William Easum argues that a radical shift in culture makes it necessary for the church to change the way it proclaims the gospel, accounting for the anti-Christian climate in which we live while maintaining the and integrity of the Christian message.
A new generation of churches is emerging, calling new disciples to the way of Jesus by proclaiming the Good News and seeking the transformation of culture. Bob Whitesel takes us inside congregations that draw upon ancient traditions and modern technologies to create a spiritual community and shows how the practices of the ‘organic church’ can […]
Lead the kind of ministry you’ve always dreamed of… Many congregations are declining due to an inward focus, and see their pastor as someone who should only minister to their needs. But pastors must anticipate a better future. Direct Hit offers hope to leasers of congreagations that have lost their outward focus. By preparing for […]
Asserting that the good news greatly exceeds the bad news, Innovations in Ministry celebrates what’s working in American Protestantism. Lyle E. Schaller identifies the new, emerging models for ministry, with heavy emphasis on paradigm shifts toward laity driven ministries, which include: (1) market-driven ‘niched’ ministry to reach diverse populations; (2) ownership and initiative in ministry; […]
From the Desert Fathers to T. S. Eliot, the desert has occupied a special place in the Christian tradition. The Wilderness of God is a fascinating study of desert spirituality which shows that the desert can be experienced as a place both of real inspiration and of torture and desolation. The Wilderness of God brings […]
In his book Kicking Habits: Welcome Relief for Addicted Churches, Thomas Bandy provided the ‘big picture’ of the five stages of congregational renewal and transformation. Similarly, in Growing Spiritual Redwoods, Bandy and Bill Easum provided new metaphors for change to help congregations break out of outmoded attitudes and assumptions, and described the nature of spiritual […]
In this book Kim Miller and the worship team of Ginghamsburg Church share what they’ve learned about how worship can touch and transform all of God’s people, drawing them into a deepening experience of God’s love, and setting them on the path of Christian service and discipleship. While many books have discussed why new worship […]
We often describe the church as a ‘family,’ even ‘the family of God,’ In fact, the church is like a family – and it fights like one, too! As in any family, conflict in the church family is natural and inevitable. But the way the church family handles its fights can make or break ministry. […]
Examining the three central elements of electronic culture – images, sound as beat, and visualization – Sample demonstrates that for those steeped in this culture, meaning arises from the convergence of these elements rather than from any one of them individually. He goes on to discuss how these are already present in Christian worship and […]
Most Christians would agree that the purpose of the church is to lead people into active, committed discipleship to Jesus Christ. Yet if this is the case, shouldn’t the goal of making disciples drive everything the church does? For example, shouldn’t the primary job of staff members be to recruit and mentor the laity in […]