprised when their church closed its doors.

“I didn’t see it coming,” commented a member of a deceased church. She knew the church had declined, but she was not prepared for the demise of her congregation. In her church, and in many others, there are at least five things that can trick members into believing their church is doing okay. Here are five things that masked the death of these congregations.

The church had money. In some cases, the church had a lot of money in the bank. Accumulated dollars do not equate to congregational health. In fact, it often points to sickness, even sickness to the point of death. A vibrant bank account is not the same as a vibrant church.

Members still had their friends in the church. This issue masked the death of the church quite often. As long as the members had their holy huddle around them, they were oblivious to the deteriorating conditions around them. The stench of dying and death was masked by the perfume and cologne of friends.

Guests still came to the church. We interviewed one member of a deceased church who was shocked the church had to close because guests came almost every week. If she had looked carefully, though, she would have noted those guests never came back.

Mission giving was still good. Many churches have specific mission funds and missionaries they support with zeal. That’s good. But if the church is reaching no one in the community, that’s bad. You can’t conveniently excise “Jerusalem” from Acts 1:8.

Meetings were well attended. Sadly, most of these meetings served little purpose. They were fixtures from “the way we’ve always done it.” The same people came to the same meetings and accomplished the same thing: nothing.

Sometimes it is better for a church to have obvious conditions of decline and decay; members are most likely to notice. But, in some of these now deceased churches, the depth of decline would never have been noticed. These and perhaps other factors masked the impending death well.

On a positive note, thank you for your great response to Autopsy of a Deceased Church the past five years. Because of you, it is the all-time bestseller in church leadership. We are celebrating by providing our first-ever video study course to accompany the book. Perhaps it’s time to take your leaders and members through this study.

It is my prayer the book will be used to prevent yet the death of another church.

One autopsy is one too many.

Seven Church Member Attitudes That Lead to the Death of Churches – Rainer on Leadership #528

Podcast Episode #528

SUBSCRIBE:
iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio • Spotify

Autopsy of a Deceased Church highlighted 12 reasons churches die. This week, we are looking back at what we’ve learned in the five years since it was published and highlighting a new related video resource.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Corporate worship should be a priority and not just one activity option among many for church members on the weekend.
A self-centered attitude among church members is a main factor in church deaths.
Stay true to the Word no matter the cost.
An outward focus transforms the attitudes and culture of a church.

The seven attitudes we discuss are:

The optional church attitude
The self-centered attitude
The diluted doctrine attitude
The routine-as-idol attitude
The consumer critique attitude
The consumer embracing attitude
The death-rather-than-give attitude

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Autopsy of a Deceased Church Video Study Guide

Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Be sure to check out Midwestern’s Doctorate of Ministry Degree. The D.Min. is an advanced degree preparing students for leadership in local churches and denominational service. It is also fully attainable in hybrid format which means you don’t have to move to pursue the degree.

Find out more at mbts.edu/dmin.

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.

Six Things We Have Learned Since the Publication of Autopsy of a Deceased Church

I was stunned.

When I wrote Autopsy of a Deceased Church five years ago, the response took me by surprise. While all authors expect or hope their books will be bestsellers, I frankly didn’t see it coming. Hundreds of thousands of book sales later, Autopsy became the all-time bestseller in the genre of church leadership.

Why? Why did church leaders, both vocational and laity, respond to the book with this level of interest? The concept was simple. We interviewed church members of churches that had closed their doors or died. We performed an autopsy of deceased churches. We found out why these churches died.

After about a year of receiving questions and comments from readers, I saw a common theme emerging. The readers wanted to know what they could do to prevent their churches from dying. Ironically, a book about the death of churches became a book about hope for churches.

While the sales of the book remain strong to this day, I think it’s worth noting what we have learned in the five years since I wrote the book. On this fifth anniversary celebration of Autopsy of a Deceased Church. Here are six things we’ve learned.

Most members of dying churches didn’t see it coming. Many of the members were still dealing with the shock of the death of their churches when we interviewed them.

Many of the members and leaders of these churches would have begun revitalization efforts if they knew how. I am so grateful for the revitalization revolution taking place today. Churches have resources and knowledge they didn’t have five years ago.

“Minor” issues kill churches. Most of these churches did not die because of some major heresy. They did not die because of a mass exodus of the population surrounding them. They died because they lost their focus. They died because they fought over things that really did not matter. They majored on minors to the point of death.

The silent majority killed churches. Some members saw the problems. They knew the power brokers in the church. They knew the personnel committee ran off a pastor without cause. They heard the constant chorus of not-so-well-intending critics attacking church leadership. But they said nothing and did nothing. Their silence was a dagger in the back of these churches.

Some members waited for the silver bullet. Many of them said they kept waiting on that young pastor who would attract new young families. Some of the churches got those young pastors, and they ran them off when change began to take place. Most of the churches, though, never got the young pastor. They waited until death.

A church does not have to die. Death is not inevitable. But most of the members of these churches would rather see the church die than change. They got their wish.

Thanks to all of you who purchased a copy of Autopsy. I am honored and humbled by the response. Now, for the first time ever, we have a video resource for the study of this book. Perhaps it’s time take a group through this book and see what God will do to move your church in the right direction.

I pray your church will not be the next autopsy performed.

Pray for Martha Road Baptist Church

Location: Altus, Oklahoma

Pastor: Kevin Baker

Weekly Worship: 8:30 & 11:00 AM, Central

Fast Facts: Martha Road Baptist Church has a fascinating history. T.F Medlin traveled from Shreveport, LA in the 1880’s to begin an evangelistic ministry among the men and women who had settled along the route of the great cattle drives. It was among these people that a small country church was started. In 1889 with Rev T.F. Medlin as the founder and pastor, a small group of believers formed a church, which they called Fairview Baptist Church. Their meeting place was the local schoolhouse. There were twenty-four charter members and Judge Hullin was the first Sunday School Director.

In the early 1900’s the small community was officially named after Rev. Medlin’s daughter, Martha. The church’s name was then changed to the First Baptist Church of Martha. In 1905, the congregation built a frame building in which to meet. This building was located on School Street in Martha. In 1925, with great sacrifice, the congregation came together to finance the building of a brick sanctuary on Main Street in Martha.

In 1986, the church body voted to start a fund for the construction of a new building. On the urging and vision of a church Deacon named Bennie Cooper a change of building site was agreed upon and the name of the church was changed to Martha Road Baptist Church. A day of dedication and celebration marked by praise and the first official worship service in the new building was held on Sunday, October 29, 2000.

In 2009 the church began a second worship service to accommodate the growing number of people worshiping at Martha Road. On September 10, 2010 construction on the Family Life Center building started and was completed and opened on April 2014.

Please pray for Martha Road Baptist Church and their ongoing commitment to prayer and discipleship as well as for their upcoming outreach efforts through Pray & Go as well as their mission trip to Latvia later this year.

Website: MarthaRoadBaptist.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..

Notable Voices and the Week in Review: April 13, 2019

From Around the Web:

Be the Church that Embraces Children, Not Just Tolerates Them — Sam Rainer

There are two kinds of churches. Those that embrace children, and those that tolerate children. Most churches are not rude towards kids, and I’ve never seen a church sign stating “No Kids Allowed.” However, the families visiting your church will know whether you embrace their kids or not. The churches who welcome children have a higher likelihood of families returning—not just once but often!

8 Critical Signposts of a Healthy Church — Facts & Trends

Throughout the last decade, LifeWay Research has engaged in the largest research study of its kind around the subject of discipleship. This included a qualitative survey of experts in the field of discipleship including pastors, professors, and church leaders from a variety of backgrounds to the major areas of life where spiritual maturity takes place. All this research identified eight domains of the Christian life that lead to spiritual health in a believer. These attributes of discipleship serve as signposts on the pathway of discipleship. In other words, these are the characteristics that ought to be present, in increasing measure, in the life of someone who is growing toward Christlikeness.

Mentoring That Usually Won’t Work with Christian Millennials — Chuck Lawless

I believe in mentoring, and I’ve written about the topic in a book conveniently titled, Mentor. Most of my mentoring relates to millennials, so I’ve learned some of what works and doesn’t work with this generation. At least based on my experience, here’s what doesn’t work:

Commitments of a Great Commission Church — H.B. Charles, Jr.

The Great Commission is the mission of the church. Christ commands us to make disciples by proclaiming the gospel and calling the lost to trust the crucified and risen Savior for salvation. We also are to mark disciples of Christ through water baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then, we mature disciples in the faith in Christ by teaching them to obey all the Lord commands of us. This commission to make disciples of all nations is the life, work, and aim of the church. Faithful Christians make disciples. Faithful pastors make disciples. Faithful churches make disciples.

This Week at ThomRainer.com:





















The Nine Most Common Low Attendance Days in Churches

Here are the nine most common low attendance days in order of frequency of response. They are still good reminders we are all dealing with the challenges of commitment…READ MORE

5 Characteristics of Successful Change Leaders

They assume that change is taking place at an increasing pace
They put the organization they lead above themselves
They are willing to look in the mirror
They don’t think they have all the answers
They are courageous
















Six Risks I Took As a Pastor (Including Some That Failed Miserably)

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership

http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode526.mp3








Why Giving Goes Down When Attendance Goes Up

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership

http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode527.mp3








Some Common and Not-So-Common Facility Prohibitions in Replants & Revitalizing Churches

by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant

http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Revitalize-and-Replant/RR-Episode088.mp3

Why Giving Goes Down When Attendance Goes Up – Rainer on Leadership #527

Podcast Episode #527

SUBSCRIBE:
iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio • Spotify

It sounds paradoxical, but some churches will see overall growth in attendance while their giving decreases. How is this possible? Today we explain.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Giving typically mimics the flow of church attendance, but you shouldn’t be alarmed in the short term if the two are asynchronous.
It takes time for new Christians to understand and practice the spiritual disciplines of giving and biblical stewardship.
Job relocations or deaths of members who are strong givers are something a church cannot control but often has to deal with.
The offertory time gives you a weekly opportunity to highlight stewardship principles in the church.

The seven reasons for giving dips that we discuss are:

Happens in about 25% of churches with attendance increases
The “up and down” period lasts 1 – 2 years
New Christians
Younger families
Exit of stable givers
Stewardship emphasis declines
Decline in percentage of attendance in groups

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Church Answers
Generis
The Money Challenge
Not Your Parent’s Offering Plate

Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network

Episode Sponsors

Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Midwestern offers more than 25 degrees at both undergraduate and masters level that are fully attainable online. From Business to Bible, Counseling to Christian education, prepare for your future at your own pace and in your own location.

Find out more at mbts.edu/online.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.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.

Some Common and Not-So-Common Facility Prohibitions in Replants & Revitalizing Churches – Revitalize & Replant #088

SUBSCRIBE TODAY:
iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • Spotify

Churches often have some strange prohibitions for what’s allowed in the facility. Some make more sense that others. Today, we discuss 11 of them.

Episode Highlights:

“The prohibition of food and drink in a church service is past its prime in today’s culture.”
It’s extremely helpful to have signs in your children’s ministry telling parents the snack for the day.
Pews are waning and chairs are becoming the seating of choice in churches.
Don’t put prohibitions on your church facility that make it more difficult to reach people for Christ.

The 11 prohibitions we discuss are:

Alcohol
Drinks and food
Yoga
Other churches using the worship center
Peanuts
Smoking
Animals
Hunting civil war relics with a metal detector
Dancing
Folding chairs
Allowing sex offenders on the campus

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

ChurchAnswers.com
ChurchReplanters.com
Replanter Assessment
Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com


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.