CHURCH LEADER INSIGHTS - NOVEMBER 2007
By: Nelson Searcy, Roy Mansfieldand Scott Whitaker
Courtesy of Church Leader Insights
http://www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/
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Church Leader Insights:
Church Health, Church Growth and Church Planting
::EVANGELISM / CHURCH GROWTH::
WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT IN OUTREACH
(Note: This link will take you to a PDF download)
People have a sense of whether something will connect in the world in which they live. But when left to having ineffective tools or nothing, they’ll defer to nothing. Therefore, pastors and church leaders must become much more savvy in offering opportunities in which people can participate in full and that allow them to reach out in a manner that makes sense and will not embarrass them or their friends. <Read More>
For resources to assist you with Evangelism and Church Growth, click here:
GROWING PAINS
Jesus Churches stop growing when they become inwardly (instead of outwardly) focused. If you notice a decline in your number of first-time guests and an increase in discussion of inwardly focused programs, beware! You are about to fall victim to the sharing barrier. In my experience, healthy growing churches will have a 5:100 ratio of first-time guests to regular attendees. Watch this ratio carefully, and take its waning as a warning sign. When this barrier starts blocking your growth, here are some ways you can break through it: Teach on relational evangelism, Set an example by telling stories of how you’ve invited people to church, Do servant evangelism outreach . . ..<Read More>
::NEW AUDIO TRAINING::
PODCAST: How Leaders of Growing Churches Think
In this creative and insightful discussion, Nelson Searcy and Roy Mansfield examine the three mindsets that are unique to leaders in churches that are growing. The good news is that each of these mindsets can be developed in our own lives starting today!
<Listen Here>
"The old paradigm of evangelism was a transactional sharing of the gospel," says Ken Fong, senior pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles. "I would try to get people to intellectually agree with me. But the new paradigm is different, an approach in which I invite you to walk alongside me, examine my life, and see evidence of the truth, and hopefully there will be something compelling that you see. It's a no-strings-attached invitation to enter my life as I follow Jesus." <Read More>
AVOIDING UNCHRISTIAN PREACHING
As part of this responsibility, you have one clear responsibility: maintaining the healthy balance of truth and grace. Without truth, this generation continues to slip into moral and spiritual hyper-individualism. Without grace, the unique message of Jesus’ unconditional acceptance is lost to a works-based regimen. At the most basic level, your preaching and teaching has to provide both of those elements of Jesus’ character. <Read More>
::CHURCH PLANTING::
Decide where you want to fit on the missional continuum - become either a come-and-see or a go-and-do church. A come-and-see church prioritizes its resources (time, energy, money, etc.) toward the building, attendance and membership. Surprisingly most of these churches espouse believing in outreach, releasing of laity, caring for the poor and giving generously. The come-and-see church says these things are important but then doesn’t make them priorities. The go-and-do church empowers volunteers to serve not-yet-converted people. <Read More>
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- Click HERE for FREE RESOURCES
::LEADERSHIP::
TEN BIG CHURCH STAFFING MISTAKES
When you are hiring a new staff member, never - and I mean never - lower your qualifications during the process. Trust me, I know the pressure of being short a staff member or two. There is a huge temptation to say, "Well, this person meets most of our qualifications and we have been looking for months; let's just hire her." Sometimes it carries on so long that you hear something like, "Look, this person is breathing and claims to be saved. I'm hiring him!" This isn't complicated. Think through your official hiring criteria, put it in writing, and stick to it. <Read More>
HOW DEEP IS YOUR VISION
Be slow to appoint – The key to having your vision permeate through the organization is directly linked to who you put in your leadership roles. You need to be slow and put in place only those who believe in the vision of your church. <Read More>
Church Leader Insights is a bi-weekly publication sent via email that focuses on effective leadership, church growth, church planting evangelism and much more.
