Book of the Week: Developing the Leader Within You

This week’s book of the week is John Maxwell’s Developing the Leader Within You. This book is one of Maxwell’s older books, but I had it on a list for an upcoming class, so I decided to read this volume on developing personal leadership skills. Top 5 Thoughts: “Leadership is influence.  That’s it.  Nothing more; nothing less.  My favorite leadership …

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Book of the Week: 11 Innovations in the Local Church

This week’s book of the week is 11 Innovations in the Local Church written by the uber-talented team of Elmer Towns, Ed Stetzer, and Warren Bird.  Each chapter focuses on different types of innovative churches.  This book contains great stories of how Jesus is using some pasotrs and churches to do some incredible things in this country for Christ. This …

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Book of the Week: An Emergent Manifesto of Hope

This week’s book of the week is An Emergent Manifesto of Hope edited by Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones.  This book contained 25 emergent leaders writing on differing issues within the church from the emergent church perspective.  If you are not savy on the emergent church, it is a group of church leaders who believe that the modern church needs …

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Book of the Week: The Cross and Salvation

This week’s book of the week is Bruce Demarest’s The Cross and Salvation.  This hefty theological treatise is a slim 544 pages but is a great read even if it isn’t the easiest.  Whenever you read about Jesus, time truly does seem to fly. Top 5 Thoughts: “Biblical salvation thus has past, present, and future dimensions.”  Demarest’s words are pivotal …

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Book of the Week: Membership Matters

This week’s book of the week is none other than Chuck Lawless’ Membership Matters.  I read this book because he required it for my next class time with him.  Dr. Lawless is the dean of my school, friend, mentor, and also an incredible writer. But I also read it because Jeff and I have been doing a lot of talking …

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Book of the Week: Evaluating the Church Growth Movement

This week’s book of the week is entitled Evaluating the Church Growth Movement.  Edited by Gary McIntosh and Paul Engle, they gather five differing views on the Church Growth Movement.  Many churchgoers are probably unaware that great controversy exists on whether or not churches should try new things or incorporate new methods in order to see a greater harvest.  This …

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Book of the Week: Revitalizing the Sunday Morning Dinosaur

This week’s book of the week is Ken Hemphill’s Revitalizing the Sunday Morning Dinosaur.  Hemphill makes a case for a Sunday school growth strategy that can work in churches.  When he uses the term, “Sunday school,” he incorporates any effective small group strategy.  While North Side has small groups and Sunday school, it is interesting to note that Sunday school …

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Book of the Week: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

This week’s book of the week is J. I. Packer’s classic, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.  This book was based off on some lectures by Packer concerning how believers should reconcile free will and election (both two prevalent biblical concepts that seem to be warring against one another).  In actuality, these two concepts go together well even if we …

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Book of the Week: Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church

This week’s book of the week is D. A. Carson’s Becoming Conversant with the Emergent Church. The emerging church is a relatively new movement in church world.  What’s hard about this movement is that there is a wide spectrum of people who are categorized as emergent.  I know of “emergent” church leaders who keep the gospel at the center and …

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Book of the Week: Firefall

This week’s book of the week is Firefall written by Alvin Reid and Malcom McDow.  This book is a great commentary on the movement of the church over the last two centuries.  It highlights revivals that spread when God’s people sought his power to come and change their land. Top 5 Thoughts: “Revival is God’s invitation into the lives of …

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