In Organic Outreach for Families, Kevin and Sherry Harney share insights from the Scriptures and give practical advice from their own experience to help you learn how to transform your home into a lighthouse of God’s amazing grace. The Harneys discuss five ways you can naturally share your faith with others: Reaching your own children with the message of Jesus Sharing God’s grace with your extended family Raising your children to be beacons of light in their schools and in the neighborhood Opening the doors of your home to make it attractive and welcoming Shining the light of grace into your broader community The Harneys balance a concern for developing your home into a safe, secure environment with the biblical mandate for believers to be salt and light in the world. Pastors and parents will discover creative ways families can become a natural and winsome presence in their schools, through community activities, and as a witness in their neighborhoods.
When it comes to sharing our faith, we can make things more complex than they need to be. Simple Evangelism offers practical ways to connect people to God's amazing love. With three decades of outreach leadership, Kevin Harney provides tools that free you to set fear aside and walk boldly into the adventure of evangelism.
Nearly all churches and ministries consider themselves dedicated to evangelism, and many explicitly include outreach in their mission statements. But few are actually bearing fruit. Kevin Harney diagnoses this problem and offers guidance for multiplying the outreach impact of churches. Organic Outreach for Churches provides direction for local congregations to weave evangelism into the fabric of the church. Commitment to the Great Commission is not simply about sending money and prayers to missions or holding occasional events to reach out (although these things are good). Organic outreach happens when evangelistic vision and action become the domain of every ministry and the commitment of every person in the congregation. This will not happen accidentally. There is huge spiritual and practical resistance to such changes. But the only way evangelism will become an organic part of a church is when every leader and each member is gripped by a commitment to proclaiming the gospel. This book is a roadmap for pastors and leaders who wish to infuse evangelistic passion into every aspect of their church's life.
Could sharing your faith be the secret to developing your spiritual maturity? For many followers of Jesus, discipleship means doing certain things to deepen our connection with Jesus Christ. But our spiritual growth checklists are often disconnected from the mission of reaching a lost world with the gospel message. Taking a holistic approach that unites evangelism and discipleship, Kevin and Sherry Harney demonstrate how God's plan for our spiritual growth is intimately connected to his mission to the world. In Organic Disciples, the couple lead ordinary followers of Jesus through seven markers of spiritual maturity, showing how simple shifts in our Bible reading, prayer, community life, giving, service, and other biblical practices can connect us with God's work of reaching people with his love. You'll learn: Why true spiritual maturity will always lead believers outward to engage the world with the good news and truth of Jesus. How to overcome the common roadblocks and false narratives that stand in the way of spiritual maturity. How to design a personal pathway of growth to be more like Jesus in character and mission. Along with the Organic Disciples book, churches and individuals can utilize a free, self-directed online tool at OrganicOutreach.com to help each person identify where they are in their growth journey. Also look for eight-session small group curriculum—Organic Disciples Study Guide (9780310139089)—to take congregations and Christians deeper on this journey.
If a person has extra time, nothing to do, and finds themself looking for ways to fill their empty days...this book is definitely not for them. No Is a Beautiful Word is designed and crafted for people whose plate is full, whose margin is thin, and whose life feels overloaded. They are looking for help, relief, and wisdom to navigate the countless options that life offers on a daily basis. This book is needed by people who: Go to bed with a "To Do" list that never seems to get totally done. Kindly say, "Yes" and secretly regret it five minutes later. Feel pain and live with guilt when they have to say, "No." Were taught that "No" is a dirty word. Believe that saying "No" is a sign of weakness. Feel trapped by unwise past commitments. Want to say "Yes" to what matters most in life but are too exhausted. Know that their life is out of balance and are seeking to fix it! It will be valuable for: Leaders who have a tough time making the hard decisions because they fear hurting someone's feelings. Executives who feel over extended and pressed to the edges of their capacity. Parents who feel overworked and under appreciated. Students who are trying to balance the intensity of school, work, and their relational world. Retired people who find themselves saying, with subtle humor but aching regret, "I am more busy now than I have ever been!" Single people who go to bed at night exhausted because the day left no margin and offered no oasis of peace. Married people who love their life but secretly dream about time to play, space to relax, and taking a nap. No Is a Beautiful Word is designed to be read briskly, chewed on thoroughly, and acted on practically. The chapters are brief by intention. They range from one paragraph (that's right, some chapters are only a few sentences long!) to four pages. The goal of this book is give people clear concepts, paint a picture of what it looks like to live out the idea, and then move on to the next thought. The vision is to help people learn to say "No" to the things that don't matter (or don't matter as much) so they can say "Yes" to the things that bring life, hope, peace, and lasting meaning.
You can serve God and his people for a lifetime and do it with passion and joy. You do not have to become another casualty in the growing number of leaders who have compromised their integrity, character, and ministry because they failed to lead an examined and accountable life. The road forward is clearly marked. Leaders must make a decision to humbly and consistently examine their inner lives and identify areas of needed change and growth. Also, wise leaders commit to listen to the voices of those who will love them enough to speak the truth and point out problems and potential pitfalls. Kevin Harney writes, “The vision of this book is to assist leaders as they discover the health, wisdom, and joy of living an examined life. It is also to give practical tools for self-examination.” Sharing stories and wisdom from his years in ministry, Harney shows you how to maintain the most powerful tool in your leadership toolbox: YOU. Your heart, so you can love well. Your mind, so you can continue to learn and grow. Your ears, your eyes, your mouth ... consider this your essential guide to conducting your own complete interior health exam, so you can spot and fix any problems, preserve the things that matter most, and grow as a source of vision, strength, and hope to others.
It’s easy to talk about changing your life.Here’s how to actually do it.If you long to experience transformation in the most significant areas of life, this book will become your road map. Seismic Shifts is about change—positive, quality change that can help you? experience deep and lasting joy ? engage in a growing and dynamic relationship with God ? feel healthy, rested, and peaceful ? build intimate relationships marked by honest communication ? attain financial security and contentment ? enjoy sharing your faith naturally and consistentlyBy making small adjustments in just the right places, you can set off a chain reaction that will redefine the landscape of your life. Dreams really do come true when you learn how to take little steps that make a big difference.Small changes can yield huge transformations in the most important areas of your life. My friend Kevin Harney shows you how in his inspiring and practical book. —Lee Strobel, author, The Case for Christ and The Case for a CreatorKevin Harney is both a gifted communicator and a seasoned pastor. Seismic Shifts will be a gift to individuals and churches alike.—John Ortberg, Teaching Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and author of God Is Closer Than You Think and The Life You’ve Always WantedKevin Harney is totally on track with Seismic Shifts. With skillful pen, Kevin teaches us how to create powerful movement in our lives.—Randy Frazee, Teaching Pastor at Willow Creek Community Church and author of The Connecting Church and Making Room for Life
Author Frank Viola gives readers language for all they knew was missing in their modern church experience. He believes that many of today's congregations have shifted from God's original intent for the church. As a prominent leader of the house church movement, Frank is at the forefront of a revolution sweeping through the body of Christ. A change that is challenging the spiritual status quo and redefining the very nature of church. A movement inspired by the divine design for authenticity community. A fresh concept rooted in ancient history and in God Himself. Join Frank as he shares God's original intent for the church, where the body of Christ is an organic, living, breathing organism. A church that is free of convention, formed by spiritual intimacy, and unbound by four walls.
God's kingdom isn't about getting more power--it's about being empowered to face life head on and fulfill his purposes for us. For readers who are feeling beaten down and discouraged by constant striving, Kevin Harney points to four surprising and God-given sources of true strength: · suffering, loss, and pain · community · Sabbath and rest · mission and purpose Through biblical and personal stories, he shows how each source daily empowers believers to live boldly, serve humbly, and overcome whatever difficult circumstances they may be facing. Perfect for small group study and individual devotion.
Wandering into a community organic farm, a homeless cat is adopted by the farmers and helps out in her own way. End notes discuss organic farming and present related activities.
