Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 289

10 Reasons Why Friends and Family Struggle to Believe the Gospel

By Chuck Lawless

Southeastern Seminary, where I work, challenged all students, staff, and faculty to share the gospel at least once a day during the month of September. Based on my experiences that month, in addition to years of sharing Christ with family members, here are my thoughts about why my family and friends struggle with believing the gospel.

They have never really heard the gospel. The more I speak to people in North America, the more I realize this truth: some folks on our continent are just as distant from the gospel as unreached people groups around the world. Within the shadows of our church buildings are people who have never heard the truth.
They struggle understanding the Bible. Even for those who are willing to read the Bible, the content is often new – and challenging. If genuine believers wrestle with interpreting the Bible, it shouldn’t surprise us that non-believers face the same battle.
They see the gospel as too good to be true. The story of the gospel really is quite astounding. That the one and only creator God would forgive our sins, make us whole, place us in His family, and indwell us is hard to fathom, especially if the story is new. Nobody I know – believer or unbeliever – fully grasps God’s work of salvation.
They see hypocrisy in the church. I’ve heard this general excuse for years, but more recently I’ve heard the words with specificity. “I don’t expect people to be perfect,” a family member told me, “but if _______ represents what a Christian is, I don’t want to be a part.” We may defend the church all we want, but we must not forget that watching unbelievers see the reality in our lives.
They hear other messages more loudly. Even if a non-believer hears three one-hour Christian sermons per week (which seldom happens), he still hears dozens of hours of other messages throughout the week. The media emphasizes moral stances in opposition to Christian teaching. Preachers of false gospels dominate the television. Political correctness reigns – and the gospel gets clouded in the process.
They are enjoying their sin. There’s no other way to describe this obstacle. Sin can be fun (at least for a while), and some of the people I know are having a good time. Following Christ, they assume, would cost them too much fun. Combining this reasoning with the next reason, they see no need to turn to Christ today.
They believe time is on their side. This is not always the case, of course. Some of my older family and friends are now more willing to talk about eternal matters as they see their own generation passing away. Those who are younger, though, have been more interested in waiting to consider Christianity. No urgency drives them to consider life and death matters now.
They still fail to see their lostness. Their reasoning is neither new nor unique. “I treat people well, and I try to help my neighbors.” “Let me tell you some of the good things I’ve been doing.” “I just don’t believe a good God will send good people to hell.” “I don’t do anything that’s just evil.” Folks who see no need for forgiveness seldom seek it.
They cannot understand the preaching. Obviously, this reason assumes non-believers who have attended church (as does the next one). A family member told me, “I like hearing _______ preach, but I don’t really understand him.” Granted, the Spirit of God helps us to understand the Word, but this message is nevertheless clear: we who preach the Word are not there to impress; we are there to communicate the life-giving message of the gospel. Clarity is a must.
They are overwhelmed by Christian follow up. Frankly, this response has surprised me. Occasionally, a church fully committed to outreach and follow up has been so faithful to the task that they have frightened off a non-believer. I am grateful for churches this passionate, but it’s worth remembering that non-believers may not be prepared for our zeal. Sensitivity matters.

I suppose there are few new findings here, but I needed this reminder. Obstacles to the gospel have not changed much, at least in my experience.

What other obstacles have you found?

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

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Ten Reasons Why I’m Not Giving Up on Local Churches: A Plea for Revitalization

The naysayers are at full throttle. “Local churches are dying!” “Churches are no longer relevant.” “The church is full of hypocrites.” “I don’t need the institutional church.”

The naysayer nabobs of negativity are in full force. It’s easy to give up. It sadly can be easy to believe God has given up on our churches. But He has not. I am convinced He has not.

My son, Sam Rainer, posted here his reasons why we should not give up on established churches. Indeed, he wrote an entire book on the topic. Allow me to add my own postscript with ten more reasons.

The local church has been God’s chosen instrument since the ascension of Christ. Christ left us with the church to carry out His plan. He even refers to churches as “the body of Christ.” Local churches have been messy since the onset (Take a quick read of 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians as examples). He did not give up on the first-century churches. He will not give up on the 21st century churches.
Believers can do more together than individually. We are called “church members” because we are members of the body of Christ (See 1 Corinthians 12). One member is not nearly as effective by himself or herself. We were not designed for Lone Ranger Christianity.
The local church is where the Word is proclaimed and taught every week. Indeed, that is one of the key reasons for churches to exist.
The local church is the place to gather to worship. Sure, we are to worship God individually. But we are also told to come together to worship with fellow believers. Such is one of the primary purposes of the church.
The local church engenders accountability. The very essence of gathered believers is natural accountability. We are to submit to one another in willing and cheerful accountability. And that is intended to take place in the local church.
We experience grace in the local church. I agree. The church is full of hypocrites and I am chief among them. The gathered church reminds us that we are a bunch of sinners who have been forgiven. As we continue to experience the grace of God through Christ, we should naturally desire to show that same grace to one another.
The gathered church can have a great impact on its community. Most of us have seen the incredible difference a church can make on its community when that becomes its focus. I recently heard of a church where several local public schools were begging the church to come to their schools as a ministry. Those school leaders knew what a positive impact that church was making.
The local church can provide an incredible organized ministry of small groups. Once believers get in small groups, they are apt to do more ministry, to read the Bible more frequently, and to give more abundantly.
Believers can practice biblical stewardship best in local churches. As you read the New Testament pattern of stewardship, you see that most of the abundant giving came through local churches. Such is and should be the pattern today.
The local church is the home base for evangelism. We gather for corporate worship and Bible study. But the best local churches then intentionally scatter to share the gospel with others.

I believe in the local church. I am not giving up on the local church. Too much is at stake. And God is not done with us.

By the way, tonight at 11:59 pm CDT is the hard deadline to sign up for my video consultation on church revitalization. It is my prayer that the consultation will be a blessing for those seeking to lead their churches to the next level or toward a turnaround. It will be several months before we offer the consultation again. I love doing this video consultation because I love local churches!

Let me hear from you.

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Pray for NorthBridge Church

Location: Antioch, Illinois

Pastor: Mark Albrecht

Weekly Worship: 9:00 & 10:45 AM Central

Fast Facts: NorthBridge is a dynamic church located near the northern border of Illinois, about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee, that meets in a local high school. They work to reach, inspire, multiply and transform the people in their community by sharing the deep love of Jesus Christ with those around them. Please pray as they follow up with those served through their participation in ShareFest 2014. ShareFest is a yearly celebration of serving in the community, and the workforce is comprised of a network of people from churches in Antioch, Lake Villa, and Lindenhurst.

Website: NorthBridgeChurch.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, download this information form and return it to the address on the form.

The post Pray for NorthBridge Church appeared first on ThomRainer.com.

Three Kinds of First Impressions Leaders Make: The Sponge, the General, and the Magnet

Do you want to be the type of leader who makes a great impression the first time you meet someone? Would you like to have loyal followers because they like you and trust you? If so, stick with me for the rest of this article.

The majority of my readers are church leaders: pastors, church staff, and lay leaders. But these principles of first impression leadership apply to any leader in any setting. And the first impression you give sets the stage for your future leadership, for better or worse.

Here then are the three types of leaders. The metaphors I use are self-evident.

The Sponge. This leader is self-absorbed. All he wants to talk about is himself. She rarely asks about the other person. He loves to have the spotlight on himself, and gets antsy when it’s not on him. The tragedy of this first impression is that these leaders rarely think they are sponges. If people suggest that, they get defensive. “But people really like me,” they say in defense. This person might have a significant audience, but people who really get to know them think they are full of themselves. Sponges really do not make a good first impression one-on-one with others.
The General. This leader is task-driven. She really does not ask about others because she is so focused on getting the job done. His first impression is not positive. While Generals don’t really want to talk about themselves, they are obsessed with the task at hand. People who interact with them have a first impression that they are projects being used as a means to an end. Other people really don’t feel like Generals care about them. The first impression is usually negative: “What a jerk,” people often respond.
The Magnet. This leader makes great first impressions. She begins conversations by talking about the other person or persons. She is like a magnet; people are drawn to her and often seek her advice. People believe that Magnets really care about them. They are the kinds of leaders who not only have a following; they have a truly loyal following. Their EQ (emotional quotient) is really high. Magnets not only make positive first impressions; they are typically great long-term leaders.

So what if you are a leader who has been in an organization for a while, and you have been operating out of the General or Sponge mode? Have you lost your opportunity to make positive first impressions and be a Magnet? The bad news is that it will take longer to repair the damage that you have inflicted as a Sponge or a General. The good news is, if you truly become a Magnet and your concern for others is genuine, the first impression perceptions can reverse over time. Of course, it is best to have a positive first impression rather than do damage control.

By the way, these are not merely secular leadership principles; they are thoroughly biblical. The Apostle Paul noted in Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (HCSB).

Let me hear from you.

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Church Revitalization – Rainer on Leadership #077

Podcast Episode #077

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Church revitalization is needed in almost any church. Churches don’t have to be near death to be in need of revitalization. So this week, we discuss this growing need and offer a few solutions and encouragements to those leading their churches to new life.

Some highlights from the episode:

No church ever stays in perfect health.
Church revitalization is not a matter of “if”, it’s a matter of when.
Churches need to recognize their need for revitalization and accept the treatment needed.
The most difficult part of church revitalization is dealing with the relationships that are affected by change.
“If you don’t stop changing things in this church, I will kill you.”
There is hope and there are great possibilities for your church.

Episode Sponsor

This week’s podcast is brought to you by RevitalizedChurches.com. Bringing together videos, books, and other resources from today’s top pastors, leaders, and authors, RevitalizedChurches.com is the premier online destination for Church Revitalization. Visit RevitalizedChurches.com today for your free download of 114 Things You Need to Know About Church Revitalization by Thom Rainer.

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 Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

Resources

Revitalized Churches Video Consultation
Autopsy of a Deceased Church
Obstacles in the Established Church
Seven Reasons Why We Should Not Give Up on Established Churches
Auxano

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Notable Voices: October 23, 2014

Three-and-Done: Why Ministry Leaders Quit and 3 Books That Can Help You Beat the Odds — Art Rainer

I’ve discussed pastoral tenure quite frequently here on the blog and on the podcast. Short pastoral tenure is one of the main reasons some churches struggle to grow. Art covers a few of the causes and as well as a few books that can encourage you to stick through the conflict stage and into a growth period at your church.

 

Three Reasons to Attend Corporate Worship — Matthew Westerholm

Corporate worship is absolutely imperative for growth in Christ. There are plenty of reasons why we should attend corporate worship, but Matthew distills them nicely into these three.

 

The Pastor’s Wife Effect — Joanna Breault

Joanna compares being a pastor’s wife to seeing a man wearing a cat on his head. While it may seem like a stretch at first, pastors’ wives can probably relate.

 

7 of the Biggest Pitfalls of Being an Introvert as a Pastor — Ron Edmondson

Ron’s insights into introversion and pastoring are some of the best around. I can relate to these from my days as a pastor.

 

20 Ways to be Refreshing in the Local Church — Jason Helopoulos

Jason shares a great list of reminders how refreshing ministry can be and what you can do to reignite that refreshment in your ministry.

 

7 Reasons Some Churches Experience Revitalization (While Others Don’t) — Thom Rainer

Here is a guest post on church revitalization I wrote for Challies’ blog earlier this week.

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Four Kinds of Church Leaders Who Will Not Lead in Revitalization

You’ve heard my dire statistics from time to time. For example, nine out of ten churches in America are either declining or growing more slowly than the community in which they are located. So the overwhelming numbers of our churches are losing ground in their respective communities.

Among the one out of ten churches that are doing okay, there is usually room for improvement. Church revitalization, then, is really for most leaders.

So why aren’t more church leaders being intentional in leading church revitalization? As I have conversed with church leaders, I have found four types of church leaders who are resistant to leading church revitalization.

Fearful leaders. I understand completely. I do not like the criticisms that come with leading change. Those critics are inevitable. And then there is the fear of the unknown. We must remember, however, that tomorrow is never fully known. We should have a greater fear of doing nothing.
Leaders in denial. I was a guest speaker for an event in a church in recent months. I often receive statistical data on the church before I arrive. The statistics were clear. The church had been in a steady decline for over a decade. When I arrived I saw a church in disrepair. I even saw ripped cushion pews all over the church. It was a mess. I then asked the pastor how the church was doing. “Never better,” he said. He was in denial. Total denial.
Comfortable leaders. Sometimes church leaders think that church members are the people we need to get out of their comfort zones. But the comfort problem can reside with the leaders as well. Some leaders so much like things the way they are that they refuse to lead in needed changes toward revitalization. This posture is dangerous. Comfortable leaders will soon find that change and discomfort will be forced upon them. It is impossible to maintain the status quo. It is better to lead change than let change lead you.
Coasting leaders. These leaders are not necessarily comfortable, but they have a short-term perspective. They may be nearing retirement. They may have hopes or possibilities of another job elsewhere. So they coast. They put themselves before the real needs of their churches.

The reality is that most churches need some level of revitalization. Most leaders should lead toward that revitalization. I have made a resource available to help church leaders toward this end. I hope many of you will join those who have already decided to be a part of this community.

Yes, the statistics are dire. But we serve a God of hope and possibilities. Church revitalization, in His power, is possible and available. Don’t be a fearful leader. Don’t be a leader in denial. Don’t be comfortable leader. And don’t be a coasting leader.

Life is too short not to make a difference. Be that leader who, in God’s power, takes your church to the next level.

Let me hear from you. And I will see many of you in my revitalization consultation.

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10 Ways Church Leaders Deal With the Brutal Facts

By Chuck Lawless

Jim Collins was correct in his book, Good to Great: stagnant organizations that want to grow must be willing to face the brutal facts. Until leaders admit reality, there is little hope of pressing forward. Denial of the past and present seldom leads to a bright future.

My church consulting experience tells me that many leaders and members of non-growing churches do not recognize the reality of their church’s direction. When our team helps them face reality, the responses are mixed. While these designations are arbitrary, I categorize those responses as either “frustration” or “fortitude.” Look at these descriptions, and see where you are as you face the reality of your congregation.

FRUSTRATION

Church leaders who respond in frustration typically evidence some or all of the following:

Denial – Maybe you’ve heard these kinds of comments. “I’m not sure you’re looking at the right numbers.” “We see people joining our church almost every Sunday.” “We think numbers can be idolatrous, so we don’t pay much attention to stats.” When the leaders refuse to admit decline, turning the ship around becomes almost impossible.
Blame – The factors of decline can be many, and it’s easy to cast blame. The community’s changing. A power group is in charge. The people don’t really want to grow. Staff members are not unified. The church down the street is gaining a crowd by loud music and watered-down teaching. Some leaders have even blamed our consultant team: “Your presence is creating division.” As long as leaders take no responsibility for the problems, they’ll likely make little investment in trying to find a solution.
Seclusion – Some leaders choose to retreat when the news they hear is negative. They close their office door. Lunches with church members become sporadic. Greeting the congregation before and after a service becomes a chore. Recognition of the reality leads to isolation – and isolation is not the type of leadership needed in a time of decline.
Hopelessness – “What’s the point of trying anymore?” these leaders wonder. They have served faithfully through the years, but still the church is not growing. If the church has declined under their leadership, why should they believe the church will turnaround under their direction?
Resignation – It happens: a consultation leads to reality, and the leader chooses to step down. The work to revitalize the church will take too much energy for a leader who has already lost his hope. Frankly, our team recognizes that sometimes a pastoral change is the best one – but it’s never our goal.

FORTITUDE

On the other hand, church leaders who respond in fortitude generally show these characteristics:

A welcoming spirit – A consultant team does not threaten these leaders; in fact, they welcome other eyes and ears. If outsiders can help them strengthen their church, they are open to advice and correction. They listen, reflect, apply, and learn – all without defensiveness or anger.
Self-reflection – These leaders willingly take some responsibility for the church’s condition, even it’s painful to do so. They ask, “What role have I played in this decline, and what can I do to correct it?” They love the congregation enough to be willing to grow as needed for the church’s good.
Humble teachability – These leaders admit they don’t know everything, including how best to lead their church. If correction means the leader must learn to use more application in his sermons, he finds someone to help him do that. If he needs to be more caring toward his congregation, he asks for help and accountability to make that change. These leaders humbly admit their need for help and intentionally seek it.
Desperate prayer – Sometimes, recognizing reality is agonizing and overwhelming. The only proper response is to pray, “Lord, it’s too big for me. I have no idea how to address these issues. If this church is going to grow, You alone have to make it happen.” Pastors who respond to reality with fortitude pray this way.
Stretched faith – Faith is believing what we cannot see. It is, in fact, trusting that God has a great future for a church whose history and present might suggest otherwise. These leaders run to the Word of God and live there, knowing that the Word will increase their faith. They refuse to give up.

What are the brutal facts about your church? Perhaps more importantly, what is your response to those facts? Frustration or fortitude? How might we pray for you as you lead your congregation?

I also encourage you to get Dr. Rainer’s video consultation on church revitalization here. It is an incredible resource to help you deal with the brutal facts.

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

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Seven Good Things about the Houston Subpoena Controversy

I share the outrage of millions who were stunned when the city of Houston issued subpoenas to five area pastors. The subpoenas ordered the pastors to submit their sermons in regard to litigation against a new Houston Equal Rights Ordinance’s protection based on sexual orientation.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker and others involved in this debacle are certainly disregarding the very heart of the First Amendment. In recent days, the mayor’s office seems to be distancing itself from the subpoena controversy. There is little doubt, however, that the mayor and her team have disdain for many churches and Christian leaders.

I too am stunned and angered by this massive encroachment upon local churches by a governmental body. But there is an additional perspective to this horrendous act. It is not a perspective that detracts from the outrage, but one that suggests how God may be working His good in this situation. Let me suggest seven such ways.

Churches across the world historically thrive in times of persecution. Christ’s Church will not be defeated. Attempts to suppress the gospel message have only lit a fire that burns even brighter.
This action is a needed wake-up call for American churches. Perhaps we will move from our posture of acute apathy to one of making a difference for Christ and His gospel.
Times such as these demonstrate who will really take a stand for Christ. Nominal Christians will continue to have their blasé attitudes. Real Christians will demonstrate their faith boldly.
Times such as these encourage us to participate with other believers of like minds and hearts. We American Christians are good at highlighting every miniscule difference between different Christian groups. The Houston subpoena controversy is making us unite over what we have in common.
We are able to demonstrate the love of Christ in bold ways during times of persecution. If we Christians will be Christ-like even while we protest, it will send a message to the world. Righteous indignation does not conflict with Christian love. Let us show what we are for while we protest what we are against.
Nitpicking criticisms tend to wane in times such as these. Social media specifically has magnified the pettiness of many Christians. Some church members spend more time criticizing others than sharing the gospel. But the Houston subpoena debacle has moved the focus to working together instead of against each other.
The gospel is magnified. Acts 8:1 notes the martyrdom of Stephen and the severe persecution against the church. Note what happens as the persecution begins: “ . . . all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.” In the midst of intense persecution, believers scattered throughout other regions and the gospel traveled with them.

Let us continue to take a strong stand against those who attack the very heart of the gospel. But let us, at the same time, recognize that God is not thwarted in moments such as these. We have an incredible opportunity to show gospel power and Christ-like love at the same time.

Let me hear from you.

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Pray for Liberty Baptist Church

Location: Sweetser, Indiana

Pastor: Terry Bishir

Weekly Worship: 8:15 & 10:45 AM Central

Fast Facts: Liberty Baptist launched an outreach campaign last year to reach all of Grant County with the Gospel by creating the website www.hope4grantcounty.org. Through this initiative, they have had thousands view the video, heard countless stories of how God is moving through the outreach, and seen people excited to spread the gospel! Pray for their upcoming Trunk or Treat outreach which had around 2,500 people come through last year. This is a great way for the church to serve the community and make a difference! Also please pray for the continuation of Hope for Grant County as they pray for many to come to Christ!

Website: LibertyFamily.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, download this information form and return it to the address on the form.

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