Notable Voices and the Week in Review: April 8, 2017
Seven Ways to Deal with Gnats in Ministry
Pastoral Leadership, Prayer, and Church Health – Rainer on Leadership #316
Seven Habits of Long-tenured Pastors
Eight Considerations for Family Photo Stations at Churches on Holidays
The Importance of Church Facility Stewardship featuring Tim Cool – Rainer on Leadership #317
Four Surprises in Bible Publishing — Trevin Wax
The challenge of my new role has been the need to learn multiple disciplines at once, while also receiving a crash course in the basics of publishing God’s Word. From the logistical and mechanical side of Bible production, to the theological implications of translation choices, to the marketing of a translation—these have been at the forefront of my mind during these months of learning how to manage this business and ministry. Recently, someone asked me about the biggest surprises I’ve encountered in this role. Four surprises came to mind at once.
5 Bad Excuses for Not Giving to Your Church — Art Rainer
Consistently giving to your church is a big step in your financial health. It is also the first step. Many struggle with the idea of giving to their church. There is a barrier between them and the offering plate (or online giving site). Often the excuses for not giving are based on a misunderstanding of Scripture or a misunderstanding of their church. Here are five bad excuses for not giving to your church:
5 Lessons from Fallen Pastors — Eric Geiger
Pastors and ministry leaders are not above character implosion and wandering from the Lord. In time, their wandering manifests in a variety of self-destructive and disqualifying behaviors. In the last several years, I have thought a lot about “fallen pastors.” My role at LifeWay provides a painful view of the fallout. As pastors are removed from ministry, the implications on churches and families are far-reaching. Here are five lessons from a season of fallen pastors, a season that has, at times, felt epidemic.
10 Ways to Provide A Welcoming Environment for Your Guests this Easter — Juan Sanchez
On Easter Sunday, April 16, we will welcome many visitors to our worship gatherings. A lot of these guests will step into a church service for the first time. Many, I suspect, do not call themselves Christians. Guests notice and usually comment on how loving a fellowship is (or is not) by their willingness to welcome newcomers. If your church already welcomes guests well, then praise God for His work among you and continue to remind your members about the preciousness of others. The following are just 10 ways we can help guests feel welcome and at home each Sunday, but especially this coming Easter Sunday when so many will visit your church for the first, and possibly, last time.
9 Signs Your Church Is Stalling Out — Carey Nieuwhof
Often you might see a 3 year run, 5 year run or even 15 year run on incredible growth and realization of your mission, but there’s almost a universal stall out that happens unless you anticipate it and correct it. The reason this matters is the church has the most important mission on earth. No one should be more zealous to see people reached and the Kingdom expand than Christian leaders.
The Five Most Beneficial Apps for Worship Leaders — Chris Vacher
As a worship leader, over time, I’ve developed a great workflow using iPhone and iPad apps. What we are able do with apps as worship leaders today would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Tuners, metronomes, multitrack recording, service planning – all of it available literally in the palm of your hand thanks to your phone and some great developers. The tools we have at our disposal can help develop skill, can help our creative development, and can help us be more efficient with our time. Ultimately, our calling is to equip people in our church to live their lives as faithful followers of Jesus. Apps like these should help us as we work toward that goal.
