15 Good Friday Leadership Lessons

There are times when you write a post about a subject that you are completely inadequate to address.  Discussing the implications of Good Friday and the price Jesus paid for our sins is one of those times. Frankly, all the books ever written (Bible excluded) collectively only scratch the meaning of the crucifixion.  In that…

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Four Things to Consider about Preaching the Easter Message

With Easter just a couple days away, here are seven thoughts to keep in mind as you put the finishing touches on your Easter message and prepare your heart to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. 1.  Don’t preach too long.  Remember, you’re not the only thing on the agenda.  Lunch, brunch and time with family are on…

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Offering Envelopes Still Work for Church Giving

While digital giving options are extremely important, people still use envelopes on the spot to give to a local church.  So in addition to new tools, don’t abandon what some consider old school.  Old school offering envelopes still work. Three Reasons Offering Envelopes are Important It’s still the top way people give to non-profit organizations.…

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So God Made A Preacher

And on the eighth day, God looked down on his beloved people and said, “I need someone to teach them.” So God made a preacher. God said, “I need someone willing to study the gospel, meditate on it for a while, then study it again and write a clear and persuasive message that accurately represents…

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Take Time To Look Back

In reading through the Bible chronologically, I was struck by how many times God’s people built altars. It seems like at every significant event, they built a physical altar and made a sacrifice in order to remember God’s faithfulness. On more than one occasion, people have asked about my regrets leading a local church. There…

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Learn the Secrets to Storytelling

Stories move us. They engage and inspire us. The best ones stay with us forever. So whether you’re preaching a sermon, encouraging people to give, or teaching your children to clean up their room, stories will help you connect. Here are six things to know about stories. 1. Storytelling is simple. Anyone can do it.…

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The Seven Deadly Sins of Volunteer Ministry

Does your church depend on volunteers to accomplish the work of the ministry?  Wayne Corderio said this (and it’s really, really powerful): I’m convinced that the influence of a church has on its community will be determined in large part not by the personality of the pastor, the size of its building or how long…

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How Frazer United Methodist Uses a Church-Wide Campaign to Engage People

In the process of writing Volunteer Rocket, I talked to seven churches who were doing a great job gaining, training and retaining volunteers.  Here’s a profile of Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. What does Frazer do better than most?  While people can get plugged in throughout the year, Frazer uses an annual campaign…

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How a System Helps North Point Community Church Engage Volunteers

In the process of writing Volunteer Rocket, I talked to seven churches who were doing a great job gaining, training and retaining volunteers.  Here’s a profile of North Point Community Church, with five churches across the metro-Atlanta area. What North Point Church Does Better Than Most:  They have effective systems and processes in place to…

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How Revolution Church Thanks their Volunteers

In the process of creating Volunteer Rocket, we talked to seven churches who were doing a great job gaining, training and retaining volunteers.  Here’s a profile of Revolution Church in Shertz, Texas, just outside of San Antonio. Zak White moved to San Antonio, Texas and launched Revolution Church in 2008.  Today, a staff team of…

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