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Author: Gregory A. Pritchard
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 1995-12-01
Total Pages: 501
ISBN-13: 1441215239
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis comprehensive study of the worship service style that is influencing thousands of churches and their leaders worldwide addresses controversies and draws lessons for the church today.
Author: Kimon Howland Sargeant
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Published: 2000
Total Pages: 276
ISBN-13: 9780813527871
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAmerica's religious landscape is in flux. New churches are springing up and many older churches are redefining themselves to survive. At the forefront of this denominational free-for-all are evangelical "seeker" churches. These churches target "seekers"-individuals of any faith or denominational background who seek spiritual fulfillment but are not currently affiliated with any specific church. By focusing on this largely untapped group, seeker churches have become one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the country. In his study, Kimon Sargeant provides a sociological context for the rise of these churches by exploring the rituals, messages, strategies, and denominational functions of this emerging form of American evangelical Protestantism. Featuring live bands, professional lighting and sound systems, and multi-media presentations, seeker churches are attracting many people who have "dropped out" of organized religion. To broaden their appeal, they offer attenders advice on everyday issues ranging from relationships to finance. Sargeant focuses on the success of the Willow Creek Association, the seeker church association started by the Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago. With over 5,000 member churches, the seven-year old association has already outdistanced 90 percent of American denominations and is the leader of the seeker church movement. Through eyewitness accounts and careful research, Sargeant reveals the "seeker" movement to be a "reformation" of American Protestantism.
Author: Lynne Hybels
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2016-05-03
Total Pages: 230
ISBN-13: 0310530628
DOWNLOAD EBOOKRediscovering Church is the candid story of Willow Creek Community Church’s phenomenal growth, from 100 members meeting in a Palatine, Illinois, movie theater to its present Sunday morning attendance of 15,000. Bill Hybels and his wife, Lynne, tell about Willow Creek’s beginnings, its struggles, the philosophy behind its success, and the strategies that have made it a model for church growth. The first half of the book, written by Lynne Hybels, explores the early years of Willow Creek and the personal accounts behind one of this century's most remarkable church stories. It offers an honest look at the ways God has used both the strengths and weaknesses of His people, creating a church of believers who have had tremendous impact for Christ in their community. In the second half of Rediscovering Church, Bill Hybels helps you apply the strengths of Willow Creek's ministry philosophy to your own congregation's mission. From mission statements to developing leadership, making sound financial decisions, and handling growth, Bill stresses that God wants to build His church to be an effective and committed community of faith that reaches out to a hurting world, to be the body of Christ in real and tangible ways. Rediscovering Church draws on the experiences of Willow Creek to show how one fellowship crystallized its mission and methodology, its vision and values. The Willow Creek story provides an example that churches and individuals alike can turn to for inspiration, encouragement, and a means of uncovering the pattern for their own unique mission and ministry.
Author: Greg L. Hawkins
Publisher:
Published: 2007
Total Pages: 110
ISBN-13: 9780744192346
DOWNLOAD EBOOKWhen it comes to spiritual growth, we need to be able to measure more than numbers. We need a glimpse of people's attitudes, thoughts and emotions. We need a tool that reveals the heart of each person. Now Willow Creek invites you to learn what it discovered in a three-year process of study and research--involving six other churches as well as Willow Creeks' own congregation. Discover the four segments that characterize the journey of spiritual growth. Learn more about what catalyzes and stunts spiritual growth. And understand how the church needs to change in order to help people become more like Christ. What you discover here may challenge you. Or confirm nagging suspicions you've had all along. Either way, the findings in REVEAL will undoubtedly change the way you think about church--and what it really takes to make a difference.
Author: Steve Pederson
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 1999
Total Pages: 196
ISBN-13: 0310219450
DOWNLOAD EBOOKPractical help for church drama directors is only one of the features of this book. The text also includes: directing procedures, advice on building a drama team, actor training tips, script writing, and more, as well as a CD-ROM of staging examples.
Author: Kent Carlson
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2013-11-21
Total Pages: 186
ISBN-13: 0830868585
DOWNLOAD EBOOKCopastors Kent Carlson and Mike Lueken tell the decade-long story of how God took their thriving, consumer-oriented church and transformed it into a modest congregation of unformed believers committed to the growth of the spirit--even when it meant a decline in numbers.
Author: Mark Mittelberg
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2000
Total Pages: 428
ISBN-13: 9780310221494
DOWNLOAD EBOOKMittelberg presents a proven process for raising the value of evangelism in your heart and in your church. He spells out strategies for training all of a church's members to naturally communicate their faith and offers ideas for initiating outreach ministries and events. Includes inspiring stories of lives and churches that have been changed as a result of these practical, biblical approaches.
Author: Bill Hybels
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2008-12-09
Total Pages: 290
ISBN-13: 0310291577
DOWNLOAD EBOOKWhen the spiritual gift of leadership comes alive in churches everywhere, the church will become the hope of the world and a most influential force for good.
Author: Donald McGavran
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Published: 2005-07-12
Total Pages: 175
ISBN-13: 1597522503
DOWNLOAD EBOOKDr. McGavran wrote 'Bridges of God' Òin the hope that it will shed light on the process of how peoples become Christian, and help direct the attention of those who love the Lord to the highways of the Spirit along which His redemptive Church can advance.Ó
Author: Dan Kimball
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2009-07-27
Total Pages: 258
ISBN-13: 031085850X
DOWNLOAD EBOOKChurches are aging. Even among megachurches with their modern technology and huge number of members, whole generations are now missing. In order to reach the 18-35 year olds, churches need to incorporate alternative worship services into their ministries that meet the unique needs of the emerging generations.In a conversational, narrative style, author Dan Kimball guides church leaders on how to create alternative services from start to finish. Using anecdotes from his own experience at Graceland, Kimball presents six creative models, providing real-life examples of each type. Emerging Worship covers key topics including• Developing a prayer team• Evaluating the local mission field and context• Determining leaders and a vision-based team• Understanding why youth pastors are usually the ideal staff to start a new service• Recognizing the difference in values between emerging worship and the rest of the church• Asking critical questions beforehand
