Tag Archives: Church

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Book Review – The Connecting Church 2.0 by Randy Frazee

The Connecting Church 2.0This week, I finished reading one of the best books on church growth and discipleship that I’ve found. It’s called The Connecting Church 2.0, by Randy Frazee.

I really didn’t know what to think about the book when a friend sent it to me to review. My only knowledge of the author is from The Story, a comprehensive look at the Bible as a whole, which our church is journeying through right now. Really, all I knew about Frazee is that he is on staff with Max Lucado at Oak Hills Church, in San Antonio.

But as I read more and more of The Connecting Church 2.0, I grew more and more excited. His premise, originally written ten years ago and recently updated and revised in 2.0, is that the church has to move beyond small groups, or any of the other standard attempts we’ve made in the past few decades to grow. Frazee makes a solid case for biblical community.

This excites me for two reasons. First, I’ve seen the positive effects of community personally. I know it works. I’ve seen it. And if an entire church body catches the vision for biblical community, the possibilities are enormous!

The second reason this excites me is because it’s biblical. For too long, I think we’ve permitted culture to dictate how we do church in America. It’s time we accept that the early church did things they way they did them for a reason. They didn’t just get lucky and find a method that helped them grow. No, they had the help of the Holy Spirit. Biblical community was God’s idea, making it the best idea. Perhaps we should stretch ourselves out of our comfort zones and give it a try.

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Book Review – Loving The Church by John Crotts

Loving The ChurchAs a minister, sometimes it’s hard to remember that what I do is more than just a job.

The day to day routine starts to become much like any other job, I suspect. Head to the office, work on lessons and messages, study for this class, plan that event, finalize this program, emails, phone calls, and lots of coffee.

But the church isn’t just another job. The church is the Bride of Christ. And that makes a huge difference.

In Loving The Church, John Crotts reminds me just what the means. Taking an over-arching view of the church, Crotts looks at the church, what it is, its value and its purpose. He then takes a look at how individual people fit into this grand view, making it intensely personal.

But I’m a minister. Most people aren’t. And this is the point of view that Loving The Church takes. Crotts has written this in such a way that it serves as a great reminder to each and every person sitting in our building every week just what this glorious design is and how important the church is in God’s design for the Kingdom.

From church leadership to spiritual gifts, from unity to spiritual growth, Loving The Church lays out a brief, yet detailed, look at the church.

The church is more than just a Sunday diversion. The church is more than just a few sermons or potlucks or youth groups or Bible studies. It is all those things, and more. So much more. And in this brief examination, Crotts defines for each of us what it means to love the church.

I really appreciated his easy to understand writing style. Too often, books on the church are too… well, churchy. Crotts has made this topic simple to grasp, while not simplifying the complexities of God’s Church.

His story-telling approach makes it fun to read as well.

I plan to stash a few extra copies of Loving The Church in my office, ready to hand out to people who wonder what this church thing is all about, and why it’s so important to God’s plan.

Perhaps you should grab a copy and read it as well…

What is your favorite characteristic of the Church? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

If you are interested in reading Loving The Church, by John Crotts, you can purchase it at Amazon.com in print or for Kindle.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Cross Focused Media as part of their Cross Focused Reviews blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links”. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.“

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Why You Need The Church (And Why The Church Needs You!)

One of the more disturbing trends I’ve seen in my experience in youth ministry is the perceived lack of need for church. This is something that seems to be an ever-growing problem.

Stained Glass

I hear it all the time:

  • “I don’t like organized religion.”
  • “I don’t like the music/preaching/style/time/etc.”
  • “I don’t have time for church.”
  • “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.”
  • “I don’t need any help.”
  • “I don’t need the church.”
  • “I can do this on my own.”

This really bothers me, for several reasons. But let me state it succinctly: You need the church. And the church needs you.

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Benefits Of Involving Students In The Life Of The Church

This post is part of the Foundations Of Youth Ministry series. Check out the rest of the series!

One thing I’m convinced is necessary in youth ministry is student involvement. Several years ago, youth ministry could be a one-man show, with the youth minister as the main star. I’m not so sure how effective it really was, but it seemed to be the main trend in youth work for quite a while.

Youth with hands up

In order for a ministry to student to be effective today, the students have to be involved, not only in the life of the youth ministry, but in the greater church as well.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be writing about this necessity. Today, I’ll address some of the benefits of involving student in the life of the church. My next post in the youth ministry category will take a look at some of the dangers and challenges. And the third part of the series will look at some examples from my ministry, both successful and unsuccessful.

Benefits of Involving Students In The Life Of The Church

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Book Review – Hipster Christianity

Hipster ChristianityIt seems like Christianity is facing an identity crisis.

That is the main idea behind Brett McCracken’s book Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide.

I was immediately interested in the idea when I first saw the book. Take a look around postmodern Christianity; it’s all about trying to be cool, culturally relevant and hip.

But is that what the church is called to be? I’m not so sure. McCracken takes a stab at it in this book. And I think he hits pretty close to the mark in most of it.

In the first few chapters, McCracken defines hip and hipsterdom. And as I read those pages, I had to ask myself, is this even going to apply to my ministry situation? I mean, seriously. I live in a small town in rural southern Missouri, about as far from the centers of culture as you can get. What influence does the hipster mentality of Brooklyn, Chicago and LA really have on this area?

Quite a lot, actually. While Mountain View may not be a mecca of the postmodern hipster lifestyle, there are traces of hipsterdom in the church even here.

And then, the second and third parts of the book really started to hit home. What do Christianity and cool have in common? Should Christianity attempt to be so culturally relevant that it looks like everything else? Or is it perceived as a weak attempt at trying to fit in, after finally jumping on board eighteen to thirty-six months too late?

Is Christianity facing an identity crisis?