Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 295

Why Church Members Don’t Invite Others to Church – Rainer on Leadership #069

Podcast Episode #069

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In this week’s podcast, we cover a recent post here at the blog written by Chuck Lawless on why church members don’t invite others to church. Some highlights from the podcast include:

We have to keep an awareness before our church members that they need to invite others to church.
Don’t be afraid of rejection. Celebrate those who accept your invitation.
Don’t be reluctant to invite others because your church isn’t perfect. No church is.
Pastors: when is the last time you instructed your congregation to invite others to church?
Don’t discount the potential success you can have with a “Friend Day.”
God uses us as His instruments to invite.
We often use excuses and rationalizations to mask our disobedience to the Great Commission.
Redundantly remind church members to invite others.

Here are the ten reasons church members don’t invite others to church:

“I just don’t think about it.”
“I’m afraid I’ll be rejected.”
“The music isn’t that good.”
“The preaching isn’t strong.”
“We’ve got too many church problems right now.”
“Our church is already too crowded.”
“Nobody ever challenged me to invite anyone.”
“I don’t know how to start the conversation.”
“It’s the Spirit’s job—not mine—to bring people to church.”
“It’s too far for people to come.”

Episode Sponsor

This podcast was brought to you by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. If you want more out of your ministry, want to study with a world-class faculty and need to stay where you currently serve, the DMin at Southeastern is the answer for you. Visit SEBTS.EDU/DMIN for more information.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

Resources

The Number One Reason for the Decline in Church Attendance
The Unchurched Next Door

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Notable Voices: August 28, 2014

On Platforms, Self-Promotion, and Pleasure Complete – Tim Brister

Yesterday, I wrote about how Christian leaders can use their platforms for either good or bad. Tim also posted on the topic earlier in the week and used John the Baptist as a biblical example of someone who used his platform for good.

 

9 Ways Your Leadership Should be Social – Brad Lomenick

I have long been a proponent of social media and how it can be essential to leadership. Brad provides nine ways social influence can assist in growing as a leader.

 

The Absolute Most Common Reason Change is Resisted – Ron Edmondson

Ron explains how a sense of loss is the the main stumbling block for those resisting change.

 

13 Little Known Facts About Change Too Many Leaders Miss – Carey Nieuwhof

Also change related, Carey shares 13 facts that many miss when leading through change.

 

The Essential Secret of Preaching – Tony Merida

Tony Merida reminds us of Stott’s great line: “The key to effective preaching is not mastering certain techniques, but being mastered by certain convictions.”

 

4 Ways Pastors Lose Pulpits – Clint Archer

Clint discusses pastoral burnout and three other ways pastors tend to lose their pulpits.

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Seven Thoughts about Christian Leaders and Platforms

You might be a pastor with a blog or a preaching podcast ministry. You might serve in a Christian organization, and you just self-published a book. You might be a church staff member who leads conferences in your area of knowledge and expertise. You might be a stay-at-home mom who reaches many other Christian women through social media.

All of you are Christian leaders. All of you have a platform.

Should a Christian even have a platform?

Understanding the Nature of a Platform

I understand that “platform” has a plethora of definitions. In this post, I am referring to the means by which a person communicates his or her message.

Though we might be tempted to think a platform is something new or cutting-edge that arrived with the advent of social media, it really has been around a long time, even among Christian leaders. Pastors often speak at conferences or revivals. Many Christian leaders have published books. Countless Christian leaders wrote in or published newsletters before we ever heard of a web log, now better known as a blog.

For sure, social media has increased both the awareness of and the opportunities for expanding platforms. It is in that context, alongside more traditional communication venues, that the topic of platforms has become a growing subject of discussion.

Seven Thoughts about Platforms for Christian Leaders

Men and women much smarter than I have spoken out about this topic. But allow me to enter the conversation with my own thoughts.

Platforms are not new for Christian leaders, but social media has expanded their potential influence. I look at my own platform as a resource God has given me to steward. I thus must manage it as any great gift God has given me.
Platforms provide huge opportunities for Christian leaders to get gospel-centered messages to the world. It would be a tragedy if Christian leaders were not building platforms. The rest of the world is getting their messages out.
Ego is a major danger for Christian leaders with growing platforms. I confess to that sin myself. On more than one occasion, I have taken great pride in “my” platform. My ego got in the way of the message.
Monetization of a platform should be treated with the same stewardship as any other money we receive. There is nothing inherently evil about monetizing some aspects of a platform to provide the resources to expand the message even more. Many Christian leaders have for years accepted financial gifts for speaking and writing. The danger comes when the money becomes the end instead of the means.
As in any ministry, Christian leaders must be above reproach in their use of their platforms. Like any medium or method, a platform can be used to tear down or build up. Unfortunately, we have far too many accounts of the former.
The lines are not always clear between a personal platform and an organizational platform. I am writing this article on a Saturday afternoon (my theoretical “free time”). But it will be used to expand my personal platform as well as help my organization. The lines can be very blurry at times. Again, I must be above reproach and accountable for what I do.
A platform can enhance a sense of Christian community. A platform cannot and should not replace the community that is present in a local congregation. But I love the way Christians across the world can connect with one another. I just pulled a statistic on my own blog and found that someone from almost every country in the world has visited my site the past year (nearly 200 countries). I love seeing brothers and sisters in Christ around the world connecting with one another.

A Simple Conclusion

Perhaps I am oversimplifying the matter, but the platform of a Christian leader can be used in a great way or in a destructive way. We who have platforms must thus be above reproach. It is a great opportunity. Let’s use it for God’s glory.

Let me know your thoughts on this issue. As always, I love to hear from you.

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Words of Advice for Young Church Leaders

By Chuck Lawless

Last week, a friend asked me what general advice I would give to young church leaders. I’m sure this list is not complete, but here’s a start.

Always be a learner. Degrees don’t signal an end to learning. The world keeps changing, and none of us knows everything. An unwillingness to learn is intellectual arrogance.
Learn the stories of your people. Everybody has a story, including that church member who frustrates you. Learn to ask about those stories. Listen well. Show genuine interest in the people God has placed in your care.
Love the grandparents in your church. Sure, maybe they don’t like change – but you probably won’t either when you reach their age. You need their life wisdom today.
Love the children in your church. From their early preschool years, children will choose their heroes. Be one of them.
Be patient. Follow Jesus’ lead as He made disciples – teach, listen, re-direct as needed, teach again . . . and trust the Father to change your congregation. Impatient church leadership is usually discouraged leadership.
Laugh. A lot. Today, the situation you face may seem unbearable. I assure you, though, that some of today’s events will be comical in the future. Learn to laugh today with godly joy.
Invest in at least three people. Lead your whole congregation, but pour yourself into at least three people – a non-believer you’re trying to reach, a new believer you’re equipping, and an older believer you’re encouraging.
As much as possible, don’t do ministry alone. Train somebody as you counsel, visit, and evangelize. Involving somebody else takes more time, but your congregation will be stronger in the long run.
Be willing to apologize. You are not always right. None of us is. You will make mistakes. You will hurt people, even unintentionally. Learn to say with integrity: “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
Don’t forget your spouse and children. Your spouse should not learn from others important information about church events. Your children should not wonder why you’re always away from home. Make your family part of your team.
Adore the church. The apostle Paul thanked God for the Corinthians and expressed his deep love for them (1 Cor. 1:4, 16:24) – all the while saying to them, “You’re an absolute mess.”  That mess is still God’s church. Love them.
Don’t be afraid of numbers. You can evaluate numbers without idolizing them. If your church is seeing no one turn to Christ and few believers growing in their faith, those numbers ought to challenge and motivate you.
Be accountable to somebody. Seek an older leader to pour into your life – and don’t give up until you find that person. Give permission to ask about your Bible study, your prayer life, your godliness, and your evangelism.
Beware of “lostness apathy.” When your heart no longer breaks over non-believers, it’s time to repent. A lack of concern over the lost is sin.
Keep up with the news. You need to know what’s going on in the world. Your commitment to the Great Commission demands it.
Work hard. Frankly, we need no more lazy church leaders. Work every day as if you will answer to God for the way you care for the souls of people . . . because you will.
Seek financial guidance. Taxation on ministry salary can be confusing. Your contributions toward retirement income should begin now. Get some input from someone who knows this world.
Keep records. Years from now, you will wish you had records of the baptisms, weddings, and funerals you performed. I know, because my mentor told me to do the same – and I didn’t listen.
Plan now to end your ministry well. Nobody ends ministry well by accident. In fact, the decisions you make today will affect whether you end well in the decades to come. Don’t be stupid.
Thank God. I have NO idea why God allows me to be a leader in His church. He does, though, and I get to do something that affects eternity. So do you. Be grateful.

What advice would you add?  

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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Five Incredible Steps to Close the Back Door in Your Church

If you want to close the back door in your church, read these five incredible steps.

By “closing the back door,” I am referring to assimilating or keeping those who have already become a part of the church. The sad reality is that many churches have less than one-half of their members show up at any one point. They are “walking out the back door.”

Why Are These Steps So Incredible?

Words have meaning. We are always in danger of miscommunicating, misleading, or overstating. When I use the word “incredible,” I do so for a very specific reason. In this case, I am simply saying I know that these steps are working in practice in churches. They are not merely the theory of one guy behind a keyboard.

In fact, I had a conversation with a pastor this week who told me the assimilation rate in his church the past two years was over 90 percent. Did you read that statement carefully? Nine out of ten of those who connected with the church the past two years are still active in the church.

The Five Steps

The process is not difficult. It just requires execution and persistence. Once begun, these five steps become a natural flow of the church’s ministry.

Have a mission statement that includes the importance of members getting involved in a group. For example, if the mission statement is “Love God, Connect with Others, Serve Others, and Give Abundantly,” the second part of the mission statement (“Connect with Others”) would refer to the importance of a church member getting involved in a small group, Sunday school class, or some other group.
Communicate the importance of groups in your new members’ class. In fact, some churches actually require the prospective member to connect with a group as a requisite for membership. This statement obviously assumes that the church has a new members’ class in place.
Make certain the church is intentional about starting new groups. This step is very important if you are diligently moving new members to groups. New groups, particularly, will be attractive to these new members. They will not have to break into existing relationship patterns.
Have a leadership group review the status of new members at least once a quarter. In the church I mentioned early, the ministry staff takes that initiative. Some church leaders do this review once a month; others do so once a quarter. One of the primary purposes of this review is to determine if the new church member has become active in a group.
Follow-up persistently if a church member is not in a group. Another church I know has a “meal plan” follow-up. They make certain an existing member of a group takes the new member out to eat, and invites him or her to join the group. The success rate has been very high.

Why These Steps Are So Important

Church members in a group are more likely to read their Bibles regularly. They are more likely to share their faith. They give more abundantly to the church. And they are much more likely to “stick” with the church over time. In fact, in earlier studies, I found that a member who was in a group was five times more likely to stick with a church than a member who was not.

So, these five steps are not some new entrepreneurial discovery. They are basic. They get people in the Word studying with others. They engender new relational connections. They create an implicit system of accountability.

And they also get members to stick.

The back door is closed.

What do think of these steps? What is your church doing to close the back door?

photo credit: srsphoto via photopin cc

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Pray for The Passage

Location: Florissant, Missouri

Pastor: Joe Costephens

Weekly Worship: 10:00 AM Central Time

Fast Facts: The Passage is an exciting church plant in Florissant, Missouri that exists to make a difference in people’s lives and for God’s kingdom. For the past few weeks, The Passage has been actively involved in Ferguson, MO, helping with cleanup. This is not a new thing for The Passage. Their service to the community has ranged from block parties to house painting, from Kid’s Bible Clubs to tornado clean up. Please pray for pastor Costephens and the members of The Passage as well as the other churches in the Ferguson area as they minister in an area which has felt so much pain and turmoil.

“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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Five Reasons Many Churches Are Not Growing Evangelistically

This post is not about a new program or a new approach for a church to reach its community.

This post is about you.

It is about you pastors, church staff, and lay leaders. It’s about any of you wondering when someone else will lead the church evangelistically.

It’s for you pastors who are frustrated that the church members are not evangelistic. It’s for you church members who wonder why the pastor does not reach more people. After all, some may surmise, that is why we pay our pastor.

The Crux of the Matter

The primary reason most churches are not evangelistic is because most pastors, staff, and church members are not evangelistic. Our theology may be sound. Our motives may be sound. But we are not personally evangelistic.

Let me be clear before I start looking for specks in your eyes when I have a plank in my own eye.  I fail evangelistically too often. And I fail evangelistically because I fail to be evangelistic.

Five Reasons

What, then, are the reasons we are not evangelistic, which in turn means our churches are not evangelistic? Allow me to suggest five reasons.

We fail to be biblically responsible for doing evangelism ourselves. Instead we think it’s the responsibility of another person, a program, or a denomination.
We fail to put evangelistic opportunities on our calendars. Many of us are evangelistic in theory. But we will never be evangelistic unless we are intentional about it and set aside time each week. It may be as simple as taking a co-worker or neighbor to lunch.
We fail to be consistent in our evangelistic efforts. What if we committed to doing just one thing evangelistically each week? Think about the impact we could have with 52 evangelistic encounters. Think about the impact a church would have if 100 members had 52 evangelistic encounters.
We fail to pray for evangelistic opportunities. What if each of us, whether we are a pastor, church staff member, or church member, prayed each day for the opportunity to share the gospel in word or deed? Imagine what would happen if we combined the power of prayer with intentional evangelism.
We fail to do what is most important because we are busy doing the less important. Church life can keep us very busy, so busy that we neglect our families, and we neglect doing ministry outside the walls of the church. Many of our church members may not be evangelistic because church activities keep them too busy to engage the community around them.

There Is No Such Thing As a Non-evangelistic Church

Let’s not speak about churches not being evangelistic. Let’s be clearer and say that church members and church leaders are not evangelistic.

And before we point fingers at others who are not evangelistic, let’s make certain that we’ve pointed the finger at ourselves first.

I know I can do more. In God’s power, I know I can be more evangelistic.

A church weak in evangelism is a church with members weak in evangelism.

What can we do to do more and do better? What can you do to do more and do better?

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8 Warning Signs of the Most Common Factor in Declining Churches – Rainer on Leadership #068

Podcast Episode #068

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The most common factor found in declining churches is an inward focus. When a church is only focused on itself, it will begin to fight amongst itself. However, when it is outwardly focused the bickering usually ceases. Some highlights from this week’s show:

The true sign that a church is outwardly focused is that it is consistently doing things in the community.
Fighting at church business meetings hasn’t necessarily decreased. But the frequency of business meetings has.
Any time you lead, you’re going to be criticized. It comes with the territory.
I had a church member tell me “You are leading too many people to Christ. Our church is changing too much.”
What year is it in your church?
We should revere the past, but we should not worship the past.
Culture is not the enemy. It is an opportunity.

The eight specific warning signs we discuss are:

There are very few attempts to minister to those in the community.
Church business meetings become arguments over preferences and desires.
Numbers of members in the congregation are openly critical of the pastor, other church staff, and lay leaders in the church.
Any change necessary to become a Great Commission church is met with anger and resistance.
The past becomes the hero.
Culture is seen as the enemy instead of an opportunity for believers to become salt and light.
Pastors and other leaders in the church become discouraged and withdraw from effective leadership.
If the churches are a part of a denomination or similar affiliation, meetings of those denominations mirror the churches in lost focus and divisiveness.

Episode Sponsor

This week’s podcast is brought to you by Pastors Today. This weekly newsletter provides pastors with resources and information from around the web written specifically for pastors. For more information and to subscribe, visit lifeway.com/pastorstoday.

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

Autopsy of a Deceased Church
I Am a Church Member
Lyle E. Schaller

The post 8 Warning Signs of the Most Common Factor in Declining Churches – Rainer on Leadership #068 appeared first on ThomRainer.com.

Notable Voices: August 21, 2014

Ferguson and the Quest for Racial Justice – Russell Moore

The events in Ferguson have dominated the news for the past week. Dr. Moore reminds us that as Christians we should embody God’s love in these tense times.

 

How You Can Help the Churches that Are Helping Ferguson – Faith Street

This article highlights the efforts by local St. Louis churches in response to the needs of the residents and local businesses in Ferguson.

 

8 Reasons a Church Plant May Not Grow – Ron Edmondson

Ron has planted as well as pastored established churches. His observations on why church plants might not grow could apply to most any church—both planted and established.

 

Staying in Ministry May Be Harder Than You Think – Steve Caton

Somewhat related to yesterday’s post on why you shouldn’t give up, Steve provides some encouragement and resources for those struggling in ministry.

 

10 Wise Leadership Lessons I’ll Never Forget – Faith Whatley

While many of her articles on our LifeWay leadership channel are directed to women leaders, God has given Faith insights that apply to all leaders—both inside and outside of ministry.

 

Don’t Let Your Comfort Zone Kill Your Church – Chris Martin

Chris continues to share relevant insights on Millennials and how churches can better reach them. In this article he explains how a church’s comfort zone (and inward focus) can weaken its effectiveness.

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When It’s Not Time to Quit

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven:

. . . a time to plant and a time to uproot. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, HCSB)

You are frustrated. Or hurting. Or just don’t know if you can take it any more.

You may be in a difficult relationship. You may be in a job you hate. You may be the pastor of a church, and things just aren’t going the way you had planned.

And you are thinking about quitting.

Understanding the Seasons

Hear me well. There is indeed a time to move on, a time to quit. We often stay too long in that job, too long in that pastorate, or too long in that dating relationship. The writer of Ecclesiastes was right. God has ordained seasons for planting, and seasons for uprooting.

But I am concerned that many of us are quitting too soon. The frustrations of today mask the possibilities of tomorrow. Maybe you’re supposed to quit. Or maybe not.

When are we supposed to stay? When do we say for certain we are not giving in to the pressures and the pains of today? I have no magical formula or quick-fix solutions. But may I suggest that we all consider these issues before we quit?

Six Occasions When We Should Not Quit

Of course, most of the people who read this blog are local-church related. Pastors. Church staff. Lay leaders. And those people get frustrated and hurt too often. But I believe my applications have a wider audience.

So, here are six occasions when we should not quit:

When we have no clarity from God. Of course, I am not prepared to tell you how you should discern the will of God. But you certainly should be seeking His will.
When you haven’t expressed gratitude and joy to God for where you are now. I know. Your present situation stinks. Why should you be joyful and thankful for anything about it? But do you really believe God is working all things for good? Can you see some areas where you can express joy and gratitude today?
When it’s just about a few critics. Don’t let the small minority be your impetus to leave. You can be assured that your next place will have critics as well. Love your critics. Pray for your critics. And focus on the positive people where you are.
When it’s a season of discouragement or difficulty. All places we live, work, serve, and do ministry have seasons of discouragement. All relationships have their more difficult moments. Try to discern if your present reality is just a season, where the tough times will later transition to victories and joy.
When the job is not done. Of course, you have to define what “job” means in your context. But you will know. And you will know if you are leaving at a comma instead of a period.
When a commitment has been made. Again, you have to define “commitment,” and honor promises you have made.

Though this post has not been specifically about marriage, it certainly could apply. That is a commitment until death. Let me close by sharing with you a video about commitment in the midst of a very challenging situation. It’s a story about Ian and Larissa Murphy. It’s a story about love and commitment and not quitting.

Their book, published by B&H Publishing, will release on August 28 (8.28). The name of the book is Eight Twenty Eight. The video is over nine minutes long, but it’s worth your time.

After viewing it, you may decide it’s not time to quit.

Let me hear from you.

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