This is my last post on the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. Again, I higly recommend this book For those of you that are in church work or considering work. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 27.
It is one thing to say "Hi" to folks when they walk in the doors of your church. It is something wholly different to express hospitality to them when they leave.
Guests, in particular, need to know that the church is as real at the end as it is at the beginning.
The last image that guests should have as they leave the church is of the greeter smiling. (My paraphrase) (182)
Create a consistent church hospitality space. (My paraphrase) (183)
Many guests will not come to your church hospitality space the first time they visit.
End of service hospitality for guests is of the highest value.
You want everything you do at the end of the service to connect with what was said from the pulpit and what occured in the service. (184)
In summary, 27 Questions is a great reference guide to anyone wondering about "everything but preaching". This book will definitely stay handy.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
How important are Inside Greeters?
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 26.
Greeters are frontline faces for your church. They can make you or break you.
Do not assume that everyone knows how to greet. They don't. (176)
When passing out bulletins the greeter should always give a genuine verbal welcome to the church.
Make sure greeters have plenty of hand sanitizer nearby and that people coming to church know they do.
If your churches chooses to not have greeters shake hands, then you as the senior pastor need to communicate that at some point from the pulpit.
The greeter needs to avoid at all costs looking past the person they are greeting in that moment. (177)
It is important that greeters non get caught up in the fun of weekly reconnecting with friends to the exclusion of identifying guests.
..when assistance is needed a system needs to be in place for care to be provided.
If assistance in the form of a wheelchair is needed, the greeter needs to konw where to get one. (178)
I urge you in the strongest possible way to take the filling of these positions seriously.
Then train, train, and retrain those folks to be all they can be for you and for the church. (179)
Greeters are frontline faces for your church. They can make you or break you.
Do not assume that everyone knows how to greet. They don't. (176)
When passing out bulletins the greeter should always give a genuine verbal welcome to the church.
Make sure greeters have plenty of hand sanitizer nearby and that people coming to church know they do.
If your churches chooses to not have greeters shake hands, then you as the senior pastor need to communicate that at some point from the pulpit.
The greeter needs to avoid at all costs looking past the person they are greeting in that moment. (177)
It is important that greeters non get caught up in the fun of weekly reconnecting with friends to the exclusion of identifying guests.
..when assistance is needed a system needs to be in place for care to be provided.
If assistance in the form of a wheelchair is needed, the greeter needs to konw where to get one. (178)
I urge you in the strongest possible way to take the filling of these positions seriously.
Then train, train, and retrain those folks to be all they can be for you and for the church. (179)
3 Types of Outside Greeters
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 25.
It seems the church is very friendly with itself.
It happens because the church normally does not create enough waves of hospitality to engender a genuine lasting sense of welcome to newer people to the church. (170)
I suggest creating your first wave of hospitality on the parking lot. (170-171)
Parking Lot-Entrance Greeters
I recommend you place two people at each of your entrances to welcome all the cars.
This is a great place for high school or college age students to serve.
Car Parkers
Car parkers take their ministry role seriously. One of the things you need to do is to make sure they remember "service" and not "boss-man-on-the-lot." (171)
...people want to park where they want to park.
It is recommended that the church provide special up-close parking for those potential new friends of the church. When appropriate, the car parker can briefly tell the guests about whatever hospirality expression the church has following the service, e.g., a place to met the pastor, a place to have some coffee or goodies, a place to mingle with leaders of the church, etc.
Sidewalk Greeters
You will be amazed at how your folks and guest to your church will respond when they are greeted by someone before they expect it. (172)
Please note for churches with colder winter settings, providing an outside space heater for greeters makes it a whole lot easier to recruit for this important role.
...find ways to create hospitality outside the building. (173).
It seems the church is very friendly with itself.
It happens because the church normally does not create enough waves of hospitality to engender a genuine lasting sense of welcome to newer people to the church. (170)
I suggest creating your first wave of hospitality on the parking lot. (170-171)
Parking Lot-Entrance Greeters
I recommend you place two people at each of your entrances to welcome all the cars.
This is a great place for high school or college age students to serve.
Car Parkers
Car parkers take their ministry role seriously. One of the things you need to do is to make sure they remember "service" and not "boss-man-on-the-lot." (171)
...people want to park where they want to park.
It is recommended that the church provide special up-close parking for those potential new friends of the church. When appropriate, the car parker can briefly tell the guests about whatever hospirality expression the church has following the service, e.g., a place to met the pastor, a place to have some coffee or goodies, a place to mingle with leaders of the church, etc.
Sidewalk Greeters
You will be amazed at how your folks and guest to your church will respond when they are greeted by someone before they expect it. (172)
Please note for churches with colder winter settings, providing an outside space heater for greeters makes it a whole lot easier to recruit for this important role.
...find ways to create hospitality outside the building. (173).
The 9 Facets of the Art of Welcoming Guests
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 24.
How do we create a sustainable welcoming culture?
...the sense of welcoming new people to the family gets harder and harder the longer the church exists. (164)
Building a culture of evangelism starts in the pulpit - it must be seen as your heartbeat. (164)
Develope a culture of evangelism and guests will return because of relationship. (164)
When people give of their time and resources thier arms are open. When arms are open, guests feel it. (165)
...not meeting guests is analagous to a senior sales manager saying he is too busy directing things to meet with a new prospect who shows up on the showroom floor. (165)
Whatever you do make sure you provde the very best for your guests. (165)
Go visit your guest. This must be done right... No effort should be made to enter the house. (166)
You will get smaller attendance than your monthly guest count, but those who attend [a Sunday welcome lunch] will be the most interested in the church. (166)
Make sure your signage make sense to those on the outside, not just folks on the inside. (166)
Be consistent. The same level of consistent friendliness and openness must pervade your church culture. (167)
...Kent Mankins - hey, I know this guy! :)
How do we create a sustainable welcoming culture?
...the sense of welcoming new people to the family gets harder and harder the longer the church exists. (164)
Building a culture of evangelism starts in the pulpit - it must be seen as your heartbeat. (164)
Develope a culture of evangelism and guests will return because of relationship. (164)
When people give of their time and resources thier arms are open. When arms are open, guests feel it. (165)
...not meeting guests is analagous to a senior sales manager saying he is too busy directing things to meet with a new prospect who shows up on the showroom floor. (165)
Whatever you do make sure you provde the very best for your guests. (165)
Go visit your guest. This must be done right... No effort should be made to enter the house. (166)
You will get smaller attendance than your monthly guest count, but those who attend [a Sunday welcome lunch] will be the most interested in the church. (166)
Make sure your signage make sense to those on the outside, not just folks on the inside. (166)
Be consistent. The same level of consistent friendliness and openness must pervade your church culture. (167)
...Kent Mankins - hey, I know this guy! :)
How to Not treat Visitors
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 23.
Putting guests on the spot (158) - this one makes me cringe. I currently attend a church in which they ask the guests to raise their hands. This past Sunday the statement was made, "Come on. It's okay. Raise your hand." It made me sick to my stomach. I'm a Christian and I haven't even raised my hand to get the visitor packet.
Pouring it on (158) - this one has been a problem as well. In a church that I used to attend, we were a small congregation. So, whenever a guest attended, we were perhaps "too friendly". The feedback we received is so many people were introducing themselves to the guests that it was overwhelming and intimidating.
This is a hard balance. How do you show genuine interest in people without them thinking that you are trying to stalk them?
Putting guests on the spot (158) - this one makes me cringe. I currently attend a church in which they ask the guests to raise their hands. This past Sunday the statement was made, "Come on. It's okay. Raise your hand." It made me sick to my stomach. I'm a Christian and I haven't even raised my hand to get the visitor packet.
Pouring it on (158) - this one has been a problem as well. In a church that I used to attend, we were a small congregation. So, whenever a guest attended, we were perhaps "too friendly". The feedback we received is so many people were introducing themselves to the guests that it was overwhelming and intimidating.
This is a hard balance. How do you show genuine interest in people without them thinking that you are trying to stalk them?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Start from Scratch Budget
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 20.
How do I build a budget for the church I serve?
I really appreciate this chapter and the practical advice given on how to build a budget from scratch. My only real question about this is what if the church is a New Church? Then what?
How do I build a budget for the church I serve?
I really appreciate this chapter and the practical advice given on how to build a budget from scratch. My only real question about this is what if the church is a New Church? Then what?
The Basics of Discipleship
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 18.
Make 24-Hour Contact
Babies can't lie around for a week without attention. These first few hours and days are critical. (125).
You must assume the new believer knows nothing of their new faith. Start from scratch.
I am not really too fussy about what you do to disciple new believers...just do something. (127).
Make 24-Hour Contact
Babies can't lie around for a week without attention. These first few hours and days are critical. (125).
You must assume the new believer knows nothing of their new faith. Start from scratch.
I am not really too fussy about what you do to disciple new believers...just do something. (127).
Staff Disloyalty
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 17 (yes, I skipped a few more chapters).
By definition, loyalty is the quality of being faithful to those persons or ideals that one is under obligation to defend or support. (116)
Nip it now! It is absolutely critical that, whenever you hear of disloyalty, you nip it in the bud. Problems like this don't just go away. Deal with it right now! (119)
By definition, loyalty is the quality of being faithful to those persons or ideals that one is under obligation to defend or support. (116)
Nip it now! It is absolutely critical that, whenever you hear of disloyalty, you nip it in the bud. Problems like this don't just go away. Deal with it right now! (119)
Interviewing a Potential Staff Member
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 14.
If there was something less than flattering about your character, life, or ministry, and you were presenting yourself to a prospective church, what is it you would rather they not ask? (98).
Can I say ouch? Although, I wish I would have had this section a long time ago.
If there was something less than flattering about your character, life, or ministry, and you were presenting yourself to a prospective church, what is it you would rather they not ask? (98).
Can I say ouch? Although, I wish I would have had this section a long time ago.
You've Got to Have Timing
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 13 (I skipped a few chapters).
Bringing in the right people around you at the right time is the art all pastors crave, and it is truly that, an art. (92)
Act like you are paying the new position well before you actually do so. (93).
God is not averse to good timing.
...think in a sales-and-growth mindset, not an establishment and play-it-safe way of thinking.
[do not] fall prey to the paralysis of analysis so common with late hires. (94)
Bringing in the right people around you at the right time is the art all pastors crave, and it is truly that, an art. (92)
Act like you are paying the new position well before you actually do so. (93).
God is not averse to good timing.
...think in a sales-and-growth mindset, not an establishment and play-it-safe way of thinking.
[do not] fall prey to the paralysis of analysis so common with late hires. (94)
Music
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 9.
It makes no difference what anyone's preference is inside the church.
The church service is for the proclamation of the gospel.
...all aspects of the church service should focus on that which draws non-believers. (66).
The philosophy of the church must shift in word and action to a focus on non-believers.
What kind of a culture do we need to create for all people to be Kingdom-minded in their entire approach to ministry?
...you are finite in your ability to culturally reach and draw all people with any measure of success (67).
It is the fact that few people turn their lives over to Christ after age 50 and almost no one after ages 60 and 70.
I recommend for the future you begin now to change the way the retired folks of 2020 and 2030 and beyond will view the church and the Kingdom. Work now to get ahead of the curve then.
If you are going to grow and reach the most people who will make decisions to follow Christ, you must reach those under age 40. (68)
It is about the musical preferences of those vastly more likely to give their hearts to Jesus, the younger crowd.
Your job is to create a culture where older people and younger people want to see the largest number of people give their lives to Christ.
We give up on no one, but we reach to the largest of the masses. (70)
It makes no difference what anyone's preference is inside the church.
The church service is for the proclamation of the gospel.
...all aspects of the church service should focus on that which draws non-believers. (66).
The philosophy of the church must shift in word and action to a focus on non-believers.
What kind of a culture do we need to create for all people to be Kingdom-minded in their entire approach to ministry?
...you are finite in your ability to culturally reach and draw all people with any measure of success (67).
It is the fact that few people turn their lives over to Christ after age 50 and almost no one after ages 60 and 70.
I recommend for the future you begin now to change the way the retired folks of 2020 and 2030 and beyond will view the church and the Kingdom. Work now to get ahead of the curve then.
If you are going to grow and reach the most people who will make decisions to follow Christ, you must reach those under age 40. (68)
It is about the musical preferences of those vastly more likely to give their hearts to Jesus, the younger crowd.
Your job is to create a culture where older people and younger people want to see the largest number of people give their lives to Christ.
We give up on no one, but we reach to the largest of the masses. (70)
6 Reasons to Copy Another Church
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 8.
Out of the 6 Reasons, the one that stood out the most to me was:
Somebody else out there probably has the same mission you have and they are doing it well. (60).
If you want to think small, then your church will be small. However, if you want to think big, which I advocate, you have the potential to grow a church of significant size. There are no guarantees except that if you think small, you will not grow big (62).
Even if you think you cannot do it as well as the other church, you will certainly succeed at not doing anything well if you do not try (63).
You will be amazed at what can happen when you pool together the best in God's kingdom.
Discern first and the start copying. Make it you and make it better! (63)
Out of the 6 Reasons, the one that stood out the most to me was:
Somebody else out there probably has the same mission you have and they are doing it well. (60).
If you want to think small, then your church will be small. However, if you want to think big, which I advocate, you have the potential to grow a church of significant size. There are no guarantees except that if you think small, you will not grow big (62).
Even if you think you cannot do it as well as the other church, you will certainly succeed at not doing anything well if you do not try (63).
You will be amazed at what can happen when you pool together the best in God's kingdom.
Discern first and the start copying. Make it you and make it better! (63)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
3 Congregational Obstacles to Growth
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 7.
The Past
The senior leader of a growing church will become a student of a church's past. He will appreciate and celebrate it.
While doing so he must position its future as something real and of God...
...set the church up for the greatest of futures.
Use terms that create excitement for the future (55).
People in the Church Think or Say, "We're Big Enough."
...regularly indicate that until every person within the reach of that church knows God, the church is never "big enough."
...anything less than one more coin, one more sheep or one more son was not enough. (56)
The Changing Demographic of the Congregation
God is neither red nor yellow nor black nor white. He is not American, European, African, Australian, Asian or Latino.
Understand that changes in demographics do not happen quickly, but our preparedness for those changes can be put in place proactively, rather than reactively (57).
The Past
The senior leader of a growing church will become a student of a church's past. He will appreciate and celebrate it.
While doing so he must position its future as something real and of God...
...set the church up for the greatest of futures.
Use terms that create excitement for the future (55).
People in the Church Think or Say, "We're Big Enough."
...regularly indicate that until every person within the reach of that church knows God, the church is never "big enough."
...anything less than one more coin, one more sheep or one more son was not enough. (56)
The Changing Demographic of the Congregation
God is neither red nor yellow nor black nor white. He is not American, European, African, Australian, Asian or Latino.
Understand that changes in demographics do not happen quickly, but our preparedness for those changes can be put in place proactively, rather than reactively (57).
Monday, May 24, 2010
Something is Missing
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 6.
Growing a church is far more about removing obstacles to growth than implementing a formula or making growth happen. (48)
The Absence of the Understanding of Prayer
Design and implement a time of corporate prayer.
Teach and pray.
Plan for the long haul. (49)
The Absence of Actions Regarding Lost People
The churches that go out on the cultural edge to talk to lost people sometimes find the saints in the church in an uproar. (49)
...church service is not about them, their tradition, their music, etc. It is about lost people. (49)
A telling sign of whether your folks are about lost people is seen in how frequently they request prayer for friends who are far from God compared to prayer requests for finances or physical health (49-50).
The Absence of a Strong Compelling Vision
The vision must be bigger than we are.
Seek the word from God that is unique to the Body you lead.
Make sure the compelling vision is clear from Scripture. (51)
Growing a church is far more about removing obstacles to growth than implementing a formula or making growth happen. (48)
The Absence of the Understanding of Prayer
Design and implement a time of corporate prayer.
Teach and pray.
Plan for the long haul. (49)
The Absence of Actions Regarding Lost People
The churches that go out on the cultural edge to talk to lost people sometimes find the saints in the church in an uproar. (49)
...church service is not about them, their tradition, their music, etc. It is about lost people. (49)
A telling sign of whether your folks are about lost people is seen in how frequently they request prayer for friends who are far from God compared to prayer requests for finances or physical health (49-50).
The Absence of a Strong Compelling Vision
The vision must be bigger than we are.
Seek the word from God that is unique to the Body you lead.
Make sure the compelling vision is clear from Scripture. (51)
5 Pastor-Driven Obstacles to Growth and How to Remove Them
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 5.
Life comes as growth abounds. Death comes when growth ceases. (p. 42)
The Lack of Growth in the Leader
The church will only grow to the level the senior pastor will take it. (p. 42)
As a leader you cannot expect the body of believers under your care to move poast where you are on the spiritual continuum. (p. 43)
The unwillingness to Lose People
The leader must position his thinking to be willing to absorb loss. (p. 43).
You must move forward knowing that while you reach to the unbeliever you may offend a long-term member. (p. 43)
The Senior Pastor Always See Greener Grass
Quit telling yourself that the grass is greener elsewhere. (p. 45)
Quality of Hires
I recommend you plan to compensate the high-quality staff member at the 75 percentile level of that position's value, regionally or nationally. You get what you pay for. (p.45)
Get good people and keep them. (p.45).
Constant Turnover of Staff
Maintain your senior leadership role. You are not necessarily to be everybody's best buddy. (p. 46).
Lift staff members in the eyes of the congregation. (p. 46)
Life comes as growth abounds. Death comes when growth ceases. (p. 42)
The Lack of Growth in the Leader
The church will only grow to the level the senior pastor will take it. (p. 42)
As a leader you cannot expect the body of believers under your care to move poast where you are on the spiritual continuum. (p. 43)
The unwillingness to Lose People
The leader must position his thinking to be willing to absorb loss. (p. 43).
You must move forward knowing that while you reach to the unbeliever you may offend a long-term member. (p. 43)
The Senior Pastor Always See Greener Grass
Quit telling yourself that the grass is greener elsewhere. (p. 45)
Quality of Hires
I recommend you plan to compensate the high-quality staff member at the 75 percentile level of that position's value, regionally or nationally. You get what you pay for. (p.45)
Get good people and keep them. (p.45).
Constant Turnover of Staff
Maintain your senior leadership role. You are not necessarily to be everybody's best buddy. (p. 46).
Lift staff members in the eyes of the congregation. (p. 46)
The 3 Foundational Elements Necessary for a Church to Grow
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 4.
Everything grows or it dies. (p. 38).
Please know that having any or all of these elements in place does not guarantee growth. (p. 38).
Good Preaching
The same openness that exists for all sorts of bad theology and spiritual searches is open to good biblical preaching. (p.39).
Good Music
The most likely group to consider a change and come to the church is the under-40 crowd. Their world is filled with outstanding music. It is your job to make the music at church the best it can be. (p. 39).
Don't settle! Go for the best in your challenge to them (music team). (p. 39).
Good Ministry to Children
There is ministry to children and then there is good ministry to children. (p. 39).
What's Absent?
Ministry to youth is not included. Why is that? Children come before youth. Churches all over the country do it backwards. When a church begins to grow, the first staff person they often hire is the youth pastor. If they were really do it right, it should be the children's pastor. (p. 40).
Discipleship - It starts in the pulpit. Discipleship emanates first from good preaching. (p. 40).
Everything grows or it dies. (p. 38).
Please know that having any or all of these elements in place does not guarantee growth. (p. 38).
Good Preaching
The same openness that exists for all sorts of bad theology and spiritual searches is open to good biblical preaching. (p.39).
Good Music
The most likely group to consider a change and come to the church is the under-40 crowd. Their world is filled with outstanding music. It is your job to make the music at church the best it can be. (p. 39).
Don't settle! Go for the best in your challenge to them (music team). (p. 39).
Good Ministry to Children
There is ministry to children and then there is good ministry to children. (p. 39).
What's Absent?
Ministry to youth is not included. Why is that? Children come before youth. Churches all over the country do it backwards. When a church begins to grow, the first staff person they often hire is the youth pastor. If they were really do it right, it should be the children's pastor. (p. 40).
Discipleship - It starts in the pulpit. Discipleship emanates first from good preaching. (p. 40).
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The 3 Cultures Necessary For a Church to Grow
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapter 3.
The 3 Cultures Necessary For a Church to Grow
These three cultures do not develop on short notices and they certainly do not do so by osmosis...Further, the three cultures are not a magic wand to grow the church you serve numerically or spiritually. (p.34)
Prayer
Start teaching, cultivating, encouraging, and leading the charge to possess a culture of prayer. (p. 35).
How? A little help here? Anyone?
Change
How can you possibly stay the same and grow? Impossible. (p. 35).
So the only thing constant is change. Got it.
The Bible never changes. The manner in which the Bible message is communicated changes all the time. (p. 35).
Your role as pastor is to help coach and teach the Body and other church leaders about the role of change in the life of the church. ...the only thing constant around there is change. (p. 35)
Ok. How?
Ministry to Young Families
Which demographic of people is most likely to make decisions for Christ? Any idea? Children. The younger the person the more likely it is that they will make a decision of this magnitude. The older the person the less likely it is that they will make this decision. (p. 36).
5 Reasons Senior Pastors Don't Lead Their Churches
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. Here are my favorite snippets from chapter 2.
5 Reasons Senior Pastors Don't Lead Their Churches
...pick your time. Be wise, be deliberate, and be patient. Then confront the detractors to your leadership, and communicate clear and concise leadership. (p. 27)
The stronger the congregational form of government the harder it is for the church to grow. (-. 27).
...start communicating this to the congregation in a growth-excitement manner. Keep them fully in the loop so they feel less a sense of "we are not voting anymore" and more "we still are hearing the inside scoop on decisions." (p. 28).
You are the leader. Act like it. (p. 28).
The pastor/leader cannot be seen as a dictator; he must communicate that input is critical from staff members. However, at the end of the day, regardless of the decision or direction, the team must coalesce behind the pastor/leader. (p. 29).
Nothing is worse than no leadership from anyone. (p. 29).
Buy-in means strong staff leaders hearing, understanding, challenging, debating and owning the pastor/leader's vision or adjusted vision. (p. 30).
If the church wants to lose, then shake the dust off your feet and move on. Where the entrenchment of leadership other than the senior pastor exists, the church lacks vision. (p. 31).
Monday, May 17, 2010
Count Everything
I'm reviewing the book 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask by Dick Hardy. For those of you that are in church work or considering work, you should buy this book. It is filled with practical insights from a pastoral perspective. In each post I will take some quotes that stood out to me most and give a short reaction/question.
Count Everything
...in many cases, arguments against numbers are driven by an inability to see results (p. 20).
I struggle with this statement because I have been taught through classes and experience that numbers aren't everything. In retrospect, this normally comes from people that lack vision, purpose, or results. At the same time, I have heard numbers quoted flippantly without regard for the people, relationships, and stories behind those numbers. It is a fine line.
If the church is percolating in children's ministry and youth ministry but their adult Bible fellowship or small group ministries for adults are tanking, it will show in the overall attendance (p. 21).
I appreciate this outlook on attendance. It is more holistic and gives attention to the overall growth in the church while not forgetting the details.
A far better way to compare one year to the previous is to average the 52 weeks up through and including the current week (p. 22).
Maybe this is an obvious question, but does this apply to church plants and multi-site venues as well? If so, how? If not, then what?
Develop a systematic evaluation of the quality of all ministries. That quality will be a direct reflection of the quantity shown in the measurements. (p. 22).
This is a great approach to counting everything. It seems that all ministries would need to be counted and evaluated a little differently so that nuances do not skew what is important.
The more you measure the better steward you will be of that which God has entrusted to you. (p. 23)
So the more you measure, the more God will give you to be faithful in. Sounds like the principle of the servants and the talents.
God wants every person on earth exposed to the gospel. So count. Numbers matter to God! (p. 23).
I appreciate this take on counting everything. People are not just numbers. But each number represents a life in need of Jesus.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Yawning Angels - Wild Choose Chase Chapter 1
Here are some of my favorite quotes from Chapter one of Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson.
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time (p. 2). I really identify with this quote right now. I have no idea what to do next.
Nothing is more unnerving or disorienting than passionately pursuing God (p. 2). All I can say is, Amen. Do I feel unnerved? Do I feel disoriented? Yes, and yes.
I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals (p. 5). I have asked myself the same question. I think most Christians feel caged and a lot of people wonder why they would want to become a Christian. Do Christians lead a life that others would want?
But when was the last time you asked God to make you dangerous? (p. 6). Danger is not my middle name. I need to take more risks.
...I am sending dangerous people back into their natural habitat to wreak havoc on the Enemy. (p. 6) Are we really? Or do we just challenge people to lead safe, boring lives?
No guts, no glory. When we lack the guts to step out in faith, we rob God of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him. (p. 10) This is very challenging. If we are gutless, then God doesn't get the glory through our lives.
Our greatest responsibility: pursuing the passions God has put in our heart (p. 12). I hope that I can see my life like this. The most important thing I can do is pursue what God has for me.
As we age, many of us stop believing and start assuming. We stop living out of right-brain imagination and start living out of left-brain memory. And we put eight-foot ceilings on what God can do. (p. 12). God help me to remove the glass ceiling from my life. Help me to stop living out of memory and start living in imagination.
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time (p. 2). I really identify with this quote right now. I have no idea what to do next.
Nothing is more unnerving or disorienting than passionately pursuing God (p. 2). All I can say is, Amen. Do I feel unnerved? Do I feel disoriented? Yes, and yes.
I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals (p. 5). I have asked myself the same question. I think most Christians feel caged and a lot of people wonder why they would want to become a Christian. Do Christians lead a life that others would want?
But when was the last time you asked God to make you dangerous? (p. 6). Danger is not my middle name. I need to take more risks.
...I am sending dangerous people back into their natural habitat to wreak havoc on the Enemy. (p. 6) Are we really? Or do we just challenge people to lead safe, boring lives?
No guts, no glory. When we lack the guts to step out in faith, we rob God of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him. (p. 10) This is very challenging. If we are gutless, then God doesn't get the glory through our lives.
Our greatest responsibility: pursuing the passions God has put in our heart (p. 12). I hope that I can see my life like this. The most important thing I can do is pursue what God has for me.
As we age, many of us stop believing and start assuming. We stop living out of right-brain imagination and start living out of left-brain memory. And we put eight-foot ceilings on what God can do. (p. 12). God help me to remove the glass ceiling from my life. Help me to stop living out of memory and start living in imagination.
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