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In this Deep Dive episode of the unSeminary Podcast, the hosts explore how to make your church irresistible by discussing Rich Birch’s book, Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture: Strategies for Church Growth That Work Today. The conversation unpacks Birch’s insights on how churches can cultivate an environment where members naturally want to invite others into the community. This episode centers on five practical “gears” that drive a thriving invite culture:

1. Shareable Weekend Teaching: The hosts discuss how impactful, relevant sermons can become topics of conversation that members feel compelled to share with others. Birch’s advice is to make messages feel like “painkillers” that address immediate needs rather than “vitamins” with general advice.
2. Eventful Big Days: By making the most of holidays and major events like Christmas and Easter, churches can create engaging, buzz-worthy experiences. The hosts share examples of churches that take an innovative approach to draw in those who might not usually attend, transforming these days into memorable outreach opportunities.
3. Captivating Online Conversations: More than just live streaming, Birch emphasizes creating engaging, shareable online content that feels authentic and connects with people digitally. The hosts explore ways churches can boost their online presence to build digital community and increase shareability.
4. Magnetic Community Service: The best community service is both meaningful and fun, creating a welcoming space for all. Birch recommends organizing service activities that not only help others but also foster a sense of connection among participants, making it easy for members to invite friends to join.
5. Appealing Volunteer Service: By creating an inviting, easy-to-join volunteer experience, churches can help members feel invested from the start. The hosts discuss how Birch’s insights show that a strong volunteer culture can lead to greater community involvement and natural growth.

Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize Birch’s approach to building an invite culture step-by-step, celebrating small wins and focusing on intentional growth. For church leaders looking to make their church a place people can’t resist inviting others to, this episode is packed with actionable insights and examples.

Disclaimer:
This episode was generated with the help of NotebookLM, an AI tool from Google designed to enhance content creation by analyzing documents and providing in-depth insights. NotebookLM assists in generating summaries, exploring themes, and crafting key points from the material provided. We used it in this episode to bring you an engaging and thorough exploration of Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture by Rich Birch.

We’re always looking to improve, and your feedback is invaluable to us! If you have any thoughts on the episode or on how we’re using NotebookLM, please reach out—we’d love to hear from you.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 — All right, let’s jump into this whole idea of invite culture. I’m sure it’s something you’re already thinking about…

Speaker 2 — Oh, yeah.

Speaker 1 — …especially as church leaders, you know trying to figure out how to reach more people and build a thriving community. We wanted to take a deep dive into Rich Birch’s Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture. He’s got some great insights on how to create that kind of environment.

Speaker 2 — It’s interesting because he really focuses on it’s not some like magic solution, right? He breaks down this concept of an invite culture into five key areas that churches can focus on.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — And kind of gears working together to propel the church forward.

Speaker 1 — I like that. Like a well-oiled machine.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — So what are these gears? What’s what’s the first one?

Speaker 2 — The first one is shareable weekend teaching.

Speaker 1 — Okay, so that’s really about making your sermons and teaching so compelling…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …that people want to share them.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. So it’s so good, they can’t help but talk about it.

Speaker 1 — But how do you actually do that? How do you make a sermon something people want to talk about on Monday morning, you know at work or with their friends?

Speaker 2 — Well, he uses this great analogy of painkillers not vitamins.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — And he argues that your teaching needs to address real problems people are facing.

Speaker 1 — Felt needs.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, not just offered general spiritual advice.

Speaker 1 — So it’s like when you have a splitting headache, you’re not reaching for, you know a multivitamin. You’re looking for that that Advil that Tylenol.

Speaker 2 — You want that quick fix.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, something that’s gonna address that problem right now.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, people are drawn to things that offer solutions to their immediate problem

Speaker 1 — So, how do you how do you as a church leader even figure out what those what those problems or what those headaches are?

Speaker 2 — Well, he suggests looking at things like Amazon bestseller lists.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — And you know, they can actually give you a window into what are people thinking about, what keeps them up at night?

Speaker 1 — That’s so interesting. So it’s like market research but for but for the soul, it’s like what are people really struggling with at their core?

Speaker 2 — Yeah, and then how can you craft your teaching to address those needs directly?

Speaker 1 — I like that.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — And and you know, it’s not just what’s being said, right? It’s also who’s saying it.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — Birch stresses that you know leaders need to embody the message they’re preaching.

Speaker 2 — Authenticity is key.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, are you living out what you’re asking others to do

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — You know, there’s that whole, you know practice what you preach kind of idea.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — He gives the example of Crossroads Church and how they’re known for their creative and really visually engaging sermons. It’s not just you know, someone’s standing behind a podium.

Speaker 2 — Right. It’s an experience.

Speaker 1 — It’s an experience. You want people to leave right feeling inspired feeling energized…

Speaker 2 — And wanting to share.

Speaker 1 — …and wanting to share what they’ve experienced. Okay, so we’ve got shareable weekend teaching. That’s gear number one. What’s the next gear in this invite culture machine?

Speaker 2 — Gear number two is eventful big days.

Speaker 1 — Okay, so we’re talking about like Christmas, Easter – those big holidays?

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — Those marker points in the year.

Speaker 2 — Yes, times when people are already thinking about you know, faith tradition.

Speaker 1 — And he’s arguing that churches should really lean into those moments.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely. Go beyond the expected. Don’t just you know have your regular service

Speaker 1 — Right.

Speaker 2 — He actually shares a story about Liquid Church in New Jersey.

Speaker 1 — Oh, I’ve heard of them.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, they did this incredible Star Wars themed Christmas…

Speaker 1 — Oh, wow.

Speaker 2 — …a couple years ago, complete with dancing stormtroopers.

Speaker 1 — Wait, seriously like stormtroopers in the church?

Speaker 2 — I mean they had Chewbacca in the manger scene, Darth Santa.

Speaker 1 — Oh my goodness.

Speaker 2 — It was a huge hit.

Speaker 1 — Okay, I can see that generating some buzz – that’s thinking outside the box.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, and they actually drew people in who might never have stepped foot in a church otherwise.

Speaker 1 — So you’re meeting people where they are and and using something that they’re familiar with and comfortable with…

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — …to kind of draw them in.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — That’s really cool.

Speaker 2 — And then there was Hope City Church. They dropped 10,000 easter eggs from a helicopter.

Speaker 1 — A helicopter? Okay, that’s that’s next level.

Speaker 2 — It’s memorable.

Speaker 1 — It’s definitely memorable.

Speaker 2 — Right. It’s exciting. And it’s something people would naturally want to invite their friends to.

Speaker 1 — Right. It’s it’s something people would talk about. I can imagine people being like hey, you’ve got to come to our church. We’re dropping easter eggs from a helicopter this year.

Speaker 2 — Exactly

Speaker 1 — And they’re not even thinking about it as like, oh I’m inviting you to church. They’re thinking about it as I’m inviting you to this awesome event.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. It’s about creating an experience that’s both meaningful and fun and something that gets people talking and wanting to share it with others.

Speaker 1 — So that’s shareable weekend teaching and eventful big days. What’s the third gear in this invite culture thing?

Speaker 2 — The third gear is captivating online conversations.

Speaker 1 — Okay, so that’s that’s really relevant these days.

Speaker 2 — Very relevant.

Speaker 1 — As we think about how how present everyone is online and how much interaction we have in that digital space.

Speaker 2 — And he really emphasizes that it’s not just about live streaming your services.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — It’s really about creating genuine connections online and fostering a sense of community in that digital space.

Speaker 1 — So how do you do that? How do you translate invite culture into the online space?

Speaker 2 — Well, he actually points to groups like IF:Gathering as a great example. They really nail that native to the internet feel.

Speaker 1 — So their content It just feels it feels natural right in that digital space. It’s not like you’re trying to force a square peg into a round hole.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — It’s just it just works.

Speaker 2 — Yeah. Think you know short shareable videos, interactive discussions, visually appealing aesthetic.

Speaker 1 — So it’s it’s designed for how people actually consume content online.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — And it feels authentic and relatable.

Speaker 2 — He also mentioned some Barna research that shows people are willing to invite friends online if the experience is engaging.

Speaker 1 — So it’s not just about reaching people online.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — But it’s also about equipping…

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — …your current congregation to feel comfortable inviting others into that space.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — Okay, that makes sense like creating that digital welcome map. Okay. So gear number four -magnetic community service.

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — I think this one is really at the heart of what it means to be a church, right?

Speaker 2 — Absolutely. It’s about putting your faith into action. And serving those in need. And he makes this crucial point, it needs to be both meaningful, and fun.

Speaker 1 — It can’t just be like, you know drudgery and and you know work. People need to enjoy it.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — Want to be a part of it.

Speaker 2 — He talks about churches organizing service sprints, you know providing t-shirts, having great music, creating volunteer care teams. So you’re you’re making it an event.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — An experience that people want to be a part of

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — He also shares a powerful story about His church rallying after Super Storm Sandy.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — And it wasn’t just about helping people clean up. It was about creating community.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — It was about sharing meals.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — And it was about embodying the church’s values in a tangible way.

Speaker 2 — And it’s not just about doing good for the sake of doing good.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — It’s about making it something that people naturally want to invite their friends to join.

Speaker 1 — Yeah. They see you making a difference and they think I want to be a part of that…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …and I know my friend would too.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — Okay. What about the last gear in this invite culture framework?

Speaker 2 — The final gear is appealing volunteer service.

Speaker 1 — And that one almost feels a little counterintuitive, right, because we often think of volunteering…

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — …as something that we ask people to do…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …once the church is already thriving.

Speaker 2 — Once you have momentum.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, it’s not necessarily seen as a driver of growth. Yeah.

Speaker 2 — Yeah. But he argues that attracting volunteers is actually crucial to building an invite culture.

Speaker 1 — Okay, how so?

Speaker 2 — Well, he talks about how multi-site churches are particularly good at this.

Speaker 1 — Okay,.

Speaker 2 — When you give people ownership of a new location it creates massive buy-in.

Speaker 1 — It makes sense. Because they feel like they’re a part of something from the beginning.

Speaker 2 — From the get-go.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, they’re not just coming in after everything’s already established.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — They’re they’re part of building it from the ground up.

Speaker 2 — He mentions East Side Church’s Climbing the Assimilayas framework, which is all about moving people from being guests to being contributors.

Speaker 1 — I like that.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — It’s a good visual. So the key takeaway here is you don’t wait for growth to magically produce volunteers…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …you focus on attracting volunteers…

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — …as a way to fuel growth.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. When people feel invested in the church, they’re actively serving, contributing. They’re much more likely to invite others to be part of it.

Speaker 1 — Makes sense. They’re they’re bought-in, they’re invested. They want to share that with others.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — Okay, so we’ve we’ve covered a lot of ground just in these first five gears: shareable weekend teaching, eventful big days, captivating online conversations, magnetic community service, and appealing volunteer service.

Speaker 2 — It’s a lot.

Speaker 1 — It’s a lot. I mean, what are your initial thoughts, as you think about this framework and you think about these five gears does anything stand out to you?

Speaker 2 — I think what’s striking me is how intentional each of these gears is.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, it’s not just hoping people will invite their friends.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It’s actually creating a culture…

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — …that leads to invitation

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — So it’s it’s being proactive about it. It’s looking at everything you do from your Sunday services to your online presence to your volunteer programs through the lens of how can we make this more inviting?

Speaker 2 — And I think what’s really helpful about Birch’s approach is that he breaks it down into these manageable chunks, right?

Speaker 1 — Right.

Speaker 2 — So it feels less overwhelming.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, you can kind of focus on one gear at a time…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …and kind of master it and then move on to the next one.

Speaker 2 — So we’ll dive into some specific examples and actionable steps in the next part of our deep dive. But for now, I’d encourage you to think about which of these gears feels like the biggest opportunity for your church right now.

Speaker 1 — That’s a great question to ponder.

Speaker 2 — Where could you make a small tweak or adjustment that could have a big impact on your invite culture?

Speaker 1 — That’s fantastic. We’ll be back in just a moment to explore even more practical tips and strategies from Rich Birch’s book. Stay tuned.

Speaker 2 — Welcome back. I’m excited to kind of dig into some real world examples of churches that are putting these five gears of invite culture into practice…

Speaker 1 — Yeah me too.

Speaker 2 — …and seeing incredible results.

Speaker 1 — Let’s hear it. Give us the inside scoop. Who are some of these churches and what are they doing that’s so effective?

Speaker 2 — One church Birch highlights is Mosaic Church, which has locations all over the U.S.

Speaker 1 — Okay. Yeah.

Speaker 2 — And they’re known for their incredibly diverse and welcoming atmosphere.

Speaker 1 — I’ve heard great things about Mosaic’s. They seem to have a real knack for connecting with people who might not feel comfortable in a traditional church setting.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, they’ve really cracked the code on creating a space where everyone feels like they belong.

Speaker 1 — So what’s their secret sauce? What are they doing that’s so effective?

Speaker 2 — Well Birch points out that they’re very intentional about creating a culture where people feel comfortable inviting their friends regardless of their background or beliefs.

Speaker 1 — It’s not about fitting into a mold.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It’s about being yourself.

Speaker 2 — It’s about celebrating diversity and making everyone feel welcome and valued

Speaker 1 — So you can bring your your friend who’s you know may be a little skeptical or may be from a completely different background…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …and know that they’re going to be accepted and loved.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — That’s awesome.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — So it’s about creating a space where people can truly be themselves…

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — …and they feel safe bringing their friends into that space.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — I love that, and it’s clearly working for them.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, they’ve seen tremendous growth and a lot of it is attributed to their strong invite culture.

Speaker 1 — It’s amazing what can happen when you create that kind of environment

Speaker 2 — Absolutely. Birch also talks about New Song Community Church in Oceanside, California. And they’re a great example of a church that leverages those eventful big days we discussed earlier.

Speaker 1 — Oh, yeah those high felt need campaigns.

Speaker 2 — Yes. They’re masters at tapping into what’s already on people’s minds and creating events that address those needs in a compelling way.

Speaker 1 — So it’s not just about fun and entertainment.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It’s about offering real solutions…

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — …to the challenges people are facing.

Speaker 2 — It’s about meeting people where they are both emotionally and geographically.

Speaker 1 — I love that.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — And that approach has created this infectious energy within the church. People are excited to invite their friends because they know they’re going to experience something meaningful and impactful.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, it taps into that deep desire within people to be a part of something bigger than themselves, something that makes a difference.

Speaker 1 — Okay, so we’ve got mosaic church. We’ve got New Song Community Church. Any other churches we can learn from?

Speaker 2 — One more that stands out is Beach Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Speaker 1 — Okay

Speaker 2 — And they have a fascinating story because they were actually in decline for a while, but they managed to turn things around by focusing on building a strong outward-focused culture.

Speaker 1 — That’s encouraging.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — Proof that it’s never too late to shift gears and start building that invite culture.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely, and their ethos statement really sums up their approach: to become a connected people cultivated by Christ whose changed lives are changing lives.

Speaker 1 — I love that. So it’s about discipleship transformation and empowering people to reach out to others.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. And they’re living proof that focusing on creating that inviting life-giving culture can lead to incredible growth.

Speaker 1 — They’re a great example for churches that might be feeling discouraged or stuck.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1 — So as we’re hearing these success stories, are there any common threads?

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — Any key takeaways that we can glean from these diverse approaches?

Speaker 2 — That’s a great question. There are definitely some overarching themes that emerge from these success stories.

Speaker 1 — Okay, let’s hear them.

Speaker 2 — One thing they all seem to have in common is a deep understanding of their community.

Speaker 1 — Makes sense.

Speaker 2 — They’re not just throwing ideas at the wall and seeing what sticks. They’re taking the time to really understand the people they’re trying to reach.

Speaker 1 — So it’s like they’ve done their market research, but it goes deeper than that.

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — It’s about empathy, about really connecting with people on a human level.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — And it’s reflected in everything they do.

Speaker 2 — Right. Another thing that strikes me is that all of these churches are very intentional about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Speaker 1 — They’re not just focused on attracting new people.

Speaker 2 — Right, yeah.

Speaker 1 — They’re focused on making sure those people feel welcome, valued and loved…

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — …once they walk through the doors.

Speaker 2 — It’s about creating a sense of belonging. A feeling that this is a place where they can truly be themselves and connect with others.

Speaker 1 — So that leads to another key takeaway.

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — These churches are all about empowering their members to be inviters.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — It’s not just relying on the staff or a few key volunteers.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It’s creating a culture where everyone feels equipped and encouraged to invite their friends

Speaker 2 — Yeah, it’s about creating a movement a ripple effect that spreads throughout the community.

Speaker 1 — It’s about recognizing that everyone has a role to play in building this invite culture.

Speaker 2 — And they’re doing this in all sorts of creative ways from providing simple conversation starters to hosting invite-focused small group gatherings…

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — …to celebrating those who are actively bringing new people into the church.

Speaker 1 — It’s about making invitation the norm…

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — …not the exception.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — Okay, this is all fantastic. But I have to ask is there anything Birch says about navigating the potential pitfalls…

Speaker 2 — Oh, yeah.

Speaker 1 — …of building an invite culture?

Speaker 2 — Sure.

Speaker 1 — Because it all sounds great…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …but I can imagine there might be some challenges along the way.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — Are there any common mistakes churches make or anything leaders should be aware of as they’re trying to cultivate this kind of environment?

Speaker 2 — Yeah, you’re right. It’s not always easy and Birch doesn’t sugarcoat the potential difficulties.

Speaker 1 — Okay, good.

Speaker 2 — One challenge he addresses is the risk of becoming too focused on numbers and losing sight of the bigger picture.

Speaker 1 — That’s so easy to do, especially when you’re talking about growth and reaching new people.

Speaker 2 — It is and Birch cautions against becoming so fixated on attendance figures that you lose sight of the real goal, which is to connect people with Christ and help them grow in their faith.

Speaker 1 — So it’s about keeping the main thing the main thing

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It’s about remembering that behind every number Is a person, a soul, a story.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely. What are some of the other challenges?

Speaker 1 — Yeah, what else does he talk about?

Speaker 2 — He also talks about the importance of balancing the desire to attract new people with the need to nurture those who are already part of the church.

Speaker 1 — Right. You don’t want to create a culture where long-time members feel neglected or overlooked…

Speaker 2 — Exactly

Speaker 1 — …in pursuit of new faces.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, he emphasizes that a healthy invite culture is not about replacing existing members. It’s about expanding the circle to include more people.

Speaker 1 — I like that.

Speaker 2 — It’s about growing together as a community.

Speaker 1 — So it’s not us versus them.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It’s we.

Speaker 2 — It’s all of us together.

Speaker 1 — All of us on this journey together.

Speaker 2 — And that requires being sensitive to the needs of both long-time members and newcomers, making sure everyone feels valued and connected.

Speaker 1 — That’s a great point. It’s about creating a sense of belonging for everyone.

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — Regardless of how long they’ve been a part of the church.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely. He also acknowledges that you might encounter pushback or resistance from within the church…

Speaker 1 — Oh, yeah, I can see that.

Speaker 2 — …as you begin to implement these five gears.

Speaker 1 — People don’t always like change.

Speaker 2 — Right. Change can be difficult and not everyone might be on board with the idea of actively inviting outsiders, especially if they’re comfortable with the status quo.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, they might think, we’re doing just fine. Why rock the boat.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. So, how do you navigate that?

Speaker 1 — Yeah, how do you bring people along on the journey?

Speaker 2 — Well, he emphasizes the importance of clear communication, of explaining the why behind the shift towards invite culture.

Speaker 1 — So it’s not just telling people to invite their friends…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It’s helping them understand the vision…

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — …the purpose, the potential impact.

Speaker 2 — It’s about casting a compelling vision that resonates with people’s hearts. Not just their heads.

Speaker 1 — So you’re painting a picture of what’s possible, of the lives that could be changed, of the community that could be built if everyone embraced this idea of inviting others in.

Speaker 2 — And it might take some time.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, because people have to have to get on board with that vision.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — Okay, so that’s the why. What about the how? What are some practical tips…

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — …for actually implementing these gears?

Speaker 2 — Well, Birch is a big believer in starting small.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — Not trying to overhaul everything overnight.

Speaker 1 — So don’t try to do all five gears at once.

Speaker 2 — Right. It’s about taking incremental steps, celebrating small victories, and building momentum over time.

Speaker 1 — So it’s a process.

Speaker 2 — It is.

Speaker 1 — It’s a journey.

Speaker 2 — Yes, and it’s about being patient, recognizing that changing a church’s culture takes time, effort, and a lot of grace .

Speaker 1 — What’s something specific churches can start doing today…

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — …to move in the direction of creating a more inviting environment?

Speaker 2 — One of the simplest yet most effective things churches can do is to simply start using language that encourages invitation in all of their communications.

Speaker 1 — Oh, okay So instead of just saying come to our new series…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …you say: invite a friend to our new series.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. It’s subtle but it shifts the mindset from inward to outward.

Speaker 1 — It normalizes the idea of invitation.

Speaker 2 — Yes and you can do this in your bulletins, on your website, in your announcement.

Speaker 1 — It’s just kind of weaving it into the fabric of how you communicate.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely. He also suggests leveraging small groups and teams as a way to create natural accountability and support for inviting.

Speaker 1 — So instead of just relying on announcements from the pulpit…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …you’re creating a culture where inviting is happening organically…

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — …within those smaller communities. I like that. And of course don’t forget to celebrate success.

Speaker 2 — Yes, celebrate.

Speaker 1 — Make sure you’re acknowledging and appreciating those who are actively inviting others.

Speaker 2 — It reinforces that this is a value that your church embraces and celebrates. It creates a positive feedback loop

Speaker 1 — The more you celebrate it, the more people will do it.

Speaker 2 — The more likely people are to keep doing it.

Speaker 1 — Yeah.

Speaker 2 — …and it helps create a contagious enthusiasm that can spread throughout the church.

Speaker 1 — This has been such a great overview of the potential challenges and rewards of building an invite culture. As we wrap up this part of our deep dive, what’s one final thought you’d leave with our listeners?

Speaker 2 — Okay.

Speaker 1 — Something to really chew on as they start putting these ideas into practice.

Speaker 2 — What’s really resonated with me throughout this conversation is Birch’s belief that a thriving invite culture isn’t just about getting more people in the door.

Speaker 1 — It’s about more than just numbers.

Speaker 2 — Right. It’s about moving beyond a consumeristic mindset when it comes to church.

Speaker 1 — So it’s not just about what we get out of church…

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — …it’s about what we can give back…

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — …how we can contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. It’s about shifting from being passive consumers to becoming active participants, inviting others to join us on this journey of faith and transformation.

Speaker 1 — And when that happens, something truly remarkable is unleashed.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. It’s about creating a movement of love grace and generosity that extends far beyond the walls of the church building and into the very heart of the community.

Speaker 1 — We’ll be back in a moment to unpack some practical strategies for putting these five gears into action.

Speaker 1 — All right. Welcome back to the final part of our deep dive into Rich Birch’s Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture. We’ve talked about the why, we’ve looked at some inspiring examples, but now let’s get down to the how.

Speaker 2 — Exactly, let’s get practical

Speaker 1 — What are some tangible steps our listeners can take right now to cultivate that magnetic inviting atmosphere in their churches?

Speaker 2 — Birch is all about practical application. And he packs the book with actionable advice. But for our deep dive today, let’s zoom in on some key takeaways for each of the five gears we’ve discussed.

Speaker 1 — Sounds good to me. Let’s break it down gear by gear, starting with shareable weekend teaching.

Speaker 2 — Okay, great.

Speaker 1 — We’ve already talked about making those sermons relevant, authentic, really hitting those felt needs. What else can churches do to turn those Sunday messages into something people can’t wait to share?

Speaker 2 — One thing Birch highlights is being strategic about how you promote those messages. Are you simply announcing the topic? Or are you giving people a sneak peek into how it will connect with their lives, the lives of their friends?

Speaker 1 — Yeah, it’s like those movie trailers.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — You know, you see a good trailer and you’re like, I have to see that movie.

Speaker 2 — Gotta see it.

Speaker 1 — You’ve got to know what happens.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — So, how do we create those kind of trailers for our sermons?

Speaker 2 — Birch offers a whole menu of promotional tactics. Give us a taste. For instance, imagine sending a text blast a week before a series kicks off.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — Encourage people to reply with the name of someone they plan to invite.

Speaker 1 — I like that.

Speaker 2 — Gets people thinking about inviting right from the get-go.

Speaker 1 — It’s so simple, but it plants that seed.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — It gets them thinking outwardly.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — What about after the sermon is over. How do you keep those conversations going?

Speaker 2 — Birch is a huge proponent of providing follow-up resources that are easy to share.

Speaker 1 — So things like?

Speaker 2 — Discussion guides, social media graphics, even short video clips of key takeaways. All of this can help extend the conversation beyond Sunday morning and into people’s everyday lives.

Speaker 1 — It’s equipping them to share the message in a way that feels natural.

Speaker 2 — Exactly, not just handing them a bulletin and hoping for the best.

Speaker 1 — Right, and maybe even think about having the teaching pastor record a short behind-the-scenes video…

Speaker 2 — That’s a great idea.

Speaker 1 — …about the series. Let them share their heart for the message. Why they think it will resonate with people.

Speaker 2 — That personal touch can go a long way.

Speaker 1 — Okay, that’s great. Let’s shift gears now to eventful big days.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — We had some fun with those over the top examples: helicopter egg drops…

Speaker 2 — Right. While those might not be for every church, the principle behind them is gold.

Speaker 1 — Okay

Speaker 2 — It’s about being creative thinking outside the box and leveraging those cultural moments when people are naturally more open to invitations.

Speaker 1 — So thinking about like what’s already generating buzz.

Speaker 2 — Exactly, and how you can tap into that energy.

Speaker 1 — So you don’t necessarily have to reinvent the wheel.

Speaker 2 — Right. You’re just finding those existing opportunities and putting your own spin on them,

Speaker 1 — Right. And it doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate.

Speaker 2 — No, it doesn’t.

Speaker 1 — Even something as simple as a themed potluck or a movie night…

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — …can be a great way to attract new people and create a natural environment. And what’s powerful about those big days is that they create a shared experience.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, something people can talk about afterwards.

Speaker 2 — Something they can bond over.

Speaker 1 — All right. Let’s jump into captivating online conversations. This is where I think a lot of churches feel both excited and overwhelmed.

Speaker 2 — Oh, absolutely.

Speaker 1 — There are just so many platforms and trends.

Speaker 2 — It can be a lot.

Speaker 1 — Where do you even begin? What’s Birch’s advice?

Speaker 2 — He encourages us to think about creating content that is native to the internet.

Speaker 1 — Okay. So what does that mean?

Speaker 2 — In other words, you need to understand how people consume content online, and tailor your approach accordingly.

Speaker 1 — It needs to feel authentic…

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — …relatable and designed for how people are actually engaging.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. Like we talked about before, it’s about meeting people where they are.

Speaker 1 — He mentioned IF:Gathering as a prime example of a ministry doing this well.

Speaker 2 — Yes, their content feels so organic to the platform. Think short shareable videos, interactive discussions, visually appealing aesthetic.

Speaker 1 — It just feels like a natural extension of their ministry, not an afterthought.

Speaker 2 — Right, exactly.

Speaker 1 — It’s important because people can spot in authenticity a mile away.

Speaker 2 — Especially online.

Speaker 1 — Yeah.

Speaker 2 — Yeah.

Speaker 1 — What about social media specifically?

Speaker 2 — Birch encourages churches to think beyond just posting announcements or sermon quotes.

Speaker 1 — Okay, so what else?

Speaker 2 — How can you use social media to spark conversations, share inspiring stories, and highlight the real-life impact your church is having?

Speaker 1 — It’s about creating content that people actually want to engage with.

Speaker 2 — Yes, he talks about using humor, asking questions, responding genuinely to comments, really being social.

Speaker 1 — Be social on social media.

Speaker 2 — Exactly!

Speaker 1 — Novel idea, right?

Speaker 2 — It is.

Speaker 1 — I like it. He also suggests leveraging those those social media holidays. You know National Donut Day, International Dog Day. It might seem silly.

Speaker 2 — It does. It’s a fun way to create light-hearted content that people are more likely to share.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, you know and tag their friends in.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — Okay, I’ve got to admit those are always my favorite posts to see.

Speaker 2 — Mine, too.

Speaker 1 — It humanizes the church.

Speaker 2 — It does, makes it feel more approachable.

Speaker 1 — Okay on to magnetic community service. We’ve talked about making these events both meaningful and fun. What are some specific things churches can do to create those irresistible service experiences?

Speaker 2 — Birch emphasizes starting by truly understanding the needs of your community.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — Connect with local leaders schools or non-profits. Find out what the most pressing issues are it’s about being a good neighbor…

Speaker 1 — Demonstrating that you care.

Speaker 2 — Yes. He tells the story about a pastor who asked the mayor what the biggest need in their city was.

Speaker 1 — Oh, wow.

Speaker 2 — And the mayor was taken aback. Apparently no one had ever asked him that before.

Speaker 1 — That’s amazing.

Speaker 2 — It’s a simple question.

Speaker 1 — Yeah.

Speaker 2 — Yeah, but it speaks volumes about the church’s posture.

Speaker 1 — It’s about being proactive not reactive.

Speaker 2 — Exactly.

Speaker 1 — And then of course, there’s the fun factor.

Speaker 2 — Oh, yes.

Speaker 1 — We got to make it fun. Big t-shirts, great music, maybe even a dedicated volunteer care team.

Speaker 2 — Yes, to make everyone feel appreciated.

Speaker 1 — Birch is a big fan of those service sprints, too.

Speaker 2 — Oh, yeah.

Speaker 1 — Those short focused bursts of activity.

Speaker 2 — Much less intimidating.

Speaker 1 — Yeah, than a long-term commitment.

Speaker 2 — Right. It’s about making it doable, enjoyable, something people will naturally want to invite their friends to.

Speaker 1 — Create that camaraderie…

Speaker 2 — Positive energy.

Speaker 1 — Okay, last gear – appealing volunteer service. This is the one that feels a little counterintuitive.

Speaker 2 — Right.

Speaker 1 — But we’ve talked about how vital it is for building an invite culture.

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — What are some specific things churches can do to create those, I want to be a part of that volunteer opportunities.

Speaker 2 — It starts with having a clear and streamlined onboarding process.

Speaker 1 — Okay.

Speaker 2 — Make it easy for people to sign up, understand their role, and feel equipped to serve.

Speaker 1 — So no one wants to feel lost or confused when they’re trying to get involved. It’s like rolling out the red carpet for your volunteers.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. Create a welcoming environment. Supportive, provide adequate training, make sure they feel like valued members of the team.

Speaker 1 — Make them feel appreciated. And just like with those community service events, think about ways to create opportunities for volunteers to connect outside of their serving roles.

Speaker 2 — That’s a great idea.

Speaker 1 — Host social gatherings.

Speaker 2 — Yes. Team building activities.

Speaker 1 — It’s about creating a sense of community

Speaker 2 — Not just checking tasks off a list.

Speaker 1 — And don’t forget to celebrate and appreciate your volunteers.

Speaker 2 — Absolutely.

Speaker 1 — Make it clear that their contributions are essential.

Speaker 2 — Yes.

Speaker 1 — It goes a long way in creating that culture where serving is seen as a joy, a privilege…

Speaker 2 — It really does.

Speaker 1 — …a way to connect and make a difference. This has been such a fantastic deep dive. We’ve covered so much ground from the big picture concepts to the nitty-gritty steps. What’s a final nugget of wisdom you’d leave with our listeners?

Speaker 2 — I think the most important takeaway from Rich Birch’s book and from our conversation today is that creating a thriving invite culture is a marathon not a sprint.

Speaker 1 — It’s about small changes consistently applied over time.

Speaker 2 — Exactly. So don’t get overwhelmed trying to do everything at once.

Speaker A — Start small. Pick one gear to focus on.

Speaker 2 — Yes. And build from there.

Speaker 1 — And he talks about the aggregation of marginal gains It’s the idea that small improvements in a lot of areas can add up to a significant advantage.

Speaker 2 — Right. It’s all those little things.

Speaker 1 — You’re not looking for that magic bullet.

Speaker 2 — Nope.

Speaker 1 — You’re cultivating a culture.

Speaker 2 — And that takes time, intentionality, and a whole lot of grace.

Speaker 1 — And speaking of going deeper, if you’re ready to really dive into these ideas, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Rich Birch’s Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture. It’s full of even more insights examples and actionable steps you can start implementing today.

Speaker 2 — It’s a great resource.

Speaker 1 — Well, it’s been such a pleasure unpacking these ideas with you. And until next time, keep diving deep and keep unlocking that invite culture.