Missional. It's a big buzzword in churches. Pastors love to use it. But what on earth does it really mean? Oh, buzzwords... Usually, they come and go quickly, but this buzzword is different. It's actually worth getting and keeping. The move to Missional represents an important shift in modern ministry and in our understanding of what it means to be a Christian. So what … [Read more...] about The Meaning of Missional and Why It Matters
ministry
Bryan Chapell on the Importance of Sermon Illustrations
A sermon of nothing but illustrations and stories feels thin and will leave the hearer hungry. But a sermon without any illustrations will fall short of deep impact. A healthy sermon needs truth illustrated. Bryan Chapell makes this point well in Using Illustrations to Preach with Power: "The mind yearns for, and needs, the concrete to anchor the … [Read more...] about Bryan Chapell on the Importance of Sermon Illustrations
Input
Output requires input. The more input, the more output. Pour water in a cup and eventually it will overflow. Output follows input naturally. But we are a culture obsessed entirely with output. We look at numbers. We analyze sales. We count heads. We tally wins. Focusing exclusively on output can lead us down rabbit trails and away from, ironically, further … [Read more...] about Input
Old Liturgy
Growing up, the old liturgy at my church seemed tedious at times. Sit down. Stand up. Repeat. But Kevin DeYoung's got me thinking. DeYoung comments on the New Evangelical liturgy. He points out what few of us consider: We all have a liturgy. We may not think of this or that church as particularly liturgical, and yet, technically, every order of service is a type of liturgy. … [Read more...] about Old Liturgy
Leadership Leap
Leadership requires a leap. Much about leadership can be taught and gradually learned. But because leadership requires decisive action at critical junctures, you will encounter moments when you must leap. No half-steps. Inevitably the moment will come when you must step up, step out, grab the microphone, make the bold move, stand your ground, say no, say yes, throw the … [Read more...] about Leadership Leap