Church

A Place for Christian Refugees

For the past several years, I have taught a class at our church called "For Skeptics Only." Usually populated with spouses and friends of church attenders, they all had one thing in common: disbelief about the Christian faith. Since it was a class for non-Christians we told everyone up front that if they were Christians we would kick them out. And boy was it easy to spot them, with their ironically serious questions about the rapture and whether or not we would still be here for the tribulation. You might imagine how difficult it would be to talk about whether or not the Bible was true with a room full of skeptics when you have a Christian in the room.

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: How does your church make room for doubters and skeptics?

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: What do you think of the concept of "celebrity pastors"?

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: Do you schedule time for you and your team to be creative?

Toughest Decisions of Leaders, Part 6

We asked six influential ministry leaders to tell us their stories of the toughest leadership decision they’d ever made—and how they went about making the decision. We've already heard from Craig Groeschel,  Nancy Ortberg, Glenn Packiam, Richard Stearns and Dr. Joel C. Hunter. This week we conclude this series with Dr. Kara E. Powell, the executive...

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: Is your church built around the charisma and vision of one person? How can you cultivate a shared vision?

Toughest Decisions of Leaders, Part 5

We asked six influential ministry leaders to tell us their stories of the toughest leadership decision they’d ever made—and how they went about making the decision. We've already heard from Craig Groeschel,  Nancy Ortberg, Glenn Packiam and Richard Stearns. Now, Dr. Joel C. Hunter tells us how he decided to pray at the Democratic National Convention. 

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: Do you have preconceived notions of what worship music should do and sound like?

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: During times of trouble, does your ministry team pacify or dramatize the information? How can you better communicate it?

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: What can you and your team do to pursue your ideals in the reality of day-to-day ministry?

The Ministry of Advent

Christmas can be a stressful time of year, and Christians are not immune to the pressures and demands of this season. Many Christians find it difficult to significantly engage with Christmas on a spiritual level. Have you ever heard a Christian say “it just doesn’t feel like Christmas?”

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: How does your church mark the season of Advent during Christmas? What changes do you make in your worship, sermon or structure?

Toughest Decisions of Leaders—Part 2

We asked six influential ministry leaders to tell us their stories of the toughest leadership decision they’d ever made—and how they went about making the decision. Last week, Craig Groeschel shared his decision to give it all away. Now, Nancy Ortberg tells us about when she had to take two steps backward ...

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: Is there any slow but important work you're avoiding because of the time commitment or the momentum loss?

Toughest Decisions of Leaders—Part 1

We asked six influential ministry leaders to tell us their stories of the toughest leadership decision they’d ever made—and how they went about making the decision. We were expecting stories of disagreements with elders, agonized debates of whether to build or not to build, or the emotional stress of firing a close friend. So we were surprised when the stories started to come in and they were so ... personal. Turns out the toughest leadership decisions are often also the toughest private decisions—that God challenges leaders in some of the same areas at work and at home.

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: Would you say that your church has a culture of giving? What can you do to increase your church's standard of giving?

Leading in All Seasons, Part 2

Last week, we looked at the organizational life cycles of churches, including two of those stages, Inception and Growth. This week, we're looking at two other key phases in church ministry and how to lead through them ... Maturity When churches move to a mature stage, they have high confidence in who the organization is and its focus. At the peak of their influence and size, churches are strongly results-oriented with a well-defined and less flexible structure, multiple strong ministries and established procedures.

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: What stage is your church in right now—Inception, Growth, Maturity or Decline? What unique leadership does this time call for?

Leading in All Seasons

"Why won’t the board embrace my plan to re-brand our church for the young immigrants moving into our area? I’ve been here 18 months, and I know this church has got to change radically if we want to reach our neighborhood.”

Question of the Week

Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: Is there any idea you've attempted in the last few years that failed that you might now attribute to being a good idea at the wrong time?