Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 155
June 19, 2018
Eight Ways the Digital World Has Changed Local Church Ministry – Rainer on Leadership #442
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Churches continue to be shaped by the changing digital world. Today, we discuss eight specific ways churches have been changed by technology and digital resources.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Online community is now just as important to people as their local community.
We have a broadened definition of community because of online networks.
Tweets can be taken down, but some can never be forgotten.
If you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, don’t say it online.
The digital world does away with geographical and denominational learning barriers.
The eight ways the digital world has affected churches are:
It has redefined the locale of community.
Positively: It has given us greater information for prayer and ministry.
Negatively: It has increased the snarky factor.
It has made the website the front door.
It has broken down both geographical and denominational barriers.
It has changed daily office practices.
It has raised the issue of the Internet church.
It has both enhanced productivity and procrastination.
Episode Sponsors
Applications are now open for Vanderbloemen’s fall pastor coaching network at their Houston headquarters in September and November. There are two networks – one for Lead Pastors and one for Executive Pastors. Each group is limited to 16 people. It’s a roundtable, close-knit network where you will grow as a leader so that you can grow your team and ultimately grow your church.
If you’re interested in joining, visit vanderbloemen.com/coaching for more information.
The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?
Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.
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.
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
Opening the Front Door: Worship and Church Growth
June 18, 2018
Contemporary Trends in Church Names
Remember when denominational names were en vogue? Remember when you could figure out which denominational church came to the city first: First Methodist; First Baptist; First Presbyterian? Remember when you could tell two churches that split: Harmony Baptist Church and Greater Harmony Baptist Church?
Those days are gone. But what has not changed is that many churches have commonalities in names. In their attempts to be different, they have become common. I went to social media and to Church Answers to learn from my community about church names. Their responses were both fascinating and funny.
“Point” has become ubiquitous. LifePoint. CrossPoint. Add an “e” to be fancy: GracePointe; LifePointe; CrossPointe.
“Life” has a new life: Life Church; Real Life; New Life; LifePoint or LifePointe (see above).
Tim Keller put Redeemer back into vogue. Both Redeemer and Redemption get a lot of love.
City Church, usually with another name in front of it. These churches can be found in the city, suburbs, and the country.
Christ Church. It’s simple and popular.
Five biggies the past ten years: Journey, Bridge, Foundry, Mosaic, and Generation.
Cross has made a surge. Cross Church. Cross Fellowship. Cross Roads. CrossPoint or CrossPointe (see above).
Simple Church. Sorry, that was a book (available at LifeWay.com).
Meaningful names. Impact. Potential. Epic. Transformation. Renovation. Innovate.
Fellowship can be found in almost any town. It usually has other words, but sometimes it’s just Fellowship Church.
Grace. Especially in the Reformed churches.
Many churches like the new factor: New Life. New Hope. New Song. Now (I made up the one). NewPoint. NewPointe (see above).
Moving on up. Elevate. Vertical. Summit.
Not English. Pick a Greek or Latin name you remember from seminary. Eklessia. Ecclessia. Koinonia. Agape. Many others.
What are some contemporary church names you could add? Got any funny examples? Let me hear from you.
June 17, 2018
Pray for Fall Creek Baptist
Location: Norene, Tennessee
Pastor: None
Weekly Worship: 10:30 AM, Central
Fast Facts: Fall Creek Baptist was founded 196 years ago and has served its rural community for many generations of families. This past week, they had a team of youth and adults travel to Memphis to do missions through Street Reach. Next month, they are hosting VBS for the kids in the church and community. Fall Creek has have been without a pastor for nearly two years. Please be in prayer that God would send them one. Also pray for the upcoming VBS and other ministries this summer.
Website: Facebook.com/FCBCNorene
“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..
June 16, 2018
Notable Voices and the Week in Review: June 16, 2018
Should Pastors Opt Out of Social Security? — Art Rainer
Growing up, we have some very financially tough times. And that’s unfortunately not uncommon. Finances are often tight for those in the ministry. You get into ministry, not because of money, but because of mission.
3 Needs of Older Pastors — Facts & Trends
Even old pastors sometimes need some pastoral care. I’ve been in vocational ministry for three decades, including the last 22 years at GuideStone. During that time, I’ve walked alongside thousands of aged pastors and their spouses. Many have become close friends. All are close to my heart. While every old preacher has a unique story, there are some common needs they all face as they journey through their latter years. Here are my top three.
5 Warning Signs of Moral Failure — Eric Geiger
Moral failure. My stomach churns when I hear the phrase. There have been so many moral failures, some in the lives of friends and authors my team works alongside. The phrase reminds me of the devastation left in the wake, the devastation that impacts families and ministries. I have learned there are common warning signs in the lives of those who fall. Sometimes these warning signs are more apparent after the fall and people gather around tables and say to one another, “Looking back, we see what was going on.” Sure, it is possible for one to hide these warning signs, but because sin makes us incredibly stupid, those caught up in the cycle of sin often don’t see the signals their foolishness is sending. Here are five warning signs of moral failure.
3 Reasons to Stay in a Church That’s Not Cool Enough — Michael Kelley
Now let’s be clear – I’m not talking about legitimate reasons to leave a church. Those are real. There are doctrinal issues that are worthy of dividing fellowship over. I’m not talking an issue of the integrity of the gospel; I’m talking about the nonsensical issues of preference that make us church shop whenever we feel a little restless. In this post, I’d like to argue for three reasons to do the very countercultural thing of actually staying in the church that’s simply not cool enough:
This Week at ThomRainer.com:
Future Church: Five Developments on the Horizon
Yes, the times they are a-changing. And these five developments are among the most dramatic changes we see on the horizon…READ MORE
Why Church Leaders Should Know What’s Being Taught in Small Groups
Alignment with leadership is vital.
Alignment with the church’s vision is critical.
Most groups follow a clear calendar.
Deviant doctrine can develop.
Some groups and leaders have a separate agenda.
The Unchurched Next Door
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode440.mp3
What to Do If You Are Exhausted from Doing Ministry
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode441.mp3
Is Our Denomination Dying?
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant
http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/RevitalizeReplant/RR-Episode045.mp3
June 15, 2018
What to Do If You Are Exhausted from Doing Ministry – Rainer on Leadership #441
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio
Ministry never stops. Because of this, it can be quite exhausting. Today, we discuss how to combat this exhaustion.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Try to do more things that energize you in ministry and fewer things that drain you.
Too many pastors are people pleasers and spend too much time dealing with the squeaky wheels in ministry.
Pastors and church staff should try to spend 20% of their time training others to do ministry.
When you’re on vacation, visit other churches to get ideas and encouragement.
The eight potential solutions we discuss today are:
Take a break.
Make certain you are spending time on those things for which you are passionate.
Make certain you are not spending too much time on those things that drain you.
Be cautious about the “energy vampires.”
Allocate 20% of your time to equipping the saints.
Visit other churches.
Spend more time in prayer and the Word.
Ask your spouse to give you guidance.
Episode Sponsors
The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?
Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.
Applications are now open for Vanderbloemen’s fall pastor coaching network at their Houston headquarters in September and November. There are two networks – one for Lead Pastors and one for Executive Pastors. Each group is limited to 16 people. It’s a roundtable, close-knit network where you will grow as a leader so that you can grow your team and ultimately grow your church.
If you’re interested in joining, visit vanderbloemen.com/coaching for more information.
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.
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
Becoming a Welcoming Church
June 13, 2018
Is Our Denomination Dying? – Revitalize & Replant #045
Recorded at the LifeWay breakfast during this week’s SBC Annual Meeting, this special episode of Revitalize & Replant examines the Southern Baptist Convention and its future, what it needs to change, and how the emphasis for health rests on the local church.
Episode Highlights:
In too many churches, we’ve become disunified and distracted because we’ve lost our focus on the Great Commission.
A denominational problem is ultimately a collection of local church problems.
15 years ago, growth in our churches was easier. Today, the decline of cultural Christianity has made it much more difficult.
Church outreach needs to be effective and ongoing.
The six issues relevant to the health of the SBC that we discuss are:
A perspective from 14 years ago
The disunified and distracted church
The disunified and distracted denomination
The local church issue: the slow death of evangelism and outward focus
The challenges of ministry training and theological education
A future unknown
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
ChurchReplanters.com
ChurchAnswers.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.
Why Church Leaders Should Know What’s Being Taught in Small Groups
Alignment with leadership is vital.
Alignment with the church’s vision is critical.
Most groups follow a clear calendar.
Deviant doctrine can develop.
Some groups and leaders have a separate agenda.
Some highlights from today’s Rainer Report:
Too many pastors don’t have a clue what is being taught in small groups.
If what is being taught in small groups contradicts what’s being taught from the pulpit, it will cause conflict in the church.
When a pastor doesn’t know what’s being taught in groups, deviant doctrine can develop in the church.
Groups can be a powerful alignment force in the church.
June 11, 2018
The Unchurched Next Door – Rainer on Leadership #440
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio
When it was published 15 years ago, The Unchurched Next Door provided insight into reaching those far from Christ with the gospel. Today, we review the book and the research that made it possible.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Gospel receptivity by the unchurched has decreased in the past 15 years.
Even for non-Christians, Sunday is still seen as the traditional day for corporate worship.
Midweek services geared toward the unchurched are often onramps to assimilating new members into the weekly rhythms of a church.
Church is often a fearful place for the unchurched who’ve never been.
Episode Sponsors
Applications are now open for Vanderbloemen’s fall pastor coaching network at their Houston headquarters in September and November. There are two networks – one for Lead Pastors and one for Executive Pastors. Each group is limited to 16 people. It’s a roundtable, close-knit network where you will grow as a leader so that you can grow your team and ultimately grow your church.
If you’re interested in joining, visit vanderbloemen.com/coaching for more information.
The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?
Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.
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.
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
The Unchurched Next Door
Surprising Insights from the Unchurched – Rainer on Leadership #437
Future Church: Five Developments on the Horizon
I have a pretty good track record of seeing the future of churches in America. I hope I am not making such a statement out of arrogance or delusion.
The reality is I am able to see some of the future developments because I hear from so many churches in the present. According to our estimates, we hear from about 250,000 different congregations each year. That’s about two out of three Protestant congregations in America.
So, I’m really not that smart. I just have the blessing of hearing from incredible church leaders and members every single day. In that light, I see five major developments on the horizon.
Shifts in the multisite model. The multisite congregation is the single most profound change in American congregations in the past century. That’s a profound statement, but I really see it. Though I don’t have the objective data yet, I anecdotally see that a multisite church is more likely to be healthy than a single-site church. I will expand on that issue in my post a week from today. For now, watch the multisite church on a number of fronts. For example, I really see the multisite church becoming the catalyst for the recovery and revitalization of neighborhood churches.
More churches seeking to be acquired or merged into a multisite system. A corollary of the first development is the proactive posture of churches seeking to be acquired. More church leaders see the health of multisite models. They thus desire to be a part of a healthy system rather than remain a struggling single-site church.
Return to some level of programmatic behavior. It was not that long ago that many church leaders were touting their abandonment of the programmatic model. “We are not a program-drive church,” many declared. I get it. Programs had become ends instead of means. Many churches were waiting on denominations and resource providers to tell them what to do. It was unhealthy indeed. But we have thrown out the baby with the bath water. When we have a healthy view of programs, they can save us much time and energy. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel (I know. Too many metaphors). More churches are asking for programs and templates, so the leaders can spend their time being more productive.
Rise of networks. Denominations will not die off completely, but they will be augmented by more and more networks, both informally and formally. Those networks are more likely to have a common ministry focus rather than a common geography. Wise denominational leaders will see these networks as potential partners rather than competitors.
The attendance frequency issue becoming a greater focus. Declining attendance frequency of “active” members accounts for more church decline than any one issue. This reality is getting the attention of more church leaders. It will become a greater topic of conversation and action in the near future.
Yes, the times they are a-changing. And these five developments are among the most dramatic changes we see on the horizon.
I will be sharing more about the future outlook for congregations at a new site, x.church, in early 2019. In the meantime, let me hear from you.
June 10, 2018
Pray for Evergreen Baptist Church
Location: Delway, North Carolina
Pastor: Ray Eaton
Weekly Worship: 11:00 AM, Eastern
Fast Facts: Evergreen Baptist Church is celebrating its 100 year anniversary this year. Like many churches, it is in need of revitalization, and Pastor Eaton has taken on this challenge by proclaiming the Word and challenging the members to go and be the church. Evergreen operates a semiannual community food pantry, and supports another ministry next to the church called Open Door Ministries—a Christ-centered drug and addiction facility for men). Please pray for these ministries as well as their Back2School Jesus is Cool VBS coming up in August 18-19. The church is supporting local kids and serving local schools by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through this Vacation Bible School.
Website: Facebook.com/EvergreenBaptist
“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..
