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Articles 1381 - 1410 of 1620

Full-Text Articles in Practical Theology

Spiritual Factors Impacting Church Health And Growth In The 21st Century, Ray W. Ellis Jan 1999

Spiritual Factors Impacting Church Health And Growth In The 21st Century, Ray W. Ellis

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The topic of this President’s address at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Church Growth is “Spiritual Factors that Impact Church Health and Growth.” My purpose is to show that church growth is about growth of the Kingdom of God. Numerical growth and spiritual growth are not incompatible. Church growth is about numerical growth. Church growth is about sharpening skills and utilizing technology to carry out the great commission. Church growth is about redemptive growth. Church Growth is more than numbers, it is the supernatural work of God.

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Spiritual Formation In The Twenty-First Century, Maria Ovando-Gibson Jan 1999

Spiritual Formation In The Twenty-First Century, Maria Ovando-Gibson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

In former years we spoke of Christian education in our churches and seminaries today, the words spiritual formation, Christian formation, faith development, spiritual maturity, the Spiritual life and disciplines are terms used to describe the developmental, processing, growing, and intentional maturing of the Christian faith in our personal life, journey or pilgrimage. Having characterized the above, the question I am still asked the most is, “but what does this really mean and how would you define spiritual formation?” After years of study and reflection in this field, I would describe spiritual formation as that awesome work of the Holy Spirit …

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Perspectives On The Church And Church Growth Theory, Charles Van Engen Jan 1999

Perspectives On The Church And Church Growth Theory, Charles Van Engen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Because we will be talking about the church and its nature during this conference, I thought it might be good for us to be reminded of some basic characteristics of the church and the various ways the church has seen itself. At the risk of oversimplification, I would like to briefly survey ten broad perspectives on the Church which one may derive from the Church’s history and relate them to Church Growth theory. The ten perspectives mentioned in this paper are in no way meant to be exhaustive of the multiple ways one may view the Church. I do not …

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Responses From Christian A. Schwarz To Simpson's Review Of Natural Church Development, Daniel E. Simpson Jul 1998

Responses From Christian A. Schwarz To Simpson's Review Of Natural Church Development, Daniel E. Simpson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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How To Lead A Church Through Major Change: A Road Map For Successful Innovation, Jim Egli Jul 1998

How To Lead A Church Through Major Change: A Road Map For Successful Innovation, Jim Egli

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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Internal Barriers To The Evangelization Of Generation X, Kevin R. O'Brien Jul 1998

Internal Barriers To The Evangelization Of Generation X, Kevin R. O'Brien

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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The High Efficiency Church, Joseph Higginbotham Jul 1998

The High Efficiency Church, Joseph Higginbotham

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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Book Review: The Interventionist By Lyle Schaller, R. Daniel Reeves Jul 1998

Book Review: The Interventionist By Lyle Schaller, R. Daniel Reeves

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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Book Review: Natural Church Development: A Guide To Eight Essential Qualities Of Healthy Churches By Christian Schwarz, Daniel E. Simpson Jul 1998

Book Review: Natural Church Development: A Guide To Eight Essential Qualities Of Healthy Churches By Christian Schwarz, Daniel E. Simpson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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Toward An Understanding Of Celibacy In A Christian Context For The Twenty-First Century, Marilyn Iva Elliott May 1998

Toward An Understanding Of Celibacy In A Christian Context For The Twenty-First Century, Marilyn Iva Elliott

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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Toward Reversing Pastoral Burnout Through A Program To Restore Balanced Living, Steven Anton Gerig May 1998

Toward Reversing Pastoral Burnout Through A Program To Restore Balanced Living, Steven Anton Gerig

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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Church Growth, Numbers, And Record Keeping, John W. Ellas Apr 1998

Church Growth, Numbers, And Record Keeping, John W. Ellas

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Counting disciples, tracking trends, and keeping good records have all been criticized aspects of the Church Growth Movement since its founding. While several writers have spoken to these criticisms over the years, the article, “Church Growth, Numbers, and Record Keeping” by Dr. John W. Ellas is one of the best responses ever written. He carefully presents the biblical foundations, answers the major criticisms, and offers six values for counting disciples.

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Cell Or Small Group Ministry: An Essential Foundation For Christian Education, Discipleship, Leadership Development, And Church Growth, J. Gregory Lawson Apr 1998

Cell Or Small Group Ministry: An Essential Foundation For Christian Education, Discipleship, Leadership Development, And Church Growth, J. Gregory Lawson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Small group ministry continues to be actively promoted as a key aspect of church growth in every culture. Dr. Gregory Lawson expounds on the continuing need for small groups in “Cell or Small Group Ministry: An Essential Foundation for Christian Education, Discipleship, Leadership Development, and Church Growth.” His article reminds us once again of the impact cells have on evangelism, pastoral care, and spiritual growth.

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Historical Clarity: Disciple-Making And The Church Growth Movement, Robert D. Hooper Apr 1998

Historical Clarity: Disciple-Making And The Church Growth Movement, Robert D. Hooper

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The Church Growth Movement relies heavily on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) for much of its passion and theological foundation. Yet there is confusion among various writers in the movement as to what specifically the command to “make disciples” implies. Dr. Robert Hopper wrestles with this issue in his article “Historical Clarity: Disciple-Making and the Church Growth Movement.”

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Frank C. Laubach And The Challenge Of Literary Evangelism, J. Gregory Lawson Apr 1998

Frank C. Laubach And The Challenge Of Literary Evangelism, J. Gregory Lawson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article reviews the legacy of Frank Charles Laubach (1884-1970). Laubach pioneered an evangelistic approach often called “literary evangelism” whereby churches taught illiterate peoples to read and thereby witnessed for Christ. This approach has been effectively used on the mission field and may be an effective way to win people to Christ in the urban centers of North America. Laubach believed that a church should teach numerous kinds of illiterates (people groups), i.e., illiterate adults, foreign peoples, school drop-outs, children needing remedial reading, prisoners, and juvenile delinquents. Many of these people groups are found in our cities.

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Church Planting In The Urban Setting: The Key To Reaching America, Elmer L. Towns Apr 1998

Church Planting In The Urban Setting: The Key To Reaching America, Elmer L. Towns

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Dr. Elmer Towns discusses the biblical mandate for reaching entire cities for Christ. And, after carefully outlining the challenges of completing this task, he offers thoughts on developing a strategy for urban church planting. This article is from his address at the American Society for Church Growth meetings held in Orlando, FL, in November 1997.

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Theological Clarity: Disciple-Making And The New Testament, Robert D. Hooper Apr 1998

Theological Clarity: Disciple-Making And The New Testament, Robert D. Hooper

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article will challenge your thinking about McGavran’s view of disciple-making and provide fresh insight into the process of making disciples today.

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Multiple Services And Your Church’S Future, Donald E. Ross Apr 1998

Multiple Services And Your Church’S Future, Donald E. Ross

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Multiple worship services are a topic of consideration among most churches today. Some churches offer numerous services throughout the week, while others continue to struggle with the need for more than one. Dr. Donald E. Ross, Senior Pastor of North Seattle Christian Fellowship, shares six reasons for beginning a new worship service and a few insights on how to do it from his own ministry.

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Noon Talkback Session With Viv Grigg (October 15, 1998), Viv Grigg Jan 1998

Noon Talkback Session With Viv Grigg (October 15, 1998), Viv Grigg

ATS Conferences

No abstract provided.

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Ministers Conference, 1998: 1st General Session, William H. Hinson Jan 1998

Ministers Conference, 1998: 1st General Session, William H. Hinson

ATS Conferences

No abstract provided.

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Introduction To Urban Strategies, Eddie Gibbs Jan 1998

Introduction To Urban Strategies, Eddie Gibbs

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article presents an introduction to church planting and evangelism in urban situations. It was presented at the 1997 annual meeting of the American Society for Church Growth in Orlando, FL.

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The Biblical Basis For Relational Networking Among Autonomous Churches, Paul G. Thyren Jan 1998

The Biblical Basis For Relational Networking Among Autonomous Churches, Paul G. Thyren

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Building networks of partnerships for effective ministry in the 21st Century is often discussed within the context of denominations. Dr. Paul Thyren focuses our attention on independent churches and how they can build relational networks in the years to come. This article focuses on the biblical basis for relational networking.

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Introduction Winter 1998, Gary L. Mcintosh Jan 1998

Introduction Winter 1998, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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City-Reaching: The Dominant Church Paradigm Of The Next Decade, Jack Dennison Jan 1998

City-Reaching: The Dominant Church Paradigm Of The Next Decade, Jack Dennison

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article “CityReaching: The Dominant Church Paradigm of the Next Decade” clearly presents the crucial need to reach cites for Christ in the 21st Century.

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Networking Theory And Its Application To Autonomous Churches, Paul G. Thyren Jan 1998

Networking Theory And Its Application To Autonomous Churches, Paul G. Thyren

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Building networks of partnerships for effective ministry in the 21st Century is often discussed within the context of denominations. Dr. Paul Thyren focuses our attention on independent churches and how they can build relational networks in the years to come. This article discusses the theory of networking and how to apply it in practice.

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Forgiveness: The Key To Spiritual Warfare, Jerry L. Graham Jan 1998

Forgiveness: The Key To Spiritual Warfare, Jerry L. Graham

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Among the many barriers to church growth is an unforgiving spirit in the congregation. Jerry Graham’s article on “Forgiveness: The Key To Spiritual Warfare” completes this issue of the journal in fine fashion. His article is not a rehash of teaching on forgiveness but rather a revealing look at how forgiveness and spiritual warfare are related.

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Index To The Journal Of The American Society Of Church Growth 1990-1997, Gary L. Mcintosh Oct 1997

Index To The Journal Of The American Society Of Church Growth 1990-1997, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

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The Homogeneous Unit Principle Revisited Part Two: A Biblical Validation, Walther A. Olsen Oct 1997

The Homogeneous Unit Principle Revisited Part Two: A Biblical Validation, Walther A. Olsen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Walther A. Olsen presents new perspectives on the most criticized principle of the Church Growth Movement in his article The Homogeneous Unit Principle Revisited. His experience as a missionary, pastor and professor allow him to address the issue with fresh insight. The reader will see the homogeneous unit principle with new “church growth eyes” after reading this article. This is the second part of a two-part series.

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Motivation To Participate: Understanding Students' Reasons For Participating As A Help In Growing A Youth Group, Ken Garland Oct 1997

Motivation To Participate: Understanding Students' Reasons For Participating As A Help In Growing A Youth Group, Ken Garland

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Why do high school students participate in church activities? The question has been asked and answered abstractly and anecdotally for years. Still, no one working in church ministry with high school students really understands what motivates those who participate regularly in church youth group activities to do so. It seems that understanding these motivations would be a rather high priority considering what seems to be increasing disinterest in church among contemporary high schoolers.

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Missions In Multi-Cultural America: A Study Of Acts 15:1-35, M. Rodney Webb Oct 1997

Missions In Multi-Cultural America: A Study Of Acts 15:1-35, M. Rodney Webb

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The culture milieu of the American Christian scene during the latter part of the twentieth century is in a constant state of flux. By revisiting the experience of the early church in its multicultural world and how it grows in that world of pluralistic cultures, philosophies, and theological understandings, the American Church is able to prepare, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to win this pluralistic nation for Christ.

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