Now in paperback, this multi-awarded national best seller shares a clear message from case studies of 400 North American congregations: church is done best when it's kept simple.
In this book the authors explore some dynamic trends in society and church that are pushing believers into simpler ways of doing church. -- from back cover.
Read table of contents, intro., first chapter, press release, etc. right here: http://joelcomiskeygroup.com/plant.html You can also call: 1-888-344-2355 (Joel Comiskey Group). This book clearly explains how to plant churches that are simple enough to keep on reproducing and even grow into a movement of churches. Planting Churches that Reproduce is the fruit of Comiskey's extensive research and personal experience (three church plants in a wide variety of settings). Comiskey not only uses the latest North American church planting statistics but also extends the illustrations to include worldwide church planting. More than anything else, this book will provide practical solutions for those planting churches today. Comiskey's book is a must-read for all those interested in starting Christ-honoring, multiplying churches. __ LEONARD SWEET (Drew University) wrote: Better late than never but best never late. Where has this book been? How different might the church be today if Comiskey's invaluable resource had been available even ten years ago? Don't discover Comiskey ten years from now and exclaim, Where have I been! The book we've needed and been waiting for is here now. Tag, you're it. ALAN HIRSCH (Author of The Forgotten Ways) wrote: Here is a thoroughly practical, encouraging and thoughtful contribution to the small but growing body of literature on multiplication movements. This is an important book not only because it involves a return to a more genuinely biblical ecclesiology but also because it envisions the much more dynamic form of church that will advance the cause of Jesus in the 21st Century. JEANNETTE BULLER (Church planter and coach) wrote: Joel Comiskey brings both his experience and the experience of others together in a clear, easy to understand fashion that will be helpful to any simple church planter today. As I read, I kept thinking of chapters I wanted to recommend to the various church planters I coach. Based on timeless principles of church planting, Comiskey lays a firm foundation for multiplying churches which I believe is on the heart of God. His practical application of these principles keeps the reader focused on the path toward church planting success. BOB ROBERTS (Pastor NorthWood, author of The Multiplying Church) wrote: Joel Comiskey does a great job in his book of explaining what a simple church is and how to plant them. He provides solid theology, numerous examples and strategic steps for planting simple churches. We will use it with our planters as a resource. Ive read a lot of books on simple, cell, house churches defending them or promoting them - I don't think I've read anything as clear and as concise as this or as practical to get them started as this. PETER WAGNER (Presiding Apostle, International Coalition of Apostles) wrote: Joel Comiskey's lifelong passion for multiplying churches does not allow him to get stuck in the past. I love this excellent book because it is a book for the future. Joel's blueprint will help many find their proper position for enriching their life and for extending the kingdom of God. DR. TOM JONES (Stadia East Regional Director) wrote: Joel Comiskey is a veteran church planter. His new book Planting Churches that Reproduce is biblical, practical and inspirational. If indeed church planters are going to get serious about evangelistic reproducing movements that start new testament churches then we must take a long and creative look at Simple churches or some variation of the house church movement. The typical suburban church planting model will not get the job done alone. JIMMY SEIBERT (senior pastor of Antioch Community Church) wrote: Over the last ten years Joel's writings and research have deeply influenced who we are as a people. His genuine love for Jesus and his heart to capture what God is doing and saying is bearing great fruit for the body of Christ. His latest book, Planting Churches that Reproduce, is at the heart of what God is speaking to the body of Christ worldwide, whether in the United States or around the world. RALPH NEIGHBOUR (author, professor, and church planter) wrote: Once again, Joel Comiskey has felt the pulse of the body of Christ and has given a prescription for its well being. This book is a combination of spiritual insights coupled with personal experience in the field of planting Biblical communities. I recommend this for the group that God forms to form a new Christ centered missional congregation. BEN WONG (founder of CCMN) wrote: Joel Comiskeys books have always been a blessing to me personally they have brought special insight into issues that people in cell churches are interested in. Joel, you have out done yourself again! You have written a book that will be used to bring the house church and cell church people together. Well done! All those who are interested in the new move of God for these final days must read this book! BOB LOGAN (author, professor, and church planter) wrote: Planting Churches that Reproduce is a good solid manual for planters who want to get back to the basics and discover what church is really all about. Comiskey helps Christian leaders make the paradigm shift from buildings and events to people and evangelism--and then provides clear strategies for moving forward. He underscores that what makes a church effective is not about size so much as it is about how well it can reproduce. AUBREY MALPHURS (lead Vision Navigator with the Malphurs Group) wrote: If you're a church planter or part of a church plant that is passionate about reaching the Next Generation-the future of the North American church, then this book is a must read!
This text extends the teachings of bestseller "Simple Church," guiding readers to joyfully balance God, time, relationships, and money through clarity, movement, focus, and alignment.
Learn how a "less is more" approach to church can equip believers for eternal influence. Church innovator Dave Browning unpacks the six elements of a new equation for church development. These concepts---minimality, intentionality, reality, multility, velocity, and scalability---provide a realistic plan for streamlining church while maximizing impact.
Why closing the back door of your church is even more important than opening the front door wider. In Sticky Church, author and pastor Larry Osborne offers a time-tested strategy for doing so: sermon-based small groups that dig deeper into the weekend message and tightly velcro members to the ministry. It's a strategy that enabled Osborne's congregation to grow from a handful of people to one of the larger churches in the nation—without any marketing or special programming. Sticky Church tells the inspiring story of North Coast Church's phenomenal growth and offers practical tips for launching your own sermon-based small group ministry. Topics include: Why stickiness is so important Why most of our discipleship models don't work very well Why small groups always make a church more honest and transparent What makes groups grow deeper and sticker over time Sticky Church is an ideal book for church leaders who want to start or retool their small group ministry—and velcro their congregation to the Bible and each other.
David Garrison, PhD University of Chicago, defines Church Planting Movements as rapidly multiplying indigenous churches planting churches that sweep across a people group or population segment. Garrison's Church Planting Movements: How God Is Redeeming a Lost World signaled a breakthrough in missionary church planting. After the publication of Garrison's book in 2004 it became impossible to talk about missions without referencing Church Planting Movements. Church Planting Movements examines more than two-dozen movements of multiplying churches on five continents. After presenting these case studies, Garrison identifies ten universal elements present in each movement. He then broadens the circle of examination to identify a further ten common characteristics, factors identified in most, but not all, of the movements. He concludes his examination with a list of "Seven Deadly Sins," i.e. harmful practices that stifle or impede Church Planting Movements. Important for evangelical readers, the author returns to his findings to see how they stand up to the light of Scripture. What he discovers is that Church Planting Movements are much more consistent with the New Testament lay-led house-church movements that swept rapidly through the Mediterranean world in the face of hostile opposition than today's more sedentary professional institutionalized Christianity. Learn more about Church Planting Movements from the book's website: www.ChurchPlantingMovements.com.
The church across North America has struggled to minister effectively with children, teens, and adults with common mental health conditions and their families. One reason for the lack of ministry is the absence of a widely accepted model for mental health outreach and inclusion. In Mental Health and the Church: A Ministry Handbook for Including Children and Adults with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Other Common Mental Health Conditions, Dr. Stephen Grcevich presents a simple and flexible model for mental health inclusion ministry for implementation by churches of all sizes, denominations, and organizational styles. The model is based upon recognition of seven barriers to church attendance and assimilation resulting from mental illness: stigma, anxiety, self-control, differences in social communication and sensory processing, social isolation and past experiences of church. Seven broad inclusion strategies are presented for helping persons of all ages with common mental health conditions and their families to fully participate in all of the ministries offered by the local church. The book is also designed to be a useful resource for parents, grandparents and spouses interested in promoting the spiritual growth of loved ones with mental illness.