New research reveals the latest path to better health and wellbeing. Go to church. But the true link to the health benefits may not be what you expect. Gallup found that people who regularly go to church make better health choices, experience fewer daily negative emotions, and are less likely to be diagnosed with depression. [...]
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No Time for God
May 2, 2012
8 Comments
Last week, at our annual leadership retreat, I asked our leaders to stop talking. I invited them to find a comfortable spot, and just be quiet. And wait. Wait for God to communicate with them. After an extended time we reconvened, and shared what happened during that silent time. For some, it was a relaxing [...]
Read more Where the Church Is Booming
April 4, 2012
9 Comments
I just returned from a land where the church is booming. I found the conditions there fascinating. The Christian population may double in the next few years. The church is growing so fast no one really has an accurate current count. How is it thriving–with characteristics that most may find counter-intuitive? Almost all the churches [...]
Read more Why Church Doesn’t Fit Most People
March 7, 2012
45 Comments
Most people don’t go to church anymore. And the minority who do regularly attend and appreciate weekly services fit a certain profile. They’re the church-inclined. This shrinking minority differs from the majority in several ways: Audience-Oriented. They appreciate a good presentation from the stage. They prefer to passively listen while the paid professionals on the [...]
Read more 5 Keys to Share Faith–Without Being a Jerk
February 15, 2012
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The men surrounded Candace after the community meeting. They knew Candace was a Christian. They had some serious questions for her. This scene played out a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I see—and participate in—scenes like this every week. This is the texture of the new evangelism. This is the true heart of being “missional.” [...]
Read more Selling the Church to a Skeptical Public
February 8, 2012
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“The church has an image problem,” somebody said in the board room at the national offices. “We need an ad campaign to change the public’s perception.” So, they committed millions of dollars for beautifully executed ads on national television and in print. Local congregations often get the polish-our-image bug too. They join back-to-church marketing campaigns [...]
Read more What to Say to a Dying Man
January 11, 2012
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What is your true role in the often mysterious journey that leads to someone entering into a relationship with Jesus? Is God counting on you to “win souls,” to “close the deal”? Or, is your job to carefully plant seeds? Or, should you just “let your light shine’? One thing is clear. Faith is a [...]
Read more Thawing the Frozen Chosen
December 14, 2011
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How do you thaw the “frozen chosen”? How do you engage the disinterested members of your flock? In my last post I described these people as PIBOs—Present in Body Only. Though they may show up, their hearts and minds are elsewhere. I suggested we need to discover how to better reach them. Some readers wondered [...]
Read more The Most Reachable Unreached in Your Area
December 7, 2011
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They quietly walk into church, say little, look a bit detached, and leave quickly when the service concludes. These church attendees are Present In Body Only (PIBO). They may be counted as members of a church’s flock, but their hearts, minds and souls are not engaged by what’s happening at church. They are among the [...]
Read more What to Say to Your Local Heathens
November 2, 2011
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Punctuated with mild profanity, the rumpled lady described her colorful visits to her favorite psychic. Her tablemates chuckled—except for the well-dressed man who never spoke. I recognized him as a local pastor. His discomfort was palpable. I’ve watched scenes like this unfold repeatedly at our Lifetree Café, which attracts a steady stream of non-churched people [...]
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Why Church Doesn’t Fit Most People
- Anti-Missional Language
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What to Say to Your Local Heathens
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6 Keys to Power Up Your Message With Video
