The Church Things Podcast

In part three of our series on the role of elders, Becky and Kerry discuss their work as overseers, or bishops.   After briefly mentioning some of the relevant New Testament passages on the subject, they turn to what "exercising the oversight" means in practical terms.

In last week's episode Kerry and Becky discussed the role of elders.  In this week's podcast they discuss the elders' role as shepherds.  After looking at Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, Ephesians 4, John 10, and other passages in the Bible, they identify three functions of biblical shepherds.  No doubt, to shepherd God's people is a tough assignment!  But, it's God's will that...

After a brief glimpse into the backstory of New Testament elders, Kerry and Becky examine the practice of appointing elders for every church in the first century and take a quick look at what those elders did for those churches.  Elders who are trying to imitate the elders of the New Testament churches will find this podcast to be informative and thought-provoking.  This podcast only highlights th...

Church leaders often track attendance, giving, and baptisms, but what are they doing to track other important metrics of their church's health and growth?  In this episode, Kerry and Becky discuss the importance of tracking metrics in five phases of spiritual growth.  Also, they offer suggestions on what may be measured in those five phases.  For example, they talk about how one might measure...

How important is it for church leaders to track or try to measure such things as individual spiritual growth, church health, and church growth?  What is the rationale for doing so?  In this episode, Becky and Kerry discuss six reasons for tracking church health and growth.  Feel free to join the discussion!  Your feedback is always appreciated!

Kerry and Becky identify three levels of guest engagement--a church's pre-guest strategy, welcoming first-time guests, and encouraging returning guests to take a step toward community--and "the win" for each level.  Then, they identify and discuss a simple strategy for engaging guests to take a next step in their journey toward Christ.  Please join the discussion in Part Two of the...

In this episode, Kerry and Becky discuss three levels for engaging guests to the Sunday assembly.  Then, they identify and discuss three barriers to such engagement.  What can church leaders do--and what should they not do--to encourage guests to go beyond just sitting in a pew on Sunday?  Tune in for Part One of this discussion!

Highly-effective churches have influence in their communities.  They are like salt and light, like "a city set on a hill."  In this episode, Kerry and Becky discuss three strategies used by best-practice churches to "pastor their local community."  This is Part 4 in their series, "Best Practices of Highly-Effective Churches."

 "It's not enough to belong to the church; church members must be encouraged to embrace the values of Christ."  The question for church leaders is: How can that be done?  What some of the most effect churches do to create ownership is the topic of this episode,  number three in the series, "Best Practices of Highly-Effective Churches."  Here, Kerry and Becky discuss three...

Becky and Kerry discuss a second best practice of effective churches in this episode, a best practice that was identified by the REVEAL survey of over 1,000 churches.  It is: embed the Bible in everything.  They share three strategies for making the Bible a defining characteristic of your church culture.

Here are three strategies for overcoming inertia and getting people moving.  This is episode number one in the four-part series, "Best Practices of Effective Churches."

What is "the restoration principle"?  Is the restoration principle valid?  In this final episode in the "Summer Shorts" series, Kerry answers these questions and defends the notion of going back to the Bible for a norm or standard for the church today.  He encourages church leaders and Christians to reproduce vital elements of the Christian religion of the first century in our...

In the early years of the Restoration Movement in America, Alexander Campbell and other leaders pled for nonsectarian Christianity, for followers of Jesus to be "Christians only."  Not only does scripture speak against division, but also for Christian unity.  Undenominational, nonsectarian Christianity is still a goal worth pursuing!  Join the discussion as Becky talks about the need to...

In episode #4 in the "Summer Shorts" series, Becky talks about Barton W. Stone's commitment to holy living and to the disciple's separation from worldly values.  Our desire to restore some of the elements of the New Testament church in our day should also mean that we should not overlook the restoration of the way Jesus wants his followers to live.

Is your church a place where people feel safe and free to ask their questions and express their doubts?  Does your church welcome open dialogue and robust debate regarding what the Bible teaches?  In this podcast, Kerry recalls some of the writings of Alexander Campbell from his 1830 Millennial Harbinger which support the practice of promoting open dialogue, allowing people to hear all sides of an...

One of the slogans of the nineteenth century American Restoration Movement was "No creed but the Bible."  With this clarion call, leaders were urging Christians to look to the Bible alone as their religious authority, and to resist the tendency of religious systems to bind their human opinions and preferences on others.  Is there a  need for us to hear this word today?  Listen in and joi...

In this podcast, Kerry introduces us to James O'Kelly, Rice Haggard, and events in the late 1700s that led to the beginning of the American Restoration Movement.  What we can learn about religious authority from some of the great pioneers of the faith is the subject of this episode.

What might what some sociologists are calling "the great resignation" affect churches?  If more people are looking for meaning in their lives, and if they choose to look to the church for  purpose and meaning, what can church leaders and churches do to welcome them?  In this episode, Kerry and Becky discuss eight suggestions for making the Sunday worship assembly more guest-friendly.

In Part 2 of Kerry's interview of this small group ministry consultant, Cameron talks about some of the pitfalls to look out for in a small group ministry.  Also, he offers some closing thoughts on what church leaders need to know before beginning such a ministry.  LIke Part 1 of this series, this episode is full of practical advice and time-tested recommendations that church leaders will sur...

In this episode, Cameron John, a consultant for small group ministries in churches, discusses the rationale for starting a small groups' program in your church.  He also offers practical recommendations for effective small groups.  This is Part 1 of Kerry's interview with Cameron.

We want to be an influence for good.  We want to make a positive impression for the gospel and the Lord.  But, sometimes, our words and attitudes get in the way.  Our words may offend and alienate, and that's the last thing we want our words to do!  In this episode, Becky and Kerry discuss some of the mistakes Christians  make when talking with their religious friends and neighbors.

This is Part 3 in the series, "4 Ways to Improve the Post-Pandemic Church."  In this episode Kerry and Becky suggest that effective church leaders and churches post-pandemic will focus on loving and embracing others, rather than judging them and that they will be gospel-driven, rather than ideologically-driven.  We would love to hear what you think about these recommendations.  Join the...

Now that the pandemic is waning and church doors are re-opening, bringing people back is the primary concern of many church leaders.  That's legitimate.  After all, the scriptures speak of the importance of the assembly.  In this episode, however, Kerry and Becky discuss the need to move people forward in their walk with God and some of the steps church leaders can take to do so.   This is Pa...

In this episode Kerry and Becky begin a three-part series: "4 Ways to Improve the Post-Pandemic Church."  Many of the ideas in this episode came from a Carey Nieuwhof blog post entitled, "The Coming Church Split."  After discussing the notion that believers should pursue truth wherever or from whomever they find it, Becky and Kerry talk about one way church leaders can improve...

John Royse, elder for The Hills Church in Fort Worth, TX shares a potpourri of insights and suggestions regarding the way elders can organize themselves, how they may relate to ministers, the 2-seat model of member engagement, advice for smaller churches, encouraging people to use their God-given gifts, elder visibility, vision-casting, and more.  This is Part 2 in Kerry's conversation with J...