Tag «Grow»

The Looming Deferred Maintenance Crisis in Many Churches (and How to Solve It)

“It’s a custom color. Bradenton plum.” The church council member and I laughed together about the project in front of us. He had been part of the original capital campaign in the late 1980s and early 1990s. “The color was popular then, but I think it’s time for an update,” he said as we prioritized…

The post The Looming Deferred Maintenance Crisis in Many Churches (and How to Solve It) appeared first on Church Answers.

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….

The post Church Leaders Wandering Past the Cross appeared first on Church Answers.

Why Your Congregation Is Likely More Optimistic about the Future Than You Realize

Over 80% of churchgoers predict a promising future for their churches. Is this figure what you would expect? Until I saw the research, I would not have guessed optimism was so high among churchgoers. Where did this statistic originate? The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) conducted a national survey in August 2022 of almost 6,000…

The post Why Your Congregation Is Likely More Optimistic about the Future Than You Realize appeared first on Church Answers.

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…

The post This Book Changed My Life 10 Years Ago appeared first on Church Answers.

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…

The post The Top Ten Next Steps for New Church Members appeared first on Church Answers.

4 Reasons Why It Matters that Church Leaders are Praying Leaders

I am convinced that prayer is the most difficult spiritual discipline to develop—even for church leaders. Prayer assumes that we live in dependence on God, and I fear many of us are less dependent than we might admit. Prayer is our recourse for a problem more than an expression of a relationship with God. It…

The post 4 Reasons Why It Matters that Church Leaders are Praying Leaders appeared first on Church Answers.

There are No Solo Heroes in the Kingdom of God

When Lily came on one of our wilderness trips, she had been feeling isolated in her life of faith for a long time. She had been raised in a Christian community that cared more about performance as a Christian than her relationship with God. Scripture was quoted at her instead of read with her, and…

The post There are No Solo Heroes in the Kingdom of God appeared first on Church Answers.

Did God Really Say? Wrestling with Doubt and Finding Freedom in Truth

In a post-information and internet age, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sift truth from lies. You can find anything online to affirm, or deny, your feelings, your theology, and even your motives. With so many competing voices and endless truth claims, it’s no wonder so many feel disoriented. And perhaps the enemy is seizing…

The post Did God Really Say? Wrestling with Doubt and Finding Freedom in Truth appeared first on Church Answers.

55% Younger Adults Prefer Smaller Churches

It’s a massive change that few church leaders are noticing. For decades, the conventional wisdom was simple: younger generations flocked to bigger churches with contemporary music, better tech, and full-service programming. That assumption may now b…

8 Things that Would Happen if We Truly Viewed the Word of God as Sweet like Honey to Us

I realize this post is a bit unusual for this site, but I want us to think about this truth: we who seek to lead churches toward growth and revitalization must love and obey the Word if we want God to bless our efforts. With that truth in mind, I am mindful today of the…

The post 8 Things that Would Happen if We Truly Viewed the Word of God as Sweet like Honey to Us appeared first on Church Answers.