10 Commandments of a Weekend Experience

Shawn Wood, author of 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One: Creating a Life of Meaning and Influence, recently wrote a ten part series on the weekend experience.

There are some great things you can pull out of this series if you want to take the planning of your weekend church experience to a whole new level.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, and Part 10

Church Leadership Podcasts

Are you the leader of a church or a leader in a church? Today I want to point you in the direction of some great resources. It is called Podcasting. If you don't know what a podcast is check out the wikipedia podcast entry.

To listen to these you need to download itunes which is a free program. Once downloaded and you are subscribed to them, itunes will gather them whenever a new one is posted.

Andy Stanley's Leadership Podcast - A relatively new podcast from Andy Stanley where he shares some of the best leadership topics designed to grow you.

Potential Podcast - Hosted by the guys and gals at Flamingo Road Church...this weekly podcast is a mixture of fun and content. Leading you through what Flamingo is learning this podcast is power packed with content.

Catalyst Podcast - Delivering some of the best interviews of church leaders, the catalyst podcast is sure to stretch your leadership as well as inspire you.

Church Leader Insights - Nelson Searcy brings some great content to pastors/church planters on many of the lessons learned in leading a church.

Increasing Commitment

Out of a great conversation I wanted to give you a couple of points on how to develop commitment to your church from those that attend.

This is probably an area that many churches struggle with. It is how to get more people to step up and commit to serving, giving, etc...

Here are three ways you can get more commitment:

Cast Vision
Vision is one of the biggest keys. It is vital to continually cast the vision for what you want. People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Celebrate
When you do make a difference, celebrate it. Celebrate often when you get the wins. People do want to be on the winning team...and when others see where you are getting it done they will gravitate to participate.

Ask and Expect
I asked my wife this one, she led our children's area and still oversees our family ministries. I asked her how she is able to staff our areas each Sunday...her answer, "Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, & ask." Basically you keep asking until you get a yes. She felt you almost need to get five no's before you get one yes. I might also add that you in your asking...add in expectation. Expect to hear a yes...mix some faith with your asking.

Looking Ahead

I'm looking forward to 2009 for a couple of reasons:

• I get to do our campus full time. With that comes a lot of responsibility. I'm cool with that.
• I get to pour into developing leaders at our campus. Time is free and there are now no excuses.
• Building a community on our campus.
• Finding more ways to serve our community like we did this past year.
• Revitalizing my blog. I'm looking to do some more series that can help pastors and churches out there.
• Our Bay Area Fellowship Multi-Site initiative. I feel God is going to do something special in '09. And I'm pumped that we are going to start even more.
  
• Networking with like minded leaders across the country. I get to go to Innovation3 and to C3 Conference. I'll finally get to meet some peeps face to face.
  
• Deepening some new friendships.
• Raising my level of leadership.
• Continuing to grow my relationship with God.
• Being a better dad and husband.
  
• Living the adventure with God.
  

Clear Vision

Ministries that have it always have a clear vision. The people know the vision, understand the vision, believe in the vision, and live the vision. The vision guides them, motivates them, and energizes them. Large numbers of people move in the same direction. Ministries with vision tend to have it. All the rest are hit and miss.

Craig Groeschel from the book IT: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It

{Photo By Flickr.com}

Marketing Like The Church

Often we become blind to how we as a church present ourselves to guests. This video is a great parable with the thought "What If Starbucks Marketed Like The Church?"



It's got me thinking!!!!

For direct link to video click {HERE}

Servicing Our Community 2

Here is another way we are serving our community. Read Part 1.

Every year thousands of churches around this country are doing Fall Festival's. Being four months in we thought it would be a great idea for us too. Only we decided to do it with a twist.

Most churches, when they do one, use it as a fund raiser for their kid's or youth or even for all their various ministries. NOT US. This is how we want to be different. This is how we want to partner with our community. We decided to partner with an elementary school in our area and allow them to come in and use our festival as their fundraiser. This school's PTA is trying to raise money to build a new playground. So we are letting them come in and do all the food and keep all the money's raised. None for us...all for them.

Honestly we figure this will go so much farther than we could get for our ministries. Could we do this ourselves? Sure. Could we utilize the monies raised? Of course. But what we feel is more important is the ability to be a resource to our community which is more of our priority.

What are some of the things you are doing to partner with your community?

Servicing Our Community

Right now I'm sitting in our 5 Points Campus watching "The Incredible Hulk" on our big screen. The reason I'm here and not at school is because I'm testing out us being community service oriented.

We do not just want to be a church....we want to be a church that serves our community in any way. So I opened up our campus and brought my school out and as a church we are providing pop-corn, drinks and pizza to them.

Many schools are running so tight right now financially that they are unable to do certain things for their students. Many can't take field trips because of finances.

What we are going to do is offer our campus to schools to show movies or however they need it. This can be a great alternative to them doing something with less of a cost. Not only that but we are going to find other ways that our community can utilize our building as well.

Got Me Thinking - Tailgating

Shaun's post really got me thinking of something we could do to position our campus in the eyes of the community we are in.

How about a tailgate party at the local high school football game?

It might require a little planning but some things that could be done are:

• Burgers & soda's for all that come by...
• Handwavers, clappers, or thundersticks with Go "team name" and church name/address on it to give away to fans
  
• Video Game Contest
• Drawings for prizes
• Live Music

Really....the sky's the limit. Know anyone out there that has done this????? OR What would you do at one???

What Are You Challenging

One of the main roles of a leader is too challenge the status quo of their organization.

That is why you must:

• Challenge your systems. You must challenge your processes. What is working now may not work successfully in two years or at double/triple your current size.
• Challenge mindsets. Mindsets develop and can keep organizations, staff or people from changing. What mindsets
• Challenge success. The greatest enemy of an organization can be success. We often feel that what got us where we are will get us where we want to go. Problem is...things change...people change...organizations change.

A healthy leader challenges where they are as they continue to chart a course forward.

The Power of Teamwork

Check out this video that illustrates the power of teamwork through the nine key principles of teamwork used by the Blue Angels.

Passion or Presence

One of the dangers of ministry is not allowing your passion to overwhelm His Presence. I'll be honest and say that over the years of ministry I have had to work hard on this one. I love reaching people for Christ and helping develop others to make a difference in their world. There are many times that my passion for doing has overwhelmed having God's Presence.

It really encourages me when I hear great leaders of God who have said they have struggled with the same thing. It is their honesty that encourages me. Often times as leaders we work so hard that we feel we have to hide that fact...BUT...only when His Presence is an overwhelming factor in our lives will we truly fulfill all He has for our lives.

Where There's Slack There's Lack

Nelson Searcy, ChurchLeaderInsights.com, wrote over the period of weeks, a great intro series to many of the systems a church should focus on. Check out each part below:

Part 1 - The Weekend Service System
Part 2 - The Evangelism System
Part 3 - The Assimilation System
Part 4 - The Small Groups System
Part 5 - The Ministry System
Part 6 - The Stewardship System
Part 7 - The Leadership System
Part 8 - The Strategic System

Is It In You??? 2

I'm talking some traits a church planter or pastor needs. In part one I talked about DETERMINATION and showed a great video from the X-Games of Danny Way.

Another trait I could say is the power to commit. Yes...this is similar to commitment but I'm gonna go to another level.

The power to commit is going all out when you do something. It is committing to the action full out to see the results.

Why not? You are going to be doing it anyway, why not go all out and take it to a whole nutha level.

I feel that's how Paul lived his life....when he preached in a city he poured it all out...put everything on the line...even to the point of almost dying.

Stephen did it all out to his death.

The power to commit is the only way to go...did you just start a church....then do it and don't stop. Don't give yourself an out. Are you a Pastor on the edge of quiting? Don't give up....COMMIT...

You have got to commit...commit your mind-set that you are not going to quit no matter what.

Here is a video on committing....you can't even do this unless you commit to seeing it through. It is the first time that a double back flip on a motorcross bike was done in the X-Games.



The Power To Commit....Is It In You?????

Is It In You??? 1

One of the traits a church planter, pastor or Christian should have is DETERMINATION.

One of the definitions for determination is the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose.

I watched Danny Way at the X-Games exhibit this essential trait. On his first attempt in the Big Air competition. He ended up walking off the ramp under his own power...refused medical treatment and went on to finish all this attempts earning the silver medal. Watch the video.



The next time you are debating giving up...stay determined....your medal is just around the corner.

Why Is Delivery So Important

If I didn't run everyone off with my last post thinking, "who does this guy think he is", we are going to get into it with this post and some others, with some practical ways to deliver your message.

But I have to ask the question, "Why is it so important to have a good delivery when speaking?" "If it's the Word of God isn't it enough?"

Those are great questions and in reality the truth is, God's Word was written simply enough that everyone can understand it. At least the Gospel is...

So if it is simple enough why do we need to have a great delivery?

A Great Delivery Brings Clarity
I've been in many churches where I've actually walked out and said what in the world was he talking about. Now if after being a Christian and a pastor for 14 years that happens to me, what about someone walking in for the first time? Or what about someone who is young in the faith?

A Great Delivery Connects The Message
Stories and questions are great ways to give people a reason to listen and connect them to what you are talking about.

A Great Delivery Applies It
Even some of the best speakers miss this. When a person walks away do they know how to apply all the information.

Because Eternity Is On The Line
You may not get a second chance at an unchurched person in your church. It is proven that on Sunday's is when the people visit churches....people who are unchurched and who don't have a relationship with Christ. Yes, God's Word is enough in itself but even in His Word it says they can't hear unless someone preaches to them.

Turning Ideas Into Reality

Brad Lomenick, from Catalyst, had a GREAT post on the process they use to execute ideas. In reading the full post, you will realize this is a simple process that can be implemented by any organization.

The points of the process are:

1. Create
2. Criticize
3. Optimize
4. Validate
5. Execute

Read the full post to get a breakdown on Brad's blog.

You Need A Coach 2

In the first post I talked about the need for a coach. So you know the need...NOW WHAT???

I was a really good player in high school...it wasn't until I played in college that I realized that in order for me to play at that level I was going to have to be better at my technique. In fact, after our first day it was apparent that I hadn't learned much in high school but had gotten by on athletic ability. If it weren't for the great coaches I had in college I would have found myself not being able to continue on that level.

For you to begin reaching your potential you need to find someone that will help you get there.

Let me give you three ways to reach those new levels:

1. Ask - Ask someone to mentor you who has been where you want to go. Hire a coach to help you in an area you are lacking.
2. Read - Some of my best coaches I have never met in person. I have read their books or blogs.
3. Join - Join a network with others where you can all learn and share in the journey.

You don't have to do it alone. Whether in business or ministry do it with a coach. Do it with someone who can help you develop yourself to your fullest potential.

[photo credit by flickr.com]

Ownership In Ministry 3

This week we have been talking about ownership in ministry. You can catch up with these posts in Part 1 and Part 2.

I can think back to my very first job. I was actually 15 years old...a couple of buddies and I worked one summer scraping paint off a house. It was a two story house and boy was it hard work. I don't remember just how good of a job we did but by the end I'm not too sure we really cared. Why??? Because it wasn't our house...it was just a job. We had no ownership.

Today I want to talk to those out there who are volunteers or staff.

It is important to realize the role you play is a great one. You are not just serving a leader...or working for someone. As a son or daughter of the Most High you play a huge stake in what God is doing in this world.

When you begin to realize that you are an heir and that you have an inheritance then you will begin to realize that everything you do matters.

That doesn't mean that we all play the same role...it means we all after making our Father's Kingdom greater each and every day.

That is where the shift comes in....if you are a greeter....you are an heir and share in it all.

If you are a department head....you are an heir and share in it all.

If you are the pastor...you are an heir and share in it all.

That is why I love the story of Nehemiah so much....when you read chapter three you see that everyone takes responsibility for their point on the wall. That is the shift that needs to take place.

Let's micro that down to a church. Lives hang in the balance and everyone from a parking attendant...to children's volunteer...to maintenance person...to the pastor...to the follow up person...all play an important link in the chain of someone inheriting salvation.

Our inheritance will be the lives that will stand in heaven with us...they are the crowns...they are the jewels...they are the reason we all do what we do.

It's time we all take ownership......

What are you now planning on doing????

[photo credit flickr.com]

Ownership In Ministry 2

When it comes to taking ownership...whether it's business or ministry...I believe it takes a great deal of shifting of a mind-set.

Let's focus on the perspective of an employer today.

One of the things that stands out tremendously in my first position in ministry is that my pastor let me...be me!!! He didn't run around making me do ministry the way he would do it. It gave me the ability to work on me and our youth ministry. I was able to use my personality and strengths.

How do you get your staff to take ownership?

• Cast Vision For Something Greater - Can you show them how what they do works on a larger scale?
• Train and Release - Do you hover or have a tendency to boss them around?
  
• Help Find Their Niche - I know you have a bottom line but how can their niche help your bottom line?
  

Getting your people to take ownership really is your responsibility as a leader. Whether they are volunteers or paid employees they can make the mind-shift if you can take them there.

What is something you have done to make a shift in ownership???

Stay tuned for part three where we will talk from the perspective of the employee.

[photo credit by flickr.com]