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Tag Archives: Churches of Christ
Church Growth: The Christian Chronicle’s Conclusion
This month’s Christian Chronicle completes a series of articles on church growth in the Churches of Christ. It’s an excellent compendium of both what’s right and what’s wrong in how we do church. But you have to read between the … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, Christian Chronicle, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, scott thumma
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Upgrading a Church of Christ Worship Service Without Buying a Guitar
Under the guidance of our present worship minister, things have gotten pretty good. I know this is true because — * No one is complaining much about the worship, * The numbers are up, and * Some people wish the … Continue reading
Church Growth: The Crowd
The “Crowd” is a term likely coined by Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Church. Thumma and Travis find in their research that the way a church deals with the Crowd is likely the most telling characteristic of a megachurch. … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, megachurches, preachers, scott thumma
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Church Growth: Serving the Community
Here’s a fascinating statistic from chapter 5 of Beyond Megachurch Myths — 21% of megachurch members volunteer weekly in community service. Ten percent of megachurches have over half their members active in community service on a weekly basis! Wow! Plainly, … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, megachurches, preachers, scott thumma
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Church Growth: An Equipping Ministry
One of the most difficult tasks of any leader is training additional leaders. After all, leaders are busy, and taking the time to train someone else is not immediately productive. It takes time — often years — for the person … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, boards that make a difference, carver leadership model, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, equipping, john carver, megachurches, mentoring, preachers, scott thumma, servant leadership
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Church Growth: Organizing for Community Formation
I’ve earlier written about the importance of the church as community, several times. This is not only a theological imperative (that is, a command of God) but also a great cultural need in modern America. People are so individualized, so … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, boards that make a difference, carver leadership model, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, john carver, megachurches, preachers, scott thumma, servant leadership
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Church Growth: National Trends
I started this series out mentioning that I was reading Beyond Megachurch Myths, a recent statistical study of American Protestant Churches having attendance of 2,000 or more each week on average. I’m finished now, so it’s time to return to … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, megachurches, preachers, scott thumma
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Church Growth: Getting the Elders Out of the Way, Part 5
To even consider adopting such an approach, an eldership should consider at least the following: Ministers should help develop policy. While policy is from the owner (Jesus), through the elders, to the staff, it just won’t work unless the minister … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, boards that make a difference, carver leadership model, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, john carver, megachurches, preachers, scott thumma, servant leadership
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Church Growth: Getting the Elders Out of the Way, Part 4
Let’s consider the pros and cons of the Policy Governance Leadership Model as applied to churches. Pros — * The ministerial staff is given clear direction from the elders. They sit down and say (a) this is what we expect … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, boards that make a difference, carver leadership model, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, john carver, megachurches, preachers, scott thumma, servant leadership
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Church Growth: Getting the Elders Out of the Way, Part 3
In re-reading these posts on Church Growth, it occurred to me that I’d opened — but not answered — the central question: Just how do elders get in the way? Let me begin by saying that elders aren’t alone in … Continue reading
Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized
Tagged All, beyond megachurch myths, church growth, church growth movement, Churches of Christ, dave travis, megachurches, preachers, scott thumma
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