Archive for June, 2007
John Stott. Basic Christian Leadership: Biblical Models of Church, Gospel, and Ministry. IVP, 2002. 120 pp.
Leadership today is no easy task. Christian leaders called to shepherd others get caught in power struggles and are tempted to abuse their pastoral authority. Pastors feel that they must project strength and certainty in order to preach and minister credibly. Too often our models of leadership are shaped more by culture than by Christ.
John Stott offers an alternative vision in this biblical approach to servant leadership, exemplified by the apostle Paul in his ministry to the church in Corinth. Above all, Stott reassures us that God is at work even in the midst of our human weakness.
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27
A clear articulation of the nature of leadership as well as the thoughtful study of Scripture we have come to expect from John Stott, this exposition of 1 Corinthians 1–4 offers us a model of ministry surprisingly relevant twenty centuries later: leadership rooted in humility and grace, serving the church with the love of Christ.
Author: IVP Bio | Langham Partnership Bio | Wikipedia | Theopedia
Overview: Amazon | CBD | IVP | Google Books
Excerpts: TOC | Intro | Ch. 1 | Browse in Amazon
Reviews: Amazon | LibraryThing
Pastors/Church Leaders
- Adam Faughn at Faugn Family of Four (06/07) Review
- Steve London at Our Hearts Are Restless (03/07) Review
Laymen/Unknown
- Andy at The Last Homely House (01/07) Review
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Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, & Warren Bird. The Multi-Site Church Revolution: Being One Church in Many Locations. Zondervan, 2006. 224 pp.
This book captures the story of a widespread movement of churches that are expanding their ministries to include multiple formats, venues, and locations, using dozens of in-the-trenches examples, identifying the primary reasons churches succeed as well as how they overcome common snags on the route to “one church–many congregations.”
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 successful DNA transfer (vision and core values) to its new site
- develop new leaders
- fund new sites
- adapt to structure and staffing change
- use technology to support your worship services
You’ll identify the reasons churches succeed and how they overcome common snags. The Multi-Site Church Revolution offers guidance, insights, and specific action steps as well as appendixes with practical leadership resources and self-diagnostic tools.
Authors:
Overview: Amazon | CBD | Google Books
Excerpts: TOC, pp. 15-20 | Preview in Google Books
Reviews: Amazon
Professors
Pastors/Church Leaders
- Rick Stilwell at Gottabuzz (06/06) Review
- Mark Batterson at Evotional (05/06) Review
- Bob Franquiz at BobFranquiz (06/06) Review
Laymen/Unknown
- DJ Chuang at Leadership Network Books (12/06) Review
- Tony Sheng at Mobilizing Student Ministries (01/07) Review
- Mark Howell at Strategy Central (07/06) Review
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K. Scott Oliphint. Reasons for Faith: Philosophy in the Service of Theology. P&R, 2006. 363 pp.
Philosophy poses questions and problems that are often thought to undermine Christian faith. Christians need not shy away from these discussions. There is “philosophical good news for the Christian,” says K. Scott Oliphint. The Christian position is “not simply a plausible alternative,” but “the consistent, cogent, and altogether reasonable position that is able to offer solutions to the problems posed.”
Author: WTS Bio
Overview: Amazon | P&R | WTSBooks | Google Books | LibraryThing
Excerpts: Ch 1 | Misc. | Browse in Amazon
Reviews: Amazon | CBD | LibraryThing
Professors
This is a wonderful book. If given the attention it deserves, Reasons for Faith should change the discussion in matters relating revelation to reason from now on. There is nothing quite like it in the literature. Moving from Augustine to Plantinga, Professor Oliphint interacts with many of the major questions raised by philosophy, in areas including metaphysics, epistemology and ethics, and in every case shows himself to be thoroughly conversant with the issues. Most significantly, he is able to show how theology in the Reformation tradition provides the only credible basis for resolving the problems. Reasons for Faith will leave no one indifferent. It will leave many profoundly grateful. —William Edgar, professor of apologetics and department coordinator, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
Since Van Til, no presuppositional apologist has given us such a deep and detailed analysis of the relation of Christianity to philosophy. Oliphint is at home in the philosophical literature, from the Greeks to Aquinas to Plantinga and many others, and he sheds light on many issues of importance to Christians. This volume is an exploration, much open to further discussion.” —John M. Frame, professor of systematic theology and philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando
- Paul Helm at Reformation21 (ND) Review
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Kevin Blue. Practical Justice: Living Off-Center in a Self-Centered World. IVP, 2006. 143 pp.
I know the world is full of injustice. I know that God calls Christians to work for God on the earth. But what can I do?
Many of us have questions like these. We are well-intended, but stuck in the rut of the everyday. We want to make our lives matter. But we don’t know where to start. We wonder about everything from whether to give a dollar to a beggar to how to participate in the political process; from whether to shop at Wal-Mart to how much to spend on a car.
Kevin Blue has spent his adult life answering these questions for himself and for others. He lives in the heart of Los Angeles, where these questions can’t be set aside. And he has led college students through experiences in urban ministry as well as international treks to the poorest parts of the world. In Practical Justice he combines what he has learned with the experiences of others to answer your questions.
Right thinking. Right action. Just living. God calls us to step up and get involved. This book will help you get started.
Author: IVP Bio | Servant Partners Bio
Overview: Amazon | CBD | IVP | Google Books
Excerpts: TOC | Intro | Ch. 1 | Browse in Amazon
Reviews: Amazon | Endorsements
Laymen/Unknown
- Beth Winton at RememberAndAdjustAccordingly (03/07) Review
- Carrie at It’sNotAboutMe (01/07) Review
- Chris Fann at ThePreface (12/06) Review
Extras: Book Info PDF
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Mark Dever, Paul Alexander. The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel. Crossway, 2005. 224 pp.
Mark Dever and Paul Alexander provide a model of a biblical church in this resource for pastors, elders, and others interested in the vitality of their church. This highly practical book proposes an attitude of complete reliance on and submission to the Gospel in building a healthy church.
Authors:
Overview: Amazon | CBD | Crossway | 9Marks
Excerpts: Front matter | PastorBookshelf (pp. 20-28, 33) | Browse in Amazon | Browse in Crossway
Reviews: Amazon | Crossway | CBD | LibraryThing
Pastors/Church Leaders
- Adrian Warnock at AdrianWarnock (09/05) Review
- Mark Franklin at the FFBC Blog (ND) Review
Seminary/Ministerial Students
- Bryce Hales at TheLionRampant (09/05) Review
- Jon B. at Veritas Est Immortalis (06/07) Review
- KC Armstrong at EasilyAMuse (06/07) Review
Laymen/Unknown
- Tim Challies at Challies.com (09/05) Review
- Doug McHone at CoffeeSwirls.com (09/05) Review
- Michael Russell at Eternal Perspectives (09/05) Review
- Brad Wilson at ReadnReap (09/05) Review
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Tim Conder. The Church in Transition: The Journey of Existing Churches into the Emerging Culture. Zondervan, 2006. 224 pp.
Through transparent personal stories and incisive insight, author and pastor Tim Conder encourages church leaders to embrace the changes necessary to transition their congregations toward effectiveness and authenticity in the emerging culture.
In our fast-growing, post-Christian, postmodern culture, the church often finds itself marginalized and ineffective in mission. The new emerging church is both hopeful and frightening compared to more traditional forms of Christianity. However, these “two churches” need each other. The Church in Transition presents honest stories of the failures and successes of a variety of transitioning fellowships.
Author: Zondervan Bio
Overview: Amazon | Zondervan | CBD
Excerpts: TOC, Ch. 1
Reviews: Amazon
Endorsements:
- “In The Church in Transition, Tim Conder has artfully brought clarity to an often fuzzy phenomenon. This book should be required reading for anyone even considering entering into conversation about emerging culture.” —Denise VanEck, pastor for community life, Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, MI
- “To all who know him, Tim Conder is a kind, generous, graceful, and extremely intelligent follower of Christ. This book is sure to come as a comfort and challenge to those many, many leaders–both clergy and laypersons–who feel caught between the ‘emerging church’ and their own traditional churches. I cannot imagine a better guide through this transformation than Tim.” —Tony Jones, national coordinator of Emergent-US; author, The Sacred Way
- “For those interested in the challenges and opportunities we face as we seek to understand the new cultural dynamics of our postmodern world and how the gospel is incarnated and articulated into this reality, Tim’s book is a great help. For those asking how to transition ministries into this new reality, they will find a reliable and invaluable guide with The Church in Transition.” —Tim Keel, pastor, Jacob’s Well Church, Kansas City, MO
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D. A. Carson. Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications. Zondervan, 2005. 256 pp.
A careful and informed assessment of the “emerging church” by a respected author and scholar.
The “emerging church” movement has generated a lot of excitement and exerts an astonishingly broad influence. Is it the wave of the future or a passing fancy? Who are the leaders and what are they saying?
The time has come for a mature assessment. D. A. Carson not only gives those who may be unfamiliar with it a perceptive introduction to the emerging church movement, but also includes a skillful assessment of its theological views. Carson addresses some troubling weaknesses of the movement frankly and thoughtfully, while at the same time recognizing that it has important things to say to the rest of Christianity. The author strives to provide a perspective that is both honest and fair.
Anyone interested in the future of the church in a rapidly changing world will find this an informative and stimulating read.
Author: Zondervan Bio | Wikipedia | Theopedia
Overview: Amazon | CBD | Zondervan | Google Books
Excerpts: TOC, Preface, pp. 11-15 | Misc.
Reviews: Amazon | LibraryThing
Pastors/Church Leaders
Seminary/Ministerial Students
Laymen/Unknown
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Mark Yaconelli. Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus. Zondervan, 2006. 256 pp.
Youth ministry isn’t about what to say, what to do, or how to be; it’s about serving the needs of the students God has put in your life. This book is an attitude overhaul that creates a more organic approach to youth ministry that helps you create meaningful silence, covenant communities, and contemplative activities that allow your students to recognize the presence of Jesus in their everyday lives.
Author: YMSP Bio | Zondervan Bio
Overview: YMSP | Amazon | CBD | Zondervan | Google Books
Excerpts: TOC, Ch. 1 | Misc.
Reviews: Amazon | CBD
Pastors/Church Leaders
Laymen/Unknown
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John Eldredge. The Ransomed Heart: A Collection of Devotional Readings. Thomas Nelson, 2005. 384 pp.
For millions of people, reading the writings of John Eldredge has been a deep and profound experience, generating a hunger to integrate his ideas and insights into their daily lives. Meeting that need in an innovative way, The Ransomed Heart features 365 daily readings gleaned from John’s best-known works, including Wild at Heart, Captivating, Waking the Dead, The Journey of Desire, The Sacred Romance, and Epic. More than a daily devotional, this volume is a portable library that will prompt readers to soulful reflection and deeper intimacy with God.
Author: TN Bio | Wikipedia | Theopedia | FaithfulReader
Overview: Amazon | CBD | Google Books | Thomas Nelson
Excerpts: pp. 1-4
Reviews: Amazon
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Rick McKinley. This Beautiful Mess: Practicing the Presence of the Kingdom of God. Multnomah, 2006. 192 pp.
When Jesus announced, “the kingdom of God is at hand,” what did He mean? Uncover the reality of the kingdom of God and what it might look like if followers of Christ practiced its in-breaking presence. What happens when we view life through the lens of the kingdom? How does the beauty of Jesus’ reign break into the mess of our broken lives and world? What if we lived as though a world other than this one was here today? This Beautiful Mess launches a paradigm-shifting journey inviting us to experience the kingdom of God in the ordinary miracle of our everyday lives.
Author: Website Bio
Overview: Amazon | CBD | Multnomah | Google Books
Excerpts: TOC, Foreword, Preface, Ch. 1 | PastorBookshelf Excerpt
Reviews: Amazon | CBD
Pastors/Church Leaders
Laymen/Unknown
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