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Full-Text Articles in Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Book Review: The Leadership Ellipse: Shaping How We Lead By Who We Are By Robert A. Fryling, Jere Phillips Jul 2010

Book Review: The Leadership Ellipse: Shaping How We Lead By Who We Are By Robert A. Fryling, Jere Phillips

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Promise And Peril: Understanding And Managing Change And Conflict In Congregations By David R. Brubaker, Darren Cronshaw Jul 2010

Book Review: Promise And Peril: Understanding And Managing Change And Conflict In Congregations By David R. Brubaker, Darren Cronshaw

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


About The Great Commission Research Network, Alan Mcmahan Jul 2010

About The Great Commission Research Network, Alan Mcmahan

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Invitation To World Missions: A Trinitarian Missiology For The Twenty-First Century By Timothy C. Tennent, Edward L. Smither Jul 2010

Book Review: Invitation To World Missions: A Trinitarian Missiology For The Twenty-First Century By Timothy C. Tennent, Edward L. Smither

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Viacordis: A Case Study Of The First Year Of A House Church Network, Robert E. Logan Jan 2010

Viacordis: A Case Study Of The First Year Of A House Church Network, Robert E. Logan

Great Commission Research Journal

This paper is a synopsis of Logan’s journey in the development of a multi-ethnic network of house churches in the Los Angeles area and beyond. It is in this missional expression of faith communities that the necessary blending of the Great Commandment with the Great Commission are lived out. This multiplying network of churches is ViaCordis (Latin for “way of the heart”). A variety of church models are explored as to their methodology of living out Christ in their community. The 12 Life Commitments of leadership are shared along with 12 lessons learned to date in this process of ViaCordis …


Book Review: Christianity Encountering World Religions: The Practice Of Mission In The Twenty-First Century By Terry Muck And Frances S. Adeney, Will Brooks Jan 2010

Book Review: Christianity Encountering World Religions: The Practice Of Mission In The Twenty-First Century By Terry Muck And Frances S. Adeney, Will Brooks

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


From 35,000 To 15,000 Feet: Evangelical Statistics In The U.S. And Canada: A State/Province, Metro And County Glimpse, J. D. Payne Jan 2010

From 35,000 To 15,000 Feet: Evangelical Statistics In The U.S. And Canada: A State/Province, Metro And County Glimpse, J. D. Payne

Great Commission Research Journal

Identifying the areas of the greatest evangelical need in the U.S. and Canada, this paper is designed to help churches and denominations take seriously the realities presented and to make any necessary adjustments in their church multiplication strategies to better extend the Kingdom into areas where few are laboring. This article is to be used in conjunction with an extensive corresponding PowerPoint presentation (10MB) showing evangelical statistics in selected places of the United States and Canada. The presentation may be downloaded for free from the Articles section at www.NorthAmericanMissions.org under the title “From 35,000 to 15,000 Feet: Evangelical Statistics in …


Book Review: Ignite: How To Spark Immediate Growth In Your Congregation By Nelson Searcy With Jennifer Dykes Henson, James Cho Jan 2010

Book Review: Ignite: How To Spark Immediate Growth In Your Congregation By Nelson Searcy With Jennifer Dykes Henson, James Cho

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Deep Preaching: Creating Sermons That Go Beyond The Superficial By Kent J. Edwards, Lloyd Grant Jan 2010

Book Review: Deep Preaching: Creating Sermons That Go Beyond The Superficial By Kent J. Edwards, Lloyd Grant

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


About The Great Commission Research Network, Alan Mcmahan Jan 2010

About The Great Commission Research Network, Alan Mcmahan

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Dissertations And Theses Notices, Gary L. Mcintosh Jan 2010

Dissertations And Theses Notices, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


A Return To Our Roots: 1st Century Church Growth In The 21st Century, Robert E. Logan Jan 2010

A Return To Our Roots: 1st Century Church Growth In The 21st Century, Robert E. Logan

Great Commission Research Journal

This paper reviews the history of the church growth movement with the underlying question: Can such happen in the 21st Century? The origination of the church growth movement is explored with a challenge to recontextualize the posture of church growth initiatives. A key to this process is the development of leaders through both missional and relational processes. Returning to our missional roots and becoming more and more incarnational as we walk alongside the next generation of leaders will have historic impact not only for church, but for the world, for the marketplace, and for all the new ways God may …


Introduction, Alan Mcmahan Jan 2010

Introduction, Alan Mcmahan

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


A Process Model For Church Change As Reflected In St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Sheffield, England, Bob Whitesel Jan 2010

A Process Model For Church Change As Reflected In St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Sheffield, England, Bob Whitesel

Great Commission Research Journal

This article is an abbreviation of research originally presented to Dr. Eddie Gibbs, Donald McGavran Professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary. Gibbs has been involved with the church under study for over two decades and lauded the author’s research. The research indicates a five-stage/four-trigger process model of change that may serve as an ecclesial prototype for effective change. The article is presented here in honor of Dr. Eddie Gibbs on his retirement.


Book Review: Churchmorph: How Megatrends Are Reshaping Christian Communities By Eddie Gibbs, Tom Harper Jan 2010

Book Review: Churchmorph: How Megatrends Are Reshaping Christian Communities By Eddie Gibbs, Tom Harper

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


The Conversations Of Our Times, Bill Easum Jan 2010

The Conversations Of Our Times, Bill Easum

Great Commission Research Journal

The changes in what the church is and what the church does is explored in this article. These changes are the result of the challenges that have descended on culture in the 21st Century. In the midst of these challenges several conversations are taking place that Christian leaders can’t afford to ignore because each one challenges the fabric of Western Christianity as we know it today. With the goal of reporting what is at stake six budding movements are explored: Emergent, Incarnational, Organic, Reproductive, Missional and Sim Card. Each is summarized with a short explanation as to their potential impact …


Emerging Church Growth Oxymoron: Mcgavran And Newbigin In Dialog, David Drury Jan 2010

Emerging Church Growth Oxymoron: Mcgavran And Newbigin In Dialog, David Drury

Great Commission Research Journal

The Emerging church and the Church Growth movement are presented in the article in comparison and contrast, with special attention paid to the fathers of both movements, Lesslie Newbigin and Donald McGavran, respectively. An overview of problematic critiques and unhelpful practices in the treatments of each movement is given. Current trends are noted involving shifts in both movements, leaving open a possibility for more constructive dialog and partnership. A final synergy is suggested to envision a future way forward.


Book Review: The Hip Hop Church: Connecting With The Movement Shaping Our Culture By Efrem Smith And Phil Jackson, Robert W. Strong Jan 2010

Book Review: The Hip Hop Church: Connecting With The Movement Shaping Our Culture By Efrem Smith And Phil Jackson, Robert W. Strong

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Hispanic Ministry Where Language Is No Barrier: Church Growth Among U.S.-Born, English-Dominant Latinos, Daniel Rodriguez Jan 2010

Hispanic Ministry Where Language Is No Barrier: Church Growth Among U.S.-Born, English-Dominant Latinos, Daniel Rodriguez

Great Commission Research Journal

During the past one hundred fifty years of mission and ministry among Latinos in the United States, most denominational and local church leaders have assumed a “Spanish-speaking immigrant-church model.” This model still dominates the landscape of Hispanic ministries among evangelicals in the United States. Unfortunately, this model is generally not successful when targeting U.S.-born English-dominant Latinos. This study explores how linguistic, cultural and social-economic factors have re-shaped ministry paradigms and practices in several churches across the country that traditionally targeted foreign-born Spanish-dominant Latinos but now also successfully target U.S.-born English-dominant Latinos.


Church Growth: A Holiness Perspective, Christopher Mark Baldwin Jan 2010

Church Growth: A Holiness Perspective, Christopher Mark Baldwin

Great Commission Research Journal

The purpose of this article is to outline the Holiness Perspective on Church Growth. Some may be tempted to think of Church Growth and Holiness as mutually exclusive ideas. This article attempts to bring these concepts together. This is accomplished through biblical, theological, and historical foundations. The biblical foundation is based on the church of Antioch and the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth. The theological foundation focuses on three aspects: missio Dei, Incarnation, and kingdom of God. The historical foundations outline a number of church planting strategies used throughout the history of the church.


Changing Paradigms Of Evangelism: Three Generational Views, Elmer Towns Jan 2010

Changing Paradigms Of Evangelism: Three Generational Views, Elmer Towns

Great Commission Research Journal

This paper attempts to summarize the overarching movements of evangelism in the past 70 years in the United States, most of which this author has personally observed and influenced. While there has always been evangelism in various expressions and to some degree, certain expressions of evangelism have been more effective than others. The primary emphasis of evangelism has gone from soul-winning evangelism (pre-1950), to Church Growth evangelism (1960–1990), to missional evangelism (2000-to the present). Each of these categories will be explored with concluding observations made as to the continued import of evangelism as a priority.


Book Review: Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around And Yours Can, Too By Ed Stetzer And Mike Dodson, Keith Stone Jan 2010

Book Review: Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around And Yours Can, Too By Ed Stetzer And Mike Dodson, Keith Stone

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Building Bridges Of God During Calamity: Lessons Learned From India, Gary L. Mcintosh Jan 2010

Building Bridges Of God During Calamity: Lessons Learned From India, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

The Church Growth Movement has historically placed a priority on evangelism over that of social action. From a church growth perspective, if social action takes priority, evangelism is eventually lost amid the numerous good things that a church can do. In contrast the thinking of the missional church declares it is possible keep evangelism and social action in balance with neither gaining a priority edge. Using a real story from the missionary life of Donald McGavran’s father, John G. McGavran, this article illustrates that when social action does, as it often must, take first place over evangelism, effectiveness in evangelism …


Creating Church Multiplication Through A Denominational Structure, Phil Stevenson Jul 2009

Creating Church Multiplication Through A Denominational Structure, Phil Stevenson

Great Commission Research Journal

A denomination will not survive, much less thrive, if it does not strategically and effectively plant churches. Church planting is the primary means by which new inroads are made. Church planting is the method by which a denomination keeps its vitality, energy, and vigor. The denominations that neglect this emphasis become ingrown, resulting in them “. . . losing the vigor and the high octane faith that caused them to succeed in the first place.”


Book Review: You Don’T Have To Cross The Ocean To Reach The World: The Power Of Local Cross-Cultural Ministry By David Boyd, Jeff K. Walters Jul 2009

Book Review: You Don’T Have To Cross The Ocean To Reach The World: The Power Of Local Cross-Cultural Ministry By David Boyd, Jeff K. Walters

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church For All Generations By Edward H. Hammett With James R. Pearce, Mark Platt Jul 2009

Book Review: Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church For All Generations By Edward H. Hammett With James R. Pearce, Mark Platt

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Bridges Of God: The Mission Legacy Of Donald Anderson Mcgavran, Charles Van Engen Jul 2009

Bridges Of God: The Mission Legacy Of Donald Anderson Mcgavran, Charles Van Engen

Great Commission Research Journal

This short essay is about Donald McGavran and his ground-breaking book, Bridges of God, that became the cornerstone of Church Growth theory and the foundation of what is now called the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Missiological thinking and missionary practice was transformed by the energy, vitality, insight, and stubborn tenacity of Donald McGavran. Whether they agreed with McGavran or not, after the publication of The Bridges of God, mission professors, mission executives, and mission practitioners could no longer do business as usual, nor their usual business.


Korean Church Planters’ Perception On Church Planting Education, Hansung Kim Jul 2009

Korean Church Planters’ Perception On Church Planting Education, Hansung Kim

Great Commission Research Journal

This study seeks to understand how Korean church planters perceive the church planting education that they received. This study employs the qualitative approach, which uses words and open-ended questions to explore and understand the meaning that individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. To collect data, I interviewed nine church planters. I analyzed, interpreted, and wrote data as soon as possible. In addition, I collected other data. I also compared different data with each other to generate categories, and it was done consistently. The followings are the findings. While their passion for church planting was great and …


Eight Keys To Overcoming Apathy Towards Church Growth, Danny R. Van Kanel Jul 2009

Eight Keys To Overcoming Apathy Towards Church Growth, Danny R. Van Kanel

Great Commission Research Journal

Nothing zaps ministry efforts towards growth more than apathy among church members. Nothing energizes those efforts more than genuine interest and enthusiasm in growing the church. How can we turn apathy into enthusiasm? The answer is not as difficult as we might think.


Church Growth By Another Name: Challenges And Opportunities For The Future Of A Movement, Alan Mcmahan Jul 2009

Church Growth By Another Name: Challenges And Opportunities For The Future Of A Movement, Alan Mcmahan

Great Commission Research Journal

A brief review of the church growth movement not only highlights significant accomplishments but also raises questions about its future. While church growth thinkers were compelled by the evangelistic mandate, this article argues that continued obedience to the Great Commission will require new responses to the rapidly changing context of ministry. Charting the path ahead, the author identifies six key challenges that demand new initiatives from the church: 1) the challenge to reinvent the evangelistic paradigm and imagination; 2) the challenge of diasporas, and the worldwide migration of people; 3) the challenge of urbanization, 4) the challenge of the plateaued …