Book description
Just as our life is in our blood, the life for Christ's body is in His
blood. Changing a church is more than a new goal or direction. Our
churches need more than an organizational
transition
; we need a full transfusion
of Jesus' blood, His life, within every disciple. Anything less than
that will only perpetuate more of the dysfunction and unhealthy church
practices that have already plagued us for too long. We are in desperate
need of the internally transforming power of the gospel of grace and the
presence of Christ so that our salvation is then worked out in a way the
rest of the world will notice. It isn't enough that we believe in the
facts contained in the gospel, we must allow the gospel itself to infect
our souls and transform us from within. The DNA of Jesus' lifeblood is
needed in our churches and nothing shy of a full transfusion that
touches every cell will be sufficient.
In this book Neil Cole (author
of Organic Church, Church Transfusion and Journeys to
Significance) and Phil Helfer, co-founders of Church
Multiplication Associates, will first point out that change is
possible with God, but only with God. In the second half of the book
they will lay out some of the actual practical considerations to weigh
if you want to release real organic health in your church.
Using multiple examples of very different kinds of churches that have
been through the process, the authors present ways that leadership and
practices need to change in order to release organic church movements
from their midst. Chapters cover:
- Leadershifts necessary
- Detoxification from dependence issues.
- How to ignite change virally.
- How to grandparent movements.
- How to measure success in movements.
This book (another in the Leadership Network series) applies organic
life principles to established churches with practical help that is
holistic and natural. The content in this book will be helpful whether
you are pastor of an established church or wanting to revitalize a
small organic church.
Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead so that we can be like
everyone else in the world. Our faith is more than just a better
doctrine or a bigger goal with a capital giving campaign; it is a
better life. Jesus is the difference, and what a difference he
makes...don't be satisfied with less.
Neil Cole is an experienced and innovative church planter and
pastor. He is the cofounder and executive director of Church
Multiplication Associates. He is the author of
Church 3.
0, Organic Church, and
Journeys to Significance, all from Jossey-Bass.
Phil Helfer is the cofounder of Church Multiplication
Associates and the pastor of Los Altos Grace Church. He is an expert
on incorporating organic church principles into conventional churches.
ABOUT LEADERSHIP NETWORK The mission of Leadership Network
identifies and connects innovative church leaders, providing them with
resources in the form of new ideas, people, and tools. Contact
Leadership Network at leadnet. org.
