 | |  |
| Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples | 
enlarge | List Price: $19.99 Buy New: $11.71 You Save: $8.28 (41%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $11.50
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 82 reviews) Sales Rank: 2086 Category: Book
Authors: Thom S. Rainer, Eric Geiger Publisher: B&H Books Studio: B&H Books Manufacturer: B&H Books Label: B&H Books Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published) Media: Hardcover Number Of Items: 1 Pages: 272 Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1 Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6 x 1.1
ISBN: 0805443908 Dewey Decimal Number: 248 EAN: 9780805443905 ASIN: 0805443908
Publication Date: June 1, 2006 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description The simple revolution has begun. From the design of the iPod to the uncluttered Google home page, simple ideas are changing the world. Simple Church clearly calls for Christians to return to the simple gospel-sharing methods of Jesus. No bells or whistles required, so to speak. Based on case studies of four hundred American churches, authors Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger prove that the process for making disciples has quite often become too complex. Simple churches are thriving, and they are doing so by taking these four ideas to heart: Clarity. Movement. Alignment. Focus. Each idea is examined here, simply showing why it is time to simplify.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 77 more reviews...
  Simple Church December 22, 2008 This is the best book in the market that deals with how to intentionally make disciples as a church. This book focuses on a simple process to make disciples versus complicated programs that end up competing with one another for people, money and other resources. If the principles are applied you will find that making decisions as to what to do and not do as a church become much simpler and liberating.
  Excellent Book! December 20, 2008 This is a real eye opener. Every Church leader and council member should read this book before starting their current role. Read it NOW if you haven't yet. Read this next:Essential Church?: Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts
  Powerful Ideas Poorly Conveyed November 30, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
3.4 stars
One of the church leaders I read this book with said `I have not read a book this poorly written in a long time.' I have to agree. It was painful. As a physical scientist I found the `scientific method' a little suspect. It was highly redundant. Quite simply, this should have been a pamphlet.
I had a couple concerns about the ideas as well. By simplifying everything you run the risk of homogenizing and reducing things to a lowest common denominator Christianity. We need to understand the nuance of niche, especially in large churches. Oversimplification runs the risk of annihilating the `micro-habitats' that makes a large church doable for some.
So why would I give a book I have so maligned 3.3 *'s. The truth is, I almost gave it 4. While it should have been a pamphlet, it would have been a really good pamphlet. After all of the critiques both in form and idea, there is still a powerful message here that I support. Despite my critiques I am encouraged (almost without reservation) that my church is implementing these ideas. There are 3 assertions that the authors make that I whole heartedly embrace and, that I think are responsible for legitimate correlation in their data.
1. Unified Description of a Clear Process: There is no substitute for a clearly and frequently articulated vision. I agree with the authors that this can not be stressed enough.
2. Rejecting Inner-Organizational Competition: The church sets a uniform vision and pursues it together. The youth ministry and the women's ministry aren't competing for resources. They are for each other. More fundamentally, you limit the number of programs so that the Church does not keep its people from forming meaningful relationships outside of the church.
3. 'Shooting Your Dogs': We are too afraid to discontinue ineffective programs or ministries because it will hurt someone's feelings. By limiting the number of programs you offer the people of God to actually have lives with family and the world. Get them out of the church.
So I actually really resonated with many of the author's themes, but I recomend skimming.
  Simple Church November 22, 2008 A great book, every Christian should take the time to read Simple Church.Full of imformation to help any Church body that wants to grow, and the book will help them through the process with simple steps.
  Great reminder November 10, 2008 This simple book was a great reminder to me to focus on the essentials of church and cut out some of the clutter. Could have done without all the charts in the book :)
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
|  | |