Tag «Communications»

How Sensible Pastors React to Harsh Public Criticism

How Sensible Pastors React to Harsh Public Criticism

One pastor had a group of people circulate a petition to get him fired. They tried to get signatures in the foyer as members walked into church for Sunday services. Another pastor experienced the creation of a Facebook page dedicated to criticizing every aspect of his preaching and leadership. In a small town, a pastor…

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Seven Reasons We Preachers Don’t Always Know What Our Church is Thinking . . . and a Reason to Get a “Know Your Church Report”

Seven Reasons We Preachers Don’t Always Know What Our Church is Thinking . . . and a Reason to Get a “Know Your Church Report”

I can’t remember how many times I was surprised by what my church members were thinking, even though I was their pastor. What I thought was the case wasn’t always so. How does that happen? 1. We assume we hear everything in the course of ministry. We know we don’t, but we act as if…

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Why Work from Home Won’t Work for the Church

Why Work from Home Won’t Work for the Church

A philosophical tug-of-war is occurring in the work world. To what degree should people work from home, and how much time should they spend in the office? Some CEOs are mandating a permanent return to the office on all workdays. Others allow their workers to be remote, even working in other states. Many are splitting…

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The First Seven Things to Do When a Child Accepts Christ in Your Church

The First Seven Things to Do When a Child Accepts Christ in Your Church

A child in your church decides to follow Christ. There is no greater decision! Now what? As a pastor, I’ve sat with numerous parents over the years and walked through the next steps. These conversations are some of the most rewarding in ministry! Only recently did I sit down and create a checklist of items….

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7 Signs You May be Losing Your Love for Your Church . . . and What to Do about It

7 Signs You May be Losing Your Love for Your Church . . . and What to Do about It

It happens. Even those who deeply love their local congregation sometimes go through situations and circumstances that test that love. In some cases, that love slowly erodes—almost imperceptibly. Here are some signs you might be losing your love: 1. Your enthusiasm for gathering with the congregation is waning. There was a time when you excitedly…

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Four Types of Church Members Based on Their Frequency of Attendance

Four Types of Church Members Based on Their Frequency of Attendance

The New Testament, from Acts 2 to Revelation 3, is about the local church. That is a big portion of the Bible! The local church is God’s plan A to carry out his mission on earth,  and He did not give us a plan B. Sure, the local church can be messy. It’s made of…

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What Lottie Taught Me about the Gospel and Social Justice

What Lottie Taught Me about the Gospel and Social Justice

I heard injustice cry from the trafficked woman who stood beside me at a train station in Asia, her pimp glaring from a few feet away. Everything within me wanted to grab her hand and rescue her. “Just grab her and run,” was all I could think. But our conversation ended abruptly, and I don’t…

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Please Destroy Any of My Recorded Sermons

Please Destroy Any of My Recorded Sermons

Most of my recorded sermons are on cassette tapes. I know what you are thinking. I am old. I served as pastor of four churches and as interim pastor of nine churches. Many of the churches recorded my sermons and distributed them via cassette tapes. There are a lot of my sermons out there. I…

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The Public Nature of Pastoring and the Inescapable Reality You Always Represent Your Church

The Public Nature of Pastoring and the Inescapable Reality You Always Represent Your Church

“. . . because you’re the pastor.” Most pastors have heard the end of this sentence at some point. Perhaps you bristled at hearing it. Maybe your feelings were justified, depending on what preceded the phrase. But there’s truth in “because you’re the pastor.” The call to shepherd a church is a call to shepherd…

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Ten Suggestions for Church Members When They Read Negative Things about Their Pastors on Social Media

Ten Suggestions for Church Members When They Read Negative Things about Their Pastors on Social Media

It will happen to most pastors. They will wake up one morning to texts or emails. The wording will say something like,  “Pastor, you need to see what Mike Smith wrote about you on Facebook.” The pastor’s day is already messed up. Most pastors will feel the need to read the post. Many will feel…

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