Practical Church

You have to pick songs every week for your weekend service(s), but is it possible to do it in a more effective and helpful way? In this episode, we share six tips for choosing songs for your weekend service. Welcome to episode 249 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the six steps we discuss in this episode: Get ahead in sermon prep Go over your sermon with your worship leader Use a song bank Consider who is playing that week Suggest songs, don't choose them Last minute changes are exceptions CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

With all that goes on in vocational ministry, it can be easy to lose sight of things. In this episode, we share six important reminders for pastors and church leaders. Welcome to episode 248 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the six reminders we discuss in this episode: You are not cool You will not save your city You're willingness to be vulnerable will determine how lonely you feel You will underestimate your influence in people's lives You can get more done than you think It is a privilege to do what you do CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

Most churches have some sort of group structure. So how do we get more people to sign up and engage in your groups? In this episode, we share eight practical tips for more small group sign ups at your church. Welcome to episode 247 of Practical Church Planting. You can watch this episode below, or subscribe to the podcast and get our episodes delivered right to you. Here are the eight tips we discussing this episode: Take group breaks Push group sign ups a few times a year Have groups on your connect card Have a pre/post group graphic Have your leadership in groups Don't multiply groups Have all groups follow the same structure Talk about your group CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

You're in vocational ministry because you want to help people experience and know Jesus. So how can you help more people do that? In this episode, we share six underrated church growth strategies. Welcome to episode 246 of Practical Church Planting. Here are the six strategies we discuss in this episode: A consistent preaching prep schedule Automated follow-up process Acknowledge new people with a connect card every week Meet with new people quickly Consistent social media handles Proper outdoor signage CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

We all know that ministry can be full of distractions. Many external, but many self-imposed distractions as well. So what we can we do about them? In this episode, we share seven simple ways to overcome distractions in ministry. Welcome to episode 245 of Practical Church Planting. You can watch this episode below, or subscribe to the podcast and get our episodes delivered right to you. CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

While there are many helpful things churches should do to engage people with the Gospel, there are also things to avoid. In this episode, we share six unhelpful things you and your church should not do. Welcome to episode 244 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the six things we discuss not doing in this episode: Think social media is the best way to keep your church informed about upcoming events Using personal social media for fundraising Not starting your service on time Not having an automated follow up process Not having your address and service time(s) on the homepage of your website Insinuating your church is "different" CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

One of the best ways to keep your church up to date with what is happening at your church is through a church newsletter. But can you make and send one people will actually read? In this episode, we share seven tips to make your newsletters more effective. Welcome to episode 243 of Practical Church Planting. You can watch this episode below, or subscribe to the podcast and get our episodes delivered right to you. Here are the tips we discuss in this episode: Once a week, every week The shorter the better Plain text Space out the text Only include events happening within a few weeks Send it from the pastor's email Us an engaging P.S. at the end CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

We all want more leaders in our churches, but how can we get more of them? In this episode, we share seven tips for building leaders in your church. Welcome to episode 242 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the seven tips we discuss in this episode: Invite them to take a step Give away responsibility Setup quick feedback loops You must be willing to let it go Make no promises have the courage to say no Don't answer questions they can answer CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

While preparing for sermons takes a lot of work, does it have to feel like hard work? In this episode, we share five tips to make your sermon prep seem effortless. Welcome to episode 241 of Practical Church Planting.  Here are the five tips we discuss in this episode: Create a consistent schedule Get ahead Talk through your sermon with others Plan your series out ahead of time Invest in your startup CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.

Ministry can be hard, but it doesn't always have to be as hard as we make it. In this episode, we share seven things you can do that will make your life in ministry easier. Welcome to episode 240 of Practical Church Planting. You can watch this episode below, or subscribe to the podcast and get our episodes delivered right to you.   Here are the seven things we discuss in this episode: Get ahead on sermon prep Use a song bank for worship Set a consistent schedule Do fewer things  Talk about money Always respond to email Find a task manager that works CONNECT AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get practical tips delivered right to you. For free resources to help you plant a church that thrives, check out practicalplanting.com.  You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channel. Have questions or want encouragement from other church planters? Join the Practical Church Planting Facebook group.