Email is not a conflict resolution tool

From the Alban Institute: E-mail makes it impossible to read the non-verbal body language of the persons with whom you are communicating.  Likewise, they can’t read yours. I have occasionally made the mistake (perhaps you have, too) of trying to crack a joke through e-mail and having it fall flat. I can’t read the body [...]

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Pecking order of worship leadership

Who is really leading worship during a service or gathering? I would say the Holy Spirit, the pastor, and the worship musicians (in order of priority). The Holy Spirit is always the first and most important leader of worship. The Spirit’s preparation and work began long before the service was a twinkling in our eye. [...]

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What can the church learn from Apple?

Does your church take design seriously (architecture, worship, long range planning, etc.)? Does your church offer guest-friendly “try before you buy” environments? Is your church’s view of the world present in how you design worship? Does your church welcome the question “Why is it like that?” around the subject of worship? How much attention is [...]

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Marva Dawn on sabbath, rest, and creation

from The Work of the People Questions for reflection: Where do you “over do it”? Where do you need to slow down? How does your church/ministry counteract the need for Sabbath? Does your church/ministry promote “going” to church, or “being” the church?

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To Print or Not to Print

From Tony Morgan… Feel free to keep investing in print communications if your highest priority is keeping your “internal customers” happy. Just thought you should know that other organizations are using the web to reach the same people you’re probably trying to reach in your community. So what else does your church do to keep [...]

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14 Signs that Worship Renewal is Needed

14 Signs that worship renewal is needed: Passive congregation that lacks enthusiasm/joy Guests are not welcome or drawn into the community Cerebral worship oriented exclusively toward teaching Evangelistic worship oriented exclusively toward conversion Weak communication in leading and preaching Long sermons that lack application Communion is infrequent and tacked on when used, often looking like [...]

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If your church closed, would anyone notice?

From Church Marketing Sucks: While advertising, street signs and a full garage on a Sunday are great signs of success for a church, they aren’t necessarily indications of a great impact on your community. As Rizzo points out, a billboard may mean that your community knows the name of your church, but does it mean [...]

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Qualifications of a Worship Pastor

From Resurgence… Understanding the biblical role of a worship leader in the local church is central to the health of a church body. While the task of leading people in worship is outlined in varying ways, the implementation and function of the modern “worship leader” isn’t found anywhere in the New Testament. What we do [...]

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Leaders are not normal.

From Tony Morgan… Leaders are not normal. They are: the strong the rebels the skeptical the intelligent the independent the positive deviants Try to control these people, and you’ll never be able to rally their potential. Try to normalize these people, and you’ll never be able to sustain their positive impact.

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Meeting Wisdom

I spent the majority of my work day in meetings today. One thing I have learned is that it is better to get all your meetings going on the same day if possible. If you can schedule all your meetings back to back, even better. This keeps them from breaking up the flow of the [...]

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