Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 195
May 20, 2017
Notable Voices and the Week in Review: May 20, 2017
Five Imminent Dangers in Churches
The 10 Most Common Things a Church Consultant Will Tell Your Church – Rainer on Leadership #328
Eight Signs Your Church May Be Closing Soon
Eight Essential Items for Your Church’s FAQ Page
Dealing with Public Distractions to Worship, featuring Mike Harland – Rainer on Leadership #329
One of the Best Things a Pastor Can Give Aspiring Church Planters — Daniel Hyun
I love church planters. Most people who plant churches do so because of a driving vision that planting is the most effective way to reach the unchurched. Their passion is to be admired. The reality, though, is that church planting is hard; planters struggle. Many challenges are par for the course and should be expected. In my observation and experience, however, I believe there are some kinds of difficulties that could be lessened with the right preparation.
Why We Struggle to Make Giving a Priority — Art Rainer
Give generously. Save wisely. Live appropriately. This is the sequence that leads to financial health. It is also the sequence that aligns most closely with what we find in the Bible. Unfortunately, most manage their finances in reverse—Live, save, give. Giving is for the leftovers. The idea of making generosity the priority of our finances is a struggle for many. Here are a few reasons why:
7 Ways Video Can Save Your Pastor Time — Matthew Fridg
Your pastor is always juggling his time. Pastoring is a thankless job with hundreds of people vying for his precious little time. It is challenging to have so many people in need; setting priorities and boundaries can be difficult. He wants to make everyone happy but he still needs to prepare for Sunday and lead the church. There have been mountains of articles and books written on how to be a great leader. Many focus on how to lead well and utilize time wisely. Even the Bible tells us about “making the most of your time.” (Ephesians 5:16 NASB) Here are a few ways you can help him save time by using video to offload tasks from him and free him to do what he does best: shepherd, lead, and pastor.
5 Warning Signs That Laziness Is Creeping into Your Leadership — Eric Geiger
The people of God have always understood laziness to be a sin because laziness fails to appreciate the gift and blessing of work and fails to make the most of the time we have been graciously given. We are commanded to be wise and to make the most of the time (Ephesians 5:15-16). Squandering time and living and leading lazily are foolish. Like all sin, laziness can slowly creep into our lives and leadership. If we fail to address the temptation to move toward laziness, we become unfaithful in our leadership. Here are five warning signs.
5 Principles for Disciplining Your Children — Melissa Kruger
Before having children, I worked for years as a camp counselor and as a teacher in a large public high school. Both arenas taught me the importance of discipline in a child’s development. Without structure and rules, summer camp would quickly devolve into some version of Lord of the Flies. Without order in the classroom, my students would never have the opportunity to learn. Through my years of working with kids, five guiding principles helped me as a counselor, teacher, and especially as a mom. While not all methods work for all children, I’ve found these principles work for a variety of children, regardless of their age, sex, or disposition.
Pastors, Spend Time with Non-Pastors — Garrett Kell
Most pastors have a good desire to train up future pastors. We realize that one day, our ministry will end and we ought to prepare the next generation to take the gospel to the land we cannot go. This focus, however, can lead us to overemphasize pastoral training at the cost of training “normal guys.” What follows are a few reminders as to why we must use some of our best time, energy, and resources to train up plumbers, lawyers, teachers, and bankers. I will focus this discussion on the discipling of men in particular. The need to care for sisters in the Lord is critical and is related to most of the points I make, but won’t be the aim of this article.
May 19, 2017
Dealing with Public Distractions to Worship, featuring Mike Harland – Rainer on Leadership #329
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Distractions are a real part of worship services. Mike Harland joins us today to talk about how to eliminate—or at least minimize—distractions in your worship service.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Music leaders should see themselves as the enemies of distraction in worship services.
Churches that aren’t extremely careful with their slides can be disruptive to their worship service.
Presentation software can be a positive or a negative when you’re using it in worship services.
Powerpoint typos are avoidable but churches still make those mistakes.
With the tools churches have access to, worship teams should never be unprepared.
“Sunday morning is not rehearsal time for the worship team. Sunday morning soundcheck time.”
You’ll never get complex right if you can’t get simple right.
The five distractions in worship we cover are:
The curse of power point…
“We’re singing that?”
Bubba’s on the soundboard, Homer’s on the lights…
Hi-tech or No-tech
Quality over aesthetics
Episode Sponsors
The Timothy Track, from Midwestern Seminary, offers select residential M.Div. students placement in internship positions in a local church in the area. Now you can complement your studies with in-the-field ministry experience. In addition, all Timothy Track students will receive up to 12 credit hours for the internship and a 50% tuition scholarship for the first year.
Find out more at mbts.edu/TimothyTrack.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds 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.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting 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 Who Moved My Pulpit?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
LifeWay Worship
Worship Life Podcast
Worship Life Conference
May 18, 2017
Eight Essential Items for Your Church’s FAQ Page
By Jonathan Howe
A good church website answers questions for guests and members alike. While not every question and appropriate answer can be foreseen, an Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on your church’s website can be immensely helpful.
However, churches often don’t think through what answers or questions they place on the FAQ page—if they even have one. I would encourage your church to have an FAQ page on your site and to include the answers to these eight questions:
Where is guest parking? A map of specific directions are appropriate here. Make it as simple as possible for guests to understand where they should park. If you have a designated parking area for parents of small children, mention that. If you have special areas for senior adults or expectant mothers, mention those as well.
What is there for my kids? Parents want to know their kids will be safe and taught well. Share the type of curriculum you use as well as the format or structure of the classes. For preschoolers, let them know what the typical childcare setup is like and what snacks are likely to be served in case there is an allergy. Highlight your child check-in system. If your church integrates the family into worship, mention that. Remember to use terminology that is not insider language. Your kids’ worship service could be called KidzPraise or FirstKids. New parents won’t understand what those names mean unless you explain them.
How do I join the church? This should be a simple answer. Simply lay out your membership requirements. You’d be surprised at how many churches fail to mention their membership process on their websites. If you have regular membership classes, provide a link to the schedule or to a specific page that goes deeper into membership details.
How do I join a group? This is a great opportunity to explain what you call your groups (Bible study, Sunday school, life groups, home groups, etc.) as well as where people can find information about existing groups or new groups being started. You may even suggest those who are interested contact your discipleship pastor or leader to find out more information about specific groups.
Why do you ______? It’s likely that your church has an idiosyncrasy or two. You might partake in communion weekly or in a certain way. You may have special, quarterly baptism services. You may have a special time of prayer each week in the service. If your church has something that’s unique to it, explain it on your website.
How do I get involved in the ______ ministry? Churches need onramps for ministry to draw in volunteers. Make it easy for someone to understand the process of going from spectating to participating. Outline the process or requirements needed to serve in your church.
What denomination is ______ church affiliated with? If your church is affiliated with a certain group or denomination, it’s best to let people know. I know some pastors may think it will hurt the church, but honesty and integrity should always win the day. Churches should be clear about their beliefs and their doctrinal affiliations.
How do I contact the church for _______? This may be for weddings, benevolence, facility usage, or something else. If you get routine questions at the church about a specific item, include it in your FAQ. In fact, if you’re putting together an FAQ or revising your current one, talk to whomever answers the phone at your church. Your receptionist or administrative assistants will likely know what questions are most often asked because they are the ones who answer them most often.
Does your church have an FAQ on its website? What would you add to this list?
Jonathan Howe serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at LifeWay Christian Resources as well as the host and producer of Rainer on Leadership and SBC This Week. Jonathan writes weekly at ThomRainer.com on topics ranging from social media to websites and church communications. Connect with Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Howe.
May 17, 2017
Eight Signs Your Church May Be Closing Soon
We call it the death spiral.
I know. It’s not a pleasant term. I can understand if it causes you to cringe.
By the time I am contacted about a serious problem in a church, it is often too late. The problems are deeply rooted, but the remaining members have been blind to them, or they chose to ignore them.
There are eight clear signs evident in many churches on the precipice of closing. If a church has four or more of these signs present, it is likely in deep trouble. Indeed, it could be closing sooner than almost anyone in the church would anticipate.
There has been a numerical decline for four or more years. Worship attendance is in a steady decline. Offerings may decline more slowly as the “remnant” gives more to keep the church going. There are few or no conversions. Decline is clear and pervasive.
The church does not look like the community in which it is located. The community has changed its ethnic, racial, or socioeconomic makeup, but the church has not. Many members are driving from other places to come to the church. The community likely knows little or nothing about the church. And the church likely knows little or nothing about the community.
The congregation is mostly comprised of senior adults. It is just a few years of funerals away from having no one left in the church.
The focus is on the past, not the future. Most conversations are about “the good old days.” Those good old days may have been 25 or more years in the past. Often a hero pastor of the past is held as the model to emulate.
The members are intensely preference-driven. They are more concerned about their music style, their programs, their schedules, and their facilities than reaching people with the gospel. Their definition of discipleship is “others taking care of my needs.”
The budget is severely inwardly focused. Most of the funds are expended to keep the lights on and/or to meet the preferences of the members. There are few dollars for ministry and missions. And any dollars for missions rarely include the involvement of the members in actually sharing the gospel themselves.
There are sacred cow facilities. It might be a parlor or a pulpit. It could be pews instead of chairs. It might be the entirety of the worship center or the sanctuary. Members insist on holding tightly to those things God wants us to hold loosely.
Any type of change is met with fierce resistance. The members are confronted with the choice to change or die. And though few would articulate it, their choice by their actions or lack of actions is the choice to die.
Churches with four or more of these signs have three choices. They can embark on a process of change and revitalization. Or they can close the doors for a season and re-open with a new name, a new vision, and some new people.
Of course, the third choice is to do nothing. That is the choice to die.
Thousands of churches will unfortunately do just that the next twelve months.
May 16, 2017
The 10 Most Common Things a Church Consultant Will Tell Your Church – Rainer on Leadership #328
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play
A post by Chuck Lawless serves as the basis for today’s podcast. Dr. Lawless has been consulting with churches for nearly two decades and shared ten things he had learned from dozens of church consultations.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Most of the time, when a church consultant is called in, it is too late.
Every church should consider having a health check-up every three years.
The primary purpose of contracting a church consultant is to have outside eyes that will point out things the church is blind to.
Most pastors and lay leaders don’t know the attendance trends in their own church.
Just because a church is growing numerically doesn’t mean it’s growing transformationally.
The pulpit has a primary purpose: the proclamation of the Word of God.
The ten items we discuss are:
Churches often wait too long to address decline.
Statistics really are helpful.
Prayer in unhealthy churches is reactive rather than proactive.
Churches often settle for numerical growth rather than life transformation.
Churches do not know their community.
Most churches aren’t ready for conversion growth if God were to send it.
Sometimes the most obvious suggestions seem the most revolutionary.
The leader in the pulpit matters.
In most churches, somebody wants the congregation to make an eternal difference.
God is still growing His church.
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds 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.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’
Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.
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 Who Moved My Pulpit?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
ChuckLawless.com
The Lawless Group
Pastoral Leadership, Prayer, and Church Health – Rainer on Leadership #316
Transformational Church Survey
PerceptGroup.com
When God Builds a Church
Rainer Research
Church Answers
May 15, 2017
Five Imminent Dangers in Churches
It’s one of my favorite danger signs.
It was presumably next to wires with high electrical voltage, and it profoundly read:
Danger — Do Not Touch
Not Only Will This Kill You,
It Will Hurt the Whole Time You Are Dying.
There are five imminent danger signs in churches today. I am not speaking of just those churches that have abandoned core doctrines; I am also speaking of churches that are supposedly solidly evangelical. Here are five of those dangers:
Doubts about the exclusivity of salvation through Christ. John 14:6 is undoubtedly clear. Jesus Himself said He is the only way of salvation. While few in evangelical churches are explicitly denying this cardinal doctrine of the faith, some are quietly rationalizing forms of pluralism or inclusivism. Both of those doctrines deny John 14:6.
Waning efforts at evangelism. While this danger is obviously connected to the first danger, there is more at work here. Some churchgoers just don’t see the need or have the burden to share the gospel. Any theological system or human rationale that minimizes evangelism is clearly contrary to Scripture.
Making doctrine and works either/or. Some evangelical churches have a superficial theology and focus on pragmatism. Some other evangelical churches have a deep theology that does not result in evangelism and ministry. The former is works without faith; and the latter is faith without works.
Forgetting Jerusalem. Jesus told us our witness would begin in Jerusalem and then extend beyond. He was clearly telling our churches we are to have a passion for evangelism and ministry in the community where our church is located. Too many churches have become so inwardly focused that they have no real presence in the community God has placed them. Other churches limit their missionary efforts to offerings, essentially paying others to do the Great Commission for them.
Fighting rather than going and doing. A church without unity is a church headed for decline and death. We have plenty of critics, second-guessers, and bullies in many of our churches. But we have few believers who are excited to talk about Jesus (Acts 4:20). This danger reveals itself when the former outweighs, outlasts, and overshadows the latter.
Though I cannot presume to know all the schemes of the Enemy, I can only imagine he loves to see churches succumbing to one or more of these dangers.
These dangers are truly so great they will ultimately lead churches to dying and death.
May 14, 2017
Pray for Linden Road Presbyterian Church
Location: Mansfield, Ohio
Pastor: Tom Roepke
Weekly Worship: 10:30 AM, Eastern
Fast Facts: Linden Road Presbyterian Church will enter its third century as an organized church in 2019. It was one of the first churches planted in Northern Ohio and started in the Block House on the town square in 1819. On May 20, they will partner with the Mansfield Police Department and other non-profits to host Bike-a-plooza in at North Lake Park in Mansfield. This will be a day of outreach as they will help kids get bike helmets, teach bike safety, register bikes for theft prevention and host a basketball clinic as well. The church also has an missions house they have recently renovated. Please pray for how this resource can be best used by them to minister to those in the community.
Website: LindenRoadPresby.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..
May 13, 2017
Notable Voices and the Week in Review: May 13, 2017
Eight Reasons Churches Became Too Busy
Six Reasons Millennials Should Consider Pastoring Established Churches – Rainer on Leadership #326
Eight Major Changes in Churches the Past Ten Years
The Five Major Formats of Podcasts
How Churches Can Break Growth Barriers, featuring Warren Bird — Rainer on Leadership #327
5 Things You Should Never Say To A Small Church Pastor — Karl Vaters
Small church pastors want to hear and use the best ideas, advice, wisdom and counsel we can find. So we look for it everywhere. From books, blogs, podcasts, conferences, mentors and more. But many of my fellow small church pastors have stopped looking and asking for help. It’s not because we don’t want or need the help. It’s that we’ve grown weary of hearing advice that’s offered with the best intentions, but is more hurtful than helpful.
10 Reasons Pastors Don’t Lead — Chuck Lawless
Too often, I hear from churches whose leader seems to have stopped leading. They want their leader to cast vision, raise up other leaders, and press forward – but it’s just not happening. My years of church consulting have shown at least these reasons for this lack of leadership:
7 Markers of a Great Leader — Ron Edmondson
here are some characteristics which set a great leader apart from mediocre leaders. Markers, if you will. Great leaders are multidimensional. While continuing to improve, great leaders have achieved certain characteristics which help them achieve success. If you see these qualities combined, you’ve probably found an amazing leader.
How To Handle An Ineffective Church Staff Member — Brian Dunks
One of the greatest joys in ministry is working with a great staff. But if there are challenging staff situations, it can also be one of the biggest frustrations in church leadership. Why do church leaders tend to hold on to people who are ineffective or even harmful to the church? What does it do to the team and mission? What should we need to do about it?
5 Core Essentials Far Too Many Christian Leaders Stupidly Sacrifice — Carey Nieuwhof
So what are these 5 core essentials? They’re so basic you’ll say “well, of course.” And yet, you’ll immediately recognize how easy each is to cheat. They’re all related to self-care. Sadly, in the name of caring for others, many leaders neglect to care for themselves. And that’s a mistake.
Ten Questions Christians Should Ask of Their Entertainment — Kevin Halloran
Discerning media consumption needs more than a litmus test of saying we shouldn’t watch excessive violence and sexuality (which is true). We need to understand the complex and often subtle effects of media on our lives. Let me be the first to say that I love all sorts of digital media, and get much spiritual benefit from thinking through them in light of Scripture. My goal with this simple list is to help you think more Christianly about what you consume. As you read, ask the Lord how He may want you to change to make the most of your short life.
May 12, 2017
How Churches Can Break Growth Barriers, featuring Warren Bird — Rainer on Leadership #327
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play
Warren Bird joins us today to talk about how your church can break growth barriers at any level.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
People are in your community. Are you ready to reach them?
“Pastors shouldn’t be the only minister in a church. They should be the minister maker.”
“Hire developers before you hire doers.”
“It’s not how many seeds are in an apple, but how many apples are in a seed.”
We will lead change, or it will lead us.
“In anything you do in ministry, are you taking someone with you and teaching them?”
The Great Commission cannot be dichotomized into evangelism or discipleship. It’s both.
The seven myths about breaking growth barriers we discuss are:
It can’t be done here
I could do it if I could work longer hours
We could break the 200 barrier if we could hire a _______.
The people God has given us are afraid to grow.
I’m not wired to develop and coach the leaders we need,
God’s got us in a different season right now. I don’t think he wants us to grow.
We could do it if we were in different facilities.
About Warren Bird
Warren Bird is research director for Leadership Network, the nation’s leading catalyst for helping innovative church leaders move from ideas to impact. An ordained minister, he teaches at Alliance Theological Seminary. He is also author or coauthor of twenty-eight books, including Next: Pastoral Succession That Works. He and his wife, Michelle, live in a suburb of New York City.
Episode Sponsors
The Timothy Track, from Midwestern Seminary, offers select residential M.Div. students placement in internship positions in a local church in the area. Now you can complement your studies with in-the-field ministry experience. In addition, all Timothy Track students will receive up to 12 credit hours for the internship and a 50% tuition scholarship for the first year.
Find out more at mbts.edu/TimothyTrack.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds 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.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting 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 Who Moved My Pulpit?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
How to Break Growth Barriers: Revise Your Role, Release Your People, and Capture Overlooked Opportunities for Your Church
The Everychurch Guide to Growth: How Any Plateaued Church Can Grow
May 11, 2017
The Five Major Formats of Podcasts
By Jonathan Howe
For the past three years, podcasts have exploded in popularity. We’ve seen tremendous growth with Rainer on Leadership, and barely a week goes by where I don’t hear about someone else launching a podcast.
I’ve written several posts here about how podcasts can be successful, and have heard from many of you about your podcast plans for the future. While it can be as simple as “record and distribute,” creating a podcast and podcasting will take a great amount of work and forethought.
Generating the idea is critical. But the most important aspect of podcasting is landing on the right format for your show.
The format of a show can make or break your content. Even if you have great content, a poor choice of format can turn off listeners and frustrate you as the creator. The difficult part of choosing a format, however, is matching your content with your intended audience.
So once you have your idea and intended audience nailed down, make the choice from among these five major styles and formats of podcasts:
Monologue– Many first time podcasters start here, and it becomes the reason their podcasts fail. Unless you have a highly engaging personality with loads of interesting content, this format can bore listeners and your podcast will crash before it even gets going. I would only recommend a monologue format for those who are doing podcasts focused on dispensing loads of technical facts or for podcasters with extremely engaging personalities. If you want to do monologue commentary on sports, cultural event, politics, or entertainment, you need a unique view and a very engaging personality. Otherwise, move on to another format.
Conversational– This is likely the most natural format for many podcasts. Unfortunately, it’s also more difficult because of logistics. When you start adding people, you start adding microphones and technology. That can mean two things: more money and more frustration with tech issues. However, once you have your process figured out, the benefits can be great. This format of podcast offers a variety of viewpoints from two or more individuals and typically allows each to share their views and comment on the other contributors’ views. My podcast, SBC This Week, and the Est.church podcast are examples of this format.
Host & Star– This format mixes the monologue and conversational formats. It involves a main personality with the assistance of a “sidekick” of sorts. It’s conversational because there is more than one voice and opinion shared, but it’s also a monologue because the “star” of the podcast is really what listeners are tuning in for. Rainer on Leadership would be a typical example of this format.
Interview– This format is growing in popularity with podcasters, but it’s a risky one. For starters, your audience is not as dependent on your content, but whom you have on the show. It can also be very difficult to get guests who can sustain and drive interest in the podcast. Unless you have a big contact list, this is a very difficult format for a start-up podcaster. It also makes the podcast more about whom you have on the show than what you actually contribute.
Hybrid – There are a few shows that use these formats interchangeably. Investigative or story telling podcasts are the most obvious examples of this format. It can be a daunting task, but when done well hybrid podcasts can be wildly successful because they seamlessly flow from format to format and engage the listener in different ways.
Do you have a podcast? Which format of podcast do you produce? Which format do you listen to the most? Which format is your favorite? Which is your least favorite?
Jonathan Howe serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at LifeWay Christian Resources as well as the host and producer of Rainer on Leadership and SBC This Week. Jonathan writes weekly at ThomRainer.com on topics ranging from social media to websites and church communications. Connect with Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Howe.
