The Church’s Hidden Back Door

Beef up outreach. Emphasize evangelism. Plant more churches. Polish the marketing. None of this is reversing the overall trend of church decline. Even when a church attracts new members it doesn’t grow. Why? It can’t add people fast enough to make up for the legions slipping out the back door. They are the Dones–those who […]

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Turning Pew Sitters Into Heroes

It’s pervasive. Most of the people in the pew have internalized the notion that ministry is the responsibility of the professionals on stage. The job of the pew sitter is . . . to sit. And watch others do the work. That mindset is killing the church. The current system perpetuates the idea that the Christian […]

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Reforming a Repulsive Reputation

We have a reputation problem. Increasingly, the public tags Christians with some very unsavory attributes. We describe these characteristics in our new book that releases this week, Why Nobody Wants to Be Around Christians Anymore. In short, people view Christians as judgmental, disinterested in others’ thoughts, hypocritical, and disconnected from God. Are these fair assessments? How […]

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The Church That Lost Its Identity

I asked a question that brought the Future of the Church summit participants to an uncomfortable silence. It was a simple question that continued to provoke a good deal of soul searching among these church leaders weeks later. The question: What is the church? Some expected an easy answer to such a basic question. But […]

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Multi-Site Church: Future Promise or Passing Fad?

As the American church struggles to maintain its place in contemporary society, some observers point with optimism to the rise of the multi-site church. “It’s one very encouraging bright spot,” they say. “This is what will save the church in America.” I’m not so sure. Borrowing from the American business franchise model, the multi-site concept  […]

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What’s Missing in Missional

“We try to be missional. We try to be externally focused,” the young pastor told me. “But nothing seems to work.” This church, in a metropolitan area, has invested in numerous efforts to reach into the community and address various needs. But nothing has resulted in really connecting those who are served with the church […]

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Alert: New Church Coming to Town

Does your town need another new church? A lot of people think so. It’s true that most people won’t attend any church in your town this week. But that’s not because there’s no room for them in your churches. On the contrary, open capacity has never been higher. But over-supply will not stop the church […]

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Thriving Among the Dying Churches

Last Sunday we drove past numerous half-empty church parking lots. Finally we found our way to a thriving church that’s bucking the trend–and breaking the rules. Chances are you’ve never heard of the “lead pastor” (actually, they don’t like titles here) who oversees one of the largest churches in America. More than 5,000 people gather […]

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Reaching the Community–With No Strings

In the face of agonizing tragedy the church stepped up. After monster tornadoes tore through Oklahoma, the people of the church demonstrated the simple and powerful love of Christ to those they never met. And may never see again. Yet the church served, without expecting anything in return. Local churches offered their facilities to those […]

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Making the World’s Largest Congregation

I just returned from the world’s largest worship gathering. And I picked up some ideas for those who wish to grow their congregations to epic proportions. I witnessed an estimated 50 million faithful gather in one place to seek the Almighty’s favor, wash away their sins, and spend time with their admired religious leaders. This […]

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