Before I became a pastor, I was on an engineering track. The first rule of engineering is: “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” When I made the transition into ministry, I saw a lot of well-intentioned pastors driving themselves crazy doing just that. They were starting from scratch every single week, with everything from Sunday follow-up to sermon preparation and worship planning. As … Read More
The Value of Waking Up Earlier—and How to Do It
I (Nelson) love to get up early. I find that by waking up early, I get more done. Often I write first thing in the morning, immediately after my daily quiet time. When I do, I can knock out a lot of writing I want to get done before most people have even started their day. I (Richard), on the … Read More
Leaders Guard Themselves
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” —Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Hudson Taylor On Expelling Anxiety
“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine.” — James Hudson Taylor (May 21, 1832 – June 3, 1905) was a pioneer in reaching the unreached for Christ. He was unlike any other missionary of the 19th century (or arguably any other century) and … Read More
Pastors explain why Christians should tithe, reject ‘sow your seed’ preaching, by The Christian Post
Tithing is not a popular practice among U.S. Christians and some pastors believe the church hasn’t done the best job in relaying the significance of giving a tenth of one’s income. “We’re not talking about it in the right way. When the church has talked about money, it’s in a guilt thing or obligation, and it is very much in … Read More
Small Group Tables: 7 Common Questions
The small group table is one way for people in your church to sign up for a group. Located in your lobby, the table gives those interested in signing up a place to get more information, meet group leaders, see samples of the curricula being studied, and have any questions answered. When you first start doing small groups, you’ll probably … Read More
FREE How to Make a Great First-Time Guest Impression E-Book ($23.95 value)!
Seven minutes is all the time you have to make a positive first impression on the first-time guests who walk through your doors. In the first seven minutes of their experience with your church, your guests will decide whether or not they’re going to come back. With your FREE download of my How to Make a Great First-Time Guest Impression E-Book … Read More
One Pastor’s Trial by Fire… Literally (from StartCHURCH)
Rebuilding our church wasn’t the first step after a church fire… It was a warm, late summer day. One of the trustees from my church and I decided to start a project to re-do the flooring in the church kitchen. We propped open the double doors next to the kitchen to get some air flowing through the room on that … Read More
How Are You Sleeping? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself
Even when you understand the importance of prioritizing sleep, gauging whether we are getting enough can still be difficult. We are so conditioned to get by on too little sleep that we are not always the best judges of whether our needs are being met. To begin determining if you are getting enough sleep, ask yourself these questions: How much … Read More
God Sets Leaders Apart
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)