If you’re looking for the best church growth books to take your church to the next level, you’ve come to the right place!
We bring you our top 50 picks of the best church growth books out there.
You are reading: Books on church growth
After reading these church growth books, you will know: 1) how to diagnose the health of your church, 2) why your church is declining or dying (if at all), and 3) the changes you need to make to reverse the decline, or simply get off the ground, grow and reach more people.
and much more.
Most of these church growth books come directly from pastors, leaders, and church growth consultants. They’ll give you tactics you can apply today for measurable results a week from now, visible at your next Sunday congregation. each book looks at an aspect of a church that is directly related to its growth, from logistics to high-level ideas like rediscovering vision and reaching out with service and love.
There is always hope for a church. And these church growth books will help you realize that for your church. here goes…
classics & summaries
Evaluating the Church Growth Movement: Five Viewpoints
Born and nurtured during the second half of the 20th century, the church growth movement has dramatically influenced the Western church. Whether you’re a fan or critic of this move, you can’t deny its impact. In a first roundtable discussion of the leading voices in the movement, this book examines five major perspectives on the classic church growth movement: effective evangelism perspective (ancient cities); the gospel in our cultural vision (craig van gelder); centrist vision (charles van engen); reformist vision (gailyn van rheenan); and renovation view (howard snyder). The book concludes with reflections from three seasoned pastors who have grappled with the practical implications of this movement.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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the church growth book: history, theology and principles
The church growth movement has divided devout Christians. many criticize him for being too pragmatic and often ignoring theology as he emphasizes numerical growth. Although author Thom Rainer is a proponent, his goal here is to present an objective view of the movement: its history, the theology associated with it, and the principles that seem to separate the churches that are growing from those that are not.
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understand church growth
In this missionary classic first published in 1970, Donald A. mcgavran deftly blends theological convictions, empirical research, sociological principles, and spiritual insights to shape an effective evangelism strategy.
This third edition, revised and edited by c. Peter Wagner retains the original thrust and essence of the book while modernizing the language.
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balance: a tried and tested formula for church growth
ira north knew about the growth of the church. Although he died in 1984, North’s name remains synonymous with Madison Christ Church. His vision helped grow this church from 400 to over 4,000 members. the growth was the result of the North’s application of biblical principles rather than a goal in itself. He famously said, “God doesn’t require us to be big, rich, powerful, or super smart. what our heavenly father requires is fidelity.” North’s biblical approach deserves careful examination.
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starting
lasting impact
Author Carey Nieuwhof (senior pastor of the multi-campus Connexus Church, speaker, and host of the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast), recommends seven tough conversations a local church should engage in on its path to prosperity.
nieuwhof’s premise is that only when churches grapple with issues related to church growth will they succeed. the book sheds light on how the right conversations can change the trajectory of the church. dealing with simple questions like “why aren’t we growing faster?” and “why do young people leave the church?” will guide you to the changes you need to make to grow.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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one size does not fit all
written by gary l. McIntosh (author of over twenty books, president of the Church Growth Network, and professor of Christian ministry and leadership at Talbot School of Theology), this book is about understanding the differences and similarities between small, medium, and large churches. and how they factor into church growth strategies.
mcintosh divides small churches into three tiers: small, small, and small, which receive 35, 75, and 200 visitors on Sundays, respectively. Examining churches by size, the book looks at the ways that structure, leadership, and growth (roadblocks and strategies) work for each.
In many ways, understanding your church is the first step in setting it up for growth. and this book helps you with just that.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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taking your church to the next level
another book on church growth by gary l. McIntosh focuses on the life cycle of a local church, looking at topics like age and size, to show you how your church can advance in congregation size.
The subtitle, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, is a reminder that the qualities that brought a church to its current level of fruitful ministry are unlikely to propel it to the next. it becomes more and more difficult for a church to continually move forward due to a variety of factors. according to mcintosh, “long-term excellence is always the result of continuous improvement over time.”
Church leaders, pastors, and all who care about the church and want to see it experience biblical growth will benefit from descriptions of fruitfulness, steps for continual improvement, and strategies to lessen destructive forces that distract the congregation from its mission.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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this: how churches and leaders can get it and keep it
when craig groeschel founded lifechurch.tv, the congregation met in a borrowed two-car garage, with substandard furniture and equipment. Yet people were drawn there, sensing a powerful, life-changing force that Groeschel calls “it.” what is it and how can you and your ministry obtain and keep it? Groeschel, one of today’s most innovative church leaders, explains how any believer can obtain, retrieve, and protect it. he describes seven consistent qualities that are almost always present when he is present in a leader or organization: vision, focus, camaraderie, innovation; humility, scope and abundance. Finally, Groeschel explains how to determine whether or not you have it and what to do if you don’t. there is no simple formula, he says. ultimately god gives it and you can only have it if you go after him not him.
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best church growth books on retaining first time visitors
fusion
authors nelson searcy (founder of churchleaderinsights.com and the renegade pastors network and founding pastor and leader of the trip church) and jennifer dykes henson (best-selling author who worked as a marketing communications manager for ministries In Touch), offers “a tried and tested, biblically based, step-by-step plan” for turning your first-time guests into committed and loyal church members.
Churches should not rely on staff to seek growth. Instead, the authors suggest that churches view each visitor as a gift from God, apply biblical hospitality, and welcome them back. the final game? newcomers sharing the gospel and helping other seekers find god.
This church growth book offers a complete “assimilation system” to win those first seven minutes when visitors decide if they want to come back. dozens of resources are provided to help with this process.
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become a welcoming church
another from thom rainer, becoming a welcoming church gives you a strategy to eliminate the reasons second-time visitors don’t come back. churches should identify specific causal factors, including a bad church website, a not-so-good church experience, unfriendly church members, and a horrible time to stand and salute.
rainier challenges you to take stock of your church and see if it really is as welcoming as you think. he shows her how to see his church from the perspective of newcomers rather than members, who are often blind to the issues. The book includes a game plan for building a welcoming church, drawing suggestions from data collected by actual church visitors.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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the effect returned
Written by Jason Young (the Guest Experience Director at Buckhead Church and North Point Ministries averaging 36,000 weekly attendance) and Jonathan Malm (an author and creative entrepreneur reaching over 70,000 readers of church monthly), the come back effect shows you how to make your church more hospitable to your guests, increasing the likelihood that they will return.
young and malm help you think “scene by scene” and experience your church as a newcomer, then suggest ways to create a “comeback” effect that will bring people back in droves. Although written primarily for larger churches, this book and the principles of hospitality it presents will be helpful to smaller churches as well.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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Not Welcome: 50 Ways Churches Scare Off First-Time Visitors
another book by jonathan malm, unwelcome will show you the results of welcoming (or not unwelcome) the people god sends to his church. From the obvious to the not-so-obvious, this book delivers exactly what it promises: 50 first-time visitor diversions.
These 50 First-Time Visitor Missteps are organized into five categories: First Impressions, Worship, Programming, Communication, and the Big Picture. Exploring each category from a visitor’s perspective will help you recalibrate your guest experience.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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grow your church
Written by tracy barnowe (a renowned church growth expert and ucc ordained pastor with over 20 years of church growth experience), this church growth book will help you identify your biggest barrier church growth and “getting 85% of your first-time visitors coming back.”
barnowe demystifies first-time visitor behavior and shows you how you can influence it and entice the majority of first-time visitors to return to your church. grow your church! provides a procedure you can use to convert one or two time visitors into repeat customers who keep coming back to your church.
When you apply these principles, Barnowe says, you should be able to see results within a week.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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sticky church (leadership network innovation series)
written by larry osborne (a nationally recognized pastor trainer and teaching pastor at north shore church, one of the most influential churches in the united states, who helped oversee the growth of the church from 120 to over 12,000 in attendance on weekends), this book shows you how to solve your church’s “back door” problem and make it “stickier” and “healthier.”
osborne explains that the back door needs attention because “if the back door of a church is left wide open, it doesn’t matter how many people are convinced to come in through the front door, or the side door, for that matter .”
To help you close the back door on your church, Osborne suggests following the small group ministry model: connecting with newcomers and encouraging them to engage with your small groups (and, in turn, your church).
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preaching killer sermons
Written by Lane Sebring (pastor, speaker, and the person behind the website preachingdonkey.com), these killer preaching sermons help you prepare and deliver messages that engage your attendees and motivate them to return to your church every day. on Sundays.
sebring first walks you through the anatomy of a boring sermon and discusses how it can be bad at preaching. and then details the steps he must take to deliver a winning sermon.
From helping you find the time it takes to prepare for a good sermon to finding a rhythm when preaching and being fully present from opening prayer to loud ending, this young minister trains you to be a great communicator, one that delivers life-changing messages and inspires your congregation to revisit each week.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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the best church growth books on how to get to the next level, revitalize yourself and come back
churches back
author ed stetzer (dean of the school of mission, ministry, and leadership at wheaton university, prolific author and speaker) has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches, and trained pastors and church planters on six continents. Stetzer, with co-author Pastor Mike Dodson, reports on declining congregations in ten different denominations. This exceptionally researched book tells data-backed stories of 300 churches that reversed their decline and emerged stronger.
Returning churches will help you gauge the pulse of your church by monitoring its “health metrics” (stats like baptism rates and attendance figures), comparing them to benchmarks, and then using the information collected from real churches to chart a course of revitalization.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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autopsy of a deceased church
another major church growth book from author thom rainer, features the autopsy of a deceased church
ten themes that characterized 14 failed churches.
rainier breaks down why churches die and also explains exactly what you need to do to keep yours alive.
If your church seems to be showing early signs of illness and you diagnose it as “a little sick, very sick, or about to die,” use Rainer’s advice to work toward recovery.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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anatomy of a revived church
A sequel to The Autopsy of a Church Deceased, The Autopsy of a Church Revived is another helpful book on church growth from author Thom Rainer. Presents seven themes that Rainer’s research found in hundreds of churches that avoided death and lived.
This book on church growth explores the anatomy of churches that revitalized themselves by choosing to change rather than die. Rainer also introduces her to the vital changes she’ll need to make if she’s leading a dying church.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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the church unstuck: equipping churches to experience sustained health
Written by Tony Morgan (a leading church leader and strategic director of Unstuck Group, a church growth consultancy), this church growth book will help you build (and sustain) a healthy church.
This church growth book guides you through the seven phases of the life cycle of a local church: 1) launch, 2) momentum, 3) strategic growth, 4) sustained health, 5) maintenance, 6 ) preservation and 7) high level life support. Morgan then provides practical steps to “unstick” your church and continue to grow.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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re:vision: the key to transforming your church
authors aubrey malphurs (church leadership expert and senior professor of leadership and pastoral ministry at dallas theological seminary) and gordon e. penfold (a veteran pastor with more than 35 years of experience), reviews a pastor’s role in revitalizing a church.
malphurs and penfold demystify the idea of pastors changing the trajectory of their churches, away from decline and toward success.
Shining light on the importance of pastoral vision in the growth (or decline) of a church, the review is an excellent read for all pastors, as most churches need some form of renewal all the time. This is also especially inspiring reading for young pastors who want to become visionaries.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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how to break the barriers to growth
written by carl f. George (former president of the American Society for Church Growth and one of North America’s leading church growth consultants) and Warren Bird, this church growth book shows you how to lead your congregation toward “ the paradigms necessary for potentially unlimited growth.
Deftly combining the science and spirit of church growth, how breaking down barriers to growth can take you from your current situation to attracting your first 200, 400, 600, 800 (and more) attendees, breaking down all barriers of growth that stand the way.
Packed with principles and processes to help a church grow, this book challenges the traditional role of a pastor and proposes that he must change from being a “primary caretaker” to a “coach”, one who actively develops more lay leaders .
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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fragmented church: god is not finished yet
another book on church growth by thom rainer, the rudimentary church is about “you” versus all the other churches (the megachurches, the new and very well funded church in your area, “that” church trying to get into your visitors and others). prepares you for a “grassroots church revolution” and helps you develop the right attitude to grow and recover.
Written especially for small, struggling churches, this is not your typical church growth book. instead, it is a plea filled with conversations, interviews, and comments from churches that have taken the rudimentary approach and improved their health.
This book on church growth shows how you can, even without the best location, facilities, and financial assistance, revitalize your church and how returning churches are fighters and do what it takes to make a difference.
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See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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movement: what 1000 churches reveal about spiritual growth
one of the primary responsibilities of the church is to foster genuine spiritual growth in people’s lives. Today’s pastors bring tremendous effort and passion to this task, but are often let down by people who sit in the pews for years, knowing about Jesus but never really knowing him. The crux of spiritual growth is not how busy people are with spiritual activities, but how committed they are to Christ. Using the results of the multidenominational revelation survey, authors Hawkins and Parkinson demonstrate how to assess a person’s level of intimacy with Christ and identify the spiritual catalysts that move them from one level to the next. The local church is uniquely equipped to foster spiritual growth and challenge people to pursue a life of full devotion to Christ.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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the best logistics-focused church growth books
what every pastor should know
another by gary l mcintosh and charles arn (professor of christian ministry at wesley seminary, indiana wesleyan university and president of church growth, inc.), this church growth book empowers pastors and leaders of a church with 101 “sacred laws” to help them answer the most pressing questions around logistics. These are the ones they wrestle with all the time like “how much staff does the church need?” or “how does seating affect and parking worship attendance?”
mcintosh and arn go beyond logistics to help pastors and leaders deliver good “church experiences,” something that determines whether or not a visitor will return the following Sunday.
Packed with rules on evangelism, outreach, visitors, worship, participation, small groups, education, care, volunteering, program, staff, facilities, finances, and revitalization, this is an indispensable reference book for any church looking to build a always green infrastructure that inspires generation after generation.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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simple church: going back to god’s process to make disciples
Another Thom Rainer classic, this church growth book is based on his research that found that the healthiest churches “have a simple process for making disciples.” Co-authored with Eric Geiger (Executive Pastor, Multicultural Church, Christ Fellowship), Simple Church shows you how you can bring simplicity to spirituality by working on clarity, movement, alignment, and focus, and designing a process of simpler discipleship.
Primarily written for church leaders who are in a position to influence the structure of a church, this book deconstructs the idea of a simple church and forces you to consider what you need in terms of your church structure while leave out anything that adds unnecessary things. overload.
This book will help you beat ministry schizophrenia and free up time from “administration” so you can focus on building an environment conducive to spiritual growth.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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future church: 7 laws of church growth
Church growth models have often been long on promises and short on making disciples. As we see church attendance decline, our desire to reach the lost becomes infected with a need for self-validation as our numbers increase at any cost. If we believe that God wants his church to grow, where do we go from here? what is the future of the church?
Based on his 20 years and 15,000 consulting hours, author will mancini shares with pastors and ministry leaders the most important perspective he has learned on church growth. With stories based on scriptural methods of making disciples, The Church of the Future lays out the greatest challenge facing the church today and offers seven life-changing laws of real church growth so we can faithfully and joyfully fulfill the Great Commission of God. jesus.
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best church growth books on going all out
unreasonable churches
Another highly rated church growth book from Rich Birch, Unreasonable Churches tells the stories of ten churches that challenged the status quo and used unconventional methods to fundraise, connect, disciple, evangelize, and more, resulting in increase.
This book on church growth takes you on a journey of churches that took unknown routes: from a failing 192-year-old church that donated its assets to a young church that still impacted a generation, even one that chooses to stay. throughout the week (instead of just on Sundays). birch shows you how you, too, could choose to be unreasonable and break through the barriers to growth in your church.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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emerging churches
Written by Thom Rainer (bestselling author, church growth consultant, and CEO of Church Responses, a church growth community), this church growth book helps you discover “how to give the leap” and the transition from mediocrity to unprecedented growth.
rainier shows you how to grow your church, based on data from a historical study of thousands of churches. Focusing on the growth stories of thirteen churches that achieved great success, the book examines data-driven growth practices.
This church growth manual highlights the pastor as the hero who works tirelessly to take his static or declining congregation and guide it to become a thriving community.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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the best church growth books with a focus on digital
the digital cathedral
written by keith anderson (upper dublin lutheran church pastor, ordained lutheran minister, speaker, and expert on using social media and digital channels to grow a church), this church growth book will help you helps “imagine a model for ministry in a digitally integrated world.”
Filled with suggestions for a 21st century ministry, this church growth book shares a vision of a church where ministries are proactively using the digital environment to reach more people and harness the “god touch” culture. “.
While this book on church growth is all about using digital channels, it is in no way an endorsement of an online-only church that tweets, facebooks livestreams, and instagrams. instead, it’s about what “sacred space” looks like now…and how to perceive it with fresh eyes and move into a new season as worshipers seek fellowship and connection both online and in person.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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church growth flyer
Written by Rich Birch (a bestselling author with over 20 years in church leadership roles), this church growth book gives you five actionable, repeatable growth systems you can instantly use to grow your church and build momentum.
See Also: Nancy Atherton – Book Series In Order
birch provides strategic growth systems – big days are a big deal, taking advantage of series release rhythms, social media and social media. content, community engagement, and internal communication, and shows how to take advantage of those special “Sundays” at your church. he also gives advice on using episodic delivery styles, building engagement with social media and content, fostering community engagement, and encouraging repeat attendees to invite their friends.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
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rebooting.church: the future of the church – “digital church” – starts here
Using plain language and clear examples to illustrate complex concepts, author walter franklin davis wrote rebooting.church (rebooting-dot-church) to help churches find, attract, and retain new members by offering engaging and engaging content and activities. interactive, both online and offline the key to success for church leaders in growing their churches is to “think outside the church” when it comes to the changes needed to transform their churches to meet the needs and wishes of the digital world of the 21st century.
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aimed at specific audiences
deep and broad: creating churches that unchurched people love to attend
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus started a movement that has grown like wildfire throughout history. Author and pastor Andy Stanley draws on scripture and more than 25 years of pastoral experience to bring to life the compelling nature of this movement known as the church. According to Stanley, “…the church is the local expression of Jesus’ presence…and since people who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus, so should we. There shouldn’t be anything in us that makes them gather on the fringes and watch.” Based on Stanley’s experience as Senior Pastor of Northpoint Church, Deep & wide reflects careful internal research on the effectiveness of the church.
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growing young: 6 essential strategies to help young people discover and love your church
author kara powell (executive director of fuller youth institute and faculty member at fuller theological seminary) observes that churches shrink and age as more youth retire. Based on groundbreaking research with more than 250 of the nation’s leading congregations, Powell provides a strategy any church can use to engage and retain youth. she describes innovative churches involving young people ages 15-29 who are growing spiritually, emotionally, missionally, and numerically. grow young shows ministry leaders how to position their churches to reach younger generations in a way that brings life to the whole church.
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why men hate going to church
David Murrow, a television producer and writer, noticed a disturbing trend: Churches are losing their men and boys. So he started doing some research, which led to his first book, Why Men Hate Going to Church, in which he identifies the barriers to male participation and explains why it’s so hard to motivate men who do. they go to church. Murrow points to four categories of church elements that clash with the temperament of most unchurched men: Church makes men uncomfortable because it emphasizes feminine values. the church forces men to do things that are uncomfortable for them. men assume that the church will require them to give up masculine traits. and the church does not present a convincing model of leadership. Murrow then examines several rapidly expanding congregations that are growing by winning the hearts of men and boys.
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organic church: growing faith where life happens
neil cole, a key catalyst in the organic church movement, is the founder and CEO of church multiplication associates and cmaresources, which has helped launch hundreds of churches in thirty-five states and thirty nations. In The Organic Church, Cole describes the organic church model, recounting his experience of it, outlining principles for church planters, and supporting these principles with scripture. Cole provides five principles for starting reproducing churches. he bases them on matthew 10 and luke 10: the practice of prayer; pockets of people (finding a receptive oikos [“home”], which Cole loosely defines as a basic social unit); the power of presence (“show”); a person of peace (find someone who can reach an entire oikos); and a people of purpose (people who have had the gospel injected into their community rather than people who have been pushed out of their community).
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8 Innovations for Leading Millennials: How Millennials Can Grow Their Church and Change the World
By 2030, millennials will represent 75% of the global workforce. Will they represent 75% of your church? windle, born in 1982, is on the border between generation x and millennials. “While I don’t fit completely into either generation,” he says, “my age gives me a unique view of both.” true millennials and generation z have only ever known a digital world. their world view begins in a very different place than all other generations. the world has fundamentally changed. millennials, he says, are educated. driven by a cause. mission-focused. deep thinkers. This 80-page guide provides solutions to lead them in eight areas, including the use of technology and social media, relational leadership style, collaborative organization structure, dynamic program and events, depth in spiritual discipleship, facilities that represent your culture, leadership in finance and emphasis on social rather than political commitment.
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meeting generation z: understanding and reaching the new post-Christian world
james emery white, the author of rise of the nones, provides an introduction to generation z, those born between 1993 and 2012, who make up more than 25 percent of americans. population, this is the first truly post-Christian generation; they are expected to challenge each church to rethink its role in a rapidly changing culture. White explains who this generation is, how it came to be, and the impact it is likely to have on the nation and the faith. He argues that today’s Christian leaders would do well to adopt the former’s countercultural model for reaching Gen Z members with the gospel.
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best church growth books on how to hold fast to orthodoxy
Missing Church: From Cultural Relevance to Gospel Resilience
How do we love and serve our culture as it shifts to a post-Christian worldview and remains a creative minority that stands firmly in the truth of the cross? mark sayers, senior leader of the red church in melbourne, australia, unites art, history, and theology to explain how real growth happens when the church embraces its countercultural witness, not when it blends. as jesus said a long time ago, “if salt loses its salinity, it is no longer good for anything…”
ultimately the sayings trust is in king jesus. for all its sociology and cultural insights, The Disappearing Church is a Christocentric book. the jesus who was killed outside the city is the jesus we follow. we don’t expect that we will become cultural winners, just that we will endure the suffering now and bask in the glory later.
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central church: carrying out a balanced and gospel-centered ministry in your city
Founding Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Tim Keller is president and co-founder of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other cities around the world. At Central Church, Timothy Keller offers challenging insights and provocative questions based on more than twenty years of ministry in New York City. he outlines a theological vision for ministry, applying classic doctrines to our time and place. he frames this discussion around three categories: gospel-centered, city-centered, and on the move. keller defines and explains the gospel and reminds us that it is non-negotiable. he also challenges readers to responsibly interact with the culture, embrace the good things within it, and apply the gospel to it firmly.
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multiply: disciples making disciples
author, pastor, and speaker francis chan recently moved to hong kong, where he lives and works in sham shui po, the poorest area of hong kong. chan believes that jesus has invited all of us to be part of his plan. he has designed all of his people to know his joy as we share his love, spread his word, and multiply his life among all the peoples of the earth. we were made to make disciples.
chan’s book, multiply, published in 2012, equips readers to carry out the ministry of jesus. This purpose, Chan argues, is worth investing our lives to achieve. it is worth it for billions of people who still do not know the mercy and majesty of god in christ. we were made to be disciples who make disciples until the day we see the face of the one we follow. multiply challenges readers to do what jesus did: make disciples who make disciples who make disciples…. until the world knows the truth of Jesus Christ.
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forgotten god: reversing our tragic neglect of the holy spirit
Pastor, speaker, and author Francis Chan says that the true source of the church’s power is the Holy Spirit. but, he maintains, we have ignored the spirit for too long and the results are disastrous. chan invites readers to understand, embrace, and follow the leading of the holy spirit in our lives. We pray in the name of the father, the son, and… the holy spirit, all three, but how often do we focus only on the first two?
when jesus ascended to heaven, he promised to send the holy spirit, the helper, so that we could be faithful and living witnesses of christ. Unfortunately, the church today has admired the gift but refused to open it. Chan offers practical ways to cast off lukewarm Christianity and embrace passionate love for God.
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the five star church: serving god and his people with excellence
Could the same principles that create a five-star hotel be applied to the church and its hospitality? That is the basic structure of the fictional conversation between a pastor and the staff and general manager of a five-star hotel, as described in the book The Five-Star Church: Serving God and His People with Excellence by Stan Toler (1950-2017). ) and alan nelson. Using that framework, Toler and Nelson establish connecting points of quality, customer service, and exceeding expectations to help a church grow by attracting and connecting first-time church visitors with the local church.
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the incredible gospel: say something worth believing
speaking of evangelism in the incredible gospel, jonathan dodson says, “evangelism has become a byword. . . fallen by the wayside in the Christian vocabulary.” dodson, pastor of city life church in austin, texas, explains why people find the gospel so amazing. it expands on getting a fresh view of the gospel, handling the gospel in its many forms, and speaking the gospel culturally. Dodson, who believes that “good evangelism is not an all-or-nothing effort,” believes that to many today, a presentation of the gospel—that Jesus lived, died, and rose for our sins—can seem abstract and impersonal. dodson provides an extensive evaluation of various evangelistic strategies commonly employed today. Whether it’s the kind of impersonal, preachy, bigoted, or uninformed witness we’ve all grown accustomed to, Dodson carefully examines how each fails to fruitfully relate the contemporary landscape to the gospel.
Buy this book on church growth on amazon here.
pharisectomy: how to joyfully eliminate your inner pharisee and other religiously transmitted diseases
Do you have any religiously transmitted diseases? Have you ever wondered how newly forgiven, new believers can be so judgmental about everything from worship styles to the basics of how to “do church”? In Pharisectomy, offbeat church planter and author Peter Haas encourages anyone who has ever felt cynical about the church as we know it. Through a series of autopsies, author Peter Haas offers profound biblical insights to point us to our deepest need: a pharisectomy.
Buy this book on church growth on amazon here.
best church growth books on (biblical) revitalization
revitalization of the biblical church
written by brian croft (founder of practical pastoring and senior pastor of auburndale baptist church in louisville, kentucky), this church growth book offers the author’s front-line experience in revitalizing his church using methods based on the gospel.
croft offers an approach to revitalization that is both biblical and practical. He explains how God revitalizes a dying church and how a pastor can prepare and persevere through the revitalization process.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
Buy this book on church growth on amazon here.
revitalize
written by andrew m. Davis (pastor of Durham First Baptist Church, speaker, author, teacher, and chairman of the Gospel Coalition governing committee), this church growth book offers “biblical keys” to bringing your church back to life.
in revitalize, davis tells the story of the revitalization of durham’s first baptist church. he outlines fourteen essential lessons for pastors, leaders, and members of churches in need of revitalization.
Providing biblical lessons on how to shore up a church’s failing health, revitalize offers both spiritual support and practical advice.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
Buy this book on church growth on amazon here.
the gospel-driven church
written by jared c. wilson (pastor and director of the pastoral training center at liberty baptist church in kansas city), this book encourages you to focus on gospel-centered growth.
wilson shows you how to reframe your local church growth strategy using biblical means instead of the tactics promoted by pragmatism and consumerism. he not only recommends gospel-centered growth, but gets into the “how”. Wilson debunks the alluring church and the operating system that feeds it. and then explains how to move away from that model and pursue biblical growth instead.
See Also: 41 of the Best Christian Books for Women (To Change Your Life in 2022!)
Buy this book on church growth on amazon here.
the purpose driven church: every church is great in the eyes of god
When saddleback pastor rick warren wrote The Purpose Driven Church in 1995, he knew that for a church to be healthy, it needed to focus on God’s purposes, not the pastor’s idea of ministry. today, after more than two decades, the purpose-driven principles still provide focus and direction to a whole new generation of pastors and church leaders around the world. Every church, says Warren, is driven by something; tradition, finances, programs, personalities, events, seekers, and even buildings can be the controlling force in a church. But for a church to be healthy, it must be built around the five New Testament purposes given to the church by Jesus. Healthy and consistent growth is the result of balancing the five biblical purposes of the church: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission, derived from the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). . -20).
Buy this book on church growth on amazon here.
fresh wind fresh fire: what happens when the spirit of god invades the hearts of his people
jim cymbala, pastor of the brooklyn tabernacle, has discovered that god moves in life-changing ways when we set aside our own agendas, take him at his word, and listen to his voice. he began pastoring the brooklyn tabernacle with a handful of members who met in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the united states. The small group began to pray and hundreds of people were transformed by the love of Christ. today more than ten thousand people attend weekly services. Central to the growth and outreach of the brooklyn tabernacle has been a strong emphasis on prayer, through the Tuesday night prayer meeting and prayer band, which is dedicated to interceding for the needs of the entire world. fresh wind, fresh fire shows what the holy spirit can do when believers take prayer and the gospel seriously.
Buy this book on church growth on amazon here.
So that ends our best book summary on church growth. but we have a final list for you. drum roll please… if you could only read one book on church growth, especially if you are pastoring a small church, make it this one.
the best (and only) church growth book you could ever need…
the myth of the grasshopper
written by karl vaters (pastor of a “small church” for 30 years), this inspiring and refreshingly honest book on church growth speaks directly to the small churches who make up the majority everywhere, as 80 % of us. churches have 200 or fewer attendees.
Celebrating small churches, this church growth book tells you that your Sunday attendance is not a measure of your church’s success. uses the grasshopper analogy to explain how small churches feel about themselves and offers a release from the constant pressure many pastors feel the growth movement puts on small and midsize churches.
unlike all the other church growth books on this list, this one offers a new perspective on the concept: one from the pastor of a small church that stayed small…says the author, “I’m a pastor of small church. and i’m not a failure. it took me almost thirty years in pastoral ministry to write those last two sentences…” buy this church growth book on amazon here.
so there you have it! Fifty of the best church growth books to build a healthy and prosperous church and grow both spiritually and numerically.
Have you read any of these? Did your favorite make it to this list? share in the comments!
See Also: Free Crochet eBooks | AllFreeCrochet.com