Future-Focused Churches (w/ Kara Powell) – Episode 287
One of the greatest ways an older adult can have a lasting impact in the life of a young person is to develop the habit of active listening.
Practical conversations for small and midsize church leaders.
Hosted by Dale Sellers, Executive Director of 95Network and former small church pastor, the 95Podcast addresses the real challenges pastors face every week—from church health, leadership clarity, to the everyday realities of leading without large staff or large budgets. These are straightforward conversations rooted in experience, not theory.
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One of the greatest ways an older adult can have a lasting impact in the life of a young person is to develop the habit of active listening.
Every leader needs to be willing to sit at the table with a group of other leaders who love you but are not impressed with you in order for them to tell you the truth.
The root of “I think it’s my fault” is thinking I’m responsible for things that are not my responsibility.
When I look back at those difficult years I realize now they were paving the way for what I’m doing today. I don’t think I would change anything because of the lessons I learned.
At the end of the day, there really aren’t any volunteers in your ministry. Each one of them is a saint with a gift to be developed and used for His glory.
Our church has the complete succession plan already in writing. We know exactly what we are wanting to accomplish and how we are going to implement it.
If I could change anything about how I did ministry over the years it would be to spend more time with my family. I was gone way too much.
Grace-filled churches and leaders can make a huge difference in helping a leader get back on the right path.
Our hope is to help you become more efficient with the limited time you have each week to carry out all of your ministry responsibilities.
Christians see huge potential for churches to use digital tools effectively.
One of the greatest things you can do if your discouraged is to find an apprentice to pour into. Discipling someone else has so many benefits including helping to get your focus off of your own problems.
There comes a time when we must allow ourselves to be curious. Curiosity is the pathway to break out of an unhealthy thought life and/or lifestyle.
Equipping can’t be reduced to a weekly performance; it requires presence, relationship, modeling, and shared life.
“If you got a pulse, he’s got a purpose for you.” Retirement isn’t the end of ministry; it’s a new season with fresh opportunities to serve, mentor, and impact the kingdom.
Self-awareness protects leaders from self-deception. Honest feedback is a guardrail for character and culture.
Build discipleship around practice, not just information. People grow through doing, feedback, and repetition in relationships.
Prayer is the engine, not the accessory. Easter effectiveness is not primarily about production, but about God’s presence.
Less Is More—With Intentionality. Doing less with your whole heart is better than doing more and being worn out. Fewer tactics executed with great intentionality will be more effective than an overwhelming production.
Have the Conversation Before There’s a Problem. You can’t wait for something negative to happen before talking to volunteers. Schedule regular check-ins not just about their area of service but about their lives.
The personal God gets personal with us. Biblical counseling explores the active, desiring heart beneath behavior and connects it to Christ’s finished work and the Spirit’s present ministry.
America’s churches are over-inspired and under-trained. People hear great messages but don’t know how to actually do ministry. The solution is creating workshop environments where people learn by doing, not just listening.
With a possible 160,000 churches facing pastoral transitions in the next decade, there’s a critical shortage of developed leaders ready to step into these roles.