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Why Don’t People Want to Go to Church Anymore? - This week, Drs. Bill and Kris have a lively conversation about the cultural phenomenon …it seems like no one wants to go to church anymore. Ever wonder why? Register for the Stop Inviting People To Church Three-Day Challenge Here. (And Read more…
Navigating Personal and Church Visions: A Leader’s Guide - Discover the crucial balance between personal and church visions in our latest ‘Church Talk’ podcast. Join Drs. Kris and Bill for a lively conversation as they delve into the importance of distinguishing these visions, the transformative power of a personal Read more…
Growing Spiritual Giants - Growing Spiritual GiantsOne of the most important church axioms is As go the leaders so goes the congregation. However, in too many churches those serving in leadership would make better corporate raiders than spiritual guides. In this episode, Drs. Kris Read more…
Build Your Church’s Reputation in the Community - Sure, “Everyone” knows who you are … or at least knows what your church is all about. Right? Probably not. In fact, you’d be surprised how little your community knows about your church, even if you’re highly visible in your Read more…
Gaining and Keeping Volunteers - Volunteers are the backbone of the church. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill speak with Stephanie Bice Kelsey who has years of experience as a volunteer coordinator in one of the largest churches in the US. Stephanie shares how Read more…
Mission! Mission! Mission! - This week Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively conversation about “Capital M” Mission – and how to make your church’s mission the #1 priority. Grab this weeks free resource at: https://www.facebook.com/billtb/ Podcast Version
Is Your Church Living a Lie? Discovering True Values - Join us for another lively conversation with Drs. Kris and Bill as they uncover the real priorities driving your church. They’ll explore how to spot the difference between what you say you value and what you actually prioritize. Using practical Read more…
Cooking Up a Transition: From Chaplaincy to Transformation - The vast majority of churches in the United States seem to have embraced the model of congregational chaplaincy. The church hired the pastor to take care of the flock. The problem with that model is that it’s not biblical and Read more…
Worship For the Ages - The reality is, many of our smaller churches are filled with grandparents and great-grandparents, with a smattering of younger Generations. Trying to create a worship service that reaches across the generational divides is difficult in the best of times, but Read more…
The Event Creation Workshop - It’s that time of year when planning summer, fall, and event winter events is upon us. Instead of creating events that only a few neighbors attend, and virtually nobody shows up for worship as a result, Drs. Kris and Bill will show you how to create events that will allow Read more…
Reach and Impressions – Make Them Count - If you are a marketing pro, you already know the difference between Impressions and reach. Impressions are the number of times a particular ad is displayed, and reach is the number of people who connected with that ad in some meaningful way. When it comes to the church, the effectiveness of your Read more…
Getting Started … Growing Churches - Ever wonder why so many church growth initiatives fail? It’s because there’s a lack of strategy in most of them. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively conversation about The core strategy that it takes to grow Read more…
Fail Forward or Fail: A Ministry Post-Mortem - How do you define “Ministry Failure”? Too often, it’s not defined at all, so “dead” ministries are still in operation months and years after they should have been gently “put down.” In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill look at Read more…
It’s Not a Fairy Tale … Church Growth Is Possible - Too many church leaders look at growing churches in their community as if they were the enemy … or as if there was some secret sauce, a magical spell, or a potent pill that made the growth happen. “What do Read more…
Team Work Makes the Dream Work - Christianity is not and never has been a solo sport. There is no Christianity without the church. Similarly, church leadership is not a solo sport. There is no church without a team – or teams. However, in most churches, there is some serious role confusion Read more…
First Impressions Last: Build a Reputation with Your Guests - Drs. Kris and Bill engage in an insightful conversation about the vital role of church hospitality in their podcast, “First Impressions Last: Securing a Second Visit.” They explore surprising statistics that reveal low retention rates for first-time church visitors and Read more…
Beyond the Blur: Strategies for a Focused Church Future - If you have a blurry vision, your church will have a bleak future. It amazes us how often we see the deer in the headlights look from church members when we ask, “What is your vision for the future of this church?” A church without a Read more…
From Slogan to Strategy: Your Mission Statement Matters - Join Drs. Kris and Bill as they dive into the crucial topic of crafting an effective church mission statement. They’ll explore what sets a great mission statement apart, how to anchor it in biblical principles, and how to make it Read more…
From Pews to Zoos: Your Church Decision Makers - Every church has more than its fair share of bullies – I call them Rats in my Herding Cats book. The truth is, it only takes one to make life on earth a bit of hell for the pastor and Read more…
Visitor Retention 101 - It’s a perpetual problem. A visitor manages to make their way to your worship service, but before you can make a real connection, they’ve darted out the door without a word to anybody. TRUTH: If you can’t retain your guests, Read more…
The Art of Transformative Sermons - Join Drs. Kris and Bill for a lively conversation on crafting sermons that resonate deeply, presenting simple solutions to complex problems, and embedding actionable calls to action for transformative impacts. Discover the 10 things your sermon must and must not Read more…
Maximize Your Sermon’s Impact with AI - Every week, you sweat bullets to create a sermon that invites your church members and guests to live a transformed life. But studies have shown, all that work you’ve done is little more than a foggy memory by Monday and Read more…
Elevate Your Church’s SQ … It’s Spirituality Quotient - The stats are in and they’re not pretty. 53% of US Churches have not yet reached their pre-COVID numbers (Hartford Research, 2024) and 66% of US Churches are in some state of decline. And to that the recent report that Read more…
Effective Leadership Selection: “Chose Wisely” - Quick question: you’ve been tasked with finding a new church treasurer. Which of the following traits will you prioritize in the selection process? (1) Experience in Accounting; (2) Longevity as a Church Member; (3) Church Giving History; (4) Personal Spiritual Practices; (5) Financial Education. In this Read more…
Three Easter Dilemmas - Easter’s coming … the busiest, most stressful time of the year for most pastors. Let’s face it, there’s a lot on the line – it’s likely the best attended worship service you’ll have all year! But then comes the let-down: Read more…
E-I AI Oh: Ministry and ChatGPT - Artificial Intelligence is here … and it looks like it’s here to stay. But is that a GOOD thing, especially in the church? Rumors are that some pastors are letting the “godless” cloud-based computers to write their sermons for them. Read more…
The Role of Today’s Successful Lead Pastor - There are very few jobs in today’s world that are more demanding and frustrating and demeaning and ultimately fulfilling than that of a church’s Lead Pastor. In this episode of ChurchTalk TV, Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively conversation Read more…
The Offering Plate Shuffle: The Dance to Generous Giving - This week, join Drs. Kris and Bill for an engaging and insightful discussion on revolutionizing church giving. This episode is packed with dynamic strategies, from harnessing the magnetic power of storytelling to demystifying transparent budgets, all aimed at igniting a Read more…
Get Unbusy … So You Can Get Right-Busy - We get so tired of hearing pastors tell us how busy they are, but when we ask them what’s keeping them busy, it’s the wrong kind of busy. If you’re too busy maintaining the status quo, putting out fires, chasing Read more…
2024 Community Centric Church Planning for Real Impact - Join Drs. Kris and Bill for a lively conversation about how to plan 2024 to reach your neighbors. Discover how to shape your church’s future to maximize your church’s community impact. Tune in for practical, actionable strategies that make a Read more…
Missed Marks – The Ministry Failure Post Mortem - In this insightful episode of Church Talk, Drs. Kris and Bill engage in a lively conversation about the critical lessons learned from ministry failures – and what you can do about them. They delve into the importance of clear goal-setting, Read more…
The Great Worship Juggling Act: Reaching the Generations in Your Church - Join Drs. Kris and Bill as they delve into the art of creating worship experiences that resonate across generations. They’ll explore the unique preferences of the Silent Generation to Gen Z, discuss strategies for blending traditional and contemporary worship styles, Read more…
Reimagining Your Church’s Christmas Eve Experience: Spirituality, Nostalgia, and Transforming Your Neighbors - Join Drs. Kris and Bill as they Dive into ‘Christmas Reimagined: Spirituality, Nostalgia, and Community’ on their latest podcast episode. Discover innovative ways for churches to harness the festive spirit, connecting deeply with both congregants and the broader community. We’ll Read more…
The Power of Dream Teams Unleashed - Dive into the dynamic world of church leadership in the latest lively conversation with Drs. Kris and Bill Tenny-Brittian. This episode sizzles with insightful discussions about the indispensable Dream Teams every church needs to thrive. Unpack the pivotal roles of Read more…
From Church Mouse to Lion: Hear Your Signature Ministries Roar - Join Drs. Kris and Bill in a lively conversation as they delve into the transformative power of a signature ministry. Discover how this focused approach can foster growth, strengthen community bonds, and carve out a church’s unique identity. Learn the Read more…
From Fish to Faith: Why Numbers Are a Church’s Best Friend - In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively discussion about a topic often overlooked but crucial to church growth—numbers. From their divine significance in the Bible to key metrics in modern churches, this episode promises to be both Read more…
The 4D Blueprint for Sustainable Church Growth - Join Drs. Kris and Bill T-B for a 30-minute power session on the Four Key Strategies that are game-changers for church growth. Dive into Invite, Connect, Disciple, and Send strategies, and walk away with actionable tips. Don’t miss this roadmap Read more…
3+ Tools To Keep Focused On the Mission - One of the key reasons that churches don’t grow is because the pastor is distracted by all sorts of other, non-mission focused, tasks. There is simply so much Ministry that needs to be done, and there are only so many hours in each day. In this Read more…
The Avatar Creation Strategy You Can’t Ignore - Don’t miss this episode of ChurchTalk.TV where Drs. Bill and Kris have a lively conversation about the transformative power of developing an Outreach Avatar for your church’s growth. Together, they explore why understanding your target audience is crucial, break down Read more…
Connect With Your Guests To Keep Them Coming Back - The number one hospitality faux pas, as reported by first-time visitors, is that “Nobody spoke to me.” Of course, most of the time that’s not really accurate. Someone probably said, “Good morning” as the guest walked from front door to Read more…
Holiday Planning For Maximum Outreach - Don’t let another holiday season pass you by with the same old, same old. It’s time to shift gears and supercharge your outreach like never before! Join Drs. Kris and Bill for an eye-opening discussion that will transform how you Read more…
The Church’s Unwritten Rules: Why Covenants Are Game-Changers - Ever walked into a church that felt more like a battlefield than a sanctuary? You’re not alone. Debilitating conflict can turn any congregation into a spiritual war zone, leaving members disheartened and leaders burnt out. But what if there was Read more…
The Spiritual Practice of Encouragement - And how it can help grow your church. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to encourage one-another daily. Daily. Meaning every day. But when was the last time someone from your church picked up the phone and called you just to ask how Read more…
Three Things That Keep Small Churches Small - Almost every church – regardless of size – “says” that it wants to grow. If a church is large, or even medium-sized, you probably have the resources so that if you’re not growing much, no one’s hit Panic Mode yet. Read more…
Three To Do’s for Increasing Your Visitor Count - (Not Great Audio … Tech Issues … sorry!) Let’s be clear … It’s really hard to grow a church when few visitors show up. And the truth is, if you’ve been depending on your members to do the inviting – Read more…
Sustainably Funding the Church Today - There’s always more ministry than money. That’s not just an inconvenience, it’s an axiom that that’s true for tiny churches and for mega-churches. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill spend time with Karen Houghton, the CEO of Infinite Giving to Read more…
Why Your Church Growth Tools Aren’t Growing Your Church - If you’re a church leader, you’ve almost certainly read a church growth book or four. You’ve gone to conferences. You’ve listened to the podcasts and read the blogs. But still, your church isn’t growing. Believe it or not, the problem Read more…
Getting Your Vision Done - Goal setting seems to be a foreign concept for most people – pastors included. And a leader without goals isn’t really leading … they’re just marking time. In this lively episode, Drs. Kris and Bill have a conversation about vision, Read more…
Why Isn’t the Church Inspiring Culture Anymore? - There’s really no doubt. The church has largely last any influence it used to have on our culture. Doubtless, there are a lot of reasons for this – and this week, Drs. Kris and Bill have a particularly lively discussion Read more…
Stop Visitors From Ghosting You - Are Your First-Time Visitors Ghosting You? In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively conversation about Best Practices to hang on to your visitors. Podcast Version
Creating Personal Spiritual Retreats - Need some deep and meaningful God-Time and don’t know where to start? In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively conversation about how to design your own personal spiritual retreat. Podcast Version
Turn Church Event Guests into Sunday Morning Visitors - Churches host events that are designed to get those in the community involved with the church. Trunk-or-Treat, Easter Egg Hunts, Back to School Festivals, and Vacation Bible School. But are these events effective in turning event guests into Sunday morning Read more…
From Survive to Thrive: The Congregational Hierarchy of Needs - With over 85% of US churches in some stage of decline, it can be easy to get stuck in “Survival Mode.” Dr. Kris adapted Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and shows how a church can move from Stuck in Survival to Read more…
The Failure in Success - Failure is the most common human experience. But it’s also the root of every success. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively conversation about failure and what to do about it! Podcast Version Additional Resources:
Tips for Getting Your Time Off - Pastors, having trouble getting your time off? Days off and vacation time seem unreachable? Join Drs. Kris and Bill as they have a lively conversation about how to get YOUR day off (or better still, your DAYS off!). Podcast Version Read more…
Leveraging Google For The Church - WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A $10,000/MONTH ADVERTISING BUDGET? This week, Drs. Kris and Bill talk with Jesse Carbó about leveraging Google for the sake of the church. Find out more with the free Google Ad Grant for Church’s Course Read more…
Preventing Mission Drift - This week, Drs. Kris and Bill have a lively conversation about 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙩 – And 4 tools you can use to stay on track. Podcast Version
Spirituality Restored - This week Drs. Kris and Bill speak with Mitch Griffin about his book Restored: Eight Truths for Freedom in Christ and how to get your spiritual life in-tune. This is a great reminder that just ’cause we’re Pastors and Church Read more…
When Is It Time To Leave? - Pastors face the question more regularly than most would admit … “When is it time to leave?” In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill share the 6 Ways Pastors Depart Their Ministries. Podcast Version
Time Management for Pastors - Where did you learn what a pastor is “supposed to do”? In this episode, Bill and Kris have a lively conversation about the role and responsibilities of a lead pastor in today’s world (and yesterday’s as well!) Podcast Version
Every Day Hospitality For Growing Churches - Hospitality helps grow churches … because if your first-time visitors DON’T return, growth isn’t going to happen. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill speak with Kyle Ermoian, the founder of Celebration Community Church in Hays, Kansas – the largest Read more…
Getting Found Online - Need to Get Your Church Noticed? Getting a church found online is becoming more and more difficult. This week Drs. Kris and Bill talk with Tony Swisher of Shine! Event Services to untangle the web. You can reach Tony at Read more…
Social Media and the Church - GROW YOUR CHURCH WITH SOCIAL MEDIA? This week’s guest on ChurchTalk TV is Pastor Torrey Montgomery from Ignite Church in Oklahoma City – and the founder of GoNEXT Leadership. Torrey will speak about how churches can use social media to Read more…
Networking for Pastors – Especially Introverted Pastors! - With guest Realtor, author, and entrepreneur Jen Jones. A lively conversation about how pastors – even introverted pastors – can effectively network in their communities. Episode Goodies: Designing Your Avatar – Identifying Your Target Audience by Bill T-B Intropreneur by Read more…
Easter Hospitality Tips - This week Drs. Kris and Bill talk about Easter Hospitality with Kyle Ermoian, founding pastor of Celebration Church in Hays, Kansas. Resources for the week: Hospitality Short List – A free workbook on key church hospitality practices Church Turnaround A to Z – Kyle’s Read more…
Handling the Chaos of Crisis - Drs. Bill and Kris face a real-life crisis in their lives (wait ’til you see their “set” this week!) and draw from their experience to share best practices of how to lead when chaos reigns.
Stop Playing Pastor Fetch - Hey Pastor, what exactly is in your job description? You obviously do more than preach on Sundays, but a study done by Thom Rainer some years ago suggested that your church members think you should work approximately 114 hours each Read more…
Connecting with Your Lo-Tech Members in a High Tech World - Not everyone in your church owns the latest and greatest smart phone. Believe it or not, some probably don’t even have a computer. And so when the pandemic hit (or the ice storm, hurricane, flooding, bridge out, etc.), they were Read more…
Holiday Hospitality Tips from Dr. Hospitality – Part 2 - Part 02 If your church is like most, your first-time visitor return rate hovers between 6–15 percent – that is, 8 out of 10 people who visit your church decide, “Nope, that’s not the church I want to ever come Read more…
Holiday Hospitality Tips from Dr. Hospitality - Part 01 If your church is like most, your first-time visitor return rate hovers between 6–15 percent – that is, 8 out of 10 people who visit your church decide, “Nope, that’s not the church I want to ever come Read more…
Who Is Jesus To You? And Why It Matters - Funny thing. Over the past couple of decades, when I’ve asked life-long Christians to tell me about their relationship with Jesus, mostly what I get is a conversation about how the church has been there for them. While that’s all Read more…
Make Your Fall Festival Sizzle - Whether your church does Halloween of Fall Festivals, that time of year is looming. Now’s the time to firm up your plans. You have questions to answer (“Who’s really our target audience?”) and strategies to discuss (“How will you leverage Read more…
Communicate Through Social Media - Like it or not, social media is a thing. With over 4.7 billion global users, an effective church can literally reach all around the globe with the gospel. And if it can reach across the globe, it can reach your Read more…
Get Your Members to Read the Bible - Our churches are filled with congregational members who don’t really know much about what’s in their Bibles. Didn’t Moses build an ark? You mean it wasn’t an apple a day in the Garden of Eden? And there weren’t three wisemen Read more…
More Than Marketing - Once upon a time you could put an ad for your church on TV or in the newspaper, and you’d expect a pretty good response. No more. Today’s unchurched folks aren’t looking for a church solution to their problems and Read more…
Effective Church Membership - What does it mean to be a church member in today’s world? Whether you’re a local member or an online member, there are hopes, dreams, and expectations about being an active part of the body of Christ. In this episode, Read more…
The Power of Notes - You want to make an impression. You want people to remember you. Including people you don’t even know … yet. You can do that easily using the power of notes, that is, the power of a Hand Written Note sent Read more…
Your To Don’t List - We’ve all got our To Do lists. They’re on scraps of paper, sticky notes, and our cell phones. And those To Do’s keep us plenty busy. But what if … what if your church’s growth depended on what you’re NOT Read more…
Double Your Visitor Count in 5 Days - No, that’s not a typo. And yes, we really mean it. You can double your first-time visitor count in just five days. It’s not necessarily easy, but it’s downright simple. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris talk a moment Read more…
Get Found Online - We were thinking about going to church while on vacation in Columbus, Ohio one week. We had no idea where we wanted to go, so we turned to our friend Google. We typed in three search terms: Columbus, Ohio and Read more…
Multiplying Leaders - We’ve yet to meet a church where there were enough leaders to get all that ministry done. (On the other hand, we’ve been in plenty of churches where there are too many would-be chiefs who are just dying to tell Read more…
Your Church Sign - When it comes to marketing, your building isn’t your most valuable resource. It’s your sign. Your sign in your employee who stands out there by the street, come rain or shine, and invites every passerby to join your congregation for Read more…
Virtual Resources for Turnaround Pastors - There are a lot of resources out there for you, pastor who wants to turnaround their church. But where do you start? A quick Google search will give you over 33.5 Million web pages of all kinds of “stuff” for Read more…
Follow-Up: Turning Visitors into Returning Guests - In most churches, the return rate for first-time visitors hovers at less than 15 percent – and it’s even lower in small, declining churches. To turn your visitors into returning guests takes great hospitality, but you can improve the odds Read more…
Getting Visitor’s Contact Information - It’s great when first time guests show up to visit, but once they’ve visited, do you know how to connect with them to invite them back? Or better, can you drop them a thank you note? Or better yet, can Read more…
The Most Important Room in the Church - When it comes to visitors, the sanctuary is not the most important room in the building. Sure, they might be impressed with the beautiful stained glass windows, but it’s not the first space that they’ll talk about when they get Read more…
Leveraging Your Church’s Demographics - All those numbers. All those statistics. Regardless of where you get your ministry area’s demographics, there’s a lot of important information there beyond just the population, age, and ethnicity. In this episode, Mary Frances, noted church consultant and demographer, shares Read more…
Make the Most of Meetings - Love ’em or hate ’em, meetings are a part of the church. However, have you been noticing meeting attendance waning? There may be a good reason why your members – and even your staff – are avoiding your meetings. In this Read more…
Make the Most of Networking - If you’re serious about growing your church, then networking in your community (and online) is one of the keys. But where do you network and how do you network is a mystery to too many church leaders. In this episode, Read more…
Building Connections: On and Off Line - Whether you’re doing in-person worship, on-line worship, or a hybrid, the reality is that if you’re not making good connections with your members, your guests, and your visitors, then you’re dead in the water. In today’s world, making connections is Read more…
Post-Pandemic Church Growth - Churches have been reopening now for many months, mostly to great disappointment. So many church members and pastors believed that there would be a flood of relieved church members and guests rushing back to fellowship, worship, and in-house worship only Read more…
Ministry – Too Important for Volunteers - Everything your church does has eternal consequences. Lives and souls and families and eternities hang in the balance. With that in mind, do your really think that a cadre of mere volunteers have the commitment level and the expertise to Read more…
Role of the Lead Pastor: Priorities - Whether you’re a solo pastor, or a pastor with serious staff, where you choose to invest your time is critical. In this episode Dr. Bill sits down with Paul Borden, author of How to Make or Break Your Church in Read more…
Vision First - Too often, our churches appear to be on autopilot – we do what we do because it’s what we do and pretty much all we’ve ever done. Worship looks like worship. Sunday school looks like Sunday school. The bulletin looks Read more…
Teaching Prayer - Where did you learn how to pray? If you’re like most of us, you learned by listening to others who were praying. If you were raised in church, the primary example was the pastor and the pastoral prayer. The problem Read more…
The Evangelism Conundrum - We just saw this stat: 47 percent of Millennial Christians believe it’s wrong to share their faith with others. Not 47 percent of Millennials, 47 percent of CHRISTIAN Millennials. That’s a staggering statistic … but let’s be honest, it’s not Read more…
Church Turnaround A to Z - It’s been said that the only thing more difficult that starting a new church from scratch is to turn around an existing church. However, rekindling growth in a church that’s been in decline or on a plateau is one of Read more…
Online Services or Online Campus? - The pandemic pushed many (most) US churches into the future. Some went kicking and screaming as they launched streaming worship services. Some were almost ready anyway. And some had been ahead of the rest in their streaming technology and experience. Read more…
Church Marketing 101 - A decent definition of marketing is “getting the word out.” Many churches – most churches – are invisible to their neighbors. Add to the thousands of churches that have jumped online during the pandemic, it’s become difficult to make a Read more…
Measuring Maturity - When your nominating team meets, are they looking for warm bodies to fill positions, or are they looking for mature disciples with passion? We’ll get to the passion part in another episode, but how can you tell whether or not Read more…
The 5 Faces of Jesus - It’s a loaded question, as in, it’s a GREAT question for sharing why you’re a Jesus followers: “Why do you go to church?” But the response is too often a mumbled conversation about how wonderful the people are or how Read more…
The Fine Art of Communicating - Believe it or not, Christians aren’t well known for being great communicators. In fact, we have a fairly wide reputation as being argumentative, closed minded, and biased. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill have a conversation (?) a discussion Read more…
Go! The Fourth Core Process - One of the biggest issues with the church comes from the desire to keep our lambs safe from the storms of life and the marauding lions and wolves that are looking for a soul to ravage. And so, when a Read more…
The Discipleship Funnel - If someone who’d never been to church before – who didn’t have a clue about Jesus and his call to discipleship – if they showed up at your church on Sunday, how would you help them to move from a Read more…
Disciple: The Third Core Process - Jesus didn’t say, “Go ye therefore and make converts.” He said we’re to make disciples … followers who are willing to drop their very livelihoods in order to faithfully follow Jesus – if that’s what it takes. But the discipleship Read more…
Connect: Retaining Your Guests - It’s one thing to get someone in the door (or to your online worship service), it’s something else again to get them to come back. In fact, if they don’t come back over and over, the chance of someone becoming Read more…
Invite: The Nuts and Bolts - The first process for growing your church is to effectively invite people who are outside of the church to come and check you out. Whether you’re inviting to worship online, worship in person, a Sunday school class, or a Friday Read more…
Invite … The First Church Growth Process - Of the four processes that grow churches, the invite process tends to get a lot of attention. The reality is, if you don’t get prospective participants dropping into your church’s activities, including worship, then any thought of church growth is Read more…
The Covid Conflict: To Building Or Not? - You have church members who are unhappy. If you’re NOT worshipping in person, there’s a group pushing for that. If you ARE worshipping in person, there are those who refuse to congregate until it’s “safe.” In either case, your church Read more…
Four Things Grow Churches - Whether you’re in-person or virtual, it’s hardly escaped your notice that growing a church is a difficult thing to do. Becoming an ever increasing faithful, effective, and sustainable church is hard work … but Drs. Kris and Bill would like Read more…
Effective Church Membership - Effective Church Membership: Some churches have done away with church membership … let’s be honest, the only ones who really count today are those who actually show up (and in most churches, that’s well less than 50 percent of their Read more…
Create a Christmas Eve of Dreams - Create a Christmas Eve of DreamsYour Christmas Eve worship service is most likely the one service where you’re most likely to get the most receptive visitors of the year. Although there’s an expectation that the worship service will be all Read more…
Introduction to “Our” Church & New Member Training - Introduction to “Our” Church & New Member TrainingThere are many tools that help connect prospective members into the church. The most effective tool is, of course, making a personal friend within the congregation. But the second most effective tool may Read more…
Effective Church Communication - Effective Church CommunicationWhen you start hearing complaints that the church leaders (or the office) aren’t communicating well, it might mean the office is engaged in a closed-door policy. But most of the time it means you’re either facing a power Read more…
Productive Meetings - Productive MeetingsPeople want to give their lives to life-changing activities. And so, have you ever notice how often your church volunteers skip church committee and board meetings? Often, it’s because they suspect these meetings are more often than not a Read more…
Two Ministries That Grow Churches - Two Ministries That Grow ChurchesThere are hundreds of things that can keep a church from growing. But if you want to ensure your church’s future by reaching young families, there are only two ministries that grow churches. In this episode, Read more…
What To Do When … Your Church Has Too Much Debt - What To Do When … Your Church Has Too Much DebtThe average US consumer owes over $15,000 in credit card debt and over $150,000 for their mortgage. That puts a lot of consumers over-their-heads with debt. But consumers aren’t the Read more…
Making Friends Beyond Church: A How-To Primmer - Making Friends Beyond Church: A How-To PrimmerOne of the reasons long-term church members are ineffective in the inviting-people-to-church ministry is that for the most part, over the years, they’ve already invited everyone they know. Fact is, the same holds true Read more…
Grow Your Church with Social Ministry - Grow Your Church with Social MinistryThere’s been a rumor going around since the 1950s or so that the mission of the church is to engage in social ministries. The corollary of that rumor is that churches that focus on social Read more…
What To Do When … You’ve Reached Capacity - What To Do When … You’ve Reached Capacity“Seems like a nice problem to have. Wish it was true here!” Surprisingly, even small and struggling churches need to deal with the perception … or the reality … that there’s not enough Read more…
Turn First-Time Visitors into Returning Guests - Let's say you get a half-dozen first-time visitors walk through your doors at any given worship service. How many of them are returning next week? If you're not keeping over 50% of them, there's a problem and it's probably one of two things. It could be you're not offering what they're looking for in terms of experiential worship. The other problem, which is VERY common is that your follow-up isn't effective. How do you get contact information from your guests and what do you do with it once you get it? That's the topic of this episode of Church-Talk Live.
Small Church Thinking - Small Church ThinkingThe power of positive thinking may be overrated (or may not be), but there is no arguing that our attitudes have a huge impact on our lives. The same is true for the church. One of the reasons Read more…
Developing Your Church’s Mission - Developing Your Church’s MissionA ship without a working rudder goes wherever the tides and winds will … until it runs aground. A church without a working mission statement suffers the same malady and fate. One of the most contentious processes Read more…
What To Do When … Your Church Is Doing Too Much - What To Do When … Your Church Is Doing Too MuchIn many – if not most – small to mid-sized churches one of the concerns we regularly hear is how tired and overwhelmed their leaders are. In most cases there Read more…
Effective Church Leadership: Setting Clear Expectations - Effective Church Leadership: Setting Clear ExpectationsOne of the most common mistakes church leaders make is not being crystal clear about their expectations. Unclear (or missing) expectations lead to lackluster performance, misunderstandings, and an inability to hold others accountable. On the Read more…
Leading from Logistics to Implementation - Leading from Logistics to Implementation. It's one thing to "envision a preferred future," it's something else again to lead a congregation to the promised land. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore what it takes to bring your vision, strategies, tactics, and logistics to implementation.
Leading from Tactics to Logistics - Leading from Tactics to LogisticsLeading from Tactics to Logistics. It’s one thing to “envision a preferred future,” it’s something else again to lead a congregation to the promised land. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore what it takes to Read more…
Leading From Strategy to Tactics - Leading from Tactics to Logistics. It's one thing to "envision a preferred future," it's something else again to lead a congregation to the promised land. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore what it takes to develop effective logistics to ensure successful tactics. (Part three of a four part series.)
Leading From Vision to Strategy - Leading From Vision to Strategy It’s one thing to “envision a preferred future,” it’s something else again to lead a congregation to the promised land. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore what it takes to do more than just Read more…
The Power of Vision - The power of vision. Every leadership guru reminds us (constantly) that Proverbs says that without vision the people will perish. Great words, but what does that really mean and if it's true, then how can church leaders put the power of vision to work? This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore the power of vision, how to find it, and implement it.
Summer’s Coming: Will it Be Slump or Jump? - Summer’s Coming: Will it Be Slump or Jump?We hear it every year. “We have to scale back our programming starting in June because of the summer slump.” Apparently, everyone in church takes the same weeks off during the summer for Read more…
Mentoring Faith Development - There’s more to developing faith than listening to sermons and reading a book. And though there’s been a lot of talk about mentoring for spiritual development, there’s a paucity of how-to information. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris tackle the tough task of helping faith take root and bloom.
The Leadership Covenant: And Why Churches Need One - The Leadership Covenant: And Why Churches Need One In many churches, leaders are recruited using the 2W Principle: Are they Willing and do they have a Warm Body. Then the church wonders why it can’t get these leaders to get Read more…
The Membership Covenant: And Why Churches Need One - The Membership Covenant: And Why Churches Need One The keystone to both avoiding and resolving church conflicts is the development, adoption, and implementation of a Membership Covenant, sometimes known as Expected Behaviors. We’ve called the Membership Covenant the Missing Link Read more…
Anonymous Ministry: The Right-Hand, Left-Hand Dilemma - Anonymous Ministry: The Right-Hand, Left-Hand Dilemma“Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3–4) has been used for years to justify “anonymous” church ministry. Though the social ministry gospel had its heart in the right Read more…
Extend Your Leadership Base – The One Person, One Passion, One Position Policy - Extend Your Leadership Base: The One Person, One Passion, One Position PolicyOne of the top issues churches face is leadership. There are never enough leaders, and those you have are exhausted because they all have to do too much. But Read more…
What To Do When … Your Church is Dying - What To Do When … Your Church is DyingIt’s a bitter pill to swallow, but sometimes all the prayers in the world will not resuscitate the dying nor resurrect the dead. Churches have a life cycle and closing its doors Read more…
What To Do When … Your Church has a Bully (or Terrorist) - What To Do When … Your Church has a Bully (or Terrorist)Middle School isn’t the only place where bullies terrorize almost everyone they meet. Believe it or not, many churches have a bully or two that no one seems to Read more…
What To Do When … Children’s Sunday School is Slipping - What To Do When … Children’s Sunday School is SlippingIt’s not just your church. All over the nation churches are combining Sunday school classes just to keep them open. Young adults won’t come, kids are bored – or worse, alone Read more…
What To Do When: Adult Sunday School Attendance Slips - What To Do When: Adult Sunday School Attendance SlipsIt’s not just your church. All over the nation churches are combining Sunday school classes just to keep them open. Young adults won’t come, kids are bored – or worse, alone in Read more…
How to Start a Conversation - How to Start a ConversationYou’ve heard Kris and Bill say it time and again – you can’t grow your church from your office. But some have asked, “But what do we do when we’ve left the office? Do we just Read more…
What To Do When … Kids Hate Church - What To Do When … Kids hate Church Let’s be honest. Little ones have little use for adult worship. They don’t understand the words to the songs, let alone the ones coming out of the preacher’s mouth. The prayers and Read more…
What To Do When … You HAVE to Grow the Church Now! - What To Do When … You HAVE to Grow the Church Now!Sometimes you don’t have time to wait for the stars to line up just right, the moon to be in the right phase, or for John and Jane Q. Read more…
What To Do When … You Have to Fire a “Volunteer” - What To Do When … You Have to Fire a “Volunteer”When you’re in business management, making a “bad hire” is troublesome. Unless we’re Machiavellian, we’d much prefer to be liked than vilified by having to fire an employee. But managers Read more…
What To Do When … No One Knows You Exist - What To Do When … No One Knows You Exist Ever hear of Willow Creek? Saddleback? Life Church? Those churches have national reputations. How about Fifth Street Christian? St. Andrews Lutheran? It takes more than a marketing campaign to put Read more…
What To Do When … You Have to Recruit a Worship Band (or Team) - What To Do When … You Have to Recruit a Worship Band (or Team)One of the most common questions we get from church leaders is how to get a worship band started. “Where do we get musicians?” Some churches find Read more…
What To Do When … Offerings Are Down - No church ever has enough money to fund the ministries it wants to do or to meet the needs of the community. However, most churches can increase their offerings significantly by employing some simple practices. In this episode, Drs. Bill Read more…
What To Do When … You’re an Aging Congregation - What To Do When … You’re an Aging Congregation The average age of church members in the US is around 55 – and it’s higher in mainline churches. However, the longer a church has been established, the older the average Read more…
What To Do When … You’re Burning Out - What to Do When You’re Burning Out “But nobody likes me. Everyone is mean to me. I’m not learning anything and no one listens to me. I don’t want to go,” he complained. “Hush now. You’re the pastor, you have Read more…
Helping Identify a Call to Ministry - Helping Identify a Call to Ministry Believe it or not, there is a growing shortage of pastors and other professional ministry leaders in the North American church. Once upon a time, youth often came to a realization of a call Read more…
What To Do When … A Fight Breaks Out (Part 2) - What To Do When … A Fight Breaks Out (Part 2)Sometimes it just happens. A slip of the tongue (or not) and someone either takes exception or disagrees … strongly. Or someone undermines someone else or some project or … Read more…
What To Do When … A Fight Breaks Out (Part 1) - What To Do When … A Fight Breaks Out (Part 1)Sometimes it just happens. A slip of the tongue (or not) and someone either takes exception or disagrees … strongly. Or someone undermines someone else or some project or … Read more…
What To Do When … You Can’t Get New Leaders - What To Do When … You Can’t Get New LeadersIt’s one of the top five concerns we hear whenever we work with a stuck church: “We’re so tired and we just can’t get new leaders to take over for us.” Read more…
What To Do When … You Have to Do the “Children’s Sermon” - What To Do When … You Have to Do the “Children’s Sermon”We see it all the time. Good hearted people who volunteer (or are volunteered) to do “The Children’s Time” during the adult worship service. But in the end, the Read more…
What To Do When … Your Small Groups Wane - What To Do When … Your Small Group WanesThe great hope of the church from the nineties to the present has bee focused on small groups. Small groups were where we expected people to get connected, to get spiritually fed, Read more…
What To Do When … You Have No Visitors - What To Do When … You Have No VisitorsA too common cry from congregations is “But we don’t have any visitors,” which is often followed by a perceived observation that “everyone is moving out” or “nobody is moving in.” Believe Read more…
Effective Membership Tracking - Effective Membership TrackingAs a church grows, keeping up with who does what, who’s gifted in that, and who loves doing this can be a daunting task. A membership tracking program can be a lifesaver for the church. But too many Read more…
Hospitality Like Disney - Hospitality Like Disney. Virtually anyone who's ever visited Disneyland/world can attest that the Magic Kingdom is sometimes a lot more hospitable than the local church's model of the Kingdom of God. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer concrete tips to ratchet up your congregation's hospitality. With special guest Christopher W. Perry, the author of Church Mouse: Leadership Lessons from the Magic Kingdom.
Church Growth: Then and Now (Part 2) - If you’ve been trying to grow you church, but aren’t seeing the results you expected, then you may want to tap into this episode. One of the most misunderstood realities is that the way churches grew once-upon-a-time just doesn’t work today. Although that may not be “news” to many pastors, the church’s “growth” practices often reflect yesterday’s growth strategy. In part two of this two-part episode, Dr. Bill explains what it takes at the core to grow a church today.
Church Growth … Then and Now (Part 1) - Church Growth … Then and Now If you’ve been trying to grow you church, but aren’t seeing the results you expected, then you may want to tap into this episode. One of the most misunderstood realities is that the way Read more…
When Not to Try a Transformation - When Not to Try a TransformationNot every church is a viable candidate for a transformation. Likewise, not every pastor has the temperament or the ability to lead a transformation. But how do you know if the church or you are Read more…
Managing Your Time Off … You ARE Taking Your Time Off, Right? - Managing Your Time Off … You ARE Taking Your Time Off, Right? Some ministers can spend so much time taking care of others that they forget to take care of themselves. Other categories of self-care sacrifices include over-achieving ministers and Read more…
Discovering Your Church’s Mission - A ship without a working rudder goes wherever the tides and winds will ... until it runs aground. A church without a working mission statement suffers the same malady and fate. One of the most contentious processes in the church seems to be discovering the answer to the "Why are we here?" question, and yet of all the parts of the DNA, why your church exists is the easiest to discover. In the episode Drs. Kris and Bill tackle the Mission Monster, tame it, and teach how you can do the same.
Getting the Point: Thematic Worship - Getting the Point: Thematic Worship Do your members remember anything about last week’s message? The days when a “three points and a poem” preaching was effective are long past. Today’s effective sermons make one major take-home point. And though many Read more…
Building Alliances - Building AlliancesChanging the culture of a church is a team effort. In churches averaging less than 300 in worship, that team is more than just the staff and key leaders … it takes congregational buy-in. But in churches under 200, Read more…
Make a Lasting Impression: Power Pointers - Make a Lasting Impression: Power PointersScreen technology is no longer a novelty and a majority of churches have adopted some sort of projection during worship. Unfortunately, the Digital Age largely hasn’t caught up with most church screens and for too Read more…
Afraid of Your Shadow? Congregational Self-Esteem - Afraid of Your Shadow? Congregational Self-Esteem Do your church members lack energy? Have they stopped inviting their friends and neighbors to church? Are you giving it everything you’ve got but getting tired from being the Energizer bunny who keeps on Read more…
Targeted Technology: Part 2 – Bridging the Generations - Targeted Technology Part 1: Understanding the GenerationsThe first technological breakthrough may have been a sharp stick by Homo erectus and it seems to have served them well for a couple hundred thousand years, but when it comes to worship in Read more…
Targeted Technology Part 1: Understanding the Generations - Targeted Technology Part 1: Understanding the GenerationsThe first technological breakthrough may have been a sharp stick by Homo erectus and it seems to have served them well for a couple hundred thousand years, but when it comes to worship in Read more…
Making Course Corrections - Making Course CorrectionsIt’s been said that churches have a life cycle from birth to death. That’s hard to dispute in a nation that’s expected to close 150,000 churches in the next decade … and with 41 churches closing every day, Read more…
Intergenerational Worship - In our current cultural climate, it makes a lot of sense to focus worship services on a basic generational target. Kid's worship, youth worship, young-adult/seeker worship, boomer worship, traditional worship for seniors, etc. But that's not an option for even a majority of churches. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore how to lead effective intergenerational worship for those churches that have limited options.
The Introverted Leader - One of the most common questions we get is: "I know what I'm supposed to do as a church leader, but I'm an introvert. How am I supposed to grow my church?" Believe it or not, Dr. Kris in not just an introvert, she's a shy introvert ... and yet, she's successfully led in church planting, church transformation and growth, and judicatory transformation as well. In this episode, she and Dr. Bill will explore the realities and the how-tos of the shy and the introverted as effective growth leaders.
Helping Folks Invite: The Five Most Wanted - HELPING FOLKS INVITE FOLKS: THE FIVE MOST WANTED It’s hard to “do” evangelism; if it wasn’t, we wouldn’t be here still trying to figure out how to teach/cajole our folks into it. But what if there was an easier, more Read more…
Make or Break Your Church in 365 Days (or Less!) - Make or Break Your Church in 365 Days (or Less!) Effective pastors of growing churches do things differently than other pastors, and their churches do things differently. But it doesn’t end there. Not only do they do things differently, they Read more…
Adult Bible Study Curriculum Made Easy … Really Easy - Discovering the Discovery Questions. How much time does it take your small group leaders to get prepare for their next session? What if they could skip the study part and just spend their prep time in real-time prayer for the group? In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris introduce the five discovery questions that make Bible study a snap!
Self-Esteem in the Small Church - Self-Esteem in the Small Church. It's been noted that many small churches suffer from a low self-image. This manifests with a lack of enthusiasm and members who don't invite their friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone else to worship with them. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill offer tips to bolster your congregation's self-esteem.
Helping Visitors Take the Next Step - HELPING VISITORS TAKE THE NEXT STEP You’ve ratcheted up your hospitality, so your first time visitors are returning, but what’s next? Studies show that if a guest hasn’t developed significant relationships within the church within six to nine months, odds Read more…
How to Make Irresistible Invitations - Irresistible InvitationsWe’ve heard it – and many of us have pushed it – from the pulpit for years: the number one way to get an un-churched or never-churched person to come to church is through a personal invitation. But instead Read more…
New You: Your Congregation’s Makeover - New You: Your Congregation’s MakeoverEvery time a new year starts, we are inundated with tips and promises for how to make ourselves over: how to recreate ourselves into someone healthier, better looking, more prosperous than the year – or years Read more…
Mission Alignment: Organizing Around Your Mission Statement - Mission Alignment: Organizing Around Your Mission Statement It’s one thing to have a mission statement – it’s quite another to organize and operate and staff around it. Most churches are organized to maintain control and structured to make decisions. But Read more…
How to Say “No” - How to Say “No”One of the common questions Dr. Kris and Bill here from congregational leaders is, “How do I say no?” In this episode the “Church Drs.” will provide practical tips on how to say “no” and how to Read more…
The Five S’s of a Great Nursery - The Five S's of a Great Nursery. It's been said that only two "programs" grow a church: Relevant, indigenous worship and excellent children's programming. Children's programming begins in the nursery. In today's cultural climate, if your church is serious about reaching young families (or grandparents with local grandkids, for that matter), your nursery had better be "up to snuff" in the Five S's - Staff, Safety, Sanitary, Security, and Sizzle. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris will help you and your congregation know what it takes to make a positive impression on young parents.
Alternatives for Children’s Sunday School - More and more churches are shutting down their Sunday School programs because they can't get adults to bring their children. Other churches just keep limping along, trying to expand from two or three kids. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill will dig deep to find some alternatives that are working around the nation. Whether you need to move Sunday School to the worship hour, create a children's small-group program, or rework the program you have, this is a don't-miss episode.
Public Prayer 201: What To Do When … - Public Prayer 201Public Prayer 201: What To Do When … takes up were Public Prayer 101 left off. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris get serious about what to do when someone asks you to pray. Whether you’re being Read more…
Advent and Christmas Planning - Advent and Christmas Planning It’s that time of year again. There’s a nip in the air (unless you live in Southern California) and the leaves are starting to turn. In just a few weeks gutters will be clogged with leaves Read more…
The Business of Church: Introducing the Four Processes (pt 3) - The Business of Church: Introducing the Four Processes (pt 3)The third part of the Business of the Church series. The church too often loses its focus on what it’s all about and what really needs to be accomplished. In this Read more…
Introduction to Church Leadership - Introduction to Church LeadershipEver wish you had a resource that would let church members know what it means to be a church leader? Something a little less forward than you sitting down with them to try and get them to Read more…
Discern and Develop Your Congregation’s Core Values - Discern and Develop Your Congregation’s Core ValuesYou can tell what’s important to a church by looking at the congregation’s budget and their calendar. Values are what’s really important … and values drive our behaviors. Helping churches discern their values, and Read more…
No Dogs Allowed – And Other Ways We Bar Our Doors - No Dogs Allowed – And Other Ways We Bar Our Doors.When it comes to inviting people to worship, the North American church seem to specialize in “Y’all Come.” Except, that the church too often doesn’t really mean y’all; rather, it Read more…
Reading the Bible Aloud: Help It Come Alive - Reading the Bible Aloud: Help It Come Alive Over the years, while attending literally thousands of church worship services, we’ve found ourselves too often inwardly cringing when the scriptures get read aloud. We’ve heard the monotone drone that goes on Read more…
Seeker Sensitivity Without Member Insensitivity - Over the past several decades, there's been a lot of talk about seeker sensitivity in churches. From "Seeker Focused" to "Seeker Sensitive," what's the best way to be hospitable to guests? And can you do that without alienating those already attending the church? This episode will look at the ins and outs of the seeker sensitivity movement.
The Business of Church: Balancing Spirituality with Good Business Practices (pt 2) - The Business of Church: Balancing Spirituality with Good Business Practices (pt 2)The second part of the three-part Business of the Church series. Although the church isn’t a business, many churches are responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Read more…
Effective Hospital Visitation - It seems that the smaller the church, the more time the pastor spends making hospital visits. What if you could cut your time in the hospital by 25 percent? What if you could cut your time by 100 percent? In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris will offer time saving hospital visit tips - plus provide Hospital Visitation 101 to help train your elders/shepherds to make effective, meaningful hospital visits.
Spiritual Habits for Kids - The church has been busy teaching children the basic stories of the Bible for decades - but we've neglected to train our children to be effective disciples of Jesus Christ. Prayer, scripture reading, encouragement, mission, and faith sharing seem to be spiritual disciplines reserved for adults. And yet who hasn't been touched by the genuine faith of a child? In this episode Drs. Bill and Kris with guest Donna Rose-Heim (author of Dream Walking for Kids) offer tools for helping your children make real connections with God.
The Business of Church (Part 1) - The Business of Church (Part 1)The Business of Church – It’s Not Business. Too many church business meetings are about business and not about church; about money and not about ministry; about what we want and not about what God Read more…
Building Bridges from Church to Culture (Part 3 of 3 in the Who Moved My Church Series) - Building Bridges from Church to Culture (Part 3 of 3)Culture has changed. The church wants to reach those in the culture. The question is, who makes the next move … and what’s the best move to make. In this, the Read more…
Stop Changing Spiritual Diapers - Stop Changing Spiritual DiapersEver get tired of trying to “feed” those who won’t be fed? Ready to put an end to changing people’s spiritual diapers and help them to grow up into spiritual maturity? In this episode Drs. Bill and Read more…
Strategies For Getting Out of the Office - Strategies For Getting Out of the OfficeFor years we’ve been advising church leaders that if they want to grow their churches, they have to get out of the office. And yet the number one question we get is, “How?” and Read more…
Who Moved My Community? (Part 2 of 3 in the Who Moved My Church Series) - We live in an increasingly insular world. Too often community changes go unnoticed by those of us in the church. We read the newest census report and wonder where they got their “facts.” In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer strategies on how to explore the community that “is” rather than the community that “was” by using demographics, psychographics, and plain old observation. Part 2 of 3 in the Who Moved My Church? series.
You Can’t Manage Conflict! - There are a lot of Conflict Management courses and experts "out there" in the world, and some of it has made it's way into the church. And though it may seem like semantics, the New Testament model of dealing with conflict isn't about managing it ... it isn't even about resolving it. Matthew, the conflict gospel, writes that Christian (and the church's) response to conflict is reconciliation. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris explore the four-step model for conflict reconciliation for the church ... it's tried, it's true, and it works!
Writing Guest Friendly - Whether it’s a bulletin, newsletter, website, blog, or Tweet, your writing should communicate … to everyone in the audience. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill help churches tackle the dilemma of effective guest communications.
Small Groups – You Get What You Get - Wonder why the participants in your Sunday school classes, small groups, Bible studies, and so on aren't becoming the fully developed followers of Jesus that you expected ... even after years of participation? Frankly, some of your participants probably wonder too ... because many were hoping for more. In this session, Drs. Bill and Kris reveal why groups get what they get ... and how to change it up.
Who Moved My Church? - Since 1963 or so, our culture has undergone some radical changes. Never mind we walked on the moon in 1969, a national treasure though it was, microwave ovens, hand calculators, personal computers, the Internet, cell phones, smart phones, tablets, and now Kinect for the workplace has changed our lives. And that's just the technology changes - change has run rampant through every fiber of our culture. Except maybe for the church. Even "enlightened" churches tend to be 10+ years behind culture in relevance and practice. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill will explore some of the cultural changes and how they've impacted the church. Part 1 of 3 in the "Who Moved My Church?" series.
Leveraging Greeting Card Holidays for Growth - Greeting Card Holidays - you know the ones. Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, and the list goes on. Although conspiracy theorists suggest they were all creations of Hallmark and the US Post Office, with a little savvy the church can do a LOT with these so called "holidays" that can reach the community outside the church walls. In this episode Drs. Bill and Kris Tenny-Brittian explore how churches can leverage these special days.
Time Management for Church Leaders of Large Churches - One of the most important issues facing church leaders is how to spend their time most effectively. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris provide helpful guidance for church leaders when it comes to getting the most done in the allotted time. Episode includes a preview of the upcoming book by Bill T-B and Bill Easum on staffing the effective church (release date 2012 by Baker Books). Special Guest: Bill Easum
St. Patrick’s Day – It’s More than Green Beer - ... On the other hand, St. Patrick may well have been willing to use a little green beer in order to evangelize the Irish. Contextual evangelism is inarguably the most effective way to reach those beyond the grasp of the church. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris tap into George Hunter’s research (The Celtic Way of Evangelism) to discover how the church today can use St. Patrick’s methods to reach your community today.
The Pastor as Chief Development Officer - This is one of those "They didn't teach me that in seminary or Bible school" episodes. Few pastors are prepared for the reality that if there is money to raise that the buck is ultimately going to stop with them. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill with guest Clif Christopher (author of Not Your Parents' Offering Plate) provide tools, tips, and insights to help pastors keep ministry in the black.
Easter Worship Planning - There will be two main audiences attending your Easter services this year. Your faithful members who wouldn’t miss it and those who come kicking and screaming because someone dragged (or bribed, or coerced, or nagged, or …) them to church. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer some tips and tactics for planning an Easter that could make a difference to both groups.
Secret Shop Your Church - Just how friendly do you think your church is to first-time visitors? How friendly does your congregation think it is? We've never met a church that admitted they were unfriendly to guests, but the reality is ... that's more of a norm than you probably imagine. But you can't fix what everyone thinks is working just fine. In this episode Drs. Kris and Bill offer you and your congregation the Secret Shopper tool that will help you get to the truth about hospitality.
It’s More Than a Game – Reaching Men Today - Super Bowl Sunday is nearly as holy and festive as Christmas and Easter to many men ... if not to most men. Getting men interested, yet alone involved, in church is one of the most difficult tasks facing the church. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris step gingerly onto this sacred ground to share what's working ... and what's not ... in reaching men today.
Leveraging the Church Year - The church has it's own "calendar" that is almost antithetical to the cultural calendar. In fact, many church leaders have abandoned the church year in favor of the calendar year. And though they have some excellent reasons for doing so, there can be significant value in revisiting the church's ancient heritage. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill explore how to connect the church year with the cultural year without doing violence to either.
Developing Leaders for Ministry - Developing Leaders for Ministry. We’ve never found a church who complained they had too many leaders … in fact, the opposite is the rule. But what can you do when 20 percent are doing 80 percent of ministry and the 20 percenters are tired? In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris provide guidance for discovering the hidden leadership well in your congregation. This episode includes material from Bill T-B and Bill Easum's upcoming book on staffing for the effective church (to be released in 2012 by Baker Books).
Developing Bedrock Beliefs - Ever notice how often churches seem to split over theological issues? Occasionally a "little" issue will frustrate a church, but it's those big issues like abortion, alcohol, homosexuality, political stances, and so on that divide the church right down the middle. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill will drill down to the root cause of these conflicts ... beliefs ... and offer so thoughts on how churches can bullet-proof themselves from these kinds of issues by developing their Bedrock Beliefs.
Building Expected Behaviors - The keystone to both avoiding and resolving church conflicts is the development, adoption, and implementation of a congregational covenant of behaviors - better known as Expected Behaviors. We've called it the Missing Link in the church's DNA. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris will explore why Expected Behaviors are necessary and offer the steps for building them into your congregation.
Multiplying Small Groups - Can’t find leaders for your upcoming small groups? It might not be that you have a lack of leaders, but that you need a different way to raise them up. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris introduce a leadership development plan that can bring your small groups explosive growth.
From Here to There – The Third Transition in the Church Transformation Journey - From Here to There: The Final Third. There are three distinct segments of church transformation. During the final third the Promised Land is finally in sight, but that’s when the status quo feels especially challenged. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill offer thoughts on how to reach the goal in church transformation. (part three of a three part series)
Building a Culture of Trust - Faithful growing churches have a culture of trust that permeates virtually everything. When you trust your pastors, your committee or team leaders, and the membership, ministry decisions can be made when they're needed and lives can be moved, touched, and inspired at the point of maximum impact. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill will look at how a church can build that kind of trust.
Worship Outside the Sanctuary - Is Sunday worship flat? Has the Spirit left the building? Maybe it's not the worship team that's the problem. There's a misconception that worship is something that happens only on Sunday mornings. It's imperative that the church help its members to internalize and practice personal worship ... and when they do the church can expect a significant boost in its corporate worship. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill discuss how to get individual worship working.
From Here to There – The Second Third of the Church Transformation Journey - From Here to There: The Second Third. There are three distinct segments of church transformation. During the second third the congregation can't see the past and the Promised Land is still too far to see. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill discuss the trials and tribulations of being in no-mads land in church transformation. (Part two of a three part series)
Time Management for Leaders of the Smaller Church - One of the most important issues facing church leaders is how to spend their time most effectively. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris provide helpful guidance for small church leaders when it comes to getting the most done in the allotted time. This episode includes a preview from Bill T-B and Bill Easum's upcoming book on staffing the effective church (release date in 2012 by Baker Books).
Leading the Larger Church - Believe it or not, it is highly unlikely your seminary prepared you to lead a church larger than 150. It's a fact that most small and mid sized church pastors are ill-equipped for the leadership shifts necessary to lead a church of even 250. This week Drs. Kris and Bill explore what it takes to effectively lead a larger church and how leaders of large churches can prepare to lead even larger churches. The episode includes information from Bill T-B and Bill Easum's Effective Staffing for Vital Churches.
Christmas Planning - Christmas is just around the corner ... even Wal Mart is selling decorations and pushing gift ideas. So, how can the church get ready for this most holy and most commercialized season of the year. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris work through the 2011 ABC Holiday Checklist to help you prepare for what's to come.
Using Halloween to Reach Your Community - Whether you're for it or against it, Halloween is one of the most influential holidays of the year. In the US, only Christmas sees more money spent on decorations and sweets. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill explore how to use Halloween's popularity to reach and touch your community for Jesus Christ.
Interviewing the Prospective Pastor - If you're on a search committee or if you've been charged with helping find your church's next pastor, this episode is for you. (This will be helpful for a prospective pastor looking for some insights too.) The search and call process is a lot like courting ... and that means everyone puts on their best faces. But how do you get below the surface to find the pastor your church really needs? In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill de-mystify the call process and provide insights to help you move past dating to seriously discovering the leader God's set aside for your congregation.
Leadership in the Mid-Size Church - Leadership in the Mid-Size Church. John Maxwell rightly said that "everything rises and falls on leadership." But it takes more than reading a couple of leadership books to effectively lead the medium sized church. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore what it takes to be a leader in today's mid-sized church. This episode previews portions of Bill T-B and Bill Easum's book Effective Staffing for the Vital Church.
From Here to There: The First Third of the Church Transformation Journey - From Here to There: The First Third. There are three distinct segments of church transformation. During the first third the past is still in sight and the Promised Land is too far to see. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill discuss the trials and tribulations when getting started in church transformation. (Part one of a three part series.)
Word Of Mouth Marketing – Helping Your Members Invite - Want to grow your church exponentially? Want to know the number one secret of fast growing churches? Wish you had mega bucks so you could become a mega church, or at least a larger church than you are? Then this is the episode for you. Drs. Bill and Kris will share how you can make it easy, or at least a lot easier, for your members to invite their friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors, co-workers, and everyone else.
What Is Your Sign Saying? - What Is Your Sign Saying? Believe it or not, your sign is one of your most effective marketing tools. Indeed, studies have shown that over 10 percent of your guests may come because of your sign ... if you are using it correctly. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris provide the insights necessary to take your church sign to the next level.
Being a Non-Anxious Presence: The Conflict Extinguisher - Being a Non-Anxious Presence. When facing difficult circumstances, maintaining a non-anxious presence is one of the keys to minimizing angst when leading any change - from a congregational transformation to rearranging the fellowship hall. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer guidance on how to achieve this illusive behavior. With special guest, Church-Talk's own on-call counselor, Dr. Bob Eichenberger.
Youth Groups that Change Lives - Youth Groups that Change Lives. It's an axiom that youth leave the church by the time they become young adults. Isn't there something the church can do? The answer is a resounding "Yes!" In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris bring words of hope and tips that work for transforming youth to lifelong disciples of Jesus. This week Mariah Weyand from Hannibal First Christian Church, featured in Net Results and at the National Evangelism Workshop, will join us to share her insights in youth discipleship.
Interview the Church Before You’re Called - Every pastor and every staff member has experienced it - the church interview. Sadly, many church leaders have discovered only too late that the church they thought called them wasn't the church they were led to believe had hired them. This week Drs. Kris and Bill will offer tips on how professional ministers can interview the church and effectively discern whether or not their calling is likely to be a "match."
Teaching with Today’s Technology - Teaching with Today's Technologies. Even in remote, rural areas technology has encroached into our member's homes, schools, and workplaces. This week Drs. Kris and Bill explore how to integrate technology into your congregation's learning processes.
Worship that Motivates Part 2 - Move, Touch, & Inspire: Worship that Motivates. Most churches put more energy into their worship services than any other single tactic. So, why is it that we hear "I'm not being fed" by so many of our members? In this episode, the second of two, Drs. Bill and Kris look at what it takes to move, touch, and inspire the folks sitting in the pews.
Worship that Motivates Part 1 - Move, Touch, & Inspire: Worship that Motivates. Most churches put more energy into their worship services than any other single tactic. So, why is it that we hear "I'm not being fed" by so many of our members? In this episode, the first of two, Drs. Bill and Kris look at what it takes to move, touch, and inspire the folks sitting in the pews.
Social Media 101 - Social Media isn't the newest thing, but it is rapidly becoming one of the most important communication's medium in the world. However, many, if not most, churches are missing the boat when it comes to using social media effectively. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris share the whys and hows of effective church social media participation. - Also, check out the Ten Commandments of Social Media on YouTube (http://bit.ly/jWvYeC)
Website 101 for Small Churches - It's one thing to know that over 85 percent of those looking for a church visit the church's website before deciding to show up, it's something else again to try and launch a winning site and keep it up to date. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris will share the not so secret "secrets" of an effective website for the small church. This episode will be particularly helpful for those churches who aren't sure what an IT department is, let alone have a team for internet ministry.
Leading from Strategies to Tactics - It's one thing to "envision a preferred future," it's something else again to lead a congregation to the promised land. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore what it takes to develop effective tactics from core strategies. (Third in a four-part series.)
Grief Steps: Externalizing Congregational Pain - Individuals aren't the only ones who grieve. When a congregation experiences loss, whether their beloved pastor of thirty-two years has retired, the church matriarch has died ... or quit the church, or the building burned down, grieving is a reality. However, few church leaders are equipped to deal with it. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore congregational grief and how to lead a congregation for hurt t healing.
The Organic Organization: A Scalable Organization Model - There's a movement by many in the emerging and emergent church to dispense with "organizing" a church, that is, to delineate organizational and decision-making structures. However, even a cursory look at nature reveals a structured organization that keeps life in harmony. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris explore the fractal model of church organization ... what it is, why it's one of the most innovative and flexible organizational structures, and how you can put it into practice in your congregation.
Small Group Leadership - There's more to being an effective small group leader than presenting a prepared lesson. In fact, some of the greatest small group leaders don't "teach" anything - they facilitate. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer an overview of how to be an effective small group leader no matter what kind of group you're in.
Teams in the Small Church - Think teams are only for mega churches? Think again. Even the smallest church can improve its effectiveness by adopting the team approach. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore how to use teams and how to make the shift from committees to teams.
The Fellowship Myth: The Church as Clubhouse - Some churches have "fellowship suppers" every month. Other's offer all manner of fellowship opportunities to foster relationships between members. And yet, just because there is a lot going on, doesn't mean fellowship and connections are happening. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris explore the fellowship myth and what to do if your congregation is only fooling itself.
Teaching Your Congregation to Pray - Teaching Your Congregation to Pray. In Matthew, the disciples didn't ask Jesus "how" to pray, they asked "teach us to pray." Prayer is the cornerstone spiritual practice for the church, but we can no longer presume our members are doing much of it. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill will offer specific how-tos for increasing the amount of prayer by your membership.
Head, Heart, Hands: Teaching for Life Change - Head, Heart, Hands: Teaching for Life Change. For decades church leaders have operated under the presumption that if those in the pews just "knew" how to be an effective disciples of Jesus Christ, that would change the world. Adult educators, however, know differently. It's not what we know, it's what we put into practice that counts. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore effective adult discipleship that results in life changing practices.
Church Leadership Etiquette 101 - Church Etiquette 101. In years gone by, good manners were the mark of our culture. In a culture of "make sure you get what you want," the phrase "Ladies and Gentlemen" only means that you're about to hear a speech. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill visit basic church etiquette and remind listeners why it's so important in today's church.
Redeveloping Your Congregation’s Reputation - Does your congregation have an emergency PR management system? What happens when someone or something in your congregation casts a cloud over the church's reputation? What if "everyone" in town knows your congregation as "that church that always fights"? In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris will offer tips on how you can salvage the church's reputation ... because you just never know.
Leadership in the Smaller Church - John Maxwell rightly concludes that "everything rises and falls on leadership." But once upon a time, Schaller suggested that leading the small church is not unlike herding cats. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore how to be an effective leader in the small church.
The Anti-Angst Prescription - The Anti-Angst Prescription. How many church members does it take to change a light bulb? Change??!!!???!!! But change is only one cause of a congregation's anxiety. This week, Drs. Kris and Bill explore how to immunize ... or at least effectively manage ... your congregation's anxiety levels.
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Introducing the FlipMyChurch Plan - Introducing the FlipMyChurch Plan (new name for the W5H plan!!) Church transformation is not a walk in the park. In fact, the process can be the most arduous, strenuous, stressful task you take on in the next year. Unless ... you have a process that begins where the beginning really is. In this episode, Dr. Kris will introduce you to the tool she's written to help congregations throughout Northeast Missouri to engage the transformation process successfully.
Encouraging One-Another - Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to encourage one-another daily. Daily. Meaning every day. But when was the last time someone from your church picked up the phone and called you just to ask how they could pray for you? Or how they could help you in your spiritual walk? In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill de-mystify the encouragement vacuum to help you and your congregation move from apathy to caring for one-another.
What Comes Next? - The Christmas season typically has the highest attended worship services of the year ... especially Christmas Eve. But what comes after Christmas? The two lowest attended services of the year. It doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer suggestions for how to carry your attendance from one season to the next. Can we say "Hand-offs"?
Web-Empowering Your Church - Is your church's website up-to-snuff? Is it interactive? Are lives being changed because of your online ministry? Are your members and guests and general web-surfers hitting your site regularly? If not, then this is the episode for you. Drs. Kris and Bill take on the Internet Beast and offer tips and tools to tame and harness it for effective ministry in your setting.
The Five Faces of Jesus - What's it take to "do" relevant, practical, not-embarrassing evangelism for the rank and file Christian today? It's not about scripts or quoting scripture or arguing or convincing. Evangelism that works begins with your faith story, and specifically with your relationship with Jesus. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer a proven process for helping churched folks find ways to articulate their personal faith without fear.
Why Guys Don’t Do Church - In most congregations, the rarest participant is a young male. In some churches, these are almost an endangered species, if it isn't extinct already. However, it's not that guys don't have a spiritual side to them ... they do. But there are a number of reasons why they eschew church. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris explore why men don't do church and what to do about it.
Christmas Eve Planning 2010 - Christmas Eve worship services are the only socially acceptable church services that an unchurched person can attend - attending any other service invites derision from co-workers, friends, and even family. This is also the one time during the year when most churches can count on a significant increase in first-time guest visitation. How will you capitalize on it this year? In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris offer concrete advice on how to make the most of this important service.
Christmas Planning 2010 - It's nearly that time again. There's only two months until Christmas and if you haven't got your Advent planned, it's time to get into gear. Getting into the holy-day spirit early so you can get your plans made before it's too late, Drs. Bill and Kris offer this year's checklist to get you ready for what's to come.
Ten A’s of Evangelism - Evangelism. It's one of the most maligned, misunderstood, and un-practiced spiritual habit in the church today. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill introduce the Ten A's of Evangelism in an effort to keep it simple.
Equipping Discipling Parents - It's not now, nor has it ever been, the church's job to make disciples out of children. From the beginning, that task has fallen to the parents. However, with fewer adults raised in the church, how to raise up the kids to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ is fast becoming a lost art. In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill offer specific tips and tools for helping your church leaders train parents to disciple their children.
Public Prayer 101 - In most circles, public speaking is considered the task most feared by the average person. But in church, that runs a distant second to public prayer. Getting even seasoned Christians to pray in public can be more difficult than bailing out the Atlantic Ocean with a slotted spoon. In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris de-mystify public prayer and offer some concrete how to's and faux pas to avoid.
Dealing With (and Avoiding) Worship Wars - Believe it or not, worship wars over the style of music, content of preaching, and even the technology used is nothing new. They've been going on since the first millennium of the church! But there's nothing more divisive in a church than a battle of choir versus band (and so on). In this episode, Drs. Bill and Kris tackle this tough issue and offer some sound advice for avoiding and/or settling the score.
Providing Pastor Care - Providing Pastor CareThe church has long expected the pastor to be a leader in pastoral care, but the question is … how does the congregation take care of its pastor? In this episode, Drs. Kris and Bill share how a Read more…
Reworking Women’s Ministry - Reworking Women’s MinistryWomen have been the backbone of the church from the beginning (note that the Gospels mention that it was the women who were supporting Jesus’ ministry). But too many women’s ministries are dying out as the average age Read more…
Doing Men’s Ministry - Doing Men’s MinistryGetting a good men’s ministry going in one of the most difficult and fruitless ministries around. Too often, men’s groups do little more than have breakfast, cook the Easter Sunrise Pancake Feed, and take care of the annual Read more…
Discipleship for Kids - Discipleship for KidsIn too many churches, it seems like the main lesson we’re trying to teach our children is to “Sit still; Be quiet; and Behave.” But Drs. Bill and Kris are convinced that when it comes to children, the Read more…
The 8-Rs of Reconciliation - The 8-Rs of ReconciliationHere at Church-Talk we’ve spoken a good bit about resolving church conflict. But there’s more to resolution than calling a peace treaty – Jesus calls the church to reconciliation. In this episode, learn the 8-Rs of reconciliation Read more…
Church Year or Calendar Year – Designing Indigenous Worship - Church Year or Calendar Year – Designing Indigenous WorshipAdvent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost … repeat. Does the church calendar really make sense when the rest of the culture wouldn’t know a Pentecost from a Pentagram. In this episode, Drs. Read more…
Restoring a Congregation’s Self-Esteem - Restoring a Congregation’s Self-EsteemLow self-esteem doesn’t affect only individuals; Drs. Kris and Bill are finding it in congregation after congregation. Join “the Drs.” today as they share ways to restore and build congregational self-esteem. Download MP4 Download MP3 Download Read more…
Investing in the REAL Future of Your Church - Investing in the REAL Future of Your Church[/groups_member]For more than a generation folks have been saying, “the youth are the future of our church.” Not so. . . . Tune in today as Drs. Kris and Bill share what the Read more…
Creating Spiritual Conversations - Creating Spiritual ConversationsSpiritual conversations are the basic for relational evangelism; but in an era when we’ve forgotten–or have never learned–the fine art of conversation or spend more time in virtual networking than we do in face-to-face contact, there are any Read more…
Growing Church Leaders through Encouragement - Growing Church Leaders through EncouragementWhether or not you have the spiritual gift of encouragement, encouragement is critical for the development of leaders. Today Drs. Bill and Kris share a number of methods and means for encouraging leaders for effectiveness and Read more…
Targeting Worship - Targeting WorshipWho does your worship service target? Do your different services target different people? Are you tired of hearing comments like, “I’m not getting anything out of worship” or “the worship services just don’t ‘feed’ me?” Today Drs. Kris and Read more…
Resurrecting Church Growth - Resurrecting Church GrowthChurch Growth has pretty much taken it on the chin. From the darling of the sixties and seventies, the whole movement was pretty much tossed aside by the nineties as so-much snake oil. But did we throw the Read more…
Next Steps – Beyond Spiritual Gift Inventories - Next Steps – Beyond Spiritual Gift InventoriesSo, you’ve done a spiritual gifts inventory with your congregation . . . or maybe two or three. So what? This week Drs. Kris and Bill will offer ways to take spiritual gifts inventories Read more…
Church Advertising You Can Afford - Church Advertising You Can AffordJoin Drs. Bill and Kris this week as they share proven no-cost and low-cost ways to get the word out about what’s going on in your congregation and excite people into wanting to be part of Read more…
The Future of Adult Sunday School - The Future of Adult Sunday SchoolFor those listeners who enjoy hearing Drs. Kris and Bill disagree, this will be a don’t miss episode. With a little something for everyone, this episode will offer tips for tweaking, and thoughts for thinking Read more…
Church Staffing for Significant Growth - Whether you're talking volunteer or thinking paid, congregational "staff" is a must. Join Drs. Kris and Bill for insights and information that will help you staff for significant growth.
Growing Church Leaders – An Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines that Work - Join Drs. Kris and Guest Jay Stevenson this week as they move through a brief introduction to disciplines that can grow your spiritual life, and that of your congregation. Because the quality of our corporate worship truly depends on the quality of each worshipper's personal worship, this is a topic of great importance and impact that you won't want to miss.
Me? An Evangelist? Getting Your Congregation Involved in Evangelism - Contrary to popular opinion, the pastor is not the only evangelist. In fact, evangelism belongs to everyone in the congregation. This week Drs. Kris and Bill will help offer tried and true tips for helping your congregation move into "the fields" and participate in God's harvest.
Bullies and Terrorists - Bullies and TerroristsBullies and terrorists. If you know what we’re talking about, you’ll want to tune into this week’s episode of Church-Talk to hear Drs. Bill and Kris’ practical, straight-to-the-point hints and helps to neutralize and disarm those who are Read more…
Staff Accountability - Staff AccountabilityThe best staffs are team based, which in and of itself connotes a sense of accountability (the “A” word for many of us). This week Drs. Bill and Kris dicuss staff accountability and suggest ways your staff (paid and Read more…
Already Gone – Why Your Kids Will Leave Church - Already Gone – Why Your Kids Will Leave Church Few of us can contest the fact that our children and youth are leaving the Church (not just our congregations). This week Drs. Kris and Bill look at the latest studies Read more…
Raising the Dead – Church Growth in Dying Communities - Raising the Dead – Church Growth in Dying CommunitiesIt’s no longer true (if it ever was) that congregations cannot grow in dying communities. Indeed, if ever there is a need for strong, life-giving congregations, it’s in declining areas. In this Read more…
The Games Congregations Play – Or Need to Be - The Games Congregations Play – Or Need to BeThe congregations that play together stay together. How well and how often does your congregation play together? In this episode Drs. Bill and Kris will offer hints for helpful play and fortuitous fun Read more…
Easter Guests – Who’s Coming & How to Reach Them - Easter Guests – Who’s Coming & How to Reach ThemGuess who’s coming to Easter? Do you know? Is it really whom you expect? And at the end of all the Easter services and celebrations, will you be prepared to follow-up Read more…
To Team or Not to Team: And Does It Really Matter? - To Team or Not to Team: And Does It Really Matter?A few years ago, there was a popular move to “convert” committees, departments, name-your-group into “teams.” Are teams better than committeees? Than departments? This week Drs. Bill and Kris consider Read more…
Finding the Relationships You Need in Ministry - Finding the Relationships You Need in MinistryIt depends on who you read this week. Once upon a time, it was said that every leader needed a mentor, a coach, and someone you’re mentoring (a mentee). In Len Sweet’s recent book, Read more…
Barbeque First – Effectively Inviting Your Neighbors to Church - Barbeque First – Effectively Inviting Your Neigbors to ChurchMark Mittelberg said it first in Becoming a Courageous Christian and we’ve been saying it ever since: “Barbeque first.” That’s a shortcut code for “If you’re going to invite your neighbor to church, build a Read more…
How To Leave a Church - How To Leave a ChurchThere comes a time in almost every church leader’s life when it’s time to move on. Whether it’s because you’ve done all you can do, run up against a wall that you can’t get over (or Read more…
Size Transitions: Moving Through 350 - Size Transitions: Moving Through 350This week’s episode will explore moving past the 350 barrier, often called the Corporate-Sized Church. This is generally considered the most difficult transition for pastors to make. In their inimitable way, Bill and Kris will explore the Read more…
Breaking Barriers: Busting Through 200 - Breaking Barriers: Busting Through 200In honor of Net Results magazine’s 30th Anniversary Issue (www.NetResults.org), Drs. Kris and Bill are presenting the third in a five part series on breaking church size transitions. This week’s episode will explore busting through the Read more…
Breaking Barriers: Breezing Through 100 - Breaking Barriers: Breezing Through 100In honor of Net Results magazine’s 30th Anniversary Issue (www.NetResults.org), Drs. Kris and Bill are presenting the third in a five part series on breaking church size transitions. This week’s episode will explore breezing through the 100 barrier. They’ll Read more…
Breaking Barriers: Blowing Through 50 - Breaking Barriers: Blowing Through 50In honor of Net Results magazine’s 30th Anniversary Issue (www.NetResults.org), Drs. Kris and Bill are presenting the second in a five part series on breaking church size transitions. This week’s episode will explore moving past the Read more…
Breaking Barriers: Introduction to Church Size Transitions - Breaking Barriers: Introduction to Church Size TransitionsIn honor of Net Results magazine’s 30th Anniversary Issue (www.NetResults.org), Drs. Kris and Bill are kicking off a five part series on breaking church size transitions. This week’s episode will explore the foundational pieces necessary before you and your Read more…
Top 10 Resolutions for Growing Your Church - Top 10 Resolutions for Growing Your ChurchThe new year is on top of us and it’s time for New Year’s resolutions. This year why not resolve to achieve the kind of church growth that you’ve been hoping for, but haven’t Read more…
Who Ya Gonna Call … When You Need Help - These days there are a lot of "experts" around, ready and waiting and wanting to assist you and your congregation. Today Drs. Kris and Bill will wade through the myriad of questions people ask when they need help in any Read more…
Growing Sunday School - As regular listeners to Church-Talk know, Drs. Bill and Kris don’t always agree on everything . . . and Sunday School is one of those topics! The result? Something for everyone: whether you love Sunday School, have mixed feelings about Read more…
Signs, Symbols, and Communicating Non-Verbally - Yes, Drs. Kris and Bill will talk today, hopefully in ways that will inspire and encourage their listeners to consider and venture further into the world of non-verbal communication. Join them today, during the season of sights, sounds, and multi-sensory Read more…
The “A” Word: Accountability - Today Drs. Bill and Kris take on the “A” word, accountability. Join them as they wrestle with the meanings, the dynamics, and the importance of this 14-letter word that’s key for leaders. And listen for ways you can easily incorporate Read more…
Taking Care of Yourself In this Busy Holiday Season - Help Drs. Kris and Bill celebrate their eighteenth wedding anniversary as they share relevant, do-able ways to take care of yourself during this, and any, season of celebration. It may “all be good” but you won’t be well if you don’t Read more…
Apprenticing Leaders - Leaders are not meant to serve in the same place eternally (or even indefinitely). Without apprentices, congregations miss out on continuity and the quality that can come from trained leaders. Whether you agree or disagree that a leader cannot be a Read more…
Key Transitions for Growing Pastors - Pastors never “arrive”: they should always be in process and growing. And, as with all growth, there are some transitions that can make or break them. Join Drs. Kris and Bill this week to learn what those transitions are and Read more…
“Go Ye” Means You: Getting Out of the Office and Growing Your Church - “Go Ye” Means You: Getting Out of the Office and Growing Your ChurchThe only thing that tends to grow when pastors spend most of their time in the office is their waistlines! Disagree? Want to reduce yours? Want to grow Read more…
Holiday Hospitality: Parking Lot Thru Worship - For many, “hospitality” is what we offer before or after a worship service. In reality, hospitality is how we help people feel special, and our opportunities to extend it begin as folks approach our property for a worship service or Read more…
Getting Ready for the Christmas Eve Unchurched Guests - Generally, we only get two shots a year to reach (not reach out) the unchurched open to coming to a worship service . . . Christmas Eve will be your last shot for the year. Will you be ready? What Read more…
Christmas Planning - Yes, it’s only the first Tuesday of October but it’s past time to be planning for Christmas, particularly because it functionally begins four Sundays before! What’s your theme this year? How will you count down to December 25th and carry Read more…
Proactive Stewardship Strategies - Stewardship is more than a campaign; it’s more like a crusade that’s a part of your congregation’s life. It takes intentionality and planning on the part of the congregation as well as on the part of each person in the congregation.
Church Health: Hope or Hype? - Is there such a thing as a “sick” congregation? Can a congregation be “terminally ill?” Drs. Kris and Bill move past diagnosis this week to talk about church health, fitness, and congregational longevity. With Guest Bill Easum. Download MP4 Read more…
Church Size Transitions - Is your congregation having trouble growing beyond 50 . . . 100 . . . 200 . . . 500? Do arguments seem to break out or people leave when your worship attendance nears one of those “magic” numbers? Have Read more…
Conversion or Conversation - Evangelism is still a bit of a four-letter word in the minds of many Christians. It conjures up visions of knocking on doors, handing out leaflets, and quoting Bible verses. For over 300 years, according to some, the church has Read more…
Recruiting and Training Volunteer Leaders - Good, effective leaders come by neither default nor begging. Effective ministries can be effected only when we pray, recruit, and follow through with training. Drs. Kris and Bill share tips and tools for both recruiting and training potential leaders. Download Read more…
Ministry With and For Children and Youth - This week Drs. Kris and Bill (parents of five and grandparents of seven) share personal experience plus some of the latest findings in the realm of children and youth ministries, findings that may just help you find your children in Read more…
Boomer Ministries - They’re becoming the most powerful AARP group in history, but they were also the first generation to leave the church en mass. How are you going to reach the Baby Boomers who are still stinging from the 50s and 60s? Read more…
Doing Ministry with Singles - Probably one of the most difficult ministries to start and maintain is a successful singles’ ministry. This week we’ll share insights we’ve gained over the years, and speak to some guests who’ve experienced success in providing excellence in reaching this Read more…
Discerning and Embedding Core Values - You can tell what’s important to a church by looking at the congregation’s budget and their calendar. Values are what’s really important … and values drive our behaviors. Helping churches discern their values, and helping them live into values that Read more…
Developing True Teams - Committees or Teams? The “team” buzz word of the last five or ten years doesn’t seem to have infected the church much. A committee by any other name is still a committee – and in today’s real world, committees are Read more…
Reaching Men - You may have noticed the slew of books that have been released over the past year or two on why men don’t do church. And though there are a lot of reasons why they don’t, it’s not a new problem. Read more…
Church Marketing - According to the research, the average USAmerican is exposed to over 3,000 advertising impressions every day – and our personal opinion is that the research is conservative. In today’s world, effective commercial marketing for most churches is out of reach. Read more…

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