A Church for All

A Church for All
Author: Gayle E. Pitman
Publisher: Weigl Publishers
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2018-08-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1489682465

This simple, lyrical story celebrates a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that embraces all people regardless of age, class, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. All are welcome at the church for all!

One Size Doesn't Fit All

One Size Doesn't Fit All
Author: Gary L. McIntosh
Publisher: Revell
Total Pages: 176
Release: 1999-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0800756991

Different churches grow in different ways. This book will help you figure out your church's orientation and show the way to healthy growth.

The Church of All Ages

The Church of All Ages
Author: Howard A. Vanderwell
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2007-12-17
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1566996503

Many congregations today experience collisions between parents who ant to spend time with their children and age-segregated church programming, as well as between the children worshiping in their pews and the increasing number of seniors in the same pew. Among the questions these congregations struggle to address are these: Should we try to hold the generations together when we worship/ Is it even possible? Led by pastor and resource developer Howard Vanderwell, nine writers--pastors, teachers, worship planners, and others serving in specialized ministries--offer their reflections on issues congregational leaders need to address as they design their worship ministry. In addition, numerous sidebars illustrate the diversity of practices in the church today. Contributors do not propose easy answers or instant solutions. Rather, they guide readers as they craft ministries and practices that fit their own community, heritage, and history. Each chapter includes questions for reflection and group discussion, and an appendix provides guidelines for small group use. The thread that connects these varied contributions is the belief that there is no greater privilege for Christians than worshiping God, and there is no better way to do that than as an intergenerational community in which all are important and all encourage and nurture the faith of the others.

Called to Be Church

Called to Be Church
Author: Anthony B. Robinson
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2006-02-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802860651

Biblical scholar Robert Wall and pastoral leader Anthony Robinson here join forces to bring the Acts of the Apostles forward to our time as a resource for congregational renewal and transformation.Featuring both careful exegetical study and exciting contemporary exposition, the fifteen chapters of Called to Be Church each first interpret the text of Acts as Scripture and then engage Acts for today's church. The book dives into many of the most vexing issues faced by the church then and now -- such issues as conflict resolution, pluralism and multiculturalism, sexuality, money, church and state, the role of the Holy Spirit, and more.Enhanced by study questions at the end of each chapter, Called to Be Church will lend itself especially well to small-group study within congregations. Pastors, lay readers, students, and ordinary believers alike will find the book helpful and inspiring.

A Church Called Tov

A Church Called Tov
Author: Scot McKnight
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Total Pages: 238
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 149644602X

“Scot and Laura do an amazing job of teaching us what a good church looks like.” —Beth Moore What is the way forward for the church? Tragically, in recent years, Christians have gotten used to revelations of abuses of many kinds in our most respected churches—from Willow Creek to Harvest, from Southern Baptist pastors to Sovereign Grace churches. Respected author and theologian Scot McKnight and former Willow Creek member Laura Barringer wrote this book to paint a pathway forward for the church. We need a better way. The sad truth is that churches of all shapes and sizes are susceptible to abuses of power, sexual abuse, and spiritual abuse. Abuses occur most frequently when Christians neglect to create a culture that resists abuse and promotes healing, safety, and spiritual growth. How do we keep these devastating events from repeating themselves? We need a map to get us from where we are today to where we ought to be as the body of Christ. That map is in a mysterious and beautiful little Hebrew word in Scripture that we translate “good,” the word tov. In this book, McKnight and Barringer explore the concept of tov—unpacking its richness and how it can help Christians and churches rise up to fulfill their true calling as imitators of Jesus.

That All May be One

That All May be One
Author: Terence L. Nichols
Publisher: Liturgical Press
Total Pages: 372
Release: 1997
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780814658574

Written from an ecumenical perspective, "That All May Be One" is addressed to those who are concerned about hierarchy in their own churches and those concerned about the ecumenical movement. Terence L. Nichols details the notion of participatory hierarchy, grounding it in Scripture and in Christian tradition.

I Am a Church Member

I Am a Church Member
Author: Thom S. Rainer
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2013-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433679736

It is impossible to grow to spiritual maturity by yourself. You must be connected to the other parts of the Body. This wonderful little book explains the power of belonging to a church family.

Finding a Church You Can Love and Loving the Church You've Found

Finding a Church You Can Love and Loving the Church You've Found
Author: Kevin G. Harney
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 164
Release: 2009-05-18
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310565782

How to Find Your Best Fit Whether you grew up going to church twice on Sundays or never set foot in a church at all, finding and sinking your roots into a church community is crucial to your spiritual well-being. Finding the right church home can be a huge challenge, and also a lot of fun. Kevin and Sherry Harney point out that, while no church is perfect, some will fit you better than others. They show what a healthy church looks like, how to handle hot issues facing churches today, and how to determine whether a church's unique worship style will inspire or distract you. Even better, the Harneys help you discover how to plug into a church and experience the joy of giving back. In the words of the authors, "Church can be one of the most joy-filled, life-giving experiences you will ever have." Practical, encouraging, and true to the Bible, this book is your road map to finding a spiritual community you can really love.