The Potty Dance

Do you think this “rapper” has any street cred after this one?

The Unchurched Next Door

I read “The Unchurched Next Door” 2 summers ago.  Thom Rainer and staff did a national survey to learn more about unchurched people.  8 out of 10 said they would come to church if invited.  Rainer identifies 5 “faith stages”–levels of responsiveness to the Gospel.  These stages aren’t just theoretical but represent your buddy, sister-in-law, or your hairdresser.  Through the survey he discovered that reaching lost and unchurched people is not always best accomplished with cookie-cutter strategies.  Let’s explore some content from this book:

Most of the unchurched are not antichurch or anti-Christian.  As a rule they tend to be forgiving.  And they do not typically judge all Christians by one bad experience.  Surprise #1: Most of the unchurched prefer to attend church on Sunday morning if they attend (23).

The 5 stages (and their percentages of the unchurched population) are:

U1 highly receptive 5%

U2 Receptive 21%

U3 Neutral 36%

U4 resistant, but not antagonistic 21%

U5 Antagonist, even hostile 5%

Surprise #3: Most of the unchurched feel guilty about not attending church.  This was guilt was more prevalent among adults who had children living at home.  So, if they feel guilty, why did the unchurched continue to avoid church?  The church intimidates unchurched people.  They do not think they can fit in at a place they have never attended.  And they are uncertain about church protocol (24).

Surprise #4: 82% of the unchurched are at least “somewhat likely” to attend church if they are invited.  The next obvious question is: Are Christians inviting non-Christians to church?  The heartbreaking answer is no.  Only 21% of active churchgoers invite anyone to church in the course of a year (25).

When’s the last time you invited an unchurched person to church?  When is the last time you offered to meet someone and show him or her around the church?

Surprise #6: Most of the unchurched have a postive view about pastors, ministers, and the church (26).

Surprise #8: The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian (28).

The higher an individual’s income, the more resistant to the gospel he or she is likely to be (30).

Reaching the unchurched is spiritual warfare.  Satan will oppose us at every effort we make to reach lost people (37).

Most of the unchurched would rather talk to a layperson than a minister about religious matters (51).

Many of the unchurched wonder why their Christian neighbors and coworkers do not invite them to church (52).

Our further questions found that most of these unchurched are uncomfortable entering a church building alone.  They would rather you take them to church or meet them there (121).

10 years ago the paradigm of youth ministry was “reach the parents to reach the children.”  Today the paradigm is “reach the children to reach the parents (205).”

I think the conclusions are clear.  We need to invite and share our faith.  That’s just being faithful.  Some will refuse and others will be harvested by the Holy Spirit.  The question is, “Are we going to step out in faith?”

What’s the Greatest Gift You Can Give Someone?

Found this in my journal from 2003…which still makes me ponder.

You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

Honestly, are relationships my first priority?  How can I ensure that they are?

And how about you?

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Hey Bride!   I know it’s your birthday and we’re supposed to be driving but this isn’t really for you.  In fact, I doubt you’ll ever read this.  I’m not even going to tell you about it.  I know you read the blog occasionally but not everyday and that’s OK with me.  I’ll find out if any of your friends read it unless they choose not to let you in on the secret…

BUT YOU ARE AWESOME!  I hope your birthday is special and even though you’re not looking forward to getting to our 40s, which were not quite there yet, there’s no better person with whom I could look forward growing old together. 

But first, let’s focus on the kids and how we can impact this place God has called us to.  Thanks partner for all the ministry you do with me.  LOVE YOU!

You were a cute baby...and now my cute wife

Little Red Riding Hood Interpretation

I thought this was cool…how about you?

Phases of Leadership

First a note: I’ll be on vacation and mission trip next week so I’ll either be blogging from there if I have access or I’ll have some re-runs sets up for you.  So don’t stop visiting!

Experience, wisdom, and humility can only be gained with the passage of time (experience).

Phase 1: I don’t know what I don’t know.

Phase 2: I know what I don’t know.

Phase 3: I grow and know and it starts to show.

Phase 4: I simply go because of what I know.

Which phase of leadership growth am I in?

Daily, not in a Day

Leadership develops daily, not in a day.  The secret of our success is found in our daily agenda or schedule.  Why?  Leadership is complicated.  It involves respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, timing, etc.  It’s not the dream of a lifetime, it’s the dream that takes a lifetime.

All leaders need 3 things to prepare them:

1) Time to mature;

2) Trials to strengthen;

3) God to bless.

Am I willing to pay the price to accomplish my dream?

Elephants Can Fly

Family First

When a leader places family first , future generations will be blessed. 

A leader must first influence at home. 

Am I (Are you) truly placing family first?

What’s the Lid on my Leadership? (Part 2)

More Maxwell mantras: “To grow the organization, grow the leader.”  So where are my growing edges?

There are also some lids too heavy or big to lift by ourselves.  Every great leader had to depend on another to help them grow to the next level.

Who are lid lifters in my life?  Whose lids can I help lift?