Notable Voices and the Week in Review: July 13, 2019
From Around the Web:
Should Pastors Pay Off Their Mortgage? — Art Rainer
Purchasing a home is a longterm strategy to free up future cash flow. For most, paying off their mortgage is a no-brainer. But not for ministers, as defined by the IRS. For ministers, there is an additional factor that must be considered called a “housing allowance.”
Secret Thoughts of a First-Time Church Visitor — Facts & Trends
Did you see me on Sunday? I walked into your church and looked around, wondering where to go. I saw lots of people eating donuts and drinking coffee, but no one greeted me. I stood there not knowing where to go or what to do until finally one of the pastors came up to me. He asked me to do the usual. By “the usual” I mean what every church has asked me to do when I visited them: Fill out a piece of paper with all of my information and hand me a “gift” from the church. Then I’m directed to the sanctuary where I can sit anywhere. All by myself.
Six Reasons Some People Miss Hymns — Chuck Lawless
Let me first, though, put all my “cards on the table” for this post. I like various styles of worship music, provided they’re done well. I don’t like any worship style that’s done poorly. I also prefer contemporary worship to more traditional worship. I enjoy praise choruses that echo with the Word of God, and I appreciate the freedom of worship I often find in more contemporary worship services. With that said, I miss singing hymns. I realize some hymns could use theological refining (and that we must do), but I still miss them. Here’s why:
Are Your Church Staff Meetings a Waste of Time? — David Prince
The team ownership of ideas comes from the no-holds-barred input offered in planning. With this approach, no idea is perceived as simply one person’s idea because it cannot even be considered the same idea after being thoroughly critiqued. Quality almost always comes slowly and painfully through deliberate course correction.
This Week at ThomRainer.com:
Why Smaller Churches Are Making a Comeback
Two-thirds of churches have an attendance under 125. The smaller church is the norm, not the exception. And though the news has not been that promising for smaller churches in recent years, I do see some very promising signs for the years ahead…READ MORE
Five Reasons for Failure When Leading Change
Not praying
Not assessing unintended consequences
Not communicating
Not dealing with people issues
Not modeling positive leadership
Six Common Mistakes Made by Preachers from the Pulpit
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode552.mp3
Seven Thoughts on Pastoral Attire in Worship Services
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Rainer on Leadership
http://media.blubrry.com/thomrainer/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Rainer-on-Leadership/Episode553.mp3
Revitalizing a Church from Your Leadership Strength
by Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe | Revitalize & Replant
http://media.blubrry.com/revitalizereplant/s3.amazonaws.com/rainerpodcast/Revitalize-and-Replant/RR-Episode101.mp3
