There are several things we can do with criticism: We can minimize it. People who are busy helping advance the mission don’t have the time to complain! It’s the people who aren’t involved (and therefore aren't having any fun) that have the time to complain. We can minimize complaints by getting people involved in advancing the mission by serving. We can learn from it. Sometimes people have valid complaints that might need to be addressed. But if we're not careful we'll take it as an attack vs … [Read more...]
The Value of the Shout-Out
Every Monday at staff meeting we give a shout-out on Facebook to at least one volunteer who really helped Sunday go well or who has just been very faithful and helpful in general. We do this because "What you celebrate, you duplicate" and because you ought to "Reward what you want repeated." And here are the side effects: It encourages the person receiving the shout-out (everyone likes to be appreciated). It gives honor where honor is due (Romans 13:7). It helps create a culture of … [Read more...]
The Fallacy of the Excluded Middle
What does it take for a church to grow? Some place a heavy emphasis on godly character that comes from prayer, as if that's all it takes to grow a church. This camp loves the first part of Psalm 78:72, "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart..." Others place a heavy emphasis on good leadership, as if that's all it takes to grow a church. This camp loves the second part of Psalm 78:72, "...David shepherded them...with skillful hands." But anytime a teaching implies that 1) all it … [Read more...]
When Not to Build
I just finished reading a book today called When Not to Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church by Ray Bowman & Eddy Hall. Here are the three main principles the entire book is based on: The Principle of Focus. A church should build only when it can do so without shifting its focus from ministering to people to building a building. The Principle of Use. A church needs more space only when it is fully using the space it already has. The Principle of Provision. A … [Read more...]
Using Notes When Preaching
For the first six years or so of the church I would always walk up on stage with about 10 typed pages of notes. As I preached I would turn the stack of pages up there on the pulpit with me. I was quite tied to my notes. But about two years ago we started image magnification and the feedback I got from those producing the service was that all those pages on the pulpit didn't look good on the screen. So I decided to get rid of them. I committed to walking up on stage with just my Bible, like many … [Read more...]
Investment Not an Expense
It's scary to spend money in ministry. The fear is that if we spend what little we might have, there won't be enough for later. But this is the wrong way to think of spending money. As a church, ultimately, everything we spend money on is to make disciples. And in this sense, whatever we're spending money on isn't an expense, rather an investment in people's eternity. And here's how it works: The return on investment is always greater than the initial investment. A church is about destinies, … [Read more...]
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