Mead explores what church growth and evangelism really mean in a time when it is mathematically impossible for every congregation to achieve significant numerical growth. He argues provocatively that spiritual, organizational, and missional growth are just as important as numerical growth, and that all four are needed for a truly healthy and growing church. Case […]
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 […]
Congregations need to learn new cultural languages and practices in order to speak to and be heard by new generations of people. But how do congregations enter the wilderness of ministry with these new generations when many of those in the entourage do not appreciate the trip? In contrast to many writers about church growth, […]
‘The Nearest in Affection to those who believe,’ according to the Quran, ‘are the ones who say, ‘We are Christians.” Yet in many parts of the world where Christians and Muslims live side by side, the reality of their relationship falls far short of that ideal. Suspicions and fears arise from ignorance of each other’s […]
Network is a dynamic program to help Christians understand who God has uniquely made them to be, and mobilize them to a place of meaningful service in the local church. It is designed for group presentation in several different formats.
The world has changed. No longer can the church bury its head in the sand, pretending that the ‘old ways’ can read a contemporary generation that does not understand the language of faith. In these pages, scholar and renewalist Ben Johnson examines the issues facing today’s church, proposes a new model for a New Day, […]
Luecke contrasts modern-day leadership principles with the original Scriptural image of ‘fellowship building’ by carpenters, contractors, and architects. He then explores how church leaders motivate people from ‘inactive stones’ to ‘cornerstones’ as God builds a household of believers sharing together their life in Christ. By discussing and applying these principles with other leaders in your […]
What is a congregation for? What are members for? What are pastors for? Bob Sitze, an evocative and sometimes whimsical writer and workshop leader, offers a new vision for congregations and their leaders – a vision that releases us from the growing burden of trying harder to invent and implement “better” worship, evangelism, stewardship, small […]
Meeting people of other faiths is an everyday experience not only for minority Christian communities in Asia and the Middle East but more and more for Christians elsewhere. Yet, although interfaith dialogue has established itself as a key concern for the churches and the ecumenical movement, it continues to raise spiritual, social, political, practical and […]
Nadiv Lev. “Offerings of the Heart.” This phrase sets the tone for the Jewish spiritual perspective that money is a tool for actualizing God’s presence in the world. Building on this core value and setting aside the financial/spiritual split with which many congregational leaders operate, Rabbi Shawn Zevit brings the depth and breadth of Jewish […]