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4 tips to help you stay connected

October 22, 2009 — Leave a comment

father-toddler-daughterMore than any other generation, we are connected — by cell phones, instant messages, wireless internet, and other modern technologies. Yet somehow in the process, many have confused the concept of being constantly connected with always available. As a result, the quality of our relationships — with God and with those we care about most — can suffer.

Today I offer four simple insights to help you keep connected to those who matter most:

  1. Protect your time with God. After all, you’re the only one who can! And He is your most vital connection of all. When we forsake time in Bible study, prayer, meditation, and personal worship, we lose focus and perspective.
      
  2. Preserve time with family. Quality time is important, but fifteen minutes of quality time does not substitute for a generous quantity of time together. In our fast-paced world, it’s important to make every moment count. Get your spouse and kids’ names on your calendar, and treat those appointments as if your life depends on them — because it does! (As an aside, just because you have cell service or wireless access, that doesn’t mean you have to be using it!)
        
  3. Practice healthy boundaries with others. There are always people who want and need your time and attention. This is true in any walk of life but even moreso for those of us who are serving in full-time ministry. As I’ve said many times in the course of my writing, it’s imperative that we learn how to set appropriate priorities, knowing that we must say ‘no’ to some things in order to say ‘yes’ to others. No one can do everything, and sometimes we want to pretend that just isn’t so.
       
    And finally . . .
         
  4. Practice good self-care. Proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise are essential not only for strong physical health but also for strong mental and emotional health as well. By taking care of yourself, you will be better able to invest meaningfully in the lives of others.

Maybe as you read through this short list, one or two of them spoke to you. If you’re like most people in this fast-paced world, you have some room for improvement. Don’t wait until you have time to make adjustments; that time will probably never come. Be proactive today, and begin experiencing the blessings that come from being more deeply connected to God and to those you love most.

IT’S YOUR TURN!

  • What helps you stay connected where it matters most?
  • How do you find balance in life?

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5 ideas for church growth

October 21, 2009 — 1 Comment

sproutsChurch growth is one of those things that is talked about at nearly every church leadership conference. While there are no magic bullets or formulas for growth, I have some ideas that just might help the more than 85% of American churches that, according to recent reports, are struggling with declining attendance.

Here are a few of them:

1. Start utilizing a different benchmark. In my own denomination, the annual church report focuses on enrollment and attendance. You know what? I don’t really focus a lot on the enrollment number because many of those folks couldn’t be found with help from federal agencies! I think the more helpful thing on which to focus is the number of people who are serving in our churches. Jesus wasn’t merely enrolled in something, nor was he just an attender. He was involved with the people through ministry and service. And I think service is a hallmark of a growing disciple.

2. Don’t feel the need to do it all. So many churches today get overwhelmed as they try to keep up with other churches in their communities. No one church can do everything. There are many great opportunities in ministry, but we must be able to say ‘no’ to some things so that we can say ‘yes’ with our whole heart to some other things for which God has uniquely gifted that particular congregation.

3. Connect with the community. After all, that’s where the people are! So many times we do everything in our power to get people to come to church, when the fact is that Jesus told us to follow His lead and go to them. By building relationships with people where they are, we can model a kind of servant evangelism that is very needed in our world today.

4. Have fun together as a church. Christians so often get a bad rap for being ‘sticks in the mud.’ But I know from personal experience how much fun we can have together. Be intentional about creating opportunities to have fun and fellowship with one another through classes and small groups — and as a whole congregation. People are naturally drawn to folks who know how to have a good time!

And finally . . .

5. Invite people to be a part of what you’re doing! Research shows that most people who are unchurched would likely attend a church service or activity, if only someone would invite them. For too long we have believed the naysayers who tell us that people don’t want to be bothered. Nonsense! In this world in which we live, people are starved to death for real relationships with people who care.

potted-plantRemember, spiritual growth is always the main thing . . . but numerical growth is definitely an indicator that cannot be ignored. And every church should find at its base a ministry strategy firmly grounded in prayer and Scripture.

IT’S YOUR TURN!

  • What is one small thing you can do to help your church improve its potential for growth?

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