Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 202
March 11, 2017
Notable Voices and the Week in Review: March 11, 2017
Five Reasons Why Pastors Are Getting Fired Because of Their Social Media Posts
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Terrible Bosses – Rainer on Leadership #308
Seven Reasons the Pastor’s Honeymoon Ends
Should You Start a Podcast? Eight Diagnostic Questions
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Great Bosses – Rainer on Leadership #309
Why the American South Would Have Killed Charles Spurgeon — Christian George
In 1859, an American minister named “Rev. H.” traveled to London to meet the famous pastor of the New Park Street Chapel. When Spurgeon discovered his guest was from Alabama, his “cordiality sensibly diminished.” A six-month American preaching tour would expedite the construction of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, but could Southerners tolerate Spurgeon’s stance against slavery? When Spurgeon asked his guest this question, the Alabamian said he “had better not undertake it.” This advice might have saved Spurgeon’s life.
8 Practices of Generous Churches — Art Rainer
There are churches that are characterized as generous churches. What is it about these churches? What are some of their common practices that may contribute to a culture of generosity? Here are a few that I have found:
7 Things Every Leader Should Know About Working With Millennials — Carey Nieuwhof
There are at least 7 distinct characteristics of Millennials I’ve come to appreciate as I’ve learned how to work with them, lead them and even befriend them. The characteristics are relevant whether you’re dealing with paid staff or volunteers (or maybe even your kids). Once you understand them, things become a lot easier. In my view, working with Millennials (and hanging out with them) is one of the great rewards and pleasures of leadership.
Four Things You’re Doing Wrong With Your Church Website — Tanner Moushey
If you are in charge of your church’s website then you’ve got a lot on your plate. I’m sure the last thing you want is someone telling you what you’re doing wrong. Well, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. However, my hope is that these suggestions will not add more work to your already busy schedule. Instead, my goal is to give you some focus and help improve your effectiveness. Here are four things your church might be doing wrong with its church website:
A Small Church in a Mega-Church World — Joshua Jenkins
There are times when pastors and members of small churches can feel discouraged when they look at their numbers. The people of God long to see their churches full of souls who are being saved and shepherded. It is tempting to look online at your favorite preacher’s church and see scores of people who pour into his church’s services. Our culture is consumed with results and numbers as a way of validation. There are many small time pastors who are faithful to preach the gospel and in a moment of despair ask, “Why are our pews empty? Does God not bless faithful preaching?” Friend, don’t fixate upon your numbers as a means of validation.
One Big Question Church Leaders Must Ask About Leadership Development — Eric Geiger
When ministry leaders start to consider an intentional plan for developing leaders, inevitably they get to this question. The answer to the question will dramatically impact how they execute leadership development. Here is the big question about leadership development for church leaders: What will be centralized?
March 10, 2017
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Great Bosses – Rainer on Leadership #309
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play
Regardless of the size of the church, the pastor typically has to manage a staff. They may be volunteers; they may be paid. So today, we cover ten traits pastors should develop as they manage their staff.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Pastors need to have a compelling vision for their church.
Good bosses will always be looking to build up those who work under them.
If you want a certain behavior to be evident in your staff, you should be the one modeling it as the boss.
More leaders than not have trouble making difficult decisions.
Be confident in your decisions.
Everyone who works for you should feel like they are part of the team.
Church staffs should be seen as a team both internally and externally.
Pastors should communicate frequently and clearly to the staff.
The ten traits of great pastor bosses we discuss are:
Cast a clear vision and path.
Support other ministries.
Create a fun atmosphere.
Provide a good role model and example.
Be decisive.
Include other staff as part of the team.
Have the back of your staff.
Listen well.
Support the staff member’s family.
Communicate frequently and clearly.
Episode Sponsors
Are you getting prepared for the changing ministry landscape? Get your Master of Divinity degree at Midwestern Seminary. The M.Div—Midwestern’s flagship degree program—is their 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 new culture of discipleship devoted to the local church and committed to taking God’s unchanging Word into a rapidly changing world. Join the movement today.
Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.
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
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Bad Bosses
EST Podcast
March 9, 2017
Should You Start a Podcast? Eight Diagnostic Questions
By Jonathan Howe
The popularity of podcasts has exploded over the past few years. In 2016 alone, 57 million Americans listened to a podcast each month. I’ve seen this explosive growth with both podcasts I host—Rainer on Leadership and SBC This Week.
As a result, pastors and ministry leaders frequently ask me if they should start a podcast. The problem is there is not a cut and dry answer. Every pastor and ministry leader should have an online presence with social media and possibly a blog, but whether or not someone should have a podcast is a bit more complicated.
So instead of a simple “yes” or “no,” here are eight diagnostic questions to ask yourself if you’re considering starting a podcast.
Do you have a unique take on a subject? Like any form of expression, you need a voice that is all your own. If you’re simply going to parrot the opinions of others, podcasting might not be for you.
Can you handle the schedule? Podcasting is a bit more demanding with schedules than blogging. Yes, you can do seasons of podcasts, but even then, the expectation from your listeners is that there will be a new episode delivered on the schedule you’ve promised them. If you fail to keep up with the demands of your audience, they will disappear.
Do you have the technical ability? While there are full service solutions that help get your podcast online, you still have to record episodes—often all on your own. The technical needs are not great, but some technical ability is needed. If you don’t have the ability, you’ll wind up spending money you won’t want to spend and likely end up frustrated.
Are you knowledgeable enough about the subject to be considered an expert? Listeners want to be either informed or entertained—and most of the time they want both simultaneously. Successful podcasts provide valuable information in an entertaining way.
Will the podcast be an extension of a current social platform? It’s always easier to launch a podcast if you already have a following on another platform. For content providers, platform migration is much easier than platform creation. If you don’t have a current online platform your podcast can be tied to, it can be more difficult to build a listenership.
Will your podcast have a unique selling point or be a copy of an existing one? This question is related to the first one. Every podcast needs something that differentiates it in the market. Listeners have a limited amount of time; your podcast will need something that sets it apart from the rest of the market.
Are you patient enough for slow growth? Podcasts grow slowly—if they grow at all. Patience is required for any online platform growth, but with the limited ability to market podcasts, they tend to grow more slowly that other forms of online media.
How will your podcast benefit your ministry? I’ve saved the biggest question for the end. This really is the key. Your podcast needs to benefit more than just your popularity. Consider how it will position your church or ministry to make a greater Kingdom impact. If it’s growing just your kingdom, and not THE Kingdom, maybe starting a podcast is not the best idea at this time.
Do you have a podcast? Are you considering starting one? What questions would you add to this list?
Jonathan Howe serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at LifeWay Christian Resources, 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.
March 8, 2017
Seven Reasons the Pastor’s Honeymoon Ends
Enjoy the honeymoon while it lasts.
It will end for most of you.
I love hearing from pastors and other church staff about their honeymoons and the reasons they ended. Here are the top seven reasons I compiled from those conversations.
Because reality sets in. The honeymoon is that period where each of two parties sees the other through idyllic lenses. But the pastor and the congregation will soon discover that neither is perfect. Indeed, each party may be even more critical of the other because the idyllic period seemed so bliss. The new era becomes a stark contrast.
Because the pastor leads change. The search committee and the congregation as a whole assured the pastor they were ready to make changes. What they did not fully communicate was that change was okay as long as it did not affect them personally.
Because the pastor search committee set unrealistic expectations. The search committee or similar calling group may have said things about the church and her future that just was not true. They may have been delusional more than deceptive, but the impact is the same. The pastor is disillusioned with the church he came to serve.
Because the pastor set unrealistic expectations. It works both ways. The pastor could have set some expectations about his leadership that just did not come to fruition. In secular terms, he oversold himself.
Because the pastor did something stupid. It happens. I have my own miserable stories as I pastor I could share with you. But I won’t.
Because the staff persons revolt. A pastor decided to establish reasonable work expectations of the staff. Some of them did not like the idea of working, so they revolted. The honeymoon ended quickly. In more than one church, the staff even joined the bully cartel to oust the pastor.
Because the pastor follows a beloved person. That beloved predecessor was likely a long-term pastor. The moment some of the members discover the new pastor is different than “Pastor Bob,” they don’t like it or the new pastor. They especially don’t like it if he changes things Pastor Bob instituted.
Except on rare occasions, all honeymoons come to an end. Expect it. Learn to lead and to live with it. Just try to avoid number 5. There is really no need to do something stupid.
March 7, 2017
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Terrible Bosses – Rainer on Leadership #308
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play
Regardless of the size of the church, the pastor typically has to manage a staff. They may be volunteers; they may be paid. So today, we cover ten traits pastors should avoid as they manage their staff.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
These principles can apply to any leader— not just pastors.
Usually a pastor does not have time to micromanage staff constantly—it typically happens in bursts.
When you avoid conflict, you’re just creating another conflict later on.
When you take someone else’s idea, it typically will not be executed well.
One of the best things a leader can do is to fall on his/her sword when it’s needed.
Leaders are going to make mistakes. They need to own it.
Many leaders are so eager to lead that they fail to listen.
Different perspectives often make for a healthier and more robust decision.
The ten traits of bad pastor bosses we discuss are:
Micromanagement.
Avoiding conflict.
Avoiding making decisions.
Stealing credit.
Shifting blame.
Hoarding information.
Failing to listen.
Setting a poor example.
Having a poor work ethic.
Not developing staff.
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
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Bad Bosses
@ThomRainer on Instagram
American Icon
Leadership Pipeline Conference
March 6, 2017
Five Reasons Why Pastors Are Getting Fired Because of Their Social Media Posts
“It’s not fair I lost my job,” the pastor told me.
“My church members post a lot worse things than I do on social media. It’s a double standard.”
He’s right. It is a double standard. But it’s reality. And, with greater frequency, more pastors and church staff are losing their jobs because of what they post, particularly on Facebook and Twitter and, to some extent, their blogs.
By the way, churches will not always tell the pastor the specific reason for the firing. But, once we begin to infuriate our church members with our posts, many will find a myriad of reasons to give us the boot.
I recently recommended a pastor to another church. I think very highly of him. Indeed, the search committee chairman seemed genuinely enthused when I recommended him. He contacted me a couple of weeks later with this comment: “We can’t consider him. He’s just too snarky and sarcastic on social media.”
Of course, this pastor was not fired. But he never had a chance to be considered by another church.
So what are pastors posting on social media that is raising the ire of church members? It typically falls into one or more of these five categories:
Generally combative and sarcastic comments. Do you know someone that seems always to be in debate on social media? They always want to prove their points, and they will take you on personally if you disagree with them. There are now a number of former pastors in this category.
Political comments. If you make a political comment in today’s incendiary environment, you will offend someone. The persons you offend may just be the ones who push you out the church.
Taking on church members. I cringe when I see church members posting critical comments against a pastor or church staff member. I cringe even more when the pastor decides to take them on in a public forum. Most readers have no idea the context of the conflict. They just see their pastor acting like a jerk.
Criticizing other people. I have a friend who served as pastor of four churches. He loved criticizing well-known pastors, celebrities, Christian leaders, and others on social media. He was fired from his last church without a stated cause. I believe I know why. And he has gone three years without finding another place in ministry.
Unsavory comments. A pastor or church staff member making lewd or suggestive comments on social media gains nothing, even if it’s a quote from a movie or someone else. The consequences are always negative.
This post is not about pastors losing their prophetic voices. It’s about pastors and church staff losing their ministries because of their failure to control their digital tongues.
“If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself . . . (The tongue) pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.” (James 1:26, 3:6)
Social media is not the place to vent or to wage petty battles.
The consequences are simply too great.
March 5, 2017
Pray for Grace Redeemer Church
Location: Teaneck, New Jersey
Pastor: Peter Wang
Weekly Worship: 8:30 & 11:15 AM, Pacific
Fast Facts: Grace Redeemer Church exists to bring the people of Northern NJ and everywhere they serve into a life-transforming encounter with the Kingdom of God. Grace Redeemer is on the verge of doubling in growth over the next year or so. Because of the limits of their current warehouse space, they are looking to move into new facilities in the coming months. They are a multi-ethnic church who is reaching a diverse group across socio-economic borders. Please be in prayer as they make the facility transition as well as for their ministry to adoptive families. Also be in prayer for their ongoing vision campaign that will fund the future growth of Grace Redeemer and allow the church to have a permanent place of ministry in northern New Jersey.
Website: GraceRedeemer.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..
March 4, 2017
Notable Voices and the Week in Review: March 4, 2017
How the Entitlement Mentality Crept into Our Churches
Congregational Singing with Keith & Kristyn Getty – Rainer on Leadership #306
At What Age Should a Pastor Retire? Ten Diagnostic Questions
Five Ways Churches Can Encourage Members to Share on Social Media
Congregational Singing and the Pastor, Featuring Mark Dever – Rainer on Leadership #307
Expository Preaching—The Antidote to Anemic Worship — Albert Mohler
Music is one of God’s most precious gifts to his people, and it is a language by which we may worship God in spirit and in truth. The hymns of the faith convey rich confessional and theological content, and many modern choruses recover a sense of doxology formerly lost in many evangelical churches. But music is not the central act of Christian worship, and neither is evangelism nor even the ordinances. The heart of Christian worship is the authentic preaching of the word of God.
A Few Church Giving Statistics Worth Noting — Art Rainer
Giving USA’s most recent annual report reveals some giving trends that the religion sector, consisting primarily of churches, is facing. If you are a church leader, here are a few highlights worth noting:
10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Time — Eric Geiger
Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts” (Psalm 90:12). Likewise, the apostle Paul challenged us to walk wisely and make the most of the time (Ephesians 5:15-16). While we are incapable of creating more time, we can get more out of the limited time we have. Here are ten ways I work to get the most out of my time:
Eight Things Senior Pastors Do that Demotivate Staff Pastors — Marty Duren
It is imperative when in the lead role to lead the rest of the staff well. Being human, and sometimes lacking a full palette of leadership skills, results in a staff who is less-than-enthusiastic about coming to work, carrying out the vision, or supporting the lead pastor. They’ve been demotivated. From years of being on staffs, leading pastors, talking with senior pastors, and talking to staff pastors, here are a few ways I’ve seen a lead pastor can demotivate the staff pastors.
6 Ways For Pastors To Get Out Of A Sermon-Prep Rut — Jay Mitchell
Anyone tasked with delivering a message or writing content for publication knows what it’s like to be facing a deadline and hit a wall where you feel like you just having nothing to say. Assuming you’ve done all the necessary preliminary work up to that point, what can help you get unstuck and deliver the message God has given you with boldness and impact? Here are six ways to help pastors get out of a sermon-prep rut.
10 Essential Ingredients for Running an Effective Small Church Internship — Karl Vaters
Small church internships have a lot to offer both the intern and the church. But they have to be done right. If not, they’re a nightmare. For over a dozen years, our small church has operated a successful internship ministry. Here are ten essential lessons we’ve learned, which have given us a reputation as a church that former interns want to recommend to future interns.
March 3, 2017
Congregational Singing and the Pastor, Featuring Mark Dever – Rainer on Leadership #307
SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play
Mark Dever joins us on the podcast to talk congregational singing, politics, DC life, and ecclesiology.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
“In the 1960’s church services started changing into rock concerts.”
“I see too many churches get tied up in battles over music, which is a shame.”
“Most pastors like good congregation singing when they hear it, but haven’t thought a lot about how to get it.”
“You want accompaniment and songs that will encourage the congregation to sing instead of plastering over them.”
“If we don’t have a solid definition of what a church is, all kinds of things begin to run out.”
“A church is a regular assembly in which the Word of God is rightly preached and in which the ordinances are rightly administered.”
We won’t all make it into the future. We have to get others to carry the gospel into the future for us.
About Mark Dever:
Mark serves as the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. A Duke graduate, Dr. Dever holds a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Ecclesiastical History from Cambridge University. He is the president of 9Marks Ministries and has taught at a number of seminaries. Dr. Dever has authored several books and articles, most recently, The Compelling Community and The Church: The Gospel Made Visible. Earlier books include What is a Healthy Church?, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, The Deliberate Church, Promises Kept: The Message of the New Testament, and Promises Made: The Message of the Old Testament. He and his wife Connie live and minister on Capitol Hill, with Connie giving much of her time to creating a children’s curriculum (PraiseFactory). They have two adult children.
Episode Sponsors
Are you getting prepared for the changing ministry landscape? Get your Master of Divinity degree at Midwestern Seminary. The M.Div—Midwestern’s flagship degree program—is their 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 new culture of discipleship devoted to the local church and committed to taking God’s unchanging Word into a rapidly changing world. Join the movement today.
Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.
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
Congregational Singing with Keith & Kristyn Getty – Rainer on Leadership #306
In Praise of Low-Budget, Non-Professional Music Ministries
Charleston Summary of Church Discipline
March 2, 2017
Five Ways Churches Can Encourage Members to Share on Social Media
By Jonathan Howe
For much of the past 14 months, I’ve encouraged churches to engage members and prospective guests online. Whether through Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, your church can reach, inform, and inspire more people when you use social media wisely and effectively.
But that’s not where the social media influence should stop. Truly effective social media campaigns don’t end with the originator of the message. They motivate those who see the posts to share with their friends and beyond.
So how can your church encourage your members to share your content with their friends? Here are five practices that we’ve seen work for churches who get their members to share and engage more often.
Encourage it from the platform. Whether in a specific announcement or as a blanket statement, churches that talk from the platform about sharing on social media have members who share more than those who don’t.
Include social media icons and usernames on printed items. Bulletins, invite cards, letterhead, and any other major printed items distributed by the church should at least have social media icons on them. It is even better if you can include the church’s specific username or handle with the icon.
Create sharable content. When you start a new sermon series, create a sharable graphic and encourage members to share it on their profiles. When you have a major event coming up, provide members with promotional graphics to post online. If you provide the content to members directly via email or your social channels, they’re more likely to share.
Feature sharable content in your email newsletter. I’ve previously written about the advantages of email newsletters for churches. One component you can include in the email is a sharable post. Make it as easy as possible to share by linking to content that’s already online. In as little as two clicks, members can share about your church.
Make the ask. Don’t hesitate to ask people to share your posts online within the content of the post. I wouldn’t use this much, but if the post or content rises to a certain level of importance, then just make the ask for those who see it to share.
Have you found other effective ways for members to share your church’s content on social media? Have you tried any of these?
Jonathan Howe serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at LifeWay Christian Resources, 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.
