Five Things Worship Leaders Should STOP Doing
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Release Date: 05/07/2025
Why Unhealthy Churches Sometimes Grow
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Why do some unhealthy churches seem to be growing rapidly? In this episode, we peel back the layers behind fast-growing churches and explore whether all that glitters is truly gold. Join us as we discuss the hidden factors that can fuel church growth and how to discern authentic health from surface-level success. Your hosts are Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu from The Malphurs Group. Each week, we bring practical insights and real-world advice to help pastors and leaders revitalize their churches and lead with confidence. Whether you're a first-time listener or a longtime subscriber, we’re here...
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Vision That Sticks
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Is your church’s vision stalled or ineffective? In this episode, we break down actionable steps to create and communicate a compelling vision that drives real growth and engagement within your congregation. Discover how clarity and strategy can move your church forward, whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing your current direction. Join hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu from the Malphurs Group, whose expertise in church revitalization empowers ministries worldwide. Their passion: helping churches thrive with practical insights, real data, and biblically-rooted strategies. What...
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Streamlining Discipleship Ministries: A Guide to Effective Church Engagement
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Is your church overwhelmed by a maze of groups, classes, and ministries—or struggling to get people engaged at all? On this episode, we break down how to streamline your discipleship ministries for greater clarity and real spiritual growth. Your hosts, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu from The Malphurs Group, bring years of hands-on experience revitalizing churches. Each week, they share practical strategies for church leaders to create healthier, more effective ministries—no matter your church’s size or context. In this episode: [00:02:14] Announcement: New “Six Areas of Groups...
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How to Build a Thriving Small Groups Ministry + Build Groups Partnership (w/ Adam Erlichman)
The Church Revitalization Podcast
In this episode, we dive into what it takes to develop a healthy, growing small groups ministry that actually connects people and fosters transformation. Whether your church uses Sunday School, home groups, or a hybrid model, this conversation will challenge assumptions and offer practical steps forward. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are joined by Adam Erlichman from Build Groups—a national consultant helping churches grow their groups ministry by 30–50% in under a year. Adam shares powerful stories, best practices, and a major new announcement about exclusive training content now available...
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Five Things Worship Leaders Should STOP Doing
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Read the full show notes at: https://malphursgroup.com/289 Welcome to the Church Revitalization Podcast, where we tackle the real issues facing today’s church leaders. In this episode, hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu dive into the top five things worship leaders should stop doing right now. With candid stories from Scott’s own years as a worship leader—and A.J.’s trademark humor—they break down common pitfalls and offer practical advice for creating a more engaging, distraction-free worship experience. Whether you’re a worship leader, senior pastor, or just passionate about...
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How Big Is Your Church...Actually?
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Do pastors really know who's attending their church every week? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, A.J. Mathieu and Scott Ball dig into the common myth that "only half the church is present on any given Sunday"—and challenge assumptions about church attendance. They discuss the roots of this belief, why it persists, and, most importantly, why getting the real numbers actually matters for effective ministry and discipleship. Learn practical ways to move beyond gut feelings and start gathering actionable data on church engagement—plus, helpful ideas for tracking attendance...
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Starting Well at Your New Church: A Guide for Pastors
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Are you stepping into a new pastoral role? Or do you know someone who is? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu share practical, actionable advice for pastors beginning their journey at a new church. Drawing from real-world examples and years of experience, they unpack key strategies such as being a learner before a leader, the importance of building relationships over seeking immediate results, and understanding the “why” behind church traditions before making changes. Learn how to communicate hope, find early wins, and set a healthy...
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Preparing Your Church for A New Pastor (New Pastor Onboarding Part 1)
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Read the full show notes at malphursgroup.com/286 Join hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu as they dive into a miniseries focused on successfully onboarding a new pastor. In this episode, the discussion revolves around how churches can prepare to welcome a fresh leader effectively. Scott and A.J. share valuable insights on practicing intentional hospitality, embracing clear and gracious communication, and being open to change. Whether you're in the midst of a pastoral transition or simply thinking ahead, this episode is packed with practical advice to set your church up for success. Don't miss...
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Three Kinds of Churches that FAIL at Revitalization
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Read this week's article at malphursgroup.com/285 his week, hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu dive deep into a topic that might make some church leaders uneasy: the reasons why some churches fail in their revitalization process. They outline three key types of churches that struggle – the poorly pastored church, the timid church, and the lazy church. Through their candid discussion, Scott and A.J. provide insights into why these barriers arise and how to overcome them. Whether you're a pastor, church leader, or congregation member, this episode offers valuable takeaways for ensuring...
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Three Pitfalls for GROWING Churches
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Growth is often celebrated in church circles, but what if your success is hiding deeper problems? In this episode, Scott Ball and AJ Mathieu tackle the rarely-discussed challenges that growing churches face. They reveal three common pitfalls: becoming complacent with your current success, not understanding why you're actually growing, and expanding too quickly without the leadership foundation to sustain it. Whether your church is experiencing modest or explosive growth, these insights will help you build a healthier, more sustainable ministry that values depth over mere numbers. Because not...
info_outlineRead the full show notes at: https://malphursgroup.com/289
Welcome to the Church Revitalization Podcast, where we tackle the real issues facing today’s church leaders. In this episode, hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu dive into the top five things worship leaders should stop doing right now. With candid stories from Scott’s own years as a worship leader—and A.J.’s trademark humor—they break down common pitfalls and offer practical advice for creating a more engaging, distraction-free worship experience. Whether you’re a worship leader, senior pastor, or just passionate about church health, this episode will challenge your perspective, spark some laughs, and help your church worship grow stronger.