My latest book
Back in 2005 my friend Rick Rusaw and I wrote a book called The Externally Focused Church, which led with the question, “If your church were to disappear, would anyone notice…would anyone care? In 2010 we wrote another book called The Externally Focused Quest: Becoming the best church FOR your community (EFQ). In 2020 we... Read More
Eight Questions for City Leaders on your Listening Tour to launch a city movement
In the spring of 2009 my son Jeff graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.A. in Communications. He was an Army veteran, manning a 50-caliber machine gun on top of a Humvee for a year in Baghdad. I wrote this post about him on July 4, 2005. He graduated with honors and he... Read More
What to call a city transformation movement
(This post was first published under the title, What to call a city gospel movement at citygospelmovements.org on April 25, 2018.) As Seth left the stage, the M.C. came forward and asked for any feedback from the audience. A man in the back of the ballroom raised his hand and when called upon said, “I’m... Read More
What good can come out of Shelter in Place?
Last night I was on a Zoom call with 15 men and women who lead city transformation movements around the country. Many of them have been coming to Lost Antler Ranch in Estes Park Colorado for a 4-day retreat where we share best practices and generally just hang out. Here are a couple amazing insights:... Read More
How TV made watching from home BETTER than being at the game
What is the best seat from which to watch the Super Bowl…or any football game for that matter? If we are honest, there is no better seat than your favorite chair in your own living room. How can sitting at home be better than being there live? A little history: In 1939 CBS broadcast the... Read More
What I learned from watching (parts of) 36 church services last Sunday
Last week the world experienced a Black Swan event–that rare event that no one could have ever forecast of predicted. On Sunday I watched (parts of) 36 online services of some of the leading churches in America that have been part of my work with Leadership Network. Here are my main discoveries along with a QUESTION... Read More
What the church can learn from Weightwatchers
How does this sound to you? “Our church service is more than a chance to grab a bulletin and learn about a helpful topic. Church instantly connects you to a welcoming community—and surrounds you with the inspiration and motivation to keep going. Your fellow members and staff become friends and cheerleaders, and you benefit from... Read More
Using the Business Strategy Canvas for Church Planters
This is a second recording I did on concepts from Steve Blank and Eric Ries on the Lean Startup
7 Concepts of the Lean Startup for Church Planters
This is a recording I did at Exponential Church Planting Conference
Your Church as a Pipeline, a Portal and a Platform
Churches today have three primary methodologies to connect with and grow their congregants. First, churches today, by default, employ a “pipeline” strategy as their methodology to grow congregants into disciples. So, what is a pipeline? For our answer we turn to the world of business. “[A] pipeline is a business that employs a step-by-step arrangement... Read More