I’ve never made a March Madness bracket worth bragging about, and apparently, I’m not alone! Of the millions of brackets users created on Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN, and the NCAA’s platforms, not a single one …
In Defense of Church Growth
We all long to reverse numerical declines and see our churches grow once again… or do we? I used to assume this was universally true, but recent conversations have convinced me that a discussion is warranted. …
A Failure of Discipleship?
Remember Covid? Just saying the word Covid brings up images, thoughts, and pain. Images of the first online service. Thoughts of trying to figure out how we would navigate this time. The pain of seeing our …
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 …
Christmas Conversations
The holidays are a mixed bag for many people. Everyone enjoys a few days off from work (unless you are in retail and the holidays run you ragged). Most also enjoy the Christmas parties and …
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 Measure Church Renewal
How do you know if your church renewal efforts are effective? Most of us have a general sense of how things are going at our churches. Feelings are not enough. We need objective measurements of church …
Can AI Really Help Accelerate Church Renewal Work?
In our 2024 Survival Guide, we noted that artificial intelligence (AI) will go mainstream this year. It’s already being woven into existing products by Google, Microsoft, Adobe, Canva, and many others. The technology will be hard …
A New Generation Becomes the Core
As we mentioned in last week’s newsletter, our 2024 Survival Guide, a new generation is taking the reins in our churches. The shift is happening whether we’re ready or not — so we might as well be …