Blog | Teaching
Tips for a Successful Church Staff Retreat
Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a one-day local retreat, taking intentional time away with your church staff is a valuable investment you can make in the health, unity, and vision of your ministry team. A staff retreat isn’t just a break from the routine — it’s an opportunity to refocus, refresh, and realign for the season ahead. Here are some practical tips to help you plan ...
Read MoreHow to Teach Big Truths to Small Hearts
One of the greatest joys and responsibilities in children’s ministry is teaching kids the foundational truths of the Christian faith. But how do you communicate deep, complex ideas—like grace, sin, the cross, the Trinity, or eternity—to kids with limited vocabulary and growing attention spans? The answer isn’t to water it down. Kids are more capable than we often think. What they ne...
Read MoreRaising Up Voices: Tips for Training Volunteer Leaders to Preach and Teach
As pastors and leaders, one of our most vital callings is not just to teach, but to equip others to teach also (2 Timothy 2:2). In many Protestant churches, there's a growing need—and opportunity—to empower faithful, gifted members of the church to step into preaching and teaching roles. Whether it's in small groups, adult education, youth ministry, or even Sunday mornings, raising up new voic...
Read MoreShould Your Youth Group Host Its Own Retreat or Attend a Large Conference?
Youth ministry leaders often face a pivotal decision: Should we create and host our own student retreat, or should we join a larger conference put on by a denomination or national ministry organization? Both paths offer unique opportunities for spiritual growth, relationship building, and fun—but each also comes with its own challenges. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help your c...
Read MoreDon’t Reinvent Easter: Preach the Resurrection
Easter Sunday is one of the most attended Sundays of the year in many churches. It's the day when pews fill up with families, seekers, and people who might not have stepped foot in a church in months—or years. With this influx of visitors, it’s understandable that pastors and church teams feel the pressure to "wow" the crowd: new stage designs, creative sermon angles, or a dramatic reinvention...
Read MoreIntroducing Lent in Evangelical Churches: A Fresh Invitation to Spiritual Depth
For many evangelical Protestant churches, Lent has traditionally been viewed as a “Catholic thing,” or perhaps as a foreign or unnecessary ritual. But in recent years, more and more churches from non-liturgical traditions are beginning to rediscover the spiritual richness that Lent can offer. If your church has never observed Lent before, you don’t need to adopt centuries of tradition overni...
Read MoreThe Pros and Cons of Family Services for Easter
Resurrection Sunday is one of the most significant events in the Christian calendar, drawing families and individuals to churches around the world. When planning Easter church services, one important consideration is whether to offer family-friendly services with limited or no childcare options. While such services can create opportunities for families to worship together, they also present challe...
Read MoreFun and Effective Children’s Ministry Volunteer Training
Every children’s pastor wants to see their volunteers feel confident, equipped, and excited about serving in kids’ ministry. A well-planned training seminar can make all the difference by providing practical tools, fostering relationships, and infusing fresh energy into your team. Below are seven tips to help you create a memorable and impactful volunteer training event. ...
Read MoreA Pastor’s Guide to Effective Sunday Morning Huddles
Conducting a successful Sunday morning service week after week requires intentional planning and coordination of numerous volunteers. With so many moving parts and on such a tight timeline, holding a Sunday morning huddle is a great tool for setting the morning off on the right foot. A huddle is a dedicated time before the service where volunteers come together to prepare, connect, and align their...
Read MoreHow To Structure a Newcomers Class for Church Membership
Every church congregant goes through certain phases— first, they may just be visiting. If they stick around, they’ll probably attend casually and anonymously for a while. After a little bit, as they feel more belonging and investment in your community, it’s important to give these newcomers the opportunity to take a more concrete step in becoming an active participant in and member of the co...
Read More3 Immersive Ideas for Good Friday Services
Good Friday is a solemn and reflective day in the Christian calendar, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for humanity’s sins. On the original Good Friday, Christ-followers did not know that Jesus would rise again in three days. They thought they were witnessing the death of God. When we recognize Good Friday today, we’re solemnly remembering the ultimate act of love that came before...
Read MoreMeaningful Youth Ministry Trends for 2024
Youth ministry is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, shaped by the unique challenges and opportunities of each passing year. As we embark on the journey of 2024, here are the latest trends shaping the spiritual development of today's youth to give you ideas and inspiration for how to breathe new life into your youth ministry in the new year. Digital Discipleship. In an increasingly digital...
Read MoreExciting Trends in Kids Ministry for 2024
As we step into 2024, the landscape of kids ministry continues to evolve, driven by innovation, changing societal norms, and the ever-growing need for engaging and impactful experiences for children. Here are some of the most notable trends shaping kids ministry in 2024 to give you insight and inspiration for how to nurture the spiritual growth in your children’s ministry in this new year. Di...
Read More7 Creative Ideas for Approaching Church Small Groups
Small groups play a vital role in fostering community, deepening spiritual connections, and providing support within a church family. It’s easy for churches to fall into a rhythm with groups, offering the same recurring studies and breakouts based on age and gender. While there’s nothing wrong with consistency— especially if it’s serving your community!— your church has the creative oppo...
Read MoreHow to Build a Strong Teaching Team at Your Church
Does your church need a teaching team? In many churches, the role of teaching and preaching often falls on a single individual, typically the pastor. While this tradition has its merits, there are numerous benefits to building a church teaching team. A teaching team can bring diversity, depth, and a broader range of perspectives to the pulpit. It also allows for pastors to lean into their gifts a...
Read MoreSix Church Service Ideas for the Sunday After Thanksgiving
The week after Thanksgiving is a special time for church communities to come together and reflect on gratitude, share in fellowship, and spread love to those in need. It's an opportunity to transition from a season of thankfulness to a season of giving. In this blog post, we'll explore some creative church service ideas for the week after Thanksgiving that can help foster a sense of unity, service...
Read MoreBuy It or Write It: Choosing Curriculum for Kids’ Ministry
As a Children's Pastor, implementing a curriculum that will guide the spiritual growth and development of the young minds in your care is just one of your many important tasks. When it comes to curriculum, there are two main options: purchasing a ready-made curriculum or crafting your own from scratch. Both approaches have their merits, and in this post, we'll explore the pros and cons of each to ...
Read More6 Inspiring Student Ministry Series Ideas for the Fall
Fall is an exciting time of transition in our ministries. Not only do the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, but students are returning to school, moving up grade levels, and ready to get back to work. In youth ministry, we have the opportunity to ride the momentum of this back to school energy and invigorate an atmosphere where young hearts can encounter God in fresh and meaningful w...
Read MoreTalking About the Theology of Worship Lyrics
As worship pastors, we know that leading our congregations in worship is not just about playing music and singing songs. It’s about creating a space for people to connect with God, and one way we do that is through the songs we choose to sing. However, from time to time, people can and will take issue with the lyrics of worship songs and claim they have bad or harmful theology. Some of these can...
Read MoreHow To Schedule Your Week as a Senior Pastor
As a senior pastor, your work schedule is unlike most. While you might enjoy more flexibility in your calendar and diversity in your to-do’s than a typical 9-5 gig, you also face unique challenges and uncharacteristic demands. Creating a schedule that allows for deep productivity, meaningful pastoring, and sufficient rest is a puzzle that takes trial and error to figure out. While everyone is di...
Read More