Permission Granted To Do Church Differently In The 21st Century

SING UNTO HIM A NEW SONG!!...(psalm 33:3) Did you ever wish you had permission to change the way you "do church"? Well, now you have it. You have permission to: Welcome His presence Grow in Christ as He has desired Experience a God-orchestrated meeting Become the Church, not attend the church Grow in intercessory prayer This "how to" book provides proven tactics to move your church into a "Third Day" realm fully committed to worship. Follow along with authors Graham Cooke and Gary Goodell as they share their years of experience developing new ways to welcome His presence into your church, home, community, your life and the lives of those in the congregation. God gives all of His children His permission to become the Bride He loves and adores. Remember, "...on the third day, anything can happen."

Jesus modeled leadership by living and walking with His disciples, everyday people, and the religious leaders of His day. You can emulate His leadership style by changing the traditional hierarchical, pulpit-based leadership model of most Western churches to a more relational form of leading from among the people. This leadership style involves participating in the chaos of real, two-way relationships, yet bringing order by training and discipling—in the midst of chaordic interaction. Where Would Jesus Lead? is about leading among—rather than leading from, or leading over, or leading from titles, positions, or assumed roles. Author and ministry leader Gary Goodell believes it is time to transition to a more collaborative style of leading, one of coming alongside people, for the people’s sake, and empowering them to achieve their personal God-given destiny. Thinking prophetically, the author courageously contends that interactive relationships that are purposeful yet inherently chaotic are ones to be joyfully embraced. …But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him [Jesus]. Now a woman…touched the border of His garment. …She declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:42-48 NKJV). Practical ideas and applications regarding how to carry out this vision in one-on-one relationships and in small groups are expertly presented. Emphasis on deeper, more effective relationships is God’s heart for the Church in America today.

As you take this journey with the author, know that he will be examining areas which have earned the title of “Sacred Cows”. Ask those questions that come to mind as you travel through this inspiring text. The discoveries made will open hearts, minds, and spirits to freedom beyond expectations. Dying of Thirst on the Bank of the River begins with the author’s story. This book explores why so many people fail to move closer to the Lord, answering questions such as: Are there things we have to do or change to see the living reality of Christ’s Church? As His Church, are we manifesting the love Jesus said would cause the world to know we are His disciples? Is there a place for individualism within the Christian community? What paradigms need to change? As a Christian leader, Jim knew only one way to lead; as he began this journey, he discovered a way that more clearly represented the Good Shepherd. Jim’s understanding of the church Jesus has chosen to build grew as he found true freedom. No longer live according to Christian cultural norms. Thirst no more. Jump in! Dying of Thirst on the Bank of the River. is for you!!

Ted Haggard presents a successful and tested model for a small group ministry here that can be implemented by a church of any size. By enabling members to embrace and capitalize on their own unique abilities, the diverse groups create an environment where people meet mentors that can disciple and guide them. This need-and interest based approach redefines the model for powerful church growth.

Many sociologists and a growing number of church scholars have noted that we live in a time of transition—from the modern era to the postmodern. Whenever a shift of this magnitude occurs, it leaves all of life, including the church, in flux. We instinctively strive to stabilize the situation by re-establishing what has worked in the past. Increasingly, however, congregations are finding that the same old things done harder or better don't seem to make a difference. Author Jill Hudson argues, "We must identify new criteria for success, and perhaps even for faithfulness, and hold ourselves accountable to them." Approaching the postmodern era as a tremendous opportunity, Hudson identifies 12 characteristics by which we can measure effective ministry for the early 21st century. Based on those 12 criteria, Hudson has created evaluation tools, "an early measuring stick," to help congregations evaluate their work in this new era. Not everything of the past is ineffective and best discarded, she says, nor will everything we try in the future be successful. But by faithfully listening for God's guidance and carefully evaluating progress using Hudson's tools, looking at the ministry of the whole people of God as well as that of the professional staff, congregations can improve their ministry, help members and staff grow in effectiveness, deepen a sense of partnership, and add new richness to the dialogue about the congregation's future.

Historically, European churches have played a large part in the provision of welfare. Responsibility, however, has gradually shifted to the state - a shift that forms an integral part of the process of secularization and one that has been readily accepted by European populations. But what happens when the state itself begins to recede - a process that is occurring in most, if not all, European societies for a wide variety of reasons? The implications for welfare are considerable, not least for the role of the churches which begin to resume the responsibilities previously shed but in new and different ways. This book looks at the connections between religion and welfare in Europe, exploring in detail eight European societies - Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, Germany, France, Italy and Greece. The different theological traditions, different church-state relationships and different welfare regimes are all examined. The analysis is based on first hand empirical research which considers not only the changing situation on the ground, but attitudes towards this within a range of different constituencies - the churches, local government and the general public. Particular attention is paid to the significance of gender in both the process of change and in attitudes towards this. Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 1 represents comparative research at its best and highlights key policy implications for the future. A companion book, Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 2 explores thematically the changing nature of religion and welfare and the new relationships that are emerging between the religious and the secular, and between church and state in the 21st century.

The crisis of 21st-century religion is upon us. With fewer people remaining committed to traditional religions and most new religious movements in their infancy, where does that leave the vast “silent spiritual majority” who find the old religions to be obsolete and the new religions to be not yet credible? For everyday people who feel lost between a rejected religion of the past and a still obscure religion of the future, Thinking About Religion in the 21st Century suggests that there is indeed another way to look at religion, fully informed by 21st-century sensibilities, that requires no sacrifice of the intellect or abandonment of moral sensibilities. The old religions can be set aside, and the religions of the future might not yet have evolved into something worthy of full commitment, but there already exists a viable, evolving alternative spiritual perspective, grounded in the elements of everyday, ordinary human experience, already available.

This book brings together leading international scholars of law and religion to provide an overview of current issues in State-religion relations. The first part of the collection offers a picture of recent developments in key countries and regions. The second part is focused on Europe and, in particular, on the Nordic States and the post-communist countries where State-religion systems have undergone most profound change. The third and final part is devoted to four issues that are currently debated all over the world: the relations between freedom of expression and freedom of religion; proselytism and the right to change religion; the religious symbols; and the legal status of Islam in Europe and Canada. The work will be a valuable resource for academics, students and policy-makers with an interest in the interaction between law and religion.