Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Episode 369: Onboarding

Episode 369: Onboarding

Onboarding 

Most churches don’t put much thought into onboarding new paid staff or new volunteers 

For all 

1–Is there a written job description for the position?

2–What are the written expectations? 

3–Are there any unwritten expectations- landmines 

For volunteers 

1–Is there a time limit for this volunteer position- ie. is there an out or not. 

2–Can you explain briefly what success looks like for this position?

3–Who does this person work with and who can this volunteer go to with problems

4–Will there be an evaluation to hold this person accountable? Who will do the evaluation and how often?

For staff

1–How does this person line out or set up their benefits?

2–How is this person evaluated and how often?

3–Who can this person go to if there are problems?

4–Who is this person over? (Responsible for)

5–What is the real chain of authority in the church?

Episode 368: 4 ways we might overestimate or underestimate our preaching

Episode 368 - 4 ways we might overestimate or underestimate our preaching
4 ways we overestimate
1. We overestimate preaching a discipleship tool.
2. We overestimate preaching as an evangelism tool.
3. We overestimate our performance.
4. We overestimate our influence.

4 ways we underestimate
1. We undervalue the importance of connection
2. We undervalue the power of the Spirit to change lives
3. We undervalue the importance of our preparation
4. We undervalue our influence...
 

Episode 367: Enduring Work of Pre-marital Guidance

Episode 367: Enduring Work of Pre-marital Guidance

Resources:

Marriage by Paul David Tripp

Symbis by Les and Leslie Parrot

Love and respect by Emerson Egritch

Videos by Mark Gungor

 

Focus on the family

 

Marriage mentoring - seasoned with newlyweds

Having couple-friends who esteem marriage

- won’t let you talk bad about your spouse

Marriage retreats- check up from the neck up

Weekly calendaring - creating connection, date-time, and sabbath time

Episode366: What to Do With a Budget Surplus

Episode 366: 8 Ways to Use a Budget Surplus

1. Fund a deferred maintenance account
2. Increase your mission giving.
3. Subsidize mission trips among your members.
4. Support a church plant.
5. Start a new ministry.
6. Explore staff need and staff pay.
7. Consider building improvements.
8. Begin a fund for Insurance/Self-insurance.

Episode 365: 7 Ways to Make Your Church Ready for Easter

Episode 365: 7 Ways to Make Your Church Ready for Easter

Attractional versus Attractive

1. Make sure your property is clean and prepared. You get one opportunity to make a first impression.

 

2. Build a sense of expectancy. Talk about how significant the day is. We are celebrating a risen Savior! We should expect the power of the resurrection to overwhelm.

 

3. Train your church to greet guests, especially by inviting them to sit with them.

 

4. Greet people in the parking lot, you'll be amazed at the positive effect this can have.

 

5. Determine how you will plan to get together guest cards that day. This is a day I would encourage everyone to get a registration card and consider offering a donation as an incentive to fill it out. For instance, for each new guest who fills out the registration card, the church will give $10 to our "local mission" or Annie Armstrong…. People are glad to know they are helping a cause.

 

6. Plan your gospel presentation…as pastors, we sometimes become sloppy, but think about who your guests might be, make sure you free yourself from too much "religious speak."

 

7. Involve kids. I always loved having children in the service, and I often did a children's message or had one of our children's workers do an object lesson.

Episode 364: What Makes Pastoral Ministry a Question Mark after Year 10?

What Makes Pastoral Ministry a Question Mark after Year 10?
1. Ministry has become our occupation not our calling.
2. Our leadership and methods sometimes grow stagnant.
3. We focus too much of on energy on internal church matters.
4. We believe we have earned the right to make most of the decisions.
5. We fail to be honest about the present condition of the church.
6. We only focus on problem people - not those who want to grow

Ask some hard questions:

1. Am I still growing as a Christian leader?
2. Do I have a dream/vision I can share?
3. Am I developing others?
4. Do others have a voice?

Episode363: Where Do You Find Pastors and Staff

Episode363: Where Do You Find Pastors and Staff

 

Trent and Alan discuss finding candidates for pastoral ministry and church staff. 

Episode 362: Spaced Out

Episode 362: Spaced Out

 

1. Assess your space constantly.
2. Look for where you are not maximizing your space.
3. Chairs over pews...
4. Creative possibilities for extra space....
 - in the 70's churches had classes meeting in old buses outside the building
5. Plan Multiple services/ classes
 -change everyone's schedule

Communication
1. Communicate a "no ownership of spaces" mindset
2. Communicate the benefits of growth.
3. Honor the sacrifices of people and empathize with their pain.

Episode 360: Doomed to Repeat It!!!

Episode 360: Doomed to Repeat It!!

 

Here are some questions for you to consider ( some questions adapted from Henry Blackaby's book Flickering Lamps)

 

1. How was your church started - was it started from a split from another church? Or was it an intentional plant from another church?

 

2. What did the founders intend when they started your church? Was there a specific group they were trying to reach? Was the church to have a unique focus?

 

3. How is the church different from when it was established? Is that good?

 

4. How does your church glorify God? What are some aspects in which it does not glorify God as it should?

 

5. In what ways is your church making disciples?  In what ways is it failing to make disciples? Is your congregation focused at all on making disciples "of all nations"?

 

6. What are you doing currently to impact the nations for Christ?  What has your church done in the past? How long ago was that?

 

7. How is your church's presence currently making a positive impact on your community?  When it began, was it seen as a positive force? Would people miss your church if it were gone?

 

8. What are some sins for which your church needs to repent?  What is your plan for getting your church to do so? When and how?

Episode 359: The Trust Axis of Leadership

Episode 359: The Trust Axis of Leadership

 

The diagram is for personal use; any professional or publication use requires proper attribution.

Trust Axis Diagram