September 3, 2025
Can You Communicate Your Vision?
When a vision is communicated effectively, people are drawn to the vision and not just the leader. In the long term, this gets far more traction for the church and for the kingdom of God.
Articles for tag: Craig Groeschel
August 24, 2021
Spire Readies for Annual Conference Sept. 14-16
The Spire Network is in the final stages of preparation for its third-annual SpireConference, set for Sept. 14-16 in Nashville. Spire anticipates it may match or exceed the number of people who participated in their first in-person conference two years ago, which would be a "huge win," said board chairman Dave Stone.
July 21, 2021
Services Friday for Wayne Shaw, 89 (Plus News Briefs)
Funeral services are set for Friday for longtime Lincoln Christian University preaching professor and academic dean Dr. Wayne Shaw, 89, who passed away July 14.
Spire Announces Speakers (Plus News Briefs)
The speaker lineup for the 2021 SpireConference is announced; High Hill Christian Camp is undergoing expansion; plus other briefs.
August 11, 2018
Is Online Church Really Church? In a Word, No.
IN THE ARENA: In the arena of ideas and opinions, there needs to be a place for Christ-centered and Christ-honoring debate of nonessential issues. We will occasionally feature a debate like this in Christian Standard. Jon Weatherly’s article “How to Debate Debatable Issues” gives great insight on how to disagree in a godly way. We apply the principles Jon describes in our first debate between Jerry Harris (click here to read his article) and Barry Cameron. These two men are great friends who have differing views and opinions about online church. Read their articles and then tell us what you
July 23, 2017
Leading Through Your Core Values
By L. E. Mackenzie You did it! As the lead pastor of your church, you established an amazing mission statement to keep everyone focused and on track. It looks so good on paper that you framed it and hung it on the wall behind your desk. You show the statement to others, you preach on it, and your people know it by heart. But something is not right . . . You have strong, practical ideas to grow and mature your church, but you feel resistance at different levels. In e-mails and quiet conversations people ask, “Why are we doing
February 4, 2017
NACC 2017: This Is for Everyone
By Gene Appel I want to invite you to join me in one of America”s greatest cities for my favorite conference on the planet, the North American Christian Convention, June 27″“29 in Kansas City, Missouri. I especially want to invite you if you”ve never been to this special gathering, or if you haven”t been able to make it for a few years. After a fantastic convention in Anaheim, California, in 2016, we have great momentum building for Kansas City, and I hope you”ll jump on board. Let me share why. First, we have an urgent theme:Â “This is for EVERYONE.” God”s
December 3, 2015
The Best Sermon I”ve Ever Heard (5)
By Arron Chambers Larry Lewis Larry and his wife, Teri, are missionaries for Open Door Libraries in Berlin, Germany. He has a Bachelor of Theology in Missions from Ozark Christian College. Larry”s Best Sermon: The best sermon I”ve heard on the identity of Jesus is “Was It a Waste?” by Dr. Roger Chambers of Florida Christian College (now Johnson University Florida), available at https://soundcloud.com/larry-lewis-46/rc-was-it-a-waste. (Roger Chambers is Larry”s uncle and this columnist”s father.) Why Larry likes this sermon: “This sermon changed my life. I first heard it about 15 years ago while editing tape files of Uncle Roger”s old
August 31, 2014
2014 NACC: Different & Demanding
By Darrel Rowland It”s hard to say which was the more unusual sight at this year”s North American Christian Convention: the heavy-metal guitarist with waist-length dreadlocks and arms covered by tattoos as a featured speaker or the video of venerable Ben Merold, now 88, playing the Godfather. Or was it the appearance of a beardless Duck Dynasty star? Perhaps the oversized beach balls and foam flying discs tossed into the crowd before several of the services? Or possibly even the NACC president admitting that his primary prayer to God was “not to screw up the work of his Holy Spirit”
July 15, 2014
Recommitted to the Mission
By Mark A. Taylor A large convention of Jehovah”s Witnesses met last weekend in Indianapolis, on the heels of the North American Christian Convention there Tuesday through Friday. When some JW delegates began arriving on Thursday, a teenager I know said, “I wonder if they”ll go through the hotel, knocking on every door.” We all chuckled, but later I thought, Wouldn”t it be something if OUR movement were known for persistently sharing what we believe about Christ? After last week”s convention, that could happen. President Tim Harlow”s theme for the week was ReMission, a challenge to recommit to the mission
March 7, 2014
Your NACC Planner
By Jennifer Johnson In American Religion: Contemporary Trends, author Mark Chaves reports the percentage of people in the United States who say they “never” attend church has risen steadily over the last 30 years, and that if current trends continue, we will soon be a “Protestant-minority” country. Warren Bird, director of research for Leadership Network, recently blogged that 125 million Americans””more than 1 out of 3″”haven”t attended any religious services in the last year, and writes, “That number alone would be the 10th largest country in the world!” At this year”s North American Christian Convention, President Tim Harlow will challenge
September 6, 2009
Exponential “09: What”s the Buzz?
 by Dick Alexander So what”s all the buzz about Exponential? What exactly is drawing more than 3,000 mostly young leaders to Orlando, Florida, each spring for three intense days? What was known a few years ago as the National New Church Conference, drawing a few hundred church-planting zealots, has reinvented itself as Exponential and now attracts thousands. Its growth has been, well, exponential, and it”s attracting a lot of attention for good reasons.  FOCUS AND ENERGY Exponential exists to facilitate church planting. It bills itself as the largest church-planting gathering in North America, with participants coming from dozens
June 21, 2009
Finding Your Focus
 By Glen Elliott  n the 2008 movie Yes Man, the main character (Jim Carrey) functions like a modern-day hermit until he is challenged to begin saying “yes” to everything. It works out well for him, for the most part, until the end when he realizes he can”t really say “yes” to everything. While it is risky to say “yes” all the time, it takes more courage and wisdom to know when to say “no.” For years our church held an annual Pumpkin Patch event (a safe Halloween alternative) that drew several thousand folks. It was a huge success in terms
