Pastors and Preachers

Latest Episodes:

Bryan Miles on A Better Way To Build Staff Culture May 28, 2018

Show notes

Brief Overview

At the heart of culture is relationships. How do people get along as they work to lead the mission of your church? Bryan Miles sits down with Matt to talk about the surprising benefit that comes when your staff has the flexibility to work remotely (at least part of the time).

Big Ideas:

Your next hire should be a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant increases the productivity of a pastor by 2x-4x. And great companies like Belay (belaysolutions.com) handle the training and management of your assistant, so you can focus on getting work done together.

Remote work increases staff productivity. When you treat someone like an adult, you end up with someone who does work with greater levels of joy and a higher sense of loyalty to you and the mission of your church.

People don't need an office to thrive as workers. Connection and collaboration can take place with great results using digital platforms. What matters more than being together is what we accomplish together.

Resources

FREE CONSULTATION - Belay Solutions
BUY BRYAN'S BOOK - Virtual Culture: The Way We Work Doesn't Work Anymore
FREE RESOURCES - virtualculturebook.com
FOR THE LADIES ON YOUR STAFF - The Third Option by Shannon Miles
FOLLOW - Bryan Miles on Twitter and Instagram
GET HELP: Ask Matt and Tal a Question
CONNECT: Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (twitter.com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)

Scott Magdalein on A Better Way To Train Leaders May 21, 2018

Show notes

Brief Overview

Every church is looking for more of the right kind of volunteer leaders. But a healthy network of volunteer leaders doesn't get built by accident. On this episode, Scott Magdalein talks with Matt about Trained Up, an online platform he built to help church leaders equip every one of their volunteer leaders.

Big Ideas:

The best time to train volunteers is when they get started. Help volunteer leaders take their first step when they excited about the work and eager to learn. Take time to clarify their role, share the values of the team, and set expectations for their first work day.

The best way to share information is through online training. Time is a precious commodity that most people don't want to invest for the sake of sharing information. Plus, many of our volunteer leaders need time to listen and process information before they're ready to ask good questions or engage in conversation.

Trained Up makes it easy to get started training your volunteers. You don't have to have volunteer training already figured out. Trained Up comes pre-loaded with over 600 videos inside multiple courses to help you.

Resources

FREE DEMO - Trained Up
FOLLOW - Scott Magdalein on Twitter
GET HELP: Ask Matt and Tal a Question
CONNECT: Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (twitter.com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)
WATCH on YouTube

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Justin Trapp on a Better Way to Build Sermons May 14, 2018

Show notes

Brief Overview

Most preachers use a collection of digital tools to help prepare sermons. Until recently, there was no solution available that would provide a single resource that could help write, present and store your sermons. But Justin Trapp has created a fantastic resource called Sermonary that you should start using.

Big Ideas:

Pastors are pressed for time. From social media connections to internal pressure to do more, pastors find their schedules filled with tasks and meetings and conversations that make it challenging to find time to write sermons.

Pastors waste time organizing their research. From notes scribbled on legal pads to markups on digital resources inside a piece of Bible software, time and energy gets spent trying to remember what you studied and where you put it.

Sermonary simplifies and speeds up your preparation. From templates to sermon building blocks, Sermonary makes it easy to organize your message in a format that you can use to deliver your sermon without having to take time to print a manuscript or outline.

Resources

FREE TRIAL - Sermonary
GET HELP: Ask Matt and Tal a Question
CONNECT: Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (twitter.com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)
WATCH on YouTube

Click here to Subscribe via iTunes

Click here to Subscribe via iHeartRadio

Click here to Subscribe via Stitcher

Click here to Subscribe via Google Play

Click here to Subscribe via TuneIn

Elliot Grudem on How Pastors Build Friendships May 07, 2018

Show notes

Brief Overview

Healthy pastors have friends. But most pastors don't have friends. So I asked Elliot Grudem to share what he's learned helping pastors make friends through his work with Leaders Collective.

Big Ideas:

Pastoral work can be dehumanizing. In the eyes of most people, pastors are not actual people with feelings who are flawed and fallible. Pastors are seen as a commodity, often ignored until they're needed and when they're needed, they are expected to be immediately available.

Pastors need people who will encourage them. Ultimately, God is our great encourager but often he encourages us through other people, such as family and friends.

Friendships are necessary but most pastors have no friends. There is a difference between allies and confidants. Almost all of our work relationships are allies; confidants are harder to find. Elliot's suggestion is to invest in relationships with other pastors who might become a confidant.

Resources

LEADERS COLLECTIVE
GET HELP: Ask Matt and Tal a Question
CONNECT: Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (twitter.com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)
WATCH on YouTube

How To Build A Counseling Network In Your Church Apr 30, 2018

Show notes

Biggest Takeaways You Don't Want To Miss:

Be a hero-maker, not the hero. Invest in the development of men and women who can provide wise counsel to others. This builds a network of counselors with a variety of strengths and levels of expertise.
Don't outsource what your church is capable of handling. While we are strong advocates of outside counsel, a significant part of your network is made up of people inside the church.
Wisdom isn't reserved for Christians. When looking for help from outside counselors/therapists, look for the best help regardless of their professed religion. Would you not consider a world-class brain surgeon because he or she was not a Christian?

It takes a village to help people get healthy and stay healthy. Don't let your ideals keep people from getting real help.

Use our FREE Guide to discover how to build a counseling network.

Our conversation set up the basics for you. Now build on that awareness and take action. Based on his expertise as a therapist, Tal walks you step-by-step through the process of designing and developing the counseling network your church needs. Download it here!

Links Mentioned In The Episode

RESOURCE - "Counseling Network"
GET HELP - Ask Matt and Tal a Question
Five Factors Coaching - fivefactors.net/join
Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (twitter.com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)

Watch on YouTube

Click here to Subscribe via iTunes

Click here to Subscribe via iHeartRadio

Click here to Subscribe via Stitcher

Click here to Subscribe via Google Play

Click here to Subscribe via TuneIn

When Large Churches Hurt Small Churches Apr 23, 2018

Show notes

Biggest Takeaways You Don't Want To Miss:

Small churches and large churches are different. And while we know it's true, those differences tend to be ignored and we become preoccupied with making every church a big church.
Large church pastors set the tone. Leverage the influence granted by your platform to encourage small church pastors and to tailor your message to their context.
A great church is a discipling church. Greatness is not determined by size, but by a commitment to help people follow Jesus.
A simple recipe for small church greatness. Identify what you're good at. Do more of that. Celebrate the good things that you do.

If you are a small church pastor who recoils at the idea of anyone thinking that your church is small, please know that churches like yours are the bread-and-butter of Jesus' kingdom. No other church can do in your city what you and your people can do.

Use our FREE Guide to discover how your church can be great.

Great churches love God and love people. But every local expression of the Church loves in ways that are unique to its people and its context. Rather than copying-and-pasting from other churches, use this FREE guide to map out the steps to finding your greatness.

No Leader Has Ever Been Encouraged Too Much Apr 16, 2018

Show notes

Biggest Takeaways You Don't Want To Miss:

Words matter. Every leader needs to know they're making a difference. You're not crazy for wanting to hear particular words about how you make the world better.
Discouragement is deadly. Pay attention to the warning signs of discouragement. It's one thing to have a bad day, but when every day is a bad day…
Developing courage is a project. Dive into the reasons you feel discouraged. And do the work to get your feet under you and be the leader God created you to be.

Let us help you build courage. Just grab our FREE action plan.

It's simply not enough to know that it's important to lead with courage. You have to take what you know and put it into action. Let us help you take the awareness that you built by listening to this episode and take action. Learn more here.

Links Mentioned In The Episode

RESOURCE - Feelings Wheel
GET HELP - Ask Matt and Tal a Question
Five Factors Coaching - net/join
Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)

Watch on YouTube

Mac Lake on Discipling Leaders In Your Church Apr 09, 2018

Show notes

Biggest Takeaways You Don't Want To Miss:

Leadership Development is biblical. While 'leadership development' in churches has become a cottage industry over the past 30 years, developing leaders is a task seen in both the Old Testament and New Testament.
Leadership Development is rooted in discipleship. In churches, not all discipleship is leadership development. But all leadership development in the church is discipleship.
Mentoring is the most simple and sustainable way to develop leaders. Model the work you want others to do. Work alongside of them. Then step aside and let them take on the work themselves.

Developing leaders is the lifeblood of a healthy church. Not only does it keep you from carrying the burden of leadership yourself, you ignite a critical aspect of discipleship for the men and women in your church.

Are You Healthy? Grab Our FREE Assessment And Find Out.

Matt's conversation with Dan is a reminder that resilience is critical if you want to maintain your spiritual vitality. If you've ever wondered if you're covering your bases and setting yourself up for success, check out this FREE overview and assessment of each of the 'five factors' of healthy leadership.

Links Mentioned In The Episode

YOUTUBE - "Eliminating Excuses for Not Developing Leaders"
SUBSCRIBE - Mac's Leadership Development YouTube Channel
FOLLOW: Mac on Twitter and Facebook
GET HELP - Ask Matt and Tal a Question
Five Factors Coaching - fivefactors.net/join
Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (twitter.com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)

Pastor Dan Reiland on Why Guests Return To Your Church Apr 02, 2018

Show notes

Biggest Takeaways You Don't Want To Miss:

Why guests return to your church is not a mystery. While we can't determine all the reasons why people to choose whether or not they come back, there are some clear practices that strongly influence their decision.
Emphasize personal contact after big church days. On days like Easter when your church is filled with guests, take time to write a personal note or make a phone call to thank them for coming and invite them back next week.
Keep going. Dan talks about his continued love of running and how aging has slowed him down but hasn't stopped him from hitting the road. An important lesson for your leadership, as well as your physical help.

The number of guests you serve matters less than how you serve each guest. This conversation with Dan reminds us that any church can do a great job at encouraging people to come back and get involved in the life and work that Jesus has given us together.

Are You Healthy? Grab Our FREE Assessment And Find Out.

Links Mentioned In The Episode

BLOG - The Top 7 Reasons Why Guests Return To Your Church
BOOK - Amplified Leadership: 5 Practices to Establish Influence, Build People, and Impact Others for a Lifetime
FOLLOW: Dan on Twitter and Facebook
GET HELP - Ask Matt and Tal a Question
Five Factors Coaching - fivefactors.net/join
Five Factors Facebook Group
FOLLOW: Matt (twitter.com/mattadair) and Tal (twitter.com/talprince)

Sabbath. More Than A Metal Band. Mar 26, 2018

Show notes

Biggest Takeaways You Don't Want To Miss:

Too much work is wrecking your health. From stress and anxiety to conflict avoidance and burnout, working more than 45 hours a week is a recipe for disaster.
God has given you the gift of Sabbath. While we're no longer legally obligated to observe the Sabbath, the wisdom of taking at least one day away from work still rings true today.

Be honest about your busy seasons. Make time for what matters most. Don't allow 'busy seasons' to become the new normal. Have a date that you share with others when your busy season will end.

If you're going to thrive and find the endurance you need, you must embrace your limits and learn to rest. Nobody has higher expectations of you than you have of yourself. Choose to listen to God's voice encouraging you to rest, rather than the voice in your head that demands that you keep working.

Ready to take action? We can help!

We put together a list of ten strategies that will help you find the right next steps for you, your family and the people you lead. Simple to understand and easy to use. Download it here for FREE.

Links Mentioned In The Episode