Practical Church

What are some of the best tools for church planters? In this episode, we share some of the tools and resources we recommend to help you start and grow a healthy church. Welcome to episode 228 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the eight tools we discuss: Todoist Calendly Google Drive Logos Big name software Text In Church Mail Chimp Church Website builders CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be...

We all want to plant healthy and growing churches, but health and growth do not happen by accident. In this episode, we share five things that church planters should have plans for, and how to plan for them, in order to faithfully reach their community. Welcome to episode 227 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the five types of plans we discuss: Fundraising What you're going to do pre-launch D...

While Disney World is a much different environment than a church, there is a lot of best practices churches can implement from Disney. In this episode, we share some the things church planters should (and shouldn't) emulate from Disney. Welcome to episode 226 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the six things we discuss in this episode: If you ask for specific information, follow up about it An...

For many churches, women make up over half of the congregation. At the same time, many churches have very few women in leadership capacities. In this episode, we share five ways to encourage women in leadership at your church. Welcome to episode 225 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the five things we discuss in this episode: Ask women to fill needed roles Have a woman on stage every Sunday...

One thing every church faces is finding a place to gather for worship. While the perfect location does not exist, there are important things to consider when looking for a space to meet. In this episode, we talk about 8 things in particular to look out for. Welcome to episode 224 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the 8 things we discuss in this episode: Parking Location Kids space Bathrooms...

  In order to plant a church that thrives, there are a few things planters should know. In this episode, we share 6 questions in particular planters should be able to answer in order to plant a healthy church. Welcome to episode 223 of Practical Church Planting. You can listen to this episode below, or  subscribe to the podcast  and get our episodes delivered right to you.   Here are the six quest...

As COVID cases continue to go down and vaccines continue to roll out, many churches are wondering how to encourage their people to re-engage with their church in person. In this episode, we share six ways you can do just that. Welcome to episode 222 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the 6 things we discuss in this episode: Don't be afraid (or apologize) for talking about it Encourage others t...

How can you run an effective elder or leadership meeting? Especially since these meetings can look different than a typical staff or one on one meeting. In this episode, we share 7 tips for how to run them well. Welcome to episode 221 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the 7 tips we discuss in this episode: Send updates/agenda ahead of time Start/end on time Share trackable metrics Don't ask...

Be sure to check out the Growing Your Launch Team   online course that is available now.  Click here  if you want a highly practical plan to grow your team and reach more people. Every preacher wants to get better at preaching, but it does not happen automatically. The good news is there are specific things you can do to get better. In this episode, we share seven of those things. Welcome to episo...

Be sure to check out the Growing Your Launch Team   online course that is available now. Click here if you want a highly practical plan to grow your team and reach more people. Ministry requires change, but how can you lead effective change in your church without upsetting people? The good news is that it  is possible.  In this episode, we share 7 ways you can do it. Welcome to episode 219 of Prac...

All of us want to grow our churches to reach more people with the good news of the Gospel. But growth is hard and can even be awkward. So in this episode, we share seven things you can do to create momentum to reach more people. Welcome to episode 218 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the tips we discuss in this episode: Make a big deal about Christmas and Easter Don't launch on a big church...

What does it look like to stay focused and productive with all of the demands of ministry? The good news is that ministry does not have to always feel "busy." In this episode, we share seven things you can do to focus better and get more done. Welcome to episode 217 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the seven ways to create an environment of focus and productivity we discuss: Read Deep Work...

Churches often run on really tight budgets, so it's always a great day when you find an area you can cut costs in while still maintaining the same quality of ministry. In this episode, we share with you eight ways your church can save money without sacrificing its mission. Welcome to episode 216 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the eight money savers we discuss in this episode: Ask for chur...

We all want people who come to our church to be welcomed and cared for. In this episode, we share with you nine easy and practical things your church can do to help ensure a welcoming experience. Welcome to episode 215 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the nine things we discuss in this episode: Use umbrellas when it rains Don't use a doorstop Always have parkers in the parking lot Make the...

It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare a sermon, and after preaching it, it's done with. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, we share with you seven ways to get more out of the sermon beyond your weekend service. Welcome to episode 214 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the seven things you can do to get more mileage out of your sermon that we discuss: Sermon clip Botto...

In order to plant a healthy church, you need a community of people who will join into the mission of the church. But there are things we can do that will make it unlikely for people to do that. In this episode, we share six reasons people won't join your launch team (and what you can do about it). Welcome to episode 213 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the six reasons we discuss in this epis...

As pastors and ministry leaders, we are involved in all sorts of varying decisions, tasks, and problems. It can be easy for people and things to fall through the cracks, but it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, we share with you six things you can do to ensure people and tasks don't fall through the cracks. Welcome to episode 212 of Practical Church Planting. You can listen to this epi...

The financial health of your church plays a big role in carrying out your mission. The good news is that money doesn't have to be a taboo subject for your church. In this episode, we share seven ways to build a culture of generosity at your church. Welcome to welcome to episode 211 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the 7 things we discuss: You have to talk about giving You have to (personall...

We all know what it's like to spend hours preparing a sermon only to see people disengaged and not paying attention while we are preaching it. In this episode, we share 7 things you can do to keep people better engaged during your sermon. Welcome to welcome to episode 210 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the 7 tips we discuss: Start with a story Practice out loud beforehand One point per sl...

We all know the frustration of planning, preparing, and working towards our various church events only to have a much lower turnout than expected. The good news is that there are practical things you can do to keep your church calendar in front of your people. In this episode, we share with you eight of those things. Welcome to welcome to episode 209 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the eig...

While creating a great livestream experience can require money and expertise, there are a few free things you can do to increase your quality. In this episode, we share with you seven  free tips for doing just that. Welcome to welcome to episode 208 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the seven things we discuss in this episode: Mark where you singers/preacher will stand Don't show the whole st...

As we end 2020, we are making predictions on what Church in 2021 will be like. From what type of churches will grow in 2021 to what will look different.  Welcome to welcome to episode 207 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the seven 2021 church predictions we share in this episode: Many churches will almost get back to pre-COVID numbers, but most of the new numbers will be from new people and...

What are the most helpful metrics your church should be tracking? Not everything you can track is helpful, but some things churches don't track often are. In this episode, we share with you seven helpful metrics your church should track. Welcome to welcome to episode 206 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the seven metrics we discuss in this episode: Attendance Giving (regular & outside givers...

How do you display worship lyrics or sermon points? Are the screen displays you use helpful or distracting? In this episode, we share eight practical things you can do today to improve your screen display(s) at your church. Welcome to welcome to episode 205 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the eight things we discuss in this episode: Go faster with your worship lyrics Limit the overlapping...

The #1 question that all church planters ask is how to gather a team to start a church. We all know we should meet people build relationships, but what can you do that in an effective way? In this episode, we share 6 practical things to do to help gather people pre-launch. Welcome to welcome to episode 204 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the six tips we discuss in this episode: Have a laun...