Book Review: Becoming A Welcoming Church by Thom Rainer

Most churches would say they are very welcoming while they really are not. Some of them would even wonder why people will not come back to their worship service after greeting visitors who may seem interested in attending their church. Are churches welcoming or are they turning people away? Thom Rainer explores this and more in his latest book, Becoming a Welcoming Church.

Rainer begins by pleading with his readers to really take a hard look at their church and see what they can do to become a welcoming, gospel-centered church. If not then they would put the book down. I would assume that most would put the book down because most churches do believe they are welcoming. Rainer identifies certain things that a church does that would make a person not come back. Some were very obvious such as unfriendly church members and unsafe children's areas. I can imagine those things would turn people off from a church. One that is surprising to many is the meet and greet time during the worship service. I have not be honest, I am not surprised because this where people are forced (I am using the word loosely) to talk with the people around them like they will gain approval from heaven if they do.

Throughout the rest of the book, Rainer talks about ways a church can become a welcoming church, which I have to say most of these things are very unrealistic for some churches. Most churches cannot afford the technology for a website nor the service for one yet Rainer says this is one of the key things that will not want to make people come and visit a church. Granted, there needs to be information on the church when a visitor comes. The internet does provide great information, but a church needs to have that on hand.

One area I did agree with is clean and safe churches. Our church does not have a janitor. Our people volunteer and they (myself included) work hard to make the church presentable for everyone that comes through our doors. One area that always need attention is where all the children go. They need to be cleaned as best as they can possibly. I don't think Rainer is looking for perfection but there are times I felt he was.

After I read this book, my first thought was not every church can do what Rainer is suggesting like the website which I mentioned earlier. A church can do what it can to be a welcoming church, but I don't think following a list of steps is the right direction. Yes, a church building needs to be presentable, but only because we are being good stewards of that building that God has given us. Yes, keep the bathrooms clean, but do not fret if you miss a spot in the fellowship hall. I have loved Rainer's books in the past, but this one is not one I would go back to.

Thanks B&H Publishing Group for letting me review this book.

Book Review: Who Moved My Pulput? by Thom Rainer

Change is never easy. Change comes in many forms. It can be a new job, which may require you move to a new city and your kids to a new school. It can be in health because you have been diagnosed with a life altering disease that is treatable but you need to change your diet. For the church, change is something that does not come easy especially if there is a new pastor that comes in or simply changing the way things are done.

In his latest book, Who Moved My Pulpit?, Thom Rainer how leaders in the church can have effective change. He begins the book about a pastor who decided to take a pulpit, which was a huge one, in favor of a smaller pulpit that the preacher did not feel was a hindrance. He did not consult anyone. He just moved it and it caused a major conflict in the church. He used that situation how not to make changes in the church.

He goes to address how change in the church should be brought about and how a pastor should approach in making changes. Thankfully, one thing Rainer did not say was make changes now and fast. Changes in the church can be really difficult. Rainer addresses five kinds of people in the church who will make change difficult as well as how to handle people who do not want to see changes in their church.

Who will benefit from this book? Obviously pastor will along with elders and deacons. I think this book should be a guide for anyone in ministry to make necessary changes in their congregation. Change in the church will always be met with opposition and I think this book will give church leaders the tools they need to make change happen.

Thanks B&H Publishing Group for letting me review this book.

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Book Review: I Will by Thom Rainer

Most local churches have a problem. The problem is are too focused on what is happening on the inside. They tend to think about the ministry for the body, which is important, but tend to neglect those outside the church walls. Sometimes they even make the church have a country club atmosphere rather than a welcoming place for sinners.

In his latest book, I Will, Thom Rainer talks about what steps a church need to take in order to move being inward focus to outward focus. Notice the title of the book is "I Will" not "I Am." Many church members say "I am" in regards to their actions which may be the right actions that determine who you are. Rainer suggests that we move from an "I am" mentality to an "I will" focus in regards to reaching people for Christ.

Moving from "I am" to "I will" is one of the traits Rainer says that mark an outward focused Christian. The other traits include worshiping with other which we see throughout the pages of scripture particularly in the New Testament. There are no Lone Ranger Christians. We are called to worship God with the church as well as grow together.

The other traits deal with looking beyond ourselves in our giving as well as service to others. One thing Rainer talks about is not being a church dropout. He said you can do no one any good if you leave the church. The body will hurt if you are not serving. Rainer calls on Christians to no longer be like those watching football in the stands, spectators. Christians are called to serve others in and outside the church for the glory of Christ.

Like Rainer's last two books, I Am A Church Member and Autopsy of a Deceased Church, he delivers a message that anyone in the church will be able to avoid. I Will delivers a powerful message that all in the church should read. Pastors, get this book in the hands of your people. Christians, I challenge you to read this and examine yourself to see if you do focus on others.

Thanks B & H Publishing Group for letting me review this book.

Book Review: Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer

In every city in America, both big and small, churches die. It seems we hear stories about churches die for several different reasons. Some of them is that the neighborhood changed around them and the church refused to adapt to it. Others include power struggles between the pastor and a group of people that have been at the church for years.

Truth be told that no one wants to see a church die. Thom Rainer, in his latest book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, takes a look of years of research based on churches that have died and give his readers the results of what takes place when a church dies or is on the brink of death. The book is divided into two parts which begins with the autopsy of a dying church. The second part deals with twelve responses for church that have the symptoms of a dying church, churches that are sick, and churches that are dying.

The first part begins with slow erosion which basically when things start slowing going from growing to dying. Next we have the past as the hero where the church leans on the good ole days instead of looking toward the future. Then comes when the church refuses to engage with community around it and the church budget is only for what happens inside the church. More of Rainer's autopsy reveals that churches that are dying are preference-driven, do not obey the Great Commission, the pastor's tenure decreases, church rarely prays together, they have no clear purpose, and they are fight over their facilities.

The second part of the book deals with twelve responses for churches that may have each of these symptoms Rainer has addressed. These responses are divided into three parts in the categories of just recognizing your church has them, to being sick, or dying. This book is an easy read but it is also hard to read because you tend to think about churches in your city, as is my case, where you see these symptoms happening right now. You might even see these same things happening in your church. This book is a must read for church leaders and church members.

Thanks Broadman & Holman for letting me review this book.

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Big milestone happened this week. The ESV Study Bible has sold one million copies. Praise God. As a way of saying thanks, Crossway is having a contest: Share their Facebook for a chance to win a calfskin ESV Study Bible

This 2 minute video explains the Gospel:

Around The Web-August 9, 2013

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