Links of the Week (03/18/17)

Each Saturday we point you to the best preaching, leadership, and ministry content we have encountered on the internet during the week.

Links of the Week

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The Day I Became a Leader. Why a Leader Must Stand Alone by Brian Dodd

I will never forget the moment. I had recently started my dream job and was placed over a poorly performing team. Because it was my dream job I was very idealistic and optimistic about the company, our place in the market, and our team. Morale was horrible but whatever happened before I arrived did not factor into anything I did as a leader.

But the team would soon despise me. I was hired in from the outside. I was thrilled to be there. I admired the leadership I reported to. I arrived early and stayed late. I was the exact opposite of what they were.

10 Questions About Church Attendence No One Really Knows How To Answer by Carey Niewhof

Talk to any church leader, and they’ll tell you it feels harder than ever to get people to come to church on a Sunday.

Even in growing churches (like ours), the competition for peoples’ time, attention and devotion seems to get more intense every year.

You’ve felt it too.

So what’s up? And where is future church attendance heading?

7 Things I’ve Learned About Following God by Ron Edmondson

For the last 30 years or so, I’ve attempted to listen to, obey and follow the voice of God. I have never heard it audibly but I have had it for only impressed upon my heart and mind. I have actually been a believer for over 40 years, but I got serious about my faith in my early 20’s.

It’s been a long road, and I’m still a pilgrim in the process, but I’ve learned a few things along the way. These are based totally on my personal experience.

18 Simple Volunteer Appreciation Tips by Bethany Brewster

One of the most crucial – and yet easiest – ways to increase the longevity of great volunteers is to show them your appreciation on a regular basis. Showing volunteers that you’re thankful for their servant heart doesn’t always have to be a grand gesture. There are simple, easy ways to show your volunteers appreciation year-round.

Here are 18 ways to show your volunteers some love:

Learning Churches Are Growing Churches by Shawn Lovejoy

Churches that are growing on the other hand always begin conversations by telling me who they know, who, they’re learning from, and what they are learning. Learning churches are growing churches! Is your church a learning church? Learning churches are growing churches. That’s just the bottom line.

The Three Big Priorities in a Pastor’s Work by Brandon Cox

I believe that it’s important for the church to put her best foot forward, so I am often driven by the details.

Occasionally, however, I find myself in need of a revival of right priorities for ministry. And when those moments come, I remind myself of the three “P’s” of ministry that need to remain in the right order.

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