Some great advice from Seth Godin’s blog: Preparing for the Breakthrough/Calamity… That’s what we spend most of our time doing. The breakthrough speech that will change everything, or the giant insight that opens every door. We fret about the apocalyptic ending, the big crash, the slam climax as well. Of course, it almost never happens [...]
Archive for the ‘Relevant Ministry’ Category
Preparing for the Breakthrough
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Relevant Ministry, tagged communication, Empowering Leadership, Purpose, Relevant Ministry on November 30, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Salty or Worthless
Posted in Culture, Empowering Leadership, Relevant Ministry, tagged Connecting, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Leadership, Purpose, Valuable life goal on October 19, 2011 | 3 Comments »
Willow Creek, the poster child for seeker sensitive ministry, is no longer trying to be so hip. At the recent Catalyst Conference, a Willow teaching pastor, Darren Whitehead, surprised us with the new Willow. Thirty years ago Bill Hybels launched Willow and the “Seeker Sensitive” movement from a theater. It was all about being fishers [...]
Why We Do What We Do
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Faith, Hope, Leadership, love, Purpose, Relevant Ministry on October 10, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Here’s an inspiring story from Pastor James Emory White: Just a few weeks ago, on a Thursday afternoon, a young woman came by the office to give me something. She was going to put it in the offering plate, but decided to just hand it to me. I was in a meeting, so she left [...]
14 Ways to Raise the Bar
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged clarity, community, Connecting, Consumerism, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Leadership, Missional Ministry, Relevant Ministry, Valuable life goal, vision on September 26, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Over 100 years ago, Charles Spurgeon proclaimed every Christian here is either a missionary or an imposter. Recollect that. You either try to spread abroad the Kingdom of Christ, or else you do not love Him at all. You are either doing good, or you are not good yourself. That kind of challenge has been [...]
It’s Easy to Say “No” When
Posted in Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Evolving Culture, Leadership, Missional Resurgence, Purpose, Relevant Ministry on September 3, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Over 20 years ago, best-selling author Steven Covey shared a quote that changed many lives: It’s easy to say “no” when there is a deeper “yes” burning within you. Covey explained that success is often a result of a clear, deeper “YES” within us that empowers us to say “NO” to distractions. During those same [...]
Cynical Sensitive
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged building momentum, community, Connecting, connection, Consumerism, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Leadership, Relevant Ministry on August 22, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Thirty years ago, Bill Hybel pioneered the “Seeker Sensitive” movement and became the poster child for evangelicals. Casual, connecting, creativity, kicking music, themed Sunday school, anonymity and low expectations were in. Recently, Hybel’s “Reveal Study” highlighted surprising trends. A large part of his church failed to become disciples once they were introduced to Christ. Even [...]
A Better Date
Posted in Bahler Family Doing Life, Relevant Ministry, tagged Bahler Family Doing Life, Connecting, legitimacy, love, Purpose, Valuable life goal on August 6, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Friday is typically date night for me and my wife. But after another intense week it’s painfully difficult to slow down and simply be present. Sadly, I can be a poor date. Could this be how Christ and our pastor feel about us on Sundays? With hectic schedules, 100 channels, 24-hour news, Facebook, Twitter, and [...]
Do Young People Desire Anguish?
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Authentic, building momentum, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Faith, Leadership, legitimacy, Purpose, Relevant Ministry, Valuable life goal, vision on July 14, 2011 | 6 Comments »
They may frustrate you with their expectations or intimidate you with their social connections. They’re “Digital Natives” while we struggle as “Digital Immigrants”. What they want from church is very different as well. Here is research data from Dave Tonen regarding what the 18-30 year old crowd want from you and I at church: Community [...]
Sage Advice from Billy Graham
Posted in Culture, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged clarity, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Leadership, missional, Missional Ministry, Relevant Ministry, vision on May 28, 2011 | 2 Comments »
In his new book, The Next Christians, author Gabe Lyons writes that every generation must confront the unique challenges of their era. Here are three questions that must be addressed to do so: What does mission look like in America in the 21st century? How should the message of the Gospel go forward? What does [...]
Taking Risks
Posted in Bahler Family Doing Life, Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Bahler Family Doing Life, Connecting, connection, Consumerism, Evolving Culture, Faith, Hope, Leadership, love, missional, Purpose, Relevant Ministry, Valuable life goal on May 11, 2011 | 6 Comments »
Ten months ago, we met our 12-year-old daughter in China. We were scared and overwhelmed but driven by the vision that we were being called to stretch beyond our own comfort. Francis Chan’s words were ringing in our ears: God hasn’t called us to comfort. We’re called to take big risks so that if He [...]
I Want, I Need
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Consumerism, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Hope, Leadership, Relevant Ministry on February 8, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Friday, February 11th we’re hosting a pastor’s lunch in Naperville, IL. Alan Hirsch is speaking on “Everyday Mission For Everyday People.“ We filled the 100 available seats in four days and have a waiting list. What is stirring this passion to find purpose beyond ourselves? James Emory Wright’s thoughts are very revealing: The names say [...]
Better Isn’t Always Bigger
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Leadership on January 7, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
It’s a time for resolutions and fresh starts. But its more than a new year, its a new day. There’s fresh thinking everywhere. The new House Speaker John Boehner took the gavel from Nancy Pelosi yesterday and vows change as we shift from spending to constraint. And constraint is the buzzword for ministry as well. [...]
Why Traditions Scare Our Kids
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Connecting, connection, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Leadership, legitimacy, missional, Relevant Ministry, trust on November 29, 2010 | 3 Comments »
With pain in their voices, two friends recently shared how their teenage kids weren’t embracing their faith traditions. They had a healthy relationship with them but the kids were no longer buying into what the parents believed. Could this be due to the new challenges that kids must navigate? They’re growing up in a multicultural, [...]
Why Men Hate Church
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged communication, community, Connecting, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Hope, Leadership, Relevant Ministry on November 13, 2010 | 4 Comments »
In his book Why Men Hate Going to Church David Murrow writes that women make up more than 60% of the typical congregation. The church caters to women, children, and the elderly by creating a safe, predictable environment. In order to reach men, Murrow says that churches must “adjust the thermostat” to embrace the masculine [...]
Generational Tension
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged alignment, Authentic, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Leadership, Relevant Ministry, trust, Valuable life goal on October 21, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Practically every church we work with is wrestling with generational tension. Check out this timely insight from the recent Catalyst Conference. Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) nailed it: We have a spiritual enemy that wants to divide us by denominations, so that we don’t work together. And I also have a hunch he wants [...]
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