J. R. Woodward, Creating a Missional Culture: Equipping the Church for the Sake of the World. IVP Books, 2012. Referenced in: Missional Leadership Strategies Church Leadership Foundations: Congregational Culture, Identity LifeandLeadership.com Summary Much of the literature on leading missional communities is heavily conceptual. This is helpful, but when leaders start new missional efforts or seek
Mark Dever, The Church: The Gospel Made Visible. Broadman and Holman, 2012. Referenced in: BIBLICAL ECCLESIOLOGY, Theological Foundations of Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This brief ecclesiology by popular author Mark Dever is a good supplement to his popular Nine Marks series. As always, Dever demonstrates respect for scripture, mining from the biblical text teachings on
Stephen Chapin Garner and Jerry Thornell, Scattering Seeds: Cultivating Congregational Vitality. Alban Institute, 2012. Referenced in: Traditional Church Renewal Congregational Ministry Teams Empowerment, Ministry-Based LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a realistic and hopeful model for the revitalization of “average” established congregations. It is especially strong on moving away from a “membership” to a “discipleship” mentality through
Wayne Cordeiro, Irresistible Church: 12 Traits of a Church Heaven Applauds. Bethany House, 2012. Referenced in: Strategies for Church Leadership, Church Health and Renewal – DIAGNOSTIC Models LifeandLeadership.com Summary Cordeiro reflects upon his experiences with the New Hope Church in Hawaii to offer TWELVE CHARACTERISTICS of in Irresistible Church. By “irresistible” he means more than
Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird. Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work. Referenced in: Church Leadership Strategies – Mergers LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a one-of-a-kind and much needed book on church mergers. It synthesizes the best research on church mergers (listed in Appendix G) and offers specific, practical advice on how to think about and complete
Jim Collins and Morten Hansen, Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck – Why Some Thrive Despite Them All. Harper Business, 2011. Prequels: Collins, Built to Last Collins, Good to Great Collins, Good to Great and the Social Sectors Referenced in: Leader-Directed Vision-Casting Traditional Church Renewal Transformational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is another fascinating study
Mark Wingfield, Staying Alive: Why the Conventional Wisdom About Traditional Churches Is Wrong (TCP Leadership Series). Chalice Press, 2012. Referenced in: Church Leadership Strategies – Traditional Church Renewal LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is another excellent work from The Columbia Partnersip Leadership Series. The focus here is traditional churches. Mark Wingfield summarizes the gist of his book:
D. A. Carson and Timothy Keller, Editors, The Gospel as Center: Renewing Our Faith and Reforming Our Ministry Practices. Crossway Books, 2012. Referenced in: Theology of Mission, Missionally Responsive/Evangelical Ecclesiology LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a one-volume collection of 14 tracts that have been produced by the Gospel Coalition on a variety of subjects (see the
Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert, What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission. Crossway Books, 2011. Referenced in: Theology of Mission Evangelism, Theology and Practice Social Ministry, Theological & Philosophical Foundations LifeandLeadership.com Summary This comes from the authors of popular contra-emergent books such as Why We’re
Linda M. Hilliard and Gretchen J. Switzer, Finishing With Grace: A Guide to Selling, Merging, or Closing Your Church. Booklocker.com, 2010. Referenced in: Congregational Size Dynamics and Transitions LifeandLeadership.com Summary This guide helps churches that are closing realize several hopeful options that turn their closure into a source of life and hope for other missions.
