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big-truths-small-hearts

How to Teach Big Truths to Small Hearts

One of the greatest joys and responsibilities in children’s ministry is teaching kids the foundational truths of the Christian faith. But how do you communicate deep, complex ideas—like grace, sin, the cross, the Trinity, or eternity—to kids with limited vocabulary and growing attention spans? The answer isn’t to water it down. Kids are more capable than we often think. What they ne...

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summer-schedule

Should Your Church Change Its Summer Service Schedule?

Every summer, churches across the country face the same question: Should we change our service schedule to reflect the seasonal drop in attendance? Whether you're thinking about cutting down from two services to one, pausing Sunday evening gatherings, or experimenting with outdoor or midweek options, there are real pros and cons to weigh before making the leap. PROS of Changing the Summer S...

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sending-off-graduates

Creating a Meaningful Send-Off for Your Church’s Graduates

Each spring, churches across the country take time to honor their graduating high school and college students—a milestone moment not just for those students and families, but for the entire church body that has helped shape them. Whether you have two graduates or twenty, don’t let the season slip by without creating space for celebration, reflection, and commissioning. Here are some practic...

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planning-outdoor-services

Tips & Tricks for Planning Summer Outdoor Services at Your Church

There’s something special about worshiping outdoors—whether it’s under the morning sun or in the cool of a summer evening. People tend to relax a little more, families come out in larger numbers, and the fresh air brings a sense of openness that can’t be replicated indoors. But hosting an outdoor service also comes with its own unique challenges. From sound systems to song lyrics to ...

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raising-up-voices

Raising Up Voices: Tips for Training Volunteer Leaders to Preach and Teach

As pastors and leaders, one of our most vital callings is not just to teach, but to equip others to teach also (2 Timothy 2:2). In many Protestant churches, there's a growing need—and opportunity—to empower faithful, gifted members of the church to step into preaching and teaching roles. Whether it's in small groups, adult education, youth ministry, or even Sunday mornings, raising up new voic...

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youth-retreat-or-conference

Should Your Youth Group Host Its Own Retreat or Attend a Large Conference?

Youth ministry leaders often face a pivotal decision: Should we create and host our own student retreat, or should we join a larger conference put on by a denomination or national ministry organization? Both paths offer unique opportunities for spiritual growth, relationship building, and fun—but each also comes with its own challenges. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help your c...

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dont-reinvent-easter

Don’t Reinvent Easter: Preach the Resurrection

Easter Sunday is one of the most attended Sundays of the year in many churches. It's the day when pews fill up with families, seekers, and people who might not have stepped foot in a church in months—or years. With this influx of visitors, it’s understandable that pastors and church teams feel the pressure to "wow" the crowd: new stage designs, creative sermon angles, or a dramatic reinvention...

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introducing-lent-to-your-church

Introducing Lent in Evangelical Churches: A Fresh Invitation to Spiritual Depth

For many evangelical Protestant churches, Lent has traditionally been viewed as a “Catholic thing,” or perhaps as a foreign or unnecessary ritual. But in recent years, more and more churches from non-liturgical traditions are beginning to rediscover the spiritual richness that Lent can offer. If your church has never observed Lent before, you don’t need to adopt centuries of tradition overni...

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how-to-build-a-strong-teaching-team-at-your-church

How to Build a Strong Teaching Team at Your Church

Does your church need a teaching team? In many churches, the role of teaching and preaching often falls on a single individual, typically the pastor. While this tradition has its merits, there are numerous benefits to building a church teaching team. A teaching team can bring diversity, depth, and a broader range of perspectives to the pulpit. It also allows for pastors to lean into their gifts a...

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six-church-service-ideas-for-the-sunday-after-thanksgiving

Six Church Service Ideas for the Sunday After Thanksgiving

The week after Thanksgiving is a special time for church communities to come together and reflect on gratitude, share in fellowship, and spread love to those in need. It's an opportunity to transition from a season of thankfulness to a season of giving. In this blog post, we'll explore some creative church service ideas for the week after Thanksgiving that can help foster a sense of unity, service...

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buy-it-or-write-it-choosing-curriculum-for-kids-ministry

Buy It or Write It: Choosing Curriculum for Kids’ Ministry

As a Children's Pastor, implementing a curriculum that will guide the spiritual growth and development of the young minds in your care is just one of your many important tasks. When it comes to curriculum, there are two main options: purchasing a ready-made curriculum or crafting your own from scratch. Both approaches have their merits, and in this post, we'll explore the pros and cons of each to ...

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6-inspiring-student-ministry-series-ideas-for-the-fall

6 Inspiring Student Ministry Series Ideas for the Fall

Fall is an exciting time of transition in our ministries. Not only do the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, but students are returning to school, moving up grade levels, and ready to get back to work. In youth ministry, we have the opportunity to ride the momentum of this back to school energy and invigorate an atmosphere where young hearts can encounter God in fresh and meaningful w...

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how-to-jumpstart-a-sermon-based-small-group-curriculum

How to Jumpstart a Sermon-Based Small Group Curriculum

As a teaching pastor, creating sermon series that will serve your congregations is an important part of your job description. From finding the right scripture, narrowing in on salient themes, and constructing messages that will build meaningfully week after week, the time and intention that goes into crafting these series shouldn’t have to end after everyone leaves the sanctuary for Sunday brunc...

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designing-your-youth-ministry-room-to-support-your-series

Designing Your Youth Ministry Room to Match Your Series

The visual impact of the space your youth ministry meets in can make a subtle, but significant difference in the way your sermon series are received. The lighting, color, and arrangement of your room can be a big piece that influences whether your messages feel introspective or community-minded, energetic or subdued. We want to create atmospheres that are inviting and engaging, and the design of t...

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creating-sermon-series-for-a-multi-generational-audience

Creating Sermon Series for a Multi-Generational Audience

As a pastor, one of your primary goals is to engage with your congregation and make sure everyone feels like they are gaining something valuable from attending services. But creating sermon series that appeal to a wide range of ages can be a daunting task. It's easy to slip into creating messages tailored toward the adults in attendance, but how do you create something that engages your youngest m...

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why-young-adults-are-leaving-your-church

Why Young Adults Are Leaving Your Church

Many churches are struggling to attract and retain young adults in their congregations. Many of these young adults— college-aged through mid-twenties— grew up in youth groups and fell away from the church and potentially their faith during college or shortly after. This mass exodus has been felt in churches across the country, leading pastors to strategize how they can better reach this slippi...

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how-do-you-talk-about-pastor-appreciation-month

How Do You Talk About Pastor Appreciation Month?

I’m uncomfortable, you’re uncomfortable, everyone’s uncomfortable. October is almost here, and if you’re a pastor, you know what that means – it’s pastor appreciation month. Which, if we’re being honest, feels delicate. When I served as a pastor, I was always the first to say that I didn’t need any special recognition. And while I didn’t NEED the extra recognition, I think ...

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when-should-you-start-planning-your-christmas-church-services

When Should You Start Planning Your Christmas Church Services?

What if I told you that it’s possible to relax during the week leading up to Christmas, even as a senior pastor, worship pastor, or tech director? I know, I know, sounds crazy, right? While December 22nd is traditionally reserved for crippling anxiety and last-minute service planning, I’m here to tell you that it’s possible to be prepared and give yourself space to soak in the holiness of th...

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why-you-should-talk-about-labor-day-at-your-church

Why You Should Talk About Labor Day At Your Church

If you lead a church, you’re used to making time in your services to speak into various national and cultural holidays. Beyond the major Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, many of us in the United States recognize and celebrate holidays like Memorial Day, MLK day, or the 4th of July. One holiday that seems to fly under the radar in most churches is Labor Day. Frequently this is tr...

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facilitate-tough-conversations-with-your-youth-group

Facilitate Tough Conversations with Your Youth Group

Youth ministry, at its best, has long been a space where teenagers and adults can speak candidly about difficult topics. However, today, those topics extend beyond sexuality and our existential place in the world — racism, politics, and national tragedies all deserve a seat at the table. These days, students expect the adults in their lives to address difficult topics and big events as they ...

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