I've been thinking about volunteers a lot lately for a couple of reasons:  1. It's my topic for my coaching network next month 2. We asked 50 people to commit to serve and make a move to our new Miramar campus and we had over 60 step up in the 1st week!  3. Churches are volunteer-intensive organizations and the day we stop leading volunteers into greater steps of commitment and growth, we're in trouble (and they get stalled in their spiritual and leadership development) So here's what I suggest: looking at your church like a baseball team. A baseball team … Read More

This question came up recently, and it's one that I get a lot from church planters, so I thought I'd post my answer here:  "Do you use Roberts' Rules of Order in your board meetings?"  Great question, and the answer is yes. We use Roberts' rules to run our board meetings. While this may seem corporate or stuffy to some, it's a very effective way to have a meeting and get through agenda items effectively.   If you're unaware of what Roberts' Rules are, it's saying things like, "All in favor" and making motions and seconding those motions to pass … Read More

I've gotten this question in several different forms, but it's usually something like this: "How can I make my meetings more effective?"  Most meetings are:  1. Too long 2. Too dull 3. Too scattered That being the case, my philosophy for effective meetings is to make meetings:  1. Shorter (90 minutes at most) 2. More exciting (Make sure the content is relevant to everyone in the meeting) 3. More focused – you don't have to discuss every issue. If a discussion is going to derail the meeting, have a separate meeting to deal with that issue and only have the … Read More

This is a great question I got recently: "Bob, what does commitment mean at Calvary? It seems like my definition and my leaders have two different definitions. How do I change that?"  Awesome question! I have found that there's only one way to change that mindset – you have to define what commitment means according to the Bible. I've found the best vehicle for that is instituting a membership class.  When you have a solid membership system, you set the baseline of commitment for the church. If being committed to your church means believers should be attending, serving, giving and … Read More

Here's a question I got this week: "Hey Bob, I see that you guys reach a lot of unchurches people at Calvary. What do you do for them once they come to Christ?"  Great question: We have an 8-step process/ system that we work through which takes new believers from the moment they let us know they've made the decision to follow Jesus to full assimilation into the church.   But that all starts with the individual letting us know the decision they've made.  That's why we let them know if made that decision, to check that off on their … Read More

– What a great day!  – You wouldn't have known it was going to be great, because the A/C was out at the school and it was about 8,000 degrees in the auditorium.  – Outside, it was only slightly cooler. The high today was 89!  We're having a warm Fall 🙂 – I taught from Proverbs 16 on "How to Know God's Will" – I know I've said it before, but God is doing an amazing work in the lives of people through this Proverbs series. – This week we rolled out a big announcement: on February 21st, 2010 we're … Read More

I believe the most important aspect of being a church that reaches a lot of unchurched people is creating a culture of evangelism. The only way I know to create a culture of evangelism is to preach the Gospel every week.   We give people an opportunity to come to know Jesus in our services every week and not a week goes by when we see people give their lives to Jesus.   You have to preach on evangelism, but people need to see the Gospel preached and see people respond.  It builds people's faith when people are turning to … Read More

I am amazed that God has allowed Calvary Fellowship to be much an evangelistic church that reaches primarily unchurched people.   The reason I'm so amazed is because I'm not an evangelist.  I'm a Bible teacher. That's my sweet spot. Teaching through books of the Bible and feeding God's people.   While that's my primary gifting, my passion is to see lost people found. Nothing give me greater joy than to see a lost person give their life to Jesus and start growing in their faith.   This week I'm going to talk about how that happens in our context … Read More

– Yesterday was amazing!  – I taught Proverbs 31 & talked about the ideal woman  – Yes, I cried… in both services! – I get very emotional when I talk about my wife & how good God has been to me.  – I was amazed to see the majority of people in the congregation (both men and women) crying as well.  – I believe God was glorified and we were challenged to follow Jesus more closely  – I really believe this Proverbs series has been one of the most powerful series of teachings we've ever done. God is using every … Read More

This is a question I get regularly. Many times, a Pastor will give a challenge for Christians to "test God" according to Mal. 3 and tithe for 90 days and see how God is faithful. Lots of people will indicate that they are going to participate and never give.   Why does this happen? Simply put, if you don't have a solid follow up plan, the results will be minimal.  While giving is of course a spiritual act, the encouragement of a good follow up plan helps those who made the decision to begin giving continue to give and experience … Read More