Run for cover! The sky is falling! Fewer people  in the United identify as “Christian” than ever before!

With the flurry in the blogosphere beginning to settle, Kyle Sapp (Youth Minister) and Chris Morton (Church Planter) take a look at the article “America’s Changing Religious Landscape” from the Pew Center for Religion and Life and discuss how to approach mission and ministry in this new world.

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Easter has come and gone, Pentecost slipped by and Advent is just a memory. The Ordinary Days are here. They arrive with no fanfare. Just a return to our lives.

Which is the only place we can really meet Jesus.

Kyle Sapp (Youth Minister) and Chris Morton (Church Planter) discuss the down and dirty of finding God in the doldrums of real life ministry.

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In this first ever “part 2” of a two parter, Kyle Sapp (Youth Minister) and Chris Morton (Church Planter) move beyond wrestling with failure to define success.

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Failure. Many Youth Ministers and Church Planters live in the shadow of this word. Some are crippled by shame. Others go to ridiculous lengths to put a positive spin on it. Kyle and Chris have failed, too! Here’s what they’ve learned.

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Youth Ministers and Church Planters are prone to burnout. How do you navigate the emotion, calendar and stress level that is unavoidable. Kyle and Chris are no experts, but they are still at it! Here’s what they’ve learned.

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As a Youth Minister and Church Planter, we have to navigate technology and faith. Social media has made this more complicated than ever. Inspired by the TED talk The Innovation of Loneliness Kyle Sapp (Youth Minister) and Chris Morton (Church Planter) discuss their own struggles to connect, and what to do about it.

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As a Youth Minister and Church Planter, we read a lot. There are a lot good book out there, but some stick with you and become more like friends. Kyle Sapp (Youth Minister) and Chris Morton (Church Planter) list the books that have had the most effect on their ministry.

Chris

• The Great Psychedelic Armadillo Picnic: A “Walk” in Austin by Kinky Friedman
• Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller
• The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
• The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer In Christian Ethics by Stanley Hauerwas
• The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God by Dallas Willard

Kyle

• Adam: God’s Beloved by Henri Nouwen
• Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright
• Unpacking Scriptures in Youth Ministry by Andrew Root
• Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers by Chap Clark
• Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church by Kenda Creasy Dean

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Groucho Marx said “I refuse to be a part of any club that would have me for a member.”

This episode revisits the whole idea of church membership, specifically, the difference is between membership in an established church vs. a church plant.

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Referenced:

—How Would the Apple Store Handle Church Membership?

Differences

– Covenant with God & People vs Affinity to Brand
– Submission to a Rule & Rhythm vs Assent to certain beliefs
– Local vs Denominational
– Purposeful vs. Descriptive
– Short-term vs. Open-ended

Similarities

– Provides identity
– Separates decision makers
– Helps with tracking
– Permission for accountability
– Official Process

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For Pastors, Ministers and Church Planters, it’s easy to have secrets. Sometimes you are afraid to admit that you don’t really care about sports, or you’re afraid other people don’t like you. Kyle Sapp (Youth Minister) and Chris Morton (Church Planter) ‘fess up to a few secrets they’ve been holding back from their church.

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