Notable Voices and the Week in Review: March 17, 2018
Don’t Confuse a Church’s Slow Pace with Complacency — Sam Rainer
Every church has a pace built into the culture of its people. Some churches move more slowly. Some move more quickly. While most established churches likely need to pick up the pace, a slow pace does not necessarily mean the church is complacent. Complacent churches are self-satisfied and are unwilling to address problems. Unfortunately, far too many churches are complacent. But don’t confuse complacency with a slow pace. Some congregations are willing to move forward; it just takes them a little longer. A few factors may influence the slow pace of a church.
8 Resources for Your Church’s Easter Guests — Facts & Trends
Your church likely sees more foot traffic on Easter than any other holiday. Since some of these visitors may only visit church once or twice a year, it’s important to engage them in a meaningful way in the few hours you have with them. Here are eight resources to help your church connect with Easter guests in a manner that will hopefully see them return the following week.
Crafting Expository Sermons — H.B. Charles, Jr.
True expository preaching strives to be faithful to the text and clear in the presentation. It is for this reason that introductions, illustrations, and conclusions should matter to the expositor. It is not about being creative, eloquent, or impressive in the pulpit. It is about preaching the word faithfully and clearly to the glory of God and for the salvation and sanctification of the hearers.
Culture and Systems on How Churches Welcome Guests — Eric Geiger
Hospitality is the combination of two words: stranger and love. It literally means to show love to strangers and it is very biblical. God’s hospitality toward us is the foundation and motivation for our hospitality toward others. God loved us while we were still strangers. While we were His enemies, He pursued us. And now we are to accept others the way Christ has accepted us. Being hospitable is even a qualification for being a leader in the church (1 Timothy 3:2). Churches must have a plan for how they show love to those who are their guests. So what are churches doing in terms of their hospitality toward guests? LifeWay Research interviewed more than 1,000 pastors on how their churches welcome guests, and here are a few points from what the research revealed:
This Week at ThomRainer.com:
Seven Potentially Deadly Church Sicknesses
As I have categorized problems and challenges church leaders share, I have seen seven distinct categories of hindrances. Since I am primarily concerned about church health, I call these hindrances “church sicknesses”…READ MORE
Four Pressing Reasons Your Pastor Needs Your Prayers
Pastors’ families are falling apart
The demise of cultural Christianity has brought new pressures
Your pastor must preach a fresh word from God every week
The expectations of omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence
9 Keys for Church Members to Be More Guest Friendly This Easter
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode414.mp3
Eight Questions Welcoming Churches Ask
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode415.mp3
Understanding the Impact of Community Involvement on Church Health
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant
http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/RevitalizeReplant/RR-Episode032.mp3
