Posted in Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged community, Evolving Culture, love, Missional Ministry, Relevant Ministry on November 17, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Has anyone ever told you they’re a Christian but that “church” just isn’t their thing? There’s far too much of that today. You may have felt it yourself.
The Search Institute, a Minneapolis based research firm, recently discovered 55 percent of young people (6835 from age 12 to 25) say they are more spiritual now than [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Al Hirsch, community, community needs, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, missional, Missional Ministry, Missional Resurgence, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses on September 26, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Community Versus “Communitas”
If you build it they may not come! That’s why they no longer build enclosed shopping mall in the US. We’re now drawn to these community oriented lifestyle centers. From shopping to church we’re walking away from mere convenience and consumption and are drawn to connection and purpose.
Thanks for hanging with me as [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Relevant Ministry, community, Evolving Culture, community needs, Empowering Leadership, missional, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, Missional Ministry, Missional Resurgence, youth ministry on September 22, 2008 | No Comments »
To reach their community, a church doesn’t have to have fancy programs or an elaborate mission statement – they simply need a genuine passion to serve their neighbors.
When pastor Rick Thiemke came to New Life Church in Yorkville, Ill., eight years ago he discovered that the community saw churches as “takers.”
“I would call a business [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, tagged community, connecting online, connection, Culture, Empowering Leadership, engaging, Evolving Culture, jesse jackson, life experience, psychic malaise, relationship, survivor mentality, traditional church on July 22, 2008 | 8 Comments »
Recently I asked 20-35 year olds to share why they read this blog. Is it simply curiosity, the connection and relationships thing, or is it providing insight to navigate a changing world? Their response (as well as comments from older readers) offers insight into, as one put it, “A shallow spiritual and psychical malaise that [...]
Posted in Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged business administrators, community, connection, Evolving Culture, facebook, navigators, Relevant Ministry, web pages, youtube on July 16, 2008 | 18 Comments »
I spoke earlier this week at a church business administrator’s conference in Nashville. These men just didn’t seem to believe me. They had that serious “prove it to me” look.
Business administrators ensure the church runs well, the staff is happy, and all the behind the scenes activities are clicking for those uplifting week-end experiences. They [...]
Posted in Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Chinese church, community, Disciple making, Evolving Culture, Incarnational ministry, missional, Relevant Ministry, simple church on July 1, 2008 | 1 Comment »
It’s about “Becoming Like Jesus” and “Reaching Beyond The Church”.
We started this three part series looking for lessons from the Chinese Church which has grown from 3 million to an estimated 130 million. Polling from a 2001 IRIS study estimates there are 159 million Christians in the US. It’s hard to imagine in a few [...]
Posted in Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged altruism, community, good Samaritan, heart issue on June 7, 2008 | 10 Comments »
You may have seen this video yesterday of the “Hit and Run” of this 78 year old family man in Hartford, CT. If not click here, it may provoke you.
This “Today Show” video (click here) provides a deeper look into why nobody stopped to help (although a few dialed 911). Helen Fisher, an Anthropology Prof [...]
Posted in Evolving Culture, Intentional Facilities, Relevant Ministry, tagged Breakout churches, communication, community, connection, Epic story, Evolving Culture, Intentional Facilities, Relevant Ministry, thom rainer, trust on June 2, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Marla Saunders, an active reader here, commented on my last post and left some great questions. I thought the responses may be interesting to others as well. Here you go (questions in blue):
1. Can a church develop that “Epic Story” or do they need to have that heart to begin with.
To develop an “Epic Story”, [...]
Posted in Evolving Culture, Intentional Facilities, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged third place, community, Evolving Culture, missional, Starbucks, Epic story, Intentional Facilities, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, Churches waste money, Coffee ministry, Church growth on June 1, 2008 | 11 Comments »
Churches Waste Money Building “Third Places”
We were so enthused about this “Third Place” in a bustling church. We had planned it all well; an awesome coffee bar, latte machine that rivaled those at Starbucks, a fire place with soft leather seating, trendy lighting, warm colors, and engaging seating nooks creating an ambiance Starbucks would die [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged community, Entertainment, Consumerism, Community Church Of Joy, Walt Kallestad, Kevin Ford, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age, Neil Postman, relationships, Transforming Church, programs on May 27, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Beyond Consumerism To Community
In an article in USA Today Phil Kenneson is quoted as saying, “Part of becoming a Christian is coming to see that what you thought you wanted deeply is not what you most wanted. It’s having your wants restrained. So it’s pretty hard to appeal to this old set of desires to [...]
Posted in Bahler Family Doing Life, Evolving Culture, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged community, Covenant, Family, It's a Wonderful Life, Life, love, Vanity on May 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Socrates said, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living. So maybe it’s OK I’m sitting at my keyboard at 4 am Sunday morning with far too many thoughts to sleep. I’m pondering the graduation yesterday of our fifth of six kids. We were blessed to have a special group of friends stop by. As I sat [...]
Posted in Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, tagged Church, community, legitimacy, Matt Casper, Respect on May 20, 2008 | No Comments »
My recent post regarding atheist Matt Casper’s observations about church generated significant traffic. So much so, that digging deeper seems appropriate. Here’s a few more observations and an insightful challenge that treating people with legitimacy and respect opens hearts:
Instead of starting with what’s wrong with me, show me what’s right with you. If your faith is [...]
