Notable Voices and the Week in Review: February 2, 2019

From Around the Web:
Five Strategies for Being a More Approachable Pastor on Sunday Morning — Sam Rainer
If you are a lead pastor, there will be many wrong perceptions about you. It’s impossible to stop. People will formulate ideas about who you are, often pulling from ideals and experiences—good or bad— with previous pastors. These perceptions will be corrected over time as you interact with people and as church members communicate with other church members about your true personality. I certainly haven’t mastered the art, but I make an intentional effort on Sundays. Here are some things to consider.
Four Things to Love About the New CSB Study App — Facts & Trends
There’s a new app you need to download on your beloved smartphone, and no, I’m not referring to the latest Angry Birds offering. (Even if that is an excellent distraction when you’re killing time between hospital visits.) No, I’m talking about the new and improved CSB Study App which you can get for free here for iOS or Android.
Should a Church Membership Class be Required? — Chuck Lawless
More and more churches now expect new church members to complete a membership class, but the debate about whether these classes should be REQUIRED is still an ongoing one. Here are some of the arguments I’ve heard from both sides, and I’d love to hear your opinion. Help all of us consider this important issue.
4 Common Evangelism Mistakes and Why They Shouldn’t Stop You — D. Scott Hildreth
Though we value evangelism, very few of us are actually doing it. According to recent research, 61% of Christians have not shared Christ in the past six months, and 25% have only shared with 1-2 people. I have spent the majority of my ministry teaching Christians how to be more evangelistic. In this post, I want to highlight 4 mistakes most Christians make in evangelism and why we need to stop making them.
This Week at ThomRainer.com:

Mega Pastoral Vacancies in Megachurches
Boomer megachurch pastors are retiring. The number grows every month. And churches are having difficulty finding successors…READ MORE

When You’re Called to Ministry Later in Life: Six Questions
It is an exciting time to be called into vocational ministry. It is an especially exciting time when it happens later in life…READ MORE
What Former Pastors Miss Most about Pastoring
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode506.mp3
What Former Pastors Don’t Miss about Pastoring
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/Episode507.mp3
The Unique Challenges of Revitalization in the Bible Belt
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant
http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/TheExchange/RevitalizeReplant/RR-Episode078.mp3