A few weeks ago, my sermon in our first service completely bombed. It was the worst in recent memory. Between first and second service, I re-wrote it and it turned out pretty good for the second and third services. The total time went from 26 minutes to around 21 minutes. Needing to quickly re-write made me ask myself three questions that I am going to end up asking … [Read more...]
Chuck Swindoll On Senior Pastors Being Themselves
17 years ago I wrote Chuck Swindoll, seeking his advice regarding preaching and church leadership. At the time Chuck Swindoll was one of the most popular and beloved Senior Pastors in the United States. I wrote him because I had become convinced that I was not cut out to be a pastor – I didn’t have the right personality, and instead of slick self-help sermons, I simply … [Read more...]
Three Ways To Increase Staff Meeting Effectiveness
Here are three thoughts for making staff meetings work better for your team: 1. Know that the larger your church gets, the smaller your staff meetings must become. At first, all new or smaller churches are like start-up companies in someone’s garage. The problem is Apple would have never become the organization it is today by staying at that stage. Each stage of church … [Read more...]
10 Characteristics Of An Amazing Leadership Team
Last night I walked out of the room shaking my head. God, I don’t know how you pulled this off, but this team is simply amazing. Unified. Visionary. Encouraging. Fun. Passionate. Gifted. Transparent. Gracious. These are just a few of the words I’d use to describe the people who faithfully serve on CCV’s Leadership Team. Your church may use a different name – Leadership … [Read more...]
The Fatal Mistake of Senior Pastors Who Don’t Like Preaching About Hell
At first glance you’d probably think I’m resistant to change. I don’t drink Starbucks coffee. I’m still not used to women having tattoos. I’m not getting an earring any time soon. And my wife says I still have the same haircut I had when I was in fifth grade. I assume she thinks that’s a bad thing. By all appearances you’d think I’m someone that wants to keep things just the … [Read more...]
The Incredible Paradox of Comfortable Christianity
In a letter historians call, “The Epistle To Diognetus,” an unknown 2nd century disciple wrote to a skeptic named Diognetus to answer his questions about this strange new religion called “Christianity.” The opening lines of his letter capture what people must have found so appealing about followers of Jesus roughly 1,750 years ago. “I have noticed, my lord Diognetus, the deep … [Read more...]
Why Churches Should Never Advertise To Christians (Like In The “Christian Yellow Pages”)
Since the first day we started CCV, until now, we’ve faithfully abided by one enduring value: we will grow our church through conversion growth only. Never transfer growth. The Mission of the Church To us the reason is simple – Jesus came to earth, lived, died, and was resurrected to send the Church out into the world to reach people who aren’t Christ followers yet. That’s … [Read more...]
Be Careful How You Blow Off Steam With Your Staff (Or, Pursuing The Spiritual Discipline Of Joy)
A few years ago I was in a meeting with a group of Senior Pastors from the East Coast. Someone thought it would be a good idea to get all of us together and suffer for Jesus in Orlando for a week. Amidst the great food and laughter, we broached some serious topics related to leading a growing church. One issue that struck me in particular was the way we senior leadership … [Read more...]
7 Ways To Keep Church Hoppers From Staying At Your Church
Two of the most dangerous influences any church faces are: (1) Spiritual leaders who have lost their first love and (2) the onslaught of church hoppers. Having wavered before in my faith and flirted with losing God as my first love, I know firsthand how dangerous the first one can be. But that's something we spiritual leaders have control over. The second one...not so … [Read more...]
6 Differences Between Vision Casting And Manipulation In Fundraising
In our previous capital campaign, I personally met with over 40 “legacy givers” in our congregation for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, sushi, etc. These people were folks who consistently and sacrificially gave above and beyond their tithe and who might have had the potential to do the same for our building’s fund-raising effort. Once that campaign was over, I had a … [Read more...]
Advice For Aspiring Senior Pastors
I was recently approached by a sharp young guy who asked if I would be willing to coach him, even though he isn’t a Senior Pastor right now. Since there weren’t many doors open to him as a young, inexperienced leader, he took a job as a youth pastor. Our conversation took us to exploring what he could do right now, in his current role, to prepare him for being a Senior … [Read more...]
Forget Mission, Vision, Values, And Strategy (and all the things “experts” say you need)
I’ll never forget sitting down with a seasoned church planter from another denomination who received my direct mail and offered to take me out to lunch for extra encouragement. I proudly laid before him my mission, vision, values, strategy, and a host of other things people told me I needed at church growth conferences. Mid-way through lunch he smiled and said, “Please … [Read more...]
You Can Only Offend One
If forced to make the decision, our church from day one has decided that we will offend the self-seeking Christian before the spiritually seeking non-Christian. I tell Senior Pastors that I coach, that I personally believe you can only strategically choose to offend one of those groups. Some churches are purposely designed to offend the spiritually seeking non-Christian, … [Read more...]
10 Questions To Ask Senior Pastors Who Have Led Through The Attendance Barrier You’re Facing
In my last post, I mentioned that I’m spending this summer interviewing Senior Pastors who have led their churches through the 1600 attendance barrier. I thought you might like to see the questions I’m going to ask each of them. Knowing what you know about me, and the church I serve, how would you answer the following questions… 1. If I died tomorrow and you became the … [Read more...]
5 Keys to Breaking the 600 Barrier
More Senior Pastors give up trying to grow in the 400 to 700 range than any other spot along the growth spectrum. That's because: Many Senior Pastors feel that having led a church to the 400-700 range is "enough" to prove they have been successful in ministry. They feel like they can retire knowing that while they would have liked to grow more, they are content not … [Read more...]
How To Keep Critics From Messing With Your Head
A few years ago a couple approached me with clenched fists after a sermon. I thought, this can’t be good. All weekend people thanked me for teaching on a topic that had frustrated them for years. I worked tirelessly on the message and felt that God had honored the time on my knees and at my computer. It was a good weekend. Then, this couple, ironically both … [Read more...]
The Three Buckets: The Key To Reigniting Growth
If you are trying to restart your congregation, or jumpstart growth, what I'm about to share with you is hands down the single most important thing you need to understand. I call this principle "The Three Buckets." The Three Buckets Picture before you three buckets. The bucket on the left is called the "Sunday Bucket." The Sunday bucket represents … [Read more...]
3 Church Attendance Shifts Troubling Senior Pastors
In the last 5-8 years a subtle, but profound shift in church attendance behavior has begun to change the way ministry is done in North America. The problem is some Senior Pastors don’t realize what has been happening, or at least have been taken off guard and haven’t fashioned a response yet. I know because I'm still trying to find my bearings. Here are 3 church … [Read more...]
10 Ways To Increase Baptisms
Recently a friend in ministry shared that he was frustrated by the lack of baptisms the church he is serving has experienced. He asked for advice, and since I get asked this question a lot, I thought I’d share my response here: Hi Jason, by God's grace we see quite a few people get baptized here at CCV, just under 1,900 in 15 years in fact. I’m not sure there are any secrets, … [Read more...]
10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Quit The Ministry
Some days I can act like low attendance doesn’t affect me. This past Sunday wasn't one of those days. It was beautiful outside and the seats were empty. After third service I went back to this little electrical closet in the back of the auditorium - one that I re-made into a sermon and prayer room by squeezing a tiny table and chair into it - and just sat there silently and … [Read more...]
