October 2016

View all on this date written articles further down below.
Leadership & Management
I’ve never met anyone who likes to be micromanaged. Unfortunately I’ve observed many church staff teams who confuse micromanagement and accountability. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a young church staff member express frustration and cry out about the injustice of being micromanaged when their supervisor was simply holding them accountable for basic results.
I’ve never met anyone who likes to be micromanaged. Unfortunately I’ve observed many church staff teams who confuse micromanagement and accountability. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a young church staff member express frustration and cry out about the injustice of being micromanaged when their supervisor was simply holding them accountable for basic results.
27 Oct 2016

The Difference Between Micromanagement and Accountability

I’ve never met anyone who likes to be micromanaged. Unfortunately I’ve observed many church staff teams who confuse micromanagement and…
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Sponsored Articles
For many churches (and businesses too), their number one expense is their staff. Even if you don't offer benefits or paid vacation, there are a number of other expenses associated with hiring employees. This practical tool can help you calculate the true cost.
For many churches (and businesses too), their number one expense is their staff. Even if you don't offer benefits or paid vacation, there are a number of other expenses associated with hiring employees. This practical tool can help you calculate the true cost.
26 Oct 2016

Calculating the True Cost of Hiring an Employee: A Free Resource

For many churches (and businesses too), their number one expense is their staff. Even if you don’t offer benefits or…
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Worship & Creative Arts
In this episode of The Leadership Unstuck Podcast, I talk to Gabe Kolstad, Lead Pastor of Westside Community Church in Beaverton, Oregon about the creative process and how to make church services less predictable. Then, Ryan Stigile and Amy Anderson join me to talk about why churches tend to get stuck in a rut, how to walk through the creative process and who to involve, as well as some practical ways to successfully move beyond the routine and add life to your weekend services.
In this episode of The Leadership Unstuck Podcast, I talk to Gabe Kolstad, Lead Pastor of Westside Community Church in Beaverton, Oregon about the creative process and how to make church services less predictable. Then, Ryan Stigile and Amy Anderson join me to talk about why churches tend to get stuck in a rut, how to walk through the creative process and who to involve, as well as some practical ways to successfully move beyond the routine and add life to your weekend services.
25 Oct 2016

The Leadership Unstuck Podcast: Are Your Services Too Predictable?

In this episode of The Leadership Unstuck Podcast, I talk to Gabe Kolstad, Lead Pastor of Westside Community Church in…
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Leadership & Management
Ever say something you wish you could take back? Sure. Everyone has. Whether it’s something we regret saying to a spouse, to a child, to a friend, or in the workplace to a coworker. Everybody has said something they wish they could go back and say differently…or…not say at all. Many of us are not aware of how powerful our words are and how they affect the people around us. The best church leaders I’ve ever been around understand this and they exercise discipline with their words.
Ever say something you wish you could take back? Sure. Everyone has. Whether it’s something we regret saying to a spouse, to a child, to a friend, or in the workplace to a coworker. Everybody has said something they wish they could go back and say differently…or…not say at all. Many of us are not aware of how powerful our words are and how they affect the people around us. The best church leaders I’ve ever been around understand this and they exercise discipline with their words.
19 Oct 2016

Why Wise Church Leaders Don’t Say Everything They See

Ever say something you wish you could take back? Sure. Everyone has. Whether it’s something we regret saying to a…
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Other
Every week, you pour yourself into writing sermons, planning events, building ministries, and developing leaders, all with the hope that the effort will make a difference. But how can you tell? Do you know for sure if the impact is matching your effort? Can you identify the real problems holding you back from reaching people?
Every week, you pour yourself into writing sermons, planning events, building ministries, and developing leaders, all with the hope that the effort will make a difference. But how can you tell? Do you know for sure if the impact is matching your effort? Can you identify the real problems holding you back from reaching people?
18 Oct 2016

Discover the True Health of Your Church

Every week, you pour yourself into writing sermons, planning events, building ministries, and developing leaders, all with the hope that…
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Communications & Marketing, Leadership & Management
Is the language of the culture within your church toxic to people living in the culture outside it? What I’m not talking about is the “church people” we see in news clips holding venomous posters on the side of the road. That’s clearly toxic. What I am talking about is more subtle: church t-shirts that sell an exclusive membership. Or, rally cries intended to foster community within one church that instead suggest competition between churches. Or, insider language decorating an Instagram post without regard for how it may be interpreted in a public context. We say things outside our church walls that take on new meaning. We all need to get better at evaluating our language.
Is the language of the culture within your church toxic to people living in the culture outside it? What I’m not talking about is the “church people” we see in news clips holding venomous posters on the side of the road. That’s clearly toxic. What I am talking about is more subtle: church t-shirts that sell an exclusive membership. Or, rally cries intended to foster community within one church that instead suggest competition between churches. Or, insider language decorating an Instagram post without regard for how it may be interpreted in a public context. We say things outside our church walls that take on new meaning. We all need to get better at evaluating our language.
13 Oct 2016

Toxic Church Mantras and Self-Serving Celebrations

Is the language of the culture within your church toxic to people living in the culture outside it? What I’m…
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Sponsored Articles
In recent years we’ve seen churches improve discipleship growth through the effective use of technology in their ministries. By exploring the shifts we need to make in our thinking and practices we better arm ourselves for the future our ministries. Discipleship too, just like other ministry areas, needs efficient systems and processes that drive engagement and facilitates building community.
In recent years we’ve seen churches improve discipleship growth through the effective use of technology in their ministries. By exploring the shifts we need to make in our thinking and practices we better arm ourselves for the future our ministries. Discipleship too, just like other ministry areas, needs efficient systems and processes that drive engagement and facilitates building community.
12 Oct 2016

4 Ways Technology Influences and Improves Disciple Making

In recent years we’ve seen churches improve discipleship growth through the effective use of technology in their ministries. By exploring…
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Growing Strategies
Churches don’t change. In fact most churches avoid changing at all cost, even if it means not growing. It’s so bad that I’ve seen churches choose to close their doors over choosing to change. Here are six common reasons I’ve observed why churches choose not to change. One of these might be why your church won’t change.
Churches don’t change. In fact most churches avoid changing at all cost, even if it means not growing. It’s so bad that I’ve seen churches choose to close their doors over choosing to change. Here are six common reasons I’ve observed why churches choose not to change. One of these might be why your church won’t change.
06 Oct 2016

Why Churches Don’t Change

Churches don’t change. In fact most churches avoid changing at all cost, even if it means not growing. It’s so…
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Uncategorized
We tuned into the Exponential West 2016 live webcast this afternoon for session three, Tension of Measurement. This session explored the on-going tension between a "growing vs sending" mentality in the life of the church. Here's a recap in case you missed it.
We tuned into the Exponential West 2016 live webcast this afternoon for session three, Tension of Measurement. This session explored the on-going tension between a "growing vs sending" mentality in the life of the church. Here's a recap in case you missed it.
05 Oct 2016

J.D. Greear & Rick Warren at Exponential West 2016 on the Tension of Measurement

We tuned into the Exponential West 2016 live webcast this afternoon for session three, Tension of Measurement. This session explored…
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Leadership & Management
I’ve noticed a common trait among many pastors and leaders. I’m no exception. Every one of us wants to be right. We don’t want to waste others' time making up for our mistakes. We’d rather not disappoint our staff, elders, and congregation. And we certainly don’t want to send our churches racing toward the wrong target. So when it comes to setting vision, we often take our time to ensure it is bold enough but not unreasonable. When it comes to clarifying our strategy, we consider every option and then create a few more, all in hopes of not missing the “right” answer.
I’ve noticed a common trait among many pastors and leaders. I’m no exception. Every one of us wants to be right. We don’t want to waste others' time making up for our mistakes. We’d rather not disappoint our staff, elders, and congregation. And we certainly don’t want to send our churches racing toward the wrong target. So when it comes to setting vision, we often take our time to ensure it is bold enough but not unreasonable. When it comes to clarifying our strategy, we consider every option and then create a few more, all in hopes of not missing the “right” answer.
04 Oct 2016

Why I’d Rather Be Wrong Than Wait To Be Right

I’ve noticed a common trait among many pastors and leaders. I’m no exception. Every one of us wants to be…
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