November 6, 2009

Filling Rows or Forming Circles?

From Bill Donahue

I have been thinking a lot about Andy Stanley’s comments at the Group Life Conference 2009 and the implications for church ministry. If it is true that more learning, growth, care and ministry takes through transformational group-like circles, why do churches spend an inordinate amount of time, staffing and money on filling rows? Here are some possible reasons for expending so much energy on building a “row”-ing team, and I would be interested in your feedback.  Read more...

October 22, 2009

Butterflies

From Greg Bowman

  Speaking in front of a large audience. Taking your driver’s test. Interviewing for a job. Traveling internationally for the first time. Waiting for your first date to arrive. Proposing to your future spouse. The night before prom. The night before your daughter's prom.

There are events in our lives that inevitably cause butterflies. You know what I mean. Read more...

September 26, 2009

No Brag, Just Fact

From Greg Bowman

 Jesus was pretty clear when he commanded us to “serve the least of these.” He taught about it, modeled it, pointed out when it was not happening, and tied it to our eternal destiny. It seems clear. And, according to Bono at the Summit, the Church has made huge strides in this area in the past few years. The church – collectively and individually – has made an impact on the poorest of the poor in our world.

 

But let’s be honest – it can be difficult at times to get small groups to serve outside their group on a regular, consistent basis. The exception seems to be if it was a cause or task that brought them together in the first place. Church leaders I interact with are still challenged to get more than 20% of the church involved in serving consistently.  Read more...

September 1, 2009

Digital Jet Lag

From Bill Donahue

 "How many of our most joyfilled memories have been created in front of a screen?" asks John Freeman in the Wall Street Journal, Aug 21, 2009. Warning of the the dangers of breakneck communication and email addiction Freeman asserts, "The speed at which we do something changes our experience of it." Hmmm. Read this post verrry slowwwly. Read more...

August 28, 2009

The Greatest Threat to the Church

From Bill Donahue

Been thinking a lot -- and talking -- about the core of the Church. Today's group was filled with comments about -ism's: Calvinism (it is the 500th anniversary of the Scholar-Lawyer's birth), Catholicism, Amish, Reformed, Evangelicalism, Baptist, Charismatic and other traditions/ism's. Read more...