Preaching Dialogue

I am currently taking my masters in leadership from IWU. The course I am taking right now is the "Leadership of Preaching". One of my assigments is to create a dialogue tool for the weekly sermon. My idea is to create a sermon blog where people can discuss past sermons, current series and upcoming topics. Since I am without a preaching post, pulpit, soapbox or even a music stand, I am going to ask some of the group who took my all-day "Teaching for Transformation" in Zephyr Hills, Florida to visit this blog and comment accordingly.

If you are preaching every week, have you considered administering some type of communication tool with your congregation to get feed back and discussion on the sermon?


From the Florida District "Teaching for Transformation" Event:
1. Did you find the event to be helpful? Why or why not?
2. Was the written outline helpful?
3. Was the power point helpful?
4. Did I seem prepared?
5. Was I clear and easy to follow?
6. Was there enough time for discussion and questions?
7. What would you change about the presentation?
8. Have you applied anything from the event yet? What were the results?
9. What would you like to see covered in future events?
10. Anything else?

Thanks for your time and help!

Going Regional

The recent shift in Small Group Ministry has been to go to "Regional or Neighborhood Groups". Maybe some of you who have been at this a lot longer than I have would say, "That's not new, we did that 20 years ago..." The first big push I saw for this was at Willow's Small Group Conference last year. Rather than 'grouping their groups' by affinity, age, or topic, they were blocking off areas within their reach and placing a small groups pastor over that area. The next step is to let the people know what groups are meeting in their neighborhoods and how they can get connected.

When I was up to Grand Rapids last week I came across some software that churches are using to help them map thier congregations by regions and build their small group ministry accordingly: www.mappingcenter.org Moncton Wesleyan told me recently that they have gone with a similar software from a different company: "Connection Power". Another site you might want to look at is www.frappr.com Frappr ( not a spelling error ) let's you place flags and identities on a virtual map. With the scroll of a mouse you can see where your people live and any key information that you or they enter.

What do you think??

Duh Vinci

You are either already tired of hearing about the DaVinci Code or you are excited about leveraging it for the kingdom. If you are in the second group you will be interested in this: The Willow Creek Association has released Lee Strobel's recent message on the DaVinci Code, delivered @ Willow. I heard Lee say today that it was the largest single attendance Willow has had since the grand opening of the new 7000 seat worship center.

Here is the link: http://www.willowcreek.com/davinci/video.asp

You might consider running this for your small groups, Sunday School classes, or even in your worship service. Think outside the pew. You have to be winsome to win some.

Tim

Great Lakes Small Groups Network

This past Monday I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Great Lakes Small Groups Network. I am sharing this for those of you who may be in that area, and for those of you who aren't you might consider forming something like this in your area. Essentially this is a group of small group/discipleship pastors in the West Michigan - Grand Rapids area. There were around 50 people gathered for lunch at the Kentwood Community Church.

There was directed small group discussion around our tables during the lunch time and then there was an open forum of discussion to a panel of small group pastors/workers. The theme of the day was, "Planning Your Fall Promotion".

Here's the deal: This was an excellent time of networking and idea sharing...Zondervan was there and each person went home with an arm load of freebies...it was practical and relevant and useful. Could you form a network like this in your area? What do you think?

Free Book

I came across this offer this morning, checked it out, and it is for real. This is a new book by Craig Groeschel, published by Multnomah. If you are a Pastor, go to www.chazown.com/pastor to order one free copy of the book. Here is the blurb about the book from thier website: The offer is good until 6/1/06

Do you wake up each day motivated by knowing exactly why you were created? Guided by intention in every step? Enter: Chazown. Hebrew for “vision,” God wants to give His for you, and this book will reveal it! Living God’s dream will rock your world and align every area of your life, from your relationships to your finances and health.
Chazown is packed with storytelling graphics, in-your-face honesty, bite-sized chapterettes, step-by-step guidance, surprising self-assessments, and scarcely containable energy in a fast-paced style that will drive you forward with purpose! Craig Groeschel cowrote this book, but he’s waiting for his partner—you. Because only you can discover how the book ends and the rest of your life begins…

LeadPak Logos

LeadPaks

For awhile now I have been working with WPH to provide a bundle of resources specific to an area of ministry for one low price. The result is what we call "LeadPaks". We have taken 5 or 6 books that we believe will be valuable resources for your ministry and we have put them together in one 'item' for purchase. If you are involved in Sunday School and Small Groups or Singles or Young Adults or Men's Ministry or Family and Marriage or Senior Adults...there is a LeadPak that you can order.

LeadPaks were created out of my desire to make it easy for people to get their hands on the best resources without spending hours searching all over the internet and bookstores. In a sense, we've created a shortcut for you to get the leadership tools you need. Also, if you ordered these books seperately they would cost you a lot more.

You can find the LeadPaks on our site www.wesleyan.org/adult I'd love to know what you think!