Church Leadership

“Jonathan Brenneman in I Am Persuaded provokes, jabs and challenges our sacred cows of church leadership. Yet, the jabs are not hurtful because they come from Scripture. This is not a reactionary book filled with leader bashing but a graceful and excellent presentation of mostly forgotten principles concerning how Jesus and the early church taught and practiced leadership. All the key and at times controversial words are discussed: rule, obey, submission, apostles, authority, and spiritual covering. Excellent exegesis on these words is provided and is foundational to the author’s ...

As churches rapidly expand, Christians risk viewing the church with an entrepreneurial mindset. Church planters can be tempted to fixate on gaining numbers and achieving financial stability as their only metrics for success. They fail to focus on lifting up Christ’s people within the church. In Planting by Pastoring, author Nathan Knight challenges our view of church planting and centers the goal of pastoral ministry on a basic biblical foundation: a church plant is in fact a church, and a planter is in fact a pastor.

A proverb is a short statement expressing a principle of truth for practical, godly living. In Hebrew, the word means “comparison” or “to be like.” Ultimately, Proverbs contains many thought-provoking lessons that transcend time and culture. A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. So, in titling this book, The Verbs, I intend to explain the timeless wisdom principles taught in Proverbs. Each chapter and verse should call you to action as you heed the truth in the 915 “verbs” in this wise poetic book.

We are going to get to know these 12 men that followed Jesus, who eventually built the Church, who turned the world upside down and died for their faith. Who were these 12? What was so special about these that Jesus would choose them? What kind of character, qualities, or talents did these have to be able to walk the earth with the Son of God for over three years?

Hope for the City unites two academic and ministry interests and practices – transformational leadership and urban ministry. One of the clarion calls is for leadership development and training for laity and clergy serving in urban settings. Hope for the City provides a framework that addresses this call. My prayer is that this volume will serve as a resource for urban leaders who are seeking to develop transformational leaders and vital churches and organizations.

Much can be (and has been) written and said about Church Growth, and the Church Assimilation processes. My intention, in this book, is not to overwhelm you with the details of either of these two topics, but, rather, to give you a basic, workable, strategy that you will be able to build upon and customize to your own church, and culture. Church Growth is certainly important; especially to the heart of God. Nevertheless, if most of the people coming in your “front door” are very soon afterwards exiting through your “back door”, there will be very little, if any, church growth (more ...

We are living in historic times. Not since the Civil Rights Movement of the '60s has our country been as vigorously engaged in the reconciliation conversation. There is a great opportunity right now for culture to change, to be a more perfect union. However, it cannot be done without the church, because the faith of the people is more powerful than any law government can enact.

Don’t Try to Ride the Wave of 20th-Century Ministry Leaders, are you called to a place where Jesus’ name is most often spouted as a curse word? Because in the 21st-century, the culture is shifting. The “easy places” are increasingly post-Christian—even pre-Christian. If you want to minister successfully right now, you must: • Learn the mind-shifts necessary to make disciples in the world as it exists today • Rethink outmoded ideas of funding, metrics, and team-building • Find out how to model a faith community that’s relevant to the needs of the culture where God’s ...

The Bible tells us that the congregation gathered around God's heavenly throne will be "a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language," all singing the praises of the Lamb. God's intention has always been to delight for all eternity in a redeemed community of ethnic diversity. But this diverse community shouldn't have to wait until eternity to begin! It can be a reality in our own local churches here and now. Patterned after a worship service, In Church as It Is in Heaven gives biblical warrant for such a community.

Complete Sabbath Sermons for pastors: Comprehensive Weekly Bible-Based Themes, Sermon Outlines, and Worship Plans for Pastors, Preachers and Church Leaders Are you looking for a comprehensive, easy-to-use resource to plan impactful and meaningful Sabbath services? "Complete Sabbath Sermons for pastors" provides 64 carefully crafted Bible-based themes, sermon outlines, and worship plans designed to inspire congregations, simplify preparation, and help pastors and church leaders deliver powerful, scripture-centered messages. Why This Book Is Essential for Your Ministry: ✔ Bible-Based Weekly...

The United States is recognized as the most religiously diverse country in the world, and yet its laws and customs, which many have come to see as normal features of American life, actually keep the constitutional ideal of “religious freedom for all” from becoming a reality. Christian beliefs, norms, and practices infuse our society; they are embedded in our institutions, creating the structures and expectations that define the idea of “Americanness.”

After the release of their groundbreaking book, A Church Called Tov, which recorded the stories of abuse and toxic church cultures at some of the most prominent churches in the United States, New Testament scholar and blogger for Christianity Today Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer heard from a flood of people who had experienced similar instances of abuse. In Pivot, Scot and Laura help churches to implement practices, establish priorities, and cultivate the Kingdom Gospel-centered qualities that form goodness cultures.

This deeply contextual biography centers on the tensions generated by the pope’s attempt to turn the Church away from power and tradition and outwards to engage humanity with God’s mercy. Through battles with corrupt bankers and worldly cardinals, in turbulent meetings and on global trips, history’s first Latin-American pope has attempted to reshape the Church to evangelize the contemporary age. At the same time, he has stirred other leaders’ deep-seated fear that the Church is capitulating to modernity.

Christians face relentless attacks from an ungodly culture, a formidable adversary, and our own fallen natures. Yet we cannot afford to surrender to these very real enemies. Just as survivalists use 10 specific strategies to overcome threatening situations, Courageous explains 10 biblical strategies for surviving - and thriving - in a world that is hostile to our faith. As A. W. Tozer said, "A scared world needs a fearless church." Courageous is a clarion call for Christians to boldly live out their faith.

The faith God calls us to is far more than glowing positivism that shields us from life's struggles. It is one that guides us into a deepening intimacy with the God who sustains us in the broad sweep of life. Best-selling author Gary Thomas helps us sharpen our spiritual vision and fortify our commitment to Christ by examining 10 disciplines God uses to forge a fire-tested faith. A biblical view of these disciplines can safeguard us from disillusionment when - not if - difficulties surface in our lives.

What do we call each other? It’s a deceptively simple question, because how we refer to one another is how we understand our relationships. Not recognizing the power of our words makes it harder for us to trust and serve one another―to love one another. In More than Christians, Norman Hubbard explores how the early church used common words in uncommon ways to make sense of their relationships with God and with one another. His research and contextualization of the cultural background to the New Testament is as practical for today as it is urgent.

In our churches today, we have allowed ourselves to hold to a low view of God instead of seeing Him as Who He really is. And in today’s world of seeking the most likes and followers, many Christian pastors and leaders are finding themselves preaching what people want to hear instead of what God wants to say.

In the last half of the twentieth century, an issue of debate and disagreement arose throughout Christianity concerning the role of women in the Church, regarding whether women should be allowed to serve as elders and pastors. Scripture passages were presented to attempt to prove that God had chosen men for these Church offices. And, arguments were offered in an effort to rebut these scriptures. By the close of the twentieth century, these arguments had been accepted and endorsed by the majority of the Church. Women are now regularly ordained to serve as elders and pastors in churches ...

Divinely Mashed: AI, Faith, and the Kingdom of God Buckle up, believers and tech geeks—this ain’t your grandma’s Bible study (unless she’s coding miracles in her spare time)! Dive into a wild, wacky mash-up where circuits meet scripture, prayers get pixelated, and the Kingdom of God grooves to a digital beat. The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham serves up a quirky feast, blending AI’s brainy bits with faith’s soulful zing, flipping church traditions with a holy drone drop and dodging the Matrix’s control freaks with a wink and a prayer. Imagine Joseph’s dream-decoding mashed with ...

Maybe you have been there: you’re running late to church, and you know it will be hard to find an empty seat. This is an all-too-frequent experience in a growing church. For churches experiencing this dilemma, a common solution is to add another service or location. This seems like a cost-effective fix. Besides, no one wants to turn away non-Christians. But is it the best option? Jonathan Leeman presents a series of biblical, theological, and pastoral arguments to help reorient our minds to a scriptural definition of church.