Anxious Church Anxious People

The key to effective church leadership is the ability to be a non-anxious presence. This is not a technique. It is a way of being. It is deceptively simple, but tremendously difficult. Yet, if you are willing to take the journey, you can lead change in even the most challenging contexts.When you complete this book you will understand:¿The process that keeps churches anxious and stuck.¿How leadership through self-differentiation gets churches unstuck.¿How to develop as a non-anxious presence so you can lead through self-differentiation.Anxious Church, Anxious People is based on a family systems approach to congregational leadership. It is for church leaders who are willing to learn more about themselves and their family of origin so they can be a non-anxious presence. It will resonate with those who have tried everything else and realize that they cannot change others, but can only change themselves. It makes family systems concepts accessible and practical through the use of examples from personal experience.The author has used this approach to leadership in his 26 years of ministry as a pastor, board chair and ministry executive. It has enabled him to lead significant change in the local church, a regional ministry and a denominational professional association. He has been teaching, mentoring and coaching congregational leaders for the last 15 years to help them to do the same.

The key to effective church leadership is the ability to be a non-anxious presence. This is deceptively simple, but tremendously difficult. If you take this journey, you can lead change in even the most challenging contexts. Anxious Church, Anxious People teaches you:¿The process that keeps churches anxious and stuck.¿How leadership through self-differentiation gets churches unstuck.¿How to develop as a non-anxious presence so you can lead change anywhere, but especially in an anxious church.This companion workbook guides you to dig deep into the principles that will help you become a non-anxious presence.You can work through the eight-lesson program individually or in a small group. Each lesson includes bible study, chapter summaries, discussion questions and questions for personal reflection between lessons. Don't leave healthy change to chance. Work through it with others using this valuable tool.

You Can Learn to Handle the Onslaught of Internal and External Pressures Does anxiety get in the way of your ability to be an effective leader? Is your inability to notice when you and those around you are anxious keeping you "stuck" in chronic unhealthy patterns? In Managing Leadership Anxiety, pastor and spiritual growth expert Steve Cuss offers powerful tools to help you move from being managed by anxiety to managing anxiety. You'll develop the capacity to notice your anxiety and your group's anxiety. You will increase your sensitivity to the way groups develop systemic anxiety that keeps them trapped. Your personal self-awareness will increase as you learn how self gets in the way of identifying and addressing issues. Managing Leadership Anxiety offers valuable principles to those who are hungry to understand the source of the anxiety in themselves and in the people with whom they relate. Readers will be empowered to take back control of their lives and lead in mature and vibrant ways.

For much of recent history individuals and institutions could plan, execute, and flourish with their visions of a better world. Volatile, complex forces could be addressed and confronted with planning and management. But crisis is a great revealer. It knocks us off our thrones. It uncovers the weaknesses in our strategies and brings to light our myths and idols. Our past strategies run aground, smashed by unpredictable and chaotic waves. Yet in the midst of the chaos of a crisis comes opportunity. The history of the church tells us that crisis always precedes renewal, and the framework of renewal offers us new ways forward. A Non-Anxious Presence shows how that renewal happens and offers churches and leaders strategic ways to awaken the Church and see our culture changed for Christ.

Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Is irrational anxiety your constant companion? Let God help you win the war on worry and receive the lasting peace of Christ. We all experience anxiety, but we don’t have to let worry and fear control our lives. Anxious for Nothing, from New York Times bestselling author, Max Lucado, provides a roadmap for coping with and healing from anxiety. Complete with Lucado’s signature storytelling and relatable anecdotes, Anxious for Nothing invites you to study Philippians 4:6-7—the most highlighted passage of the Bible and any book on the planet according to Amazon. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” You will experience CALM as Max encourages you to: Celebrate God’s goodness Ask God for help Leave your concerns with God Meditate on good things Stop letting anxiety rule the day. Join Max on the journey to true freedom and experience more peace, joy, clarity, physical renewal, and contentment by the power of the Holy Spirit. Look for additional inspirational books and audio products from Max: He Gets Us Calm Moments for Anxious Days Help Is Here

A talented teacher unpacks the riches of traditional Christian spirituality for Christians burdened by the guilt and anxiety of introspective, in-my-heart spiritual techniques. Phillip Cary explains that knowing God is a gradual, long-term process that comes through the gospel experienced in Christian community. The first edition has sold over 17,000 copies. The expanded edition includes a new afterword that offers further insights since the first edition was published over ten years ago.

Is anxiety “un-Christian”? Many Christians believe the answer to this question is yes! Understandably, then, many Christians feel shame when they are anxious. They especially feel this shame when well-intentioned fellow believers dismiss or devalue anxiety with Christian platitudes and Bible verses. Rhett Smith, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, helps us understand anxiety in a new way. Rhett argues that, rather than being destructive or shameful, anxiety can be a catalyst for our spiritual growth. Using Biblical thinking and personal examples, Rhett explains how anxiety allows us to face our resistance and fears, understand where those fears come from, and then make intentional decisions about issues such as career, marriage, money, and our spiritual lives. Allow this book to challenge your view of anxiety, and allow God to use your anxiety for good.

Pastoral failure, volunteer fatigue, exhausted staff members, church wounds, and increasing membership decline have left us wondering, how do we lead from God-with-us rather than the world's hustle culture? Non-Anxious Churches examines communities' need for churches that are authentic, real, and non-anxious. Unfortunately, churches are not immune to anxiousness and can even perpetuate it by juggling tasks, getting caught up in activities, and focusing on the wrong goals. Pastor Mark Knight guides church leaders instead to dwell in and lead from the abiding presence of Jesus. Over the years, the social sciences have added a lot to this discussion about churches and anxious systems. Non-Anxious Churches seeks to further the conversation using answers found in Scripture and in the discipline of spiritual formation.