Planting a new church is one of the most exciting ways to grow the Kingdom of God! As we said in last week’s article, church plants tend to be strategically nimble and especially effective at community …
A Fresh Look at Church Planting
If you care about church renewal, you cannot ignore church planting! As we seek to move our congregations out of maintenance mode and into a multiplication mindset, church planting should be on all our radars! …
No Justice, No Renewal?
Church leaders often find that one of the hardest parts of church renewal is engaging the congregation in the work of justice. Because justice is often perceived as unrelated to renewal, it can get pushed to the …
Four Ways to Reach the “Nones”
When churches rediscover their core mission, they naturally turn outward with the Gospel. In today’s culture, many of the people outside our walls identify as “Nones” — people who say they are atheist, agnostic, or “nothing …
Church Renewal During the “Great Dechurching” of America
Where did everybody go? If your church’s pews are less full than they were a few decades ago, you are not alone. Research shows that 40 million American adults stopped attending church over the last …
Tim Keller’s Lessons for Church Renewal Leaders
Church planter and author Tim Keller left behind a rich legacy for those who work in church renewal. Keller planted and grew a thriving congregation in Manhattan, co-founded The Gospel Coalition, launched a church planting …
How to Become an Outward-Focused Church
The gravitational pull of churches will always be toward the wants and needs of insiders. It takes intentional effort to keep a church focused on its mission of reaching those outside the faith. At a …
How To Catch the Wave Of the Holy Spirit
Revitalization leaders know that catching waves are as important as making plans. Catching waves is about embracing Holy Spirit opportunities that are consistent with mission. Those opportunities show up in a variety of ways. Sometimes …
Emphasizing Kingdom Citizens
Several Renewal leaders have been struggling with division in their ranks connected to polarized political ideologies. For some, those divisions were recently on display during discussions about the timing and safe practices of reopening. Jesus …
The Big Three and the Hidden One
Over the past five years of working with churches on 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, …