Stephen G. Knopp II

  • Until Apple Or Dyson Make A Humidifier

    Here we go again! The break from blogging over the holiday season was nice and now I’m ready to get back at it with lots of thoughts and ideas to share—most of which I hope you find thought-provoking and even helpful at times. If you have (or have had in the past) young children in…

  • Love Your Neighbors

    I had planned to forgo the blog this week and dedicate that block of time, which normally goes to creating this content, to planning for the future of 801South. But, I just have to share what God is doing in us and through us to transform the world, one life at a time, through Jesus…

  • Maybe The Difference Between ASK and DO is YOU

    A tension we experience in living a lift of faith can be summed up by two similar but very different statements: 1. God can. 2. God will. I certainly don’t have all the answers here. Instead, I want to share my experience and others in whom I’ve witnessed a similar story. I just know that…

  • The Three Characteristics of Quality People

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    What is the most valuable resource to your organization? There are lots of different answers—all of which might be important, but let me go ahead and tell you the right answer—people. The people are the most valuable resource in any organization. In my context, we rely heavily on people who serve on the church staff…

  • Bragging Rights

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    Do you mind if I brag a little bit? People tend not to appreciate this question as a conversation starter. “Here we go, let’s hear about how things are so good for you and how your life is so perfect right now” is the thought that generally follows. But did you know the Bible actually…

  • Making Baking and Faking Culture

    Do you ever stop to consider the culture of your business, nonprofit organization, home, or any of the other spaces you occupy? According to dictionary.com, culture is the sum of behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular group of people. Every organization demonstrates elements of a particular culture that has developed over time. Churches, for…

  • Battling Entitlement

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    Do you know the names of your neighbors? Are you concerned for the wellbeing of those who live around you? I was recently invited to attend an event here in south Charlotte called A Gathering For The City. A couple dozen local pastors filled the backroom of a trendy breakfast spot as we listened to…

  • Advocate, Apathetic, or Curmudgeon?

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    A few weeks ago, one of our leaders here at Matthews United Methodist Church closed a meeting using a concept with which I was previously unfamiliar. He spoke about a principle used in business called NPS, which stands for Net Promoter Score. The NPS illustrates the level at which people are promoting your service, product,…

  • I Don’t Like Volunteers…

    …the word, not the people. We regularly use the word volunteer in the church and non-profit world. We use this word to refer to anyone who does work for the sake of the mission, but does not get paid. You hear about volunteers all the time. “How do we get more volunteers?” “Our volunteers are…

  • Four Popular Trends You Need To Ignore If Over 30

    Rather than a deep, lengthy theological essay for this week’s post, I’d like to share some thoughts inspired by a recent conversation with my best friend around some cultural trends for which he and I (both 33 years of age) are sadly too old to enjoy. Hopefully you will receive this list of four trends…