After serving on church boards for fifteen years, I've learned a few things:

• Flat roofs always leek—but never over the baptistery.
• Don't plan a "Seal the Parking Lot" workday on Saturday—unless you want a "Clean the Carpet" day on Monday.
• The furnace breaks down only on weekends.
• Agendas that look the shortest take the longest time.
• Committees choose beige.

But the greatest of these is:

• Church boards don't like surprises!

Topics:	Board, Commitment, Committees, Goals, Meetings, Objectives, Planning, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Church staff, Deacon, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Acts 17
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

Purpose: To simulate an overseas missions experience; to cause people to wrestle with the obstacles to cross-cultural communication.

Preparation: This activity is best conducted in two adjoining rooms, so that a group in one room cannot hear or see the other group. This activity is best performed with 10 or more people.

Materials: 15-20 small pieces of paper with a star drawn on each; these are called ...

Topics:	Cross-cultural outreach, Evangelism, International outreach, Missions, Outreach, Seekers, Short-term missions, Unchurched, Visitors & guests
Filters:	Church board, Church staff, Elder, Evangelism, Missions, Outreach, Pastor
Purpose:	Evangelism
References:	Acts 17:16-34, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Date Added:	July 31, 2007

Discuss

1. According to Acts 17:16–34, what were some ways Paul used to understand the world of Athenians? What did he learn?

2. How did that knowledge affect the way he addressed Athenians? How did that approach vary for different types of listeners?

3. How can our church better speak to people in today's world?

Topics:	Culture, Evangelism, Outreach, Relevance, Seekers, Spiritual friendship, Unchurched, Visitors & guests
Filters:	Church staff, Elder, Evangelism, Hospitality, Outreach, Pastor, Youth pastor
Purpose:	Evangelism
References:	Acts 17:16-34
Date Added:	July 31, 2007

To be change agents in a world of change, a church may have to make adjustments. In this interview, Leith Anderson, author of Dying for Change (Bethany House, 1990) and pastor for the past 24 years of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, speaks of the pain and payoff of change.

Your congregation has been through many changes. Which were most difficult?

Leith Anderson: The first was moving from ...

Topics:	Change, Direction, Expansion, Growth, Leadership, Planning, Resistance, Transitions
Filters:	Church board, Deacon, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Acts 17
Date Added:	July 31, 2007