Gaining by Losing
by J.D. Greear | Book Summary
Author: J.D. Greear
|
That means that most churches, including mega-churches, are not necessarily growing God's Kingdom as they grow their church. As a result, there is greater competition for those in an ever-shrinking pool of Christians in America. How do we reverse this trend in America? Is it to build bigger, shinier, fancier churches? Is it a change in worship style or service times? Is it getting a celebrity pastor? The solution, as proposed by J.D. Greear, is that churches need to focus on being sending churches. This means raising up disciples with the goal of sending them out on mission. Mission is not reserved for super-Christians who have spent years in seminary, but for the ordinary believer. God chose to use ordinary people in extraordinary ways in the Bible, and His plan has not changed! This book challenges traditional church growth models through biblical examples and Pastor Greear's own experiences at The Summit Church. Church leaders would do well to read and take heed of the wisdom found in this book and its call back to a biblical model of every believer living on mission for God. |
J.D. Greear is pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Summit Church has been ranked by Outreach Magazine as one of the fastest growing churches in the United States, with a weekly attendance of over 10,000.
Greear has a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of many books, including Jesus Continued and Not God Enough.
Gaining by Losing
by J.D. Greear
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | J.D. Greear |
| Publisher | Zondervan Reflective |
| Date | September 13, 2016 |
| Pages | 252 |
Overview:
It is no mystery that churches in America are decreasing. Mega-churches continue to get bigger while smaller churches are getting smaller. Most numerical growth in American churches is from transfer growth rather than conversion growth.
That means that most churches, including mega-churches, are not necessarily growing God's Kingdom as they grow their church. As a result, there is greater competition for those in an ever-shrinking pool of Christians in America.
How do we reverse this trend in America? Is it to build bigger, shinier, fancier churches? Is it a change in worship style or service times? Is it getting a celebrity pastor?
The solution, as proposed by J.D. Greear, is that churches need to focus on being sending churches. This means raising up disciples with the goal of sending them out on mission. Mission is not reserved for super-Christians who have spent years in seminary, but for the ordinary believer. God chose to use ordinary people in extraordinary ways in the Bible, and His plan has not changed!
This book challenges traditional church growth models through biblical examples and Pastor Greear's own experiences at The Summit Church. Church leaders would do well to read and take heed of the wisdom found in this book and its call back to a biblical model of every believer living on mission for God.
J.D. Greear is pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Summit Church has been ranked by Outreach Magazine as one of the fastest growing churches in the United States, with a weekly attendance of over 10,000.
Greear has a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of many books, including Jesus Continued and Not God Enough.