The Gifts of the Small Church

The Gifts of the Small Church PDF Author: Dr. Jason Byassee
Publisher: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 1426727321
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 204

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Book Description
Dizzying changes have taken place in American religious life in the last half century. Yet in spite of that fact, taking a snapshot of a “typical” Christian church in America would reveal a surprising number of small-to-mid-sized congregations, rooted in a local neighborhood or community, tied to a specific denomination, where most of the members know each others’ names, and hence are blessed (and cursed) with being the church together. In this clear-eyed, humorous appraisal, Jason Byassee contends that the “church around the corner” occupies a particular place in the divine economy, that it is especially capable of forming us in the virtues, perspectives, and habits that make up the Christian life. Not that he romanticizes these churches, however. Having been a rural, small membership church pastor, Byassee knows too well the particular vices and temptations to which they are subject. But he also knows the particular graces they’ve been given, graces like the “prayer ladies,” those pillars of the congregation who, “when one told you she was praying for you it meant something. When one hugged you, you remembered all week. When one cooked for you the casserole tasted like love. And when you were around them you were in the presence of Jesus.” Anyone who serves, or belongs to, a “church around the corner” will find their ministry strengthened by this enlivening, inspiring book.

The Gifts of the Small Church

The Gifts of the Small Church PDF Author: Dr. Jason Byassee
Publisher: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 1426727321
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 204

Get Book

Book Description
Dizzying changes have taken place in American religious life in the last half century. Yet in spite of that fact, taking a snapshot of a “typical” Christian church in America would reveal a surprising number of small-to-mid-sized congregations, rooted in a local neighborhood or community, tied to a specific denomination, where most of the members know each others’ names, and hence are blessed (and cursed) with being the church together. In this clear-eyed, humorous appraisal, Jason Byassee contends that the “church around the corner” occupies a particular place in the divine economy, that it is especially capable of forming us in the virtues, perspectives, and habits that make up the Christian life. Not that he romanticizes these churches, however. Having been a rural, small membership church pastor, Byassee knows too well the particular vices and temptations to which they are subject. But he also knows the particular graces they’ve been given, graces like the “prayer ladies,” those pillars of the congregation who, “when one told you she was praying for you it meant something. When one hugged you, you remembered all week. When one cooked for you the casserole tasted like love. And when you were around them you were in the presence of Jesus.” Anyone who serves, or belongs to, a “church around the corner” will find their ministry strengthened by this enlivening, inspiring book.

Making the Small Church Effective

Making the Small Church Effective PDF Author: Carl S. Dudley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780687230440
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 196

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Book Description
What makes the small church so reliably steady, closely intimate, and beautifully simple -- a worthy model of the Christian church? Carl S. Dudley affirms the main cause as lying within the minds of the church members.

Small Church Essentials

Small Church Essentials PDF Author: Karl Vaters
Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN: 0802496369
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Do you lead a small church? Big churches get all the love. Articles, books, conferences—they mostly feature leaders of large congregations. Yet big churches are a small part of the ecclesial landscape. In fact, more than 90 percent of churches have fewer than 200 people. That means small churches play a big part in what God is doing. Small Church Essentials is for leaders of these smaller congregations. It encourages them to steward their role well, debunking myths about small churches while offering principles for leading a dynamic, healthy small church. Based on the popular six-hour lecture that Karl Vaters delivers to church leaders across the country, Small Church Essentials will affirm small church leaders and show them how to identify what they do well, and how to do it even better. Readers will: Be assured that leading a small congregation does not make them ministry failures Come away inspired to lead with passion, regardless the size of their church Have field-tested principles for leading a church in their context Possess new metrics for biblically measuring vitality in small churches Have a toolkit of resources to use in their everyday ministry Karl Vaters has been a small church pastor for 30 years, is the author of The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches, and the Small Thinking that Divides Us (2013), and travels extensively to churches and conferences to speak about leading a small church well. If you are pastoring a small church, this book will be a breath of fresh air. It will affirm your calling while giving you fresh tools to help you lead. It will help you: Stop believing lies about small churches Lead your church to fulfill the role only small churches can Understand your congregation’s strengths and weaknesses Turn around a dying or unhealthy church Identify good trends and bad in church and culture

Spiritual Gifts in the Local Church

Spiritual Gifts in the Local Church PDF Author: David Pytches
Publisher: Bethany House Pub
ISBN: 9780871239846
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 287

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Book Description
Practical instructions for use of the gifts of the Spirit in the congregation. An ideal text for class teaching and discussion.

Small Church Checkup

Small Church Checkup PDF Author: Kay Kotan
Publisher: Upper Room Books
ISBN: 0881778931
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description
Many small membership churches today are faced with the sobering reality of attendance loss and overall decline. This resource provides a guide to help you find hope, alternatives, and the possibility of a new beginning. Included are tools to help you measure your church's vitality, evaluate the results, and diagnose your church's condition, along with several options for treatment plans as you seek to faithfully serve your community. Remember that we can choose our story. If we believe in our hearts there is another possibility, we can be faithful in choosing intentional pathways forward that honor God, the church founders, and generations to come. Follow the steps outlined in these pages to evaluate where you are and what the next steps on your journey need to be as you seek to be a "not yet big church," "a stable, small church," or a church that chooses to close and be repurposed for unexpected new life.

Blueprints for the Little Church

Blueprints for the Little Church PDF Author: Elissa Bjeletich
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781944967000
Category : Child rearing
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
How do we as Orthodox parents keep our children in the Church throughout their lives? It all begins with involving them in the life of the Church from birth onward-in the parish and also at home. Blueprints for the Little Church provides practical ideas and encouragement-without judgment-for incorporating the primary practices of Orthodox spirituality into your family life at every stage of its growth and throughout the church year.

Small Church on a Big Mission

Small Church on a Big Mission PDF Author: Jeff Allen
Publisher: 3dm Publishing
ISBN: 9780999003930
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
Megachurches get the headlines, but the reality is that the overwhelming majority of churches are small. These smaller churches are just as committed to God's overarching mission as any big church is. In fact, in many ways they are uniquelyqualified to do so. The leaders of these churches need a resource that understands their real-world context. Now, thanks to Jeff Allen, a Colorado pastor, they have one. Instead of extolling the latest church growth fads, Allen focuses on what's truly important--developing a fruitful culture of discipleship and mission in your particular church, no matter its size. Inside, you'll find practical tips on everything from the pastor's focus to church polity. In this much-needed resource, Allen connects church leaders and church members to the bigness of God's mission in the world, and encourages them toward partnering with God and others in ways they can actually put into practice.

The Gifts of the Small Church

The Gifts of the Small Church PDF Author: Jason Byassee
Publisher: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 0687466598
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 212

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Book Description
Why the small- to mid-sized church remains God's best means to make disciples of Jesus Christ

Small Church, Big Impact (Ebook Shorts)

Small Church, Big Impact (Ebook Shorts) PDF Author: Brandon J. O'Brien
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN: 144127071X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
By gathering stories about effective churches from small-church pastors, Brandon O'Brien demonstrates that a church's success is not contingent on its size. This is a selection from Brandon O'Brien's book, The Strategically Small Church.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Understanding Spiritual Gifts PDF Author: Kay Arthur
Publisher: WaterBrook
ISBN: 0307458709
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
What Are Spiritual Gifts? The subject of spiritual gifts can seem complicated: Who has spiritual gifts--""spiritual people" or everybody? What are spiritual gifts anyway? Understanding Spiritual Gifts takes you straight to God's Word to discover answers from the Gift-Giver Himself. As you dig into Bible passages about God's design for each of us, you'll find out that spiritual gifts aren't complicated--but they are life-changing. Here you will uncover what spiritual gifts are, where they come from, who has them, how they are received, and how they work within the church. As you study, you will have a new vision for how you can use your God-given gifts to bring hope to your home, your church, and a hurting world. 40 Minutes a Week Could Change Your Life! The 40-Minute Bible Studies series from the teaching team at Precept Ministries International tackles the topics that matter to you. These inductive study guides, designed to be completed in just six 40-minute lessons with no homework required, help you discover for yourself what God says and how it applies to your life today. With the leader’s notes and Bible passages included right in the book, each self-contained study is a powerful resource for personal growth and small-group discussion.