Podcast Episode #228

Discussion about few causes of negativity in the church and how pastors can help deal with negativity and even stop it from happening on the front end.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* Every church will go through a challenge or lull. The question is "how long will you stay in it?"

* Any time there is negativity, there is the possibility of it snowballing.

* To fix an issue without a needed apology is not fixing an issue at all.

* Be careful about having a perpetual naysayer in an outwardly-focused ministry.

* Those who are rowing the boat are less likely to be the ones rocking the boat.

* Transparency and truthfulness from church leadership are absolutely necessary for a healthy church culture.

* Some of the most significant failures take place because people are unwilling to face the facts.

* Even in the greatest negativity of the Old Testament, it's still pointing to the greatest hope to come: the incarnate Christ.

The seven ways to address negativity in the church are:

* Apologize.

* Turn more outwardly focused.

* Get the naysayers involved.

* Be transparent and truthful.

* Bring together a coalitions.

* Willingness to face the brutal facts.

* Preach, teach, and speak about biblical hope.

Episode Sponsors

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Feedback

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Resources

* Team of Rivals

* Built to Last

* Good to Great

* Crash Course

* For the Church at the SBC in St. Louis