Habits of Highly Effective Churches

George Barna

Description

George Barna reveals nine critical habits proven to make a church an effective local body. The Habits of Highly Effective Churches dispels popular myths and wrong beliefs as to what constitutes a thriving church in today's society and is an excellent resource for ministry leaders who are seeking or willing to re-evaluate and restructure a church.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 11 janvier 2000
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441223593
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

© Copyright 1999 by George Barna
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Previously published by Regal Books
Ebook edition created 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-2359-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV® . Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
This book was first published as The Habits of Highly Effective Churches in 1998 by Issachar Resources in Ventura, California.
Cover Design by Kevin Keller
Interior Design by Rob Williams
Edited by Wil Simon
PRAISE FOR
THE HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CHURCHES
The nine habits of highly effective churches serve as a benchmark list against which churches can measure their effectiveness in the service of the Lord. Borrowing this book is sufficient only if you have everything George Barna has written, you go to one of his conferences at least every two years, and you just want to take a quick look at his new material. But I warn you, you will buy your own copy after you take a peek.
GEORGE BULLARD
Executive Director and Head Coach, New Reformation Solutions Columbia, South Carolina
George Barna here demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the vital elements of healthy church growth. His style is straightforward, his information is well-supported by ongoing research, and his approach is practical. This is a valuable resource for pastors of churches large and small, old and new, denominational and independent.
DR. EDDIE GIBBS
Donald A. McGavran Professor of Church Growth Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California
Who among us understands the American church at large better than George Barna? Habits of Highly Effective Churches is another shining example of Barna’s keen analysis, sharp insight and God-given passion for preparing the Bride of Christ for His return.
TED HAGGARD
Senior Pastor, New Life Church Colorado Springs, Colorado
Whether you like Barna or not, you can’t afford to not read him. (Incidentally, I like him.)
JACK W. HAYFORD
Pastor, The Church On The Way President, The King’s Seminary Van Nuys, California
If you care about holistic spiritual formation and the health of the local church, then George Barna’s book is for you. Master these habits and transformation is sure to follow!
STEPHEN A. MACCHIA
President, Vision New England Author of Becoming a Healthy Church Acton, Massachusetts
Like few other people I know, George Barna has his finger on the pulse of the American church. Habits of Highly Effective Churches lays out proven strategies for any church that wants to be a vibrant place of dynamic worship and ministry. I’m excited about the impact this book could have on our churches. I highly recommend it!
BILL MCCARTNEY
Founder and President, Promise Keepers Denver, Colorado
The Habits of Highly Effective Churches is the silver bullet that kills common Christian misconceptions about what makes up a “successful” congregation. George Barna’s rigorous pursuit for truth and thorough research reveal haunting lessons for every local church in America today. In the Lord’s economy, it is not the size of our budget, vast numbers of people attending or a host of programs that make a winning congregation; rather a successful church is built on repeated behaviors in line with God’s wisdom—healthy habits!
JOHN C. MAXWELL
Author, Speaker and Founder of The INJOY Group Atlanta, Georgia
Let me caution you who are considering reading this book: Get prepared to have your comfortable ideas and church practices challenged. George Barna offers incredible insights which can’t help but motivate you to strive toward making your church more effective.
RANDY POPE
Pastor, Perimeter Church Duluth, Georgia
Few individuals have gained more insight about the true nature of today’s churches than George Barna. This book is not another survey of what all churches do, but rather it is focused on the most essential differences between the great churches and the good ones. Habits of Highly Effective Churches is a blockbuster! You will not want to miss it!
C. PETER WAGNER
Chancellor, Wagner Leadership Institute Colorado Springs, Colorado
CONTENTS
COVER
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
ENDORSEMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION Letters from the Front
CHAPTER 1 Ensuring that Leaders Direct the Church
CHAPTER 2 Structuring the Church for Impact
CHAPTER 3 Building Lasting, Significant Relationships
CHAPTER 4 Facilitating Genuine Worship
CHAPTER 5 Engaging in Strategic Evangelism
CHAPTER 6 Facilitating Systematic Theological Growth
CHAPTER 7 Holistic Stewardship
CHAPTER 8 Serving the Community
CHAPTER 9 Equipping the Family
EPILOGUE Becoming Highly Effective
RESOURCES
Bibliography
Reliable Strategic Information
NOTES
About the Author
BACK COVER
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is the outgrowth of a seminar (Inward, Outward & Upward: Ministry That Transforms Lives) and various research projects conducted by the Barna Research Group, Ltd. (BRG) from 1997 to 1999. We at BRG operate as a team. It is my privilege, therefore, to acknowledge the help I have received from my colleagues at BRG that has led to the development of this book. In alphabetical order let me note my particular gratitude to the efforts of Rachel Ables, Pam Jacob, David Kinnaman, Jill Kinnaman, Sarah Polley, Celeste Rivera and Margaret Wells. Each of these professionals has been instrumental in my ability to deliver information and analysis to church leaders for the benefit of churches and the greater glory of God. I am thankful that God has brought together this team of people who share a common vision of serving Him by helping His Church.
I am also grateful to my wife and coworker, Nancy Barna, for the various roles she has played in this process. For nearly two decades she has been a supportive partner in the work of Barna Research. Now that she is devoting most of her energy to being a mother to our two children, her input into projects such as this one has required an even greater sacrifice on her part. Her willingness to assist in whatever ways are necessary for the good of our ministry has been a compelling lesson to me.
I must also thank the many churches, pastors and Christians across the nation who shared their time, experience and insights with me and with our company as we conducted this research. Without their help, this project would never have been born. Their assistance is yet another reflection of the Church at work, showing a greater spirit of cooperation than competition and a deeper concern for transformation than for public credit. May God repay them each a thousandfold for the blessing they have been to us and to many others through this book.
INTRODUCTION
LETTERS FROM THE FRONT
I receive numerous letters from church leaders all over the country concerning the challenges churches face these days. Sometimes the letters are written to share good news about ministry victories; other letters describe the heartbreak and hardships resulting from well-intended but ineffective ministry. There is little doubt in my mind that the Church in America lives in an age that is pregnant with opportunity. But exploiting that opportunity is neither easy nor costless.
Here are a couple of relevant examples of the difficult choices and conditions that church leaders must address every day. Can you relate to these situations?
Dear Mr. Barna:
I am the pastor of a church that was started 86 years ago. At one time, it was the largest church in the area, attracting more than 1000 worshipers each weekend. The church was known locally for the warmth of its people and the excellence of its ministry programs. The preaching has always been strong biblically.
Having read your latest book, I figure you are one person who can understand the dilemma I find myself in today. I was hired as the pastor of this declining congregation seven years ago. Attendance is down to around 200 people, and slowly dropping. The “gray-hairs” dominate the pews on Sunday mornings. Our limited efforts to reach younger people have borne little fruit. We have tried to update our ministry—the music, the pew Bibles, the signage, our logo, the appearance of our buildings and so forth. While our long time members are proud of these improvements, very few others would even be aware of the upgrades.
I am indebted to you and a few others who study churches and inform us of where we may have departed from the path or what some other churches have discovered that has helped them to make inroads in their communities. But to be quite honest, I’m awfully confused. I’m not blaming you for that, I’m just hoping that perhaps you can give me some specific guidance as to what I should do at this point. I’m willing to give this church all the energy I have left—I’m 46 at the moment; this is my fourth pastorate—but I don’t want to squander what energy I have.
In a nutshell here’s my dilemma. I’ve been to seminary, which taught me how to exegete the Scriptures in their original languages and how to teach people the substance of God’s Word. I’ve attended seminars that have focused on all kinds of additional duties—organizational skills, worship, fund-raising, counseling, leadership, service ministries, etc. I report to a board of elders, 12 men who have at least 12 different ideas of where the church should be going and just as many suggested routes to get us there. And I’ve