Top 10 Signs Your Sermon Isn’t Going Well

Can’t we all use a chuckle on Monday morning? Here’s a list I saw recently from the folks at Preaching Magazine (www.Preaching.com): The Top 10 Signs Your Sermon Isn’t Going Well 13. Your associate pastor is warming up in the bullpen. 12. The praise band begins playing you off the stage. 11. The congregation is filling in the blanks of … Read More


Nelson SearcyPreaching

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What Makes A Great Sermon Great? Abraham Lincoln’s Opinion…

I just finished reading John Maxwell’s new book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, and I’ll be talking about it in a future CLI Newsletter (you are getting the newsletter aren’t you? if not, click here). Here’s a powerful story that Maxwell shares in this book: President Abraham Lincoln, an incredible communicator, was known during the Civil War to attend a church … Read More


Nelson SearcyPreaching

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FDR on Sermon Preparation…

I ran across this story in a book I was reading recently and I think it has great application when it comes to planning and preparing to preach: Franklin Delano Roosevelt was once asked how long it would take to prepare an address on a particular theme. “That depends on how long you want me to speak,’ the President answered. … Read More


Nelson SearcyPreaching, Worship Planning

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Igniting Growth In Your Church – Week 3 of 6

Welcome to week 3 of my 6-week blog series, “Igniting Growth In Your Church.” I trust that this Thursday series is driving you deeper in your study of my new book, Ignite: How To Spark Immediate Growth In Your Church. Last week we dissected the four best times of year to do a big day. Now that you have a big … Read More


Nelson SearcyBooks, Evangelism, Preaching, Strategy

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6 Sundays Ago…

It’s been 6 Sunday’s since I’ve preached at The Journey (or anywhere for that matter)….this is the longest I’ve gone without teaching on a Sunday since…well, maybe since I went in ministry in 1990.  It’s been healthy, restful and positive (and some people might say the last 6 weeks at The Journey have been the best ever.  Ha!). Today I’ll … Read More


Nelson SearcyWorship Planning

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10 Reasons to Invite People to Follow Jesus Every Week

Friday is for friends and today’s friend is Craig Groeschel from LifeChurch.tv He had two great posts this week that tackle the same subject from two different angles.  Here’s the posts: 10 Reasons to Invite People to Follow Christ Every Week At Church from LifeChurch.tv : swerve by Craig Groeschel 1. Someone may be at church only once. 2. The … Read More


Nelson SearcyEvangelism

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Immediate Action

Today I’m teaching at all four Journey-Manhattan services and I’m challenging everyone to do a Servant Evangelism project right after the service.  I’m giving them a bag of SE material and sending them out to ‘Do It Now!’  I did this a couple of years ago and about 20% of those in attendance did it – I’m praying for 50% … Read More


Nelson SearcyLeadership

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Where There’s Slack There’s Lack – 1 of 8

SYSTEM #1: THE WEEKEND SERVICE SYSTEM Let’s start this Wednesday series “Where There’s Slack There’s Lack” by looking from the outside in – meaning we’ll work from the systems that are most obvious/ directly influence your people to the ones that are meant more to keep you and your team on track. We’ll jump in with the Weekend Service System… … Read More


Nelson SearcyChurch Systems - General, Leadership, Preaching

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