Ryan Paulson

husband to kelly. dad to ethan, avery and reid. pastor. outdoor lover. sports fanatic. coffee drinker. reader, runner, and connisseur of fine(ish) mexican food.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

@LizzieMarbach @cloudsurfer118 @paleochristcon Yes, what he meant by “overwhelming” was “not overwhelming.”

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

@paleochristcon Technically, it was 0/7.

[Luke Simmons @lukedsimmons]

This year we started doing something at church that has become one of the most life-giving parts of my month.

We call it an "ownership lunch."

Here's a little bit about how it works & why it's so valuable.

How it works:

1. About a month in advance, we invite 10-12 highly committed people to come have lunch with me and a few of our pastors.

2. We cater a simple meal (slightly elevated quality — not over the top, but not burgers & hot dogs).

3. Four rectangle tables are set up in a square so everyone can see and hear each other.

4. After everyone is served, we go around the circle and people share: (1) what they do during the week, (2) how they are involved at church, and (3) one thing the church has meant to them.

5. Then I share for about 5 minutes about some things that are coming up and vision for the next season. This is usually more off-the-cuff than scripted, though I'm certainly intentional about it.

6. Then we open it up to any questions. "Is there anything going on that you've wondered about or that would help to have more information on?"

7. We have a card where we collect a prayer request from each person at the end and commit to spend the next month praying for them.

8. We schedule it for 75 minutes and be sure to end on time, but many people end up lingering.

Why it's so valuable:

• It's a great window into how God is at work — we inevitably hear things we didn't know that are an evidence of grace.

• It reconnects me to my calling — as people share what the church has meant to them, I always hear things that remind me why I'm grateful to have planted the church and love pastoring it.

• It deepens relationships with people who are too easily be taken for granted — the squeaky wheels usually get the grease (in the form of new and going-through-junk people). But I don't want to take these folks for granted.

• It honors people who deserve honor — people always feel honored to get an unexpected invitation to this, and it's a sweet way to love and honor some of our best people.

• It connects & networks people into new relationships — in a large church, not everyone knows each other. But everyone leaves with more layers of connection and possible friendship.

• It forces me to keep casting vision — I know I'll have a moment where I'm expected to share about where we're headed. That pressure keeps me looking ahead.

—

I highly recommend this kind of experience, especially for any pastor leading a church of 300+ people.

Every single time I leave it thinking, "I love these people, and I love my job."

I also want to thank the team at Lakepointe Church who introduced this idea to me. It's been a profound gift this year.

Follow me @lukedsimmons for more tools and resources for healthy pastoral ministry.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

This is so good!

[Dane Ortlund @daneortlund]

For those who asked, these are my 39 preaching rules through which I run every sermon.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

@albertmohler @WNGdotorg Eat of the tree and you die (Gen 2:17)

The wages of sin is death… (Rm 6:23)

The lake of fire is the second death. (Rev 20:14)

People can debate the nature of what is meant by “death,” the eternal punishment for the unrighteous is defined throughout Scripture as death.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

@afterall_net @albertmohler @WNGdotorg @datechris Absolutely. @albertmohler was absolutely destroyed in this debate.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

this is so true! "Sometimes the only way we can enter the deeper dimensions of the journey is by being unable to ... https://t.co/EYvRZ5IKMg

[Rich Villodas @richvillodas]

Evangelical Christianity in the United States is often characterized by a deep desire to have “Christianity” pervade our culture but not have Christ permeate our being.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

that is a great analogy "If ministry is encountering the heat and light of an uncontrollable sun, Church, Inc. is... https://t.co/LNzKaychkv

[AJ Sherrill @ajsherrill]

We are drowning in freedoms but thirsting for meaning

@SayersMark
(REAPPEARING CHURCH)

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

Back to our favorite donut shop. We are doing Saturday right! @ Peterson's Donut Corner https://t.co/eqkWEhbSZ3

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

so true. "I’ve often repeated the slogan, the good times make us friends, the bad times make us family." https://t.co/Ln1PZRjmS0

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

https://t.co/59DaGAl5Wu

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

Amen.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

Well, ready or not, today’s the day. The moving truck is coming to load all of our belongings and begin the process of moving us to CA. I’m so grateful for 7 amazing years in this house and neighborhood. It’s so hard… https://t.co/g0O2AGS42X

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

This is so true and important. "There is more to the Christian faith and the Christian life than going to church ... https://t.co/kBMrYSy74y

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

Massive accident on Pena Blvd. has us sitting in traffic and it’s looking like we’re going to miss our flight. Please pray that we make it. 😭😭🙏🙏 @ Denver International Airport https://t.co/Hm2ANqW4iU

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
Such a good and needed reminder this morning. https://t.co/fpeOvNYPba

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

@JonTyson @JennerJr93 @CTmagazine @timkellernyc @AaronBjorklund - this is the part in Prodigal God that I was referring to.

[Ryan Paulson @ryanepaulson]

Sick to my stomach. https://t.co/vN3Z0EAOFN