Our adult Sunday school was losing people through the cracks. We already had two kinds of classes: electives and age-graded classes. But some people -singles, international students, DINKS (double income, no kids), and folks like my husband and me who enjoy a diverse crowd - didn't feel at home in any of them. The DINKS didn't want so much talk about diapers and schools, and the singles felt uncomfortable ...
Several years ago, a generous church member invited me to go with him to watch a heavyweight fight in Las Vegas. I couldn't help but notice the signs. They're everywhere: big signs, little signs, blinking, flashing, moving signs, even talking signs. It was dazzling.
They don't have a lot to say, but they definitely know how to say it, I thought.
It's just the opposite in the church. We have everything ...
When you propose a new program or shut down an outdated ministry, you're asking people to change on four different levels: mind, heart, lifestyle, and culture. Each level of change requires a different kind of response:
The key to a change of mind is information. Facts that support the reasons for change need to be gathered and shared. They are more persuasive than opinions. Facts alone, though, don't bring about change. In fact, they can precipitate conflict because everyone will not agree on what needs to be done or be ready to do it.
ARTICLE What Does a Healthy Church Look Like? (Part 1) Finally, a complete guide to the vibrant, dynamic, empowered, totally awesome, and really, robust church. Tracy Keenan, Ralph W. Neighbour, Jr., Steve Sjogren, Erwin McManus, Lee Eclov
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Your doctor says you're healthy, no signs of disease; blood pressure and
weight are within normal limits.
The fitness instructor says you're in terrible shape, resting pulse and body-fat
percentage are way above normal; flexibility is poor, and you just flunked
the treadmill test.
If both can be right, what does it mean to be healthy? And following the
same analogy, what does it mean for a church ...
Tell Boss Hogg 'Hi' when you see him!" I could feel my blood pressure rise as I endured another sarcastic remark about the area where I pastor. "This is the town of Hazard," I often have to remind people, "with one z."
People in Hazard, Kentucky, already struggle with a poor self-image, and comparisons with "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV show don't help. For the record, the "Dukes" were caricatures from ...
When I was in high school, my father gave me the great opportunity to work for him in the summer for no money. Some of you had a dad like that, interested in building character instead of a bank account. My dad took me to the farm where he was born and grew up.
On one of the hottest days of the summer, we worked when the sun was at its peak. My dad stopped and said, "Hey, Mark, let me show you something." ...
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