Have you ever wondered what separates a healthy church from an unhealthy church when they have the same doctrine (and even methods) on paper? The long-term health and durability of a church simply cannot exceed the health of her elders who lead, teach, shepherd, and pray the church forward. Therefore, building and maintaining a healthy plurality of elders is the key to durability. Yet a healthy plurality is a delicate thing working through hardship and the difficulties of relationship while pursuing the noble task of eldership. If you wish to grow deeper in your theology of eldership to lead with a healthy, biblical vision of plurality, then this is your “How-To” guide. DAVE HARVEY serves as the Executive Director of Sojourn Network and a Teaching Pastor at Summit Church in Naples, Florida. Dave chairs the board for the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and has traveled nationally and internationally doing conferences where he teaches Christians, equips pastors, and trains church planters. He is the author of When Sinners Say I Do, Am I Called, Rescuing Ambition, and Letting Go: Rugged Love for Wayward Souls. Married for 36 years, Dave and Kimm have four kids and two grandkids.

Healthy Plurality = Durable Church: "How-To" Build and Maintain a Healthy Plurality of Elders

Religion & Spirituality

Harvey, Dave

Christian Books & Bibles

Sojourn Network

After many years of leading small groups and coaching hundreds of small group leaders, pastor and writer Jeremy Linneman has come to a bold conviction: Community groups are the best place for us — as relational beings — to become mature followers of Christ. This short book seeks to answer two questions: How can our community groups cultivate mature disciples of Christ? And how can our groups grow and multiply to sustain a healthy church? Whether you are new to community groups or tired from years of challenging ministry, Life-Giving Groups is a fresh, practical invitation to life together in Christ. JEREMY LINNEMAN is the lead pastor of Trinity Community Church in Columbia, Missouri. Prior to planting Trinity, he spent seven years as a community pastor of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author of many articles and several short books and coaches leaders around the country. He and his wife, Jessie, have been married for 12 years and have three sons. Connect with him at jslinneman.com.

Life-Giving Groups: "How-To" Grow Healthy, Multiplying Community Groups

Linneman, Jeremy

Our culture is confused. And so are we. It's not just you or them. It's all of us. But we can move past confusion and into a place of careful discernment. Redemptive Participation brings awareness to the shaping forces in our current culture and how to connect these dynamics with our teaching and practice. Our ever-shifting culture has enormous challenges. And yet, for the discerning pastor (also a cultural participant) there are enormous opportunities for the gospel and the church to bear witness to the never-changing savior. MIKE COSPER is a writer, speaker, and podcaster. In 2016, he founded Harbor Media. He's the host of Cultivated: A Podcast about Faith and Work, the author of Rhythms of Grace, The Stories We Tell, Recapturing the Wonder, and the co-author of Faithmapping. Prior to launching Harbor Media, Mike served as one of the founding pastors at Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and launched Sojourn Music, a collective of musicians writing songs for the church.

Redemptive Participation: A "How-To" Guide for Pastors in Culture

Cosper, Mike

Charting the Course: "How-To" Navigate the Legal Side of a Church Plant

Beltz, Tim

Filling Blank Spaces: "How-To" Work with Visual Artists in Your Church

Winters, Michael

We know children are a blessing from the Lord. But is child dedication? Is child dedication just a sentimental moment to celebrate family with oohs and awes over the babies? Or is it a solemn moment before God and a covenanting one before the local church? Kennedy explains a philosophy of child dedication with poignant "How-To" plan for living out a powerful witness to Christ for one another and before the watching world. Whether you are rescuing various forms of child dedication from sentimentalism or perhaps sacrament, this book will guide you to faithful and fruitful ministry honoring God for the gift of children while blessing your church. JARED KENNEDY is the pastor of families at Sojourn Community Church - Midtown in Louisville, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife Megan and three daughters. He holds a Th. M. and M. Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has over a decade of experience leading family ministry. He is the author of The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible (New Growth Press, 2017). Jared tweets at @JaredSKennedy and blogs at gospelcenteredfamily.com.

Before the Lord, Before the Church: "How-To" Plan a Child Dedication Service

Kennedy, Jared

Kennedy, Megan

Are you tired and worn out from ministry? Isn't Jesus' burden supposed to be light? In the pressure-producing machine of our chaotic world, Jesus' words of rest don't often touch our lives. As ministry leaders, we know a lot about biblical rest, yet we don't often experience it. The ancient practice of sabbath provides ample wisdom on how to enter into rest in Christ. Sabbaticals is a guide showing us how to implement Sabbath principles into a sabbatical as well as into the ebb and flow of our entire lives. RUSTY McKIE serves as the lead pastor of Sojourn Community Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has contributed articles for thegospelcoalition.com, AmICalled.com, and sojournnetwork.com. He has been married to Rachel for thirteen years, and they have two dearly loved children. Rusty loves working and resting alongside family and friends in his beautiful city, Chattanooga.

Sabbaticals: "How-To" Take a Break from Ministry before Ministry Breaks You

McKie, Rusty

The church needs more godly leaders. But where do they come from? Some people read leadership books in a season of rest and health. But if we're honest, most often we read leadership books when we're frazzled, when we see the problems around us but not the solutions. If you're feeling the leadership strain in your church, let Kevin Galloway show you a way forward, the way of Jesus, the way of personally investing in leaders who then invest in other leaders-because making an intentional plan to encourage and train leaders, is not a luxury; it's mission critical, for your health and the health of your church. KEVIN GALLOWAY is the lead pastor of Christ Church, a multi-congregational church in Chicago, Illinois and Northwest Indiana. He is the founder and coach of Vibrant Leadership, an organization that coaches leaders in churches and nonprofits, and Galloway Coaching, which coaches and serves leaders in the corporate sector. Kevin has been married to his wife Davena for 28 years and is the father of three adult children who love the Lord and are serving the church today.

Leadership through Relationship: "How-To" Develop Leaders in the Local Church

Galloway, Kevin

How we organize our churches might seem insignificant, but it's not. In his letter to the church in Rome, the apostle Paul climbs great, theological mountains. But he also explores the valleys where we live our lives. Love one another with affection, he writes. Outdo one another in showing honor, he writes. Contribute to the needs of the saints and show hospitality. This is the calling of all Christians. And God intends that deacons lead the way. How is your church doing? Raising the Dust will help you better understand who deacons are, what God expects them to do, and how they bless the body of Christ. About the Authors Gregg R. Allison (Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of many books, including 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith. Gregg is also a pastor of Sojourn Community Church. Ryan Welsh, (D.Min. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Bellevue, Washington and an adjunct professor of preaching and biblical studies at Corban University. He is currently a Ph.D student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Endorsements "Such a concise, instructive resource! What they have to say here deserves careful consideration." Matthew Arbo, professor at Oklahoma Baptist University "Gregg and Ryan have written a book that tangibly helps the church understand the importance of deacons." Tyler Johnson, pastor at Redemption Church, AZ "This book will serve churches well as a guide for understanding a biblical perspective on the responsibilities of deacons and for developing a healthy deacon ministry." Ken Magnuson, professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Raising the Dust: "How-To" Equip Deacons to Serve the Church

Allison, Gregg

Welsh, Ryan

Parenting is hard work, especially when everyone is watching.The Lord requires that those who lead his church also excel at leading their own families. In fact, the ability to manage one's household, Paul writes, is a prerequisite. But how do we love our children well given all the demands pastors face? Have you ever left the office for home with your sermon printed, all your emails answered, your members prayed for, your stack of books read, and your staff encouraged? Probably not.Paul Gilbert has been there. And in Parenting in the Pastorate, he shows weary pastor-parents that the same God who gives us churches and children also gives us grace-grace that forgives our failures and empowers our parenting.About the AuthorPaul Gilbert is the Lead Pastor of Four Oaks Community Church in Tallahassee, FL, where he has served on the pastoral staff for 23 years. He is a co-author of the book Letting Go: Rugged Love for Wayward Souls, and serves as a Strategist in the Sojourn Network. Paul holds a B.A. in Speech Communication (University of Tennessee), an M.Div. and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Florida State University in Marriage and Family. Paul and his wife Susan have been married for 27 years and have four children: Gracie (20); Maggie (19); Jack (16); and Virginia (13).Endorsements"Beyond the theological richness, psychological soundness, and tried-and-true practicality of Parenting in the Pastorate, its author, Paul Gilbert, together with his wife, Susan, are the real deal" Gregg Allison, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary "It's a rare find to read a book that is both rich in Scriptural wisdom and completely accessible to 'normal' people. Paul Gilbert has pulled that off." Les Newsom, Lead Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Oxford, MS "Paul and Susan Gilbert have produced a wonderfully written, easily accessed, and powerful manual on practical parenting." Dr. David W. Hegg, Senior Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Santa Clarita, CA; Adjunct Professor, The Master's University; and author of The Obedience Option; Appointed to Preach; and When My Heart Is Faint

Parenting in the Pastorate: "How-To" Faithfully Raise Kids in Full-Time Ministry

Gilbert, Paul

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