Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 209

Notable Voices and the Year in Review: December 31, 2016

Earlier this week at ThomRainer.com:

Top Posts of 2016 at ThomRainer.com – Part One
Top Posts of 2016 at ThomRainer.com – Part Two
Rainer on Leadership — Top Podcast Episodes of 2016
Top Posts by Jonathan Howe on Church Communications and Social Media in 2016
2016: A Look Back at Church Trends – Rainer on Leadership #289

 

Since most bloggers put out their year-end recaps this week, there’s not a lot of new content for this week’s links. So in keeping with the theme of the week, here are the most clicked articles at ThomRainer.com in 2016.

9 Things That Worked in the Church a Decade Ago That Don’t Today — Carey Nieuwhof

Not everything that worked a decade ago in the church was great. But the truth is many churches saw growth anyway. And that’s changing and will continue to change. What got you here won’t get you there. Here are 9 things that used to work in ministry a decade ago that aren’t nearly as effective as they used to be.

 

7 Signs of a Weak Leader (or Pastor) — Ron Edmondson

I sound rather harsh towards a weak leader – don’t I? But, as I said, I’ve been – and sometimes can be – that leader. I share this as a check for our own leadership. We need strong, capable leadership – especially among our people of faith. Let’s lead. Let’s lead well. Let’s “stand firm” and “let nothing move us”.

 

Three Common Idols in Churches — Eric Geiger

God’s people still struggle with taking tools for transformation and making them objects of worship. Here are three common idols in churches:

 

The 3 Most Undervalued Staff Positions at Your Church — Milan Ford

Although I was certain there would be a high level of subjectivity in the answers I would receive based upon the differences of church sizes, styles, and staff cultures of those I asked, I was surprised to find an overall consensus on these three church staff positions:

 

5 Lies Pastors Are Tempted to Tell…and How to Resist Them — Karl Vaters

There are some lies that even the 99+ percent of honest pastors have a hard time resisting. Here are five of them:

 

What Pastors Can Do about the Gender Neutral Bathroom Controversy — Sam Rainer

This identity madness must stop. You don’t get to choose who you are. God made you exactly the way He wants you. And you are beautiful as God made you. You can no more choose your gender identity than you can choose your wealth, ethnicity, age, or health.

2016: A Look Back at Church Trends – Rainer on Leadership #289

Podcast Episode #289

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

We look back at our trend predictions for 2016 and see how we fared.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Decreases in worship center size have much to do with the Millennial generation and their desire for community.
Replanting and church acquisitions are becoming the preferred methods for successful church revitalization.
When people move into gentrified communities, churches typically follow.
There has been a doctrinal renewal that has taken place in the church in recent years.
If a pastor is not involved in small groups, the church probably doesn’t have the healthiest possible groups system.
Pastor search committees are realizing they often don’t know how to find the best available candidates for a vacancy.
Churches that are declining are typically declining at a more rapid pace than ever before.
I still think the clock is ticking on the ministerial housing allowance, and it will go away within the next decade.

The 16 trends from 2016 that we cover today are:

Church security as the fastest growing ministry.
Decrease in worship center size and capacity.
Increase in successfully revitalized churches.
Rapid growth of coaching ministries for pastors and church staff.
Increase in the numbers of churches in gentrified communities.
Increased emphasis on practical ministry training.
Increasing emphasis on groups in churches.
Fewer segregated churches.
The rise of the mini-denomination church.
Increased pastoral tenure.
Rise of alternative ministry placement organizations.
Increase in the number of Millennials who are Christians.
Accelerated decline of 100,000 American congregations.
Churches no longer viewed favorably by many governmental units.
More bivocational pastors and staff.
Dramatic changes in senior adult ministries.


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

Multi-Site Church for the Rest of Us, featuring Jimmy Scroggins
Search by William Vanderbloemen
Five Reasons Why Churches Are Dying and Declining Faster Today
FBC Mt. Juliet

Top Posts by Jonathan Howe on Church Communications and Social Media in 2016

By Jonathan Howe

On Thursdays at ThomRainer.com, I blog about a variety of topics typically dealing with church communications or social media. Once a month, I provide a list of young influencers in the church who are worth a follow. Thanks to all of you who have read, commented on, and shared the posts here at the site. Like Dr. Rainer, I have some great ideas for 2017 thanks to your feedback. Finally, here were the top posts of the year on church communications and social media:

TOP POSTS OF THE YEAR BY JONATHAN HOWE:

#1 — Eight Things Your Church Website Must Have

Over the past few years, when we’ve written or discussed church websites, Dr. Rainer and I have continually stated “the two most important elements you need to have on the front page are the church address and service times.”

Many of you have agreed and even complied when your church’s site was lacking one or both. Others have asked “what next?” So here are the next eight things to include on your church’s website:

#2 — Eight Mistakes Churches Make on Their Websites

Your church’s website acts as the front door of your church. It’s likely the first place a guest will look for information about your church. I’ve written in the past about what is essential for effective church websites, but today I turn my attention to what churches often lack on their website.

Here are eight mistakes churches make with their websites:

#3 — Seven Keys to an Effective Church Social Media Strategy

Social media is here to stay, and some churches have done well as early adopters of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. But many churches are still either hesitant to use social media or are using it poorly and not seeing any positive results.

As the pervasiveness of social media grows, it would be unwise to continue to ignore your church’s social media strategy and presence. And like any other ministry in the church, social media needs planning (a strategy), people (someone in charge), and a purpose (measurable goals) to be effective. These seven keys will help your church engage both members and guests on social media.

#4 — Seven Dying Practices in Church Communications

In a previous article, I listed emerging technologies in churches. Today, I focus on communications and practices that are declining to the point of non-existence. Your church might still use some of these, but if the trends continue, you won’t be using them for long.

Technological advancements and cultural changes have ushered in new practices in church communications. As a result, these seven practices are not only being replaced, they are dying.

#5 — Nine Keys to Maximizing Your Church Facebook Page

In an episode of Rainer on Leadership earlier this year, I explained Facebook post boosting and how churches can utilize it to inform people in their communities. I soon began receiving questions from pastors and church leaders about best practices on Facebook.

While many churches have Facebook pages, most do not know how best to utilize the platform for Kingdom growth. So here are nine keys to getting the most out of your church Facebook page.

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.

Top Posts of 2016 at ThomRainer.com – Part Two

This year, 2016, was another great year at ThomRainer.com. Thanks to all of you who have read, commented on, and shared the posts and podcasts here at the site. This week, I’m sharing some of the biggest posts and podcasts of the year. We have some great plans for 2017, and I can’t wait to see what this next year will bring.

TOP 10 POSTS OF THE YEAR: #1 THROUGH #5

Click here for part one (#6—#10)

#1 — Nine Considerations for Church Members This Easter

It will be one of the highest attended days of the year for your church. It may be the highest.

There will be some people you don’t know. Some of them are guests. Others are members who attend infrequently.

You have an opportunity to make a gospel impression on these people with a few simple acts. Indeed, you have an opportunity to make an eternal difference. Here are nine servant actions for you to consider.

#2 — Five Things I Pray I Will Not Do as a Senior Adult in the Church

I am a senior adult.

I see things differently. I don’t know if I am wiser, but I certainly have different perspectives.

And I have to admit I view church life differently. In fact, I sometimes scare myself with my rigid attitude. I need to write these words quickly lest I become too comfortable or too complacent.

I have five specific prayers. They are for me. They are for my attitude about my church. They are reminders I will need to review constantly.

#3 — Four Types of Churches That Will Soon Die

I am concerned. Certainly from a biblical perspective, I understand the bride of Christ will be victorious. I understand the gates of hell will not prevail against her (Matthew 16:18).

But that does not mean individual congregations won’t die.

They are.

They will.

Unless God intervenes.

In simple terms, there are four types of churches that will soon die. It is sad to watch the churches in these categories. Some congregations are in more than one category. And some are in all four.

#4 — Fifteen Reasons Why Your Pastor Should Not Visit Much

While I am not advocating that pastors never visit people, I am concerned that such expectations are well beyond those with serious and emergency needs.

The truth is: Your pastor shouldn’t visit much. Here are 15 reasons why.

#5 — Ten Sentences That Make Pastors Cringe

For sure, your pastor is not likely to let you know the pain these brief sentences cause.

But, for most pastors, they hurt. They really hurt.

Here are ten of the most common painful sentences uttered to pastors by church members:

Rainer on Leadership — Top Podcast Episodes of 2016

2016 was a banner year for Rainer on Leadership. We had some great guests in 2016 and covered a variety of topics related to leadership in the local church. Also, there we more than 1,000,000 downloads in 2016 and the lifetime downloads for the podcast surpassed 2,000,000. This wouldn’t be possible without you, our listeners, or our sponsors, Midwestern Seminary and Vanderbloemen Search Group. So thank you for your investment of listening to and supporting this podcast each and every week. We’re excited about the guests and shows planned for 2017, so keep sending your questions and letting us know what you want us to discuss.

To finish off 2016, here are the top ten podcast episodes of the year:

#10 — Worship Leading Relationship between the Pastor and Music Leader – Rainer on Leadership #261

The relationship between the music leader and a pastor is one of the most important relationships in the church. In this episode Mike Harland explains why.

#9 — What Healthy Churches Will Look Like in 10 Years – Rainer on Leadership #252

Healthy churches of tomorrow will likely reflect these characteristics.

#8 — Four Models of Dying Churches – Rainer on Leadership #259

Dying churches is a frequent topic on the blog. In this episode, we discuss four specific models of churches that can be considered on a path to death.

#7 — Keys to a Multi-Generational Worship Ministry – Rainer on Leadership #255

Mike Harland joins us again to discuss worship in the church and how multiple styles can segregate generations within a local community of faith.

#6 — How Churches Can Pray More Effectively – Rainer on Leadership #191

We cover seven points regarding prayer in the local church including how best to incorporate prayer into worship services, how to pray, and the use of catalytic prayer events.

#5 — The Disappearance of Choirs – Rainer on Leadership #226

We welcome Mike Harland back to the podcast to discuss a trend we’ve noted before—the disappearance of choirs in the church.

#4 — How to Grow Discipleship in Your Church, featuring Robby Gallaty – Rainer on Leadership #190

Pastor and author Robby Gallaty joins us to talk discipleship in the local church. Robby has several resources available to believers and churches to help with making disciples who make disciples. He also tells us a story about John Wesley that neither Jonathan nor I had ever heard. It’s quite fascinating.

#3 — Six Church Practices That Are Fading – Rainer on Leadership #222

A descriptive look at six church practices that are fading in many North American churches. These fading practices cross almost all theological and denominational lines.

#2 — Change or Die…The Five Types of Dying Churches – Rainer on Leadership #239

We cover a recent blogpost on warning signs for dying churches.

#1 — Why Congregational Singing Is Waning – Rainer on Leadership #215

Mike Harland joins us to discuss four main reasons that congregational singing is waining as well as three ways you can reverse this trend in your church.

Top Posts of 2016 at ThomRainer.com – Part One

This year, 2016, was another great year at ThomRainer.com. Thanks to all of you who have read, commented on, and shared the posts and podcasts here at the site. This week, I’ll be sharing some of the biggest posts and podcasts of the year. We have some great plans for 2017, and I can’t wait to see what this next year will bring.

TOP 10 POSTS OF THE YEAR: #6 THROUGH #10

Posts 1-5 coming Wednesday, December 28, 2016

#6 — Autopsy of a Deceased Pastor

Autopsies are not a pleasant topic. I get that. But I would be negligent if I did not share with you about the numbers of pastors who are dead in ministry. You need to know. You need to grasp this reality. You need to pray for them. You need to walk alongside them.

How did these pastors die? My figurative autopsies uncovered eight common patterns. Some pastors manifest four or five of them. Many manifest all of them.

#7 — The Five Kinds of Churches That Must Change or Die

Okay, I have some tough news for you who are members or leaders of about 100,000 churches in America.

Change or die.

You read that correctly. In fact, if your churches don’t make substantive changes in the next few years, your church will die.

So what churches are at risk? Instead of naming the specific churches, I have listed them in five categories. The categories are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

#8 — The Three Most Common Sentences of Dying Churches

If churches could speak, what would their words be on their deathbeds?

You don’t have to wait until a church closes its doors to hear some of the sentences that led to its death. Indeed, these three sentences, or something similar to the words, are pervasive in too many churches.

#9 — Eight Reasons Many Bible Belt Churches Are in Trouble

The buckle of the Bible Belt is coming off. That means the entire belt will soon fall off. And it is happening rapidly.

There are thousands of churches in the Bible Belt. Sadly, too many of them are not adjusting to the changing realities of the area. They still act like it’s 1975. Here’s why:

#10 — Ten Things Pastors Would Love to Hear from Their Church Members

It is a simple question.

What do you hear from your church members that gives you the greatest encouragement?

The responses from the pastors were amazingly similar. In fact, I was able to focus on ten specific areas. Here are summary statements of those areas.

Pray for Sunset Road Baptist

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Pastor: Dr. Steve Bass

Weekly Worship: Sunday 10:30 am, Eastern

Fast Facts: Pastor Steve Bass has served Sunset Road Baptist faithfully for more than 26 years. The church body is known in the community to be loving, welcoming, and forgiving. The gathering has a majority of senior adults and young families. Please pray for their upcoming ladies retreat in early 2017. Also pray that they continue to reach their community with the love and transforming power of Jesus.

Website: SunsetRoadBaptistChurch.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: December 24, 2016

Earlier this week at ThomRainer.com:

Eleven Vital Steps to Minimize Risk of Child Sex Abuse in Your Church
Multi-Site Church for the Rest of Us, featuring Jimmy Scroggins
Seven Commitments of Renewal Every Church Leader Should Make for a New Year


Young Influencer List, December 2016
How to Kill an Ineffective Program or Ministry

 

A Christmas Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Nativity Story? — Tim Challies

How well do you know the nativity story? This short quiz is designed to help you find out! It poses 25 quick questions based on the Bible’s accounts of Jesus’ birth. Take the quiz, share the quiz, enjoy the quiz! Best of all, let the quiz take you to the Bible to read more about this miraculous story.

 

How To Avoid A Family Meltdown This Christmas — Carey Nieuwhof

Usually by the time you actually get to Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, most adults are simply worn out. And church leaders are often especially exhausted. So here’s the question. When you’re exhausted like that, what’s it like at home?

 

Why You Need a Sermon Calendar and How to Make One — Brandon Hilgemann

You might get away with winging it for a while, but eventually, you will either burn out or fail to reach your God-given potential. If you still need convincing, here are four reasons you need an annual preaching calendar, and how to make one.

 

7 Ways God May Tell a Pastor to Leave a Church — Karl Vaters

Do I stay, or do I go? It’s one of the toughest questions a pastor has to face. Pastoring isn’t easy. There will always be difficulties to address and bad history to overcome. But most pastors are in it for the long haul.

 

7 of the Most Frustrating Things Pastors Experience — Ron Edmondson

Like most jobs, there are frustrating things about the job. Leadership deals with people – different people, with different expectations, demands and opinions. And, anytime there are differences in people there will be frustrations. This is true even among people who love each other greatly.

 

What Grieving People Wish You Knew at Christmas — Nancy Guthrie

“Happy Thanksgiving!” “Merry Christmas!” “Happy New Year!” As the end of the year approaches, everywhere we turn someone is telling us we should be happy. But for those who’ve recently lost someone they love, the holidays can seem more like something to survive than to enjoy. The traditions and events that can add so much joy and meaning to the season are punctuated with painful reminders of the person we love who is not here to share in it. Many have wished they could find a quiet place to hide until January 2./blockquote>

 

How to Kill an Ineffective Program or Ministry – Rainer on Leadership #288

Podcast Episode #288

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

Churches often find themselves with ministries that no longer fit their needs or the needs of those in the community. But pastors often struggle to eliminate them. Today, we discuss how to kill ineffective ministries to allow your church to be more efficient with time and money in ministry.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Most of our churches are too busy, and many have programs or ministries which are no longer effective.
Many times we allow ministries to persist because we have a false perception of their effectiveness.
Most ineffective ministries will die naturally if leadership doesn’t support them.
Do the ministries of your church align with your church’s vision and mission?
Churches need to get honest about effectiveness when it comes to budgeting funds for a ministry.
When a ministry is eliminated, the leaders of that ministry often feel devalued.
Most church ministries are started out of chaos without a strategic plan for effectiveness.
The challenge in ministry is to have a clear vision and stick with it.

The seven steps to killing a ministry or church program which we discuss are:

Count the cost
Let it die naturally
Demonstrate how it is not aligned
Have an honest discussion with a key leader of the ministry
Minimize funding
Find other places for the ministry leaders to serve
Have clearly established criteria on the front end


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

Breakout Churches
Simple Church

Young Influencer List, December 2016

By Jonathan Howe

Once again, the goal with this list is not to inflate the egos of those named, but to make you, the readers of ThomRainer.com, aware of the dozens and dozens of Christian leaders who are advancing the gospel in their respective spheres of influence. And while some pundits may sit back and claim Christianity is declining or dying, these leaders are clearly making a statement that it will not happen on their watch. They are passionate about Christ Jesus, His gospel, and taking it to the ends of the earth. The qualifications are quite simple: under 40 and making a Kingdom difference.

So without further ado, here is this month’s young influencer list:

Tim Challies (@challies) – Blogger, Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Yes, Challies did turn 40 this month, but I’m going to include him anyway. As one of the most influential bloggers around, he deserves the recognition.
Dr. Edgar Aponte (@EdgarRAponte) – VP for Mobilization, International Mission Board, Richmond, VA — Edgar previously served as the Director of Hispanic Leadership Development at Southeastern Seminary. He recently left that post to join IMB and direct their global mobilization and communications.
Anna Perez (@mrs_aperez) – National Director of Wives Development for the BLVD Experience, New York, NY — In addition to serving as a pastor’s wife, Anna leads a community of urban church planters’ wives.
Ryan Succop (@ryansuccop) – Kicker, Tennessee Titans, Nashville, TN — In addition to kicking game winning field goals for the Titans, Ryan is active in several ministries in the Nashville area including In His Grip.
David Pothier (@PasteurDavid) – Pastor of La Chapelle, Montreal, Quebec, Canada — David planted and pastors La Chapelle in one of the most unchurched cities in North America.
Laura Magness (@lcmagness) – Content strategist, LifeWay Christian Resources, Franklin, TN — Laura helps shape and write customized curriculum content for churches who are using LifeWay’s smallgroup.com platform.

Please continue to pray for these individuals and their ministries. If you’d like to nominate a young influencer for consideration, let me know on Twitter: @Jonathan_Howe or in the comments section below. For previous young influencer lists, click here.

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.