‘Dechurched’ people are those who have lost a faith they valued or left a faith community because of a bad experience. They are our coworkers, classmates, family members, even church members, whose wounds make it difficult for them to trust the church or in many cases even to believe in God. This trailblazing book is […]
This excellent collection of essays, written by a diverse group of Christian leaders working on the frontier of mission within the present North American context, lays the groundwork for the newly emerging missionary encounter of the gospel with North American culture. Demonstrating that the missionary identity of the church is to be found at the […]
Many congregations today experience collisions between parents who ant to spend time with their children and age-segregated church programming, as well as between the children worshiping in their pews and the increasing number of seniors in the same pew. Among the questions these congregations struggle to address are these: Should we try to hold the […]
This timely release explores the community-altering phenomenon of social networking sites and what it reveals about friendship, God, and our own hearts. With hundreds of millions of users, social networks are changing how we form relationships, perceive others, and shape our identity. Yet at its core, this movement reflects our need for community. Our longing […]
Building on the insights of the “wisdom people”–Christians who are outstanding leaders in diverse fields like medicine, politics, business, and education, who truly live their Christian values in the marketplace–the authors offer recommendations on how those in formal ministry might examine their own approach to leadership and how they meet the needs, expectations, and challenges […]
This study guide will help a church conduct a self-study anbd a complete audit of their ministries. The workshets are printed in the workbook, and are also contained in spreadsheet files on a (floppy) computer disk provided inside the back cover.
This focus on the expression of faith among American Presbyterians surveys important developments in Presbyterian theology and worship. The book provides an understanding of the changes in mainstream Protestantism and American Christianity by analyzing Preaching, worship, hymnody, devotional materials, and social justice pronouncements.
This book affirms congregational life as the unique place where persons encounter Christ. It looks at the unique mission of the congregation and outlines a process by which every congregation can move beyond mere maintenance of the current situation and into true mission. The book blends theory, theology, and practical experience in a readable ‘story’ […]
Like consumers, churches and Christian ministries often get themselves into financial trouble: They go into debt – for new buildings, unbudgeted programs, or even to meet operating expenses – and then weeks, months, or years later wake up to the reality of long-term payments. They realize only too late that their effectiveness and ability to […]
In a recent study, pollster George Barna stated that the number one topic of interest for church leaders today is discipleship. Not growth, not pastoral care, not evangelism. Discipleship. According to E. Stanley Ott, President of The Vital Churches Institute, There is no person more qualified to address the greatest need in the church today […]