Church Ministry

This book introduces us to the meaning of church membership, the traits of a good church, and how we are to function as parts of the body. Written for laypeople, it includes practical discussions on church leadership, male and female roles, worship, spiritual gifts, confrontation, unity, and prayer. Revised and expanded with study questions and new conclusions.

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.

Sustainable Church is a thorough Bible-based exposition of how the ministry of every church should be organically built around all of the Spirit-gifted followers of Jesus within that local body. It critiques the shallow pragmatism and unsustainability of nonorganic churches and biblically showcases the sustainability of the organic church.

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.

In addition to the regular demands of preaching and shepherding, modern pastors feel undue pressure to entertain congregants and increase attendance numbers. Often, churches resort to the latest business models to keep pace. But true, life-giving guidance lies in Scripture and the wisdom of those having come before us. Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls helps pastors to embrace a classic, biblical vision of ministry through the study of selected pastoral virtues and early church figures.

In Making Sense of the Bible, Adam Hamilton invites us into an honest conversation about the Bible. The book begins with foundational questions such as: How and when was the Bible written? Who decided which books made it into the scriptures and why? How literally must we read it? And, is the Bible ever wrong? From there, Hamilton considers the real questions people frequently ask that continue to divide Christians and denominations alike

Following the example of John the Baptist and with a careful look at the teaching of Scripture, Tim Suttle dares church leaders to risk failure by chasing the vision God has given them - no matter how small it might seem - instead of pursuing the broad path of pragmatism that leads to fame and numerical success.

In this honest and eye-opening book, Pastor Shane Idleman shares what most ministry leaders won’t: the pain, pitfalls, and pressures that nearly led him to walk away from his calling. Drawing from over two decades in ministry—including intense seasons of burnout, loss, criticism, and spiritual warfare—Shane opens the door to his personal journey and offers wisdom to help other leaders navigate the minefields of ministry without losing heart.

Many new believers have questions about what it means to live as a Christian in the context of a local church, and pastors are looking for resources to pass along to their congregations to help them think biblically about the Christian life. Church Questions is a series by 9Marks that seeks to provide Christians with sound and accessible biblical teaching by answering common questions about church life. Each booklet offers biblical answers and practical applications with the goal of nurturing healthy church practice and commitment.

In Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging Politics, Cho encourages listeners to remember that hope arrived—not in a politician, system, or great nation—but in the person of Jesus Christ.

Fidèle à son approche collaborative et interdénominationnelle, le WET a proposé à treize théologiens de discerner le vrai du faux derrière ces phrases que l’on a l’habitude d’entendre… ou de dire. Confrontons notre jargon à la vérité de l’Évangile et parlons mieux!

If you’ve lost your identity to belong to a Christian group, this book is for you. Joining, staying, and leaving a Christian cult is a complex and confusing process. Most people do not understand that they have joined or been born into a cult or high-control Christian church because these churches offer a dependable, tight-knit community and a place to belong. Because the need to belong is primal, we are susceptible to joining groups exploiting this need.

Is it possible our world is just one big high school lunchroom? In a world fraught with polarization and division—where we form separate tables based on political beliefs, skin color, economic status, theological ideas, and personal preferences—can we find a way to live differently, more aligned with the ways of Jesus? In Lunchroom Theology, Heather Gorman and Mark Nelson confront our societal and theological rifts, and by weaving together scriptural and sociological insights, they expose the many ways our contemporary divisions are mirrored by the church today.

Drawing on decades of ministry experience, Gillian Cameron offers listeners tried and tested insights that will help build the leadership capabilities of a new generation of Christians. In revealing the importance of the table for a leader, Gillian highlights the principles Jesus used to disciple and grow the people around Him. Listeners will learn how to identify potential leaders, unlock the supernatural in ministry, embrace the power of innovation, lead through seasons of pain, inspire a shared vision, and keep Jesus at the center. Be empowered to grow authentic, confident leaders.

“Meester Volansky, how you say in English? In Ukrainian, we say it like when person live in house. Jesus is my house. I live in Him . . . Because Jesus is like my house . . . I has hope!” Where did Diana get her hope? Somehow, despite the horror of the moment in which the Wolansky family found themselves, and despite whatever horrors Diana had faced in her past over her own children, she seemed to have enough hope to calm everyone else down and to take charge of the situation. Where did she get that capacity? Could Petr and Jen find this type of hope to endure?

Pandemic of Pastors and the Leadership Lie explores the crisis of modern church leadership, exposing how cultural trends have overshadowed biblical shepherding. This book calls the Church to return to Scripture's foundational truths, urging those truly called by the Spirit to embrace humble, faithful shepherding and to recognize false leaders disguised as shepherds. It is a compelling wake-up call for pastors, church leaders, and believers who long for Spirit-led discipleship centered on Christ, the true Shepherd.

An engaging and timely guide to preaching with passion from minister and professor Lucas Hergert. Done well, preaching engages mind and heart, soul and body. Passionate preaching offers more than discussion about topics held at a distance; it claims a stake in them. This is especially true right now, as progressive preachers must address today’s social issues with power and conviction. But how does a preacher ensure the congregation not only receives but also feels the message?

With its play-on-words title that points to the familiar biblical metaphor around shepherds and flocks of sheep in need of attentive care, David McCauley's You Don't Know Sheep provides road-tested insight for some of today's most perplexing faith-based leadership issues. You Don't Know Sheep offers new perspectives; solutions to problems you've been wanting to fix; and the good-natured realization that leading people successfully requires wise shepherding—starting with a shepherd who knows the way.

The following is a compilation of the warnings that the Lord has given me to preach, teach, and prophesy to all who will listen. May the Lord use this to open your eyes to the truth, bring you to repentance, and draw you closer to the God who loves you.

One of the church's primary responsibilities is to foster genuine spiritual growth in people's lives. Today's pastors bring tremendous effort and passion to this task, but they are often disappointed by people who sit in the pews for years, knowing about Jesus but never really knowing him. In 2004, Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago undertook a three-year study to measure spiritual growth called the REVEAL Spiritual Life Survey. Over the next six years, additional data was collected from over a quarter million people in well over a thousand churches of every size....