Making a Healthy Church Unhealthy

There’s another Rainer in the house!

We all have benefited from insights that Dr. Thom Rainer has shared through his blogs and books.  Now there’s another Rainer you may need to start following – Sam.

I’ve copied the following article from his blog (http://samrainer.com/) that gives warning how a healthy church can quickly become unhealthy.  Good stuff!

How a Healthy Church Can Spiral Quickly into Dysfunction

By Sam Rainer

 Churches are more like organisms than they are organizations. Of course, organizational management is important in churches. Finances, staff reviews, and operations are among the many management activities in the church. Ultimately, however, churches are alive. Biblically, the church is a body. As a functioning organism, the church body is always changing. Like our own bodies, the church either becomes healthier or less healthy. Churches grow. Or they start dying. Congregations may plateau for a season. But no church remains static in perpetuity.

Like an organism, when church health declines, it typically does so slowly. But there are cases when an otherwise healthy person experiences a sudden deterioration. Healthy churches can also experience a sharp decline in health. There are cases of healthy churches quickly becoming dysfunctional. Below are five ways I’ve seen churches spiral downward quickly, almost overnight.

Killer gossip. There is a reason gossip and murder are listed together in Romans 1. Gossip kills. While every church probably has a gossip or two waiting to ambush an unsuspecting soul, killer gossip is a more sinister monster. Killer gossip is more than a Twitter rant or an intentionally misleading question (“Did you hear what the preacher said at his son’s baseball game?”). Killer gossip has as its goal the complete destruction of another person. This kind of gossip destroys families, careers, and churches. It’s viral and can spread so quickly through the church body that it leaves a permanent sickness—one ultimately resulting in death.

A silent majority during a moment of crisis. A small group (it’s usually less than a dozen) can do a lot of damage in any church. Healthy churches can spiral quickly, however, when this small group takes advantage of a crisis in the church to get their way. The crisis magnifies their voice and power. If the silent majority does not speak out against this kind of power play, then a healthy church can become dysfunctional in a short time period.

Moral failure of a pastor. Few disasters affect a healthy body like the moral failure of a key leader. Indeed, even the healthiest of churches will likely struggle through the after-effects of leader’s moral failure. Unfortunately, there are too many examples of healthy churches becoming dysfunctional following a moral failure in leadership.

Force majeure event. Force majeure is often used as contract language to free both parties from liability or obligation in the event of a major natural disaster, like a hurricane or flood. When these types of events affect entire communities, churches suffer. For example, when a large manufacturing firm left a small town, it meant most of the community was either unemployed or had to move. Every church in the community struggled. Some became dysfunctional quickly.

A snake is allowed to slither. Evil is real. And it’s not a vague concept. People sin. Sin hurts other people. Not every sinner is a snake, of course. On occasion, however, an evil person enters the body. When you have an unwanted snake in your house, you don’t pet it and ask it nicely to leave. You strike it. Don’t play games with evil. Get rid of it or your church could quickly spiral into dysfunction.

The powers of darkness will attack. In fact, healthy churches should expect evil to oppose an expanding gospel work. Most healthy churches are prepared. But no church should get comfortable. Satan’s goal is to make healthy churches fall . . . quickly. However, God is infinitely greater. Even the most disastrous of situations do not necessarily lead to dysfunction. In fact, it is the body that will determine whether the infection will spread or cause a response that leads to greater health.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: Groups Matter Event at Ridgecrest, NC, August 27-29, 2015, discussing issues like disciple making, DNA of healthy groups, responding to the homosexual question, missional groups, etc. - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Groups-Matter-Event?type=events

FOR HELP IN WRITING YOUR OWN BIBLE STUDIES: http://home.smallgroup.com/

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP: 11 Places to Use Greeters by Chuck Lawless - http://buff.ly/1EgS16E 

FOR BIBLE STUDY: January Bible Study 2016, Second Corinthians; The Church Ministry’s Handbook - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/January-Bible-Study

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: a video explaining what’s coming for adults in The Gospel Project/Chronological - https://vimeo.com/122668812

FOR SMALL GROUPS: Hebrews Initiative, living out your faith in a post-Christian world - http://www.lifeway.com/n/special-emphasis/hebrews-initiative

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Jesus Continued by J.D. Greear & Trevin Wax -  http://buff.ly/1Q3sHVX

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Ordinary by Tony Merida - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/ordinary-bible-study-kit-P005644105

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Counter Culture by David Platt - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-leader-kit-P005703479?intcmp=Counter-MTX-Text-Kit-20150109

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Fight Back with Joy by Margaret Feinberg - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/fight-back-with-joy-celebrate-more-regret-less-stare-down-your-greatest-fears-leader-kit-P005699446

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: a video describing what’s coming for students in The Gospel Project/Chronological – https://vimeo.com/122668813

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Counter Culture, confronting today’s issues redemptively - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-student-leader-kit-P005647994

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Virtuosity: A 40 Day Devotional Guide for Guys - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/virtuosity-P005720882

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: My 8, helping students understand the heart of evangelism - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/my-8-embrace-and-engage-the-wonder-of-evangelism-leader-kit-P005737563

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: a video describing what’s coming for kids in The Gospel Project/Chronological - https://vimeo.com/123430346

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: ZIP, a easy, ‘build it yourself’ day camp, summertime, anytime fun time - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Zip-For-Kids?intcmp=ZipForKidsSearch-MTX-Button-20130819

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Evangelism and Discipleship materials - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/I%27m-a-Christian-Now

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: The Main Event, Nashville, June 19-20, 2015 with special speakers Mike Huckabee, Dr. Tony Evans, Jim Kelley, Derwin Gray and more - http://www.lifeway.com/event/mens-event-the-main-event-2015-nashville-tn?intcmp=TheMainEvent-MTX-Button-Nashville-20140803

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: How Balanced is Your Women’s Ministry - http://www.lifeway.com/womensministry/2015/05/13/how-balanced-is-your-womens-ministry/

Why I Love Baseball

My year in Junior College baseball

Since I was nine years old, I have had a love affair with the game of baseball. From my very first game as a left-handed shortstop playing for S&M Electric on the baseball field behind Kaley Elementary School in Orlando, Florida, I have loved the game. I enjoy all sports but I have a special affection for baseball.

Awhile back I read an article by Nancy Becker pointing out some of the theological parallels to the game of baseball. It helped me crystallize an understanding of why I love baseball.

BASEBALL IS ABOUT STRIVING FOR PERFECTION BUT FALLING SHORT.

Baseball is a game of numbers and statistics. Everything is added up and written down somewhere. In any good Sunday paper you can find hundreds of numbers that refer to different teams and players. You can find the batting averages of all the players in the major leagues. You can read about RBIs and ERAs and fielding percentages compared against every other player in the league.  It's announced over the radio and flashed in bright lights on the big jumbotron scoreboard at every ballpark – and it’s carried out to three decimal points. Nobody says, "He's hitting pretty well." They say, "He's hitting .276." It's all about very precise measurements. There is no way to pretend success. There is no way to hide failure. The numbers are right there in the book to be compared with every other player on the team and in the league.

The interesting thing about this is that nobody does very well. The very best hitters get about three hits in every ten tries. That's not a very good percentage for most jobs. But if you get three out of ten in the game of baseball, they give you a multi million-dollar salary. If you do it several years in a row, they will put you in the Hall of Fame.

Take Reggie Jackson for example. He is known as “Mr. October” for his exceptional play in the post-season. He is listed in the top 50 baseball players of all time and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1993. He is tenth on the home run list at 563. Even as great as he was, his lifetime batting average is .262.  But the one record he doesn’t brag about – he is the all-time strikeout king with 2,597.

You see, nobody is very good when measured against that absolute batting standard of 1000%. That's a tough standard to strive only to fall short of it with the whole world watching. But everyone falls short of it. No one has even come halfway to perfection over the course of the season. The greatest hitter of all time – Ted Williams was only able to hit over .400 once. Everybody has fallen short.

The apostle Paul also pointed out the futility of striving for perfection. In Galatians 3, he referred to the standards of perfection that are impossible to meet. To Paul, those standards were the Hebrew law. At the time of Paul’s letter, the Jews had developed a system of 613 laws with over 1500 variations of how these laws were to be carried out. Paul said the law is a curse, always reminding us of how inadequate we really are because there was no way we could keep each law perfectly.  The law, he said, was set up to show us that we cannot do it right; we can never be good enough because we cannot live up to its standards. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Paul said in his letter to the Romans.

BASEBALL IS ABOUT THE GRACE EXPRESSED IN SECOND CHANCES.

Baseball is the fairest all other team sports in that it has no clock. You keep playing until a team wins, no matter how long that may take. Maybe this makes the game even fairer than life itself, because in baseball you don't run out of time prematurely.  As that great baseball theologian, Yogi Berra, said, "It ain't over till it's over." In baseball there is always the possibility that the unexpected will happen. There is always time for redemption.

Take the case of Bob Brenly. In 1986 he was playing third base for the San Francisco Giants. In the fourth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves made four errors in one inning, two of them on one play. But then in the bottom of the next inning, Brenly hit a home run. Then in the seventh, he hit a bases-loaded single, driving in two runs and tying the game. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Brenly came up to bat again with two outs. He ran the count to three and two and then hit a massive home run into the left field seats to win the game for the Giants. Brenly's score card for that day came to four errors, four runs allowed, three hits in five at bats, two home runs, four runs driven in, including the game-winner.

Certainly life is a lot like that—a mixture of hits and errors. And there is grace in that. God, like Yogi, seems to say, “It's not over till it's over.”

There are still more surprises waiting in this opportunity for grace. Paul puts it like this: "for have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” The ensuing verses explain that God provided Jesus as the sin payment and He restrained Himself, allowing us a second chance.

Even the apostle Paul made a lot of errors in his life. He was a Pharisee, the ultimate enemy of Jesus, the feared and hated persecutor of the early disciples; he had systematically attempted to destroy the church by annihilating its members. But Jesus found him and turned him around and set him on a new course, building a church in which the forgiveness of Christ was offered to everyone—no membership tests, no lines of birth or race or accomplishment, a church for people who have had made errors; for people who have gone 0 for four in their life’s at bats.

Through Christ, the scorekeeper cancels the errors, gives you another chance, a new start, a new beginning. Jesus looks past the errors to the possibilities of the future. With God it's not over till it's over. Nothing is finished until God is finished with it. No one is finished until God has completed them. One of the inevitables of life is that we will make errors which can threaten us to throw us out of the game. But with Christ, we always have another chance. We always have the possibility of a comeback. God's love is always seeking us, always following us, always willing to overlook the errors and give us yet another inning; still another chance at bat.

Remember, it ain't over till it's over.  So go grab a bat and take another hack at it.

 THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP: Gospel. Life. Ministry: a free online webcast featuring a panel discussion on how the gospel intersects with life with Ed Stetzer, Matt Chandler, Louie Giglio, David Platt, Derwin Gray, Tony Evans, and others, May 11, 2015 - http://live.gospelproject.com/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: a video explaining what’s coming for adults in The Gospel Project/Chronological - https://vimeo.com/122668812

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: The Gospel Project: Chronological Preview Event at Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, April 28^th, 6:30-8:00pm. Alan Raughton will introduce this chronological, Christ-centered Bible study that will be available to kids, students, and adults this fall. For more information, contact Alan at alan.raughton@lifeway.com.

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: Groups Matter Event at Ridgecrest, NC, August 27-29, 2015, discussing issues like disciple making, DNA of healthy groups, responding to the homosexual question, missional groups, etc. - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Groups-Matter-Event?type=events

FOR HELP IN WRITING YOUR OWN BIBLE STUDIES: http://home.smallgroup.com/

FOR NEW BELIEVERS: The Beginning: First Steps for new Disciples - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-beginning-first-steps-for-new-disciples-workbook-P005685160

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/EVANGELISM: Life on Mission: A Simple Way to Share the Gospel - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/life-on-mission-a-simple-way-to-share-the-gospel-leader-kit-P005717346

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Counter Culture by David Platt - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-leader-kit-P005703479?intcmp=Counter-MTX-Text-Kit-20150109

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Fight Back with Joy by Margaret Feinberg - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/fight-back-with-joy-celebrate-more-regret-less-stare-down-your-greatest-fears-leader-kit-P005699446

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: a video describing what’s coming for students in The Gospel Project/Chronological – https://vimeo.com/122668813

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Virtuosity: A 40 Day Devotional Guide for Guys - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/virtuosity-P005720882

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: My 8, helping students understand the heart of evangelism - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/My-8?intcmp=My8EmbraceSearch-MTX-Button-Details-20141230

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: a video describing what’s coming for kids in The Gospel Project/Chronological - https://vimeo.com/123430346

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Start Planning NOW FOR VBS Follow-Up - http://blog.lifeway.com/vbs/2015/01/22/start-planning-now-for-continuing-the-connections-after-vbs/?emid=lcurtis-VBS-newsletter-20150218

FOR CHLDREN’S MINISTRY: Using Teenagers as Volunteers in VBS - http://blog.lifeway.com/vbs/2015/01/19/advice-from-the-experts-using-teenagers-as-workers-part-1/?emid=lcurtis-VBS-newsletter-20150218

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: The Main Event, Nashville, June 19-20, 2015 with special speakers Mike Huckabee, Dr. Tony Evans, Jim Kelley, Derwin Gray and more - http://www.lifeway.com/event/mens-event-the-main-event-2015-nashville-tn?intcmp=TheMainEvent-MTX-Button-Nashville-20140803

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Freefall to Fly by Rebecca Lyons - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/freefall-to-fly-a-breathtaking-journey-toward-a-life-of-meaning-P005563243

False Assumptions Bible Study Leaders Often Make

adapted from an article by Donna Savage in Discipleship Journal

Despite their best intentions, our Bible study leaders often believe in these six false assumptions whenever they lead in a Bible study. As they become more sensitive to the status of each member of their small group, whether they are a Bible professor or they are have no prior experience with the Living Word (and don't even know why we call it that), they will become more effective in their Bible study leadership to their group.

1.       Everyone knows the books of the Bible. No one enjoys fumbling through the Bible while others watch and wait. To prevent this embarrassment, I bookmark the primary passage in a few Bibles before study and give them to guests. When we look up a passage, I offer directions for newcomers, such as “Find Psalms in the middle, and turn left.”

2.       Everyone remembers familiar Bible stories. Many adults have seen reruns of favorite TV shows more often than they’ve heard the parables of the Good Samaritan or the prodigal son. When I refer to a Bible story, I quickly recap the basic plot line or main idea.

3.       Everyone has seen a Bible map. God doesn’t download diagrams of the Holy Land into our brains at salvation. When I mention Paul’s second journey through Asia Minor, I lose those who are unfamiliar with biblical geography. If I don’t have a map available to display, I copy one to distribute.

4.       Everyone knows that answer. Sometimes what seems to be an obvious reply to a simple question sparks an unexpected discovery. One person in my group recently remarked, “I’ve been to church all my life, and I never knew that!” Those moments of insight keep learning fresh for everyone.

5.       Everyone sees the connection. Bible study novices may not link events or concepts in one portion of Scripture with related ideas mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. For instance, they may not associate the uproar over Jesus’ Sabbath activities with the Old Testament commands against working on the Sabbath. Rather than zipping by these connections, I point them out.

6.       Everyone enjoys reading aloud. Unfamiliar Bible names and term can intimidate even longtime believers. If a passage includes difficult words, I often pronounce them before I invite a volunteer to read. (Most Bible study software programs has a verbal pronouncement of biblical words in their program).

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Restoring All Things: Stories of a Christian Life in a Post-Christian Culture, April 8, 2015, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church/Marietta - http://restoringallthings.org/events/atlanta/

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Baptist Association of Christian Educators (BACE) 2015 Conference, April 9 & 10, 2015, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church/Marietta, “Prescriptions for Spiritual, Family, and Church Health” - http://www.baptisteducators.org/

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Go to a special screening of the upcoming Kendrick brothers movie, War Room, in Cartersville, GA on March 23rd. Call Bartow Baptist Association for details (770-607-0300)

FOR NEW BELIEVERS: The Beginning: First Steps for new Disciples - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-beginning-first-steps-for-new-disciples-workbook-P005685160

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: Free Helps for Preparing your Explore the Bible studies in the Minor Prophets - http://blog.lifeway.com/explorethebible/blog/free-resources-for-your-minor-prophets-study/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: The Gospel Project: Chronological Preview Event at Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, April 28^th, 6:30-8:00pm. Alan Raughton will introduce this chronological, Christ-centered Bible study that will be available to kids, students, and adults this fall. For more information, contact Alan at alan.raughton@lifeway.com.

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/EVANGELISM: Life on Mission: A Simple Way to Share the Gospel - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/life-on-mission-a-simple-way-to-share-the-gospel-leader-kit-P005717346

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Counter Culture by David Platt - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-leader-kit-P005703479?intcmp=Counter-MTX-Text-Kit-20150109

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Fight Back with Joy by Margaret Feinberg - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/fight-back-with-joy-celebrate-more-regret-less-stare-down-your-greatest-fears-leader-kit-P005699446

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Like Glue: Making Relationships Stick by Ben Mandrell - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/like-glue-making-relationships-stick-leader-kit-P005681343?intcmp=LikeGlue-MTX-Text-Kit-20150107

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Counter Culture by David Platt - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-student-leader-kit-P005647994?intcmp=Counter-MTX-Text-StudKit-20150109

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Virtuosity: A 40 Day Devotional Guide for Guys - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/virtuosity-P005720882

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: 8 Reasons to Attend Youth Pastor’s Summit - http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/2015/02/26/8-reasons-to-go-to-youth-pastor-summit/?utm_content=bufferc721e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Student Ministry with a Backbone - http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/2015/03/03/student-ministry-with-a-backbone/

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2^nd Hour Worship Helps for The Gospel Project

                Kids: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-gospel-project-for-kids-kids-leader-kit-with-worship-spring-2015-P005508645-2015-SPR

                Older Preschool: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-gospel-project-for-kids-preschool-leader-kit-with-worship-spring-2015-P005508637-2015-SPR

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2^nd Hour Worship Helps for Explore the Bible

                Older Kids: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/explore-the-bible-older-kids-tool-kit-with-worship-spring-2015-P005678165-2015-SPR

                Younger Kids: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/explore-the-bible-younger-kids-tool-kit-with-worship-spring-2015-P005678167-2015-SPR

                Older Preschool: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/explore-the-bible-preschool-tool-kit-with-worship-spring-2015-P005678166-2015-SPR

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2^nd Hour Worship Helps for Bible Studies for Life

                Kids: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/worship-for-life-kids-elementary-dvd-spring-2015-P005678172-2015-SPR

                Preschool: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/worship-for-life-kids-preschool-dvd-spring-2015-P005678173-2015-SPR

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Freefall to Fly by Rebecca Lyons - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/freefall-to-fly-a-breathtaking-journey-toward-a-life-of-meaning-P005563243

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Priscilla Shirer Live, April 25, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Priscilla-Shirer-Live-Simulcast?type=events&emid=BL-BSI-PSLsim-20150113

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: The Main Event 2015 will be in THREE locations! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/The-Main-Event?type=events&emid=BL-BSI-MainEvent-20141230

What to Do with Your Hands When the Spirit Moves

This has been around awhile, but it’s still funny. Enjoy!

What to do with your hands when the Spirit moves you in worship …

• If you’re Lutheran, you don’t show anything, but you move your toes in rhythm with the music lest anyone find out that you really do have a beat.
• If you’re Reformed Church in America or Christian Reformed Church, you can do anything you want to with your hands with one unbreakable rule: No hands above the waist.
• If you’re Roman Catholic, you make the sign of the cross.
• If you’re Episcopalian, you thrust your hands nervously in your pockets and dig, scratch, or scrape.
• If you’re nondenominational, you clap.
• If you’re Wesleyan or Evangelical Free, you cry.
• If you’re Nazarene, you laugh.
• If you’re Seventh-day Adventist, you sway slightly with eyes shut.
• If you’re United Methodist, you extend your hands, palms upward, but arms are never raised above the belly-button.
• If you’re United Church of Christ, you stand erect with arms crossed and face scowled.
• If you’re Presbyterian, you place one hand under the chin, a la Rodin’s The Thinker.
• If you’re Unitarian Universalist, you go on and pretend nothing has happened.
• If you’re Southern Baptist, you hold hands with people across the aisle.
• If you’re American Baptist, you tap your feet.
• If you’re United Church of Canada, you clasp your hands behind the back.
• If you’re Salvation Army, you lift your hearts to God and your hands to whoever’s around you.
• If you’re Quaker, you get real quiet.
• If you’re Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), you raise one hand to the heavens as if you’re hailing a bus or waving a hankie.
• If you’re Pentecostal, you lift both hands high above the head and make the wave. (By the way, do you know how they vote at Pentecostal conventions? They put their hands down.)
• If you’re postmodern, you've done all of the above at one time or another.

And if you’re more visual, here’s a YouTube video of Tim Hawkins and his take on hand raising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK2_ezOBa2A

Regardless of what your preferred style of worship is, God only asks that you worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Southside Summit for Church Revitalization, February 19 - http://www.southsidesummit.org/

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Baptist Association of Christian Educators (BACE) 2015 Conference, April 9 & 10, 2015, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church/Marietta, “Prescriptions for Spiritual, Family, and Church Health” - http://www.baptisteducators.org/

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Nine Concerns about Church Members Who Withhold Their Financial Gifts by Dr. Thom Rainer - http://thomrainer.com/2015/02/04/nine-concerns-church-members-withhold-financial-gifts/

FOR CHURCH DEVOTIONALS: DevoHub is Coming! Church devotionals delivered directly to personal devices - http://www.devohub.com/?emid=BL-BSI-DevoHub-20141118

FOR NEW BELIEVERS: The Beginning -http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: 2015-18 Plans for The Gospel Project unveiled – A Chronological Journey for all ages! -http://www.gospelproject.com/2015-2018/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: 3 Times When a Leader Should Keep Quiet by Rick Howerton - http://biblestudyinsider.com/2015/01/15/group-leader-skills-3-times-a-leader-should-keep-quiet/#.VNi79S5GR9Y

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/EVANGELISM: Life on Mission: A Simple Way to Share the Gospel - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/life-on-mission-a-simple-way-to-share-the-gospel-leader-kit-P005717346

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Counter Culture by David Platt - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-leader-kit-P005703479?intcmp=Counter-MTX-Text-Kit-20150109

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Fight Back with Joy by Margaret Feinberg - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/fight-back-with-joy-celebrate-more-regret-less-stare-down-your-greatest-fears-leader-kit-P005699446

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Like Glue: Making Relationships Stick by Ben Mandrell - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/like-glue-making-relationships-stick-leader-kit-P005681343?intcmp=LikeGlue-MTX-Text-Kit-20150107

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Counter Culture by David Platt - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-student-leader-kit-P005647994?intcmp=Counter-MTX-Text-StudKit-20150109

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Virtuosity: A 40 Day Devotional Guide for Guys - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/virtuosity-P005720882

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: 5 Goals You Should Set for Student Ministry by Ben Trueblood - http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/2014/11/10/5-goals-you-should-set-in-student-ministry/

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Understanding the Basic Characteristics of Kids by Bill Emeott - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2014/11/21/understanding-basic-characteristics-of-kids/?emid=lcurtis-LWK-newsletter-20150107

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: VBS 2015: Journey Off the Map Preview Events and Resources – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Vacation-Bible-School?intcmp=VBSSite-Shop

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 6 Steps for Taking Your VBS to the Next Level by Jerry Wooley - http://blog.lifeway.com/vbs/2014/12/11/6-tips-for-taking-your-vbs-to-the-next-level/?emid=lcurtis-VBS-newsletter-20150114

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Freefall to Fly by Rebecca Lyons - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/freefall-to-fly-a-breathtaking-journey-toward-a-life-of-meaning-P005563243

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Priscilla Shirer Live, April 25, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Priscilla-Shirer-Live-Simulcast?type=events&emid=BL-BSI-PSLsim-20150113

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: The Main Event 2015 will be in THREE locations! - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/The-Main-Event?type=events&emid=BL-BSI-MainEvent-20141230

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: 33 The Series: A Man and His Marriage - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/33-the-series-volume-5-a-man-and-his-marriage-leader-kit-P005644086

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: 33 The Series: A Man and His Work - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/33-the-series-a-man-and-his-work-leader-kit-P005558775