Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Episode 328: 7 Voices We Need to Hear

 

Voice of the Lord Voice of Wise Counsel Voice of our Spouse Voice Inside Voice of the Community Voice of Warning Voice of the World

Episode 327: A Word for Leaders Straight from God's Word 

1 Peter 5:1-11

 

1. Focus on the flock God has given you. Be loyal

2. Be glad and speak well of your calling and your church.

3. Serve with your people

4.  Be humble before your church. Vs 5-6

5. Don't worry vs 7

6. Vs 8 work to protect your mind and your character

7. You're not alone in your struggle

8. God's got this

Episode 326: How Can We Call Out the Called?

1. Preach and teach on calling
2. Give opportunities to allow people to respond to a call
3. Speak well of your calling
4. Listen and Observe and Ask
   1. Look for those who are leading and others are listening to
   2. Listen to those who are wanting to volunteer for ministry
5. Offer opportunities for exploration
6. Have a process for training
7. Take them with you on ministry visits
8. Keep communication lines open

Episode #:325 Six Money Wasters

1. Hiring the wrong person
2. Cutting back on missions giving
3. Not looking for ways to use your facilities
4. Maintaining vehicles you never use
5. Spending money on inwardly focused ministry and not outreach
6. Delaying maintenance

Episode 324: Avoiding Structural Damage

 

Questions to ask about your structure Does it work? Is it too centralized in one place? a person/pastor a deacon team or board Does it represent multiple segments of your church community? Can it accommodate growth?   Some other things to consider Get examples from effective churches Train up and empower others Allow for as many decisions to be made at the lowest level possible Evaluate your structure often Continually look for new leaders Get outside help.

Episode 323: Eight Thoughts on Your Church and Prayer

1. You can't give away what you don't own. As a leader/pastor you must be a person of prayer!
2. Teach and preach on prayer often
3. Offer a guided prayer time each week
4. Offer a church-wide 40 day prayer/fasting event event
5. Offer a single, dedicated prayer service
6. Add a prayer wall
7. Use a tool to encourage prayer
   1. a church had ladies make quits and people tied strings on the quilt when they payed for the person.
   2. Give men especially a reason to pray for their kids/wife - give them a card to stick on their car mirror or send a text to encourage them to pray now.
   3. Set a specific time to pray each day - based on a scripture
8. Make prayer central in the worship service.

Episode 322:  7 Ways to Sabotage Change in Your Churc

 

1. Thinking your position gives you the right to make change
2. Refusing to gather input from multiple perspectives
3. Falsely assuming everyone is or should be an an early adopter of change
4. Making the wrong changes
5. Moving too fast or to slow
6. Giving up too soon
7. Praying too little

 Is Your Welcome Center Welcoming?

 

1. Don't assume your church is good at welcoming guests.
2. Designate a welcome area and keep it highly visible.
3. Get volunteers who will make welcoming a passion.
4. Train your volunteers regularly.
5. Announce your welcome area during the service.
6. Gather only essential information.
7. Follow up as quickly as possible.

Episode 320:  5 Thoughts About Communio

Think about its frequency strategically Think about its placement in the service Think broadly in how you structure it. passive - people receive the elements active - people must perform an action to receive elements purpose - ties it to a larger focus (remembering the cost of forgiveness, forgiving others, self-examination...) Think about informal opportunities for communion Think about asking others for their ideas for sharing communion

Episode 319: Does Your Church Have an Acts 1:8 Strategy

 

1. take a look at your yearly stats for the last 5 to 10 years. 
   1. Look for attendance trends
   2. Look for baptism trends
   3. Look for Missions giving and involvement trends
2. Ask the hard questions
   1. Are we currently doing or planning to do a gospel outreach effort in our local community?
   2. Are we currently doing or planning to do a gospel outreach effort in our state?
   3. Are we currently doing or planning to do a gospel outreach effort in our nation or region?
   4. Are we currently doing or planning to do a gospel outreach effort in our world?
3. Missions doesn't equal projects - Missions always equals sharing the gospel
4. Size doesn't matter
   1. Church size doesn't give us an excuse
   2. Its ok to start with a small group going and sharing.
5. Going to one area usually overflows to other areas