Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Episode 118: Bite Your Tongue

Episode 118: Bite Your Tongue

(recorded in early June)

 

1 Peter 3:10   For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.   Ephesians 4:29   Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.   Recently I have been in places where I wanted to tell someone off because I was tired of their attitude etc.    6 times we need to hold our tongues Profanity and course language Speaking in anger Untimely sarcasm Insensitivity Tearing down others Gossip   When should we speak out? when we are protecting someone else   Unity is a huge valuable commodity in our churches.  So we should do all we can to protect unity.  That may mean giving up our right to blow up the church with our words.

Episode 117: From Nashville with Love

Episode 117: From Nashville With Love

 

Change is forever in front of us. Today we look at the organizational struggle of change.

 

Why we struggle: People leading change sometimes hate change. Most change happens without asking our opinion. The church is about to experience change like it’s not seen in centuries. It will take years to figure out what happened How to deal with it: Add some change and see how it grows in you. Roll with changes that involve any non-essential doctrine of faith. Pray for those who will become the key leaders of change

Episode 116: 5 Areas to Improve Communication

Episode 116: 5 Areas to Improve Communication

1. In our preaching - with our congregation
 - how is it different? 
 - Engaging more than the mind
 - Heightened emphasis on experience and application
 - video files and series
2. In our leadership - with staff/lay leaders
 - the more sensitive, the more direct
3. In our written communication i.e. emails
 - can't unsend
4. In our social media
 - stays out there
5. In our homes
 - don't give them the leftovers of your attitude
 - communicate love first before frustration or disappointment

 

Episode 115: Exegeting Your Audience

Episode 115: Exegeting Your Audience

 

Who are the people that commonly attend your services? spiritual maturity? common issues or struggles? deficiencies or weaknesses? note: don't forget your online attenders   Who are the guests that attend your church? how are they different from your regular attenders? what are the unchurched like in your community?   What is your community's culture? urban, suburban, rural? fast, slow values employers   Are you connecting with the heart and the head?

Episode 114: Enjoy Your Ministry

 

Episode 114: Enjoy Your Ministry   Focusing on the hard parts and the parts of ministry that suck the life out of you will turn you negative about all of ministry.  But there is so much good   Jeremiah 29:11  11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Your call to ministry was given by God in order to bless you.  He wants you to be blessed and have joy.   God didn't call you to ministry in order to punish you.  God gave you your ministry as a gift to bless you.   We get used to talking negatively about ministry.  We talk about the hard things and the parts we don't enjoy - but maybe its time to focus on the parts we do enjoy.   Enjoy the parts that energize you What do you do on a weekly basis that gets you excited? What things do you get to do that cause you to really smile?   Enjoy the right now Sometimes we get so caught up looking to the future - that we forget to enjoy what is happening today.   Enjoy the people The people are the blessing - There are some that cause us trouble - but there are so many more who are an absolute blessing.  Focus on those.   Enjoy the place They say the grass is always greener somewhere else The reality is the grass is always greener over the septic tank every place has its problems.  look around and count the blessings of where you are now.   God has placed you where you are today in order to gift you and grow you!   Every place of ministry can be better.  Let us come and help you see the blessings and the potential.

Episode 113: You Don't Know Until You Know

Our Interview With Joel Dison on Bi-vocational Ministry

Episode 112: Jealous Much?

Episode 112: Jealous Much

 

As ministers you would think that we are a very confident lot - we sure have a lot of bluster that looks confident. Unfortunately - our bluster covers up a boatload of inadequate feelings.  We compare ourselves to others all the time and we struggle with feelings of Jealousy when we look at other ministers.   The joke is that when asked about church attendance - we speak ministerially which means we inflate our numbers to inflate our ego.     What happens when we compare? when we compare ourselves to others - we lessen our calling by God. when we compare ourselves to others - we turn a shared effort into a competition. when we compare ourselves to others - we tend to focus on non-essentials. What does Jealousy do to us? creates unwarranted stress. destroys healthy relationships implodes your image   Book - When People are Big and God is Small

Episode 111: Thinking Outside In

Episode 111: Thinking Outside In

 

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.   Reminder: Your building is not likely your first impression; that's your website.   Your building and property do matter....What do people see?   1. Does it fit your context?   2. Is it clearly marked and visible? signage lighting 3. Is it clean and cared for?   4. Parking issues? get rid of the Pastor's privileged parking spot parking lot? 5. Have you driven in as a first time person? example of our bridge crossing 6. Do people know where to go? Signs Greeters 7. Is your property "open" or "closed" park? other?

Episode 110: An Empty Tank

Episode 110: An Empty Tank

Have you ever felt like you had nothing to give to your church, your family - anyone?  Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of ministry.  An empty bucket can't feed anyone.  Sometimes we give and give and give. But we never take time to be filled and fed ourselves. Our ministry won't go far on an empty tank.  In fact you may consider getting of the road of ministry all together.   So what causes an empty tank? Some major causes:   Compassion fatigue   Decision fatigue   Success fatigue   Personal fatigue   Physical fatigue   Signs:   How can we turn things around - You should listen to our podcast that came out last week called - wanna get away!   How is your worship time?   Jesus said the number one thing we need to focus on is loving God.   You have to get to a place where you can take time for yourself and God   You can't give what you don't have.   Read - Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro Didn't See It Coming - Carey Nieuwhof   From Tim Stevens 1. Get some far-away friends. perspective 2. Amp up your learning. 3. Take a sabbatical. 4. Find a hobby. 5. Build a team 6. Get counseling 7. Do something else 8. Go somewhere else    https://www.vanderbloemen.com/blog/8-tips-for-pastors-struggling-with-burnout