Chuck Allen, Smith Benj

Thabiti Anyabwile There are between five and eight million Muslims living in the United States today.  They either are, or soon will be, your neighbors and co-workers.  Does the thought of reaching out to them with the gospel make you nervous?  How can you effectively communicate the good news with such large theological differences?  The Gospel for Muslims can help make sharing your faith easier than you think.

Thabiti Anyabwile, himself a convert, from Islam to Christianity, instructs you in ways to share the good news of Christ with your neighbors and friends.  The Gospel for Muslims allows you to focus on the people rather than the religious system.  Meant for the average Christian, this book is not an exhaustive apologetic or a detailed comparative study of Christianity and Islam.  Rather, it compellingly stirs confidence in the gospel, equipping the reader with the basics necessary to communicate clearly, boldly, and winsomely.

Ben Arment Nearly eighty percent of all new churches fail, leaving countless discouraged church planters wondering why. Ben Arment answers their question with Church in the Making by identifying and expanding on three God ordained conditions that make for a successful church plant even before the doors open:

Good Ground – just as Jesus based his ministry on the openness of people’s hearts, we must gauge the spiritual receptivity of our community before planting a church. If the people are not yet open to the Gospel, the first step is to cultivate their hearts.

Rolling Rocks – momentum is also key to the success of new churches. If God truly builds his church, then our job is not to start from scratch, but rather to identify where he is already bringing people, funds, and other resources together for his purposes.

Deep Roots – wherever there’s a church in the making, God provides a group of leaders who can align people and resources in order to achieve and sustain the church’s mission. Lone planters have a much less hope of succeeding, let alone surviving.

John M. Bailey Pursuing the Mission of God in Church Planting is an initial foray by the Church Planting Group of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention into a discussion concerning God's mission, the term missional, and the understanding of a missional church. At the time the authors were selected for this book, none of them realized the depth to which they would go in this pursuit. The authors conclude that their various uses of the term missional does not lessen the value of the book's purpose to address North America's need for more churches to fully embrace God's mission for all peoples. It is to this end that this book is devoted. It is the intent of the authors to inspire and motivate their readers to continue their quest in the pursuit of God's mission through their churches. Each chapter stands on its own; yet, all chapters seek to describe and exemplify obeying God's mission mandate for local churches. In this regard, missional is not the focus of the book. Instead, the focus is on God's glory, as we seek to honor Him with our obedience to further His kingdom among all peoples.

Viviana Díaz Balsera As the driving force in early European expansionism, Spain was concerned not only with the political and economic subordination of the New World native but also with the need to possess his soul. Analyzing a wide range of texts by both Franciscan missionaries and Nahua grammarians, Viviana Díaz Balsera tells the story of this zealous, spiritual endeavor during its first one hundred years in Central Mexico and of how it transformed the European self and the indigenous other in ways sometimes unforeseen for both.

George Barna How does a Christian lead? By following today's secular business models, or by simply studying the life of Christ and pursuing a servant-based style? In this insightful, practical book, George Barna has pulled together some of today's top Christian leaders to talk about the subject of Christian leadership. Articles include: The Tasks of a Leader by Ken Gangel, The Character of a Leader by Jack Hayford, Prayer in Leading People by Peter Wagner, and much more. See what today's leaders have to say about leadership, and learn what it takes to serve the Church as a Christ-centered change agent.

George Barna, Harry Jackson Throughout our nation hundreds of vibrant African-American churches are leading people to deep, life-changing spiritual transformations. With visionary leadership, powerful worship, challenging faith formation strategies and a strong sense of community and mission, these churches form the backbone of American spirituality. What generates this vitality? And how can you bring that same passion, energy and impact to your church? In "High-Impact African-American Churches", researcher George Barna and Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. combine their research knowledge and experience to describe what these churches do that is changing lives. TRIM SIZE: 8.5 x 11

Jim Belcher Feel caught between the traditional church and the emerging church? Discover a third way: deep church.

C. S. Lewis used the phrase "deep church" to describe the body of believers committed to mere Christianity. Unfortunately church in our postmodern era has been marked by a certain shallowness. Emerging authors, fed up with contemporary pragmatism, have offered alternative visions for twenty-first-century Christianity. Traditionalist churches have reacted negatively, at times defensively.

Jim Belcher knows what it's like to be part of both of these worlds. In the 1990s he was among the pioneers of what was then called Gen X ministry, hanging out with creative innovators like Rob Bell, Mark Oestreicher and Mark Driscoll. But he also has maintained ties to traditionalist circles, planting a church in the Presbyterian Church of America.

In Deep Church, Belcher brings the best insights of all sides to forge a third way between emerging and traditional. In a fair and evenhanded way, Belcher explores the proposals of such emerging church leaders as Tony Jones, Brian McLaren and Doug Pagitt. He offers measured appreciation and affirmation as well as balanced critique. Moving beyond reaction, Belcher provides constructive models from his own church planting experience and paints a picture of what this alternate, deep church looks like—a missional church committed to both tradition and culture, valuing innovation in worship, arts and community but also creeds and confessions.

If you've felt stuck between two extremes, you can find a home here. Plumb the depths of Christianity in a way that neither rejects our postmodern context nor capitulates to it. Instead of veering to the left or the right, go between the extremes—and go deep.

Ron Bennett

Henry T. Blackaby, Avery T. Willis Experiencing God introduced readers to the seven realities of experiencing God. But if a person wants to continue to experience God, he or she must join Him on mission.

On Mission with God will show readers how God uses the seven realities in their lives. They will experience God at work at all time - initiating a personal, loving relationship with them to join Him in His work. Then they become a part of God's mission.

Ken Blanchard, Bill Hybels, Phil Hodges In today's changing business world, leaders face more challenges than ever before, whether from increased competition, new ways of reaching customers, or motivating people.

Leadership by the Book is an exceptional new book, brimming with insights, ideas, tools, and tactics for becoming a successful leader. Written in the parable format of Ken Blanchard's bestselling The One Minute Manager. and Raving Fans, it tells the story of a professor and a minister who school a young professional in management skills and ethics. Citing Jesus as a source for practical lessons in effective leadership, the authors explore the concept of "servant leadership" and offer simple strategies for bringing vision and values to any organization. Individuals will learn how to:

Achieve goals without sacrificing character or faithInspire and sustain commitment and others to give their bestBuild teamwork and celebrate successesFind personal passion and meaning in work

Sure to be required reading for managers and employees, Leadership by the Book can also be applied in day-to-day life by parents, coaches, entrepreneurs, and community leaders everywhere.

Ken Blanchard, Patricia Zigarmi, Drea Zigarmi In clear, simple terms Leadership and the One Minute Manager® teaches managers the art of Situational Leadership®—a simple system that refutes the conventional management mandate of treating all employees equally. Here, you'll learn why tailoring management styles to individual employees is so important; why knowing when to delegate, support, or direct is critical; how to identify the leadership style suited to a particular person; and how consistent use of the One Minute techniques will produce better management and enhanced motivation on all levels. This remarkable, easy-to-follow book is a priceless guide to creative, personalized leadership that elicits the best performance from your staff—and the best bottom line for any business.

If your management motto is "everyone should be treated equally," Leadership and the One Minute Manager. will show you why this style not only hinders workplace efficiency, but also frustrates your staff. In clear, simple terms, Ken Blanchard, co-author of the enormously popular The One Minute Manager., coupled with business gurus Patricia and Drea Zigarmi, teach managers the art of Situational Leadership.. You'll learn why tailoring management styles to individual employees is so important; when to delegate, support, or direct; how to identify the leadership style suited to a particular person; and how consistent use of the One Minute techniques will produce better management and enhanced motivation on all levels. This remarkable, easy-to-follow book is a priceless guide to creative, personalized leadership that elicits the best performance from your staff and the best bottom line for any business.

Bob Briner, Ray Pritchard

Bob Briner, Ray Pritchard

Charles Brock

Harold T. Bryson A variety of approaches for preaching through a Bible book, including how to analyze, exegete, and interpret, plus discussion of sermon structure. Also includes chapter outlines, examples, and extensive bibliography.

George W. Bullard Jr.

David T Bunch

Emir Fethi Caner, Ergun Mehmet Caner Organized in a question-and-answer format, this book is designed to help Christians explain their faith to Muslims. It not only contains the answers to the most common objections, supposed refutations, citations, and arguments, it lovingly but unequivocally presents the key tenets of Christianity-Jesus Christ is more than a prophet.

Tom Cheyney, J. David Putman, Van Sanders

Tom And J. David Putnam And Van Sanders-General Editors Cheyney

Tom: Putman, J. David; Sanders, Van Cheyney

Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, Gary A. Parrett, S Steve Kang How do ethnic and cultural diversity affect spiritual formation? The authors of A Many Colored Kingdom explore Christian formation and teaching in the church, with a particular focus on intercultural and interethnic relationships. Well-qualified to speak on issues of diversity, the authors describe relevant aspects of their own personal journeys; key issues emerging from their studies and teaching germane to race, culture, and ethnicity; and teaching implications that bring right practice to bear on church ministry. A final chapter contains a conversation among the authors responding to one another's insights and concerns. This book will be required reading for those engaged in as well as those preparing for a life of teaching and ministry in our increasingly multicultural world.

Harvie M. Conn, Manuel Ortiz, Susan S. Baker

Michael J. Cox, Joe Samuel Ratliff In this valuable resource, widely regarded church planting authorities Joe Ratliff and Michael Cox ask the question, How did we get all of these black churches in the inner city, anyway? What they uncover is the greatest untold church planting story of the twenty-first century. Their journey of discovery will lead you to a blueprint for church planting including practical, detailed, and invaluable advice for churches and their leaders whether you are either already in the process of sponsoring a church plant or just considering a first step in the adventure of planting a church.

James D. Crane

Earl Creps In Off-Road Disciplines, Earl Creps reveals that the on-road practices of prayer and Bible reading should be bolstered by the other kinds of encounters with God that occur unexpectedly—complete with the bumps and bruises that happen when you go “off-road.” Becoming an off-road leader requires the cultivation of certain spiritual disciplines that allow the presence of the Holy Spirit to arrange your interior life. Earl Creps explores twelve central spiritual disciplines—six personal and six organizational—that Christian leaders of all ages and denominations need if they are to change themselves and their churches to reach out to the culture around them.

Diana Davis Syndicated columnist and pastor's wife Diana Davis has been compiling new ways of conducting various church programs for decades—paying close attention to everything from how a church interior is best utilized to how congregations most effectively engage in community outreach.

These creative methods are generously compiled in Fresh Ideas for Your Church, a handy guide to inspire "how your church does church." Featuring seventy-five unique categories and scores of ideas within each one, this resource will help everyone in the church from volunteers to the senior pastor.

A sampling of topics: Baptism, Children's Area, Christmas, Fall Festival, Greeters, Library, New Member Assimilation, Prayer Ministry, Scripture of the Year, Sports Evangelism, Web Site, Youth, and more.

Jay Dennis

Mark E Dever Dever unfolds the biblical blueprint to find a leadership structure that blesses churches with peace, but doesn't buckle under the pressures of corporate life.

Mark DeYmaz Through personal stories, proven experience and a thorough analysis of the biblical text, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church illustrates both the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church as well as the seven core commitments required to bring it about. Mark DeYmaz, pastor of one of the most proven multi-ethnic churches in the country, writes both from his experience and his extensive study of how to plant, grow, and encourage more ethnically diverse churches. He argues that the "homogenous unit principle" will soon become irrelevant and that the most effective way to spread the Gospel in an increasingly diverse world is through strong and vital multi-ethnic churches.

Carl S. Dudley

Mateen Elass A quick non-technical, introduction to the Koran designed to help Christians understand a hidden book revered by 1.3 billion Muslims, covering the background on its writing, a summary of its contents, a perspective on how it’s used and viewed by Muslims, a comparison of differences and similarities to the Bible, and some suggestions on how it should and should not be used in conversations with Muslims.

Thomas D. Elliff

Claude King, Oscar Fernandez

Dean Flemming Winner of a 2006 Christianity Today Book Award!

Ronnie Floyd The hand-in-hand spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting is not a gimmick or a spiritual fad, although its neglect in recent decades makes it a new discovery for many Christians. Instead, as author Ronnie Floyd explains, prayer and fasting is a Scripture-ordained act of obedience—a means of humbling ourselves before God, drawing closer to Him, and making room for Him to speak and act in our lives.

This newly revised and updated edition of The Power of Prayer and Fasting offers fascinating firsthand stories of the difference prayer and fasting has made in Floyd’s life and others, compelling explanations of how this discipline works in a Christian’s life, practical guidance for those who have never fasted before, and finallly a stirring call to revival.

Hozell C. Francis Specified for the particular needs of the black community, this is a handbook on planting churches.

Randy Frazee This book explores the three essential elements of real community and helps readers put into practice the fifteen principles that undergird those essentials.

David Garrison

Craig Van Gelder Rather than beginning with successful contemporary models of what churches are doing, The Essence of the Church encourages readers to rethink the nature of the church. The author draws on three decades of experience to address the challenges facing todays church and urges readers to think deeply yet practically about the church.

Thoughtful and readable, this book integrates insight from a variety of disciplines and enables readers to root their methods and programs in sound biblical, theological, and theoretical principles. Diagrams help to illustrate the concepts.

Eddie Gibbs It is estimated that 80 percent of churches are either stalled or in decline. In ChurchMorph, internationally known church observer Eddie Gibbs goes beyond an analysis of causes to show how many churches and faith communities are actually breaking the downward trend. He expertly maps current converging church movements—emerging and missional churches, mainline renewal groups, megachurches, urban mission, new monasticism, alternative worship, and expanding networks—and offers a positive assessment of the reshaping of today's church. The core of the book identifies trends and movements that provide signs of the kingdom and reveals how different faith communities are working out what it means to be "church" in a changing world. This stimulating and encouraging book will appeal to pastors, church leaders, and students interested in ministry, the emerging church, Christianity and culture, and mission. EXCERPT The morphing of the church relates to the church transitioning to a new identity as a missional presence in the West. There is a growing realization among leaders committed to mission that the challenge will not be adequately met by adding new programs to ensure the local church, or a denomination's, institutional survival. Such leaders are talking about an unfettered re-imagining of the church, resulting in a comprehensive change in its self-understanding and its reconfiguration. Frequently the term "deconstruction" is used by radical voices within the emergent church. But this technical term is often misunderstood, being perceived as too threatening and confrontational. It is heard to imply demolition and destruction, which is not what is intended. Deconstruction refers to a particular method of literary criticism that seeks to get behind the text to reveal the embedded assumptions. Among Emerging Church leaders, "deconstruction" signifies, not destruction, but a breakthrough. It means to undo or take apart in order to arrive at a deeper understanding, allowing for a creative re-reading. However, in order to avoid the negative implications of the term, and its highly technical explanation, I prefer to speak of the re-imagining of the church, and of the transformation process as the morphing of the church. Wikipedia defines morphing as a special effect in motion pictures and animations that changes (or morphs) one image into another through a seamless transition. The term has a much more ancient usage however. It is derived from the Greek word morphe, which appears in the New Testament in a significant context.

Stephen Gray It seems like everyone is a church-planting expert nowadays. Many are making pronoucements about what works and what doesn't; few are doing the work necessary to confirm their assumptions. Many church planting books are strong on promises and passion, but offer few facts on what does and what doesn't help church plants succeed.

What are the differences between a successful church plant and a struggling one? You might be surprised! The authors surveyed 112 church plants and found some surprising data in the following areas:

- Leadership ability
- Financial support of the plant
- Conceptual freedom for the planter
- Coaching and Training
- Core group
- Ministries offered at launch

Some of the data confirmed long-held theories. Other findings were quite surprising. This book is a must-read for any church planter.

J.D. Greear World events won’t let North Americans ignore Muslims anymore. Whether those Muslims are villagers in Iraq or neighbors down the street, Breaking the Islam Code offers everyday Christians profound insight into the way Muslims think and feel.

J.D. Greear’s ability to communicate challenging heart truth, plus his expertise in Christian and Islamic theology and two years’ experience in a Muslim-dominated area, make him the perfect author for this empowering, insightful, reader-friendly book. It transcends traditional apologetics, focusing on helping Christians understand what is deep in Muslims’ hearts, behind their theology—which will lead to friendship and effective communication of the gospelrespectfully turn many of the primary objections into opportunities to share the faithavoid unnecessarily offending Muslims they’re interacting with

Readers will be excited that sharing Christ with Muslims is something they can do—as everyday Christians in their own cities, campuses, and workplaces.

Robert Hargrove From the author of the best-selling Masterful Coaching comes this practical Fieldbook that strips away the jargon and dry theory and delivers powerful how-to guidelines for becoming a successful coach and mentor. Readers who already own Masterful Coaching will use this hands-on book to implement Hargrove's model, while those who have not used Hargrove's previous book will be drawn in by the immediate practicality of the Fieldbook.

Robert Hargrove In this thoroughly updated edition of his classic book, Hargrove introduces you to Masterful Coaching, the method, Hargrove draws on his in-depth experience of coaching leaders at all levels gained since writing the first edition. The book provides guiding ideas, tools, and methods that will empower you on your own journey to Masterful Coaching. You will learn to empower people to transform who they are as leaders and at the same time their ability to produce results that were previously considered impossible by applying triple loop learning. This is about ripping the blinders off so that people see that who they are, the goals they set, and the plans they make, and actions they take are often part of historical winning strategies that are the source of their past success but that limit them from achieving what's possible or playing a much bigger game.

Rodney Harrison, Tom Cheyney, Don Overstreet The past two decades in Christendom have brought forth a proliferation of books about church planting. One denomination (Southern Baptist) has even set a goal to start fifty thousand new churches over the next twenty year period. But what’s missing toward that end is a solid resource that specifically defines how one established church can successfully sponsor or parent a new church into sustainable existence.   Spin-Off Churches aims to meet that need with contributions from a team of veteran missional church planters whose access to current church sponsorship data through the North American Mission Board is second to none. Their experience and teaching will guide readers through the church sponsorship process from its biblical basis to the nuts, bolts, and resource basics of  implementation and follow through.

Stanley Hauerwas, L. Gregory Jones

J. Daniel Hays "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language . . ." (Revelation 7:9). The visions in the book of Revelation give a glimpse of the people of God at the consummation of history—a multiethnic congregation gathered together in worship around God's throne. Its racial diversity is expressed in a fourfold formula that first appears in Genesis 10. The theme of race runs throughout Scripture, constantly pointing to the global and multiethnic dimensions inherent in the overarching plan of God. In response to the neglect of this theme in much evangelical biblical scholarship, J. Daniel Hays offers a thorough exegetical study. As well as focusing on texts which have a general bearing on race, Hays demonstrates that black Africans from Cush (Ethiopia) play an important role in both Old and New Testament history. This careful, nuanced analysis provides a clear theological foundation for life in contemporary multiracial cultures and challenges churches to pursue racial unity in Christ.

Paul G. Heibert Missionaries must understand the people they serve in their historical and cultural settings. They must understand themselves similarly. Otherwise, the author warns, missionaries may proclaim a meaningless and irrelevant message. One source of help in this essential quest is the field of study called anthropology. The author, an expert in this field, taps its insights for missionaries in a way that few others do.

Ken Hemphill In this landmark book, Ken Hemphill sidesteps a generation of outreach seminars and market-driven formulas to rediscover the true source of all sustained church growth: a spiritual commitment to God. By identifying eight characteristics of growing, healthy congregations, he makes specific recommendations for evaluating and shoring up the spiritual foundations of your congregation, building its spiritual life on the unique needs and capabilities of your church.

Howard Hendricks, William Hendricks Think about the people who influenced your life most. Why did they do it? What did they do? How did they go about it? Answer these questions and you will be hooked on mentoring for the rest of your life. In As Iron Sharpens Iron, respected authors Howard and Bill Hendricks show that the most dramatic spiritual and personal growth often happens through the influence of a mentor. Rooted in biblical principles, this book is both a profound and practical guide to mentoring relationships for men. You'll learn how to: - Identify the kind of mentor you need - Maximize your mentoring relationship - Model your relationship after biblical examples - Grow through the shared wisdom of another believer - Influence others as you replicate the mentoring processWhether you are looking for a mentor or wish to mentor someone else, this book provides specific steps to begin the relationship and make the most of it.

Dr. Paul Hersey The Situational Leader is the story of a manager responsible for achieving, developing people, and contributing to organizational success.

Mr. George R. Hunsberger This excellent collection of essays, written by a diverse group of Christian leaders working on the frontier of mission in North America, lays the groundwork for the newly emerging missionary encounter of the gospel with North American culture.

Boyd Hunt God's aim in history and beyond is nothing less than to bring everything in subjection to Jesus Christ. In this study, Hunt focuses on the part of God's work following the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. He begins the study with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and moves from there to the consummation of history in Christ.

T. W Hunt

Jeff Iorg Is God calling me? It’s the foundational question that must be answered by anyone considering entry into ministry leadership and then revisited regularly over a lifetime. Writing to a student and young adult audience—although applicable to leaders of all ages—Iorg declares the purpose of his brief, yet powerful book:

“God is calling out a new generation of kingdom leaders who will accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission in this generation. My goal is to cut to the heart of the matter and give you tools to work through the call process.”

Endorsements

“The next best thing to sitting on the porch and discussing this pivotal life question with a wise mentor.”

—Ron Ellis, president, California Baptist University

“A must read for every seminary student, potential missionary, or pastor-to-be.”

—Geoff Hammond, president, North American Mission Board

“Every semester students sit down in my office to tell their story and seek a sense of clarity about God's calling for their life. Is God Calling Me? is a great tool for helping them find that clarity. The biblical background and the practical frameworks and stories that Jeff Iorg shares have already been a great help to me in giving those students handles for their questions.”

—Darrell Cook, campus minister, Virginia Tech

“Acknowledging all believers have a call of God on their life, Iorg effectively categorizes the more specific calls to Christian leadership or missionary service as well as God's call to a particular job or location. His review of the diverse ways God calls will dispel doubts and indecision while giving assurance and confidence.”

—Jerry Rankin, president, International Mission Board

"I've already been using the contents of  Is God Calling Me? in presentations to students here at our seminary. Jeff Iorg has certainly written a volume that speaks to a crucial need for all seminarians. The issue of call has always been paramount to seminarians, but I think its necessity is even more obvious in these early days of the 21st century." —Byron D. Klaus, president, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

Jeff Iorg Christian leadership is often likened to the peaceful image of a shepherd leading his sheep. But the truth is that sheep tend to wander toward trouble, and shepherds don’t always handle the challenges of their job with grace and ease.

The Painful Side of Leadership encourages and equips Christian leaders with biblical insights to better manage painful ministry circumstances, relationships, and choices. Author and seminary president Jeff Iorg writes candidly throughout to those who may feel beaten up by their mistakes, their critics, or having to make unpopular decisions. His insights are framed with chapters about why painful things happen to Christian leaders in the first place and the hope that God always provides when a leader is hurting.

Philip Jenkins What does the future hold for European Christianity? Is the Christian church doomed to collapse under the weight of globalization, Western secularism, and a flood of Muslim immigrants? Is Europe, in short, on the brink of becoming "Eurabia"?
Though many pundits are loudly predicting just such a scenario, Philip Jenkins reveals the flaws in these arguments in God's Continent and offers a much more measured assessment of Europe's religious future. While frankly acknowledging current tensions, Jenkins shows, for instance, that the overheated rhetoric about a Muslim-dominated Europe is based on politically convenient myths: that Europe is being imperiled by floods of Muslim immigrants, exploding Muslim birth-rates, and the demise of European Christianity. He points out that by no means are Muslims the only new immigrants in Europe. Christians from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe are also pouring into the Western countries, and bringing with them a vibrant and enthusiastic faith that is helping to transform the face of European Christianity. Jenkins agrees that both Christianity and Islam face real difficulties in surviving within Europe's secular culture. But instead of fading away, both have adapted, and are adapting. Yes, the churches are in decline, but there are also clear indications that Christian loyalty and devotion survive, even as institutions crumble. Jenkins sees encouraging signs of continuing Christian devotion in Europe, especially in pilgrimages that attract millions—more in fact than in bygone "ages of faith."
The third book in an acclaimed trilogy that includes The Next Christendom and The New Faces of Christianity, God's Continent offers a realistic and historically grounded appraisal of the future of Christianity in a rapidly changing Europe.

Jon R. Katzenbach, Douglas K. Smith Teams — the key to top performance

Motorola relied heavily on teams to surpass its competition in building the lightest, smallest, and highest-quality cell phones. At 3M, teams are critical to meeting the company's goal of producing half of each year's revenues from the previous five years' innovations. Kodak's Zebra Team proved the worth of black-and-white film manufacturing in a world where color is king.

But many companies overtook the potential of teams in turning around tagging profits, entering new markets, and making exciting innovations happen — because they don't know how to utilize teams successfully. Authors Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith talked with hundreds of people in more than thirty companies to find out where and how teams work best and how to enhance their effectiveness. They reveal:

The most important element in team success

Who excels at team leadership ... and why they are rarely the most senior people

Why companywide change depends on teams ... and more

Comprehensive and proven effective, The Wisdom of Teams is the classic primer on making teams a powerful too[ for success in today's global marketplace.

Jerry Stanley Key, Editorial Mundo Hispano Preparing and Preaching the Biblical Sermon. This book isn't mere theory. it offers many examples, models and illlustrations to demontstrate the concepts presented. some of the eighteen chapters are: Spiritualpreparation for preachng, Interpreting the text correctly, organizing thoughts for a sermon, Body language, the preacher's library.

Este libro da la teoría, pero además, a diferencia de otros libros sobre la predicación, ofrece muchos ejemplos, modelos e ilustraciones que respaldan lo presentado. Algunos de los 18 capítulos son:
La preparación yespiritual para predicar. La correcta interpretación del texto. Cómo organizar los pensamientos del sermón. El arte de la introducción del sermón. La comunicación a través de cuerpo. El archivo y la biblioteca del predicador.

Charles H. Kraft This book serves as a thorough, basic introduction to the study of anthropology that has been designed specifically for those who plan careers in mission or cross-cultural ministry. Kraft treats various theories of culture and society; kinship and family structure, cross-cultural communication and assesses various anthropological schools.

Patty Lane The global village has arrived. Recent census figures show that our communities are more culturally and ethnically diverse than ever before. Many of us find it challenging to build relationships with people from backgrounds unlike our own. How do we befriend an international student or a new coworker from a different country? What do we do when we share our church building with a congregation from another cultural group? Why are our words and actions often misinterpreted?

Crosscultural specialist Patty Lane answers these questions. She shows us how to develop hands-on relational skills that help build crosscultural friendships, providing practical resources for navigating multicultural environments with sensitivity and savvy. Filled with vivid stories of real-life situations, this guide explains frequently misunderstood aspects of culture, debunks stereotypes and suggests ways to resolve crosscultural conflicts. Above all, Lane demonstrates God's heart for building bridges across cultures and shows how Christians can reach out to people of every nation, culture and ethnicity.

Whether you are actively ministering to people of different cultural backgrounds, traveling to other countries or just want to make friends across cultural lines, this engaging handbook is a perfect introduction to the journey.

Sarah A. Lanier Foreign to Familiar is a splendidly written, well researched work on cultures. Anyone traveling abroad should not leave home without this valuable resource! Sarah's love and sensitivity for people of all nations will touch your heart. This book creates within us a greater appreciation for our extended families around the world and an increased desire to better understand them.

David L. Larsen Good preaching leaves an indelible imprint on audiences, empowering them with relevant, life-changing truths. Narrative preaching-re-telling and reapplying the great truths and lessons of God's Word from the lives of His people-has always been among the most effective ways of preaching.

What is the key to making Bible stories applicable? How does one present these lessons in a way that audiences connect with and learn from?

Telling the Old, Old Story by David Larsen, veteran pastor and professor of homiletics, shows pastors and Bible teachers how to transfer the biblical truth by means of narrative stories that dispense insight, understanding, and personal significance to the hearts and minds of listeners.

This step-by-step guide highlights not only the principles but also the power of narrative preaching, and includes proven methods for engaging the congregation or classroom in active application. This study will show pastors and Bible teachers how to construct compelling narrative sermons. Transform your preaching today!

John Franklin & Chuck Lawless John Franklin Ministries book.

Patrick Lencioni In the years following the publication of Patrick Lencioni’s best-seller The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, fans have been clamoring for more information on how to implement the ideas outlined in the book. In Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Lencioni offers more specific, practical guidance for overcoming the Five Dysfunctions—using tools, exercises, assessments, and real-world examples. He examines questions that all teams must ask themselves: Are we really a team? How are we currently performing? Are we prepared to invest the time and energy required to be a great team? Written concisely and to the point, this guide gives leaders, line managers, and consultants alike the tools they need to get their teams up and running quickly and effectively.

Church Planting Resource Library Helping You Understand and Engage One of God's Greatest Mission Fields

Peter Lord Peter Lord answers such questions as: Does the Bible teach that we can and should hear God speak to us today? How can we hear God's voice? How can we know whether the thoughts are god's, or from the devil? How can we find God's will for most things of life unless he tells us? This handbook is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to two-way communication with God.

Dr. Lewis E. Losoncy When your success depends upon the performance of others, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU! As Jack Canfield, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul says, "There is no success more rewarding than that generated by highly motivated individuals who come together as a team. Lew Losoncy delivers a blueprint for success that evry company or organization—large or small—can make their own." If you are highly motivated yourself but find that your success in life—at work—wherever— depends upon the motivation of other people, Dr. Lew has the straight forward formula you need to implement. Here are practical approaches that can motive people immediately—even if you are extremely busy. One of the key elements to successful motivation is positive encouragement—as opposed to the standard pushing done by most managers. If you would like to go beyond stimulating others through the standard fiancial motivators, this book has the answers you need. Take the lead in motivating others from the man who has motivated hundreds of thousands of people toward success.

Tony Maalouf (Foreword by Eugene H. Merrill) A compelling call for Christians to rethink the role of Arabs—also descendents of Abraham and recipients of his blessing. (20040901)

John MacArthur, Master's College Faculty John MacArthur and other distinguished teachers of preachers respond to the apostle's mandate in this comprehensive treatment of expository preaching. Dr. MacArthur's well-known passion for the Scriptures is combined with the vision and expertise of other faculty members at The Master's Seminary to produce a definitive statement on how to unfold the meaning of God's Word effectively to today's congregation.

John A. MacKay

Aubrey Malphurs There is no shortage of books these days on new ways of "doing church." New church models have been both warmly embraced and roundly criticized. What are church leaders and others concerned about the state of the church to make of all this? Does the Bible prescribe a standard model for doing church? Or is there freedom within certain guidelines? In A New Kind of Church, respected church consultant Aubrey Malphurs addresses these important questions and suggests that there is room for new ways of doing ministry while being true to Scripture. In the process, he offers a theological and interpretive framework for evaluating any church model, new or old. He also offers suggestions for implementing change in the local church.

Aubrey Malphurs Most books on church planting offer a model for churches to replicate—usually one that is tied to a particular style, generation, or demographic. But what churches really need is a process that is flexible, not bound to a particular time or current fad. In The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting, trusted author and church-planting expert Aubrey Malphurs shares the basic steps any church planter will need, regardless of his or her generation now or in the future. These steps include

establishing values, mission, vision, and strategyreaching the communitymaking disciplesrecruiting a teamdetermining location and facilitiesraising money for the ministry

With instant practical takeaway based on proven techniques, this book will be invaluable to any church planter.

Will Mancini Written by church consultant Will Manciniѡn expert on a new kind of visioning process to help churches develop a stunningly unique model of ministry that leads to redemptive movement. He guides churches away from an internal focus to emphasize participation in their community and surrounding culture. In this important book, Mancini offers an approach for rethinking what it means to lead with clarity as a visionary. Mancini explains that each church has a culture that reflects its particular values, thoughts, attitudes, and actions and shows how church leaders can unlock their church's individual DNA and unleash their congregation's one-of-a-kind potential.

Cesar Vidal Manzanares

John C. Maxwell In this bestseller, John Maxwell examines the differences between leadership styles, outlines principles for inspiring, motivating, and influencing others. These principles can be used in any organization to foster integrity and self discipline and bring a positive change.

Developing the Leader Within You also allows readers to examine how to be effective in the highest calling of leadership by understanding the five characteristics that set "leader managers" apart from "run-of-the-mill managers".

In this Maxwell classic, he shows readers how to develop the vision, value, influence, and motivation required of successful leaders.

John C. Maxwell What would happen if a top expert with more than thirty years of leadership experience were willing to distill everything he had learned about leadership into a handful of life-changing principles just for you? It would change your life.

John C. Maxwell has done exactly that in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He has combined insights learned from his thirty-plus years of leadership successes and mistakes with observations from the worlds of business, politics, sports, religion, and military conflict. The result is a revealing study of leadership delivered as only a communicator like Maxwell can.

John C. Maxwell Todo el mundo es parte de un equipo. Si usted esta casado, usted y su cónyuge son un equipo. Si usted es un empleado, usted y su compañeros de trabajo son un equipo. Si usted da su tiempo a una iglesia u otra organización, usted es parte de un equipo de voluntarios. En su estilo único, y fácil de entender, el Dr. Maxwell denuncia el proceso de construir un equipo ganador, de una manera sencilla de retener, y ponerlo en practica.

John C. Maxwell In the tradition of his million-seller The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, author John C. Maxwell provides a concise, accessible leadership book that helps readers become more effective leaders from the inside out. Daily readings highlight twenty-one essential leadership qualities and include "Reflecting On It" and "Bringing It Home" sections that help readers integrate and apply each day's material.

John C. Maxwell What would happen if a top expert with more than 40 years of leadership experience were willing to distill everything he had learned about leadership into a handful of life-changing principles just for you? It would change your life.

John C. Maxwell has done exactly that in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He has combined insights learned from his thirty-plus years of leadership successes and mistakes with observations from the worlds of business, politics, sports, religion, and military conflict. The result is a revealing study of leadership delivered as only a communicator like Maxwell can.

Dennis McCallum, Jessica Lowery How to promote Christian leadership development through the study of the history of Christianity, including discipleship, mentoring, Christian community, and personal relationships

James McCarthy Le ayudará a comprender mejor cómo piensa un católico y cómo explicarle de forma eficaz las buenas nuevas de Jesucristo.

Glenn Mcdonald From all appearances, Zionsville Presbyterian Church in suburban Indianapolis was a success. It had only been "planted" about ten years earlier and already had launched building programs to make room for its growing congregation. Its articulate and energetic pastor, Glenn McDonald, was in demand by his own flock and others who wanted to know how to grow their churches like ZPC was growing.

Then a lone voice at a board meeting prompted McDonald—and his entire congregation—to stop and start over. "How long would it take someone visiting our church to learn about his or her need for Jesus Christ, and what to do about it?" was the question that launched a profound transformation in every facet of church life at ZPC.

The Disciple-Making Church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality by Glenn McDonald (FaithWalk, 272 pages, March 2004) is a chronicle of that journey and so much more. It is an awakening for any church, faith group, or disciple who ever allowed the "busy-ness" of the typical church to substitute for true discipleship. Pastors, lay leaders, believers, and seekers alike will discover how to release God’s transforming powers in their lives.

The book divides the transformation into two parts—six discipling relationships and the six marks of a disciple. McDonald weaves vivid scriptural insights and the wisdom of scholars with the experiences of his own congregation and others, and distills it all into one helpful, valuable, enjoyable book. His infectious enthusiasm for the "exhilarating freedom" of the disciple’s life virtually dances off the page.

Erwin Raphael McManus An Unstoppable Force will excite and inspire readers about being part of the Church that God had in mind! A "force" created to change the world. A Church that is engaged with its community, daring to cut itself free from atrophied practices and programs to flourish in creative and compelling worship. A Church that risks reaching out to our jaded culture with "outside the box" expressions of faith and love.

Reggie McNeal Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness. In this important book, McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed consciously and intentionally to seven spiritual disciplines, habits of heart and mind that shape both their character and competence:

 

The discipline of self-awareness—the single most important body of information a leader possesses

 

The discipline of self-management—handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, mental vibrancy, and physical well-being

 

The discipline of self-development—a life-long commitment to learning and growing and building on one's strengths

 

The discipline of mission—enjoying the permissions of maintaining the sense of God's purpose for your life and leadership

 

The discipline of decision-making—knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure

 

The discipline of belonging—the determination to nurture relationships and to live in community with others, including family, followers, mentors, and friends

 

The discipline of aloneness—the intentional practice of soul-making solitude and contemplation

Tom Mercer Oikos is a simple biblical principle that will impact your life by providing purpose, focus and energy. It can also exponentially grow your church by reaching hundreds, or even thousands of the unchurched for Christ. It gives you and the believers around you a unifying purpose, a common goal and a sharpened focus for doing what Christians are called to do. Discover the simplicity of worldchange, 8-15 people at a time. The beauty of this book is that it actually shows you how to see what you've always wanted...Your World, Delivered.

Calvin Miller Miller calls preachers to return to the spirit of the Acts 2 marketplace—to take risks and reach people where they are. By using a contemporary form and style accompanied by the dynamic worship experience found in the "seeker-friendly" marketplace sermon, pastors will reach their congregations with preaching that is passionate and innovative.

Calvin Miller

Calvin Miller The pastors and seminary students who browse the shelves of Christian bookstores are looking for resources that will help them inject vigor and passion into their ministry. What they need is a book on narrative exposition, a book that will help them connect to the younger, contemporary members in the church such as GenXers and millenials. This is that book. Because they are speaking to a younger society more attuned to lively dialogue and visual images, pastors need a fresh wineskin for a timeless message of redemption. Calvin Miller, who has preached and equipped preachers for decades, offers a volume of helpful insights for pastors to deliver the heart of the gospel via the Jesus-endorsed vessel of compelling storytelling. For the working pastor, Miller's crash course on preaching is a welcomed study.

Gene Mims You will never find the full meaning of your church or the pathway to a healthy, successful church in methods, conferences, or overhead transparencies. You will only find the full understanding of your church’s life and mission in the heart of God and His will for you. Success doesn’t come from copying someone else’s ideas or methods, but from knowing the biblical model of a church and understanding how to conform your church—regardless of size, location, resources, history, or any other variable—to that biblical pattern.

The Kingdom-Focused Church will give you everything you need to achieve your church’s full potential—and relief from the smorgasbord approach that does more harm than good by distracting you from the unique focus, nature, and mission of the church God has saved for you alone.

"If you’re not ready to believe this yet, I don’t blame you," Mims admits. "I only hope you’ll read on to learn why a Kingdom focus will work when everything else fails."

Milfred Minatrea Discover the tools to create a new kind of church and move from merely surviving to thriving. Drawing on an extensive two-year field study of 200 churches from a variety of denominations and geographic regions, Milfred Minatrea—a missiologist, urban strategist and practioner in minister—presents the best practices for re-energizing Christian spirituality in a congregational setting. He provides readers with the tools for assessing their congregation’s position on the continuum between maintenance and mission and for determining the actions that will move them toward becoming a missional community. He also outlines key strategies that successful churches have used to become relevant in a postmodern society without losing what is distinctly Christian in their spiritual practices.

Milfred Minatrea (Irving, TX) is Director of the Missional Church Center for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Mark Mittelberg This is a vision for turning every church—new or old—into a contagious church that is a powerful magnet for attracting and influencing unchurched people.

Roland Muller Roland Muller's latest book includes large parts of the out-of-print books Honor & Shame and Tools for Muslim Evangelism, plus much more. Muller begins by looking at what it takes to be accepted as a 'messenger' with something of value to say. He then moves on to look at the gospel message that we share, and ends up examining the community of believers that we want to gather. The book includes a frank look at shame-based cultures, and also the importance of building a sense of community into a new group of believers. Over 300 study questions.

Martin Austin Nesvig The ten essays in Local Religion in Colonial Mexico provide information about the religious culture in colonial Mexico. Carlos Eire's essay begins the study with the meaning of "popular religion" in colonial Mexico. Antonio Rubial García looks at the use of icons.

Martin Austin Nesvig's essay discusses Tlatelolco, a city near Tenochtitlan and the site of Mexico's college for Indian education where the Indians studied classical Latin, Spanish grammar, and Catholic theology in preparation for the priesthood. William Taylor's writing uses an eighteenth-century Franciscan friar to demonstrate that priests transferred their own religion and networks of authority, power, and knowledge into their pastoral service.

David Tavárez uses examples from Oaxaca to show seventeenth-century Zapotecs were not willing converts to Catholicism, preferring to retain the "idolatrous" beliefs of their ancestors. Edward Osowski presents the stories of two Nahua alms collectors who also served as spiritual leaders in their respective villages of colonial Mexico. Brian Larkin's essay discusses how eighteenth-century Mexico City Catholics gradually lost their belief that earthly prayers could help an individual’s soul enter heaven. Nicole von Germeten tells how men of African heritage accepted the country’s religious beliefs. Javier Villa-Flores analyzes the ways masters and slaves made use of Christian dogma to live with the harsh institution of slavery. The final essay, by William Christian, Jr., examines the different "Catholicisms" that exist in the world.

Contributors:
William Christian, Jr., independent scholar
Carlos M. N. Eire, Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies, Yale University
Brian Larkin, assistant professor of history, St. John's University, Minnesota
Edward W. Osowski, independent scholar and a Nahuatl expert living in Montreal
Antonio Rubial García, professor of philosophy, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
David Tavárez, assistant professor of history, Vassar College, New York
William B. Taylor, Muriel McKevitt Sonne Chair in History, University of California, Berkeley
Javier Villa-Flores, assistant professor of history, University of Illinois, Chicago
Nicole Von Germeten, assistant professor of history, Oregon State University

"As the first collection of essays on local religion in Colonial Mexico, this volume sets a high standard for the quality of its contributions and the variety of its contents. A discussion of the concept of local religion is followed by eight fascinating case studies from various regions of colonial Mexico, spanning from the mid-sixteenth to the late eighteenth centuries. The essays refer to numerous ethnic groups and cultures. Each essay represents the richness and complexity of Mexican history. William Christian, known for his work on the local religion of Spain, provides a final reflection on the topic for New Spain. This book is bound to benefit students and scholars of history and religion, and to make us think more about local religion in Mexico today."—Kevin Terraciano, Associate Professor of History, UCLA

Marvin Olasky The Religions Next Door will educate readers as to the truth about world religions that the media often misrepresent. Our neighborhoods are full of religious diversity these days, but the media would have us believe they all hold different variations of the same tenets. But this isn’t so, and it is in those missed details that serious and grave misjustice is done to the American people by the misreporting of religion.

Juan Carlos Ortiz In this book you'll discover what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. An ideal book for new belivers, Disciple is also an inspirational and practical guide for Christians who want to grow closer in their walk with the Lord.

Osvaldo F. Pardo "Pardo's study provides a persuasive criticism of the widespread assumption that the process of Christianization in Mexico can be conceived as the imposition of a complete and fool-proof system that did not accept doubts or compromises. The Origins of Mexican Catholicism will become an invaluable tool for future researchers and enrich future debates on the subject."
—-Fernando Cervantes, Bristol University, UK

"Pardo does an excellent job of balancing and contrasting sixteenth-century Catholic theology with Nahua thought and belief."
—-John F. Schwaller, University of Minnesota

At first glance, religious conversion may appear to be only a one-way street. When studying sixteenth-century Mexico, one might assume that colonial coercion was the driving force behind the religious conversion of the native population. But The Origins of Mexican Catholicism shows how Spanish missionaries instead drew on existing native ceremonies in order to make Christianity more accessible to the Nahua population whom they were trying to convert.

Osvaldo F. Pardo explains that religious figures not only shaped native thought, but that indigenous rituals had an impact on the religion itself. This work illustrates the complex negotiations that took place in the process of making the Christian sacraments available to the native peoples, and at the same time, forced the missionaries to reexamine the meaning of their sacraments through the eyes of an alien culture.

For Spanish missionaries, ritual not only became a focus of evangelical concern but also opened a window to the social world of the Nahuas. Missionaries were able to delve into the Nahua's notions of self, emotions, and social and cosmic order. By better understanding the sociological aspects of Nahua culture, Christians learned ways to adequately convey their religion through mutual understanding instead of merely colonial oppression.

Given its interdisciplinary approach, this book will be of interest to specialists in Latin American intellectual and literary history, the history of religion, and anthropology, and to anyone interested in cross-cultural processes.

J.D. Payne Missional House Churches examines the impact and effect that house churches are having in the United States in evangelizing, discipling, and church planting in local communities. Based on the author's first-hand research and interviews with over thirty missional house churches as well as his own experiences, this insightful work offers an inside look at, and analysis of the workings of the missional house church.

Topics addressed include the recent growth in the popularity of house churches in the United States, what defines church, various characteristics of the house churches, methods of evangelism and leadership development which lead to growth, use of financial resources for missions and benevolence, future of house churches in North America and the relationship of church planting movements and house churches. The appendices describe the research methodology and surveys used in the study as well as characteristics of church planting movements.

This book will be of interest to church leaders, mission-minded thinkers, and students who wish to explore, understand, and participate in this phenomenon of the missional house church movement.

Luis G. Pedraja Dr. Pedraja provides a most welcome introduction to Hispanic American theology. He has a gift for articulating complex theological ideas in clear and accessible prose. Here Pedraja moves beyond more limited works which have, nevertheless, proven their importance within North American theological circles. In this text, the author undertakes the systematician's task of describing the methods and themes of what has now become a mature school of thought. As a Protestant, Pedraja demonstrates a remarkable ability to articulate fairly the perspectives of the variety of voices within the Hispanic community and to identify the importance of the unique Hispanic voice for the larger project of Christian theology.

Tom Johnston & Mike Chong Perkinson, Dana Adams The Kingdom Quest invites every reader, pastor, and church planter to join in the adventure of rethinking church. The authors contend we have focused too much on the process of "doing" church by developing people who attend church services rather than "being" the church and creating disciples who reflect the love, forgiveness, mercy and grace of Christ on the job, in our homes and in our neighborhoods.

It has been said that the church in the western world has been reduced to being a vendor of spiritual goods and services. Whichever church has the best product and environment is the one who wins the loyal support of its constituency. But is this really what the church is supposed to be?

Jesus came because he cared about establishing two great relationships: loving God with everything we have and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus was not about slick slogans, edgy philosophy or being cool.

The Kingdom Quest will force you to rethink who you are and what kind of church we are becoming. Come join the adventure!

Daniel R. Sánchez Ph.D, Dr. Jesse Miranda, Dr. Bobby Sena, Diana Barrera El crecimiento explosivo y la expansión rápida de la población Hispana están transformado el panorama social, económico y religioso de América. Los Hispanos son el grupo minoritario más grande en América y se pronostica que llegarán a ser una cuarta parte de la poblición Americana para el año 2050. De acuerdo con las cifras más recientes del censo, "La población Hispana ha pasado los 42 millones y ha constituido la mitad del crecimiento de la población desde el año 2000 aunentando su presencia más rápidamente que en la década pasada." Este libro analiza estas realidades y explora las implicaciones para guiar a los Hispanos a tener una experiencia personal de salvación en Cristo, establecer entre ellos iglesias bíblicas, relevantes y reproductivas, y capacitar a estas iglesias para que experimenten crecimiento saludable y tengan ministerios eficaces en sus comunidades y cumplan la Gran Comisión al enviar misioneros Hispanos a partes muy estratégicas del mundo.

Thom S. Rainer, Eric Geiger Ya ha comenzado la revolución de lo sencillo. Las ideas sencillas están cambiando el mundo. Una prueba de ello es el diseño del reproductor de música iPod y la discreta página inicial del buscador Google en Internet.

El libro Iglesia simple convoca claramente a los cristianos a volver a los métodos sencillos de evangelización de Jesús. Por decirlo de algún modo, "sin bombos ni platillos".

Los autores, Thom Rainer y Eric Geiger, se basan en estudios de caso realizados en 400 iglesias estadounidenses para demostrar que, muy a menudo, el proceso de hacer discípulos se ha vuelto demasiado complicado.

Las iglesias simples están prosperando, y lo logran porque se toman en serio estas cuatro ideas: Claridad. Movimiento. Alineación. Enfoque. En la obra se examina cada idea para demostrar sencillamente por qué ha llegado la hora de simplificar. Now available in Spanish!

The simple revolution has begun. From the design of the iPod to the uncluttered Google home page, simple ideas are changing the world. Simple Church clearly calls for Christians to return to the simple gospel-sharing methods of Jesus. No bells or whistles required, so to speak.

Based on case studies of four hundred American churches, authors Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger prove that the process for making disciples has quite often become too complex. Simple churches are thriving, and they are doing so by taking these four ideas to heart: Clarity. Movement. Alignment. Focus.

Each idea is examined here, simply showing why it is time to simplify.

Thom S. Rainer, Sam S. Rainer Why do so many young adults (18 to 22) leave the church, and what will it take to bring them back? This important question is examined and duly answered in Essential Church?, a follow-up to Thom S. Rainer’s best-selling Simple Church cowritten this time with his son, research expert Sam Rainer.

The book is based on a study of one-thousand so-called "church dropouts" who were interviewed about why they left. Their answers are quite surprising, having less to do with "losing their religion" and more about the desire for a community that isn’t made stale by simply maintaining the status quo.

In turn, the Rainers offer churches four concrete solutions toward making their worship community an essential part these young people’s lives again:

 Simplify - develop a clear structure and process for making disciples.

Deepen - provide strong biblical teaching and preaching.

Expect - let members know the need for commitment to the congregation.

Multiply - emphasize evangelism, outward focus, and starting new churches.

Jorge Ramos Nuestra "casa", más que un lugar físico, es un conjunto de recuredos que nos permite comprender mejor quienes éramos, quienes somos, y puede ayudarnos a comprender quienes seremos. Ese sentido de pertenencia es el que nos define. Algunos dejan su "casa", su hogar, muy pronto en sus vidas; para ellos es muy difícil encontrar su centro emocional. Están, a veces, condenados a una vida sin equilibrio. Pero también es una existencia con mucha libertad. Sin frontera alguna, estos eternos viajeros no dejan de buscar aventuras y experiencias límite esperando encontrar algún día, como Ulises, un lugar que puedan llamar su "casa".

Así empieza el viaje de la extraordinaria autobiografía de Jorge Ramos, un periodista que encarna este espíritu aventurero a la perfección, y que espera, algún día, encontrar un lugar en el cuál se sienta como en casa.

Por primera vez, Jorge Ramos, el más prestigioso presentador de noticias en español comparte su vida personal con sus lectores, televidentes y radioescuchas. Hable de lost amores de su vida, de su pasión por el periodismo de sus viajes y entrevistas y de su propio concepto de realización espiritual. Es, al mismo tiempo, una invitación a aprovechar al máximo cada instante de nuestra vida.

En este libro conocemos al hombre de la televisión al que millones de latinos e hispanoparlantes le han dado toda su confianza durante años. Así descubrimos que Ramos es alguien que comprende que para vivir plenamente, hay que tomar riesgos, y que sin riesgos no hay recompensa.

Ramos cuenta de sus conflictos, de niño, con los sacerdotes benedictinos, de sus luchas como estudianted en Los Ángeles a principios de los ochentas, de su primera incursión en el periodismo norteamericano y de las advertencias de las grandes cadenas de televisión en inglés de que jamás llegaría a un puesto importante si no perdía su acento.

Se equivocaron. De esta manera Ramos nos abre las puertas al mundo de los medios de comunicación en español, un mundo que muchos críticos veían como innecesario e irrelevante y que ahora se ha convertido en uno de los sectores más poderosos de la cultura estadounidense.

Con las historias de las muchas guerras que has cubierto, los lugares que has visitado y los poderosos y temidos líderes mundiales que ha entrevistado, Ramos cautiva a sus lectores contándoles la trayectoria y los altibajos de un periodista que llegó a un país que quisiera llamar su casa, pero que no puede. Descubrimos también, a un hombre cuya atracción por las emociones fuertes lo han puesto en peligro de muerte y cuyo sentido del humor lo ha salvado de las situaciones más incómodas.

Padre, reportero, esposo e hijo, en su nuevo libro Atravesando Fronteras, Ramos nos muestra como cada uno de nosotros puede ser testigo de la historia, y que viajar sin cesar puede ser preferible a quedarse en un mismo lugar para siempre.

Jerry Rankin, Ed Stetzer The mission of God to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, HCSB) is a major target of spiritual warfare today. In this new book by International Mission Board president Jerry Rankin and
noted missiologist Ed Stetzer, the authors call out Satan’s ongoing strategy to convince Christians that the Great Commission is optional. Through deceit, he is eroding the authoritative mandate of Scripture, leading believers to tell themselves that international discipleship is a task better left to denomination
and mission agencies—not the sort of kingdom work that every believer can do.
But for every evil success, Rankin and Stetzer point to where Satan is failing, thus encouraging readers to renew their passion to declare God’s glory among the nations. Indeed, by taking up the call to action here, we can be sure that the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of the Lord.

Ronald W. Richardson Ronald W. Richardson helps us to understand how congregations function emotionally. Without being simplistic, he gives clear directions on how to improve the quality of life together in the church for the purpose of achieving mission goals.

John D. Robb

R. Philip Roberts, Phillip Roberts Mormons tend to be model citizens-friendly, honest, hopeful, kind-everything that should be expected from a Christian. But, as this book points out, the Mormons aren't Christian at all. The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints is an an extremely powerful and influential religious organization, reaching hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Unfortunately, what the Mormons are propagating is a false god, false Jesus, and false gospel. This incisive book clearly explains the Mormons' basic beliefs and sharply refutes their subtle heresies. After walking the reader through the Mormons' evangelistic techniques and strategies, the book gives Christians easy-to-use guidance on witnessing to Mormons, so they can effectively and lovingly defend the true Christian faith.

Irvine Robertson

Darrell W. Robinson

Philippe Rosinski Building on the success of Rosinski's bestselling book, Coaching Across Cultures, Global Coaching provides readers with an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to overcoming the challenges we face in our lives. This is the first coaching book to lead you through Rosinski's revolutionary approach, by combining coaching from six perspectives - physical, managerial, psychological, cultural, political and spiritual. Global Coaching offers managers, professional coaches and organizations powerful methods to achieve meaningful and sustainable results.

Alan Roxburgh, Fred Romanuk In The Missional Leader, consultants Alan Roxburgh and Fred Romanuk give church and denominational leaders, pastors, and clergy a clear model for leading the change necessary to create and foster a missional church focused outward to spread the message of the Gospel into the surrounding community. The Missional Leader emphasizes principles rather than institutional forms, shows readers how to move away from “church as usual,” and demonstrates what capacities, environments, and mindsets are required to lead a missional church.

Abdul Saleeb, Norman L. Geisler What are the fundamental beliefs of Islam and how can Christians respond to them? Answering Islam evaluates the claims of orthodox Islam and examines the evidence for the Christian counterclaim, preparing you with strong apologetic answers. This revised edition contains more resources and updated information throughout.

Daniel Sanchez

Daniel Sanchez, Ebbie C. Smith, Curtis E. Watke

Daniel R. Sanchez This book, The Gospel in the Rosary, written by Daniel R. Sánchez, is actually a series of Bible Studies that help non-Catholics understand the Rosary and its place in Roman Catholic devotions as well as help Catholics gain a greater understanding of the biblical teachings upon which the Mysteries of the Rosary are based. In addition to the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries, this book includes the Luminous Mysteries. It is the sincere hope of this author that those who study this book will deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord

Daniel R. Sanchez Este libro, Evangelio En El Rosario, escrito por Daniel R. Sánchez, es una serie de Estudios Bíblicos que ayudan a los que no son Católicos a comprender el lugar que ocupa el Rosario en las devociones de los Católico Romanos y ayuden a los Católicos a obtener una compresión más clara acerca de las enseñanzas bíblicas sobre las cuales se basa el Rosario. Además de los Misterios Gozosos, Dolorosos y Gloriosos, este libro incluye los Misterios Luminosos. Es el deseo profundo de este autor que los que estudien este libro profundicen su relación con Jesucristo como su Salvador y Señor.

J. OSWALD SANDERS J. Oswald Sanders probes Scripture to elicit principles and factors that inspired the dynamic spiritual leadership of Paul and the other apostles in the halcyon days of the church. Paul's letters reveal a frail, fallible man—one who fell and rose again—someone who can speak to our need. Because spiritual principles are timeless, we can learn to apply them to our own situations.

Randy Sawyer Regaining Balance is a devotional journal designed to guide its readers through a season of spiritual revival. Each day of the 91-day journal encourages involvement in a a handful of spiritual disciplines in order to help the reader regain focus and balance in every aspect of life. A free, on-line Leader's Guide allows pastors and Bible study leaders to utilize this devotional in a group setting

Daniel R Sánchez, Ebbie C. Smith Este estudio añade el concepto de la salud a las dimensiones de las iglesias que manifiestan crecimiento en cantidad (más grande), cualidad (mejor), y amplitud (a través de sus ministerios). Los autores afirman los principios de crecimiento y exploran las implicaciones de la salud de la iglesia .

Eckhard J Schnabel

Eckhard J Schnabel

Christian A. Schwarz Critics of the church growth movement have often emphasized the need for quality congregations. We should not focus on numerical growth, but rather, we should concentrate on qualitative growth.

Christian Schwarz has done extensive research world-wide and found that healthy, growing churches seem to share eight quality characteristics. These characteristics are:

Empowering leadership
Gift-oriented ministry
Passionate spirituality
Functional structures
Inspiring worship service
Holistic small groups
Need-oriented evangelism
Loving relationships
Schwarz uses the illustration of a barrel with eight staves to symbolize the eight quality characteristics. The barrel can only hold water to the height of the lowest stave. So too, Schwarz argues, a church can only grow as far as their 'Minimum factor,' which is the lowest of the eight quality characteristics in their church. He challenges churches to resist the temptation to work on improving areas in which they already excel, for by doing this they do not increase their minimum factor or their church quality.

This revised version of Natural Church Development now includes Schwarz's "3 Colors" teaching.

Roger Schwarz When it was published in 1994, Roger Schwarz's The Skilled Facilitator earned widespread critical acclaim and became a landmark in the field. The book is a classic work for consultants, facilitators, managers, leaders, trainers, and coaches—anyone whose role is to guide groups toward realizing their creative and problem-solving potential. This thoroughly revised edition provides the essential materials for facilitators and includes simple but effective ground rules for group interaction. Filled with illustrative examples, the book contains proven techniques for starting meetings on the right foot and ending them positively and decisively. This important resource also offers practical methods for handling emotions when they arise in a group and offers a diagnostic approach for identifying and solving problems that can undermine the group process.

M. David Sills Christians of all ages recognize the heartbeat of God to take the Gospel to the nations and wrestle with the implications of the Great Commission in their own lives. The Missionary Call explores the biblical, historical, and practical aspects of discerning and fulfilling God's call to serve as a missionary. Pointing the reader to Scripture, lessons from missionary heroes, and his own practical and academic experience, Dr. Sills guides the reader to discern the personal applications of the missionary call.

M. David Sills Clarifying the missionary task

All Christians understand that Christ has commanded us to reach the lost around the world. Yet, Christ's command is broader and deeper than simply reaching them. He has called His church to make disciples of all people groups and to teach them to observe all He commanded us. Reaching and Teaching examines this task and emphasizes the need for a thorough and balanced missiology that is obedient to it.

 

While evangelism and church planting are essential components of a biblical missions program, they are merely the first wave of the task to which we have been called. Reaching and Teaching surveys contemporary missions methodologies and advocates a return to the biblical task of reaching and teaching the nations for Christ’s sake. Outlining issues essential to establishing a ministry that results in discipled and trained national believers, Sills provides examples of what is left in the wake of reaching and leaving too quickly.

 

Whether you are a seasoned missionary, student, or newly curious about missions, Reaching and Teaching will reveal ways you can be more faithful to what Christ has called and equipped you to do.

Andy Stanley Lift Your Vision High

Vision is a preferred future. A destination. Vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. Visioneering, according to bestselling author Andy Stanley, is “a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.” With warm, down-to-earth practicality, Andy Stanley explores the ordinary life of Nehemiah and his God-given vision for accomplishing the extraordinary. He shows how the life of this great ancient visionary, determined to rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem, reveals principles that can prepare us to find and follow God’s multifaceted vision for our own lives. Now this bestseller is again available in an attractive, affordable paperback!

Everybody ends up somewhere in life.

You can end up somewhere on purpose!

Visioneering is the engineering of a vision. It’s the process one follows to develop and maintain vision. “Vision,” writes Andy Stanley , “is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.”

In the bestselling Visioneering, Stanley builds a compelling case for the necessity of a clear, God-ordained vision for each of the roles of your life. Whether you’re a parent with a vision for your children or a CEO pursuing a corporate vision, Visioneering is the perfect tool to help you develop and maintain God’s unique purpose for your life.

“Visioneering is the best book on vision I’ve seen. It will put you on track to discovering God’s purpose for your life. In my course “The Vision of the Leader,” I quote from Andy’s book more than any other. Visioneering should be on the bookshelf of every pastor, business leader, and parent in America . I heartily endorse it!”

—Dr. Bruce Wilkinson ,

Chairman, Dream for Africa

Story Behind the Book

Andy Stanley, the pastor of more than 15,000, knows a lot of people, and is well aware of the overwhelming and mutual desire nearly every Christian holds to find and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. This book was written to stir these hearts and move people forward by providing tangible steps to getting from Point A to Point B. “As Christians,” states Stanley, “we do not have a right to take our talents, abilities, experiences, opportunities, and education and run off in any direction we please.” This book was written to provide a specific plan for going in the right direction. It truly is “God’s blueprint for developing and maintaining personal vision.”

Ed Stetzer Len Sweet talks about Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age as that "one-stop, one-shop wonder that makes obsolete all the alternatives."

In this book, Ed Stetzer lays out a case for missional church planting and then describes the process to plant healthy new churches. He combines the theological and the practical in one book. The book looks at cultures and how to reach persons in those cultures through the tools within the cultures themselves. It also provides a new look at emerging trends in churches reaching postmoderns. Then, it provides step by step instructions about how to plant churches in today's world.

Sections include "Basics of Church Planting," which explores the biblical and theological basis for planting, "Church Planting Nuts and Bolts" which provides those essential practical tools, and "Understanding Cultures and Models," which provides fresh insights into reaching unchurched people.

Solid experience (from Stetzer and dozens of examples), Biblical roots, and fresh insights into the postmodern world make this a must read for the church planting hoping to make an impact.

Ed Stetzer Planting Missional Churches is an instruction book for planting biblically faithful and culturally relevant churches. It addresses the "how-to" and "why" issues of church planting by providing practical guidance through all the phases of a church plant while taking a missional look at existing and emerging cultures.

Ed Stetzer, David Putman Across North America, many pastors are excited to see churches growing as they achieve their mission to connect the message of the gospel with the community at large. Still others are equally frustrated, following the exact same model for outreach but with lesser results. Indeed, just because a "missional breakthrough" occurs in one place doesn’t mean it will happen the same way elsewhere.

One size does not fit all, but there are cultural codes that must be broken for all churches to grow and remain effective in their specific mission context. Breaking the Missional Code provides expert insight on church culture and church vision casting, plus case studies of successful missional churches impacting their communities.

"We have to recognize there are cultural barriers (in addition to spiritual ones) that blind people from understanding the gospel," the authors write. "Our task is to find the right way to break through those cultural barriers without removing the spiritual and theological ones."

Ed Stetzer, Thom S. Rainer How are we doing? The church, that is. And how are we doing it? Congregations have long measured success by "bodies, budget, and buildings"—a certain record of attendance, the offering plate, and square footage. But the scorecard can't stop there. When it does, the deeper emphasis on accountability, discipleship, and spiritual maturity is lost. Ignoring those details, we see fewer lives transformed, Christian influence wane, and churches thin out—a situation that is all too familiar across North America today.

It is time to take heart and rework the scorecard.

According to Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer, the authors of Transformational Church, "Too often we've highlighted the negative realities of the declining American church but missed the opportunity to magnify the God of hope and transformation."

Based on the most comprehensive study of its kind, including a survey of more than 7,000 churches and hundreds of on-site interviews with pastors, Transformational Church takes us to the thriving congregations where truly changing lives is the norm.

Stetzer and Rainer clearly confirm the importance of disciple making for all through active biblical engagement and prayerful dependence on God alongside of ever-increasing, intentional participation in mission and ministry activities. As the church engages these issues, the world will see the change:

* More people following Christ
* More believers growing in their faith
* More churches making an impact on their communities

The transformation starts now.

Tony Stoltzfus Leadership Coaching is an essential tool for anyone who wants to learn to coach or improve their coaching skills. Written by a top Christian coach trainer, it is filled with real-life stories, practical tools and application exercises that bring coaching techniques to life. Part I is an in-depth look at how coaching fits with the purposes of God. Starting with key biblical concepts about how God builds leaders, this book goes beyond proof-texting to present an integrated, values-based paradigm for leadership coaching. Part II uses a hands-on, interactive approach to show you how to coach. Utilizing the seven key elements of effective coaching as a framework, each facet of the coaching relationship is explained in detail. Then follow-up Master Class sections help you internalize the key concepts and try them out in real life. Leadership coaching is a great introduction to a powerful way of helping others grow.

Tony Stoltzfus The single most important skill in coaching is asking powerful questions. In this volume, master coach trainer Tony Stoltzfus joins with 12 other professional coaches to present dozens of valuable asking tools, models and exercises, then illustrates these coaching strategies with over 1,000 examples of penetrating questions. Covering the gamut from basic techniques like options and actions to advanced concepts such as challenge and reframing, Coaching Questions is a book that will find a home on any coach's short list of handy references.

Coaching Questions: A Coach's Guide to Powerful Asking Skills includes:

1. Dozens of asking tools, models, and strategies
2. The top ten asking mistakes coaches make, and how to correct each one
3. Nearly 1200 examples of powerful questions from real coaching situations
4. Destiny discovery tools organized in a four-part life-purpose model
5. Overviews of 15 popular coaching niches, with a tool and examples for each
6. A self-study schedule of training exercises to help you become a "Master of Asking"

The book includes comprehensive sections on the following topics:

Starting a practice and the client relationshipThe foundational listening and asking skills (including conversational models)Life Coaching and destiny discovery toolsAdvanced coaching toolsShort overviews of popular coaching niches with a tool for each

An in-depth table of contents and a topical index help you find what you are looking for quickly. You'll find Coaching questions to be an in-dispensable aid to coaches in training, beginning coaches and seasoned professionals alike.

Ron Sylvia In today's changing hi-tech culture a new church has emerged on the scene. It is a High Definition Church; a church with improved clarity and focus. It has a higher resolution than its conventional counterpart and higher resolve to do whatever it takes to present Christ to this generation. We need HD churches using today's technology and language to present the transforming message of Christ with impeccable clarity.

Built on Ron's experience, Starting High Definition Churches shows us how to launch an HD church, taking you through a step-by-step process from the Dream Stage through the Strategic Leadership Stage. Learn why Church Planting is the Extreme Sport of Ministry!

Elmer Towns, Edward Stetzer How far do we go to connect with our culture? Can we 'sell' the Gospel like the world sells soft drinks? Where are the boundaries? The church today is walking a tightrope.On the one hand, we need to proclaim, and - perhaps, more importantly - live the Gospel in such a way that it connects with both seekers and younger people looking for community and authenticity. Yet at what point does this fall into 'feel good' ministry at the expense of biblical truth? These are issues that God's people are now beginning to wrestle with. Towns and Stetzer provide an intergenerational perspective that sheds biblical light on some tough challenges facing the church.

Carl Townsend, Bob Waymire City reachers, pastors, parachurch leaders, and key laymen will find Discovering Your City to be a powerful and valuable tool for aiding in understanding the distinctives and dynamics of the city, its societies, and the Church. Educational institutions will find it valuable and relevant.

The fundamental purpose of this book is to provide guidance and help in discovering your city to the extent you have the accurate, up-to-date picture necessary for effecting Biblical-based transformation of both the city and the Church in the city. It is also to help see every segment of society in the city penetrated with the love, care, joy, and power of Jesus Christ through the presence of culturally relevant gatherings of believers, and culturally relevant ministries.

It highlights the vital and strategic role of information in mobilizing the Body of Christ for reaching the whole city with the whole Gospel. It provides guidance and tools needed for identifying what types and kinds of data should be gathered and then takes you, step by step, through the gathering, analysis, and communication/application processes.

This book is not the cure-all or the once-for-all answer in the area of city research and information. Hopefully however, you will find this book will play a key role in moving from where you are now to a fully operational citywide strategy and community transformation initiative.

An extensive appendix (approx. 150 pages) of reference materials provides: expanded data descriptions, sample maps, tables and graphs, survey forms, detailed analysis process steps, growth rate calculations, spiritual mapping survey lists, and other valuable material.

R.N., Ph.D. Margarita C. Trevino

C. Peter Wagner

Rick Warren This is a five-point strategy for attracting and spiritually maturing the unchurched, from the pastor of Saddleback Church.

Rick Warren In these twelve chapters about leadership, Pastor Rick Warren examines the life and ministry of Nehemiah. In his book, Rick uses analogies and important points of view about what well-rounded success of difficult tasks looks like. These lessons and Biblical principles will help leaders achieve success while maintaining their integrity and accomplishing God's plan for their lives.

Michael J. Weiss Michael Weiss expands on the geodemographics of The Clustering of America with this fascinating look at the sixty-two new lifestyle clusters that define Americans and their parallels in other countries. Today, the concept of clustering has spread throughout the world, revealing a global village made up of Long Distance Commuters in Japan and Chattering Classes in England who have more in common with Americans of the same cluster than they do with fellow countrymen. In The Clustered World, Weiss unveils how businesses and bureaucrats utilize clustering systems to influence our opinions and choices about bowling alleys in Florida, vending machines in Japan, and so forth.

Avery T Willis Jr, Mark Snowden Today in America, half of the people won’t or don’t read that much. Begin creatively transforming the lives of this generation by using first-century methods of teaching—storytelling, drama, and dialog.

The “TruthSticks” strategy is a revolutionary approach using the DNA of the first century disciplemaking that will:

· Use Bible Storying to effectively make disciples at all levels
· Unite families by using fun methods to disciple children
· Revitalize small groups
· Develop a disciplemaking church

A creative tool to use in leadership, evangelism, or missionary work.

Ralph Winter

Ralph D. Winter, Steven C. Hawthorne A companion to Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, this study guide takes you by the hand and walks you, in 15 lessons, through the central issues dealt with in the larger book.

Includes questions, helpful comments, and additional readings. Note that this study guide is included in the Perspectives notebook but not the reader. (also see Perspectives videos in the mulitmedia section)

Rad, Ph.D. Zdero