The Unstuck Church Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Multisite Warning Signs - Episode 99 Jun 26, 2019

Show notes

One church. Multiple Locations. It's the mantra of the multisite movement.

But in our experience? Few are truly one unified church meeting in multiple locations.

Instead, what we find is that many multisite churches are connected through one leadership structure, but beyond that, they are splintered in their ministry strategy.

They are really multiple churches trying to operate as one church.

In this episode, Tony and Amy unpack 3 specific warning signs a church that thinks it's using a multisite strategy is really doing... something else.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode99.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode99] in your post for reference.

Developing Leaders for Small Groups - Episode 98 Jun 19, 2019

Show notes

More leaders. Every pastor we talk to is hoping to find more of them.

But how well are you multiplying the ones you have?

Multiplication is the element of small groups strategy churches tend to leave out. But if you're developing leaders through small groups, that's discipleship that leads to multiplication. You can eventually send them out to start new groups or let them take over existing ones. Then you send out the original leaders as disciple makers to create more.

In this episode, Tony Morgan interviews Chris Surratt. Chris is an author, a ministry consultant at The Unstuck Group, and the Discipleship & Small Groups Specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources.

This is a conversation with practical tips for how you can equip group leaders to build effective, multiplying small groups.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode98.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode98] in your post for reference.

Increasing First-Time Guests - Episode 97 Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

What if your church's back-door problem is actually a front-door problem?

That's the question Connexus Church in Barrie, ON (yep, Carey Nieuwhof's church) found itself wrestling with several years ago.

In a post-Christian culture like Canada's, it couldn't been disheartening: Realizing that even though they'd been designing the ministry strategy to reach people outside the church they still weren't seeing enough first-time guests to grow like they hoped to.

But after a lot of prayer and a significant strategy change, Connexus Church is seeing more first-time guests than they've ever seen—and overall attendance is growing faster than ever, too.

In this episode, Tony interviews lead pastor Jeff Brodie to share the story of what changed.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode97.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode97] in your post for reference.

Culture Champion - Episode 96 Jun 05, 2019

Show notes

There are some things a senior pastor just can't delegate.

Leaders are often told they're trying to do too much—and it's usually true. But if you succeed at empowering and developing other leaders, where does that leave you? What are the things only the senior pastor can and should do?

In this episode series, Tony and Amy dig deeper into the most popular topic of all time on this podcast: the roles a senior pastor just can't delegate.

We'll unpack the four areas where senior pastors need to focus their time and energy, especially as they grow their churches beyond 1,000.

Part 4 is all about Culture. It really does start at the top of the organization. It is the senior pastor's responsibility to set the tone for their team and lead the church by example. When done right, not only do you shape the culture of the team, but of the entire church.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode96.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode96] in your post for reference.

Leader of Leaders - Episode 95 May 29, 2019

Show notes

There are some things a senior pastor just can't delegate.

In this episode series, Tony and Amy dig deeper into the most popular topic of all time on this podcast: the roles a senior pastor just can't delegate.

We'll unpack the four areas where senior pastors need to focus their time and energy, especially as they grow their churches beyond 1,000.

Part 3 is all about Leadership. It may sound obvious, but senior pastors need to be the primary leader of leaders in the church. Leadership requires evolution. You can't be the same leader that you were a year ago and expect to keep your church moving forward.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode95.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode95] in your post for reference.

----- Learn how we help churches get unstuck at theunstuckgroup.com.

Teaching - Episode 94 May 22, 2019

Show notes

There are some things a senior pastor just can't delegate.

In this episode series, Tony and Amy dig deeper into the most popular topic of all time on this podcast: the roles a senior pastor just can't delegate.

We'll unpack the four areas where senior pastors need to focus their time and energy, especially as they grow their churches beyond 1,000.

Part 2 is all about teaching. You can't delegate the teaching, and you MUST delegate the things that get in the way of great teaching.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode94.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode94] in your post for reference.

----- Learn how we help churches get unstuck at theunstuckgroup.com.

Vision-Casting - Episode 93 May 15, 2019

Show notes

There are some things a senior pastor just can't delegate.

In this episode series, Tony and Amy dig deeper into the most popular topic of all time on this podcast: the roles a senior pastor just can't delegate.

We'll unpack the four areas where senior pastors need to focus their time and energy, especially as they grow their churches beyond 1,000.

Up first? Vision-casting.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode93.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode93] in your post for reference.

----- Learn how we help churches get unstuck at theunstuckgroup.com.

Pastoral Succession Real Talk - Episode 92 May 08, 2019

Show notes

Tim Celek and Andrew Brownback have a rare shared experience: They've successfully navigated the passing of the baton from founding pastor of a thriving, growing church to successor who will lead that church for a new generation.

Tim had only recently closed the door on his 40s, when he—with that visionary knack for forward-thinking—started a conversation with his board about succession planning. (In his words, a "spirited" conversation followed.)

Over about a decade, Tim and his team at The Crossing did their research, formed a plan, onboarded Tim's successor, identified the right timing and rolled out a communications plan.

The result? One of the smoothest examples of pastoral succession we've seen, and a thriving church positioned for sustained health.

In this episode, Tony interviews founding pastor, Tim, and current lead pastor, Andrew, to tell the story.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom and recommended resources. Get the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, in this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode92.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode92] in your post for reference.

----- Learn how we help churches get unstuck at theunstuckgroup.com.

Succession Planning with William Vanderbloemen - Episode 91 May 01, 2019

Show notes

It's all interim work. The sooner you can get your mind around that one point, the sooner you can be freed up to start thinking about what happens next.

In a recent study, Barna Research found that half of the senior pastors in America are 55 or older, and that the number of pastors older than 65 has tripled in the last 25 years.

This week, Tony sits down with William Vanderbloemen for a frank conversation about pastoral succession, the one cardinal rule of planning, and the most common roadblocks to a healthy transition (for both the pastor and the congregation).

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode91.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode91] in your post for reference.

----- Learn how we help churches get unstuck at theunstuckgroup.com.

Church Engagement Report 2019 - Episode 90 Apr 24, 2019

Show notes

What does "engagement" really mean?

We hear that word buzzing among church leaders, but it's kind of a loose term. You could define engagement however you want.

We recently partnered up with Blackbaud to survey church leaders across the country and find out more about how church leaders are actually defining and measuring engagement

In this episode, Tony and Amy shared a few of the findings that jumped out at us—namely, the differences growing and declining churches are seeing in terms of engagement.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode90.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode90] in your post for reference.

----- Learn how we help churches get unstuck at theunstuckgroup.com.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Unstuck Church Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected