Does what it says on the tin! Steve would speak on subjects that the leaders request, or discuss ideas together.

In a church context, a subject might lend itself to a short series of two or three Sundays.

One-to-one mentoring for a church pastor or senior leader, once or twice a month, in one-hour slots, usually online. You set the agenda, but the content could include discussing theological topics; advice on issues and challenges that you’re facing in the church; how to handle difficult subjects; sermon advice; developing teaching programs; providing teaching materials; and so on.

Helping a church’s pastors and leaders respond wisely and well to some of the “tough questions” about Christian faith—many of which reflect a move away from the modern worldview that has characterized the church’s missional environment for the past century into an increasingly postmodern worldview. How do we respond to that, biblically and faithfully?

Steve has also helped churches draft or revise a statement of faith.

In-person theology days or theology weekends hosted by a church or group of churches. This could be a one-day event (morning and afternoon) or a whole weekend from Friday evening or Saturday morning thru the Sunday service(s). The teaching is pitched at the “ordinary Christian” level (no prior theology training required). Steve’s goal with all of his teaching is that it should be accessible, practical, and relevant—not dull or boring! The day would include interactive workshops, Q&A, and feedback.

Guest Speaker for a residential retreat, either for the whole church or for its leadership team (with the teaching material shaped accordingly).

Steve offers management consulting services to Christian organizations, bringing together his business background and his experience as a pastor and theologian.

One of the greatest challenges for church trustees is how to manage the process of transitioning to new pastoral leadership when the incumbent resigns or retires (which may be planned or unplanned). At best, this offers an exciting opportunity for a church to move into a new phase; at worst, it can be a crisis situation. Having been personally involved in several successful transitions, Steve has significant personal experience to offer to a church’s trustees in terms of advice, hands-on pastoral involvement to help manage the interim period, and interviewing and recruiting successor pastors.

Sunday preaching remains a key cornerstone of most churches’ teaching and training, but for most people, it doesn’t come naturally. Steve offers a preaching training course either as a concentrated one-day event or spread over a short series of weekday evenings. The content is aimed at multiple audiences: those who haven’t preached but would maybe one day like to; those who have already preached but would like some pointers for doing it better; and those who would like to learn more about what’s involved in preaching just for interest. It’s surprisingly popular for that last category.

The course is a great way to help launch a church preaching team (not least because, as a visiting speaker, Steve can say a few things that the church leader might not feel able to!) :-)

Several churches have successfully run midweek, small-group-style book clubs for a term, working through chapters in one of Steve’s books—in particular, How to Read the Bible Well—with the group coming together to chat about that week’s reading, either in-person or online. Steve can provide a reading plan and either lead all the sessions or a Q&A evening on the final week. An alternative approach is for Steve to provide teaching in person each week on subjects based on the book, with interactive group work and Q&A. A six- to eight-week series works well.

Visiting a church to meet with its leaders, experience its services and activities, explore its vision for growth, assess the opportunities and constraints, and suggest practical ways forward. A helpful “second pair of eyes” for church leaders and trustees, with either a written or oral report and recommended action points.