All week we've been counting down the top read blog posts of 2011 [that were originally posted in 2011].

The #1 read blog post of 2011 is.... 5 Reasons a Church or Organization Stops Growing by Ron Edmondson!

I was talking with a church recently that had explosive growth, but things have slowed.  They wanted to know why they were not growing any longer.

I decided to share my quick answer here.

Obviously, God is ultimately in charge of a churches growth.  There are times where God is giving a season of rest and preparation for a church for something to come. In some situations, God may have even taken His hand from the church.

The stats have spoken for the best post 2011 but what was YOUR choice for best blog post of 2011? What would you like to see in 2012?

These next 10 days of posts are going to be the top read blog posts of 2011 [that were originally posted in 2011].

#2 | 8 Thoughts for 20 Somethings... by Brad Lomenick

1. Learn it, relearn it, and then learn it again. Just because you are out of school doesn't mean you quit learning. Be a lifelong learner.

2. Being an expert is quickly fading in the current culture. Everyone is an expert these days because of technology and connectivity. Don't put your hope in being an expert, since now more than ever there is someone else who knows way more than you do.

Read the rest of that conversation here! What else would you add?

These next 10 days of posts are going to be the top read blog posts of 2011 [that were originally posted in 2011].

#3 | 7 Random Pieces of Advice for the Younger Leader by Ron Edmondson

I love working with younger leaders. It keeps me young and it helps to know I'm investing in something and someone who will likely last beyond my lifetime. I want to share some things I've learned from experience. Some of it hard experiences.

Here's a random list of practical advice for young leaders.

If you can learn and practice these early in your career it will help you avoid having to learn them by experience.

Read the rest of that conversation here! What else would you add?

These next 10 days of posts are going to be the top read blog posts of 2011 [that were originally posted in 2011].

#4 | 10 Characteristics of Great Teams by Brad Lomenick

I recently talked about A Few Keys for Being a Great Teammate. Focusing on how you should approach being on a team.

But what about actually the team itself? What actually makes a great team? We’ve all been on teams, whether in school, in athletics, in our churches, organizations, and communities. We’ve watched great teams win championships, we’ve marveled at their ability to create amazing resources, new technology, and jaw-dropping experiences.

There are lots of qualities that make up a great team, but thought I would point out ten that seem to be consistently evident across the board.

Read the rest of that conversation here! What else would you add?

These next 10 days of posts are going to be the top read blog posts of 2011 [that were originally posted in 2011].

#5 | 8 Reasons Your Church is Stuck by Tony Morgan

Have you ever been stuck? I mean really stuck.

Having grown up in the snow belt of Ohio, I had plenty of opportunities to experience what it means to be stuck. When your car is buried under a couple of feet of snow, it doesn’t matter what the color of the car is or what style of music is playing on the car radio--that’s not going to make a difference. The only thing that’s going to help is grabbing a shovel, clearing a path and throwing down some sand to gain traction.

Read the rest of that conversation here! What else would you add?