Tag «Leading Ideas»

6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas

How can your congregation deepen its connection to the community this holiday season? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff offers six ways to engage people of all ages, including the groups meeting at your church, in the preparation for and celebration of Christmas. From decorating the sanctuary to decorating cookies and singing beloved carols, […]

The post 6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Sharing the True Spirit of Christmas in the Places Where Life Happens

Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff suggests that in an age of rampant religious disaffiliation our evangelistic task in the Advent and Christmas seasons may go beyond gathering in less-frequent church attenders, friends, family, and neighbors. She sees a need to help a generation of dechurched young people reclaim the sacred aspects of Christmas […]

The post Sharing the True Spirit of Christmas in the Places Where Life Happens first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Sharing the True Spirit of Christmas in the Places Where Life Happens appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Gratitude as Leadership

Andy Stanton-Henry explains how the practice of gratitude can change the way we view our community and our world. For leaders, gratitude isn’t merely an essential personal spiritual practice. It is a way to promote the sustainability and resilience of their communities by shifting attention toward what is present and possible rather than what is […]

The post Gratitude as Leadership first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Gratitude as Leadership appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Discipleship and Mission in the Micro Church Movement in Australia: An In-depth Interview with Bree Mills

What are micro churches and how do they disciple missional leaders? Bree Mills, director of Micro Churches Australia shares about the characteristics of micro churches, how they are formed, and how micro church leaders are developed. Listen to this interview, watch the interview video on YouTube, or continue reading. Doug Powe: Bree, I’m so glad you’re […]

The post Discipleship and Mission in the Micro Church Movement in Australia: An In-depth Interview with Bree Mills first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Discipleship and Mission in the Micro Church Movement in Australia: An In-depth Interview with Bree Mills appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

10 Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah

Examining the biblical account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Lovett H. Weems Jr. sees a compelling example of how a leader should function. Nehemiah defined the reality of the situation, named a vision, and then engaged the people to accomplish it. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we are highlighting Leading Articles — […]

The post 10 Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 10 Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

God is Already in Your Neighborhood

Incredible things happen when congregations commit to being present in and praying for the spaces around them. The authors of a new book, Leading Faithful Innovation, share how a neighborhood prayer walk led one church to life-giving relationships and new ways of demonstrating God’s love. Incredible things happen when congregations commit to being present in […]

The post God is Already in Your Neighborhood first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post God is Already in Your Neighborhood appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

7 Questions to Determine if Your Advent Traditions are Still Meaningful

Meghan Hatcher says planning for Advent is the perfect time to assess whether a ministry tradition is still serving its intended purpose. She suggests seven questions to help determine if a long-standing ministry is still offering people a transformative encounter with the Gospel, or if it’s time for a change. At the United Methodist church […]

The post 7 Questions to Determine if Your Advent Traditions are Still Meaningful first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 7 Questions to Determine if Your Advent Traditions are Still Meaningful appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

3 Ways to Cultivate Resilient Leadership

Leadership is challenging, especially in these days, so effective leaders need to be resilient. C. Kavin Rowe asserts that resilience is essential in Christian communities as they are founded on hope. He outlines three ways Christian communities can cultivate hope and nurture resilience in their leaders. There are at least three central ways that we […]

The post 3 Ways to Cultivate Resilient Leadership first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 3 Ways to Cultivate Resilient Leadership appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

What’s Wrong with Thinking of Church as Family?

Lee Ann M. Pomrenke says the beloved metaphor of church as family can stand in the way of a congregation being truly open and inclusive. The church is a movement defined by shared values, commitments, and actions, not a household family linked by a shared heritage or appearances. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, we […]

The post What’s Wrong with Thinking of Church as Family? first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post What’s Wrong with Thinking of Church as Family? appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Understanding the Cultural Realities of Children and Youth Today

Janet Craswell and Angela Pupino of National United Methodist Church say ministries with children and youth were severely impacted by the pandemic and are still rebuilding in most churches. They say a truly intergenerational church must embrace the voices and concerns of younger people and acknowledge the unique cultural realities that shape the lives. There […]

The post Understanding the Cultural Realities of Children and Youth Today first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Understanding the Cultural Realities of Children and Youth Today appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.