“One door and only one, and yet its sides are two. I’m on the inside. On which side are you?” I remember this song from my childhood, but I am not sure how to think …
What About Love?
Several years ago, I was sitting in a restaurant with a church leader who was working on building a faith formation pathway. As we talked, I asked him how his team defined discipleship. His answer was …
Every Church Can Support Church Planting
Church planting is a powerful way to expand God’s Kingdom, but not every congregation will be ready to launch a daughter church this year. Still, every church can take concrete steps today to prepare for planting and to …
Comparing Five Church Planting Models
Church planting is one of the most effective ways to reach nonbelievers with the gospel. As we noted in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, they tend to be more nimble and more …
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 …
Five Ideas for a Modern Reformation
EDITOR’S NOTE: This summer, we’re bringing you our most popular articles from recent years. I originally wrote this article on Reformation Day, but its message continues to have traction year-round! On Oct. 31 more …
Planning a Vision Retreat
The work of church renewal hinges on ministry leaders’ clarity about the church’s mission and their role in helping to accomplish it. Summer is the perfect season to plan a retreat that allows your team …
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 …
The Disengagement Crisis At Church
Church renewal efforts thrive in congregations that are highly engaged, enthusiastic, and involved. However, many churches are finding that volunteerism has not returned to pre-COVID levels. Disengagement is high among lay leaders, council members, and staff. …