Opening the door to viral marketing through the use of social networking.

Innovation often brings failure—and that’s okay. Using failure to learn, improve, and continue innovating will help keep the church alive in the twenty-first century. That’s the message of Edison Churches, which shares the stories of ten faith ommunities that embraced innovation, learned from their experiences, and forever impacted both their congregations and their communities in the process. God is inviting us to participate in doing a new thing; Edison churches are leading the ...

There's got to be more to church than this.People around the world are seeking a community that focuses more on others than on themselves. Yet most don't know where to start.Drawing from his own journey, Brandon Hatmaker reminds us that serving the least is not a trendy act of benevolence but a lifestyle of authentic community and spiritual transformation. In Barefoot Church, he explains:Practical ideas for creating service-based, mis...

Randy Pope has created a blueprint for pastors and church planters with The Intentional Church. Such an organization must model a dynamic spirit of worship and servanthood that will cause it to become a magnet for people needing help. Part of the blueprint involves having a God-honoring purpose, a faith-oriented commitment, a well-defined mission, biblically-based job descriptions, and more. A relevant resource for pastors and lay persons.

Is it possible that the division between the clergy and the laity is unnecessary and, in fact, harmful to the church? In Organic Leadership, Neil Cole fervently says yes and shows how this causes great harm to all. But rather than doing away with the clergy, Cole argues that the answer is to raise up organically grown leaders from ordinary Christians and make everyone "a priest."Using examples from modern cinema, personal experience, and the Bible, Cole sets out to change o...

How are we doing? The church, that is. And how are we doing it? Congregations have long measured success by "bodies, budget, and buildings"--a certain record of attendance, the offering plate, and square footage. But the scorecard can't stop there. When it does, the deeper emphasis on accountability, discipleship, and spiritual maturity is lost. Ignoring those details, we see fewer lives transformed, Christian influence wane, and churches thin out--a situation that is all too familiar acro...

Discover the essence of transformative leadership by studying how Jesus led.Gene Wilkes, a popular conference speaker and adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University, describes how Jesus led. He identifies seven practical principles for today's leaders, to assist them with everything from humbling their hearts to building a team for Christ.Christian leaders will gain a biblical understanding of how to:Rely on God's power when taking risks

All churches like to think that theirs is the friendliest in town. But do visitors see it that way? Church consultant Gary McIntosh invites readers to take a look at their church through the eyes of visitors and potential visitors. His starting point, grounded in an understanding of God as a "welcomer," is that churches should see those who enter their doors as not merely visitors, but as guests, and themselves as gracious hosts. This practical book offers sound advice on assessing and imp...

“Challenging, inspiring and practical.”Bear Grylls“I can’t think of anyone more qualified to write about the significance of knowing your purpose than my friend Ken Costa… His new book, Know Your Why, is absolutely foundational to living a purpose driven life.”Rick Warren“Among the crush and the rush of life, there's no better guide in the pursuit of getting it right than my friend Ken Costa… I highly recommend ...

Brandon O'Brien helps pastors and church leaders understand that a smaller church is sometimes better than a big one. He demonstrates the strengths of small congregations, including that today's church "shoppers" want services that are local, personal, and intimate. Also, small churches provide space to nurture close relationships across age and lifestyle barriers, and they facilitate a higher level of commitment from laypeople. And small church budgets are often more effective because of ...

“Most people today view marriage as a means of looking for love, happiness, and fulfillment. Make no mistake about it, those things are important. Those things are critical. They are just not the most critical.”—Tony EvansMarriage Matters paints a picture of what it means to have a happy marriage—as God defines happiness. By examining the nature of the covenant and the purpose of marriage, Tony Evans gives...

Passionate about church growth, Michael Fletcher understands the obstacles pastors and church leaders face as they reach 100/200 and 700/800-member barriers. In clear language he lays out practical steps churches can follow to achieve the growth they desire. His strategies have proved effective not only in his church, which has grown dramatically, but also in the churches of Grace Churches International, a worldwide network of 315-plus churches that he leads.