Helping God's People to Flourish
Want to get better at writing prompts for AI—instantly? Here’s a simple trick: before running your prompt, ask the AI to suggest a better version first. Just one sentence of extra effort can sharpen your prompt, clarify your goals, and dramatically improve your results. I’ll even give you three ready-to-use templates (from beginner to expert) to help you try it out. This one habit can accelerate your learning and unlock the full potential of tools like ChatGPT.
Tired of trying to explain complex documents to AI? What if you could just show it instead? In this post, explore how uploading files—like spreadsheets, PDFs, and photos—lets AI analyze, summarize, and generate insights with accuracy and creativity. This is one of the most powerful tools you can use for ministry and life!
Many conflicts escalate due to a lack of feeling heard. Learn how active listening can defuse tension and foster understanding.
Learn how to give AI a target goal, and flip the script so it can glean from you what it needs to help you accomplish your objective.
There are at least five ways you might go about fighting a good fight. Identify your typical conflict style and learn more about what style might best fit your situation.
For church settings, it is helpful to know about Speed Leas’ five levels of church conflict. Here is an overview of what they are and how to respond to them.
AI is no replacement for people, but it can serve as a helpful assistant. Here are some basics of how it works and some tips for getting started.
Conflict is unavoidable, but it’s not always negative. Learn how to embrace conflict as an opportunity for growth, deeper relationships, and healthier leadership.
Effective leadership involves not only providing guidance and direction but also fostering a supportive and encouraging environment. Through our method of leadership, we want to motivate volunteers, boost their morale, and create a sustainable and fulfilling volunteer experience. How do you “pay” your volunteers?
September 3, 1967 was Dagen H, or “H-Day” in Sweden. On this day, the entire nation made a huge change. We can learn a lot about good leadership and communication practices from their accomplishment.
As of January 2024, I have been working in full-time ministry for twenty years. I wanted to celebrate this milestone, and to share some things I’ve learned along the way.
When we see a person hurting, we often want to say something. Rather than some of the old clichés which are not always helpful, here are some other ways you might respond more helpfully.
While attending a Nativity play, it occurred to me that there are a lot of helpful concepts we can apply from the story of Jesus’ birth to how we welcome and integrate newcomers into the story of God, lived out by the church.
It isn’t my opinion that AI-generated content is yet capable of replacing the deep thinking and creativity of humans, but it can provide terrific starting points and initial brainstorming.
Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence are here to stay. How might we harness their potential for the Kingdom of God?
Reflections about times of transition and the interactions between church leaders.
To make slides more impactful, pay attention to the basic principles of photography.
In many settings, identifying groups can lead to negative things. But to encourage positive change, it can benefit a person to know how and with whom they identify themselves.
To help people stay with you, when you have a variety of content, the order matters in which you give it.
One of the most helpful books I’ve read in a while is Bowdle’s Rethink Communication. It’s all specifically about churches and how we communicate. I
People’s lives are constantly stimulated and distracted. To keep them with you, you must vary your content style frequently.
If it’s all on your slides, why do they need you? Let visuals be an aid, not a replacement.
Speak to the intersection of theology and life. If your theology doesn’t “become flesh” it won’t provide anything useful.
People are distracted enough as it is. Don’t contribute to your listeners’ struggle to focus on your message.
As you prepare to speak, how do you go about researching what you will share? It might help to balance out the commentaries with which you’re interacting.
For your sermons to be of consistent in their quality, you need to give them room to grow. Here’s one way to do it.
If you want people to put your message into action, help them put it into steps they are capable of taking.
One of the best ways to make a story come to life is to help people explore it through their senses.
An introductory post for a new series of short insights on preaching.
Drawing from his original doctoral research at ACU, combined with his experience as a minister and as a Navy Reserve Chaplain, Daniel McGraw talks about how to lead effectively while continuing to nourish one’s soul.
Dr. Mark Adams sits down with Dr. Kevin Burr to share some experiential advice for young ministers…and really, for anyone looking to grow spiritually.
Looking back at 2020, here were the most viewed posts at Kingdom Upgrowth.
Mark Powell talks about Discipleship in Community, a book he co-wrote containing a theological vision for the future of churches of Christ.
My book review of Discipleship in Community: A Theological Vision for the Future by Mark Powell, John Mark Hicks, and Greg McKinzie.
Know these two frameworks, and you’re largely up to date on contemporary thought about healthy church leadership.
My book review of Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton.
What does it actually look like for people to get healthier incrementally? How do we help dysfunctional tribes become high-functioning teams? Here are a few ideas.
Certainly, we don’t know what it’s like to be God, but how well can God really understand what it’s like to be us? This is of special significance in times of suffering and difficulty. Can God suffer with us? Does God suffer with us? Alicia Williamson shares insights from her research into this important question about the nature of God.
Spiritual gifts or ministry roles? Dr. Matt Carter shares his research about best practices for helping church members connect to life-giving ministry, and the kind of leadership that makes this possible.
In financial matters, ethics matter. Dr. Carl Williamson draws from his original research to provide principles for best practices in church finances.
All of us, from time to time, end up in the unenviable spot of needing to prepare for a funeral. Here are bits of experiential wisdom and advice from my time in ministry.
People often ask me for book recommendations about specific situations and questions. Here are some of the questions I encounter most frequently, along with the resources I recommend.
Are you trying to play an infinite game with a finite mindset? Just less than a month ago, Simon Sinek released his new book The
Let me begin by saying, “Thank you.” Of all the ways you can expend your energy and talents, that you are using them in service
Leaders need it. Volunteers need it. Insiders and outsiders both need it. How do we best care for the people around us?
Good preaching informs, but great preaching transforms. Dr. Rob O’Lynn shares his research, imagining how preachers can utilize transformative learning theory in how they help their congregations grow spiritually.
Our first post on Kingdom Upgrowth went live one year ago today. I wanted to take a moment to say “thank you” to everyone who
Short-Term mission trips have the potential to do a lot of good abroad, but also at home! Here’s something you definitely want to do as you go on your trip.
Dr. Anessa Westbrook shares her original research about what factors help young women to grow spiritually.
Fundraising is an essential part of mission trips. You cannot go on a mission trip without the means to get there. Since many people raise their funds through writing letters, I am offering some tips for how to write excellent letters that are more likely to get you the response you are desiring.