Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 306

ThomRainer.com Reader Survey

I’m still doing a giveaway here at ThomRainer.com this week, but I’m changing things up a little bit by hosting a reader survey.

Readers like you help make this blog a better source of information. You will likely need about 15 minutes to complete the survey, and all of your information will be kept confidential. To better serve you, we will also provide you with periodic updates from ThomRainer.com. We will provide you the results of the survey in a few weeks.

Here’s how the giveaway works this week. We will select ten random winners to receive an autographed copy of my latest book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church. And one reader will win a grand prize of a $250 LifeWay gift card and three signed copies of Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

By entering, you acknowledge and accept the terms of the promotion.

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Notable Voices – May 22, 2014

7 Ways to Draw Millennials to Your Church – Aaron Earls

Late last week, Aaron wrote on six reasons Millennials aren’t attending churches. That post went viral over the weekend and serves as a precursor to this article on how churches can effectively engage Millennials.

 

5 Things That Won’t Make Your Church Grow – Carey Nieuwhof

Regardless of what some may say, church growth is not a plug-and-play model. As Carey points out, to grow externally churches typically have work to do internally first.

 

Considering New Sunday Service Times – Tony Morgan

I recently wrote on the downward trend of churches having Sunday evening services. But what about the times and number of Sunday morning services? Tony shares 10 points to consider.

 

7 Questions for Discouraged Pastors to Ask Themselves – Paul Tautges

I hear almost daily from discouraged ministers. If you feel that way as well, Paul offers seven reflection questions to offer encouragement.

 

Preaching as “Whetting Your Appetite for the Word of God” – Chris Hefner

In this post from Pastors Today, Chris offers a challenge to pastors to let your preaching whet your appetite for God’s Word.

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Nine Heartfelt Things Church Members Would Like to Say to Their Pastors

I am among the most blessed men in the world. God has graciously saved me and sustained me. I have an incredible family. The place and ministry where I serve vocationally is a gift from God.

And then, as if I should be blessed even more, God has allowed me to serve and hear from church leaders across the world. In this article, I share some insights I heard from church members via social media, emails, blog comments, and personal conversations.

The following nine statements are heart matters for many church members. For the most part, these members are not the perpetual critics and the business meeting naysayers. These are men and women who truly love their pastors. But many of them do have some words from the heart they would like to share with their pastors. But many are reticent to do so, because they know their pastors often receive criticisms and inordinate demands for attention.

So, hear these heartfelt words from church members who love their pastors, from men and women who truly desire the best for them.

“Let me know you really care for me.” That does not mean you call me regularly or that you visit me on demand. It is more of a disposition, or maybe words from the pulpit that demonstrate your love for the members. We can tell if you really care for us and love us.
“Teach me the Bible.” I know you are inundated with requests, and the expectations for your time are often unreasonable. But please do not let those people distract you from your time in the Word. I am hungry for biblical teaching and preaching. Please spend time studying the Word so you can teach us well.
“Help me deal with change.” This world and culture are changing so fast that I find myself dealing with fear and uncertainly. Help me understand the steadfastness of God in a turbulent world. And understand that my fear of change in the church is often related to my fear of change in the world. So lead me gently as you lead change in the church.
“Don’t lead too far ahead.” I do want you to lead us. But don’t get so far ahead of us that we mistake you for the enemy and shoot you in the rear. I know change is necessary, but learn the pace of change that is best for our church.
“Help me deal with family issues.” Some of us are in struggling marriages. Some of us are lonely whether we are single or married. Some of us have problems with our children. Some of us are dealing with aging parents. We hurt deeply when we have hurts about our families. Show us biblical truths about these issues. And show us your pastoral heart and concern for these issues.
“Be transparent.” We know you are imperfect, but the critics sometimes cause you to hide your faults. For sure, we don’t want every nitty gritty personal detail about you and your family. But we do want to know that you have some of the same struggles we do. It helps us to identify with you better. It helps us to pray for you more.
“Don’t get defensive when I offer constructive criticism.” I know that this one is tough. You get so many criticisms already; many of them are petty and self-serving. But there are many of us who love you and will, on rare occasions, offer some words that we think are best for you. Hear us without being defensive. Pray that God’s Spirit will help you discern when you should listen and when you should ignore.
“Pray for me.” Please let me know that you love your church members so much that you pray for us regularly. Let us know that you consider prayer for the members to be one of your highest priorities.
“Give me hope.” This world confuses me. This degenerating culture scares me. Show me how God has dealt with such hopeless times in the past that they may be times of hope for me today. Show me Christ’s possibilities, His hope, and His encouragement in difficult days.

Pastors, your task is not easy. Indeed, it is impossible without Christ’s strength. You have many church members who love you. They are often the silent members and, thus, the disregarded members. Hear these words from healthy church members that you might be even a better pastor to them.

What would you add, church member? What would you add, pastor or staff? How do these nine sentences resonate with you?

My blog post this coming Saturday: “Nine Heartfelt Things Pastors Would Like to Say to Their Church Members.”

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10 Things We Need to Hear from Young Church Leaders

By Chuck Lawless

I have the privilege of spending much of my life with young church leaders. As a seminary dean and missionary trainer, I hang out with people younger than I am. I’m the teacher, but I learn from the young generation as much as—if not more than—I teach them. Sometimes they teach me something new, as with technology and social media. In other cases, they simply remind me of something I’ve forgotten or have taken for granted.

Of course, all young church leaders have room to grow, and nothing I say here can be applied to every young leader. With that understanding in mind, here are some of those general reminders that I, and perhaps other older leaders, need to hear from young church leaders.

The Bible is still our guide. My own denomination spent several decades affirming the inerrancy and authority of the Word of God. Today’s young church leaders were not part of that struggle, but they are the recipients of that teaching. They may at times differ with us in interpreting and applying the Word, but it is not because they doubt the Bible’s veracity.  They read it, study it, believe it, and teach it with passion.
Christianity is intended to be life-on-life. This generation understands that no Christian is to live in isolation. Accountability is non-negotiable. Small groups are centers of life transformation rather than only weekly fellowship gatherings. To young leaders, calling someone “brother” or “sister” means much more than, “I’m sorry, friend, but I don’t remember your name”; it is recognition of members of the family of God.
Authenticity is critical. Young church leaders have watched other leaders fall. They have been raised in a culture of political games. For many, even their families of origin have been marked by duplicity. They want to trust other church leaders, but, frankly, they have seen too much. Anyone whose life models authenticity will catch their attention.
Mentoring matters. The most common request I hear from young church leaders is, “I want someone to mentor me. I need someone to walk with me through ministry.” Given that Jesus and Paul discipled others primarily through mentoring, we older leaders cannot ignore this request. If we do, we share the blame if those following in our steps fail.
Christianity is a “doing” faith. For my generation, Christian commitment has sometimes been limited to church attendance and monetary support, with little attention to service and ministry. Young leaders, though, assume a “hands on” personal faith. Christianity without action is at best an incomplete faith, at worst a false one.
We cannot ignore social ministry. We older leaders have often neglected social ministry, for fear we would lose our focus on evangelism. The young generation, though, is striving to correct our omission. Their faith is a Great Commission faith (Matt. 28:18-20) that does not miss the hurting and disenfranchised (Matt. 25:31-46).
Church discipline is biblical. Leaders of my generation have largely ignored church discipline. Not so with young leaders today. They may at times lead too quickly into discipline, but they are willing to tackle this biblical responsibility. They understand that ignoring this need is neither loving nor godly.
The local church is the missions sending agency. We older leaders often delegated this responsibility to other agencies and organizations. Young church leaders recognize the church’s mandate to raise up missionaries and church planters, send them out, and then care for them while they are on the field. The wise missions agency will invite these leaders into the conversation and seek to work alongside them.
Denominational loyalty must be earned. Many in my generation have invested in a single denomination. Young leaders, though, do not share this loyalty. We must take some responsibility for this reality, for we have not adequately convinced them of the value of cooperative work. Rather than judge them, we must hear them, teach them . . . and be willing to adjust if needed.
If faith requires death, that’s okay. This commitment is perhaps the one that most grabs my attention. Young church leaders are often less concerned about big church buildings and earthly recognition; they are most burdened about getting the gospel to the 1.7 billion people who have little access to the gospel. If doing that work requires moving their families to the most dangerous places in the world, they are ready to go. That kind of faith often puts mine to shame.

What other insights have you gained from young church leaders? What else do we need to hear? 

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 Implications for Churches as the Boomers Retire

They are the children of the 60s. There was a time they said you couldn’t trust anyone over 30 . . . until they turned 30 themselves. Until the Millennials were born, they were the largest generation in America’s history with over 76 million live births.

They are the Baby Boomers, or the Boomers, as they are typically called today.

On January 1, 2011, the first Boomer turned 65. In fact, on that day, 10,000 of them turned 65. And that pace of aging will continue until 2030, when every Boomer is 65 or older.

The implications for churches are staggering. This generation is not of the mindset of previous aging generations. According to a Pew Research study, the typical Boomer does not believe old age begins until age 72. And the typical Boomer feels nine years younger than his or her chronological age.

So what are some of the implications for churches? Read these carefully. There are very few churches that will not feel the impact of retiring Boomers.

They will have less money to give to churches. Their predecessor generation, the Builders, have been the most generous to churches and other charitable organizations. But that oldest generation is fading quickly from the scene. Churches are already feeling the pain of the loss of income from that generation. And now another challenge is taking place. Boomers are retiring, which typically means lower income. And lower income means diminished giving to churches.
Some will have more volunteer time. But their retirement will break previous patterns. Many of these Boomers will continue to seek atypical retirement opportunities. There will be few “rocking chair” retirees among the Boomers. How can churches attract those Boomers who will have more discretionary time? Perhaps the next implication can answer that question.
Most of the Boomers still want to change the world. Many of them may be disillusioned after four decades of work that was not meaningful and life changing. But they still have the spirit of the 60s, a spirit that desires to be different and to make a difference. If congregations can offer retiring Boomers such opportunities, there could be a surge of Boomer church adherents.
Many of the Boomers will be traveling more. So some of our churches’ most faithful attendees will be conspicuously absent as they have this new discretionary time. They will be traveling for pleasure, visiting grandchildren, and traveling to places where they believe they can make a difference.
Retiring Boomers will kill traditional church senior adult ministries. The primary reason is that most of them don’t like to be categorized as senior adults. The secondary reason is they would be bored silly with some of the potlucks, travels, and activities of churches that attempt to keep their current senior adults happy.

Church leaders are confronted with many challenges in culture and in changing church practices. The pace of change can be frustrating. In the midst of all these changes, a huge generation is retiring. The implications for churches are nothing less than staggering.

What do these implications mean for your church? What is your church doing today to reach and minister to retiring Boomers?

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Pray for FBC Decatur, AL

Location: Decatur, AL

Pastor: Vacant

Weekly Worship: 9:15 AM Central Time

Fast Facts: FBC Decatur is in transition as they have had an extended time of leadership under interim pastors. Located in North Alabama, Decatur has seen a socioeconomic shift over the past few decades. Please pray for FBC Decatur as they search for who God would have them call as pastor. Also pray for them as they determine the steps needed to reach the changing community of Decatur.

Website: FBCDecatur.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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I Will Prepare for Worship

This weekend I will attend my church’s worship service.

I will prepare for that corporate worship event;

I will not take the moments lightly.

I will see it as a precious time to gather with brothers and sisters in Christ.

I will prepare for worship.

I will ask God to prepare my own heart.

I will ask Him to help me hear God’s Word clearly.

I will ask Him to speak to me that I might be changed.

I will prepare for worship.

I pray that I will not be distracted by my own preferences:

By the style of music; the length of the sermon; the place where I sit;

Or anything that would cause me to focus on me instead of God.

I will prepare for worship.

I will pray for my pastor that the sermon will be anointed.

I will pray for strength for my pastor,

And for encouragement in a world that often offers little.

I will prepare for worship.

I will pray for other leaders in the church,

Leaders often unnoticed and unappreciated,

And specifically for those who sacrificially care for our children in the services.

I will prepare for worship.

I will pray that I will hear God’s voice in the music, in the prayers,

And in every moment we gather as a body of believers,

United in heart, focus, and purpose.

I will prepare for worship.

I will pray with my family before we leave to go the church service.

I will also pray alone for the services before we leave,

Even if it’s only for a few minutes.

I will prepare for worship,

As I see fellow believers enter to worship together,

I will pray for them and their families,

And I will pray for their own hearts of worship.

I will prepare for worship.

I understand I am blessed to be able to gather,

Because I know that many Christians around the world

Are being persecuted and banned from such times.

I will prepare for worship.

I pray I will understand that it is a foretaste of heaven,

And that I will never take such times for granted,

I pray I will truly rejoice in the house of the Lord.

I will prepare for worship.

Thank you, God, for your grace.

Thank you, God, for you goodness.

And for allowing me these precious moments to gather to worship You.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

—Psalm 122:1 (HCSB)

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Dangers of Denial for Dying Churches – Rainer on Leadership #055

Podcast Episode #055

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Of the nearly 400,000 churches in the US, I would surmise that 90% of them, or roughly 360,000, are in denial about the current state of their church. But I’m an obnoxious optimist. I know God can still work through those churches, but it takes a great amount of work on the part of churches. Our world is changing dramatically, and if we’re not keeping up with the pace of change, we will be left behind. So this week, we cover 10 dangers of denial that churches can easily fall into instead of changing and thriving.

The problems will only worsen. 
Future generations are forsaken.
Leaders will have regrets. 
Churches will miss opportunities for solutions. 
There is no urgency for change. 
Maintenance ministries engender frustration and conflict.
Churches in denial are usually disobedient. 
Many of these churches will tolerate open and flagrant sin.
The church will lose its best members. 
Comfort becomes an idol. 

Episode Sponsor

This week’s podcast is brought to you by Autopsy of a Deceased Church. Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ’s Kingdom!

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.

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Friday Is for Freebies: Autopsy of a Deceased Church

This month, my giveaways are featuring my new book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

For more than twenty-five years, I’ve helped churches grow, reverse the trends of decline, and autopsied those that have died. From my experiences, I have discovered twelve consistent themes among those churches that have died. Yet, it’s not gloom and doom because from those twelve themes, lessons on how to keep your church alive have emerged.

Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.

Also included is the black, genuine leather version of the HCSB Study Bible, a comprehensive, easy to read, and easy to use Bible, with features and formats specifically designed to enhance your Bible study experience. You can also go to MyStudyBible.com and dive right in for a complete digital experience.

This Bible has a retail price of $79.99 and features 15,000 study notes, 290 Hebrew and Greek word studies, 66 highly detailed book introductions, 62 maps, 27 topical articles, 20 charts, and 18 illustrations, all focusing on the most important topics and questions in Bible study.

Enter this week’s Friday Is for Freebies giveaway

To enter this week’s giveaway, fill out the form below. Entries will be closed at midnight Saturday night. We will contact the winner via email on Monday morning. Names and addresses are deleted each week and are just used to select a winner. RSS and email subscribers should click through to the website to enter.

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After submitting your entry, you will be directed back to the ThomRainer.com homepage. By entering, you acknowledge and accept the terms of the promotion.

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Notable Voices: May 15, 2014

Should a Pastor Use an iPad, iPhone, or Printed Copy of the Bible to Minister Scripture to People? – Brian Croft

Yesterday’s post on print vs. digital sparked a great discussion online. The subject of this related article is one the church will continue to discuss in years to come.

 

Read or Get Out of the Ministry – Eric Geiger

Reading plays a critical role in leadership. Good leaders are typically avid readers. Eric lists four steps for you to develop as both a reader and a leader.

 

The Real Reason Most Leaders Don’t Accomplish Anything Significant – Carey Nieuwhof

The difference between doing something and doing something significant is a fine line but the results are miles apart.

 

Common Problems in Modern Preaching – Andrew Webb

This article isn’t as negative as it sounds, but instead is more corrective in it’s content. It’s a good reminder that no matter what style of preaching you use, there’s always room to improve.

 

On Francis Schaeffer – Bruce A. Little

This week marks the 30th anniversary of Francis Schaeffer’s death, and the blog at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has been publishing articles in his honor—a fitting tribute from the school which houses his personal papers and correspondence.

 

4 Ways Technology Can Improve Volunteer Engagement – Steve Caton

Volunteer engagement is critical to the ministry of a church. This article lists four specific ways digital tools can help and many of these benefits mirror those of the training your church can get through Ministry Grid.

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