Tag «Discipleship»

4 Characteristics of Good Discipling Relationships

Phil Maynard and Eddie Pipkin say education-based approaches to spiritual formation often fail to form disciples committed to Christlike living. They suggest doing what Jesus did — focusing intentionally on spiritual growth and development within a context of relationality and accountability. Despite the significant investment of time, financial resources, and amazing educational options over the […]

The post 4 Characteristics of Good Discipling Relationships first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 4 Characteristics of Good Discipling Relationships appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

5 Principles for Pastoring a Vibrant Older Congregation

Karl Vaters highlights the importance of building a strong, vibrant congregation of seniors with intentionality, training, and a focus on the future. He emphasizes the potential impact seniors can make in the ministries of the church and the need to be intentional about engaging seniors in the life of the congregation. Everyone in church leadership […]

The post 5 Principles for Pastoring a Vibrant Older Congregation first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 5 Principles for Pastoring a Vibrant Older Congregation appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Why We Need to Ask More Numerical Questions about Our Church

I’m well aware that it’s easy to get focused on numbers when evaluating church growth. Too many church leaders report “butts in the seats” and “bucks in the plate” more than anything else—without really evaluating even those numbers. For example, we might report a significant attendance increase without pointing out that most of that growth…

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Creating a Safe Space for Holy Work with Children

Tanya Campen describes how practicing respect, preparation, and presence create safe spaces where children are valued and respected. She highlights the importance of preparing ourselves and safe spaces so that we can be fully present as children claim and respond to God’s presence in their lives. In our work as leaders in ministry with children, […]

The post Creating a Safe Space for Holy Work with Children first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Creating a Safe Space for Holy Work with Children appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

8 Reasons Potential Pastors Would Rather Begin Ministry with an Internship or Assistant Pastorate

When I started pastoring more than 40 years ago, most of us called to pastoral ministry wanted to get started on the task quickly. Right or wrong, we typically leapt into ministry as soon as we could. Now, young leaders preparing for ministry are much more inclined to look for an “entry-level” position before stepping…

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Know the Psalms as Never Before

For centuries, Christians have turned to the Psalms to teach them to pray, to worship, and to grow as disciples. A new series from Christian Union offers you the opportunity to deepen your experience with God through the words of the Psalms. More than typical Bible study, these volumes offer a devotional commentary that is…

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Church Leaders Wandering Past the Cross

Many years ago, I visited a rocky hillside in Jerusalem that some scholars believe is the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. On this hillside were three trees that reminded me of the crosses at Jesus’ death, and in front of the hill was a busy bus station. The stench of diesel fuel hung in the air….

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This Book Changed My Life 10 Years Ago

It was ten years ago that I did something I had never done before. I turned a short blog post into a book. Much to my joy and surprise, the book became one of the bestsellers in its genre. It stayed at number one on the bestselling list for quite a while. Now, nearly two…

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The Top Ten Next Steps for New Church Members

Congratulations! You joined a church. Now what? While every church has a different procedure for church membership, there are some simple things you can do to honor God in your decision. These items apply to everyone. First, read your Bible every day. A national research study revealed something remarkable. The number one way people grow…

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Small Church Big Impact

Blake Bradford shares how smaller congregations can use their unique giftedness to fulfill their mission. He says smaller churches can enhance their vitality by clarifying their purpose, engaging their community, leveraging relational intimacy to reach people and build disciples, and rightsizing their leadership and governance structures. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting […]

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