Church Life

Why Revival Tarries: A Classic on Revival

One of the twentieth century's greatest authorities on revival, Leonard Ravenhill gives a no-compromise call to the principles of biblical revival. The heart of his message to the church is in this volume. Appalled by the disparity between the New Testament church and the church today, his message is drastic, fearless, and often radical. As timely a call to revival today as when published nearly fifty years ago, more than 350,000 copies are in print worldwide.Includes questions for group and individual study.

Anatomy of a Revived Church

<p>There is still hope. God can save your church.</p>
<p>Thom Rainer reveals seven findings of revived churches. Through new research, he figuratively dissects hundreds of churches that were on a fatal path, yet they all turned around. They revived. They did it in the face of facts and naysayers who told them it could not be done.</p>
<p>Get ready to walk with us through the anatomy of churches that were revived because they chose to live. The choice is as simple as it is profound. Change or die. Now, in God&#39;s power, the choice is yours.</p>

Becoming a Welcoming Church

<div>Many churches are not taking a thorough self-examination. In many of Thom Rainer's consultations, church members thought their church was friendly. When he surveyed guests, he found contrary results. The reason perception was not lining up with reality was because the church members really were friendly, to one another.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The guests were left feeling like they had walked in on a private party.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Thom Rainer, bestselling author, has developed a strategy for churches to become more hospitable. Church members can read Becoming a Welcoming Church individually or study in groups. Throughout this book, Rainer guides readers through a practical framework for creating a difference for those who visit the church.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Churches can use Becoming a Welcoming Church as tool to asses where they are on the spectrum between welcoming and wanting, and develop a strategy for improving their effectiveness.</div>

IX 9Marks Series: Discipling

<div>What does it look like to help others become more like Christ?</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In this concise guide, pastor Mark Dever outlines the who, what, where, when, why, and how of discipling&mdash;helping others follow Jesus.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Following the pattern found in Scripture, this book explains how disciple-making relationships should function in the context of the local church, teaching us how to cultivate a culture of discipling as a normal part of our everyday lives.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Chapters include:</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Part 1: What is Discipling?</div><div>- The Inevitability of Influence</div><div>- Oriented Toward Others</div><div>- The Work of Discipling</div><div>- Objections to Discipling</div><div>Part 2: Where Should We Disciple?</div><div>- The Local Church</div><div>- Pastors and Members</div><div>Part 3: How Should We Disciple?</div><div>- Choose Someone</div><div>- Have Clear Aims</div><div>- Pay the Cost</div><div>- Raising Up Leaders</div>

Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive

<p>No one wants to see a church die. And yet, far too many churches are dying. For more than twenty-five years, Dr. Thom Rainer has helped churches grow, reverse the trends of decline, and has autopsied those that have died. From this experience, he has discovered twelve consistent themes among those churches that have died. Yet, it's not gloom and doom because from those twelve themes, lessons on how to keep your church alive have emerged.</p><p><br />Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, <em>Autopsy of a Deceased Church</em> will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ's Kingdom</p>

I Am a Church Member

<p>Best-selling author and ministry leader Thom S. Rainer drew an exceptional response when he posted a 500-word declaration about church membership to his daily blog. "I Am a Church Member" started a conversation about the attitudes and responsibilities of church members - rather than the functional and theological issues - that previous new member primers all but ignored. <P>Thoughtfully expanded to book form, <i>I Am a Church Member</i> begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without apology what is expected of those who join a body of believers. When a person's attitude is consistently biblical and healthy, matters of giving, serving, and so forth will fall into place more naturally.<p><BR>Six intentional chapters with study questions guide this rising discussion:<p>1. I Will Be a Unifying Church Member<BR>2. I Will Not Let the Church Be About My Preferences and Desires<BR>3. I Will Pray for My Church Leaders<BR>4. I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members<BR>5. I Will Be a Functioning Member<BR>6. I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift

Worship Matters

Combining biblical foundations with real-world application, a pastor and professional songwriter guides worship leaders and pastors to root their corporate worship in unchanging scriptural principles rather than divisive trends. <P> <BR> Nothing is more essential than knowing how to worship the God who created us. This book focuses readers on the essentials of God-honoring worship, combining biblical foundations with practical application in a way that works in the real world. The author, a pastor and noted songwriter, skillfully instructs pastors, musicians, and church leaders so that they can root their congregational worship in unchanging scriptural principles, not divisive cultural trends. Bob Kauflin covers a variety of topics such as the devastating effects of worshiping the wrong things, how to base our worship on God's self-revelation rather than our assumptions, the fuel of worship, the community of worship, and the ways that eternity's worship should affect our earthly worship. <P>Appropriate for Christians from varied backgrounds and for various denominations, this book will bring a vital perspective to what readers think they understand about praising God. <P>"Bob loves God, values theology, and cares about people. This mix is found throughout this wonderful and helpful book. Worship Matters will inspire you as a worshiper and spur you on as a leader of worship." Matt Redman, lead worshiper and song-writer, Brighton, UK <P>"Bob Kauflin is teaching a new generation to take corporate worship seriously in a fashion that is simultaneously biblically faithful and addressing today's culture." D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School<P>"This book is thoroughly biblical, comprehensive, balanced, clear, and engaging. Worship leaders must read it, and it will be a great help to anyone interested in finding out what biblical worship is about and how to worship from the heart." John Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary <P>"Bob's approach is humble, yet authoritative; comprehensive, yet inspirational. And if you take his gentle but clear teaching onboard, it will help make you fully equipped in mind, heart, and spirit to lead others in worship. I wholeheartedly recommend it." Stuart Townend, Christian song-writer <P>"An outstanding book both for those who lead worship and also for every Christian who wants to worship God more fully. The book is biblical, practical, interesting, wise, and thorough in its treatment of the topic. The next time I teach on worship, I plan to make this the required text." Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Bible and Theology, Phoenix Seminary <P>"Humility. Self-deprecating humor. Practical wisdom. And not just for music leaders. What a refreshing read! I've gained from Bob Kauflin, and if you read this, you will too." Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church; Executive Director, 9Marks Ministries <P>"Bob is a pastor, a teacher, and a skilled musician. And this book captures his heart, his zealous pursuit of God, and his many years of real-life experience leading worship. That's why his book deserves the careful study of pastors and worship leaders alike." Joshua Harris, Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland