Friday's Catch: Church Growth and Connectivity and More

How Growing Churches Strive to Make Connections

As LifeWay Research in association with Outreach magazine surveys churches for the Outreach 100 Fastest-Growing and 100 Largest Participating Churches lists, we also notice patterns that can be helpful for all churches. One of the ways we see these churches reinvent themselves is through their methods of connecting with new people. Read More

Dear Church, Hear the Word of the Lord on Abuse

The Church is suffering greatly—by her own hands. Self-injury, whether by individuals or institutions, invariably involves faulty thinking that is born out of self-deception. Many of us are grieved at the wreckage in the Church that occurs when victims are silenced, abusers are protected, power is abused, and “truth” is disseminated to the less powerful. The Body of our Lord is sick. Here are some thoughts for her. Read More

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Ministering to the Sexually Abused

Ministering to men and women who are victims of sexual abuse can be tricky; there are several common mistakes that people in the Church make. By being aware of these pitfalls, you can be better prepared the next time an incident arises within your church. Read More

Leadership Advice: Develop Where You Are

I’ve seen so many potentially great leaders waste opportunities because they were waiting for the perfect scenario before they began to develop as a leader. Read More

Pastor, Don’t Stay Lonely

I call this Lone Ranger Syndrome an affliction, because that’s what it is. The Lord never intended any of us to be loners or to serve him in isolation. He sent out the disciples two by two, he added us to a congregation of believers when he saved us, and said the very badge of a believer is our love for one another (John 13:34–35). Read More

Resurrection Songs to Sing Together on Easter

I polled some of the other guys who serve in some of the Sovereign Grace churches, and this is a tentative list. I’ve left off some of the more obvious ones like “Christ the Lord Is Ris’n Today.” I’ve included songs that focus exclusively on the resurrection, as well as those that reference it at some point. Read More

6 Strategies for Moving Worship Service Attendees to Small Groups

Growth happens in groups, so we must be intentional about creating a pathway for people to become involved in the church’s most important ministry. Read More