meetings
-
Repost: Speak-up when you agree
This is huge. It’s so important. If you don’t speak up when you agree, then you’re opening the door for a single dissenter to appear like the majority. Whether it’s in a formal meeting, or just a “friendly” discussion over… Continue reading
-
The people in the meeting define the purpose, not just the person calling the meeting
This may seem the wrong way around, and to some extent, it shouldn’t be this way. However, every time someone new joins a meeting, the purpose of the meeting changes slightly to accommodate their “needs”; whether felt needs or real… Continue reading
-
The only things you should advertise at church are…
Churches seems to have such a quandary about saying no to advertising things out the front. Its hard when someone runs up to you and says they need, really really need to you advertise their thing today!!! When the reality… Continue reading
-
So many ways to measure success…
We recently ran a carols night that loads of people said, “went really well”! But how should Christians and churches work out whether something “went well”? The error is to assume that there’s only one measure of success… As if… Continue reading
-
The first skill of speaking out the front is…
…learning how to NOT speak, and being comfortable with the silence. Whether you’re training MCs, band leaders, prayers or preachers, if they’re not able to cope with not-speaking, they’re going to try and fill all the gaps. And when you’re… Continue reading
-
The goal of public prayer is…
Encouragement? People awestruck at our pious praying styles? No! The goal of public prayer is simply that people would pray along with us. Public prayer is a weird thing. I think we forget that if we’ve seen it done for… Continue reading
-
Regular 1:1s reduce trivial interruptions
If you have “direct reports” (people who consider you their boss – even in a volunteer sense) then it’s worth scheduling in weekly 1:1 meetings. The point of these meetings is firstly just to give your directs some personal time… Continue reading
-
Sit in the best seat you can
Notice that guys in the real world never sit directly across from each other, they sit side by side or at 90deg, looking at something else. It’s normally too intimate for guys to face each other – it’s more common… Continue reading
-
The type of room you meet in matters!!
Our youth group used to meet in a school basketball court. It was great for games and activities, and the leaders thought the small group times worked pretty well. Until they moved to a purpose built venue with lounges and… Continue reading
-
Meet with volunteers after x weeks, not after x is done.
If you plan to meet with someone “as soon as you’ve finished the next step”, there’s little chance you’ll meet. Whereas, if you plan to meet with someone “in 3 weeks”, you’ll meet, and there’s more chance they’ll have finished… Continue reading
-
Don’t fear the accusation of being “token”
Just because it’s short or brief DOESN’T mean its “token”. Just because a conversation goes for 5mins, doesn’t mean it’s “token”. Token describes an assumed attitude. You might be making it “token” by the fact you don’t really care. It’s… Continue reading
-
Let the meeting preach the gospel
Sometimes sermons don’t hit the spot, they don’t resonate, they don’t touch a nerve, they don’t point to our sin and Jesus’ grace, etc… So make sure the gospel is in your meetings. Use the gospel to explain why you… Continue reading
MINISTRY PRINCIPLES & PRAGMATICS 