MINISTRY PRINCIPLES & PRAGMATICS

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  • Dual church membership #2 – Why nothing

    So why isn’t there anything in the bible about dual church membership? Well most of the churches were made up of the ONLY Christians in that area. There was THE church in Ephesus, THE church in Corinth, etc. They didn’t… Continue reading

  • Dual church membership #1 – Nothing about it

    So I’m going to share some thoughts on the topic of dual church membership; the idea of trying to be part of two local expressions of Jesus’ family at the same time. I’ll do it over a few posts tagged… Continue reading

  • Take other-person-centred holidays

    What are holidays for? Well the answer to that depends on your answer to the question, “What are you for?” See, if you think that you exist for your own joy, fun, happiness… then holidays and time off is when… Continue reading

  • When is it ok to NOT read the bible?

    Ok, shaky ground here. I’m just throwing around ideas – might change my mind tomorrow… who knows. If you’re in Christian leadership, and you’re part of a small team, you’ll want to be reading the bible with everyone you meet.… Continue reading

  • What’s wrong with fortune cookies, birthday wishes & santa?

    Jealously. That’s why they’re wrong. Because God is a Jealous God. When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? (Is 8:19) Do not follow other gods, the… Continue reading

  • Culture eats strategy for breakfast

    I heard this line recently and its so true. No matter what strategy you put in place; lets take welcoming as an example… if there’s not a culture of loving the new people, getting to know them and engage them… Continue reading

  • To make an overall improvement, start with just one thing

    If you want to improve something in your ministry, say your public meetings, or the content of your bible studies, don’t think that the only way to do it is by a massive overhaul. Sometimes, quality has slipped over time.… Continue reading

  • How does one become an authority?

    The more I think about this, the more important this issues seems to be, yet I can’t remember anyone’s thoughts on it (apart from my own team). If the NT has a place for people in authority in church, and… Continue reading

  • Do your professionals volunteer?

    Do you ask the Pre-school teacher in your church to run your crèche? Or the full-time photographer to take photos for church? Or the web designer to make your church website? Or the architect in your congregation to design your… Continue reading

  • Would you like the Apostle Paul’s church?

    I often wonder how we’d go at being a member of one of Paul’s churches. Think about the list in 1Tim 5… “No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful… Continue reading

  • 7 things to avoid in preaching

    Here’s some great tips on preaching. Tips that – it seems – every young preacher needs to be told. So read them, don’t make them. :) 7 things to avoid in preaching Continue reading

  • “don’t tell me if you don’t want to”

    If you’re in pastoral ministry; teaching the bible, meeting up with people, etc., you start to loom large in people’s eyes. And that’s not bad per se. It’s partly how God has made humans. But it requires some important caveats.… Continue reading

  • An average structure with brilliant execution will always* do better than a brilliant structure with average execution *’always’ is a gross exaggeration Continue reading

  • How to run a “Ministry review” discussion

    So, you’ve planned, organised, delegated, ran and even cleaned up that big ministry event/thing. How do you conduct a review with the team? 1. Acknowledge the fears in the room; some people know they didn’t pull their weight. Some people… Continue reading

  • You can’t do it, only God can

    So just have a go. Why not?! Why not be bold? Why not put it out there? Why not say what you think will help/encourage/build-up/strengthen/correct/etc…? Why stop from saying something that God could use to help people. That’s just it… Continue reading

  • No one brags about subverting a community they care about, because your peers will ostracize you (and why would you hurt a group that you are part of?). No, we feed the community first, then we take our share. On… Continue reading

  • Challenge people about specific sins, not vague ones

    Asking people about sin in their life is hard. Its awkward, beat-around-the-bush, so-how-you-going-in-that-area, vague conversation. But that’s very rarely helpful or loving for people. Because Jesus didn’t die for vague “areas” of sin. Jesus died for each and every specific… Continue reading

  • Outline the consequenses

    Sometimes when we delegate, we can be tempted to only focus on the positives. e.g. How great it could be! These cool things will happen! etc. But an important part of coming to one mind as you hand over responsibility… Continue reading

  • Modern day gifts: The Applicator

    Ok, I know that just sounds weird, but hear me out. Some people have a unique and amazing knack at hearing a sermon, reading a passage and just nailing what it practically means for themselves and people around them. They… Continue reading

  • Offer girls an “out”

    Sometimes, some guys don’t know they’re being unrelational, they don’t know they’re making a girl feel awkward, they haven’t picked up on the normal social cues. They’ll trap a girl (or a pair of girls) in a conversation after church… Continue reading