There are great rewards in the pastoral call. And there are times that there is great pain. In this article, I have asked a pastor to share his experiences in a difficult church, one where he eventually left under pressure. I wrote the interview verbatim while allowing the pastor to remain anonymous.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Year after year, one common New Year’s resolution among Christians is to spend more time—or even any time at all—in God’s Word. However, for many, it’s hard to know where to start.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — A church without discipleship is just a gathering. And groups ministry is key for making disciples in the local church.
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As I began ministry decades ago, few people were talking about accountability. More are using that language today, but we still have much room for growth.
There are great rewards in the pastoral call. And there are times that there is great pain. In this article, I have asked a pastor to share his experiences in a difficult church, one where he eventually left under pressure. I wrote the interview verbatim while allowing the pastor to remain anonymous.
There seems to be a convergence of issues that could have a profound effect on churches in 2025. Frankly, I could name at least a dozen issues, but these five seem to be the most likely.
A sincere pastor asked me this question: If I only had to measure and follow five church metrics, what would be my top five choices?
This article reflects on seven phases of the firing of a pastor. I have worked with countless pastors who shared their stories with me. These phases are common in many of them. Also, I will use a recent conversation to provide a real narrative of a real pastor in a real church. I made some slight adjustments to protect the identities of the pastor and the church.
One of my research-based answers is that many church members are confused about the meaning of church-based evangelism. The confusion often lies in understanding what constitutes an evangelistic ministry in a church.
Several years ago, I decided to become a real church member. Let me explain. For over 30 years, I was the preacher each Sunday at whatever church I attended. I preached as the pastor, the interim pastor, or guest preacher. I never viewed the church on Sunday mornings from the pews or the chairs. I […]
Groups are vital to the health of a church. Church leaders must make key decisions about the purpose of groups as they plan for them.
This consultation was indeed a challenge. We told the church leaders that they should not look at our consultation team as a silver bullet for the woes of their church. They said they didn’t. But they did.
I get it. Numbers are not everything. Indeed, numbers are not the most important thing. But a balanced use of numbers can be helpful.
It is strange to write about the death of the Baby Boomers because I am one of them. Indeed, this article was a reminder of my own mortality.
