Spiritual Church

One of the church's primary responsibilities is to foster genuine spiritual growth in people's lives. Today's pastors bring tremendous effort and passion to this task, but they are often disappointed by people who sit in the pews for years, knowing about Jesus but never really knowing him. In 2004, Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago undertook a three-year study to measure spiritual growth called the REVEAL Spiritual Life Survey. Over the next six years, additional data was collected from over a quarter million people in well over a thousand churches of every size....

Church on Fire by Fred Hartley is a study that takes churches on a thirty-one-day journey toward the manifest presence of Christ in the life of the Body. Each week includes five chapters, which require reflection, study, and prayer as well a section for pastors and discussion questions for small groups.

We don't have to settle for dull, boring routine Christianity. We can keep on going and growing with God every day of our life. No more monotony. No more frustration. No more playing church. The real thing. We get there by staying hungry.

In Faith in the Wilderness, editors Hannah Nation and Simon Liu pull together the insights of the Chinese Church for the West. These sermonic letters from Chinese Christians will awaken listeners to the reality of the gospel—the ground of our hope—in the midst of darkness.

In Revival: When God Comes to Church, Pastor Steve Gaines analyzes how churches can look like the church of the first century. Infused with the Holy Spirit, they evangelized most of the civilized world within only three centuries.

It's time to start over from zero. What happened to the Western church? Why are we losing the generation under thirty and reaching so few nonbelievers? In Church Zero, Peyton Jones examines one of our biggest problems: squeezing our leaders into a mold that cuts their hair and drains away their commando strength. Scripture lays out a leadership model that worked explosively in the first century.

This is a must-read for pastors and lay leaders involved in, or wanting to learn about, the church multiplication groundswell in North America. It shows how multiplying churches should be a natural, regular function in the DNA of every church. Learn the principles from master multiplier Bob Roberts. Here is powerful hope for the church in America.

Here is practical guidance for church leaders who desire to free their people from the grip of inauthenticity, which hinders spiritual and emotional growth and maturity. It is a challenge to live differently by telling the truth about who you are, and to provide opportunities for others to do the same.

Modesty, the flower of manners, the honor of our bodies, the grace of the sexes, the integrity of the blood, the guarantee of our race, the basis of sanctity, the pre-indication of every good disposition; rare though it is, and not easily perfected, and scarce ever retained in perpetuity, will yet up to a certain point linger in the world, if nature shall have laid the preliminary groundwork of it, discipline persuaded to it, censorial rigor curbed its excesses.

In The Bible, God uses many ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Moses didn’t think he was a leader when God chose him; people laughed at Noah for building that ark for so many years; Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers only to rise to second-in-command of all of Egypt.

Embarking on a spiritual journey, the search for the right church is guided by a profound understanding that Jesus is the cornerstone. The words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," become a guiding principle, directing the search towards a community that actively embodies these declarations. A church that centers on Jesus becomes a spiritual family, fostering unity and mutual encouragement. However, the heart of the matter lies in the personal relationship with Jesus—a source of strength, comfort, and guidance that permeates every aspect of life.

Many pastors and ministry leaders are constantly on the lookout for resources that can provide fresh insights and effective strategies for helping their flock grow spiritually and numerically. The Christian DISC® is a spiritual personality assessment tool designed specifically for Christian work and ministry. Based on the widely used DISC personality system, the Christian DISC® integrates insights from scripture and emotional intelligence, and is used by churches, ministries, organizations, and professionals across the country.

When you ask people the question, you usually get many different answers. Some see God as an authoritarian leader or dictator, others see Him as aloof and distant. Still, others see Him as a father figure concerned with even the smallest details of their lives. Whatever your view of God may be, it matters. In God is For You, David Blunt explains that in order for God to do the good things He wants to do in your life, you must have the right perspective of Him.

WALKING IN LOVE. Nobody did it better than Jesus. Love ultimately led Him to the point of laying down His very own life for the sake of others. He set aside His personal preferences. He overlooked the wrongs He suffered. He was quick to forgive and quick to to restore. He prayed for those who despitefully used Him. And what a difference He made because of that. Multiplied millions of lives have been changed because this one Man dared to obey God and walk the Love Walk.

There are so many people who have lost faith in the church because their perception and understanding of what the church is has been skewed and tainted by the people who attend the particular church where they had a bad experience. The church is supposed to be the spiritual hospital where anyone can attend and feel welcomed. It is the place where one should be able to get spiritually recharged after a rough week. The place where you can come and are able to freely worship as you desire.

It's easy to lose hope when the darkness never seems to lift or the mental and spiritual battles rage on with no end in sight. Yet, you are never lost. You can—and will—rise with hope again.

Do you feel compelled to run for political office but aren’t sure how or where to begin? Are you a pastor wondering how to address sensitive political issues with your church? Have you felt uncertain in the voting booth and wondered how to fulfill your civic duties without violating your conscience? Do you want to know how to speak to—and be heard by—your local city council or school board?

When we share our prophetic gift it means that we unite with others it is as if we form a string of lights connected in unity to one power source. We become a beautiful demonstration of colorful light. Yet, it is more because this string of lights spans across the bridge to understanding the voice of God. In essence, we each receive the message God has for us, share it with others and join in reflecting His character.

If you love Jesus but are unhappy, disappointed, frustrated, disillusioned, or just plain burned-out with church or religion, I have good news for you. There is a problem with church, but it’s neither your fault nor God’s fault and you’re not required to “try harder” to fix it. Furthermore, you’re not alone. More and more evangelical Christians sense that church and religion are somehow at odds with a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. God has already given us the “way of escape.” His answer has always been hiding in plain sight in the New Testament.

This book defines the Role of the Local Church as well as the Responsibility of the Local Church Member, while offering practical suggestions to the concerned Church member.