This book review has been a few weeks in coming. I hesitated reviewing it publicly for until now. You will understand tomorrow. This is a book I bought so I’m not under obligation to review it but I felt I needed to share it with you.
This book is a must read. Dr. Thom Rainer is the President of Lifeway and Eric Geiger is an Executive Pastor in South Florida. They did extensive research on why some churches seem to be growing more than others. The basic point to the entire book is get SIMPLE.
According to their research the churches that were seeing life change and growing spiritually and numerically were ones who were “SIMPLE.” They don’t have a lot of programing. They usually have Worship, small groups and they encourage their people to minister during the week. They say no to a lot to help people grow stronger in their faith. They want people to spend more time with their families and neighbors.
I remember when I was on staff at a highly programed church in Atlanta when this up-start church called Northpoint got up and going. I was never home and was “doing” ministry sometimes 5-6 nights a week. I would pull in my driveway and wave at my neighbors and never got to know them. However I heard that Northpoint was growing and “all” they did was have Sunday morning worship, small groups off site and encouraged their people to “Invest & Invite.” But I thought how could a church minister without programs? How could the people grow with so little to offer them?
Then one night I was at an Atlanta Falcon’s pre-season game with some men from our church. By the 4th quarter there wasn’t much going on but I overheard a pretty young single woman in front of me talking about “her church.” I leaned forward to listen some more. She did not appear the “church” type during the game but what she said changed my ideas forever. She said that she wasn’t the church type but Northpoint was changing her ideas about God. I don’t know if she ever became a follower of Christ but she wouldn’t have stepped foot in most churches.
Simple is in. Look at Google and Apple Computers. We complicate the Christian life by making it about what we “do” rather than what Jesus “did” when He died for our sins.
I highly recommend SIMPLE CHURCH and give it 4.7 hockey sticks out of 5.
Kevin:
I agree…
I’m about halfway through the book. I like the research and the thorougness. It is also about processes, not programs or making “numbers.” There is some good thinking in the book.
Keith
I liked your thoughts on the book. I don’t always get excited about “stat/research” books, but this one challenged me where I serve. It would, I think, no matter where you serve. I personally gave it the full five in my review from initial reactions.
Initial review can be seen here: http://loom–wheel.blogspot.com/2006/12/resolution-simplify.html
My more complete thoughts are posted here: http://www.pastorbookshelf.com/reviews/2007/07/12/simple-church-thom-s-rainer-eric-geiger/
Okay, so how did a guy down in your neck of the woods start rating books with hockey sticks? Why not footballs with Alabama logos?
Thanks for the recommendation. I am adding it to my next amazon order.