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The God-Equipped Magnificent Obsession: A Christ-Centered And Values-Based Strategic Intent, Allen H. Quist

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

It was the first-century believers’ Christ-centered core values that drove their evangelism behavior. Core values still drive the behavior of present day believers. For present day followers of Christ to maximize the work of Christ’s Great Commission, Christians need Christcentered core values held at an obsessive level, plus God’s preparation and provision. Believers making up the first-century church, engaged their world through touch points of their time; the Roman political system providing relatively safe travel and quality roads, the widely-used Greek language, and scattered post-Pentecost new Christian believers. Today’s Christians need to engage our world through the touch points of …

Church Conflict/Church Growth, Thomas Hammond, Steve Wilkes

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Sadly, conflict is a common occurrence in congregations of every denomination across America. It happens to traditional, blended, and contemporary churches for a variety of reasons, with the capacity to reach extreme levels of intensity. Its impact on a congregation can be devastating. Relationships are damaged, friendships strained, and many decide to stop attending. The church's ministry and evangelism efforts are usually brought to a standstill, leaving a divided fellowship that has taken its eyes off the harvest and has become distracted from fulfilling the Great Commission.

Igniting A Parent-Church Movement In The Congregations Of North America, John C. Bangs

Doctor of Ministry

Guided by the misleading church planting metaphor, North America's churches do not establish thriving new congregations in sufficient numbers to evangelize emerging generations effectively. A better metaphor is needed. In order to reach and disciple emerging North American generations effectively, a church parenting culture must be created in North American churches. The purpose of this project is to provide a book designed to motivate potential parent-churches to conceive, birth, and nurture daughter congregations. Section 2 establishes the priority of starting new churches in the evangelistic task. The section also demonstrates that existing churches do not establish a sufficient number of …

An Ethnically Well-Mixed Christian, Peter Kuzmič

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

The Protean Church, Allan Karr

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article examines some symptoms of ecclesiological shifts that are being observed and documented in the “church” meta-narrative.

On Inter-Church Dialogue In Serbia - Current Situation, Luka Ilić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Building An Ethos Of Discipleship For Transition In The Twenty-First Century, Greg J. Boulton

Doctor of Ministry

The tension between old and new tears at the heart and soul of the church in the United States. For example, does the church focus on building new churches and allow old ones to die? Do church leaders develop a more effective ethos that renews the hearts and minds of Christians in old and new churches? This paper deals with how leaders can develop an ethos that sustains discipleship in the life of its members. It is the thesis of this paper that long-term members of the Christian faith can be revivified through a biblical discipleship process. The paper explores …

My Pilgrimage In Church Growth, Waldo J. Werning

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

By the Spirit’s strength, various teachers and mentors shared truths and life applications of God’s Word with me to walk the justification and sanctification path Jesus offers with the light that He gives. My pilgrimage in the ministry of church growth that involved both Christian stewardship and church health has been and is one of reflecting Christ, our Savior and Lord, and learning from teachers, mentors, leadership networks and informative books that provided a healthy diet of God’s Word.

A Short History Of Winfield C. Arn And The Institute For American Church Growth, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article is being reprinted from the Fall 2005 issue of the Journal of the ASCG in tribute to Win Arn. Readers who are not familiar with the early history of church growth, and particularly the role played by Win Arn and the Institute for American Church Growth, will find this article of interest. —Editor

Program Book - 2007 Calvin Symposium On Worship, Calvin Institute Of Christian Worship

Symposium on Worship Archive

Program book for the 2007 Calvin Symposium on Worship, including a schedule, presenter bios, and practical information.

Web Schedule With Session Descriptions, Calvin Institute Of Christian Worship

Symposium on Worship Archive

A printed copy of the web schedule used for online registration. Includes descriptions of each of the sessions, unlike the printed program book.

64th Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectureship -- Hear The Word Of The Lord: Jeremiah's Call To Renewal (2007), Jerry Rushford

Pepperdine Bible Lectures: Programs

Program booklet for the 64th Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures, held at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, May 1-4, 2007. The Pepperdine Bible Lectures is an annual event hosted by Pepperdine University featuring a wide variety of lectures and classes on topics and themes in the Bible and Christianity.

Jerry Rushford, Lectureship Director

Rick Gibson, Tami Williamson, Kym Dildine, and Erin Newton Lectures Team

Means Of Evangelistic Growth: The First 300 Years, J. D. Payne

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The purpose of this study is to examine the various means, by which the gospel spread across the word throughout the first three hundred years of the Church’s existence. Though some biblical texts will be referenced, the primary focus of this study is upon the post-Apostolic, pre-Constantinian years. This study is descriptive in nature. Though contemporary secondary source literature will be consulted, I will draw predominantly from the historical documents written circa A.D. 100-300 and Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History.

The Shaping Of Things Now: Questions Of Emerging Churches, Darren Cronshaw

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The term ‘emerging church’ has been hotly debated. Some mainstream churches say ‘what are you doing that we are not?’ and some emerging churches resent the implication that they are still ‘emerging’ into being a real church. 3 But ‘emerging’ describes something that is changing and evolving rather than fixed in one place. The label recognizes that such churches are emerging from a modern into a postmodern framework, in a post-Christendom era, in a digital age, for a post-colonial era. Interestingly, it is a term that has been used to describe the early church in the first century, since that …

2007 - 90th Annual Bible Lectureship, "Do Justice, Love Mercy, And Walk Humbly: Messages From Micah", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Revolution: Finding Vibrant Faith Beyond The Walls Of The Sanctuary, R. Daniel Reeves

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Kerux - Vol. 40, No. 7, Calvin Theological Seminary

Kerux

Inside This Issue

• Schedule of Events Page 6
• Tuition for Seminary Children Page 3
• On Why We Send Our Kids to a Xian School Page 4
• On Why We Homeschool Page 5
• Ministry as Matchmaking Page 6
• Family of Faith CRC Page 7
• Why Xian Ed? Page 8

The State Of The Unions—Denominations In The 21st Century, Robert Wenz

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The denominational landscape in America is changing. It is no longer a landscape of blossoming and blooming. It is rather a landscape marked by withering, fallen petals, and some new and different shoots budding. Some denominations are merging or consolidating districts/regions/presbyteries, effectively reducing regional overhead. This serves to reduce the burden on churches to support both a national organization and a regional association. Increasingly, denominations are questioning the relative value and cutting their publications ministries.

Introduction, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Small Groups And Established Churches: Challenge And Hope For The Future, Katie Dudgeon

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Contemporary Church Planting, Elmer Towns

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The challenge of church planting has never been greater. There has always been the challenge of reaching people. But today’s challenges are different than ever before, and more extreme than ever before. Today’s challenges are exploding population, urbanization, technological innovations, expanding travel, complex international commercialization, the growing threat of terrorism, and growing secularization in First World or civilized countries; and in the Third World countries growing mysticism, spiritism, and demonism. Other challenges involve the influence of postmodernity, the influence of globalization through the United Nations, the collapse of church cooperation, i.e., World Council of Churches, Baptist World Alliance, etc.; the …

The Complex Task—A Place For Everyone: Session Four Manhattan Christian College, October 1981, Donald Mcgavran

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

In 1981, Donald McGavran presented a series of lectures at Manhattan Christian College. Over the next few journals, we will publish this series in a continuing effort to honor McGavran and his legacy of Church Growth Missiology. This is the fourth in the series. This article has been transcribed from the taped lectures.

Exploring A New Paradigm For Evangelism In The Emerging Culture, Michael Mcnichols

Doctor of Ministry

It is my claim that evangelism has become focused on the proclamation of a message that is presumed to be an accurate expression of the biblical concept of gospel. Evangelism within the evangelical community, perceived primarily as proclamation, has become a specialized function of the church. It is too often separated not only from the normative experience of the average Christian but also from the idea of discipleship, or spiritual formation. There are possible solutions to this problem, such as more training, increased efforts at city-wide crusades, more seeker-oriented services, continuation of church planting, a stronger focus on those "gifted" …

Religion Classes In State Institutions In Post-Soviet Russia, Joseph A. Loya O.S.A.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

63rd Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectureship -- Life Together: The Heart Of Love And Fellowship In I John (2006), Jerry Rushford

Pepperdine Bible Lectures: Programs

Program booklet for the 63rd Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures, held at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, May 2-5, 2006. The Pepperdine Bible Lectures is an annual event hosted by Pepperdine University featuring a wide variety of lectures and classes on topics and themes in the Bible and Christianity.

Jerry Rushford, Lectureship Director

Bill Henegar, Kym Dildine, and Patty Atkisson, Lectures Team

The Evolution Of Church Growth, Church Health, And The Missional Church: An Overview Of The Church Growth Movement From, And Back To, Its Missional Roots, Ed Stetzer

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The American application of the Church Growth Movement has, in my estimation, moved away from McGavran’s original emphasis of mission. While still valuing the approach and learning much from it, I would like to share my personal journey out of mainstream Church Growth into a more missional approach.

Contemporary Korean Ecclesiastical And Social Conditions Calling For Conversion Church Growth, Paul H. Kim

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

“‘Why is the Korean church growing so rapidly? Many Christians around the world have asked this question,” say Bong-Rin Ro and Marlin L. Nelson, in the preface of the book Korean Church Growth Explosion published a decade ago. Today, many Christians around the world ask a different question: Why has the Korean church, that grew so rapidly in such a short time, slipped into a stagnation for about two decades?

My Pilgrimage In Church Growth, Elmer L. Towns

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

My pilgrimage with Church Growth began with my conversion. It was a deep conversion that affected every part of my life and it was a hard struggle because I didn’t want to give up my self-righteousness.

Via Media : The Necessity Of Deeper Theological Refection For The Genuine Renewal Of Church In The Emerging Culture And Context / By Jason Clark., Jason Clark

Doctor of Ministry

No abstract provided.

2006 - 88th Annual Lectureship, "Messages From The Gospel Of John", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.