Blog-Generated | Coaching Churches

Nothing Is Certain Anymore-Nothing That Is, But God’s Love

Posted by on April 12, 2020

This global disruption by its very nature changes everything that we used to take for granted. We are no longer sure we are going to have a job or even if we will live or die. The truth in reality is that this is actually our every day reality. However, we get busy and are not grateful for all the blessings we enjoy daily. This post by J.D. Greear is well worth reading:

“We are living in times when nearly everything we thought was certain is suddenly uncertain. But in the midst of that uncertainty, one thing remains: If you turn to God, you never have to wonder what he thinks of you or if he’s going to help you with your worries, big or small.”

Categories: Personal Leadership Spiritual Growth | Comments Off on Nothing Is Certain Anymore-Nothing That Is, But God’s Love

COVID-19 Is Changing The Way Believers Connect

Posted by on April 5, 2020

The mentality of I can’t wait until things get back to the way they used to be is not going to work for church leaders. It will never be the same again. That does mean it has to be a bad thing but for it to be good we must proactively lead. We have feared virtual church to the point that we have not leveraged the power of technology to help us complete our mission. Casting a vision of how to connect believers during the week for faith instead of fun will be a game changer. This post by Leah Davenport is worth the read:

“When it comes to adoption of new communication technologies, the church has typically been at the forefront. The first book ever printed on Gutenberg’s press was the Bible, after all. Beginning in the 1950s and 60s Billy Graham took the format of the tent revival global by utilizing satellite broadcast technology. A cursory glance at the app store or Youtube will yield dozens of Bible reading apps, plans, and sermon podcasts. And yet until recent events, churches still revolved mostly around the weekly rhythm of in-person services on Sundays and weeknight Bible studies.”

Categories: Church Scattered Strategy | Comments Off on COVID-19 Is Changing The Way Believers Connect

What Will The Post-Coronavirus Church Look Like

Posted by on March 29, 2020

I sincerely believe that one of the lasting lessons of any disruption is that things will never be the same again. We can return to the ways of doing church that were effective in making disciples. However, we should as church leaders use this time to make any change that will help us be more effective in reaching and equipping people. This post by Thom Rainer is excellent:

“Church leaders and members are rightly giving much attention to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. In-person church services are being canceled. Small groups are meeting digitally, if at all. Church leaders are urging members to support the church financially through digital giving. Churches are preparing ways to minister to their communities in the midst of the pandemic.

I am grateful for the responses and for the caring hearts of so many church members. In the midst of a major challenge, it is heartwarming and reassuring to see many people who really care.

But the coronavirus will move past its pandemic state at some point in the future. I am fascinated to see what our churches will look like on “the other side.” Here are eight likely developments:”

Categories: Church Scattered Contextualization Missional Living Pastoral Leadership Strategy | Comments Off on What Will The Post-Coronavirus Church Look Like

How To Livestream Your Worship Service

Posted by on March 22, 2020

Most churches are already working through all of these practical issues but wanted to post just in case someone could be helped. So many challenges lie ahead but we are reminded more than ever that the church is not the buildings but the people. We can still leverage technology for eternal purposes and use this time to learn to trust the Father through all of this disruption. This post by The Gospel Coalition will be helpful:

“Among the many ramifications about the spread of COVID-19 is a sudden need for churches everywhere to rethink their Sunday services, moving from a physical to an online gathering for a season.

But livestreaming a sermon or Sunday service can be a daunting challenge, especially for small-to-medium-sized churches that lack the budget and team to execute such a production. The following is a practical guide for how small- or medium-sized churches can get started in livestreaming.”

Categories: Church Scattered Missional Living | Comments Off on How To Livestream Your Worship Service

The Trap Of Tradition

Posted by on March 15, 2020

Some traditions are very good and should be maintained because they provide important reminders of things that still matter. The still matters is the hard part because at some point in time the tradition becomes more important than the people involved. In church life, our message is sacred but our methods should always be changing. Why, because contextualization teaches us to never let the methods step on the ability of the people to hear the message. Ed Stetzer is always great and this post is not exception:

“Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. And, I suppose I should add, it is traditionalism that gives tradition such a bad name.” -Jaroslav Pelikan

They can create shared memories that remind those who participate in them of important events or truths.

Family Traditions

In the summers when my daughters were a little younger we had a standing appointment on Saturdays. We used to go to Cracker Barrel and make the rounds of the garage sales nearby to see if anyone else’s junk should be our junk.”

Categories: Contextualization Pastoral Leadership Strategic Planning | Comments Off on The Trap Of Tradition

9 Reasons Our Families And Friends Don’t Believe The Gospel

Posted by on March 7, 2020

The gospel by its very nature is good news. Maybe we need to remind ourselves as Christian leaders why. What is the problem we are solving and the need we are meeting? Ultimately, security and significance can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We must constantly be sharing with each person the right amount of grace and truth so they can see how much the Father loves them. This post by Chuck Lawless is a good reminder:

“Southeastern Seminary, where I teach, is emphasizing “Who’s Your One” this semester. We want all of our administration, faculty, staff, and students to seek to pray for and share the gospel with at least one person during the next couple of months. Based on my years of sharing Christ with family members and friends, here are my thoughts about why folks struggle with believing the gospel.”

Categories: Contextualization Missional Living Storytelling | Comments Off on 9 Reasons Our Families And Friends Don’t Believe The Gospel

We Need Prophets, Not Partisans

Posted by on March 5, 2020

Christians must understand that the stewardship of the gospel is significantly more important than the government. We are citizens of another country and our calling is to represent Christ as His ambassadors. We care deeply about many social issues but none of them rise to the level of the ministry of redemption we have been given. This post by Brett McCracken is an important read:

“We live in “all or nothing,” “us or them” times. You’re either all with us—toeing the party line on every front—or you’re with them. You’re either trustworthy because you agree with us on everything, or you’re totally untrustworthy and a dangerous threat—even if simply because you dissent from us 5 percent of the time.”

Categories: Contextualization Missional Living | Comments Off on We Need Prophets, Not Partisans

How To Know If You Have Made An Idol Out Of Politics

Posted by on February 23, 2020

If you as a Christian leader have more of a passion for the kingdom than you do America, you could be the target of persecution. The gospel has always been the primary mission of the church and not the government. Yes, we are to be salt and light but to what end? I am sorry if I care more about finding the elect than elections. This post by Joe Carter is worth the read:

“Have you considered you might have made an idol of politics?”

Here we go again, I thought. I wasn’t surprised by the question. Idol-hunting, after all, is a favorite pastime of my fellow evangelicals. But I was caught off guard by the candidate for the potential idol.

It’s certainly possible I’ve made an idol of money. And I’d reluctantly confess that I’ve often made an idol of comfort or security. My wife might say I’ve made an idol of my smartphone, since I always seem to be staring at it in adoration and obeisance. But an idol of politics? How is that even a question? I hate politics. I consider politics to be, at best, a necessary evil, not something I would put ahead of God.”

Categories: Church Scattered Missional Living Pastoral Leadership Personal Leadership | Comments Off on How To Know If You Have Made An Idol Out Of Politics

Why Christian Leaders Struggle With “Dark Nights Of The Soul”

Posted by on February 15, 2020

Pastors who lead local churches have one of the hardest leadership challenges I see in both corporate and non-profit roles. In reality their customers are both their volunteer work force and financial investors all at the same time. No corporate leader faces those challenges and pastors feel that tension every day. This post by Chuck Lawless is excellent:

“If you read church history at all, you’ll learn that men as faithful to God as Martin Luther and Charles Spurgeon struggled with bouts of at least heaviness, if not depression. I’m convinced more church leaders than we know face these battles. Here are some reasons we do, followed by a simple suggestion when we struggle:

Our calling is a calling of God. We’re blessed to have that calling, but we still answer to the Creator of eternity. That’s a weighty reality that sometimes gets really heavy.
We work with life and death. In fact, we work in the light of eternity, reminding people of life and death matters. Just that fact can pound on our shoulders.
We live with our own sin. No church leader I know wants to be hypocritical in front of church members, but all of us know our own sin issues. Our desire to be leaders of integrity increases the burden of our own sin.”

Categories: Leadership Development Pastoral Leadership | Comments Off on Why Christian Leaders Struggle With “Dark Nights Of The Soul”

4 Responses To Cultural Change

Posted by on February 2, 2020

I can identify with Lot in that my spirit is tormented as I live in this increasingly toxic culture. On the one hand I want to run away and hide and the next minute I want to scream at someone. I have learned that the culture is clearly not our friend as Christians but it is not our enemy either. Ed Stetzer is spot on again:

“As followers of Christ, we won’t always fit into the world in which we live. In fact, we’ll often find ourselves going against the flow of popular culture in certain areas of life. It’s necessary for us to have a solid biblical foundation to stand on in the midst of a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.

We need to know how the eternal Word of God shapes our understanding of current issues and how we can share the gospel compassionately and courageously with the people around us.

Here are four possible responses to cultural change.”

Categories: Church Scattered Contextualization Missional Living Strategic Planning | Comments Off on 4 Responses To Cultural Change