Download or read book Leading Growing and Sustaining God s Church written by Clarence Duff Ph.D. and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2021-07-13 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Focusing on what facilitates effective leadership, church growth, and retention, this book sets forth a process-oriented framework for understanding the dynamics of church growth and what works for and against it. The author, who is currently serving as the senior pastor of a local church in the City of Brampton, Ontario, for more than twenty years, highlights basic concepts and practices related to church leadership and growth. He considers questions such as: Why do some churches grow in numbers while others lag? What are the dynamic processes, strategies, and pathways that underlie effective leadership, church growth, and retention? How can the answers to these questions inform endeavors to increase and retain church membership? The author also asks if it’s true that God is in partnership with his leaders, why are so many of our local churches not growing but declining? The world the church was established in more than two thousand years ago is not the world we live in today. Rethink what it means to lead, grow, and retain membership in a changing world with this important book.

Download or read book The Social Brain written by Tracey Camilleri and published by Random House. This book was released on 2023-02-23 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'A remarkable and important book . . . a highly accessible, timely and invaluable guide to anybody working in groups.' Prof Paul Gilbert OBE ___________________________________________________ How many people does the ideal team contain? How do groups bond, earn trust and forge shared identities? How can leaders build environments adaptable enough to respond to shocks and still enable people to thrive together? How can you feel close to people if your only point of contact is a phone or a computer? In The Social Brain leading experts from the worlds of evolutionary psychology and business management come together to offer a primer on great team working. They explain what size groups work and how to shape them according to the nature of the task at hand. They offer practical hints on how to diffuse tensions and encourage cooperation. And they demonstrate the vital importance of balancing unity and the need for different views and outlooks. By explaining precisely how the 'social brain' works, they show how human groups function and how to create great, high-performing teams. _____________________________________ 'This wonderful book reminds us that businesses are also biological and social . . . It could not be more timely, wise and useful.' Margaret Heffernan, author of Wilful Blindness 'Buy it for yourself and your colleagues. Essential reading.' Mark Earls, author of HERD

Download or read book Megachurches and Social Engagement written by Mark J. Cartledge and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2019-06-07 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first detailed academic study of megachurches in the UK. In particular, it explores the nature and significance of social engagement by megachurches in the context of London. The research contains empirical case studies of two Anglican and three African diaspora Pentecostal churches. As well as exploring the range of social engagement activities provided by these churches, the study offers explanations in term of theological motivations and the influence of globalisation. Subsequently, the book outlines the importance of the findings for the relationship between church and society in the contemporary context, addressing the implications for social policy and practice. The book advances discussions in public theology, megachurch studies, Pentecostal and Charismatic studies and ecclesiology.

Download or read book Sociology of Religion in America written by Anthony Blasi and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2014-03-20 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sociology of Religion in America tells the story of the controversies involved in the development of a scientific specialty that often makes news in America. The evidence it presents runs contrary to the many myths about the field. Sometimes viewed by scholars as a backwater, actual evidence from the 1890s to the 1980s shows that sociology of religion had a steady presence in sociology all along. Seen as a force alien to religion by some, it was actually in a mutually supportive relationship with religious organizations. Examining dissertations dating from 1895 to 1959 and scientific articles from the 1960s to the 1980s, Anthony J. Blasi discovers who the major sociologists of religion were and what they did. He traces the field’s previously unknown tradition in community studies, the exigencies of the research institutes, and dramatic changes in the professional associations.

Download or read book Toward Understanding the Church and the Clergy written by Lawrence Calvin Little and published by . This book was released on 1963 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Evaluating the Church Growth Movement written by Zondervan, and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2010-06-01 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What exactly is the Church Growth movement? This timely volume in the Counterpoints series addresses the history of the movement that has become such an enormous shaping force on the Western church today, and it explores--in a roundtable forum of leading voices--five main perspectives on the classic Church Growth movement: Effective Evangelism View - presented by Elmer Towns Gospel in Our Culture View - presented by Craig Van Gelder Centrist View - presented by Charles Van Engen Reformist View - presented by Gailyn Van Rheenan Renewal View - presented by Howard Snyder Each view is first presented by its proponent, then critiqued by the co-contributors. The interactive and fair-minded format allows the reader to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each view and draw informed, personal conclusions. Evaluating the Church Growth Movement concludes with reflections by three seasoned pastors who have grappled with the practical implications of Church Growth. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

Download or read book Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion Volume 29 written by Andrew Village and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2018-10-16 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The general papers in Volume 29 of Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion cover a range of topics including psychological type, prayer, nature and well-being, psychobiography, coping with addiction, and the role of place in spirituality. The first special section on congregational studies draws on a range of large datasets from the National Church Life Surveys in Australia. Papers examine the factors that predict individual sense of belonging in Catholic parishes as well as congregational-level aspects of vitality, collective confidence, and innovativeness. The second special section examines the Ideological Surround Model and how it can help to better understand expressions of faith related to psychological constructs such as mindfulness, fundamentalism, and the ‘Dark Triad’ of Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy. Contributors are: Tania ap Siôn, Amanda (Mandy) Aspland, Dharma Arunachalam, Joel Gruneau Brulin, Zhuo Job Chen, Victor Counted, Giuseppe Crea, Robert Dixon, Martin Dowson, Deepti B. Duggi, Leslie J. Francis, Nima Ghorbani, Pehr Granqvist, Gill Hall, Douglas Hall, Nicole Hancock, Magnhild Høie, Ralph W. Hood Jr., Shanmukh Vasant Kamble, Thomas Lindgren, Ronald J. Morris, Miriam Pepper, Ruth Powell, Brooke M. Ruf, Sam Sterland, Fazlollaha Tavakoli, John-Kåre Vederhus, David C. Wang, P. J. Watson, and John K. Williams.

Download or read book Strategies for Church Growth written by C. Peter Wagner and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2010-01-01 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why Plan Strategy? Is church growth theory incompatible with belief in the sovereignty of God? Does adherence to church growth principles leave out dependency upon the work of the Holy Spirit? C. Peter Wagner answers no to both questions. He further believes that no task could be more crucial than fulfilling the Great Commission in our generation, and how to approach and plan for the execution of this task is the questions of the day. Strategies for Church Growth addresses this key issue in a biblically pragmatic way. It brings together for the first time many principles of evangelism and missions which have proved, through recent research and experience, to be effective in implementing the Great Commission. It also unifies, in concise form, the latest research of the Church Growth Movement, the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization, the U.S. Center for World Mission and numerous other key contributors to the recent explosion of evangelistic technology. Among the topics explored are: - the major components of strategy - choosing the appropriate strategy - advantages of having a strategy - the theology of church growth - the harvest principle and soil testing - why you should aim for church growth - characteristics of good goals - the meaning of mission and evangelism - how to target your outreach

Download or read book David Yonggi Cho written by Wonsuk Ma and published by Flipside Digital Content Company Inc.. This book was released on 2017-11-29 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a serious attempt by Asian scholars to reflect on various aspects of the Asian Pentecostal movement. It joins a small but growing list of works on this critical subject. Second, it presents an Asian perspective on one of the most important figures in Asian Pentecostalism in this generation, Dr. David Yonggi Cho, who clearly stands out as one of the most preeminient Pentecostals anywhere in the world.

Download or read book Research on Religious Development written by Merton P. Strommen and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 936 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion Volume 7 written by and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-11-22 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this book is to provide an outlet for original research articles examining the role and value of religious and spiritual constructs across the social sciences. The aim of the series is to include an international and interfaith voice to this research dialogue. An effort is made to be interdisciplinary and academically eclectic. The articles in each volume represent a wide array of perspectives and research projects. Most of the articles report the findings of quantitative or qualitative investigations, but some deal with methodology, theory, or applications of social science studies in the field of religion, and some are applied, demonstrating the relevance of the social sciences to religious organizations and their clergy. The value of the volume is that it gives to researchers in this area a broad perspective on the issues and methods of religious research across a spectrum of academic disciplines. The aim of the book is to stimulate a creative, integrative dialogue that will enhance interdisciplinary research.

Download or read book Social Capital and Participation in Everyday Life written by Paul Dekker and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2003-12-16 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This timely volume puts emphasis on the effect of social capital on everyday life: how the routines of daily life lead people to get involved in their communities. Focussing on its micro-level causes and consequences, the book's international contributors argue that social capital is fundamentally concerned with the value of social networks and about how people interact with each other. The book suggests that different modes of participation have different consequences for creating - or destroying - a sense of community or participation. The diversity of countries, institutions and groups dealt with - from Indian castes to Dutch churches, from highly competent 'everyday makers' in Scandinavia to politics-avoiding Belgian women and Irish villagers - offers fascinating case studies, and theoretical reflections for the present debates about civil society and democracy.

Download or read book Current Sociological Research written by and published by . This book was released on 1955 with total page 822 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book At Your Best written by Carey Nieuwhof and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2021-09-14 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A perceptive and practical book about why our calendars so rarely reflect our priorities and what we can do to regain control.”—ADAM GRANT “Carey’s book will help you reorganize your life. And then you can share a copy with someone you care about.”—SETH GODIN You deserve to stop living at an unsustainable pace. An influential podcaster and thought leader shows you how. Overwhelmed. Overcommitted. Overworked. That’s the false script an inordinate number of people adopt to be successful. Does this sound familiar: ● Slammed is normal. ● Distractions are everywhere. ● Life gets reduced to going through the motions. Tired of living that way? At Your Best gives you the strategies you need to win at work and at home by living in a way today that will help you thrive tomorrow. Influential podcast host and thought leader Carey Nieuwhof understands the challenges of constant pressure. After a season of burnout almost took him out, he discovered how to get time, energy, and priorities working in his favor. This approach freed up more than one thousand productive hours a year for him and can do the same for you. At Your Best will help you ● replace chronic exhaustion with deep productivity ● break the pattern of overpromising and never accomplishing enough ● clarify what matters most by restructuring your day ● master the art of saying no, without losing friends or influence ● discover why vacations and sabbaticals don’t really solve your problems ● develop a personalized plan to recapture each day so you can break free from the trap of endless to-dos Start thriving at work and at home as you discover how to be at your best.

Download or read book Religious Organizations and Democratization written by Tun-jen Cheng and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-03-26 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the political roles of religious institutions and groups have captured inernational attention. This book examines how religious institutions and organizations in various Asian countries are influencing democratic development and the shaping of government policies. Religious Organizations and Democratization covers Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan. The chapters specifically address the engagement of Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and other religious organizations in the advancement and/or hindrance of democratization in the region. The contributors consider such questions as: Why have some religious organizations played a decisive role in democratic transitions, while others remained politically dormant, and other still acted in conservative alliances to block democratic development? Why did some religious organizations that once were active and instrumental to democratic change lose their political vitality as soon as civil liberties were successfully introduced? And why did other religious organizations, irrespective of their roles in the process of democratic transition, emerge as key political forces in the civil society?

Download or read book Conversion Identity and Power written by A. Sue Russell and published by University Press of America. This book was released on 1999 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The introduction of Christianity into traditional societies has been the subject of numerous studies. Few of these studies, however, have adequately examined the way that this introduction affects power relationships in a community. In this, the third volume in the American Society of Missiology's dissertation series, A. Sue Russell attempts to advance the discourse on Christianity and social change by showing how a new social institution, the local church, both influences and is influenced by existing sociocultural power relationships. Building on her extensive research into the Tagal Murut, Dr. Russell clearly demonstrates that the introduction of Christianity created a dynamic that produced new social relations and power structures in Tagal society. With its unique insights into this crucial dynamic, Conversion, Identity, and Power stands as an important contribution to the sociological and missiological literature exploring the impact of Christianity on traditional societies. Book jacket.

Download or read book America s Blessings written by Rodney Stark and published by Templeton Foundation Press. This book was released on 2012-12-01 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A few years ago, a debate between atheists and religious believers spilled out from the halls of academia and the pews of America’s churches and into the public spotlight. A crop of atheist manifestos led the charge, surmounting and holding the tops of the nonfiction bestseller lists. This debate brought on an outpouring of religious rebuttals as both sides exchanged spirited volleys, accusations were leveled; myths, stereotypes, and strawmen arguments were perpetuated; and bitter hostility filled the air. Today many of these misconceptions and myths linger on, along with the generally acrimonious spirit of the debate. In America’s Blessings, distinguished researcher Rodney Stark seeks to clear the air of this hostility and debunk many of the debate’s most widely perpetuated misconceptions by drawing from an expansive pool of sociological findings. Stark rises above the fray and focuses exclusively on facts by examining the measurable effects of religious faith and practice on American society. His results may surprise many atheists and believers alike. Starting with a historical overview, Stark traces America’s religious roots from the country’s founding to the present day, showing that religiosity in America has never been consistent, static, or monolithic. Interestingly, he finds that religious practice is now more prevalent than ever in America, despite any claims to the contrary. From here, Stark devotes whole chapters to unpacking the latest research on how religion affects the different facets of modern American life, including crime, family life, sexuality, mental and physical health, sophistication, charity, and overall prosperity. The cumulative effect is that when translated into comparisons with western European nations, the United States comes out on top again and again. Thanks in no small part to America’s rich religious culture, the nation has far lower crime rates, much higher levels of charitable giving, better health, stronger marriages, and less suicide, to note only a few of the benefits. In the final chapter, Stark assesses the financial impact of these religious realities. It turns out that belief benefits the American economy—and all 300 million citizens, believers, and nonbelievers alike—by a conservative estimate of $2.6 trillion a year. Despite the atheist outcry against religion, the remarkable conclusion is clear: all Americans, from the most religious among us to our secular neighbors, really ought to count our blessings.