Ministry Matters - The essence of strategic thinking | What constitutes a church?

How do we make strategic thinking a habit in our churches? The essence of strategic thinking by Tom Bandy   The essence of strategic thinking is to shoot an arrow straight into the heart of the community. It is about simultaneous church growth and community development. That arrow is a straight line from the Heart Beat of the faith community—toward the heartburst of the surrounding community, guided by the Heart Song of God’s unique love for specific publics. Read here

Who decides what constitutes a congregation? What constitutes a church? by Kara Faris & Tim Shapiro   Even as the marks of what signifies a church are changing, the majority of churches in the United States meet established criteria. Unfortunately, the social science data shows that many of these established congregations may not exist ten years from now. Will the sad, but perhaps inevitable disappearance of many congregations in the United States change how we define church? Read here

What is feeding your soul today? Are you a pastor or an artist? by Todd Outcalt   Creativity is required if pastors are to stay on top of their game. Creativity is needed to keep thoughts and practices fresh and invigorating. Nothing is more deflating than monotony — the same problems and processes and procedures being practiced time and again. Creativity, however, is not easily achieved in parish work. Read here

Preaching on God's calling this Sunday More sermon notes for Sunday

Elements for what matters most in worship this Sunday

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