Kategoria BISAC: Religion >> Christian Church - Growth

Signs have been almost as much a part of the modern church as the front doors. For that matter, they've been the entry into church life for countless people who have responded to their brief but cogent message. Your church sign has more potential than you may imagine -- if you're smart in using it. Your Church Sign offers you sound pointers on signage. You'll find tips on impactful sign placement, captions, themes, and how to write effective messages. And you'll get more than one thousand ready-made, eye-catching sayings. Some are humorous, some are encouraging, some are wise, some are...

- For Individual use - Group training Photocopyable resources include: job descriptions, caregiver interview form, staff evaluation survey, guidelines for nursery use, information card, and incident report form A well-run nursery is a tremendous asset to a church. The responsibilities are demanding, but with prayer, patience, and commitment, you can minimize the frustrations and maximize the difference you make in the lives of children ages three and under and their parents. Whether you're leading your church's nursery ministry, serving in it, or just thinking of getting involved, you will...

Fueled by a desire to reach people for Christ, a revolution is underway. Churches are growing beyond the limitations of a single service in one building. Expanding the traditional model, they are embracing the concept of one church with more than one site: multiple congregations sharing a common vision, budget, leadership, and board. Drawing from the examples of churches nationwide, The Multi-Site Church Revolution shows what healthy multi-site churches look like and what motivates congregations to make the change. Discover how your church can: - cast a vision for change - ensure a...

Our churches have hardly begun to tap the potential in the pews. Many Christians have settled for far less than God intends because many have never discovered or developed their spiritual gifts. "An understanding of Ephesians 4:11-16 has changed my entire perspective on my Christian service. I discovered that one of my highest priorities must be equipping the saints for their work of service. Pursuing this objective I have made a second discovery. Exceedingly few believers are conscious of possessing a spiritual gift, and even fewer know what their gift is or what to do about it. My third...

According to the commonly held view, early Christianity was a time of great harmony, and heresy emerged only at a later stage. To the contrary, Gerd Ludemann argues that the time from the first Christian communities to the end of the second century was defined by struggle by various groups for doctrinal authority. Drawing on a wealth of data, he asserts that the losers in this struggle actually represented Christianity in its more authentic, original form. Orthodoxy has been defined by the victors in this struggle and it is they who subsequently silenced alternative views and labeled them...

The birth of a child is important in the lives of women, families, and communities. It can also be a vital force to churches in providing them with a model for strength, endurance, and compassion, says Margaret Hammer. Despite a wealth of fascinating material, childbearing is an underdeveloped theme in theology and ministry. Hammer intends to remedy that with this fascinating book.

One of the most crucial changes in North American life, Lyle E. Schaller explains, has been the shift from small to large institutions. Sixty years ago one-teacher, one-room schoolhouses still abounded, and the average number of students in all American schools was one hundred. Now new construction on elementary schools is often for facilities that will accommodate more than twelve hundred students, and average school size is over six hundred. Similar changes have happened in several other branches of American life. These changes, Schaller contends, mean that the rules have changed for...

Are you still suffering over the sight of empty pews? Have your efforts been more than exhaustive in expanding your congregation? Have you maximized your brainstorming potential for bringing in new members?

If you have reached what appears to be your limit, then no longer fret, 44 Ways To Increase Church Attendance can open the doors of both your church and mind. With proven techniques for building a body for Christ, church leaders can increase their membership and then free themselves to focus on other important missions for God. Schaller's suggestions will energize...

Filling a need not previously addressed, African American Church Growth contends that it is the prophetic consciousness which appeals to many blacks of the post-civil rights era, and that emphasis on the prophetic will help bring the black church out of the disillusionment of a "post-civil rights malaise."

Carlyle Fielding Stewart defines prophetic ministry as a concern for wholeness of the individual and community. Going beyond a simple call for social justice, the author addresses both spiritual and social tyrannies, within and without the church, that preclude church...

An essential guide for church leaders to help them incorporate the Twelve Keys

As a companion to Twelve Keys to an Effective Church, the Leader's Guide provides ideas and suggestions on how to lead using the Twelve Keys model, how to handle congregational dynamics, plus guidelines on leading a Twelve Keys Planning Retreat to prepare for the future.

• Shows how to use the Twelve Keys model within a congregation
• Offers helpful resources and suggestions for encouraging action, implementation, and momentum
• Includes guidelines on leading a Twelve Keys...

American religion flourishes in a consumer culture, and presents us with a bewildering array of choices as we navigate the shopping mall of faith.

The authors identify dozens of trends which will shape American religion in the next century and bring together the latest research and...