Church Life
Showing 451–500 of 639 resultsSorted by latest
-
Cruciform Church : Becoming A Cross Shaped People In A Secular World (Anniversar
$28.31This new edition of The Cruciform Church finds Churches of Christ at a quite different place than they were sixteen years ago when the book was first released. On the one hand, our culture is more clearly post-modern and post-Christian. All of the Christian players today are finding themselves cultural outsiders, much like the earliest Christians. We are waking up to the reality that we are in a missionary situation in our own culture, and this is forcing us (slowly, by fits and starts) to rethink our priorities and our mission. On the other hand, Churches of Christ themselves are engaging more and more in the kind of healthy theological rethinking that this book called for back in 1990. Many congregations are shedding the sectarian or exclusivist outlook, gaining new appreciation for their heritage, refocusing on the central doctrines of the faith, and entering into serious dialogue about carrying out the mission of God in this new time…Perhaps this new edition can continue to provide stimulus and guidance as the adventure continues. Toward that end, this edition contains a new chapter, “Last(ing) Things,” that seeks to show the close relationship between eschatology and discipleship, between one’s view of the coming kingdom of God and the cruciform life.” – From Allen’s Preface to the Revised Edition
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Ask Thank Tell
$31.66Designed especially for use in congregational planning and study.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Churchmarketing 101 : Preparing Your Church For Greater Growth (Reprinted)
$22.00Seeks to demystify questions about why some churches grow and some do not, while helping churches to recognize and remove roadblocks they set for visitors.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Christian Woman Set Free
$14.95Seventeen hundred years is enough! Edwards leads the call to vanquish the inequality of women in the kingdom of God. His weapons of revelation? History, the Greek language, and his own witness of women in churches who are free.
The author challenges Christian ministers to take up the cause of eliminating inequality in the church and dare to discover what happens in the body of Christ when all members function.
The author goes to the root of our present-day Bible translations and lays the axe to the centuries-old tree of mistranslation. You will be shocked to discover that the King James Version does not say what the original Greek text said about women in Paul’s letters (and neither do most other Bible translations).
This book brings to light the mindset that has held both women and men prisoners of misconceptions through the centuries. Reading The Christian Woman…Set Free liberates the reader of any doubt regarding a woman’s place in the kingdom of God. (You will be awed as you see that the greatest friend of women in all of human history, the Lord Jesus Christ, broke all the rules of his day in regard to the treatment of women.)
Best of all, what makes The Christian Woman…Set Free unique is that it is not based on theory, nor is it an intellectual treatise. It is a revolutionary document forged on the anvil of the author’s experiences in daily church life. Edwards writes from a matrix where equality is a way of life and full participation in the church is the territory of both men and women. Edwards give you the practical how-to of the way to experience this freedom in your gathering. There are testimonies in the book of women who experience freedom to share in all the functions of the church. In their churches there is no specific leader, but all are joint leaders.
The Christian Woman…Set Free is a fast paced, high-energy book that takes dead aim at the very foundation of our present-day mindset concerning women and men in church life.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Descubra Sus Dones Y Talentos – (Spanish)
$4.99In order to minister effectively, the believer should discover and use his gifts.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Whats Theology Got To Do With It
$50.00Theology can be a loaded word for mainline Protestant congregations. It often suggests the dogmatic or implies fault lines for conflict. But when unleashed from its narrow academic sense, “theology” offers a powerful way to get at many of the issues that impact the health and vitality of congregations.
Anthony Robinson carefully defines theology as the “core convictions” that help members of a congregation understand their common perspective and shared identity. Theology is the foundational Christian experience, the wisdom that both forms and transforms lives. Rather than avoiding theology, congregations should openly express their beliefs and values to clarify their purpose, argues Robinson. Instead of trying to define the boundaries of belief, a “center-set” congregation will zero in on a reasonably clear core faith.
He examines the problems that occur when congregations are reluctant to focus on theology and are unsure of their beliefs. They risk having a weak identity with nothing at stake. They risk being little more than an exclusive social club. Absent core convictions, structure replaces Spirit, indirection replaces healthy dialogue, and agendas replace leadership.
Central to the book is the notion that Christianity is a revealed religion apart from our own personal preferences. The Bible as Scripture offers a doorway to God and a critical unifying narrative. The Trinity, as a powerful metaphor, provides a balanced approach to fulfilling a congregation’s purpose. Core convictions about God as creator, the person and work of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are crucial to a congregational vitality.
Too many mainline Protestant churches are theologically “underfunded.” Congregations are strengthened when what they believe backs what they do. Indeed, theology, it turns out, has everything to do with it.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Wonder Of Worship
$28.73Worship is ground zero for spiritual warfare and affects every part of the believer’s life. The Wonder of Worship defines true, acceptable worship, its real purpose, and the three things necessary for worship to occur. Starting with the basics of what it means to worship God in spirit and truth, The Wonder of Worship discusses the relationship of the Christian’s private worship and public worship experiences. In the process it explores the practical side of worship, worship preparation, and even the format for public worship. Ultimately, worship that is pleasing to God does not depend on the contemporary believer’s worship practices or preferences. It all comes down to the Person of worship. Jesus is the One who makes true worship a wonder to enjoy, now and in eternity. He is the Wonder of Worship.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Wonder Of Worship
$18.73Worship is ground zero for spiritual warfare and affects every part of the believer’s life. The Wonder of Worship defines true, acceptable worship, its real purpose, and the three things necessary for worship to occur. Starting with the basics of what it means to worship God in spirit and truth, The Wonder of Worship discusses the relationship of the Christian’s private worship and public worship experiences. In the process it explores the practical side of worship, worship preparation, and even the format for public worship. Ultimately, worship that is pleasing to God does not depend on the contemporary believer’s worship practices or preferences. It all comes down to the Person of worship. Jesus is the One who makes true worship a wonder to enjoy, now and in eternity. He is the Wonder of Worship.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Journals Of Dr Thomas Coke
$47.99Represents an important firsthand perspective on early Methodist activities in the New World.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Hearts To Heaven And Tempers Raise
$14.49Like a favourite TV comedy series, Reg Frary returns with another collection of all-too believable stories about anarchy and revolt waiting to break out in the choirstalls. They may look angelic in their robes, and may (on rare occasions) even sound like angels, but it’s a dirty game keeping one step ahead of the vicar’s trendy ideas and the choir director’s aspirations to dictatorship. It all necessitates frequent councils of war down at the Dog and Duck after practice…
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Philippians And The Call To Biblical Fellowship (Student/Study Guide)
$24.36This twelve-week inductive Bible study examines the book of Philippians, Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. Incorporated in this in-depth study is a look at the life of the Apostle Paul and the founding of the Philippian church. Each lesson studies the call to biblical fellowship, looking at one of the “one another” commands written to the Christian church. What it means to love others is taught through the “one another” commands. Each lesson includes the challenge to apply Scripture so that believers become closer to the Lord and more mature in their faith. Sunergos Bible Studies offer reflections in Scripture as a time of worship for the conclusion to each day. Students have various options for completing the study. When a group is meeting weekly to discuss the lessons, each student will benefit from the suggested review discussions in the leader’s guide.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Welcome Pastor : Building A Productive Pastor Congregation Partnership In 4
$16.18A 40-day devotional guide to help churches with new pastors strengthen their relationships with God and one another. Much time, effort, and prayer goes into selecting a new pastor. However many pastors get off to a poor start because the members of the congregation and the new pastor don???t have an effective means for getting to know each other.
This study helps congregations and pastors get off on the right foot and build a successful partnership that starts strong and endures. A poorly begun pastor-congregation relationship results in hurt and frustration, eventually lurching to a miserable conclusion. Churches invest a lot into finding a pastor, and this book will help make sure your church gets the relationship off to a great start.
Getting a new pastor off to a good start is critical to the over 100,000 churches facing changes in leadership each year. This 40-day congregation-wide study provides the foundation for a successful ministry partnership.
“Welcome Pastor” is the first book to offer a clear, simple process for building a successful partnership between a new pastor and a congregation. Its combination of devotional readings and dialogue is easy and pleasurable to read without being simplistic or trite.
People Who Will Benefit From This Book
Congregational Group Study
Pastors and Church Leaders
Pastoral Search Committees
Denominational Leaders
Seminaries: Teaachers and StudentsAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Revival : Gods Proven Method Of Awakening His Church
$18.73God longs to send a nationwide revival wherever He finds a people totally obedient to His will and given to desperate prayer. Revival-God’s Proven Method of Awakening His Church is the result of the author being deeply touched by God for revival, which led to his becoming involved in the awakening experienced in central India in 1969. In this study you’ll find examples of God’s response to the prevailing prayer of His people in the Old and New Testaments, in church history, and in Europe, Asia, and America, as well as His work in the lives of individuals, churches, and colleges in America and large areas of many nations-all of which have been changed by the work of His Spirit. In answer to God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people will…I will…,” Christians in India prayed and God answered. Even so, our hearts resonate with Habakkuk, as he prayed, “In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by” (LB).
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Growing Your Faith By Giving It Away
$19.99SKU (ISBN): 9780830832620ISBN10: 0830832629R. York MooreBinding: Trade PaperPublished: August 2005Publisher: InterVarsity Press Print On Demand Product
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
New Testament Church And Its Ministries
$12.99New Testament Church And It Ministries lays out God’s plan for the church’s construction and His concern for the active involvement of every member in their ministry and calling. Emphasizing the function of the members, each of the five-fold ministries is defined and developed in the context of its function in the Body of Christ..
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Understanding Church Growth (Revised)
$34.99Author Donald A. McGavran is considered a founder of the Church Growth Movement in America. In this 3rd edition of his standard work, McGavaran analyzes the causes, methods and strategies for successful church growth both in America and abroad.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church
$24.99A perceptive evaluation of the new “emerging church” movement showing how we must not only interact with a fast-changing culture but also have our vision and practice of ministry shaped by biblical theology with Scripture as the norm.
From the Back Cover
A careful and informed assessment of the “emerging church” by a respected author and scholar
The “emerging church” movement has generated a lot of excitement and exerts an astonishingly broad influence. Is it the wave of the future or a passing fancy? Who are the leaders and what are they saying?The time has come for a mature assessment. D. A. Carson not only gives those who may be unfamiliar with it a perceptive introduction to the emerging church movement, but also includes a skillful assessment of its theological views. Carson addresses some troubling weaknesses of the movement frankly and thoughtfully, while at the same time recognizing that it has important things to say to the rest of Christianity. The author strives to provide a perspective that is both honest and fair.
Anyone interested in the future of the church in a rapidly changing world will find this an informative and stimulating read.
D. A. Carson (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of over 45 books, including the Gold Medallion Award-winning book The Gagging of God, and is general editor of Telling the Truth and Worship by the Book. He has served as a pastor and is an active guest lecturer in church and academic settings around the world.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Change Of Pastors (Revised)
$38.33Revised Edition Of Critical Moment Of Ministry: Change Of Pastors
Twenty years after Critical Moment of Ministry was first published, Loren Mead returns to his groundbreaking work on one of the most important times in a congregation’s life-the time between one pastor’s leaving and another’s arrival. In this revised edition, A Change of Pastors, Mead shares the wisdom he gained from 35 years of studying congregations, wisdom that he hopes will allow congregations to take full advantage of this “extraordinarily pregnant moment” during which incredible congregational change can happen.With the voice of an old friend and trusted counselor, Mead leads his readers through the challenges of forming committees, negotiating denominational relations, and managing the search process. He describes in detail the seven sequential steps congregations ought to take to ensure a smooth transition: termination, direction finding, self-study, search, decision/negotiation, installation, and start-up. Additionally, Mead devotes a chapter to nonsequential developmental tasks, tasks that should take place throughout the transition and into the congregation’s future: coming to terms with the past, discovering a new identity, allowing for needed leadership changes, rediscovering the denomination, and commitment to new directions in ministry. Performing these developmental tasks in concert with the seven sequential steps allows congregations to take full advantage of this fertile time for change in the congregation, this “critical moment of ministry.”
A revised text and introduction, an updated bibliography, and a new preface and afterword make A Change of Pastors crucial for any congregation undergoing or about to undergo a change of pastors. In the midst of this transition, there is no doubt that your congregation will find a new pastor. But this book will help you to do more than merely find a hired hand to manage the preaching and the worship. You will discover what God wants you to be and do. You will find a new commitment to ministry. And you will find the pastor who will help make that ministry happen.
Loren B. Mead is president emeritus of the Alban Institute, which he founded in 1974. Since his retirement in 1993, he has continued to consult with congregations, lecture, and write. He has written many books, including The Once and Future Church: Reinventing the Church for a New Mission Frontier (Alban, 1991).
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Postindustrial Promise : Vital Religious Community In The 21st Century
$50.00Tales of demise and decline have come to characterize news on the state of religion and congregations in America. In The Postindustrial Promise, author Anthony Healy finds that the changes in religious life and among congregations are being misunderstood. Instead of seeing the changes as the result of the presumed aspects of postmodern life-individualism, the collapse of social groups, and the scrapping of tradition-Healy sees what has occurred as a postindustrial transformation, in which an economy based on manufacturing has been replaced by one based on corporate and consumer services. This transformation has changed what we value and how we live, as well as how we work. It has also changed congregations and religious life, but not necessarily in the way that many people think.
Contrary to the stories of decline, Healy finds that in this time of postindustrial dislocation people are again putting down religious roots. Congregations are making it possible for people to reconnect with the stories and traditions of previous generations and have become the places in society where the reembodying of religious and cultural narratives is taking place. Different from the postmodern script, this postindustrial explanation leads us to fresh insights into the change that has occurred among religious bodies, their congregants, and their communities.
This book provides pastors, lay leaders, teachers, scholars, and seminarians with a solid grounding in the basic aspects of the postindustrial transformation and offers direction to help religious leaders develop responsive and viable places of ministry, mission, and program in this time of change
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Silent Words Loudly Spoken
$16.18Like a miniature billboard, the church sign offers an unparalleled opportunity to promote God’s kingdom beyond the walls of the congregation. Thousands of cars pass each day with potential readers of its content, so the church sign has the potential to be a powerful pulpit from which silent words are loudly spoken, communicating brief but significant messages of God’s love to a spiritually thirsty world.
Silent Words Loudly Spoken provides a wealth of fresh and inspiring messages that will maximize the impact of your church sign. With more than 700 uplifting, thought-provoking statements conveniently formatted to easily fit most church signs, it contains enough material to last several years. A humorous but pithy “Ten Commandments for a Good Church Sign” offers plenty of specific nuts-and-bolts advice for making the most of this powerful but sometimes overlooked ministry tool:
* Phrases should be short enough and letters large enough for effortless drive-by reading.
* Messages should be changed regularly, especially date-specific ones.
* “In-house” announcements better suited for the church bulletin should not be wasted on a disinterested public.
* Give the gift of a positive, inspirational message; negative statements turn off those the church wants to attract.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Evangelizing Church : A Lutheran Contribution
$40.00Foreword, Mark S. Hanson
Preface, David L. Tiede
Project Team Members1.A Lutheran Confession
2.The Gift Is A Call
3.Addressing Captives In Babylon
4.For The Sake Of The World
5.Called Out Of Our Comfort Zone
6.Navigating Difficult Questions
7.After The Death Of Evangelism – The Resurrection Of An Evangelizing ChurchEpilogue: A Lutheran Contribution To An Evangelizing Church
Study Guide
Annotated Bibliography
Notes
Index Of Topics
Index Of NamesAdditional Info
In a series of engaging essays and responses, the book explores how evangelism has functioned within Lutheranism historically and articulates a Lutheran theological perspective on evangelism within the broader developments in mission theology over the past several decades. It further helps to show how evangelism from a Lutheran perspective may be differentiated from other theologies of evangelism that are part of the Christian movement in our day.The book moves from theory to practice as it relates this theology of evangelism to the life of congregations that are seeking to proclaim the gospel in the emerging postmodern context, provides congregations with perspectives on how to utilize this theology in shaping the practice of evangelism within their church life. A study guide to encourage group discussion and reflection is included.
Other contributors:
*Wyvetta Bullock
*Kelly Fryer
*Craig Nessan
*J. Paul RajashekarAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Building Sunday School By The Owners Design
$18.68A strong Sunday school program is a key component of any flourishing church — and Building Sunday School By The Owner’s Design provides a comprehensive toolbox jam-packed with 100 ideas for improving every aspect of your religious education program. Building on the framework of his book Built By The Owner’s Design, Danny Von Kanel demonstrates how God’s Word offers a proven blueprint for effective outreach and growth — and he offers you a wide array of practical approaches for making Sunday school the vital centerpiece of a spiritually thriving ministry. Von Kanel discusses the strengths and shortcomings of both traditional and contemporary “church growth movement” approaches to Sunday school, then points out how following God’s design offers a better method for igniting exciting growth. Grounded in Von Kanel’s own experience in several growing ministries and a careful analysis of research in churches from a variety of denominations, these tools can be used by any congregation (most have little or no financial expense). Convenient “Tool Time” and “Tool Resource” sections offer specific steps for implementing these ideas in your church. Building Sunday School By The Owner’s Design is an essential resource for pastors, teachers, and other religious professionals — it offers everything you need to develop a life-changing Sunday school program that produces enthusiastic, deeply committed followers of Christ.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Body Broken : Answering Gods Call To Love One Another
$10.99For those brave writers who attempt to dispense spiritual wisdom from their own experiences, each sentence can be fraught with peril. Those who traffic in their own experiences of God for a public audience run the risk of disclosing too much or too little-having too many answers to be convincing, or not enough to satisfy the hungry reader. What saves Episcopal layman and veteran spiritual writer Benson’s autobiographical musings from becoming routine is his willingness to share his struggles with a specific issue: why is the fellowship of believers broken into so many competing parties? Benson’s desire to understand, respect and honor the faith of other Christians is a powerful force here, animating that which otherwise might have seemed mundane. Reflecting on how difficult it is for even those bound by a mutual faith to seek a common scriptural understanding, Benson comments: “We are not called to explain the Christ; we called to follow the Christ. We are not called to build walls that keep his friends apart from each other; we are called to build the kingdom together.” Alternatively tender, sad, regretful and joyous, Benson offers his tales with the honesty of a man who doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. He brings to the topic a profound, if chastened, sense of God’s presence in his daily life and relationships. Benson’s passion will appeal to many readers seeking a well-crafted meditation on a topic that has persistently bemused Christians of all denominations.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
1st Impressions
$19.99SKU (ISBN): 9780764427572ISBN10: 0764427571Mark WaltzBinding: Trade PaperPublished: December 2004Publisher: Group Publishing
Add to cart25 in stock
-
Comunion Y Comunidad Introducc – (Spanish)
$22.99“La vida en comunidad es lo mas esencial de la espiritualidad cristiana, y es la esencia misma del reino de Dios… La espiritualidad cristiana consiste en un nuevo modo de relacionarnos en amor, pues es precisamente esto lo que claramente distingue a la comunidad creyente de cualquier otra comunidad humana”. Al definir asi la espiritualidad cristiana, el Dr. Cassese derriba el obsoleto paradigma que intentaba buscar la perfecta relacion con Dios a traves del aislamiento, de la pura relacion personal e individual con Dios. En particular porque en realidad es en la comunidad donde la espiritualidad se realiza, se prueba, se evalua, crece y se perfecciona. Este libro, por lo tanto, nos ayudara a comprender y vivir la espiritualidad desde la vida cotidiana en comunidad, desde la inter-relacion e inter-accion con nuestros hermanos y hermanas, desde la inmersion profunda en la vida misma.
ENDOSO AL LIBRO COMUNION Y COMUNIDAD
Por Roberto Amparo Rivera, PhD
La iglesia como institucion tradicionalmente ha reflejado en la practica las tendencias y valores de la sociedad en que se desenvuelven. Por eso no es de maravillarse encontrar hoy dia creyentes individualistas y congregaciones que son mas grupos de individuos que comunidades integradas. A pesar de que el amor de Dios, que supuestamente distingue la comunidad, “no busca lo suyo”, los miembros de estas iglesias se preocupan mas de sus propios intereses que del bienestar comunitario. En este estado de cosas, el libro Comunion y comunidad, de Giacomo Cassese, es un grito de alerta y una invitacion a recobrar el sentido comunitario de la fe cristiana.
Hay una opinion generalizada de que la cultura occidental es cada vez mas espiritualista. En este contexto, la espiritualidad se mide en terminos de practicas esotericas de meditacion, ayuno, contemplacion de la naturaleza y lecturas de documentos misteriosos de religiones orientales. La contraparte cristiana percibe la espritualidad solo en su dimension vertical; “el alma en relacion con Dios”, mientras que el resto de la vida no hace ninguna aplicacion a las relaciones diarias con los semejantes.
En marcado contraste, Cassese define espiritualidad como un estilo de relacionarse y de vivir en comunidad. Para los cristianos, afirma el autor, espiritualidad conlleva vivir la vida en su plenitud y con proposito. Solo en la comunion con Cristo nos entendemos como personas de comunidad. Y es a partir de la persona de Crist
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Whats A Pastor To Do
$9.99It’s been said that pastors should be on the “endangered species” list.
As a pastor, you expected a life of sacrifice when you obeyed your call. But did you expect that staying mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy would ve such a challenge?
Ministry mixes the joy of serving with the frustration of leading.
In What’s a Pastor to Do?: The Good and Difficult Work of Ministry, Jeren Rowell addresses both the enjoyable and the disagreeable aspects of pasturing. Sections such as Pastoral Identity, Pastoral Health, and the Pastor as Priest will inspire you to renew your commitment and offer you spiritual refreshment and comfort.
The short chapters are perfect for daily devotions that uplift and instruct as you go about the good and difficult work of ministry.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Thriving As An Artist In The Church
$24.99A practical guide full of wisdom, encouragement, and pastoral guidance from the author of The Heart of the Artist (100,000 copies sold) It’s not easy being an artist in the church. In this sequel to The Heart of the Artist, Rory Noland encourages and equips Christian artists musicians, painters, actors, dancers, sound and lighting technicians not only to persevere in ministry, but also to thrive in a church setting. Combining scriptural principles with the author’s twenty-five years of experience, this book offers proven advice to help artists deal with the conflicts and issues that threaten to sabotage both art and ministry. Readers learn how to: Sustain passion amidst the rigors of weekly services Cope with rejection and failure Develop key relational skills *Cultivate confidence Resolve artistic differences Fall in love with their church and stay there An excellent resource for both individuals and arts ministry teams, the book includes slice-of-church-life scenarios, group discussion questions, and personal action steps. Drawing on a variety of artistic examples, it features literary quotes, four-color reproductions of fine art masterpieces, and devotional reflections that help artists experience as well as understand what it means to thrive in ministry.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Evaluating The Church Growth Movement
$26.99“The church growth movement (CGM) has stirred debate ever since it was first introduced by Donald McGavran in the 1960s. By the 1980s it attracted enough attention to merit the publication of around 580 church growth books. Many churches experienced significant growth applying these principles. But during the 1990s critics questioned the movement and its theological underpinnings. Nevertheless, interest in the movement continues in the 21st century. It’s a movement that can’t be ignored. This Counterpoints Church Life book presents five viewpoints on the CGM from national church leaders from a diverse denominational, theological, and geographical representation. The five perspectives include: * Effective evangelism view: Church growth effectively confronts the culture (Elmer Towns) * Gospel in our culture view: Church growth does not effectively engage the culture (Craig Van Gelder) * Centrist view: Church growth has been culturally insightful but theologically superficial (Charles Van Engen) * Reformist view: Church growth has not developed a balanced intertwining of theological reflection, cultural analysis, historical perspective, and practical strategy (Gailyn Van Rheenan) * Renewal view: Church growth must come from the inside out being a community of faith focusing on kingdom issues (Howard Snyder) Not only do the five main contributors respond to each other’s positions, but another chapter gives the responses and views of three nationally known pastors for whom church growth is not an academic discipline but a matter of hands-on daily involvement. The book intends to make a valuable contribution to the church by bringing together conflicting views so all perspectives are heard and readers can make their own informed conclusions. The book’s introduction by Gary McIntosh shows why this is a movement that can’t be ignored. He gives a helpful brief overview of the history of this movement that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2005. Each chapter includes discussion questions enabling readers to use this book in small group and classroom settings.”
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Power Of Asset Mapping
$50.00Asset mapping isn’t a new system or theory. It’s a way of thinking, a doorway into an “open-sum” perspective rooted in the Bible and common experience. The Power of Asset Mapping, by long-time community developer Luther K. Snow, shows congregational leaders how to help a group recognize its assets and the abundance of God’s gifts and to act on them in ministry and mission.
Congregations will find the book easy to read and immediately useful. Leaders can begin with the tested Quick and Simple Asset Mapping Experience to strengthen and inspire any group in the congregation in as little as an hour. Futher tips, techniques, stories, and lessons drawn from the experience of diverse congregations will help readers discover how asset mapping works. Finally, Snow provides lessons about why asset mapping strengthens faith and community.
With Snow’s guidance, readers will find new, positive energy to break out of the negative cycles of need, dependency, and inaction that sometimes trap congregations. As they experience asset mapping, they will learn how God empowers us. Snow shows us how to turn over control and open ourselves to the unexpected and amazing gifts of God. Foreword by John McKnight and Jody Kretzmann
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
When Better Isnt Enough
$46.66Many sociologists and a growing number of church scholars have noted that we live in a time of transition-from the modern era to the postmodern. Whenever a shift of this magnitude occurs, it leaves all of life, including the church, in flux. We instinctively strive to stabilize the situation by re-establishing what has worked in the past. Increasingly, however, congregations are finding that the same old things done harder or better don’t seem to make a difference.
Author Jill Hudson argues, “We must identify new criteria for success, and perhaps even for faithfulness, and hold ourselves accountable to them.” Approaching the postmodern era as a tremendous opportunity, Hudson identifies 12 characteristics by which we can measure effective ministry for the early 21st century.
Based on those 12 criteria, Hudson has created evaluation tools, “an early measuring stick” to help congregations evaluate their work in this new era. Not everything of the past is ineffective and best discarded, she says, nor will everything we try in the future be successful. But by faithfully listening for God’s guidance and carefully evaluating progress using Hudson’s tools, looking at the ministry of the whole people of God as well as that of the professional staff, congregations can improve their ministry, help members and staff grow in effectiveness, deepen a sense of partnership, and add new richness to the dialogue about the congregation’s future.
Jill Hudson makes us face the hard reality that the world has changed, but the church hasn’t. This gap can create a problem when assessing the effectiveness of church leadership. Practical and easy to read and understand, this book will prove an effective new tool in assisting pastors to lead today.-Mike Regele
Our kicking and screaming aside, the postmodern church beckons, and Jill Hudson provides guidance and information to equip us for this enormous ministry challenge.-The Rev. Christine Shiber
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Shaped By Gods Heart
$24.95Preface: A Personal Letter To The Reader.
Acknowledgments.Introduction: Sending The Church Into The World.
PART ONE: The Church In A New And Changing World.
1. From Maintenance To Missional: The Church In A World Of Change.
2. Be Church And Be Changed: How Missional Churches Live Their Passion.
PART TWO: The Nine Essential Practices Of Missional Churches.
3. Missional Practice Number One: Have A High Threshold For Membership.
4. Missional Practice Number Two: Be Real, Not Real Religious.
5. Missional Practice Number Three: Teach To Obey Rather Than To Know.
6. Missional Practice Number Four: Rewrite Worship Every Week.
7. Missional Practice Number Five: Live Apostolically.
8. Missional Practice Number Six: Expect To Change The World.
9. Missional Practice Number Seven: Order Actions According To Purpose.
10. Missional Practice Number Eight: Measure Growth By Capacity To Release, Not Retain.
11. Missional Practice Number Nine: Place Kingdom Concerns First
PART THREE: Structures And Strategies For Becoming Missional.
12. They Run Rapids In Rubber Rafts: Church Structures That Can Survive The Rapids Of Cultural Change.
13. Seeing Beyond The Horizon: The Nature And Task Of Missional Leadership.
14. Moving To Missional: Becoming A New Kind Of Church.
Appendix: Missional Church Cultural Assessment.
Notes.
About Leadership Network.
The Author
Additional Info
Discover the tools to create a new kind of church and move from merely surviving to thriving. Drawing on an extensive two-year field study of 200 churches from a variety of denominations and geographic regions, Milfred Minatrea–a missiologist, urban strategist and practioner in minister–presents the best practices for re-energizing Christian spirituality in a congregational setting. He provides readers with the tools for assessing their congregation’s position on the continuum between maintenance and mission and for determining the actions that will move them toward becoming a missional community. He also outlines key strategies that successful churches have used to become relevant in a postmodern society without losing what is distinctly Christian in their spiritual practices.
Milfred Minatrea (Irving, TX) is Director of the Missional Church Center for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Why Revival Tarries (Reprinted)
$16.99Leonard Ravenhill’s call to revival is as timely now as it was when first published over forty years ago. The message is fearless and often radical as he expounds on the disparity between the New Testament church and the church today. This book contains the heart of his message, A.W. Tozer called Ravenhill “a man sent from God” who “appeared at (a) critical moment in history,” just as the Old Testament prophets did. Included are questions for group and individual study.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Who Runs The Church
$24.99“Many Protestants, individually and denominationally, are divided by differences regarding the form of church government. While these differences are not necessarily as divisive as theological and doctrinal issues, they are significant to churches and church leaders and affect the way Christians do God’s work. This book in the highly acclaimed Counterpoints series offers insights and contrasts into four kinds of church government: (1) episcopalianism (hierarchical, with priests, bishops, and archbishops), (2) presbyterianism (a representative form at multiple levels-church, classis/presbytery, synod/general assembly), (3) single-elder congregationalism (pastor-led local autonomy), and (4) plural-elder congregationalism (another form of local autonomy). Each form of government is explored through (1) description, (2) historical development, (3) hermeneutical assumptions, (4) biblical and theological foundations, (5) an understanding of the nature, number, and relationship of church officers, (6) the practical implications. The contributors are Peter Toon of the Anglican Church (episcopalianism), L. Roy Taylor of the Presbyterian Church in America (presbyterianism), Paige Patterson of the Southern Baptist Convention (single-elder congregationalism), and Samuel E. Waldron of the Reformed Baptist Church (plural-elder congregationalism).” EDITOR: Cowan, Steven B.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Growth By Accident Death By Planning
$22.99A congregation that had been growing in numbers and spiritual vitality reaches a plateau, and then begins to decline. What has happened? Whitesel explains where churches go wrong planning for growth and how they can correct themselves by looking at three related phenomena: the factors that cause initial growth; the erroneous decisions that lead to getting stuck on the plateau; and corrective steps they can take to regain growth and vitality.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Why Should I Wait When God Said Go
$11.75WHY SHOULD I WAIT? is not written to try to convince men or women that God will call a woman to preach. It is written to encourage women to stop hiding behind the veil of hyped-up church services, conferences and musicals and come under the shadow of the Almighty God. It is to encourage them to get into God’s presence more often than occasionally and get empowered to fulfill their purpose in Him, whatever it may be. WHY SHOULD I WAIT? is written to encourage women to glean from their church and conference experiences and make themselves more available to God. It is written to encourage them to allow God to use them to minister to the many, many, broken, battered and confused women, in and out of the church, who need to know that God is love and that He loves them.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Lifetime Of Church
$38.73A Lifetime of Church chronicles the author’s deep involvement in two very different churches. The church of his youth was maintained by a strict social order and a set of predominant customs and traditions. From his earliest memories the author recounts what it was like to grow up in this conservative context, while it brought misery to his mother and was the life passion of her father. A series of extraordinary events culminated in the author becoming a lay minister in this church as a young adult. At the same time, a personal Bible study brought about a new set of beliefs. Following a long and agonizing spiritual struggle, the author helped found an independent community Bible church. For thirteen years the author served this church as the senior pastor, reared his family, operated a community pharmacy, and learned a lot about faith and life.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Community Of The King (Revised)
$27.99The Church is the Community of the King. What on earth is the kingdom of God? Howard Snyder probes the relationship between the kingdom of God and the church as we know it in our daily life. The church is a part of God’s dramatic plan to reconcile all things to himself, “things in heaven and things on earth.” The New Testament calls this reconciling work the kingdom of God. Snyder pleads for a model of the church which emphasizes the God-given gifts of all members as he sets forth his theology of the church and gives practical guidelines for those concerned about church life and growth.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Christian Assembly : Marks Of The Church In A Pluralistic Age
$40.00What is church? What makes the church one? While these questions may seem innocuous, church has become conflicted territory, with internal factions, external pressures, and ecumenical turmoil all calling for a more positive, sturdy, more resilient notion of Christian community.
Wengert approaches the questions as a Reformation historian. He shows how the New Testament notion of ”marks” of the church was taken up by Martin Luther and developed by Phillip Melanchthon not as a descriptive tag but as a criterion for authenticity in Christian community. Lathrop, a liturgical theologian, shows concretely how those marks can stamp the worship life of a congregation as well as the evaluative work of congregations with their pastors, bishops, superintendents, and conference ministers.Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Conflict And A Christian Life (Student/Study Guide)
$12.95SKU (ISBN): 9781561012169ISBN10: 1561012165Sam PortaroBinding: Trade PaperPublished: January 2004Publisher: Cowley Publications Print On Demand Product
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Season Of Ash And Fire
$20.99In addition to prayers and liturgies for Ash Wednesday through Ascension Day, this book includes suggested themes and symbols for the Sundays of Lent, daily Scripture readings for Lent and the fifty Days of Easter, household prayers for Lent and Easter, and an order for Lenten study groups. A Selected Scripture Index is included. This book has been designed for ease of use in both thematic and lectionary-based worship services.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Get Ready Get Set Grow (Revised)
$22.43Estimates are that as many as three-quarters of mainline Christian congregations are located in small towns or rural areas — and many of these areas are diminishing in population. So is it inevitable that small town and rural churches will decline in membership and close in the next few decades?
“Not necessarily!” says Gary Exman. During his years as the pastor of a small-town parish, his congregation reversed the trend and grew dramatically. By applying the principles of the “church growth” movement, Exman’s church revitalized a dying Sunday school, increased average worship attendance by 50 percent, and quadrupled church offerings.
Get Ready… Get Set… GROW! is a practical handbook that shows how you can achieve results like that in your congregation as well. Exman identifies the unique problems facing small town and rural churches, and in this book he offers proven strategies for conquering the cancer of declining membership and building stronger congregations.
There is untapped potential in the small towns and open country of our land — and Get Ready… Get Set… GROW! can help you discover it.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Leaders That Last
$20.00Pastors have networks and colleagues, but few real friends. The authors show how pastors can establish covenant groups that provide friendship, nurture, accountability and cooperation.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Dialogo Ministerial – (Spanish)
$7.99The complexity, demands and pressure of ministry are the main topic in many studies and debates. However, only a pastor knows about the defeats and victories of the ministry. This is a dynamic and inspirational book written for ministers with the purpose of clarifying some of the confusing aspects of the job.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
When Satan Went To Church
$19.98This book, When Satan Went to Church, enlightens you on the activities of the enemy within and around the church, the home, and the Christian community. It helps you to identify battles and put on your armor of warfare against the enemy. It also encourages you to hold firm the shield of faith. May the Lord enlighten your eyes of understanding as you read through this book.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Church In Emerging Culture
$19.99A feisty, entertaining, and educational conversation about the shape of the church of the 21st century. Five stellar Christian thinkers from diverse walks and perspectives present their views of how the church should respond to culture and specifically to cultural shift, focusing on the message of the gospel and the means used to present it. They comment on and critique each other’s chapters and compose five rejoinders. The book does not take sides, but lets readers decide how to take the discussion further.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Gods Armor Bearer 1-2 (Revised)
$17.99Leaders in the Bible often chose loyal “armor bearers” to assist and protect them. Christian leaders today also need dedicated assistants to turn visions into reality. In this challenging 2-books-in-1 resource, Nance uses biblical examples of servant-hearted helpers to help you discover and develop the essential qualities of an integral team player!
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Inspirations From Above
$21.23Your church sign can be an awesome ministry in itself. Inspirations From Above gives instruction on how to make your sign ministry successful. The author shares his hands-on experience in the sign ministry, providing more than 1,200 proven “attention-getting” sayings that minister to the soul.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Your Church Can Thrive
$18.99The author describes the four main groups of people churches can reach with their ministries: those in the pews, those who walk in, friends and family of current members, and those who live in the neighborhood. He then provides short-term steps and long-term strategies for teaching out to these groups, drawing them into the church, and helping them grow into disciples of Jesus Christ. This book helps readers focus the development of the ministries and programs of the church on those whom the church is trying to reach.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Take The Next Step
$26.99Transformational leaders know how to build on their church’s identity. They know how to make the story of change the next chapter in the book of the congregation’s life, rather than throwing the book away and trying to start over. An astute student of management and leadership theory, Weems offers congregational leaders essential insights into how they can bring about authentic and faithful growth. Includes congregational case studies, visual illustrations of key ideas, and insights from other leadership experts.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Broken Cisterns
$18.73Broken Cisterns is a forthright and honest look at the true state of affairs in the Church, with radical conclusions and urgent appeals for change. It is a prophetic insight into what is wrong and what can be done, coming out of the author’s lifetime of dealing with traditional Christianity. Taken from Jeremiah 2:13, the author contends that the Church has made the same mistake as ancient Israel in forsaking God, the “fountain of living waters,” and building “broken cisterns” to take His place. It is not too late to change, and the Bible tells us how.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase