Your Church in Rhythm

A gentle new way for church leader’s to survive stress and burnout

Bruce Miller debunks the idea of balance—basically trying to have it all, all the time. Most churches and their pastors try to do everything at once and feel guilty if any one aspect (worship, ministries, outreach, etc.) is neglected. He replaces the exhausting concept of balance with the idea of rhythm: churches, like people, need to give attention to different programs and ministries at different times, basically by attending to their seasons and cycles.

• Offers an innovative new model for church leaders
• Miller has been influential in the formation and promotion of “Church-Based Training” as in international movement
• Offers a proven method for avoiding burnout for church leaders and members by doing the right things at the right time

The author offers much-need help to overwhelmed leaders and shows them how to apply Miller’s seasonal/cyclical approach to church life.

About the Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series ix

Foreword by Will Mancini xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction Time: The Forgotten Dimension xvii

Part One Identifying What Time It Is in Your Church 1

1 Why Do Church in Rhythm? 3

2 Kairos and Chronos Rhythms 17

3 Discerning Your Organizational Stage 27

4 Recognizing Your Ministry Seasons 45

Part Two Kairos Rhythm Strategies 57

5 Release Expectations 59

6 Seize Opportunities 73

7 Anticipate What’s Next 91

Part Three Chronos Rhythm Strategies 107

8 Pace Your Church 109

9 Build Mission-Enhancing Rituals 123

10 Oscillate Intensity and Renewal 139

Conclusion Rhythm Solution Process for Your Church 155

Discussion Questions 165

Rhythm Overview 169

Notes 171

References 177

The Author 181

THE AUTHOR

Bruce B. Miller is the founding and senior pastor of Christ Fellowship, formerly named McKinney Fellowship Bible Church, near Dallas, Texas. He also founded the Center for Church Based Training (CCBT) where he served for eleven years as the chairman of the board of directors. He speaks at conferences and seminars in the United States and other countries, including Mexico, China, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

Your Church in Rhythm

In this groundbreaking book, Bruce B. Miller introduces the concept of rhythm as a powerful approach to church life. Every ministry flows in rhythms in the stages of a church's life cycle and in regular cycles annually, monthly, weekly, but how can leaders maximize the God-given rhythms of life?

Miller challenges the idea of a balanced church—trying to have it all, all the time. Typically church leaders try to have every ministry moving full speed ahead at every point in time and inevitably feel guilty if any one aspect (worship, ministries, or outreach) is neglected. In place of the elusive search for balance, Miller proposes rhythm: flowing in seasons and cycles. Churches, like people, need to give priority to different purposes and ministries at different times.

A healthy church will find ways to harmonize with created and providential rhythms. Churches, as all organisms and organizations, develop through stages, experience seasons, and live in the cycles of creation (days and years).

Your Church in Rhythm unfolds six rhythm strategies built on the concepts of chronos and kairos. Chronos is measured time, such as on a watch or a calendar. Kairos is experienced as the right or opportune time, and is measured in stages and seasons. Kairos rhythm strategies enable church leaders to release expectations that don't fit a particular time. They empower churches to seize opportunities unique to this stage of their church's life and to anticipate what's next, creating hope. Chronos rhythm strategies empower leaders to pace their church well in life's cycles, to establish life-giving habits and value-building traditions, and to oscillate intensity and renewal in each cycle.

Leading a church in rhythm with the seasons and cycles of life will increase impact, reduce stress, and multiply joy for the leadership and the congregation.