Church Ministry

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 Jesus Was A Youth Leader, Matthew Arrowood explores the unconventional path Jesus chose during His ministry. Rather than becoming an earthly king, scholar, or Pharisee, Jesus dedicated three and a half years to teaching and mentoring 12 young men. Arrowood argues that Jesus took on the unexpected role of a rabbi and teacher—a position that, even today, might not be highly regarded within the church.

The Master Leader offers biblical guidance and practical advice to lead your team like Jesus led those around him. You will learn to possess the values of Jesus, beginning with integrity and other key attributes, including servanthood, stewardship, and adaptability. You will also understand the actions of Jesus, like how to build culture, cast vision, and mentor leaders. This book will raise your leadership level.

The Manual of The Mother Church has governed the activities of the First Church of Christ, Scientist for more than a century. Its by-laws address the Christian foundation of individual lives and church activity, as well as church structure and governance. Author Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “...each Rule and By-law in this Manual will increase the spirituality of him who obeys it, invigorate his capacity to heal the sick, to comfort such as mourn, and to awaken the sinner” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany).

The perfect start to your fivefold ministry call. Identify your God-given gifts for serving the church and then mature into your fivefold ministry calling. Make steady progress toward your goal to become a fivefold minister. Master the skill sets necessary for your ministry. Apostle Colette Toach has trained Christians for 25 years to recognize their spiritual gifts and fivefold ministry destinies. However big the promise/vision God's given you, it starts with this strong foundation. You’ll learn: Your core purpose and calling for what you've been put on this earth for. How God uses you ...

Let's face it. Church isn't working. We hear sermons about the abundant life Jesus promised, but how many of us are actually living it? How many of our churches are thriving? How many people in our congregations are experiencing God's blessings? Maybe it's time to call it quits. Quit church? Well, not exactly. Drawing from his experience coaching hundreds of churches toward true growth, Chris Sonksen calls on us to quit our casual, cultural commitment to church as we know it....

The second in Joe Thorn's series on the confession, nature, and expression of the church, The Character of the Church explores what the church is fundamentally like. Useful for training in membership classes, discipleship groups, and elder boards, The Character of the Church is at once theological, practical, and experiential. Listeners will be not simply informed but led to a deeper appreciation of the church of God.

Early in my ministry while pastoring a church that was growing rapidly a pastor of an independent church in the area asked me what we were doing that resulted in the phenomenal growth we were having. Although I had not yet written the book Your Church Can Grow, that includes 35 Critical Questions in chapter four, we discussed several of those topics, and I have since realized that I should have included at least one additional topic in that book, and that is Usher’s and Greeter’s Ministry. I have since come to realize this topic is equally as important as the 35 other questions, and ...

While many denominations claim to be growing, the largest group in American religious life is the disillusioned - people who have been involved in the church yet see few similarities between the church's life and the person of Jesus. In the midst of elaborate programming, professional worship teams, and political crusades, they ask, "Is this really what Jesus called us to do?" While the church has dismissed these people as uncommitted and lacking in faith, perhaps the opposite is true. Their commitment to authentic spirituality over institutional idolatry might be the very corrective the church needs.

How can the people of God develop churches in ways that help and don't hurt poor neighborhoods? Pastors and church planters interested in Christian community development will find here practical insights into the power of the local church, which is often underrated. Churches can serve their communities and improve the quality of life of every facet of the neighborhood.

Longtime Christian journalist, researcher, and ministry leader Rick Lawrence believes that the driving force propelling the church into irrelevance is its propensity reduce Jesus. Deeply researched and comprehensively sourced, Editing Jesus, explores the 8 ways the Jesus of the contemporary church has been edited to fit the spirit of the age. Lawrence writes on:

Evangelical Christianity is a paradox. Evangelicals are radically individualist, but devoted to community and family. They believe in the transformative power of a personal relationship with God, but are wary of religious enthusiasm. They are deeply skeptical of secular reason, but eager to find scientific proof that the Bible is true. In this groundbreaking history of modern American evangelicalism, Molly Worthen argues that these contradictions are the products of a crisis of authority that lies at the heart of the faith.

Ministry in modern society presents a perpetual assault on the pastor’s soul. Culture has changed, and the challenges of ministry have changed with it. Many new pastors are discovering that they’re ill-equipped to manage unexpected, soul-health tensions of ministry. Some are walking away, and others are choosing to not enter the pastorate despite a sense of God’s calling.

Throughout the history of the church there have been a variety of views concerning the role of women in public ministry. Some contend that in light of Paul’s words in Galatians and Ephesians along with examples in the New Testament narrative it is clear women should be allowed participation in any ministry open to men. On the other hand, there are those who argue the obvious words of Scripture, especially in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2, prohibit women from a public teaching ministry of a mixed assembly (both men and women). Moreover, there is the insistence that the public teaching ...

"My Father worketh even until now, and I work," declared the Lord Jesus while on the Earth (John 5:17). Having thus laid the foundation of the work, Christ commands his Church to fulfill it in the power of the Holy Spirit. We Christians who are the many-membered body of Christ have a pressing need to know how to serve according to God.

There is this rumor going around that the idea of women in ministry and leadership isn't biblical. Quite to the contrary, women play all the same roles in Scripture as men save one - and Jesus is the only one who has truly fulfilled that one. Join me on a whirlwind tour through Scripture as we meet Deborah the judge, prophetess, and supreme leader of Israel. We'll meet Huldah, whom the high priest needed to sort out Scripture for him. We'll meet Priscilla who discipled Apollos, Junia the apostle of Jesus, and Phoebe the deacon of the church at Cenchrea. We'll also learn that Paul, far from ...

In 1994, the most Christianized country in Africa became the site of its worst genocide. The tragedy was in Rwanda, but what happened was a mirror reflecting the deep brokenness of the church in the West. Yet by looking at what happened and why, we can find hope for the global body of Christ.

The case studies in Lead on Mission show how business owners, leaders, and boards take steps to advance a higher purpose beyond their tenure. In doing so, they increase a company's likelihood of sustaining a high-performing culture with an eternal ROI. While there is no single way to do this, the book offers practical approaches, insights, and case studies from Faith Forward leaders, investors, business owners, and industry experts.

Many people today, especially among emerging generations, don't resonate with the church and organized Christianity. Some are leaving the church and others were never part of the church in the first place. Yet often they are still spiritually open and fascinated with Jesus. This is a ministry resource book exploring six of the most common objections and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church and Christianity.

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.