- Published: January 2, 2022
- Updated: January 2, 2022
- Level: College Admission
- Language: English
- Downloads: 33
Running Head: Book of Church Growth Book of Church Growth of Book of ChurchGrowth
Introduction
The Church Growth movement is a reformist group that seeks to apply different methods for conversion based upon the social conditions. It seeks to use cognitive and cultural perspectives in order to spread the universal message of Christianity. Thom S. Rainer has written a brilliant and eloquent book titled ” Book of Church Growth”. This research paper will seek to investigate and evaluate the principles of the Church Growth movement. It will summarize and analyze chapters 17 till 30 in order to arrive at appropriate conclusions.
Central Theme
This book discusses about the principles of church growth in great detail, it provides the roadmap for a growing church. It not only tells about the principles but also tells us that why we want to grow It tells us about the core motivations behind church growth. It tells us about the relationship between leadership and church growth. It gives description about larger and smaller churches.
Summary
Chapters seventeen, eighteen and nineteen speak about the basic principles of the Church Growth movement. This movement is based upon the use of sociological devices in order to attract new converts. The next idea that the author tells the reader in chapter twenty is that of laity and ministry. This section states that for both pastors and the other laity there are different things that must take place, which are not always pleasing and difficult to do. One of the most thrilling principles of church growth is to set free laity to do the work of ministry1. Chapters twenty one till twenty six chronicle the various strategies that have been used by the Church Growth movement in order to improve its clout and influence. Numerical strength will always help Christianity while every effort should be conducted in order to capture the heart of potential converts. The remaining chapters focus on the organization, planning, and preparation of the Church Growth movement. Church planting is the next idea of this book. It should not be mixed with church development, where a new worship centre is created into an already established congregation2. For any church to be planted, it should be able to function without its parent body. The following chapter speaks about evangelism and the church growth. It tells us about the Christian missionaries and their impact on the church growth. It also talks about controversies concerning the Christian missionaries. After that the author also describes worship styles and their relationship to a growing church. The next topic is about assimilation and reclamation in regards to church growth. In this chapter the author states, ” Prevention is much easier than reclamation” 3. The author tells the significance of small groups in the church growth movement. The next chapter pursues these ideas. A summary of Sunday school is given, there a complete section about the future of Sunday school and all that is expected to occur with that. In this section the reader also explores the topics like future of small groups and the structure of small groups.
Conclusion
From a reader’s point of view, I found this book to be a source of valuable knowledge. This book is written very well, and kept my concentration chapter to chapter. The thing that I really appreciated about this book is the style of author in term of giving reader the capability to completely understand what the different chapters are all about. It helps the reader to know the fundamentals before understanding the chapters. One more thing which I liked about this book is that the way in which the author combined the examples of real life experiences with facts and other people’s thoughts. I came to know a lot of things which happens within the church community. Anyone who is going into Christian Ministry, I recommend this book to be a very good source.
Works Cited:
Rainer, Thom S. Book of Church Growth. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1993.