Re-Branding Christianity
Jeff Jones and Carey Nieuwhof talk about what the community really thinks about your church, and what church leaders can learn from Domino’s Pizza and other re-branding campaigns. www.careynieuwhof.com.
Jeff Jones and Carey Nieuwhof talk about what the community really thinks about your church, and what church leaders can learn from Domino’s Pizza and other re-branding campaigns. www.careynieuwhof.com.
“Consumerism and the Church: Reclaiming the Gospel From Our Most Powerful Religion” is written by Joe Terrell, content manager at CareyNieuwhof.com. Joe’s writings for Medium, Relevant, Carey Nieuwhof, and his personal…
Pastor Rick Warren shares his insights on the ups and downs of ministry for his lifelong service to Christ at Saddleback Church with moderator Carey Nieuwhof.. www.careynieuwhof.com.
New York Times bestselling author and former NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow, talks about being cut from the NFL, losing your identity, overcoming bitterness, his workout routine, and the joy of…
Simon Sinek unpacks his back story, including how his grandfather shaped him, how ADHD impacted his leadership and how a deep, personal crisis led to him developing the ideas behind…
Malcolm Gladwell on His Personal Faith Journey, the Intersection of Church and Politics, and How He Fuels His Curiosity. www.careynieuwhof.com.
NYT bestselling author, John Eldredge, returns to the podcast to talk about the collective trauma we’ve been through. He outlines the surprising signs of trauma, including memory loss, why you…
As a leader, you probably think your people are the biggest obstacle to change in your church or organization. Ready for a surprise? Sometimes the biggest obstacle to change is you.…
Carey Nieuwhof interviews Dave Adamson, who led social and online ministry for several megachurches including North Point. Dave talks about why some churches should stop live streaming their services, the…
You married with the hope of sharing your life with someone who’s as pumped to make the most of it as you are, so how did the two of you…
Amidst all the changes you’ve experienced in the last few weeks, like a ton of leaders and pastors, you are likely trying to master the skill of speaking or preaching…
Although last year didn’t exactly usher in the post-pandemic era, it’s more likely that 2022 will. While no one can say exactly what the future holds, here are 12 trends…
Self-awareness is one of the keys to emotional intelligence. It’s also a key to growth. With that in mind, some recent research by the Barna Group through their Barna Cities initiative shows…
Let me guess. You keep thinking it’s going to get better, only to discover…it hasn’t. As I’ve been catching up personally with leaders over the last while, I sense a…
There’s no question everything in ministry has shifted in the last eighteen months. But the real question is how? Some things, of course, never change. The mission of the church…
No matter how long you’ve been in leadership, it still hurts when people leave your church. It’s somewhat easy to understand people leaving when things are going poorly— when there’s…
What challenges will pastors and churches face in this decade? Will ministry ever come more easily? As you know, the last five years have been tough on leaders. Really tough. Pandemic…
As you know, the last five years have been tough on leaders. Really tough. Pandemic or no pandemic, every leader has realized we’re not in Kansas anymore. In fact, we’re not quite…
This post was written by Dillon Smith, a Gen-Z team member at CareyNieuwhof.com who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. We’re so grateful to the Citylight team for making the time to share…
While no one can say exactly what the future holds, here are 8 trends I’m watching and would encourage you and your team to consider and process as well. 1.…
You need some good news—as a human and as a leader. We all do. While 2020 was dominated by crisis, tragedy, division and disease (as this recap of the Top…
So, you probably want people to like you and your leadership. Who doesn’t? If we’re honest with each other, most of us in leadership prefer to be be liked (rather…
Let’s start here. You’re leading in one of the most complex moments in generations. It’s not easy. Right now, nothing is easy. And with the Presidential election results being so…
You know that people burn out. In fact, given the way you feel, you may have asked whether that’s what happening to you. But here’s a deeper question. Can…
You probably already have some regrets. Not only as a leader, but as a husband, dad and friend too. Leadership is so complicated that sometimes it’s hard to know what…
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8 Pastors and Leaders, This is probably one of the…
So you’re leading in a tougher environment than you’ve ever led through in your life. How do you find momentum and growth in a season when everything you spend your…
So you’ve been sheltering in place and quarantined with the people you’re supposed to love most for months now. And how exactly is that going? If you’re like most…
Covid has been like a mission trip for the analog church. We thought we were going on a short-term trip to a place that felt foreign. We got there, and…
You’ve heard people say that marriage can be hard, but you didn’t know it could be this hard. You married with the hope of sharing your life with someone who’s…
As you know, these are some of the most complex times in church leadership in decades. As churches reopen their in-person gatherings, there’s one particular trap to watch out for.…
So, in light of everything that’s changed and been disrupted so far in 2020, what future church trends should you be watching as a leader? I usually do a church…
As churches slowly reopen their physical doors, church leaders are all asking the same question: who will still be around? It’s a great question. And not an easy one to answer.…
As the world slowly re-opens on the other side of COVID, a question for you today. Are churches behaving like malls in the age of Amazon, just hoping for people…
So all of a sudden you’re online like you’ve never been before. And now there’s a long road ahead. While no one knows exactly where all of this lands post-pandemic,…
By now you’ve realized that the Coronavirus pandemic is not an interruption nearly as much as it’s a disruption. And as you move more deeply through this crisis, the question…
So you’re leading through the biggest crisis in recent history. I’m guessing you feel overwhelmed, not to mention exhausted. You barely have time to read this post. So let me…
Leading Through Rapid, Unexpected Change No surprise here, but you are leading through unprecedented global change. Just stop for a minute. Re-read that first line. Unprecedented global change. If it…
Like it or not, digital is your new default as a leader. Everyone’s world has changed radically in the last week. And it will likely change even more in the…
Why is church attendance declining? Why are churches failing? Carey Nieuwhof reveals the hearts of many Christians today. He writes: SPIRITUALITY HAS BECOME AN INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT First, spirituality is increasingly seen…
“Now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.” Colossians 3:8 NLT So much is changing so quickly in…
Any idea what the best outreach opportunity of the year at your church might be? You might think it’s an event you do, or perhaps it’s Easter. But whether Christmas has…
Leadership would be so much easier, the saying goes, if it wasn’t for people. And topping off the list of difficult people to work with or lead is toxic people. The hard…
Are you an effective leader? If not, have you ever wondered why? As a leader, there are things you do every day. Some help—others, not so much. I’ve found that…
” If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous…
You probably have a love/hate relationship with apologies. You appreciate it deeply when others apologize to you. But you find it difficult to apologize to others. And let me guess,…
#1 Thinking of Prayer as a Way to Manipulate God We’ve all done it. Prayed a certain prayer and then when things don’t turn out the way we want them…
In an age where everyone is looking for alternatives to gathering together, here are 10 things that—helpful as they may be in some respect—aren’t church. If it gets a bit…
Here’s a challenging question: Why do you want your church to grow? Your motivation for wanting your church to grow is pivotal for a number of significant reasons. First, if you’re…
It’s a challenge you face as a church leader: what do you do with people who only occasionally attend church? Like at Easter or Christmas or special occasions? But infrequent…
It’s a challenge you face as a church leader: what do you do with people who only occasionally attend church? Like at Easter or Christmas or special occasions? But infrequent…
Social media is changing you and me in more profound ways than any of us imagine. Like a growing number of people, I’m increasingly concerned with how addictive tech has…
No matter how long you’ve been in leadership, it still hurts when people leave your church. It’s somewhat easy to understand people leaving when things are going poorly— when there’s…
Balancing work and family can be tricky. Here’s Carey Nieuwhof’s article on how to re-prioritize and win at home and at work. How’s it going at home…really? Here’s what…
Talk to any church leader, and they’ll tell you it feels more challenging than ever to get people to come to church on a Sunday. Even in growing churches…
So this isn’t an easy post to write, nor a glib one. I’m not even sure what I’m about to write is accurate. But once again last week, we heard…
Most church leaders I know would love to see their church grow. Similarly, most leaders I’ve met want their church to grow for what we might call the ‘right’ reasons:…
Character has always been important, but it seems like it’s never been as important as it is now. There have been far too many stories of church leaders, business leaders,…
So…if you had to describe yourself, would you say you’re an optimist, a pessimist, or as pessimists like to say in social settings to be polite, a realist? For the…
We’ve all had our share of cynics and pessimists try to dissuade us from action. We live in an age in which there is no shortage of opinion. The challenge…
Why do committed Christians go to church less often? The statistics are in! 1. Greater affluence Money gives people options. If your church is at all engaging the middle class,…
Christian character has always been important, but it seems like it’s never been as important as it is now. Ephesians 5:1-4 states: ” Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk…
These are interesting times for communicators and preachers. Never have we had access to so many other people’s messages. And never have we felt more pressure in delivering our…
Every week you host services at your church hoping to reach more people, which is admirable and appropriate. The problem is that the culture is changing and never bothered to…
You’d think that being in church leadership would ensure you’re not tempted to fall into the same temptations as, say, leaders in the marketplace. As nice as that line of…
Ever feel like your work is never finished? You can’t quite stop working at home. You wake up most mornings feeling like you’re just stepping back onto the treadmill that…
You’re probably trying to change something right now. And — if you’re honest — you’ve already thought about backing off. Change seems too difficult. You’ve watched friends get hurt trying to lead…
Any church leader who’s been in ministry for more than a few months has heard different variations of it: “I’m looking for a church that meets my needs.” “What are…
It’s a tough question to answer: so, is your church ready for the future? A lot of the time, I’m afraid the answer is no. This year especially, culture is changing so…
Lead pastors spend a lot time in the front row of the church participating in worship services. In fact, if you’re a church leader reading this you know the double…
So many leaders face the conundrum of the chicken and the egg when it comes to church growth. There’s an 85% chance you’re facing it right now because 85% of…
One of the questions almost every church leader I know is asking is “How do we reach Millennials?”—that demographic of young adults now in their mid-twenties to age 40. It’s a great…
So you want your church to reach people who don’t go to church. That’s wonderful because that’s basically the mission of the church: to share the love of Christ with the world…
So maybe you wonder why your church isn’t growing, or why it’s not growing faster. You’re not alone. The vast majority of churches are plateaued or declining because they can’t…
So here’s a question that sounds a little far-fetched, but hear me out. It’s really not. Would you: Read your kids bedtime stories most night? Have a regular date night…
“So, what would you tell your 25-year-old self?” I get that question all the time from young leaders. It’s a great question. There are so many things I would do…
What do you know about yourself? Well, probably more than anyone, right? And yet every one of us gets surprised when from time to time, our spouse points out…
So you’re a bit of a control freak. And you’re a leader. That’s not surprising. People who like control seem to have a natural ability to get into leadership positions.…
Circumstances. You face them every day, you are always reacting to them–positively or negatively. Think about it. What situations in your life do you wish would change right now? A different…
Do Christians annoy non-believers? Yes. Often. If you spend two minutes talking to almost anyone outside the Christian faith and you’re almost certain to hear a list of complaints they…
Carey Nieuwhof is a Canadian pastor with a perceptive, and (possibly an objective) view of American society today. “Regardless of where your politics lean, many would sense that American culture…
We all have them. Actually, worship wars started with Gregorian chant. Some monks got bent out of shape over the newer, fancier plainchant. Pastor Carey Nieuwhof has some sagely advice…
You may be fighting a losing battle. First-time guests to your church make up their minds whether they’re coming back or not in the first ten minutes of their visit. …
When you’re a church leader, you feel a lot of pressure. Almost every leader feels the pressure to do more when the key to effectively accomplishing your mission is often…
Church leaders, times are changing, but the real question is how quickly and how deeply? In fact, unless you’re under 25, the world into which you’re born doesn’t really exist…
So you’ve noticed something. Your ability to lead well seems to fluctuate. Some days (and seasons) you seem to be in top shape. You have energy and enthusiasm, a clear mind…
Do you ever look back at the end of the day only to wonder where all the time went? Did you wonder where your productivity went? Welcome to the club. Productivity…
Why should we understand the heart and mind of others who do not choose to attend church? If you’re like many Christians, you have an authentic desire to share your…
Are you a control freak? It’s easy to do, whether you are a leader of a large organization or the mother of small children. It’s amazing to me how many…
If you could only tell your top leaders a few things, what would you tell them? 1. Your competency will take you only as far as your character will sustain…