Bridging Secular Wisdom and the Christian Mission: A Dialogue on Growth, Change, and Spiritual Transformation - with Archie Poulos
01/30/24 • 32 min
What can we learn from recent secular literature about the practice of Christian pastoral leadership?
Head of Ministry at Sydney’s Moore Theological College Archie Poulos looks at how the 'The Infinite Game' concept, popularized by Simon Sinek, can be applied to ministry.
Sinek explores the consequences of short and long term thinking in business and life. Long term success is more likely when an infinite perspective is taken.
Then we examine Loran Nordgren and David Schonthal’s book ‘The Human Element: Overcoming the resistance that awaits new ideas.'
Archie considers the emotional and psychological hurdles (inertia, effort, emotion, and reactance) that congregations face when change is suggested.
We look back to ‘After the Ball’ by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, a 1989 secular play book for effecting LGBTI societal acceptance. Archie suggests there are lessons from aspects of that strategy for Christian mission.
Plus Archie talks about what impressed him about Andrew Heard’s soon to be released book ‘Growth and Change - The danger and necessity of a passion for church growth.
Purchase/download links to the books discussed this week:
- Growth and Change - by Andrew Heard - The danger and necessity of a passion for church growth
- The Infinite Game - by Simon Sinek - exploring the consequences of short and long term thinking in business and life
- The Human Element: Overcoming the resistance that awaits new ideas - by Loran Nordgren and David Schonthal
- After the Ball - by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen
- Human Sexuality and the Same-Sex Marriage Debate - by Mark Thompson (Editor)
To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid go to http://www.anglicanaid.org.au/tph
Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is happening from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.
--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.
What can we learn from recent secular literature about the practice of Christian pastoral leadership?
Head of Ministry at Sydney’s Moore Theological College Archie Poulos looks at how the 'The Infinite Game' concept, popularized by Simon Sinek, can be applied to ministry.
Sinek explores the consequences of short and long term thinking in business and life. Long term success is more likely when an infinite perspective is taken.
Then we examine Loran Nordgren and David Schonthal’s book ‘The Human Element: Overcoming the resistance that awaits new ideas.'
Archie considers the emotional and psychological hurdles (inertia, effort, emotion, and reactance) that congregations face when change is suggested.
We look back to ‘After the Ball’ by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, a 1989 secular play book for effecting LGBTI societal acceptance. Archie suggests there are lessons from aspects of that strategy for Christian mission.
Plus Archie talks about what impressed him about Andrew Heard’s soon to be released book ‘Growth and Change - The danger and necessity of a passion for church growth.
Purchase/download links to the books discussed this week:
- Growth and Change - by Andrew Heard - The danger and necessity of a passion for church growth
- The Infinite Game - by Simon Sinek - exploring the consequences of short and long term thinking in business and life
- The Human Element: Overcoming the resistance that awaits new ideas - by Loran Nordgren and David Schonthal
- After the Ball - by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen
- Human Sexuality and the Same-Sex Marriage Debate - by Mark Thompson (Editor)
To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid go to http://www.anglicanaid.org.au/tph
Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is happening from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.
--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.
Previous Episode
Growth and change - with Andrew Heard
‘Many of the ways we are running our churches and ministries and many of the ways we are exercising leadership within our churches, has become a significant hindrance to the growth of the church.’
Andrew Heard’s about to be released book Growth and Change will be the ‘must read’ book for pastors for 2024.
In his opening preface Gospel Coalition founder DA Carson - says ‘I am usually loath to proclaim that such and such a book is the best in it’s field ... but if there is one book that happily serves as the exception to the rule, Heard’s book is it.
Change is painful. Why don’t we want to change?
We cannot be content to just be faithful, if we mean faithfulness has no regard for the growth of God’s church.
The younger leader is more likely to succumb to the dangers relating to a passion for growth. However for older leaders, ‘As we age, it is possible to get stuck... We have battled for so long under the weight of small things, that our vision has shrunk to become no larger than the day to day needs of the church.’
How do we get unstuck? ‘Leading change requires significant emotional, relational and creative energy. But most church leaders have very little in the tank...'
Pre order ‘Growth and Change’
http://www.thepastorsheart.net/podcast/growth-and-change
To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid go to http://www.anglicanaid.org.au/tph
Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is happening from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.
--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.
Next Episode
Better relationships between senior pastors and female ministry team members - with Clare Deeves
How can male senior pastors have better relationships with the women on their ministry teams, where everyone shares complementarian convictions.
In those contexts - there are stories around that suggesting that relationships between some senior pastors and the women on the teams have been strained and have sometimes broken down completely.
There’s been massive cost to the individual, the team, the churches and to gospel work.
Clare Deeves has just completed her PhD, studying working relationships between women employed in complementarian ministry teams and the senior pastor who they work with.
Clare serves as an Assistant minister at Kallaroo Anglican Church in Perth. And lectures in church history at Trinity Theological College Perth.
To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid go to http://www.anglicanaid.org.au/tph
Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is happening from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.
--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.
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