Last week I wrote a post about the mistaken idea that “all sins are created equal.” The phrase is all-too-often used by folks who defend their serious, destructive, sinful behaviors by putting them at the level of other people’s minor infractions. At the end of the post I said that “church leaders must deal with […]
Programs, Paradigms And Presuppositions: Why We’re Struggling With Disciple-Making
Trends come and go. Some are good and some are…not so good. The disciple-making trend, which can legitimately be called a movement is one of the most encouraging trends I’ve seen for a long time. At its heart, the “new” disciple-making movement (or DM) is a shift back towards an understanding of the Christian life, […]
Eight Ways We Can Return To Discipleship WITH Disciple-Making
Last week I wrote a post called “Programs, paradigms and presuppositions: Why we’re struggling with disciple-making.” I began by rejoicing over the “new” disciple-making movement (DM) and how it is seeking to return the American Evangelical church to a version of Christian discipleship (the Christian life) that includes disciple-making as part of the paradigm. I […]
Why I’m Becoming A Togetherist
Okay. I know. You’ve never heard of a togetherist and it sounds bad. Please give me a chance to explain myself. Here’s what I don’t mean: (1) I don’t mean that we should despise the Bible’s commands to separate ourselves from false teachers and false teaching. Here’s a sample of what God’s Word says about […]
Give Your Pastor The Gift Of Reasonable Expectations
Pastor Appreciation Month is already behind us, but the “holiday season” is coming on fast. Many church members gave their pastors a gift in October, even if it was just their well-wishes. Others are thinking about what they might give their pastor for Christmas. If that’s you, this post is for you. If you’re a […]
A “Perfect Storm” In A Local Church
Definition: “A perfect storm is a meteorological event aggravated by a rare combination of circumstances… [The term has become] an idiom for a situation where a rare combination of factors creates an unusually disastrous or powerful outcome.” Google search Most of us know the term because of The Perfect Storm movie, based on the 1997, […]
SURVIVING A “Perfect Storm” In A Local Church
Last week I wrote about perfect storms in churches. In meteorology, a perfect storm is a rare event in which a combination of circumstances creates an unusually disastrous weather event. In ecclesiology (churches), a perfect storm occurs when one1 or more conflict scenarios occur, typically in the unhealthy atmosphere (culture or congregational system) of a […]
GOD’S GRACE In The Perfect Storm
“I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” The Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 7:4b In meteorology, a perfect storm is a rare event in which a combination of circumstances creates an unusually destructive weather event. In ecclesiology (churches), a perfect storm occurs when one or more conflict scenarios occur, […]
Ten Ways To PREVENT A Perfect Storm From Destroying Your Church
“But you, keep your head in all situations…” The Apostle Paul in II Timothy 4:5a In meteorology, a perfect storm is a rare occurrence in which a combination of circumstances creates an unusually destructive weather event. In ecclesiology (churches), a perfect storm happens when conflict occurs in an unhealthy church atmosphere and is handled poorly […]
Seven Ways You Can Trust Your Church Board
Trust in authority figures in the United States is probably at an all-time low. I can’t prove that, but I doubt that any of you will challenge my assertion. I’ve recently been the victim of a very clever scam artist and a big corporation which seems to not care a whit that it was complicit […]
“Playbook” Chapters I Need To Add: Help Your Congregation Discover Their Riches In Christ
Just a note: In 2025 we launched “The Revitalization Playbook.” The “Playbook” is similar to the ones used by football coaches on the sidelines. The coach’s playbook contains all the plays that the coach is confident that his team can run. Conditions on the field determine which play he chooses next. In my “Playbook,” knowing […]
“Playbook” Chapters I Need To Add: Begin With A Pastoral Revitalization
Just a note: In 2025 we launched “The Revitalization Playbook.” The “Playbook” is similar to the ones used by football coaches on the sidelines. The coach’s playbook contains all the plays that the coach is confident that his team can run. Conditions on the field determine which play he chooses next. In my “Playbook,” knowing […]
“Playbook” Chapters I Need To Add: Return To Some Serious Celebration
Note: In 2025 we launched “The Revitalization Playbook.” The “Playbook” is similar to the ones used by football coaches on the sidelines. The coach’s playbook contains all the plays that the coach is confident that his team can run. Conditions on the field determine which play he chooses next. In my “Playbook,” knowing that every […]
“Playbook” Chapters I Need To Add: Embrace The Strengths Of Your Small Church
“There are no little people and no little places.” Francis Schaeffer Just a note: In 2025 we launched “The Revitalization Playbook.” The “Playbook” is similar to the ones used by football coaches on the sidelines. The coach’s playbook contains all the plays that the coach is confident that his team can run. Conditions on the […]
“Playbook” Chapters I Need To Add: Help Your Church Process Its Pain
Just a note: In 2025 we launched “The Revitalization Playbook.” The “Playbook” is similar to the ones used by football coaches on the sidelines. The coach’s playbook contains all the plays that the coach is confident that his team can run. Conditions on the field determine which play he chooses next. In my “Playbook,” knowing […]
“Playbook” Chapters I Need To Add: Welcome Young Families And Children
Just a note: In 2025 we launched “The Revitalization Playbook.” The “Playbook” is similar to the ones used by football coaches on the sidelines. The coach’s playbook contains all the plays that the coach is confident that his team can run. Conditions on the field determine which play he chooses next. In my “Playbook,” knowing […]
The Kind Of Prayer That Downloads Church Revitalization, Part One
I don’t pretend to be the authority on the subject of church revitalization, and I’m not sure that anybody else is either, but I think I’m on to something. I’ve studied the subject seriously and I’ve listened to great stories from great people. In two posts I’m going to briefly share five of my most […]
The Kind Of Prayer That Downloads Church Revitalization, Part Two
Last week’s post, The Kind Of Prayer That Downloads Church Revitalization, Part One, focused on five, big, surprising conclusions on the subject of church revitalization. The best way to reintroduce my subject might be to reintroduce myself. I began attending and fell in love with a small evangelical church at age twenty, one year after […]
Why Did Our Good God Send Us A Bad Pastor? (Part One)
I confess that no one has ever put it quite that bluntly as my title, but I’ve heard a number of softer versions of it over the years. It usually sounds something like this: “We prayed and worked through our pastor search process but the guy we got was not what we were looking for […]
Why Did Our Good God Send Us A Bad Pastor? (Part Two)
One week ago, we began wrestling with this painful question. While I’ve seldom had it put to me as bluntly as my title, I’ve heard little speeches like the following, several times: “We prayed and worked through our pastor search process but the guy we got was not what we were looking for or expecting […]
Why Did Our Good God Send Us A Bad Pastor? (Part Three)
I’ve heard my share of horror stories about bad pastors. Very few of them are as unfortunate as one I was involved in personally. Near the end of an interim pastorate, when we were just getting our pastoral search team organized, our church was approached directly by a young man who seemed like God’s special […]
