May 4, 2026
Think Relevant
What does it mean for a church to be “relevant”? Jerry Harris argues every church reaches a target—and effectiveness grows when you identify your community’s sweet spot and adapt methods without changing core teaching.
Articles for tag: Jerry Harris
March 13, 2026
Thinking Downward
Jerry Harris explains why “becoming all things to all people” is often misapplied and how churches can stay outwardly focused. He introduces “the dot,” a philosophy of downward focus that helps shape relevance for reaching the 80 percent outside.
Think Outward
Every church will tell you they have an outward focus because they know that's Jesus' Great Commission, but the truth is that many are not.
January 1, 2026
Succession: The Things You Need to Know but Others Won’t Tell You
We need to start thinking and planning for succession earlier rather than later, knowing that the stakes are high, the process takes time, and that we are following a biblical mandate.
January 1, 2026
Retirement, Ministry, and Learning to Let Go: A Pastor’s Wife’s Perspective
Retirement doesn’t mean ministry is over. It just means it looks different. The way we influence and serve may change, but God still uses us.
January 1, 2026
Bridging the Leadership Gap: Essential Steps for Church Succession
Elders and pastors need to intentionally work to identify and develop future pastors and leaders, viewing this as both a calling and a priority.
January 1, 2026
Serving in the Shadows
If your main motivation is to please other people, and your self-worth depends on others’ approval, you will be frustrated and disappointed.
January 1, 2026
Pastoral Transition: Succession or Interim?
When done with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, succession and an intentional interim create the smoothest path to pastoral transition.
November 6, 2025
Love’s Persuasive Power
Love has persuasive power. Compassion makes our arguments more convincing, but without love, our arguments sound hollow.
November 6, 2025
Building Out Your Vision by Thinking Outward, Part 1
To focus outward means that the church’s primary concern is the people outside its walls and influence. It means that the church’s assets—its money, its talent, its time, and its facility—are focused toward reaching into that group.
November 6, 2025
Ministry Is About Relationships
At The Solomon Foundation, we believe that ministry is all about relationships. We invest in them with both individuals and with churches. We have no desire to be your bank; we want to be your ministry partner.
The Slow Club
The Slow Club sounds like a great place to just “be” who we claim to be. And while we might try to schedule sabbaticals or study breaks, the Slow Club is waiting for us every day.
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.
September 3, 2025
The Solomon Foundation: A Ministry Partner for Restoration Movement Churches
Our distinctives as a movement come from Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. In that prayer, Jesus prayed that his Father would protect and direct his disciples into three things: truth, unity, and evangelism.
Are You Passionate About Your Vision?
Still healthy, somewhat effective, and obedient to a fault, many churches have lost the passionate vision they once had. Vision has been replaced by tradition, and passion by obedient maintenance.
Is There a Vision?
People need to experience purpose in their relationship with Christ and effective leaders must set goals that reflect their vision for the church in creating that purpose.
March 2, 2025
Is There a Leader?
Our ability to grow is directly related to our ability to endure pain. Leaders are change agents that move their church in the direction of growth, helping them to overcome the pain of it.
December 31, 2024
Leveraging the Power of Our Unity: An Updated Directory of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Help Christian Standard learn the whereabouts of nearly 500 churches that are completely unaccounted for
December 31, 2024
Your Best Investment
What a blessing it is to give to the local church in tithes and offerings, but also to allow investments with the Solomon Foundation to work toward building the kingdom.
December 31, 2024
Thoughts on Leadership
There's no shortage of people wearing the leadership badge, but are they true leaders? Without a leader casting a vision, a church can find itself in turbulent waters.
