Michael P. V. Barrett. The Beauty of Holiness: A Guide to Biblical Worship. Ambassador-Emerald, 2006. 285 pp.
Contemporary! Traditional! Divisive words—particularly when referring to methods of worship. Some churches commit themselves to one particular style while others divide themselves into distinct congregations with separate services to accommodate a mismatched membership with dissimilar preferences regarding music or dress. For some reason music always seems to be at the heart of the issue. Should the congregation find the words to hymns in hardback hymnals or the words to choruses projected on a screen? Should soloists sing to recorded music with microphone in hand or to organ accompaniment with arms passively at the side? Should the congregation applaud or whisper “amen” when blessed? Should drums and guitars be allowed in church? Should music styles reflect changing cultural models, or are some melodies and rhythms inherently inappropriate for worship? These are tough questions with answers that almost always fail to convince or change the other side.
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Charles H. Dunahoo. Making Kingdom Disciples: A New Framework. P&R, 2005. 249 pp.
An Overview of the Kingdom Model
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave his final command to his church about their assignment during the interim between his ascension and his return at the end of the age. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20).
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Gary McIntosh. Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church. Baker, 2006. 192 pp.
We’re a Friendly Church
If you were to survey churches and ask them to list their strengths, almost every one would include, “We’re a friendly church.” . . . It’s interesting that in every one of the churches I coached, someone either wrote on a survey or stated verbally that they believed their church to be a friendly place. It did not matter if the individuals were attending churches in danger of closing down, in the midst of twenty-year-long plateaus, or bursting forth in growth. They all felt their church was a friendly one. . . .
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Alan Roxburgh & Fred Romanuk. The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World. Jossey-Bass, 2006. 240 pp.
Introduction
The question is familiar: “What do you mean by missional church?” Even though the term is now used everywhere, there is still confusion about it. As we begin this book, here is a brief description of what we mean by the phrase.
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James W. Thompson. Pastoral Ministry According to Paul: A Biblical Vision. Baker, 2006. 176 pp.
In the present era, the minister is ultimately measured by the ability to organize, build, and manage a complex organization. Congregations continue to assume that the minister will maintain the traditional roles of marrying and burying, but they believe that the ultimate goal of the minister is to take the congregation to a new level of growth. The minister must be both an effective communicator and an administrator. In a competitive religious marketplace, the task of the minister is to ensure that the congregation maintains its place among religious consumers. Often search committees no longer look for someone who conforms to one of these models. Instead they seek someone who is a combination of, for instance, Jay Leno, Lee Iacocca, and Dr. Phil.
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J. Ligon Duncan & Susan Hunt. Women’s Ministry in the Local Church. Crossway, 2006. 176 pp.
A Biblical Analysis of Women’s Vital Role in the Church
The purpose of this book is to strengthen Christ’s Church by presenting a practical theology of women’s ministry in the local church.
The book will answer five fundamental questions:
- Why should a church have a women’s ministry–what is the biblical apologetic?
- Who is responsible for the women’s ministry in a church?
- How does a women’s ministry relate to the other ministries in a church?
- What are the tasks of a women’s ministry?
- How does a church implement a biblical approach to women’s ministry?
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