Church Matters
Ten Tips on Church Growth

Ten Tips on Church Growth

Sometimes we make ministry harder than it should be. Now, I’m not saying it’s easy. We all know that’s not true. I’m just saying, it’s usually not as complicated as we make it out to be. I’m guessing that most small town churches could see substantial growth by just...

Smoke Machines in Church?

Smoke Machines in Church?

My teenage son, Justin, had been invited to an area church by a friend. Since he had grown up as a PK (pastor’s kid) and had never been to a megachurch like this before, I wondered what impression it might give him. Sure enough, soon after his experience, Justin asked...

4 Traits of a People Pleaser (And What to Do If This Describes You)

4 Traits of a People Pleaser (And What to Do If This Describes You)

Nobody wants to be a people pleaser. But could you be one without even realizing it? I was. Until I realized I was hurting others because of it and I needed to re-prioritize my life. Often those we live with and love the most get the least of us when we are trying to...

Counseling the Couple Who Has Had It

Counseling the Couple Who Has Had It

Chances are, you have many women or couples in your congregation or ministry who are frustrated and ready to give up on their marriage. They are tired of trying. Their minds are nearly made up. They have truly “had it.” But before they walk away from what they once...

Three Ways to Recharge Your Spiritual Battery

Three Ways to Recharge Your Spiritual Battery

Do you know what it’s like to feel spiritually dry? Do you ever wonder if you’re going through the motions? Maybe you feel as if you’ve stopped moving, spiritually, altogether. We all have times when we need to be refreshed, refueled, and re-energized in our...

Three Steps to Less Financial Stress with Your Spouse

Three Steps to Less Financial Stress with Your Spouse

It’s printed right there on our money: “In God We Trust.” But do we? How much better might our relationship with our spouse be if we read and paid attention to that phrase every time we touched money? How many fewer arguments might we have? How much less stressed...

Top-Five Social Media Tips for Pastors

Top-Five Social Media Tips for Pastors

Many churches are using social media to enhance their ministries. From pastor blog posts and podcasts to Facebook shares and Retweets, social media continues to be a powerful tool for pastors. A January 2017 report from the Pew Research Center revealed that around...

4 Questionable Practices in Small Groups

4 Questionable Practices in Small Groups

In leading small groups and tracking trends over the last 25 years, I’ve done all kinds of things to recruit leaders and get people connected into groups. Some of those things, I had to apologize for. Others, I simply avoided from the start. While this post is not...

Are Your Loaves-and-Fish Leaders Playing Hide-and-Seek? 

Are Your Loaves-and-Fish Leaders Playing Hide-and-Seek? 

Your ministry could use more “loaves-and fish leaders”—leaders who believe in the potential of five loaves and two fish before God multiplies in miraculous ways. But here’s the catch, they’re probably playing hide-and-seek in your church. Pastors and ministry leaders...

Ten Tips on Church Growth

Ten Tips on Church Growth

Sometimes we make ministry harder than it should be. Now, I’m not saying it’s easy. We all know that’s not true. I’m just saying, it’s usually not as complicated as we make it out to be. I’m guessing that most small town churches could see substantial growth by just...

Smoke Machines in Church?

Smoke Machines in Church?

My teenage son, Justin, had been invited to an area church by a friend. Since he had grown up as a PK (pastor’s kid) and had never been to a megachurch like this before, I wondered what impression it might give him. Sure enough, soon after his experience, Justin asked...

4 Traits of a People Pleaser (And What to Do If This Describes You)

4 Traits of a People Pleaser (And What to Do If This Describes You)

Nobody wants to be a people pleaser. But could you be one without even realizing it? I was. Until I realized I was hurting others because of it and I needed to re-prioritize my life. Often those we live with and love the most get the least of us when we are trying to...

Counseling the Couple Who Has Had It

Counseling the Couple Who Has Had It

Chances are, you have many women or couples in your congregation or ministry who are frustrated and ready to give up on their marriage. They are tired of trying. Their minds are nearly made up. They have truly “had it.” But before they walk away from what they once...

Three Ways to Recharge Your Spiritual Battery

Three Ways to Recharge Your Spiritual Battery

Do you know what it’s like to feel spiritually dry? Do you ever wonder if you’re going through the motions? Maybe you feel as if you’ve stopped moving, spiritually, altogether. We all have times when we need to be refreshed, refueled, and re-energized in our...

Three Steps to Less Financial Stress with Your Spouse

Three Steps to Less Financial Stress with Your Spouse

It’s printed right there on our money: “In God We Trust.” But do we? How much better might our relationship with our spouse be if we read and paid attention to that phrase every time we touched money? How many fewer arguments might we have? How much less stressed...

Top-Five Social Media Tips for Pastors

Top-Five Social Media Tips for Pastors

Many churches are using social media to enhance their ministries. From pastor blog posts and podcasts to Facebook shares and Retweets, social media continues to be a powerful tool for pastors. A January 2017 report from the Pew Research Center revealed that around...

4 Questionable Practices in Small Groups

4 Questionable Practices in Small Groups

In leading small groups and tracking trends over the last 25 years, I’ve done all kinds of things to recruit leaders and get people connected into groups. Some of those things, I had to apologize for. Others, I simply avoided from the start. While this post is not...

Are Your Loaves-and-Fish Leaders Playing Hide-and-Seek? 

Are Your Loaves-and-Fish Leaders Playing Hide-and-Seek? 

Your ministry could use more “loaves-and fish leaders”—leaders who believe in the potential of five loaves and two fish before God multiplies in miraculous ways. But here’s the catch, they’re probably playing hide-and-seek in your church. Pastors and ministry leaders...

Helping Your Small Group Thrive

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