Articles + Podcast
Who is Blocking Your Ministry Vision?
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 282 Note: This article was adapted from concepts in Chapter 8 of Developing a Vision for Ministry by Dr. Aubrey Malphurs. In any organization committed to meaningful change, opposition is inevitable. This truth is...
Christianity in America: Is the Decline Over?
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 281 If you've been in church leadership for any length of time, you've likely felt it—the weight of declining attendance, the challenge of reaching younger generations, and the growing sense that Christianity's influence in...
Revitalization through Outreach: 3 Steps to Becoming an Externally Focused Church
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 280 Outreach is the lifeblood of healthy churches. Yet many churches find themselves stuck in patterns of internal focus that prevent true growth and community impact. In today's exploration of healthy church principles, we...
How Leadership Dysfunction Holds Back Church Growth
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 279 Is leadership dysfunction holding back growth in your church? While it's easy to blame external factors like changing demographics or post-pandemic shifts, the uncomfortable truth is that internal leadership problems...
How to Start a Revitalization Process
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 278 Church revitalization isn't just for struggling congregations. We often interchange the term “church health” in reference to what we do when working with churches that are experiencing growth but want to continue to...
5 Overlooked Guest Experience Questions
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 277 When a guest walks into your church for the first time, they're carrying more than just a Bible or a coffee cup – they're carrying questions. Lots of them. And while your weekend service might be excellent and your...
Top Church Volunteer Recruitment Hacks
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 276 Every church leader knows the challenge: you need volunteers to run effective ministries, but finding and keeping those volunteers feels like an endless uphill battle. Whether you're trying to staff your children's...
Three Things Your Elders Should Never Do
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 275 The role of church elder carries profound responsibilities and equally significant pitfalls. As someone who has spent years consulting with churches across the country, I've observed that even the most well-intentioned...
Eliminating Ministry Silos
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 274 Ministry silos are a persistent challenge that affects churches of all sizes. These isolated pockets of ministry activity can develop gradually and often go unnoticed until their negative effects become apparent. Within...
Four Things your church consultant doesn’t want to hear you say.
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 273 Church consultants often encounter certain phrases that reveal deeper issues within a congregation's culture and mindset. Here are four common statements that raise red flags and why they deserve closer examination: 1....
The Great Commission vs The Comfortable Commission: Are We Playing It Too Safe?
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 272 Many churches believe they're faithfully living out the Great Commission while unknowingly drifting toward what could be called the "Comfortable Commission" - a state where maintaining the status quo takes priority over...
Top Church Leadership Mistakes of 2024
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 271 As we reflect on 2024, a few things have emerged in church leadership that warrant careful consideration as we prepare to start the new year. It’s worthy of note that the things listed below would all be addressed at the...
Episode 270: Why the Early Church “Skipped” Worship Services
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 270 In this enlightening episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, hosts Scott Ball and AJ Mathieu are joined by Dr. Tom Wadsworth, a renowned expert in New Testament studies. Dr. Wadsworth shares groundbreaking insights...
5 Reasons People May Visit Your Church This Christmas
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 269 An article in the Christian Post this week highlighted a surge in Bible sales as we move into the end of 2024. One suggested reason for this is that people are feeling anxiety for a variety of reasons and looking for...
The Three People Who Visit Your Website
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 268 Guest Author: Derek Maxson I want to invite you to consider how your website helps your church to make disciples. Our belief at Malphurs Group is that everything the church does should contribute to the...
Three Things Churches Should Do Before Year End
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 267 As another year draws to a close, church leaders find themselves in a crucial planning period. While the holiday season brings increased activity and attendance, it's also the perfect time to lay groundwork for a...
The Best (& Worst) Times for Strategic Planning
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 266 You've recognized the need for strategic planning in your organization. The vision feels fuzzy, alignment seems off, and there's a gnawing sense that you're not moving forward as effectively as you could be. But as you...
Innovating in Ministry without Losing Focus
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 265 Innovation in ministry is essential for churches to remain effective and relevant, but it must be approached thoughtfully to avoid derailing successful existing programs or losing sight of the core mission. The key is...
How to Build a Culture of Collaboration
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 264 Many organizations find themselves caught in an endless cycle of talking about what needs to be done rather than actually doing it. This gap between discussion and action isn't just frustrating—it's a significant barrier...
Good AI vs. Bad AI: Ethical Ways for Churches to Use Artificial Intelligence
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 262 Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a topic of widespread discussion, and for good reason. Some predict it will lead to widespread job losses, while others herald it as a revolutionary force that will positively...
The Benefits of Sermon-Based Group Studies
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 261 In the quest for church health and effective discipleship, Sermon-Based Group Studies emerge as a compelling strategy for congregations seeking deeper engagement and spiritual growth. This approach, which aligns small...
Revitalizing Your Aging Congregation: 3 High-Impact Strategies in 90 Days
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 260 In the tapestry of faith communities, aging congregations hold a unique and treasured place. With decades of lived experience, unwavering faith, and a deep well of wisdom, these congregations are a testament to enduring...
Battling Biblical Illiteracy: 4 Game-Changing Techniques for Modern Churches
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 259 In an era of rapidly declining biblical literacy, churches face an unprecedented challenge in engaging their congregations with Scripture. Recent studies paint a stark picture of this downward trend in America,...
3 Overlooked Growth Strategies for Mid-Sized Churches
The Church Revitalization Podcast - Episode 258 When it comes to church growth, there's an elephant in the room that needs addressing: Yes, God grows the church. But before you close this tab, thinking, "Well, that's all I need to know," let's have a quick...