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Author: Robert E. Logan
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 1990-01-01
Total Pages: 309
ISBN-13: 1441236716
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Based on God's vision for churches in Matthew 28:18-20, this book presents sound methods for making disciples, winning the lost for Christ, and planting new churches.
Author: Mark A. Olson
Publisher: Fortress Press
Published: 2001-12-01
Total Pages: 172
ISBN-13: 9781451413663
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Character development for communities of faith Mark Olson believes that trying to meet unrealistic expectations for church growth, along with expectations that pastors be all things to all people, has resulted in low morale, even burnout, among clergy and dissension within congregations.Olson's book argues that church-growth models exemplify and exacerbate the tendencies of the modern age and Constantinian Christianity, holding the church hostage to technique and marketing. These assumptions set up pastors and churches for disappointment and failure. But they also, in his opinion, miss an opportunity to envision a faithful alternative to the consumeristic church.Olson's valuable book calls church leaders to faithful, bold, and courageous rethinking of congregational life and witness in substance, purpose, and style. His own 20 years of ministry in rural, suburban, and urban congregations inform an alternative rooted deeply in the past and anchored in strong leadership and worship, but also profoundly compassionate and engaged in the surrounding community. In this model, pastors' primary responsibilities are not to fix everything and everybody but to enable people to be present to each other and to provide hope.
Author: Margaret Placentra Johnston
Publisher: Quest Books
Published: 2012-09-25
Total Pages: 314
ISBN-13: 0835609057
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Faith Beyond Belief gives a much-needed voice to the “good” people who have left their church but whose spirituality continues to mature. Johnston uses first-person stories as well as known spiritual authorities in describing various stages of religious growth. Some of these real-life accounts are by nonbelievers; others are by those among the growing numbers of the “spiritual but not religious.” All are thoughtful people with too much integrity to live what they consider a lie. The stories of the nonbelievers-including an ex-Catholic, a former Mormon, and a clandestine Muslim apostate who left his community after the attacks of 9/11-show how complete confidence in human reason can lead away from literal religious interpretation. But, while that step is a necessary one on the spiritual path, it is only intermediate. Her second set of stories are of people at the “mystic” level who can tolerate paradox and see truth and reality as multidimensional. Johnston’s book will help doubters to see things in a new light as well as those who are struggling to clarify their own spiritual vision. It also points beyond the atheist/believer controversy wrecking such divisive havoc in our culture today.
Author: Gary L. McIntosh
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 2016-01-12
Total Pages: 192
ISBN-13: 1493401572
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →It's no secret that the evangelism methods of yesterday are not yielding the kinds of results they did in the 1970s and 1980s. So how are new Christians hearing the Gospel today? How are they finding churches? And what makes them stay at a church? The answers to these questions have the power to dramatically alter the way we do outreach. And Dr. McIntosh has them. Based on ten years of scientific research, Growing God's Church shows pastors and church leaders how people are actually coming to faith in the 21st century. It covers factors such as our motive for ministry, the priorities churches set for themselves, the reality of churchless Christians, generational and gender-based differences in evangelism effectiveness, the name of your church, the influence of pastors, and much more. The appendix includes a copy of the survey that provides the basis for McIntosh's arguments and an overview of the study is provided in the first chapter.
Author: Rodney E. Zwonitzer
Publisher:
Published: 2002-01-01
Total Pages: 159
ISBN-13: 9780570033240
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Examines church growth in light of Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and church membership data.
Author: Gary L. McIntosh
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 2003-05-01
Total Pages: 193
ISBN-13: 1585585521
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Every pastor wants to have a vibrant, dynamic church. There are many popular models for church growth based on outstanding churches led by outstanding pastors. But unfortunately, specific models are temporary and go out of style quickly. Author Gary McIntosh explores the biblical principles for church growth and applies them to today's culture. Instead of concentrating on the ephemeral how of church growth, he focuses on the unchanging why. McIntosh defines church growth as "all that is involved in bringing men and women who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ into fellowship with him and into responsible church membership." In other words, church growth is effective evangelism, not a methodology for increasing membership. According to Biblical Church Growth, growing churches always evidence a desire to fulfill the Great Commission by cooperating with God in building a faithful church. Using personal stories and current statistics as well as numerous biblical examples, the author sets forth ten basic principles that provide an eternal foundation for helping any church-large or small-achieve lasting vitality and growth.
Author: Cliff McManis
Publisher:
Published: 2006
Total Pages: 228
ISBN-13: 9780977226221
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Includes bibliographical references and index.
Author: Dick Sisk
Publisher: WestBow Press
Published: 2015-11-24
Total Pages: 108
ISBN-13: 1512703044
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Although it seems more and more churches are striving for megachurch status, the simple fact is, defined by attendance and membership, most of todays churches of all denominations are classified as small or medium-sized. Not blessed with large membership rolls and budgets, these churches have issues unique to them. In his book, Beyond the Plateau: Hope and Help for the Small and Medium Church, author Dick Sisk helps pastors and members of those churches find an edge, formula, or path to finding renewed church growth. Sisk explains the unchanging principles that affect church health. When church health is strong, so is church growth. He discusses principles such as the Prayer Principle, the Evangelism Principle, and the Visibility Principle. After learning about the principles, youll be able to contextualize, adapt, and implement them in your situation and see what God does. If you are tired of trying to press your situation into someone elses mold, one that doesnt fit, Beyond the Plateau: Hope and Help for the Small and Medium Church will be a sound investment of your time. Dr. Sisk not only addresses the issues, he offers helpful and useful solutions for pastors and leaders to employ. This book is a great gift to the church and those who lead them. Danny Sinquefield, Senior Pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee
Author: Gary L. McIntosh
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 2009-09-01
Total Pages: 224
ISBN-13: 1441210857
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →All local churches experience a predictable life cycle of growth and decline. But if a church is on a downward trend, how can it turn around? Taking Your Church to the Next Level explains the impact of age and size on churches and outlines the improvements that must be made at each point for a church to remain fruitful and faithful to its mission. McIntosh deftly describes the cycles of fruitfulness and the importance of continual improvement to diminish destructive forces that keep a congregation from its mission. Church leaders, pastors, and all who care about the church and desire to see it experience biblical growth will benefit from the sage wisdom offered in these pages.
