More churches are reporting that they are finding it difficult to attract and keep volunteers.  Volunteerism is on the decline.  What can be done to alleviate this problem?  In this episode, Kerry and Becky discuss  some of the common barriers that prevent followers of Jesus from using their gifts.  It's episode number five in their series to help Christians find their place of service in the church.  

Every follower of Jesus and every church leader has a calling in the church and should feel a sense of calling!  In this podcast, Kerry and Becky discuss some of the New Testament passages on the subject of a calling and raise six questions to help Christians identify their calling.  This is episode #4 in the series, "Finding Your Purpose in the Body of Christ."

In this podcast, Kerry and Becky discuss four big ideas about gifts from Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4.  What are the gifts in Ephesians 4?  What is their purpose?  What does it mean that we are "stewards" of "our" gifts?  These are just a few of the questions discussed in episode 3 in the series, "Finding Your Purpose in the Body of Christ."

Last week the Holtons examined what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about giftedness; this week, Kerry and Becky are reviewing Romans 12:3-8.  Besides a brief discussion of the seven gifts mentioned in Romans 12, they also talk about the need to know ourselves and our gifts, to accept how God has gifted us, and to use what the Spirit of God has been so generous to give.   This is episode #2 in the series, "Finding Your Purpose in the Body of  Christ."

A brand, new Circle Group Podcast will be published next week.  If you would like to sign up to receive the monthly ECL Circle Group Podcast, go here.

In this episode, Kerry and Becky are beginning a new series entitled, "Finding Your Purpose in the Body of Christ."  This week they take a look at 1 Corinthians 12 to find principles that are as relevant today, as they were when Paul first penned them.  Some of these principles include these notions: There are varieties of gifts, and each gift is necessary in a healthy church; God distributes the gifts as he wills; and gifts are given and should be used for the common good--for the health and growth of the church.

Church leaders, how much attention are you giving to what happens in your church on Sunday morning?  To the worship service?  To the children's Bible classes or the children's Bible hour?  To guest services?  In this episode, Kerry and Becky discuss the importance of the weekend services.  They talk about the need to give primary attention to what goes on during the Sunday morning hour, both for the sake of discipleship and outreach.  This is episode #4, and the last one, in their series on Church Health.

In this episode, #3 in their series on Church Health, Kerry and Becky discuss a third characteristic of healthy and growing churches: change is expected and is a part of their church's culture.  They give a few examples of the kind of change that churches should consider in order to accomplish their mission.  Also, they discuss why so many churches and church leaders are resistant to change.

How healthy is your church?  In this episode, Kerry and Becky talk about a second characteristic of healthy and growing churches: they prioritize reaching new people.  They have an "outsider focus."   Many churches seem to be "insider focused," which may partially explain why they are not growing.  Tune in to this discussion of some of the statements regarding outreach in the ECL Church Health Assessment Tool.  

How healthy is your church?  Using their Church Health Assessment as a discussion starter, Kerry and Becky talk about what they see as some of the characteristics of healthy and growing churches.  In today's episode, the first in this series, they discuss the importance of mission and vision to church health.

This episode is Part 2 of a series on 2023 church trends.  The discussion here is about trends related to churches' online, digital presence, the sermon, the volunteer crisis in many churches, and ministerial burnout.