Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 51

Three Disciplines Often Missing from Preaching Today

Perhaps the title of this post should be “Three disciplines often missing from my preaching.” I can certainly grow in these areas. However, I don’t believe I’m alone. Through my interactions with other pastors, I have found many of us missing three disciplines in preaching. What are they?

1. Preaching with patience. I must credit my friend, Kevin Smith, with this one. He’s given me this advice. Pastors teach their congregations the benefits of patience and expect patience from their people. However, how often are we patient in our preaching? We must teach patience by showing patience. There is a time to be pointed and prophetic. But more often than not, the pulpit should be a place of patient and loving preaching.

2. Incorporating historical examples. People prefer the here and now, and it makes sense. We don’t live in the past. However, there is much to learn from the past. Many preachers today use current events in their sermons or simply something that happened that week to them. I do the same because it helps connect the text to the lives of my congregation. Researching historical examples takes more time. It’s more challenging because you have to teach history while at the same time connecting the illustration to the text. The problem with using only current stories is your people miss out on the metanarrative of God’s mission throughout history. When you incorporate historical examples, you demonstrate how God worked in the past. When your congregation understands how God worked in the past, they are more inclined to get excited about how he works today.

3. Using an economy of words. Every word in a sermon is important. Longer sermons are not necessarily wrong or bad, but too many sermons are long simply because of too many unnecessary words. When I preach thirty-minute sermons, I’ve found these sermons have precision. When I preach forty-five-minute sermons, I’ve found these sermons tend to have two or three sections that drone on. Few preachers can maintain an economy of words for forty-five minutes. Better to go shorter and be more precise.

These three disciplines are not the only things missing from preaching today. What would you add? Also, they are not the essential pieces of preaching. But I believe these three areas of improvement are well worth the effort.

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4 Steps to Lead Your Church to be Evangelistic

Do you want your church to be evangelistic? Check out these four strategies for moving your church in this direction.

1. Do a Relationship Survey.

Try this simple exercise with your church members. Ask them first to write the names of ten believers with whom they are close enough they could share a prayer concern with them. When the first list is completed, ask your members to write the names of ten non-believers with whom they are close enough they could share the gospel with them. Compare the results of the two lists.

I have asked hundreds of churches to work through this exercise with me. My evidence is only anecdotal, but I feel safe in stating this conclusion: the longer a person is in church, and the higher he or she moves in the church’s leadership, the more likely it is he or she will have trouble completing list #2.  One explanation for our failure to evangelize is simply that we do not know many non-believers well.

Use this type of survey to show your church just how disconnected from non-believers they likely are. Until our churches admit the problem, we won’t seek answers.

2. Do a Bible Study on “How God Sees the Crowds.”

I am often reminded of the words of Matthew 9:36—“When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus saw people, looked into their souls, and grieved over their condition.  He saw them through the eyes of eternity.

Seldom do we see people that way.  Others are our co-workers, our neighbors, our family members, and our friends – not “sheep without a shepherd.”  We see the bank teller, the gas station attendant, the barber, and the mechanic without ever wondering about their spiritual condition.

A first step in connecting with the non-believing world is to change the way we view others. Everyone is a “sheep without a shepherd” apart from Jesus. Help your church sees others in need of a shepherd.

3. Train Church Members to Tell Their Story.

How many people in your church are believers, but you don’t know their conversion story? How many people don’t know your story? If we don’t tell our story to other believers, we’re not likely to tell it to non-believers.

Every Christian not only has a story of God’s grace; he or she is a story of grace. Train your church members to tell their story to others by using this simple outline:

What my life was like before I became a follower of ChristHow I knew I needed to follow ChristHow I became a follower of ChristWhat my life has been like since I became a follower of Christ

Model how to tell stories by enlisting one believer each month to share his or her conversion story with the congregation. Showing a recorded version of the testimony will help avoid nervousness and limit time usage.

4. Clear the Church Calendar at least One Night per Week.

As a church consultant, I am amazed by how busy many churches are.  Events are scheduled almost every night of the week, and “good” members are expected to be there for everything.  It is no wonder, then, that these members have little time to develop relationships with non-believers.

Determine as a church to avoid this calendar chaos as much as possible.  Perhaps you will decide that no church events may occur on Thursday and Friday nights unless the event is clearly designated for outreach.  Then, leave those nights clear, and challenge church members to use one of those nights to invest in relationships with non-believers.

 

What suggestions do you have for leading a church to be evangelistic?

 

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Six Reasons Why Many Full-time Pastors Will Soon Be Part-time

Let’s begin with some prefatory comments. There is a saying so common that it has almost become cliché: There is no such thing as a part-time pastor.

I get it. Many bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors feel like they are on call 24/7 regardless of their employment status. For this article, I am referring to compensation rather than hours on the job. Many full-time compensated pastors will soon receive part-time compensation. Here are six reasons why this trend is accelerating.

1. Declining church income. This reason is the most obvious, but it is a reason that is becoming more common. And the number of churches unable to afford full-time compensated pastors since the pandemic has grown significantly. The number of bi-vocational pastors is already growing rapidly.

2. The pandemic caused pastors to re-evaluate their priorities. Sam Rainer refers to our current reality as “the great reshuffling.” The pandemic prompted many people, including pastors, to evaluate their lives and priorities. Many pastors are already choosing to become co-vocational (choosing to be part-time compensated even though the church can afford full-time compensation).

3. Greater priority on their families. This reason is a subset of number two. As pastors reflected on their priorities during the pandemic, many came away with a commitment to spend more time with their families. For a number of pastors, this move required an intentional decision to work part-time at the church.

4. Technology and side gigs have made other part-time vocations more accessible. I’ve known pastors to drive for Uber, deliver groceries, coach, teach online, code software, and many other vocations that were not available in the recent past. In many of these side vocations, pastors can set their own schedules.

5. There is a growing trend of hiring part-time staff. These part-time staff can pick up many of the responsibilities of pastors if the pastors choose to move part-time. I know several churches that are adding part-time staff who work as little as five to ten hours a week.

6. Many pastors desire not to be dependent on the church for all of their income. Frankly, many churches are fickle. They can demoralize or dismiss pastors for the most absurd reasons. One pastor was threatened with termination if he did not change his eschatological view of the millennium even though his position was not contrary to the church’s doctrinal statement. Pastors no longer want to be at risk of losing all of their income just because an influential member doesn’t like them anymore.

We at Church Answers will continue to monitor this trend. It is definitely a growing trend that will change the way we lead churches and do ministry.

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The Church Should Do More to Address Issues of Mental Illness

The church does not speak enough about mental illness. It’s a significant issue that remains largely silent in most churches. The church can do more. The church should do more. Research reveals that 65% of family members in a household of someone with acute mental illness believe the church should talk more openly about the subject so the topic will not be taboo. Yet two-thirds of pastors rarely or never highlight mental illness in their sermons or large-group gatherings.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has done research demonstrating the prevalence of mental illness in the United States. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year. Approximately 1 in 25 adults in the U.S. experiences a serious mental illness in a given year that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

The median church has about 75 people attending every week. If you are a member of a typical church, then about 15 people will experience some form of mental illness in a given year. If your church is larger, let’s say 300 people, then it is likely that about 60 people will experience some form of mental illness a year.

As a church leader, you know that a significant portion of your congregation will deal with mental illness. Given the prevalence of the problem, churches of every size, every denomination, and all geographic locations will likely be affected. Take a moment and reflect. The issue of mental illness is probably affecting people in your congregation right now. Some pastors struggle with mental illness. Individuals are hurting. Their family members and friends are hurting with them. As a leader in your congregation, you have the responsibility to connect the ministry of the body with those in the body dealing with mental illness.

What You Can Do about Mental Illness

The church is well-positioned to be a vital part of the solution to the problem of mental illness. The local church is the first place many people turn to when suffering from mental illness. What can you do? How can you lead your church?

1. Remove the “taboo” label. Silence often creates a perception that something is off-limits. Lead your church with language. The church should become the place where the shame of mental illness crumbles. Those affected by mental illness want their churches to speak more often about it. Mental illness does not signal a lack of faith any more than contracting cancer signals a lack of faith. Speak candidly and with compassion. When you address the issue out loud, many taboo perceptions go away.

2. Understand the warning signs. Since such a wide variety of mental illnesses exists, a comprehensive list of symptoms does not exist. However, there are warning signs. Take note of extreme mood changes on a regular basis. Any substance abuse is an indicator something is wrong. An inability to complete daily tasks, routines, and work are also warning signs.

3. Maintain a trusted network of professionals. No pastor can do it all. No church leader is trained for every potential illness. The church staff should not attempt to handle every case. Some mental illnesses require help from people with proper training. Pastors and church leaders should have a list of professionals they trust for referrals. It’s dangerous to believe you can deal with every type of mental illness. It’s equally as dangerous to make referrals without knowing the professional.

4. Create a clear system of reporting procedures. If someone starts discussing suicide, do your leaders know what to do? Is the staff aware of what hotlines to call if necessary? More than twice as many people die from suicide every year than by homicide. More women attempt suicide, but men are more likely to use deadlier methods. Everyone in your church should know it’s judicious to call 911 if they believe someone is at risk.

5. Recognize the spiritual struggle of mental illness. The world is fallen. People are broken. While science has enabled us to understand better and treat mental illness, the suffering is ultimately rooted in a spiritual struggle. Quoting Scripture out of context or offering silly clichés (“It’s simply God’s will”) does not help anyone. However, Scripture does demonstrate how we are to show compassion: pray, listen, comfort, and be willing to serve. One of the best ways churches can help is by filling in the gaps for hurting families: running errands, babysitting children, and providing meals. The Good Samaritan was willing to take on inconveniences to serve a hurting man. The church should do the same for those suffering from mental illness.

6. Be ready to minister long-term. The problem of mental illness will not be solved with quick fixes. People who have mental illness could be in for a long-term battle. The church must be ready to walk with people for months, if not years. Not every church may have the ability to create an ongoing counseling ministry, but every church can do something. Group leaders can be trained on the warning signs of mental illness. Staff can be ready with a network of trusted professionals. And everyone can serve someone walking down the difficult road of mental illness. Unfortunately, too many feel as if they are walking alone. The least the church can do is come alongside someone and walk with them, however long that walk may be.

Silence is not an option. Apathy is sinful. The problem of mental illness is a significant one, and the church has been far too quiet in addressing the issue. The likelihood is that several in your church may be suffering today, which means now is the time to act.

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20 Really Funny Things Pastors Said While Preaching (But Wish They Hadn’t)

I took to social media to gather some really funny things pastors wish they hadn’t said while preaching. Most preachers have a great sense of humor, even if it’s self-deprecating humor.

The following 20 are included in no particular order. I ended up leaving out some very funny faux pas, but I decided to keep it relatively clean with a PG rating.

1. “God loves a cheerful liver.”

2. “We must guard against that four-letter word called pride.”

3. While preaching on John 3 where Jesus talks about the wind blowing: “You can’t break wind.”

4. The word was supposed to be “deprecating,” but the pastor told them they needed to be “self-defecating.”

5. Speaking about making too many excuses, the pastor told the congregation he had “a big but that always gets in the way.”

6. In a child dedication service, the pastor said, “the history of child sacrifice goes back many centuries.”

7. It was supposed to be “hearts”: “Father, you know our farts.”

8. Preaching in a nursing home, the pastor told the residents, “God, I want you to bless each person here at this funeral home.”

9. It was supposed to be “enemies”: “God has given you power over all your enemas.”

10. “Mary washed her hair with Jesus’ feet.”

11. Two men named “Loose” had expectant wives: So the pastor said, “Please pray for these Loose women.”

12. The pastor was talking about how potters would fill impure pottery with wax to hide imperfections: “The problem with many believers is we have wax in our cracks.”

13. Christmas message speaking about how beautiful the Christmas tree is in his home: “I love sitting in the living room with nothing on but the Christmas tree.”

14. Speaking at a wedding: “Marriage should be endured, not enjoyed.”

15. The preacher meant to say “inflatables” during the announcements: “Please consider donating your blow-up dolls for our church’s Christmas outreach.”

16. He meant to say “biopsy”: “Please pray for Mrs. Jones who recently went in for an autopsy.”

17. The pastor meant to say Jesus will wipe away the tears from our faces. “Jesus will wipe away our faces.”

18. So much for fruit of the womb: “Behold, children are a blessing from the Lord, the fruit of the loom is a reward.”

19. Instead of “Jesus eats with sinners,” the pastor said, “Jesus eats sinners.”

20. The senior adult group in the church is called The Triple L Club (Live, Love, Laugh), but the pastor referred to them as “The Triple X Club.”

One pastor refrained from repeating the joke he told in church about his mother-in-law. He said he already had to sleep on the couch once.

I have a few faux pas myself, but I would rather hear your stories. Keep it mostly clean!

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Ministering Well to Those Who Are Hurting

In this last week I have seen a young mom lose her child at 20 weeks, a mother of two left by her husband for another woman, and a friend hurt by her church and questioning if she can attend church again. It seems that no one made it through these last few years without incredible loss and pain, and as ministry leaders we are often the ones who God uses to be the first steps toward healing. From the loss of loved ones, to financial strains, to divorce decisions, we carry the brokenness of hurting people and it is imperative that we do so with grace, honor, and wisdom.

As you and I navigate these hard and heavy conversations, here are couple things to remember as we are ministering to the hurting: 

1. Listen Well: No matter how big or small their loss may be, the fact that they are opening up and sharing where there is deep pain and possibly even doubt is a vulnerability that as a leader we must steward well. Sitting with those that are hurting, listening, and allowing them to wrestle and talk through the different emotions and confusion, as well as affirming their pain and hard circumstances are all ways that you take on their pain and try to understand where they are coming from. Asking questions like: “Tell me what was going through your mind at that moment?” or “What is your biggest fear that keeps coming to mind?” are ways to help them process their hurt as well as help guide them in their wrestling toward God. When Paul encourages the Roman Christians to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn” we are reminded of the need for walking alongside one another while displaying empathy and compassion in the context of love.

2. Give Away Hope, Not Advice: If you are like me you are a fixer. You want to call up that other person or make a plan A and a plan B to get them out of their pain or predicament, but the biggest need they have in moments of despair and hurt is to be reminded of the character and truths of God. This doesn’t mean that a simple Bible verse will fix all circumstances, but it does mean that our primary goal as ministry leaders is to remind them of the hope and care they have in God more than any answer we may have for them. Often times we think that relief of pain or different circumstances is the answer we need, but all throughout Scripture God uses the brokenness of this world to bring about His glory and purposes. In some circumstances we may have the means to be able to offer some physical resources or have the life experience to speak into their situation, but before we try to save the day we need to make sure that we are giving them the hope that Jesus offers more than a fix to a problem.

3. Refer and Resource: One of the first things I did when we moved to our new church was ask around for local Christian counselors, pregnancy resources centers, addiction recovery programs, and grief share groups. I have a list of books, articles, resources, and people that I am able to refer to for a variety of needs. In seminary I only took one course that had to do with member care and counseling related topics and it barely skimmed the surface of what topics I have had to face and not to mention the time and consistency that is needed for many. Most of us don’t have the credentials, background, or understanding to handle many of the difficult situations that are brought to us as ministers and yet God graciously allows us to be the first step in someone choosing to seek help and healing. We truly are better together when we utilize the different resources around us and allow other people to be extensions of our care.

4. Follow Up: this is probably the most important step after someone has shared with you what they are walking through. A simple email, text, or card helps to reemphasize the hope and grace you continue to offer them. I have a pastor friend who at Christmas time every year writes a card to everyone in his church congregation who has lost someone that year. A woman in our previous church would keep the anniversaries of women who had lost their spouses and would send them a bouquet of flowers on their anniversary. There is something about “remembering” together and gracious reminders that we aren’t alone in our griefs and losses, nor is our pain forgotten. 

One final thought for you as we wrap up this post. It is very likely that you yourself, as a leader, have walked through some incredible challenges, losses, and hurt. I have found in this season that I rarely have a lot to give to those who are hurting, and my encouragement to you is that even as a leader you too must find spaces to be ministered to, for time of margin and reflection, for moments of quiet and Truth seeking. My prayer is that God would surround you with people who will listen well, encourage, and walk alongside you, as you do the same to those you shepherd and lead. 

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Five Reasons Lead Pastors Should Be Involved with VBS

Few church programs are as ubiquitous as Vacation Bible School (VBS). Churches across all denominations prepare for the summer influx of kids. It’s fun. You get to dance in the sanctuary! It’s also fruitful. Kids are saturated with the gospel for a week. “I was saved at VBS” is a typical testimony I hear among adults.

If you’re a lead pastor, it’s tempting to take off that week because you’re not really needed to lead VBS. Many churches have longstanding volunteers and leaders who run with VBS every year. But the week of VBS is not the time to take a vacation. When your congregation is all-hands-on-deck, then you need to be there. The lead pastor should be an active and visible part of VBS. Here’s why.

1. You get to see volunteers in action you might not otherwise see. Most lead pastors don’t interact much with children’s ministry volunteers. They are working while you are preaching. They run programs while you lead prayer meetings or Bible studies. VBS is an excellent opportunity to see some of your most essential volunteers in action.

2. You get to see children you might not otherwise see. As a lead pastor, I’m rarely with my own kids in their church classrooms, much less other children. At VBS, I hang out with children in my congregation I don’t know well. The kids in your church are just as much under your shepherding as the adults. It’s easy to forget that.

3. You get to see a perspective you might not otherwise see. For example, my authority level during VBS week is that of a volunteer. I serve under our children’s director. It’s healthy for lead pastors to relinquish their typical authority and see a volunteer’s perspective. You’ll likely learn people in your congregation are more capable than you realize.

4. You get to see a multi-generational effort work beautifully. Few ministries draw together all generations like VBS. We have four—if not five—generations serving together at our church during VBS. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes in ministry.

5. You get to share Jesus with kids! I saved the best reason for last. Lead pastors should model evangelism in their churches. VBS is your opportunity to share Christ with the youngest generation.

I love VBS, and I hope you love it too. It’s the perfect time for lead pastors to jump in and have a lot of fun. Get involved this year! You will not regret the investment.

 

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9 Questions to Ask to Determine if the Lord Might be Calling You to Church Revitalization

I realize God calls leaders however He wishes, so I’m always hesitant to offer this kind of list. At the same time, though, I do think these questions are important ones as you consider whether the Lord is calling you to a church revitalization effort in any capacity: 

1. Do you generally have eyes of faith? Revitalization requires leaders who see beyond what they do see—who can envision what God wants to do with a church currently in a struggle. It requires looking forward.

2. Do you have a “stick-to-it” attitude? Nobody I know who has led a revitalization started his work thinking, “I’ll give this a shot for a while. If it doesn’t work out, I can do something else.” Revitalizers jump in with both feet.

3. Are you a patient leader? If you need changes to take place yesterday—or even today, you’ll likely struggle with church revitalization. It’s not usually a speedy process to turn around a ship that’s been going in the wrong direction for years.

4. Do you genuinely love the local church? If you don’t love the church, you’ll run over them trying to revitalize them. It should be love for the church that motivates us to see churches revitalized, and it’s that same love that keeps us invested when the going gets tough.

5. Do you enjoy ministering with senior adults? Many churches needing revitalization are filled with senior adults—some opposed to change and others ready to change to give the church new life. Often, these seniors have kept the doors of the church open. It takes a unique leader to walk with them, challenge them, and guide them through necessary change.

6. Are you regularly doing evangelism? A “revitalized” church that still doesn’t evangelize and reach non-believers may not be nearly as revitalized as they think they are. Real revitalization starts with senior leadership of the church obediently sharing the gospel with others. Revitalizers set the example.

7. Is prayer in your DNA? Frankly, many church leaders struggle with consistently staying on their knees—but that reality can’t let us off the hook. If you tend to operate in your own strength apart from the power of God, you will be missing one of the critical components of church revitalization.

8. Are you okay with evaluating numbers in a church? Numbers (e.g., attendance, baptism, offerings, etc.) are surely only one area to evaluate in a revitalization, but those statistics do matter. If you’re unwilling to ask numerical questions, your overall evaluation of the church’s current status and its future growth will be lacking.

9. Are you excited about revitalization? It’s hard work, but you’ll struggle even more if you see revitalization as simply a drudgery you have to do because it’s what many churches need. Even those called to revitalization may struggle at times, but they nevertheless approach the task with enthusiasm and anticipation. 

What would you add to this list?

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Major Shift in the Top Ten Best-Selling Bible Translations the Past Year

There has been an amazing shift in the sales of Bible translations in less than a year. After years of relative stability, the King James Version (KJV) lost its number two ranking. In fact, the KJV dropped two spots to number four. The modern language translation of the KJV, the New King James Version (NKJV), fell one spot.

While the New International Version (NIV) is still ranked as number one, the New Living Translation (NLT) has moved to the number two spot, followed by the English Standard Version at number three. We realize that The Message is a paraphrase, not a translation.

Let’s look at the rankings, followed by a few of my observations.

Rankings as of March 2022 (numbers in parentheses are June 2021 rankings).  

New International Version (NIV) (1)New Living Translation (3)English Standard Version (ESV) (4)King James Version (KJV) (2)Christian Standard Bible (CSB) (6)New King James Version (NKJV) (5)Reina Valera (RV) (7)New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) (8)The Message (Message) (9)New American Standard (NASB) (not ranked)

 Observations and Notes:

If the King James Version remains at this level, it will signal a major shake-up in Bible translation preferences. It has held the number two spot for many years. Is it a reflection of the decline or closings of smaller KJV-only churches? Or perhaps, it reflects cultural shifts. If a family wanted a Bible for the coffee table, they typically would pick a KJV. Families may not want a Bible at all in their homes.Is the New Living Translation (NLT) headed toward replacing the NIV as the number one preferred translation? While we don’t have market share data, we hear anecdotally that many pastors have moved to the NLT. Their congregations are likely following.The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is back in the top ten after a year’s absence.The New King James Version (NKJV) was number three ten years ago. It has gradually lost its ranking over the years to number 6 today.Here is the link to the rankings: https://christianbookexpo.com/bestseller/translations.php?id=0322

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Preparing Your Volunteers for Easter Sunday

Like death, taxes, and Nickelback, Easter is a reality. The good news is it’s a better reality than those other three examples (let’s face it: atrocious pop music and the cornerstone of Christianity don’t mix).

Hopefully you’re preparing your church for the celebration: services are being planned, worship is being rehearsed, and sermons are being crafted. But how is your volunteer prep coming? Here are eight practical ways to get there:

1. Talk it up. Don’t rely on all-church stage announcements. Talk to your volunteer teams about what’s coming, service additions, and how they can help. Start now. There are four weekends between now and then, and you should have an Easter-related conversation in every one.

2. Remind them of the win. Statistically, your church will have more lost people in the crowd than any other weekend of the year (with the possible exception of Christmas Eve). Don’t let your team lose sight of that.

3. Go big. Easter is not the time to get minimal. I believe that you can never have too many volunteers. So dream a little. If volunteer numbers weren’t an issue, where would you add teams? Where would you add value for your guests?

4. Consider a volunteer-only service. Rather than juggling schedules and added options, why not provide a special service just for your volunteers? Same service format as Sunday morning, but with the added bonus of praying specifically for what God will do through your teams.

5. Attend one, serve two. If your church hosts multiple services anyway, you know you should be asking your team to attend one, serve one. For Easter weekend, challenge them to serve two, and double your numbers.

6. Teach shoulder-tapping. Tim Stevens and Tony Morgan coined this phrase, and it’s the best way to build your team. Empower your volunteers to leverage their relationships and invite new volunteers to serve alongside them.

7. Provide training. Don’t just recruit and dump. That’s the quickest way to get a one-and-done volunteer. Schedule a guest services training in order to get your new folks on the same page and instill confidence.

8. Honor their relationships. Hopefully your volunteers will be inviting unchurched friends to attend Easter services with them. Help them think through how they can invite friends and serve, but if you’re going to err, err on the side of those friendships.

How are you preparing your volunteers for Easter?

This post originally appeared on dfranks.com .

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