Download or read book How Covid 19 Changed the Way We Do Church written by Vernon Shelton and published by . This book was released on 2020-08-22 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This pandemic has forced churches to operate in some uncharted territory. In so many ways, it has changed the way we do church. This book is a practical guide to help pastors, leaders, and members navigate their way through this New Normal.

Download or read book We Shall Be Changed written by Mark D. W. Edington and published by Church Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2020-11-17 with total page 113 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How will we regather the church after pandemic? The Covid-19 pandemic is an inflection point for the church everywhere—and certainly for the Episcopal Church. The sudden flowering of creativity, connection, and collaboration is an expression of the Holy Spirit’s relentless presence within the church; yet ongoing distancing creates difficulties to be overcome on the other side of the present crisis. How will we change habits of isolation and regather the church? How will we manage the impact on church finances? How is God calling us to embrace the energy and creativity of this moment—and the longing people have felt for a return to community? What challenges will we face regathering the people of God, particularly in already weakened communities? We Shall Be Changed is a gathering of brief essays from thought leaders around the church on pressing topics that the church needs to be considering now—in preparation for the end of this pandemic. The book is designed to spur conversation within parishes, fellowship groups, and clergy gatherings about how to embrace the gifts this time has given while anticipating and addressing the very real challenges the church will confront in its wake.

Download or read book Leadership God s Agency and Disruptions written by Mark Lau Branson and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2021-02-16 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Leaders in congregations and Christian organizations wrestle with an unraveling of the world in which they have little experience and training. While they are offered unending resources by experts on leadership, some with claims to biblical blueprints, the challenges seem mismatched to those methods. Branson and Roxburgh frame the situation as one in which "modernity's wager"--the conviction that God is not necessary for life and wisdom and meaning--has defined the Western imagination. Because churches and leaders are colonized by this ethos, even when God is named and beliefs are claimed, approaches to leadership are blind to God's agency. Branson and Roxburgh approach this challenge as a work in practical theology, attending to our cultural context, narratives of God's disruptive initiatives in Scripture, and a reshaping of leadership theories with a priority on God's agency. With years of experience as teachers, consultants, and guides, they name practices which lead to more faithful participation. Leadership, God's Agency, and Disruption is wide-ranging in cultural and biblical scholarship, challenging in its engagement with numerous leadership studies, and practical with its focus toward the on-the-ground life of churches and organizations.

Download or read book Why Worship written by Tim Hughes and published by SPCK. This book was released on 2021-03-29 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'My favourite thing about this book is the different perspectives on one main thing... Worship! Reading it provided much clarity on a word that is often misunderstood.' Guvna B, Rapper, Author & Broadcaster What does it mean to be a worshipper? Together, Tim Hughes and Nick Drake explore who, where, why and how Christians worship, what happens when we do and where the future of worship may take us. With contributions from Graham Kendrick, Lou Fellingham, Kees Kraayenoord, Dr Helen Morris and many more, this book offers a fresh reminder that worship isn't just music and the songs we sing, it is so much more. The Spring Harvest 2021 theme book, Why Worship? will help you reconnect to the purpose and meaning of worship, so that you can grow closer to God individually and as a church community and get the most out of worship. Contributors Tim Hughes, Nick Drake, Dr John Andrews, Dr Helen Morris, Graham Kendrick, Lou Fellingham, Lyn Weston, Kees Kraayenoord, Noel Robinson, Doug Williams, Dr Darell Johnson.

Download or read book Surviving the Pandemic written by D Min Eric Tate Martin and published by Trilogy Christian Publishing. This book was released on 2024-02-13 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: HAS COVID-19 CHANGED THE WAY YOU SEE GOD & THE CHURCH? "This book details the challenges of the post-COVID church and how we all play a part in sustaining the growth of God's Word and His blessings. I do think it will energize those who read it to know the importance of growth in all areas of life." - BENJAMIN DAVID DENNIS, LIFETIME MOVIES/ACTOR/WRITER Where were you and your church financially, spiritually, and physically when COVID hit? Was your church congregation and church community prepared for the changes that came with the pandemic? In this eye-opening, thought-provoking book, Dr. Martin helps navigate the ups and downs of what the COVID-19 pandemic did to change the way we worship and how the church is viewed. There was a paradigm shift in the importance of the size of the church in relation to its health. Dr. Martin also explores many more tenets that are important to the survival of the church in this post-COVID-19 era. Surviving the Pandemic will be a guide as well as an encouragement to help all churches, big and small, overcome the challenges the pandemic posed from its onset up until now. Yes, the pandemic did change the landscape of how we do and see church, but it didn't change the way God protects and blesses us.

Download or read book THEN AND NOW Pastoring and Church Planting During and After COVID 19 written by Edward DeVries and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-03 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The last several months have forced most churches to either close, or to make at least a decade's worth of changes, or maybe both. Whether it was building an online ministry, cleaning the calendar of all but "essential" stuff, rethinking ministry priorities, or maybe even relearning everything that you thought you knew about "the work of the ministry." Now, seven-to-eight(ish) months in, we are at a point where it would serve us well to take a deep breath, look at what we've been through, and maybe even draw a little map to guide us on down the road ahead.While the Bible's truths and the Great Commission do not change, the methods we have used, many of them, may have to change. That makes this a good time to ask ourselves whether our current ministry structures are serving us well? Or do they need to be refocused? What are "ministry structures"? Great question. This book attempts to answer it. The author, a Bible College and Seminary President who had arrived in his new Pastorate in a University town in New England just one week before the Governor declared a state of emergency and shut everything down was simply overwhelmed that the culture of a church, and of "Christianity" as he had known it for decades of both life and ministry could change so dramatically - and so quickly.Immediately, he uploaded a YouTube video for the church's members. His message was simple. The culture, both of the world around us, and even of many churches had changed. But the Bible was still the Word of God! Jesus was still the way, the truth, and the life! The mission of the First Baptist Church, and also the mission of the church's members, was to preach the Gospel and to make Disciples. These eternal truths were not changing!How they were going to be go about doing the work of the ministry, both collectively and individually, was going to change in ways they could not yet even begin to fathom. But ETERNAL truth and God's expectations and commands had not changed. Interestingly, the author notes that "As Pastor, I never had to fight the civil authorities. I did have to fight my own Deacons, Church Council, and 'leadership' every step of the way."This book is a combination of what the author and the church he pastors did and how they did it. Both during the initial stages of the lockdowns, and then after things had opened back up. Included are creative ideas of how to reached those who would not or could not come. Discussions include streaming worship services, wearing masks, social distancing, online giving, creative forms of outreach, and even planting a church amidst a pandemic. Also discussed are the effects that masks, social distancing, and CDC protocols have had on the authors church as well as their effects upon numerous other churches. What happened in churches that implemented strict protocols? And what happened in churches that had little or no protocols?The author also shares what he believe our churches should look like right now, and what we should be doing in the near future (as we go through re-institutions of lockdowns and recoveries). Finally, he predicts, based on 32-years of full-time pastoral ministry experience, what the "ministry" will look like 2 to 10 years from now. The author's prayer, is that as you read this book, the Holy Spirit will show you a strategy that will help the church you lead to move forward in the challenging days that are ahead. Our Lord is preparing His churches. Remember what our Lord said in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Every challenge and opposition that the Lord's churches have faced over the past 2,000 years has been met with God's power. The Lord's churches will prevail!

Download or read book One Assembly written by Jonathan Leeman and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2020-03-26 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many churches are switching to the multisite or multiservice models to manage crowded sanctuaries due to growing attendance. This solution seems sensible in the short term, but too often churches adopt this model without taking into consideration what the Bible says about it. Illuminating the importance of physical togetherness as a way to protect the gospel, this book argues that maintaining a single assembly best embodies the unity the church possesses in Jesus Christ. Jonathan Leeman considers a series of biblical, theological, and pastoral arguments that ask us to stop and examine intuitions or assumptions about what a church is. He reorients our minds to a biblical definition of church, offering examples of churches that have thrived with a single service at a single site and compelling alternatives for those looking to solve the complications that come with a growing church.

Download or read book Soul Whisperer written by Gary Comer and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2013-02-19 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if we changed the face of evangelism? In a time when so many have a negative perception of evangelism, what if a new model was entirely biblical, loaded with skills, and more effective? Soul Whisperer shifts the emphasis from "telling" to a "drawing" paradigm. It develops biblically the pattern of Jesus, who did not give static presentations but rather customized his words to each hearer. By learning his ways, our words, too, can have pinpointed impact! Christians will discover how to draw out first, in order to read their friends and discern the relevant appeal of the gospel. In this way, the style is far more dynamic. It adapts! Understanding the non-believer's unique starting point will determine a distinct path. By creating a conversation about spiritual influence and what is involved in faith formation, this book charts ways for Christians to go deeper in evangelistic relationships. Most importantly, Soul Whisperer infuses skills that will shape a more Christ-likened missional disciple.

Download or read book Church in Crisis written by Josh Dotzler and published by . This book was released on 2020-05-15 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, Josh Dotzler, challenges the way we have been DOING church in the western culture based on lessons he's learned from the COVID-19 crisis. Historically, A crisis highlights and challenges our beliefs and behaviors. It's easy to believe we are doing the right things when things seem to be working right. But 'working right' doesn't always mean 'doing what's right.' Crisis provides a great opportunity for the church, when the church is prepared for the crisis. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis highlights: -The Focus of the Church-The Beliefs of the Church-The Condition of the Church-The Opportunities for the ChurchThe experience of this pandemic in a post-Christian culture can be a catalyst for the church to express its power and potential to the world. Whether you are a church leader who knows we can be better, a church attender who feels like you have more to give or you are curious about the role the church plays in the world, this book is for you.

Download or read book Fresh Expressions of People Over Property written by Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr. and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2020-08-18 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Our church buildings, synagogues, and other religious places – which once stood as beacons of hope and reverence for its community – have become a burden for the organizations who seek to keep them standing. In efforts to patch leaky roofs and paint over years of wear, leaders are putting more and more money each year into property instead of people. The practices we have fallen into to keep a building running are not only demoralizing to the pastoral profession and the mission of the church, but they also run the risk of violating property tax laws and incurring more debt. What if our properties didn’t have to be a source of pain but one of purpose and profit? Can we as faith-based organizations begin to think collaboratively about how we might further our missions by creatively and intentionally rethinking how we utilize the space we inhabit? In Fresh Expressions of People Over Property the authors reflect on strategies, scriptures, and stories that help leaders faithfully re-imagine their community spaces so that they reflect that God and God’s people value people over property.

Download or read book Rediscover Church written by Collin Hansen and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2021-07-28 with total page 149 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A Christian without a church is a Christian in trouble." Since a global pandemic abruptly closed places of worship, many Christians have skipped church life, even neglecting virtual services. But this was a trend even before COVID-19. Polarizing issues, including political and racial strife, convinced some people to pull away from the church and one another. Now it's time to recommit to gathering as brothers and sisters in Christ. In Rediscover Church, Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman discuss why church is essential for believers and God's mission. Through biblical references and personal stories, they show readers God's true intention for corporate gathering: to spiritually strengthen members as individuals and the body of Christ. In an age of church-shopping and livestreamed services, rediscover why the future of the church relies on believers gathering regularly as the family of God. Published in partnership with the Gospel Coalition and 9Marks.

Download or read book The Coming Revolution in Church Economics written by Mark DeYmaz and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2019-10-15 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Our entire understanding of funding and sustainability must change. Tithes and offerings alone are no longer enough to provide for the needs of the local church, enable pastors to pursue opportunities, or sustain long-term ministry impact. Growing financial burdens on the middle class, marginal increases in contributions to religious organizations, shifting generational attitudes toward giving, and changing demographics are having a negative impact on church budgets. Given that someday local churches may be required to pay taxes on the property they own and/or lose the benefit of soliciting tax-deductible gifts, the time to pivot is now. What's needed is disruptive innovation in church economics. For churches to not only survive but thrive in the future, leaders must learn to leverage assets, bless the community, empower entrepreneurs, and create multiple streams of income to effectively fund mission. You'll learn why you should and how to do so in The Coming Revolution in Church Economics.

Download or read book The Living Diet written by Martha Tatarnic and published by Church Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2019-04-17 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Living Diet invites us to consider our relationship to food from a Christian perspective. Food: can’t live with it or without it. We are bombarded with messages that the secret to health and weight loss can be unlocked with the right product or magic discipline, but we are getting neither thinner nor happier. Reports suggest that we are losing our battle with obesity, while the anxiety people experience in relationship with food increases. We are taught that bodies are fundamentally a problem to be solved, or worse, a war to be won, while a misguided worldview suggests that our food choices are of concern to us alone; an individual act of pleasure or consequences. Few resources speak to our food problem from a distinctly Christian perspective. Drawing on a rich assemblage of personal and collected stories grounded in the teachings of Jesus, The Living Diet offers a joyful alternative to the desperation and dissatisfaction that have become cultural norms for both eating and body image, inviting us to consider our choices in the context of community. Ancient wisdom yields a surprisingly modern response to the dieting dilemma, as well as to the realm of public, or popular, theology, helping the reader discover the real joy of eating and the true gift of embodied living.

Download or read book The Post Covid Church written by Dr. Chris Foster and published by Webb Publishing. This book was released on 2022-09-14 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Church in America was already experiencing an unprecedented decline before the COVID -19 pandemic. The effects of the pandemic upon church attendances have been far-reaching, and long lasting. Recent research has revealed that one in five churches in America will perinatally close because of COVID-19's effect on already declining churches. How can the church, across denominational lines in North America get in the middle of this digressing trend, and stem the tide of systemic church decline? The Post COVID Church leverages decades of empirical ecclesial work with the fresh perspective of strategic leadership and empower leadership to: Understand causality of a plateau and decline through the lens of the post-modern and post COVID landscape, Recognize the type of new change that proliferates health and growth, Make strategic transformations without losing those who have held the church together for years. Through organizational strategy, understanding values, design thinking, leadership development and strategic foresight, The Post COVID Church provides a road map and "Socratic" process to help the reader leverage creativity and innovation to build momentum and lead the church to prosperity. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK: "Dr. Chris Foster offers timely and critical strategies for embracing and flourishing through change in The Post COVID Church. Dr. Foster's writing style and the power of his personal story combine to create a work that is not only academic but a delight to read. This important work has the potential to prepare leaders to turn obstacles into opportunities in advancing the mission of Christ." —Dr. Kimberly Jones, Vice President of Southwestern Assemblies of God University "The Post COVID Church is an essential resource for leaders desiring to recover from the destructive force of a pandemic and successfully refocus on the mission Jesus left for all His followers. Dr. Chris Foster skillfully compares lessons he learned during his personal health journey to principles he found successful in equipping a church to reach its full Kingdom potential. I took copious notes for my personal files, and I suspect you will too. This book will not be one you read only once. It will become a treasured resource regardless of the organization you lead." —Alton Garrison, Executive Director, Acts 2 Journey "Dr. Chris Foster is a man of passion, purpose and brings significant insight and research into the current situation of the church in America. This book is pregnant with information, truth, and insight that brings a healthy insight into our circumstances and gives us light to live through it and actually achieve what others have given up on. The man is a friend; the book is incredible; and the only thing missing is those who would lift their lid by diving in." — Maury Davis, author of Hindsight 20/20 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chris, a Texas native, received his undergraduate degree from Southwestern University, his Master's from Southeastern University, and his Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University, School of Business and Leadership. With over 31 years of ministry experience, Dr. Foster is an engaging communicator of the gospel, with a church that grew by as much as 400% during the pandemic. Additionally, he serves as a Doctoral Chair and Professor at Southeastern University. He is a father of three, Kash, Cruz, and Eden.

Download or read book Gospel Centered Discipleship Foreword by Matt Chandler written by Jonathan K. Dodson and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2022-03-03 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Gospel-Rich, Reproducible Model for Making Disciples as Jesus Intended Biblical discipleship emphasizes encouragement, repentance, and spiritual growth—essential parts of the Christian life. However, well-meaning believers often struggle to follow Jesus, unaware their views are too legalistic, licentious, or individualistic. How can churches and Christians develop a healthy, successful path to disciple-making? In this second edition of Gospel-Centered Discipleship, Jonathan Dodson presents an effective, Spirit-led model for sanctification. Reminding readers that real discipleship is imperfect yet transformational, Dodson encourages Christians to engage more authentically with others as they grow in faith. Drawing from his own failures and successes while following Jesus, Dodson defines discipleship, describes the heart of a disciple, and gives practical guidance for mentor and peer-based discipleship as Jesus intended. Revised and Expanded: Includes three new chapters and new illustrations Applicable: Shows how discipleship can be practical and gospel-centered Theological: Addresses the Holy Spirit's involvement in discipleship Foreword by Matt Chandler: Author of The Explicit Gospel

Download or read book The Post Quarantine Church written by Thom S. Rainer and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2020-09-08 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A trustworthy and respected guide for pastors and church leadership in the post-quarantine world, providing hope and vision for the future of your congregation. From thousands of surveys of church leaders and in-person consultations, Thom Rainer and his Church Answers team have gathered the essential wisdom you will need to face the challenges and opportunities that the quarantine crisis creates for the local church, including: New and better ways to lead the gathered church A wide-open door for growing the digital church A moment to rethink the facilities New strategies for church growth . . . and much more! This book is, in effect, your personal church consultant, helping you plan and prepare for the future. In the midst of heartbreak, tragedy, and struggle due to Covid-19, here’s hope, wisdom, encouragement and vision. This book is valuable for those looking for local church and pastor resources to enhance church leadership, grow your church, and serve digital and online church communities in the post-quarantine world. As a former pastor and founder of Church Answers, Thom S. Rainer is intimately familiar with the ever-present demands that pastors face. He has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of the local church.

Download or read book God and the Pandemic written by N. T. Wright and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2020-06-02 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover a different way of seeing and responding to the Coronavirus pandemic, an approach drawing on Scripture, Christian history, and the way of living, thinking, and praying revealed to us by Jesus. What are we supposed to think about the Coronavirus crisis? Some people think they know: "This is a sign of the End," they say. "It's all predicted in the book of Revelation." Others disagree but are equally clear: "This is a call to repent. God is judging the world and through this disease he's telling us to change." Some join in the chorus of blame and condemnation: "It's the fault of the Chinese, the government, the World Health Organization…" N. T. Wright examines these reactions to the virus and finds them wanting. Instead, he shows that a careful reading of the Bible and Christian history offers simple though profound answers to our many questions, including: What should be the Christian response? How should we think about God? How do we live in the present? Why should we lament? What should we learn about ourselves? How do we recover? Written by one of the world's foremost New Testament scholars, God and the Pandemic will serve as your guide to read the events of today through the light of Jesus' death and resurrection.