With insights based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger. Simple church clearly calls for christians to return to the simple gospelsharing methods of jesus. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference, and simple church, and more on. Rainer and his wife, nellie jo, have three grown sons and live in nashville, tennessee. With insights based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. Rainer is the president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, one of the largest christian resource companies in the world.
Rainer walks you through all the steps you need to have prayer become a core component of your churchs outreach strategy. In simple church, authors thom rainer and eric geiger share their conclusions based on the case studies of 400 north american churches that their discipleship processes are often far too complicated and show an easier, more effective way of making disciples. A simple church is a congregation designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth. Simple church makes the compelling case, based on empirical evidence, that churches should simplify the way they approach ministry. Transformational class transformational church goes to sunday. Several weeks ago, i attended a conference based on the book simple church by eric geiger and thom rainer broadman and holman, 2006. Recognizing that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a simple process for making disciples ix, rainer and geiger began a research project which confirmed that there is a highly significant correlation between the. Rainer and geiger discovered that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a. Fun, perceptive, challenging, and steeped in scripture, i sincerely wish that every evangelical churchman would. Rainer and his wife, nellie jo, have three grown sons, several grandchildren, and live in nashville. Thom rainer and eric geiger seek to provide an equally simple solution for ministry leaders. Rainer is president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, one of the largest christian resource companies worldwide, and the bestselling coauthor of simple church, essential church, and simple life. Rainer born july 16, 1955 is an american writer, researcher, speaker, and former president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, an entity of the southern baptist convention in nashville, tennessee. Simpleessential church charts simple church gods process for making disciples clarity start with a mission statement for making disciples.
Simple church thom rainer eric geiger dave krafts notes. Simple church thom rainer, eric geiger the vision room. I am a church member is a stellar example of such monographs, the perfect introduction for anyone serious about pleidg jesus through responsible church membership. In the book, simple church, thom rainer described a process to get back on mission with what. Simple church, which is thicker than the title suggests, makes the case for a. Like clarity is the ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people.
Recognizing that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a simple process for making disciples ix, rainer and geiger began a research project which confirmed that there is a highly significant correlation. With insights based on case studies of four hundred american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. Through a study of four hundred churches, thom rainer and eric geiger discovered that vibrant and growing churches have simple processes of discipleship. During this study youll discover that, through christ, we are all truly connected in a way that lasts not just for a lifetime, but for all eternity. Also a respected pastor and researcher, he has written more than twenty books and coauthored the no. Thom rainer has written more in behalf of the local church than any scholar i know. The four words he used for this process can be applied to the disciplemaking process as well. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Is your church making real disciples, the kind of disciples jesus made. Returning to gods process for making disciples by thom s. Based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking. In simple church, thom rainer and eric geiger seek to apply the simple revolution of the last few years to the way church is done in america.
In simple church, rainer and geiger show us the results of a study performed on several churches, examining the differences between vibrant and declining congregations. Many of the church leaders we talk to are seeking an escape from the notso simple life. Based on case studies of four hundred american churches, authors thom rainer and eric geiger prove that the process for making disciples has quite often become too complex. Discipleship engines in the book, simple church, thom rainer. Simple church thom rainer eric geiger dave krafts notes after hundreds of consultations with local churches and a significant research project, we have concluded that church leaders need to simplify 4 are the people in your church being transformed. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading simple church. Happily, many pastors have accepted the challenge, but organizational development is not a strong point for many church leaders.
He is also a well know church consultant with a focus on revitalizing local churches. Book summary of simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger. Book summary of simple church by thom rainer and eric. Jun, 2008 in simple church, thom rainer and eric geiger seek to apply the simple revolution of the last few years to the way church is done in america. The authors point out four major things that growing and vibrant churches have in common, all of which lead to the churches being simple churches. Clarify in your mission statement what kind of disciples you wish to produce in your churchconnected to god, to others, and to ministry. Having done extensive research of churches across the u. Introverts dont like small talk conversation, but they typically dont mind writing. As with rick warrens purposedriven church, thom rainer and eric geiger present a strategy of determining the purposes of the church and building programs to serve those purposes. More than 400 ministry leaders from around my state packed.
In i am a church member thom delivers a biblical perspective and practical approach to church membership. This little book is both refreshing and inspirational. Simple discipleship grew out of my reading of simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger in which they challenged pastors to become designers of disciplemaking ministries. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Ed stetzer is director of lifeway research and missiologist in residence at lifeway. Returning to gods process for making disciples kindle edition by rainer, thom s. Download pdf i am a church member ebook free online. Rainers book by this name will be out in january 2005 this is a churchgrowth work based on the secular book. Returning to gods process for making disciples definition a simple church is a congregation designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth discipleship. I found little continuity from simple church to transformational church. Rainer and eric geiger, simple church returning to gods process for making disciples nashville, broadman and holman, 2006 257pp. Though i was excited to read it, and agree in principle with the simple church concept, that every church needs to drastically simplify what it is doing so that it can do a better job of making disciples, i was a tiny bit disappointed with some of the approaches used by the authors. Your connection to the churchyour membershipwill prove over time to be just as important as paying the bills and raising a family.
Thom rainer and ed stetzer arrived by special order to my house and i anxiously began reading. To have a simple church, leaders must ensure that everything their church does fits together to produce life change. Jan 01, 2007 thom rainer and eric geiger seek to provide an equally simple solution for ministry leaders. Our pastor set this forth as a means to challenge each of us to think biblically, stretch ourselves theologically, and avoid the mind rut that many church staff members find themselves in postseminary. With those three summarizing catch phrases thom rainer and eric geiger begin one of the latest offerings to church growth literature, the simple church. Simple church returning to gods process for making disciples by thom s. Simple church, which is thicker than the title suggests, makes the case for a simplified approach to. He has written a number of articles and books on the subject.
I will autopsy of a deceased church i am a church member the millennials transformational church simple life essential church vibrant church raising dad simple church the unexpected journey breakout churches the unchurched next door. It is probable that many readers of simple church experienced the same problem as i did. Rainer becoming a welcoming church we want you here who moved my pulpit. Rainer and geiger go a few steps further, however, in arguing for the need for a. Rainer and geiger discovered that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a simple process for making disciples. Rainer and eric geiger about the book the simple revolution is here. Simple church is a challenge to rethink all the good things we do in church. Scrappy thom rainer is the founder and ceo of church answers. One of the books i read this week was simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger.
712 1266 413 456 420 1332 630 1207 1333 147 89 1006 631 1249 757 222 492 1293 801 512 481 441 664 75 807 892 1285 1289 225 463 744 519 480