Some churches grow rapidly, only to hit a ceiling. Other churches have experienced declining or static attendance--many of them for decades. Frustrated pastors and church leaders want growth methods that work, but without adding to pastoral fatigue. How to Break Growth Barriers argues that growth comes when effective leadership and lay-empowerment skills work hand in hand. This requires a shift of focus from the shepherd as the primary caregiver to shepherd as developer and coach of many caregivers. The authors show pastors how to communicate a vision for the future and then how to lead the congregation into the paradigms necessary for potentially limitless growth. The strategies found in this book are not only tried and true, and taken from a biblical perspective of a "harvest" vision. They're also newly updated to reflect our changing culture, including helpful charts and checklists for self-evaluation.

Planting and leading churches is a difficult calling. It can put strain on your mental and physical health, on your relationships with others, and even your relationship with God. Sifted offers practical guidance and hope for anyone going through a tough time in ministry or pastoral work. Founding pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii Wayne Cordeiro speaks the truth in love, offering wisdom and insight to walk alongside leaders as they face the challenges and hardships of planting and leading churches, while providing encouragement and inspiration for the journey. A seasoned church leader, Wayne shares the things he wishes he'd known when he was starting a new church. With additional stories from Francis Chan and Larry Osborne, each chapter includes a thought-provoking challenge question to develop a heart that is surrendered to God, focused on "being and becoming" versus "doing and accomplishing." Wayne will walk you through how to develop a healthy balance of personal care and spiritual leadership. But instead of a "how to" book on models and methods from men who have it all figured out, Sifted will help you process your journey in a way that: Challenges leaders' common scorecards of success. Encourages leaders to realize that they are not alone in what they are experiencing. Provides wisdom for the long haul to position younger leaders for a life of ministry. You many find yourself in a season of sifting. If you respond correctly, this season can be every bit as important as the time of harvest. Sifting builds the muscle of faith, giving us what we need for what lies just around the corner.

This biography offers an in-depth look at R. C. Sproul's life and ministry, detailing his contributions to the trajectory of the Reformed tradition and his influence on American evangelicalism.

Revised and updated edition of the classic work on spiritual leadership

In "A Work of Heart, " bestselling author and missional expert Reggie McNeal helps leaders reflect on the ways in which God is shaping them by letting us see God at work in the lives of four quintessential biblical leaders: Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul. McNeal identifies the formative influences upon these leaders, which he sees as God's ways of working in their lives: the same influences at work today forming leaders for ministry in our times. He explores the shaping influence of culture, call, community, conflict, and the commonplace.Offers guidance for church leaders to let God shape their hearts from the inside outReggie McNeal is the author of the bestselling book "Missional Renaissance"Gives reassurance for maintaining perspective while doing the demanding work of ministry

The book includes illustrative stories of contemporary leaders opening their hearts to God's guidance.

The Heavenly Man has been a publishing phenomenon. At least 350,000 have been sold in the Monarch edition alone. We are still printing in three locations worldwide to keep up with demand. At least 200,000 in Korean. 30 other languages to date. The book has provoked furious debate. To reach a different audience we have commissioned a graphic version from the same studio as produced "The Lion Graphic Bible". Artwork is being drawn and inked by Chinese illustrators to keep the idiom authentic. The book will be published in black and white as this was felt to be more in keeping with subject and likely market. We have opted for the same format as "The Lion Graphic Bible".

Joan of Arc is the most recognizable woman from medieval Europe, yet the details of her life remain obscure to the general public while heavily debated by specialists. Rising from obscurity to insert herself into the court of French King Charles VII before marching with his armies to combat the enemies of the crown during the Hundred Years War, she was eventually captured, tried in an inquisition, and then executed as a relapsed heretic at the age of 19. Joan of Arc: A Reference Guide of Her Life and Works focuses on her life, her works, and legacy in fifteenth-century France. It features a chronology, an introduction offers a brief account of her life, a dictionary section lists entries on people, groups, places, events, topics, terms, and medieval documents central to Joan's life including her letters, contemporary perspectives, her condemnation trial, and the nullification proceedings eventually blessed by the pope to overturn the verdict of the condemnation trial. This book aims to provide an understanding not just of Joan, but of the culture that produced and ultimately destroyed her.

Complete in two volumes, the records of the Manx convocation cover the period from the 13th century to the present day. Largely unpublished hitherto, the materials contained in The Records of Convocation have been drawn from a variety of sources. They make available, for the first time, the fullest possible account of the convocations which stood at the very heart of the nation's life throughout most of the medieval and early modern period. The Records of Convocation contain the minutes of clergy synods, the legislation passed by them tax assessments imposed by the king onthe clergy, and accounts of the great debates about religious reformation and reform. The two volumes of records of the Manx convocation cover the period from 1229 to the present day, but they are of particular interest forthe eighteenth century, where they provide a remarkably full and detailed account of a vigorous period of ecclesiastical reform.

The convocation records of the Churches of England and Ireland are the principal source of our information about the administration of those churches from middle ages until modern times. They contain the minutes of clergy synods, the legislation passed by them, tax assessments imposed by the king on the clergy, and accounts of the great debates about religious reformation; they also include records of heresy trials in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, many of them connected with the spread of Lollardy. However, they have never before been edited or published in full, and their publication as a complete set of documents provides a valuable resource for scholarship.This volume contains the evidence for the northern convocation during the years of the reformation and its aftermath, when the church in the north was significantly disrupted and reorganized. There is a full account of the northerners' reaction to Henry VIII's religious policies, and a summary analysis of the little-known York Provinciale, or collection of northern canons, generally attributed to Cardinal Wolsey.

Research into the field of religious leadership in relation to Christian identity is highly complex. What is meant by religious leadership? What do we really mean if we talk about Christian identity? And most of all, what is the implied relationship between religious leadership and Christian identity? Is there a necessary substantial relation between both? If so, how has leadership contributed in the past to Christian identity and how will it in the contemporary context stimulate a Christian identity? This book explores and addresses such questions.
"Doris Nauer" teaches theology at the University of Tbingen, Germany. "Rein Nauta" is professor of psychology of religion at the Tilburg University, The Netherlands. "Henk Witte" teaches theology at the Tilburg University, The Netherlands.

"Our millennial children, as well as nonchurchgoing millennials, are both the church's greatest challenge and its most exciting new opportunity."-John Seel, PhDWarning: There is a fundamental frame of reference shift in American society happening right now among young adults. You may think of this group as millennials-those born between 1980 and 2000-but millennials resist this label for good reason: the national narrative on them is pejorative, patronizing, and just plain wrong.Here's what we do know:Of Americans with a church background, 76 percent are described as "religious nones" or unaffiliated-and it's the fastest growing segment of the population.Close to 40 percent of millennials fit this religious profile.Roughly 80 percent of teens in evangelical church high school youth groups will abandon their faith after two years in college.It's unlikely that the evangelical church can survive if it is uniformly rejected by millennials, and yet:Millennial pastors and youth ministers are disempowered; their perspective is often not taken seriously by senior church leadership.Most millennial research is framed in categories rejected by millennials; that is, left-brained, analytical communication is lost on right-brained, intuitive millennials.Evangelicals' bias toward rational left-brained thinking makes the church seem tone-deaf.What's next? Read on. John Seel suggests survival strategies-communication on-ramps for genuine human connection with the next generation. It can be done.

The pastoral office has always been a difficult calling. Today, the pastor is often asked to fulfill multiple roles: preacher, teacher, therapist, administrator, CEO. How can pastors thrive amid such demands? What is needed is a contemporary pastoral rule: a pattern for ministry that both encourages pastors and enables them to focus on what is most important in their pastoral task. This book, coauthored by three experts with decades of practical experience, explains how relying on a pastoral rule has benefited communities throughout the church's history and how such rules have functioned in the lives and work of figures such as Augustine, Calvin, Wesley, and Bonhoeffer. It also provides concrete advice on how pastors can develop and keep a rule that will help both them and their congregations to flourish.

Is it time for your church to go multisite? It seems everybody is doing it these days, so how do you know if it is the right solution for your congregation? MultiChurch brings clarity to the multisite movement and assembles the lessons it has learned over the past fifteen years. It explores the opportunities presented by the various forms of multi-site church, identifies areas of concern, and concludes that multisite is not only a biblically sound ecclesiological model, but also a model that provides a compelling solution to contemporary reductionism in the church.

Pastors and church leaders are in need of mature, godly elders to ensure church health, but the training of elders is often entirely missing or badly neglected. What if there were a process to proactively call and train elders? The New Elder's Handbook is designed to equip elders with the knowledge, character, and skills the office calls for. It takes church leaders through the development of a vision for ministry, recruitment of elders to carry out that vision, and specific, biblical training, providing a way to be intentional about developing elders.

Create a small, strong congregation that is dedicated to advancing God's mission The twenty-first century is the century of small, strong congregations. More people will be drawn to small, strong congregations than any other kind of congregation. Yes, there are mega-congregations; Their number is increasing greatly. Nevertheless, across the planet, the vast majority of congregations will be small and strong, and the vast majority of people will be in these congregations. With uncommon wisdom Kennon L. Callahan--today's most noted church consultant--moves ahead of conventional thinking and in Small, Strong Congregations offers his unique vision of the church of the future. This important book chronicles the emergence of a vast number of congregations that are questioning the bigger-is-better notion in church membership. These congregations are deliberately small, active, and happy in their dedication to creating strong church communities that advance God's mission. Step by step, Kennon Callahan shows pastors and other church leaders how they can develop the values and specific qualities helpful to shape and strengthen their own small congregations.Written to be a hands-on guide, Small, Strong Congregations offers practical suggestions for creating mission and service, compassion and shepherding, community and belonging, self-reliance and self-sufficiency, worship and hope, teams and leaders, space and facilities, and giving and generosity. This wise resource is filled with illustrative examples that show clearly how myriad small churches have created solid, vigorous congregations.

Revival begins with God. But it's lived out through us. While we can't determine how God will act, we can be expectant and anticipate his work. And revivals are not just experienced-they can be led. James Choung and Ryan Pfeiffer have seen revival in their own ministries, with remarkable transformation in both individuals and communities. They unpack what revival looks like, how Christians can anticipate it, and how they can experience it in their own lives and in larger movements. They provide a model of revival leadership for Christians who want to facilitate and spread revival in their contexts, with implications for evangelism, mission, and growth. We all need a spiritual breakthrough. Discover what revival can look like for you and those around you.

"Earl Creps is a superb communicator with the passion, courage, and vulnerability to hang out with younger people who mentor him enthusiastically. This book is a refreshing, innovative perspective that all other mentoring books miss."
--Gary R. Collins, PhD, School of Psychology and Counseling, Regent University

"This book will help satisfy a deep hunger for wisdom and guidance."
--John Ortberg, pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church; author, "The Life You've Always Wanted"

"The world has ended about four times. New technologies and processes for handling information make the old world obsolete, quickly. When this happens an unusual dynamic asserts itself. Younglings mentor the elders into the way of the new world. The richness of life sharing that is established in reverse mentoring is a largely unexplored, but promising green edge to the Christian movement. Let Earl Creps show you how to get in on this development."
--Reggie McNeal, author, "The Present Future"

"Unfortunately, those of us who've been around for awhile find it difficult to listen to those who haven't. What could they ever teach us? No question this prevalent attitude is much to our disadvantage as we lose touch with the future of Christ's church. So how can we learn to be quiet for once and listen? And why should we founts of wisdom even consider it? Earl Creps provides us with a compelling answer in Reverse Mentoring. This is a must-read for all generations who love Christ's church."
--Aubrey Malphurs, lead navigator, The Malphurs Group; senior professor, Dallas Seminary

"And I thought I was cool, that I had put the 'hip' back in discipleship! But after experiencing Reverse Mentoring, Ihave discovered it was an 'artificial hip.' It reminded me how much younger leaders have helped me, and it motivated me to get down to Starbucks or wherever I can spend some time with them."
--Bill Hull, author, "Jesus Christ Disciple Maker," "The Disciple Making Pastor" and "The Disciple Making Church"

"Yikes. We've been nattering on about apprenticeship and formation forever, but we've often studiously ignored some of our best teachers. Brilliantly incisive and yet Monday-morning practical, this warm, vital book might just nudge the church into a long overdue revolution."
--Jeff Lucas, author, speaker, broadcaster

One of the most respected and influential Christian leaders of the last decades, Chuck Colson engaged millions through his books, public speaking, and radio broadcasts. In My Final Word, longtime Colson coauthor Anne Morse has selected and arranged pieces Colson wrote mostly during the last ten years of his life, spotlighting what he saw as key topics of ongoing importance for Christian cultural engagement. Some of these issues include: crime and punishment natural law Islam same-sex marriage the persecution of Christians and more This paperback edition also contains a new chapter not in the hardcover, Colson's final thoughts on poverty. Longtime readers and new readers alike will be struck by the power and immediacy of Colson's arguments. My Final Word is a fitting end to Colson's distinguished publishing career, a behind-the-scenes encounter with an influential thinker, and a needed call to an ongoing and relevant Christian public witness.

The ministry of aEURO~serving GodaEURO (TM)s wordsaEURO (TM) in the Christian church has numerous aspects, including exposition of the Bible, systematic and historical theology, church history, and the practice of pastoral ministry. This stimulating and helpful volume begins with perspectives on preaching and ministry arising from the Scriptures themselves: Richard Condie on the Ten Commandments, Paul Barker on Moses, David Peterson on Acts, David Jackman on 1 Corinthians, Allan Chapple on 1 Thessalonians, and William Taylor on 1 Timothy. Next are reflections on theological and devotional issues: Don Carson on devotional Bible reading, Graham Cole on ethics, Peter Jensen on judgment, and Michael Raiter on unction. Two concluding studies look at significant examples from church history: Gerald Bray on the Anglican Homilies, and Vaughan Roberts on Charles Simeon. Serving GodaEURO (TM)s Words was commissioned in honour of Peter Adam, whose own works Speaking GodaEURO (TM)s Words (on preaching) and Hearing GodaEURO (TM)s Words (on biblical spirituality) it seeks to complement and develop. The contributors include scholars and pastoral ministers, a combination that Peter Adam has himself so ably embodied throughout his ministry, and sought to cultivate in others.

What kind of leader would you be if you were suddenly handed more power? What if you got that promotion you wanted or a headhunter called tomorrow offering you your dream job? Would your leadership be an example of servanthood and justice, or would you give in to the temptations that power always presents? In the time it took Samuel to pour oil on each of their heads, Saul and David both moved from unknown kids to kings of Israel. Their responses to that promotion had radically different outcomes. Saul made God sorry he had made him king. David brought joy to God as a man after his own heart. What about you? What would happen if God suddenly promoted you? A simple way to find out is to evaluate what your leadership looks like right now, and this book gives you the opportunity to do just that. Read about the intriguing similarities between Saul and David and the different choices they made that shaped their leadership. Then compare basic qualities of your leadership to each of theirs. You may be surprised at the qualities God values in a leader. Leadership development is a lifetime process. No matter your age or leadership experience, there is still time to grow into a leader that brings more joy to God's heart. Take the journey. It could have some wonderful rewards.

Transformation of the city was the battle cry in the 1990s. How far have we come since then? How do apostles fit into the urban landscape? How do they line up with God's plans? C. Peter Wagner has been writing on these subjects for a number of years, and now he brings city transformation and the role of apostles together in one volume. This book is a call for apostles to assume their rightful sphere of authority to see God's will accomplished here on earth. Wagner relates his decades of experiences and those of others, showing the role of apostles not only in the traditional church, but also in the extended church. Apostles Today offers vision for the role of apostles in healthy churches, workplaces and cities.