Resistance to change is one of the most common barriers we face in church renewal. Over time, churches tend to become complacent and stagnant by default. Why? It is human nature to fear the unknown and …
Church Renewal: A Historical Perspective
Someone suggested tracing church renewal movements through history to gather important lessons. This is an excellent suggestion. First, a quick note. While revival and church renewal involve spiritual renewal, they are distinct. Revival is a …
A Look Back At Fresh Ideas From 2024
As we bid farewell to 2024, now is a perfect time to reflect on the church renewal principles we discussed in this newsletter throughout the year. Below are some fresh ideas you might want to revisit …
Pixar’s Principles For Preaching
Each Christmas morning, my family had a fun tradition — gathering around the tree to retell the Christmas story. Mom didn’t share the “stats” of the shepherds, and Dad didn’t detail the “data” of the donkeys. No, …
Great Expectations: Growing a Staff Of Leaders, Not Doers
Staffing plays a pivotal role in church renewal, but are your staff members clear about their roles? Do different team members have varying assumptions about how the church staff works? Do staff members have different …
The Big Three and the Hidden One
Over the past five years of working on church renewal projects, I’ve discerned that most congregations face the “Big Three” and the “Hidden One.” Some of us who are older may remember when GM, Ford, …
How To Find Fresh Ideas
Have you ever made a copy of a copy? How about a copy of a copy of a copy? Over time, the copies begin looking blurrier and blurrier until you can barely tell what is written on …
How to Foster an Innovative Spirit
In the 1980s, GM and the United Auto Workers said they were ready to step into innovation by creating “a different kind of car” and “a different kind of company.” The result was Saturn. You may remember …
EMERGING TRENDS IN CONGREGATIONS
If you are curious about what other churches are doing, this week’s newsletter is for you! The National Congregations Study tracks important metrics over time so that trends can be measured. Today, I will share …
Does Your Church Need a Restart?
Essential choices must be made when a church moves onto the downward slope of its lifecycle. This is especially true as the church moves from early to late aging. When the church enters this stage …