Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Episode 365: 7 Ways to Make Your Church Ready for Easter Attractional versus Attractive Make sure your property is clean and prepared. You get one opportunity to make a first impression.   Build a sense of expectancy. Talk about how significant the day is. We are celebrating a risen Savior! We should expect the power of the resurrection to overwhelm.   Train your church to greet guests, especially...

What Makes Pastoral Ministry a Question Mark after Year 10? 1. Ministry has become our occupation not our calling. 2. Our leadership and methods sometimes grow stagnant. 3. We focus too much of on energy on internal church matters. 4. We believe we have earned the right to make most of the decisions. 5. We fail to be honest about the present condition of the church. 6. We only focus on problem peo...

Episode363: Where Do You Find Pastors and Staff   Trent and Alan discuss finding candidates for pastoral ministry and church staff. 

Episode 362: Spaced Out   1. Assess your space constantly. 2. Look for where you are not maximizing your space. 3. Chairs over pews... 4. Creative possibilities for extra space....  - in the 70's churches had classes meeting in old buses outside the building 5. Plan Multiple services/ classes  -change everyone's schedule Communication 1. Communicate a "no ownership of spaces" mindset 2. Communicat...

Episode 360: Doomed to Repeat It!!   Here are some questions for you to consider ( some questions adapted from Henry Blackaby's book Flickering Lamps)   1. How was your church started - was it started from a split from another church? Or was it an intentional plant from another church?   2. What did the founders intend when they started your church? Was there a specific group they were trying to r...

Episode 359: The Trust Axis of Leadership   The diagram is for personal use; any professional or publication use requires proper attribution. Trust Axis Diagram

358: Need a Team of Volunteers? From Gary McIntosh in *The 10 Key Roles of a Pastor* 1. Look at every person as a potential team member 2. Encourage people to serve the Lord on the basis of their love for Him. 3. Don't downplay the role; magnify it. 4. Don't recruit in the hallway. (Make an appointment) 5. Introduce potential recruits to those already in the same ministry.     - in a small church,...

Episode 357: How to End and Begin a New Year!   Evaluation - By this time, the Christmas programs are usually over, and parties are wrapping up.   So take a lunch with your staff or leadership and do some evaluation.  First of all, pay for their lunch - its a good investment. Second, ask them to evaluate a few things. How do you feel that your area of ministry is handling life? How would you rate...

Episode 356: 10 Days of Christmas   A laid-back, fun episode 10 more volunteers - or 10 more discipled followers of Jesus 9 more ideas of how to share the Christmas story 8 less commercials each time I want to watch a ball game 7 more Christmas gift ideas for my family and staff 6 hostess Christmas tree cakes 5 Golden givers 4 deacons serving 3 more hours with my kids 2 more White Elephant parties...

Episode 355: Mistakes that Still Make Stop and Think Making changes without the best information Not setting clear expectations for leadership Adding members too easily Not letting people go graciously Not sharing my leadership sooner. Not joining a community of pastors sooner Not taking all my vacation time each year Preaching too much -  not taking sabbath

Episode 354: 5 Communication Skills I Want to Develop   I want to develop better skills in...   Asking more impactful Questions Listening to others more clearly Telling stories more compellingly Employing empathy sincerely Preaching with connectivity

Episode 353: Interview With Dr. Matthew Tanne   Get The Wounded Pastor book Website

Episode 352: Look under the hood For knowledge, we need to know where things are... for example, my car battery is under my passenger seat... For maintenance and prevention, we need to stop and take time to gain perspective .For repairs - what is broken or not working right For a rebuild - sometimes we recognize we have to start over.

Episode 351: The Church Being the Church How can we care for people? Value all people highly. Jesus does.   Open a/partner with local food pantries to help provide basic needs.   Be uncompromising in our gospel witness.   Consider teaching essential work skills and offering counseling services to individuals.   Establish clear guidelines to determine how your church can effectively meet the needs...

Episode 350: How to Lead Change In our words: I see something that needs to change I know where we need to change I think about the timing of the change I recognize why this change will be hard I enlist people who share my heart I address the "elephants in the room" lovingly but firmly I acknowledge failure is an option, but so is success. I stay the course long enough to gain a clear picture of t...

Episode 349: How to Talk About Church Finances   Have an open and transparent perspective on church finances Avoid apologizing for talking about the subject Preach and teach on the subject naturally When it's in the text When it's a good illustration When there's a specific need Accept responsibility for being the primary spokesman for your church's finances. Share stories of God's faithfulness Ke...

Episode 348: How To Plan For Revival   What is revival Malcolm McDow and Alvin Reid "revival is God's invasion into the lives of one or more off His people in order to awaken them spiritually for Kingdom ministry." personal Institutional Regional specialized - like youth ie Jesus Movement national global Jonathon Edward's 5 signs of revival Increased esteem for the true Jesus: People have a greate...

Episode 347: How to Lead An Invitation Before you ever preach: Spend significant time praying and asking what God wants his people to do.   The Response begins before the invitation time. Ask people to start responding long before you actually give the invitation.   Don't be too quick - you can take your time   Many pastors through in a phrase or 2.  Some end by saying that's all I have   Let the...

Episode 346: How to Keep Volunteers Engaged....   How can we say thanks - Children's minister example   1. Words of thanks   2. Meaningful personalized gifts   3. Experiences with you Take them to a conference A concert A nice dinner   4. Ask them what they need to be great - Equipping volunteers shows that you care and want the best for them. It also shows that you believe they are valuable to th...

Episode 345: How To Train Sunday School Teachers   Five steps for Sunday School Growth (Arthur Flake) 1.        Know the possibilities Church leaders need to put together their expectations What is Sunday School/small groups supposed to accomplish   Evangelism Discipleship Support 2.        Enlarge the organization multiplying classes  Church leaders need to consistently share about the importance...

Episode 344: How to Care For Orphans and Widows   Recognize that you have widows and /or orphans in your church and community. Single Moms (and single dads) Caring For Widows Be intentional. Assign specific people to serve specific widows. Call them. Send cards. Help them with home and auto repairs. Visit and take meals. Give them a hug. Hold their hand. Widow and widower banquets Caring for Orpha...

Episode 343:  How to Disciple   Ingredients of Discipleship • Build a relationship. Discipleship always happens in a relationship. ◦ First pray and ask God to show you someone who needs to be discipled. • Read the Bible together ◦ Simply ask them, “Will you read the Bible with me?” • Do Ministry together ◦ Train up the person who will replace you   Discipleship always happens in relationships.   W...

Episode 342: The Rise of the Generations https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/   Millennials and Gen Z lead the way in church attendance?   Good news for our future, why? The world's systems don't work Softening of the heart Changing the landscape of the church An opportunity How we interact... Sincerity - our actions should represent Simplicity - our op...

Episode341: Our Interaction on 13 Things You Should Never Say from the Pulpit     Link to Joe McKeever's 2015 Article

Episode 340: More on Technology: 5 Questions to Consider Websites versus social media? To app or not to app? To go sermon snippets or full length? To AI or not to AI? Hard lines or Cell phones? 911 service requires a hard line for accurate location services