Morning Roundup - February 2, 2012
Thursday, 02 February 2012 05:00
How Do You Preach a 'One Time' Sermon? -- Ed Stetzer at The Gospel Coalition
Whether someone is preaching in view of a call, filling in for a vacationing pastor, or performing a wedding, every pastor will have to deliver a "one time" sermon at some point. Deciding what to preach or how to preach can be a challenge, especially if the pastor is young and doesn't have a handy sermon stashed away in his back pocket for these occasions. However, it's harder when you are the guest preacher with a single topic. I think you can go about it in two legitimate ways.
1. Preach a text on a topic.
2. Preach a topic with texts.
The Pro's and Con's of Planting a Church In a Movie Theater -- Brandon Cox
We didn't intend to launch in a theater. I fact, we spent a great deal of time looking at retail spaces, but eventually landed at the Malco because of space, price, and availability. There's a part of me that fell in love with the idea befor... e we moved in, and has remained attached to it since.
The advantages: The rent is great, decorating is done, we don't have to stack chairs, the cultural barrier between the church and the community around the church that is automatically gone, the acoustics are great, there's a screen, kids think that going to kids' worship in a theater is awesome, we have community visibility, and the theater personnel are wonderful at both the local and corporate levels.
The disadvantages: We only have access on Sunday mornings until noon, altar calls are tough to figure out, the loading and unloading & setting up and tearing down, lighting is an issue, sometimes the movie posters in the lobby scare the children, sometimes there is the remnant odor of popcorn...which could fit in either category, actually.
How to Make Your Company More Social -- Mashable
A business becomes more inherently social by going beyond the corporate Twitter account and Facebook Page. A social business engages the entire company, from CEO to executive assistant. Take advantage of the opportunity to foster your company's internal community and teach valuable social media skills as the space rapidly grows and evolves. But how do you get everyone on board?
1. Give Interactive Tutorials
2. Focus on Fun Ways to Use Twitter
3. Find Influencers Within the Company
4. Launch a Fun Contest or Internal Campaign
5. Engage
6. Get creative!
Four Practical Reasons for Small Groups -- Rick Warren
We may attract attenders through preaching, but disciples are made in small groups. Small groups provide the kind of accountability and support we need to mature as believers, so I want to give you four reasons why they are important to your congregation. As you lead your congregation toward a deeper relationship with Jesus, you'll want to explain to your members why small groups are so important to their spiritual growth and why they are more than just a Bible study.
1. Small groups are relational.
2. Small groups are flexible.
3. Small groups are expandable.
4. Small groups are economical.
Happy Groundhog Day
