Jesse Reimers

Week 1: Triage & Diagnosis – Understanding Your Church’s Health Church revitalization begins with an honest and thorough assessment of your church’s current condition. Just as a doctor performs triage to determine a patient’s most urgent needs, pastors must evaluate their churches with the same level of intentionality. Without a clear diagnosis, any attempted revitalization efforts will likely be misplaced or ineffective. In this first installment of our 5-week Church Revitalization series, we’ll explore how pastors can assess their church’s health , prioritize needs, and develop a strategy for renewal. The Need for Revitalization Triage Many churches struggle with decline, stagnation, or internal dysfunction, but pinpointing the root causes can be challenging. Some pastors inherit congregations with years of unresolved conflicts, ineffective structures, and misplaced priorities. Others may be dealing with churches that have lost their sense of mission or struggle to connect with t...

Last week, we established that leadership without a crown is deeply rooted in service. This week, we delve deeper into how to practically implement servant leadership principles in a small-church context. We’ll explore both scriptural anchors and insights from influential industry thinkers to help you transform theory into practice. 1. Moving from Vision to Application “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) A kingdom-oriented vision calls us to put words into action. It’s easy to affirm servant leadership in theory, but living it out can be challenging. This requires intentional steps and consistent follow-through. Industry Insight: Ken Blanchard , co-author of The One Minute Manager , underscores that servant leaders focus on setting clear goals and then equipping their teams with the tools needed for success. 2. Practical Strategies for Servant Leadership Create Collaborative Platforms Team Meetings with Purpose : Instead of one-way communication, encourage open d...

In today’s world, leadership is often portrayed as the ultimate achievement—a peak of power, recognition, and authority. Yet, the best leaders understand that genuine leadership is not about self-exaltation but about serving others. This week, we’ll explore the concept of “leadership without a crown” through both biblical examples and insights from industry thought leaders. 1. Leadership as Service: A Mindset Shift “He who would be first among you must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:44) Jesus redefined leadership by placing servanthood at its core. Rather than seeking positional power, He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). This radical act demonstrated that true leadership elevates others. Industry Insight: John Maxwell , a well-known leadership expert, emphasizes that leadership is influence and responsibility, not status or titles. True influence grows when people sense a leader genuinely cares for them. Simon Sinek also supports this idea in Leaders Eat Last , explaini...

In the final chapter of The Choice , the authors present ten marks of Christ-centered ministry. These are principles that help guide pastors back to the heart of the Gospel, away from worldly distractions and temptations. The Ten Marks of Christ-Centered Ministry: Following Christ:  Submission to the Father Filled, Led and Empowered by the Holy Spirit Prayerful Strategic Planning Raising Kingdom Resources Ministry Accountability Transparent Financial Administration Serving People Humbly Doing Everything with Love Mobilizing Spiritually Gifted People Radical Christian Generosity  The authors encourage us to: Focus on the kingdom of God rather than personal achievements. Lead with humility and servant leadership. Make decisions based on Scripture, not personal ambition. Recognize the importance of character over competence. Application: Review these ten marks and assess how they align with your current ministry practices. Consider how you can implement these principles in your d...