Many churches are trapped and mired in plateau and decline. They end up this w ay because they get comfortable where they are. Doing things half way or casually becomes the norm. Church services are business as usual. No thought is given to welcoming quests, toning down churchy language, breaking up fellowship huddles to engage visitors, following up newcomers, or intentionally ministering to those outside the church. If a church wants to grow beyond where it is, it needs to think and act like it is bigger than it is right now.
The transformational journey begins by reading practical and insightful articles by David T. Olson, Paul Borden, George W. Bullard, Jr., Steve Chandler, Kent J. Ingle, Aubrey Malphurs, Mel Ming, Reggie McNeal, Ed Stetzer, George O. Wood, and many others.
The long-term health of any denomination or movement can be evaluated by two simple standards: the number of new churches born each year that survive and prosper; and the vigor and reproductive rate of its established of “adult” churches.
In the American Church today, some denominations are thriving, while many others are on the road to extinction. Declining denominations are marked by striking similarities — their members are getting older, their congregations are declining in size, and they start few new churches. Thriving denominations, on the other had, have a much younger demographic and they start many more new churches each year. Eventually declining denominations will become extinct unless they dramatically change their values and behaviors.
In this issue of Enrichment, we explore the topic of church multiplication from multiple perspectives. Hear compelling essays from: Mark Batterson, Neil Cole, Earl Creps, Dave Ferguson, David Kinnaman, Dave Mills, Dave Olson, Nelson Searcy, Ed Stetzer, and others.
With simple language and a personal style, They Spoke from God weaves together Old Testament passages to show how they tell the story of God at work to redeem His people. Not only explains relevant Scriptures, but relates them to historical, theological, and ethical questions.
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Help your church become great at the Great Commandment: to love God with all your heart. Batterson’s latest work, Primal, will challenge and encourage you to return to this ancient truth of the Church.
Turn your kids (ages 5-12) into investigators as they join the bumbling Mr. Trench and the no- nonsense Commissioner in search of 16 foundational truths—biblical doctrines that are vital to kids’ faith. This video-based children’s church curriculum, developed by children’s pastors, lets your kids discover what they believe and why.
