Church Planting

#3: Discouragement is a Choice. I gotta be honest with you, I don’t like this one, b/c it hits me square between the eyes but it’s no less true. Discouragement really is a choice. When discouragement knocks at our door, we ultimately choose to let it in. Here are a few ways I’ve found to…

#2: Discouragement is Temporary. The best thing to remember when discouragement hits is that it’s not forever! I have adopted a phase that says, “Don’t worry, Matt, it won’t look like this forever.” When I was a kid I used to love watching these painter guy on PBS after school. Inevitably he would start whatever…

One of the most vital disciplines a leader can develop is in Learning How to Manage or Lead Themselves. When a leader learns to lead themselves effectively, leading others comes naturally. This week I want to share some thoughts on… How I Lead Myself #1: I have had to learn to Control my Thoughts. First…

“Priceless…” The final word I would use to describe the Team at NLC is Priceless. We’ve all seen the MasterCard commercials where they list off any number of things that cost money, and then at the end, they show an experience of some kind and finish the commercial with, “Priceless…” You truly can’t put a…

This week I want to zoom in on the Leadership Team that God has placed inside of Next Level Church. There is no doubt in my mind that our organization would not be where we are today if it weren’t for the efforts of the team around me. This week is dedicated to the 5…

#5: 3 Ways to Combat “Adrenaline Addiction:” As leaders, we are always going to be tempted to become addicted to the Adrenaline of Progress. I want to conclude this series of blogs with 3 ways to Combat it: 1. Protect your Sabbath. Taking a day off means shutting off the phone. No e-mail. No Voice-Mail.…

#3: Progress can cause us to get out of Balance. In continuing our conversation about Adrenaline Addiction, it’s important to think through how the lust for Progress can cause us to get out of balance in our lives. 1. We get out of Balance with the Healthy Rhythm of Growth. Our organizations need to grow…

#2: Progress can become a Mistress. If we’re not careful, those of us who lead churches or other organizations can allow the Adrenaline that comes from progress to actually begin to steal our heart’s loyalty from those who deserve it most. 1. Our Spouse. If you’ve ever seen the movie Fever Pitch with Drew Berrymore…

This week I want to walk through a series of blogs about Momentum. As John Maxwell likes to say, “Momentum is a Leader’s best friend, or worst enemy.” Over the past decade and a half of ministry and leadership experience, I have certainly been on both sides of the momentum pendulum. I want to throw…