Innovative Ministry
Is Your Church Resisting Necessary Change? Try This Helpful Strategy
Wise and loving pastors don’t attack people’s affection for the past, they ease their fears about the future.
Is Your Church Resisting Necessary Change? Try This Helpful Strategy
Image: Daniel Frank | Unsplash

Not all change is good.

The church exists to worship the God who never changes, as seen in a book whose newest pages are 2,000 years old. That’s some serious long-term consistency.

But the way that permanent message is delivered always changes. Traditions that we think of ...

Continue Reading ...
Church & Culture
Why “Finishing Well” Can Never Be Our Main Reason To Behave Morally
We need to behave morally not so we can keep our reputations intact, but because hurting other people is wrong. Always wrong.
Why “Finishing Well” Can Never Be Our Main Reason To Behave Morally
Image: Jonathan Klock | Unsplash

Finishing well in ministry really matters to me.

Especially since I now have more ministry years behind me than in front of me.

I want every day of my ministry life to matter. And I want to end it having brought honor to Christ, his church and my family.

This has become even more ...

Continue Reading ...
Church Leadership
When Church Members Keep Second-Guessing Your Pastoral Decisions
Unlike politicians and major league coaches, most of our critics aren’t strangers in the stands, they’re people we know very closely. 
When Church Members Keep Second-Guessing Your Pastoral Decisions
Image: Ben White | Unsplash

What do pastors, politicians and major league coaches have in common? A whole lot of people who’ve never done their job are convinced they could do it better.

The less experience they have the more certain they are, because those who’ve actually done it know how hard ...

Continue Reading ...
Innovative Ministry
5 Preaching Styles In 25 Years (Here's What I Changed And Why)
Our language keeps changing, our common experiences are fewer, and universal illustrations no longer are.
5 Preaching Styles In 25 Years (Here's What I Changed And Why)
Image: Alexander Michl | Unsplash

Preaching matters.

According to no less an authority than the Apostle Paul, the spoken message of Christ crucified is one the ways God has chosen to bring his message of salvation to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

Because preaching matters, those of us who are entrusted to ...

Continue Reading ...
Innovative Ministry
New Music Is Not Worth Fighting For – So What Is?
Change may be necessary. But we need to get there by fighting the important battles, not the trivial ones.
New Music Is Not Worth Fighting For – So What Is?
Image: Luis Alberto Sánchez Terrones | Unsplash

Are you a pastor trying to make needed changes in the church, but meeting a lot of resistance every time you introduce something new, like a worship song, curriculum or order of service?

Here’s a universal truth that I discovered through decades of experience trying to ...

Continue Reading ...
Church & Culture
Why The Public Salvation Call Is Harder In A Small Church (And A Couple Alternatives)
While small churches may not see salvations every week, we must be ready for them when they happen.
Why The Public Salvation Call Is Harder In A Small Church (And A Couple Alternatives)
Image: Photo by Chad Kirchoff on Unsplash

Introducing people to faith in Christ is a central component of what it means to be the church.

Like me, many of you were raised and still minister in an environment where the Great Commission is followed by a public call to salvation at the end of every church service.

The Altar ...

Continue Reading ...
Small Church Ministry
Celebrating 50,000 Baptisms – No Matter How Many Churches It Takes
Saddleback Church deserves to be honored for baptizing 50,000 people over the last 38 years. But we should never limit our attention to churches with outsized numbers.
Celebrating 50,000 Baptisms – No Matter How Many Churches It Takes
Image: ashbrookeMEDIA | Flickr

Last week, Saddleback Church celebrated an amazing spiritual milestone. Since their founding 38 years ago, they have baptized 50,000 new believers.

That is something the entire body of Christ needs to pause and thank God for. 50,000 people making commitments to Christ in one ...

Continue Reading ...

Read More from Karl

Follow Christianity Today

Free Newsletters