Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Episode 78: How Are You Talking About Giving?

 

1. Talk about God stories - not paying the bills
2. Start every worship service with a God story
3. Talk about generosity not tithing

• Your budget drives generosity

Talk about investing in lives

Talk about how your church or your missions are blessing people

Use videos and stories

Celebrate financial victories

 

 

Remind people of our interview with Todd McMichen

Take a piece of paper 

• on the top left - write down 3 or 4 of the most generous people that you know personally
• Now in the middle of the page draw a stick figure around that "generous person"
• I want you to write down some traits of those generous people you listed.  You should be able to come up with a bunch.  
• Now I want you to make another list.  List the words that we typically use when we talk about giving at church.  Are your two lists the same - I bet not.  Wouldn't you rather preach on the first list?

see also:

https://enduringchurches.podbean.com/e/i11-interview-with-todd-mcmichen/

Episode 77: Membership and How to Do it

 

 

Additional thought…make it very contextual to your church and your setting.

 

Why have them?

• Membership matters
• Romans 12:5 - members of one another
• Why do people resist membership?
  • Hurt
  • Lack of commitment
  • Rise of non-denoms and drift of good theology

 

Start a membership class

 

What’s in them?

• The Gospel
• Core church doctrines
• Expectations
  • Examples: small groups
  • Giving
  • Serving
  • Going

 

How long do they have to be?

• Make it right for your setting

 

When do you do them?

• Don’t have to be married to a calendar
• Try to have one 3-4 times a year

 

 

What other findings about membership classes have you discovered?

Guided by a blog from Dr. Chuck Lawless. Read his blog here

 

So how are your mental reserves?

How are your emotional reserves?

How are your relationship reserves

Are you doing ministry all on your own power?

• You have a bad attitude about serving. 

 

• You pray primarily only when you must. 

 

• You tend to think you can accomplish anything. 

 

• You don’t really live a life of dependence. 

 

• Your strongest days of walking with God are in the past.

 

• You’re losing the private sin battle. 

 

• You admire people who seem to be truly walking with God, but you don’t change. 

 

• Your family knows a different you than the public you. 

 

• You just know your reality. 

Episode 74: Steps to Stopping Depression

 

Recognize the signs

 

• Mood: anxiety, apathy, general discontent, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, mood swings, or sadness
• Behavioral: agitation, excessive crying, irritability, restlessness, or social isolation
• Sleep: early awakening, excess sleepiness, insomnia, or restless sleep
• Whole body: excessive hunger, fatigue, or loss of appetite
• Cognitive: lack of concentration, slowness in activity, or thoughts of suicide
• Weight: weight gain or weight loss
• Also common: poor appetite or repeatedly going over thoughts

 

Be proactive - decide to do something

 

Call a lifeline - call on another minister you trust

 

Be a lifeline - recognize that other ministers are dealing with this 

 

Remember your staff and volunteers are having the same struggles

 

Remember your spouse -

• plan a special date for them
• write them a card or letter to let them know how much you appreciate them

 

We are on a break working on new content. We selected this interview with Paul McGinnis of VOMO, a volunteer management solution for your church.

 

Be sure to check them out.

Episode 70: Your Calling Keeps You There

 

 

We had a great time discussing our stories with you. Here's some important takeaways.

 

Your calling keeps you there...

1. When things are going wrong.
2. When people are questioning your decisions.
3. Only to leave if God’s calls elsewhere - its a pull not a push.

Episode 69: Sticky Statements that have Carried Us

 

Inspired by some quotes listed by Dr. Chuck Lawless

 

http://chucklawless.com/2020/06/simple-leadership-statements-that-have-challenged-me-through-the-years-part-1/

 

 

From Alan:

A good sermon begins with a good text.

 

A dull pencil is better than a sharp mind.

 

The best way to pastor is by keeping the baptismal waters stirring.

 

What happens when it works?

 

You only have to please an audience of One.

 

Trent 

A lack of planning on your part does not make a crisis on my part

 

Remember your audience

 

Its all good and its getting better!