Ed Stetzer

Alan Hirsch's paradigm-shifting classic remains the definitive statement of the church as dynamic missional movement. The bestselling first edition ignited a conversation about how to harness the power of movements for the future growth of the church. In this major update, Hirsch shares significant insights gained along the way, provides fresh new examples of growing churches, and reflects on the last ten years of the missional movement. The new edition has been thoroughly updated and revised throughout and includes charts, diagrams, an expanded glossary of terms, new appendices, an index, a new foreword by Ed Stetzer, and a new afterword by Jeff Vanderstelt.Known for his innovative approach to mission, Hirsch is widely acknowledged as a thought leader and mission strategist for churches across the Western world. He considers The Forgotten Ways the guiding work to all of his other writings. The book explores the factors that come together to generate high-impact, exponentially explosive, spiritually vibrant Jesus movements in any time and context. This extensive update to Hirsch's influential work offers a system of six vital keys to movements that will continue shape the future of the missional movement for years to come.

One of the most influential teachings in Christian history is Matthew 5-7, Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. Many pastors have delved into this passage, but none has offered such a comprehensive, up-to-date, and accessible exposition. Until now.Known for his keen insight and biblical understanding, Dr. R. T. Kendall offers an in-depth, verse-by-verse, and lay-friendly exposition of this matchless sermon. In fact, he gives the most thorough and comprehensive interpretation of this passage to date. His compelling, devotional-style writing brings the words of Jesus to life, and he shows readers how to put these teachings to work in their own lives. An unforgettable book for the lay reader and pastor alike.

The world has changed. The changes around us present daunting challenges to the church, and we minister in places we have never been in before. But there are no one-size-fits-all solutions because every church needs to attend to its specific situation and calling. We need to listen for not only what to do but also what not to do. In a world screaming in a thousand directions for our focus, it's essential for us to become attentive to God, our congregation, and our community.Kevin Ford and Jim Singleton call for attentive churches with attentive leaders who can discern cultural and organizational change and pivot accordingly. Healthy transformation starts with a posture of attention. We need to see what God is already doing in our midst: in our own soul, in our people, and in the communities and culture around us. Chapters explore key questions that attentive leaders ask and offer case studies of attentive churches that have navigated the issues and transitions facing them. As we practice habits of attention, God leads us through the highs and lows of change into the exciting adventure of being on mission with him.

The global mental health crisis is growing faster than our existing mental health care system can address. To meet the scope of human need, we need new models of care. The good news is that there is an institution uniquely positioned with the resources and the heart to help: the church.Psychologists James Sells and Amy Trout and journalist Heather Sells know firsthand the urgency of the situation--but they have also witnessed creative partnerships between churches and mental health professionals springing up across the United States. In this book, they call clinicians, students, and educators to collaborate with churches and lay leaders to envision and then create innovative solutions in their own communities.Challenging the dominance of the traditional "clinical hour" as a one-size-has-to-fit-all model, Sells, Trout, and Sells give concrete guidance on how mental health professionals can work with churches to provide consultation, train lay leaders, and develop and evaluate programs to expand a continuum of care. They also explore the skills, theological foundations, and research-based knowledge that both Christian counselors and church leaders need to integrate their spheres of expertise.Both a call to action and an encouraging roadmap, this book charts the way forward for combining the science of the mental health discipline with the service of Christian ministry.Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

Many bemoan the decline of the church. But new research shows that unchurched Americans are surprisingly more receptive and open to the Christian faith than is commonly assumed.Researcher and practitioner Rick Richardson unveils the findings of the Billy Graham Center Institute's groundbreaking studies on the unchurched. A study of 2000 unchurched people across the country reveals that the unchurched are still remarkably open to faith conversations and the church. Further research into the top 10 percent of churches that most effectively reach the unchurched reveals their best practices. People who were previously unchurched share what actually moved them to faith and Christian commitment. And research shows that churches and organizations can be transformed to become places where conversion growth becomes the new normal.If people tell you "the sky is falling," don't believe them. You can lead the change that will help your church reach people--who then reach others.

The World Is Desperate for What You HaveAs believers, we have received unimaginable grace from the Father. Unfortunately, we often separate our spiritual life from our everyday lives. We fail to value the grace given to us, and we miss the opportunity to bring heaven to earth. And then we wonder what light we can bring to a world in deep darkness. With depth and insight, Dr. John Jackson shows that grace distributed is the key to sweeping social change, hope and revival. Through biblical teaching and prophetic revelation, Dr. Jackson helps you partner with the Holy Spirit to step into the fullness of all God has called you to be--and to unleash the redemptive presence of Jesus in your home, workplace and community.God wants to use you right now, right where you are. It's time to become a heavenly ambassador that shares the grace you've been given with a world aching for transformation."In this catalytic book lies an essential message for the Church today. I highly recommend it."--KRIS VALLOTTON"This Spirit-filled and deeply vulnerable book is a gift to us all. Don't miss it!"--MARGARET FEINBERG"Discover your God-given abilities and use them to usher the grace and love of Christ into the here and now."--SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ

Discover a Christ-centered approach to antiracism that will empower you to be transformed as you transform your world. "A clear biblical theology for why racial solidarity is integral to discipleship--one that is not influenced by the right or the left but by Jesus "--Dave Ferguson, lead pastor of Community Christian Church So you're for Jesus and against racism. But racism is such a fraught topic--can't we just talk about Jesus? Michelle T. Sanchez has discovered through her own journey that it's impossible to separate racial discipleship from our relationship with God. When we choose to courageously resist racism, we discover opportunities to encounter Christ in fresh and exciting ways. Color-Courageous Discipleship is our guidebook to a deeper connection with God through the adventure of racial discipleship. Grounded in the gospel, this practical and thought-provoking book - reveals multiple ways that the racial dynamics of our society have already formed us- explores what it means to biblically and proactively address racial inequity for the sake of God's glory- equips us to engage in challenging conversations about racial reconciliation with grace and truth- offers hope, creative answers, and a path forward both individually and as beloved community Whatever your race or background, Color-Courageous Discipleship invites you to experience more of Jesus as you pursue racial righteousness in his name.

Spurgeon is known for his sermons, but it is a wonderful study to learn from him the theology and practice which drove him and the Metropolitan Tabernacle to plant two hundred churches in and around London. How did they accomplish this? This book presents the story and principles of Spurgeon and his church which God taught and guided them to implement, and how pastors and churches today can apply them. Each of us need a solid model to take heart from and follow. Spurgeon and the Metropolitan Tabernacle meets that need. There is great wisdom and practical encouragement to be received from their example for every Christian, church leader, and pastor to enjoy for Christ's work. This work was written to help make this experience possible and probable under God's good blessings. Read, pray, reflect, grow, and go for the Savior and souls

Igrejas que transformam o Brasil apresenta os detalhes de uma pesquisa in dita sobre as comunidades que est o fazendo diferen a em nosso pa s. Fruto de cuidadosa compila o do trabalho realizado durante cerca de cinco anos por dezenas de pessoas e amplamente revisado por uma equipe de pesquisa, envolvendo uma an lise de cerca de 1.500 igrejas de diferentes tamanhos e denomina es crist s, esta obra oferece uma contribui o decisiva e hist rica para avaliar qualitativamente o crescimento expressivo do movimento evang lico.Longe de ser mera rela o de dados estat sticos, Igrejas que transformam o Brasil apresenta relatos de comunidades crist s espalhadas pelo pa s que n o s resistiram s press es do contexto local, mas tamb m ofereceram solu es b blicas para sinalizar o reino de Deus.Este livro um ant doto contra os modismos teol gicos que enfatizam t o somente o crescimento num rico sem oferecer o evangelho que transforma indiv duos e sua comunidade.Conhe a as igrejas que cumprem sua miss o com fidelidade b blica e sensibilidade cultural e inspire-se nelas.

Be Equipped to Prepare and Deliver Engaging, Biblical, and Effective Topical SermonsSooner or later, every preacher will come upon a situation where they need to preach a topical sermon. Yet few are taught to preach topically. Even preachers who are gifted in expositing the Scriptures may struggle to deliver a topical sermon that is engaging, culturally relevant, and true to the biblical text. Worse, many pastors worry these messages undermine confidence in the Bible or its authority, leading to a human-centered rather than a God-focused sermon. But that doesn't have to be the case.In Topical Preaching in a Complex World, Sam Chan and Malcolm Gill answer these objections and chart a path for how preachers can deliver faithful and effective topical messages. First, they address the biblical, theological, and cultural reasons pastors should add topical sermons to their preaching repertoire. Then, they introduce a straightforward, four-fold approach for preaching a topical message and answer important questions like these:How do you approach a topic with the proper interpretative lens?How can you speak to two or more audiences with the same sermon?What should you consider theologically, culturally, and pastorally in your preparation?How do you trace the topic back to Christ?How can you better connect with your audience?Best of all, they help readers craft a message that says something people truly need (and want) to hear! Filled with wit, humor, and wisdom from decades of preaching, this book will equip preachers, pastors, ministry leaders, and students to preach relevant, biblical, and engaging topical sermons.Author Sam Chan says, "Just over a decade ago, I was asked by an organization to speak at their end-of-year dinner. They wanted me to address the topic of being a Christian single, but I had no idea how to prepare and deliver a topical talk. When the night arrived, I preached an old three-point expository sermon and merely changed the ending to include some application on singleness. At best, I got some polite comments afterwards. At worst, people's looks indicated that my biblical talk had little relevance for them. They could not have been less fooled by my disingenuous workaround.I went home vowing never to repeat that poor performance. I felt like the unfaithful servant who had not adequately used what talents had been given to him. As a result, I have dedicated the last decade of my preaching ministry to overcoming and mastering the art of topical preaching. This book is a product of that journey."

Be Equipped to Prepare and Deliver Engaging, Biblical, and Effective Topical SermonsSooner or later, every preacher will come upon a situation where they need to preach a topical sermon. Yet few are taught to preach topically. Even preachers who are gifted in expositing the Scriptures may struggle to deliver a topical sermon that is engaging, culturally relevant, and true to the biblical text. Worse, many pastors worry these messages undermine confidence in the Bible or its authority, leading to a human-centered rather than a God-focused sermon. But that doesn't have to be the case.In Topical Preaching in a Complex World, Sam Chan and Malcolm Gill answer these objections and chart a path for how preachers can deliver faithful and effective topical messages. First, they address the biblical, theological, and cultural reasons pastors should add topical sermons to their preaching repertoire. Then, they introduce a straightforward, four-fold approach for preaching a topical message and answer important questions like these:How do you approach a topic with the proper interpretative lens?How can you speak to two or more audiences with the same sermon?What should you consider theologically, culturally, and pastorally in your preparation?How do you trace the topic back to Christ?How can you better connect with your audience?Best of all, they help readers craft a message that says something people truly need (and want) to hear! Filled with wit, humor, and wisdom from decades of preaching, this book will equip preachers, pastors, ministry leaders, and students to preach relevant, biblical, and engaging topical sermons.Author Sam Chan says, "Just over a decade ago, I was asked by an organization to speak at their end-of-year dinner. They wanted me to address the topic of being a Christian single, but I had no idea how to prepare and deliver a topical talk. When the night arrived, I preached an old three-point expository sermon and merely changed the ending to include some application on singleness. At best, I got some polite comments afterwards. At worst, people's looks indicated that my biblical talk had little relevance for them. They could not have been less fooled by my disingenuous workaround.I went home vowing never to repeat that poor performance. I felt like the unfaithful servant who had not adequately used what talents had been given to him. As a result, I have dedicated the last decade of my preaching ministry to overcoming and mastering the art of topical preaching. This book is a product of that journey."X

The first comprehensive textbook on effective church planting from a veteran church planter.The Apostle Paul was a veteran church planter who "laid a foundation like a wise and master builder" and there is much we can learn from his example. Paul indicated that there were basic skills and experiences required to successfully plant a church. Church Plantology examines the wide variety of church planting methods and ideologies in contemporary pastoral practice and outlines a biblical model based on the New Testament.During his time in prison, Paul spent much of his time writing to Titus, Timothy, and others who'd served alongside him in the trenches to complete their training as church plantings. We can continue to apply these time-tested, proven methods, following the pioneering example of the early church.Today, the casualty rate in is high. What if we could reduce the odds of failing? Church Plantology by Peyton Jones is a robust guide to planting that will help planters to provide the foundation necessary to survive beyond the initial first years so that they don't end up a walking statistic.

Church growth models have often been long on promises and short on disciple-making. We continue to watch consistent church attendance shrink, and our desire to reach the lost is infected with a need for self-validation by growing our numbers 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?Drawing from his 20 years and 15,000 hours of consulting, author Will Mancini shares with pastors and ministry leaders the single most important insight he has learned about church growth. With plenty of salient stories and based solidly on the disciple-making methods found in Scripture, Future Church exposes the church's greatest challenge today, and offers 7 transforming laws of real church growth so that we can faithfully and joyfully fulfill Jesus's Great Commission.

Most Christians know they should be trying to tell their friends and family about Jesus. But in a post-Christendom world, personal evangelism is viewed negatively--it's offensive, inappropriate, and insensitive. Recent studies confirm that the majority of Christians rarely evangelize, worried they might offend their family or lose their friends. In How to Talk About Jesus (Without Being That Guy), author Sam Chan equips everyday Christians who are reluctant and nervous to tell their friends about Jesus with practical, tested ways of sharing their faith in the least awkward ways possible.Drawing from over two decades of experience as an evangelist, teacher, and pastor, Chan explains why personal evangelism feels so awkward today. And utilizing recent insights from communication theory, cross-cultural ministry, and apologetics, he helps you build confidence in sharing your faith, and teaches you how to evangelize your friends and family in socially appropriate ways.

Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year Many bemoan the decline of the church. We hear a steady stream of reports about how droves of people, especially younger generations, are abandoning Christianity. But new research shows that unchurched Americans are surprisingly more receptive and open to the Christian faith than is commonly assumed. Researcher and practitioner Rick Richardson unveils the findings of the Billy Graham Center Institute's groundbreaking studies on the unchurched. A study of 2000 unchurched people across the country reveals that the unchurched are still remarkably open to faith conversations and the church. Even unchurched "nones" and millennials are quite receptive if they are approached in particular ways. In this book you will also find best practices from further research into the top ten percent of churches that most effectively reach the unchurched. People who were previously unchurched share what actually moved them to faith and Christian commitment. And the research shows that churches and organizations can be transformed to become places where conversion growth becomes the new normal. If people tell you "the sky is falling," don't believe them. In today's troubled world, unchurched and unbelieving people are newly receptive to hearing good news. You can lead the change that will help your church reach people—who then reach others.

Are you tired of reading another news story about Christians supposedly acting at their worst? Today there are too many examples of those claiming to follow Christ being caustic, divisive, and irrational, contributing to dismissals of the Christian faith as hypocritical, self-interested, and politically co-opted. What has happened in our society? One short outrageous video, whether it is true or not, can trigger an avalanche of comments on social media. Welcome to the new age of outrage. In this groundbreaking book featuring new survey research of evangelicals and their relationship to the age of outrage, Ed Stetzer offers a constructive way forward. You won't want to miss Ed's insightful analysis of our chaotic age, his commonsensical understanding of the cultural currents, and his compelling challenge to Christians to live in a refreshingly different way.