Rainer and eric geiger prove the process for making disciples is often too complex. 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. Rainer and geiger discovered that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a. During that period, at the recommendation of the spiritual gifts team, the church council and deacons agreed to spend the first part of 2017 studying the book, simple church, by thom rainer and eric geiger. Amidst a plethora of books on church growth theories and models, simple church stands out as something entirely different. Based on case studies of four hundred american churches, authors thom s. With those three summarizing catch phrases thom rainer and eric geiger begin one of the latest offerings to church growth literature, the simple church.
Returning to gods process for making disciples kindle edition by rainer, thom s. 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. The length comes from the statistical analysis that is the basis for the whole book. Discover how churches that are successful in sharing the gospel are following four simple ideas. Eric received his doctorate in leadership and church ministry from southern. While becoming a simple church is difficult, it is also worth it. Helping you sort through the myriad of nonbiblical church traditions. No elaborate multilevel outreach strategies required. The process design survey, as featured in the bestselling book simple church, is designed to help you evaluate your church s process. Using case studies of 400 american churches, rainer and geiger demonstrate that christian discipling has often become too complex and intimidating to be effective with postmodern congregations. Church leaders who have designed a simple biblical process to make disciples are effectively advancing the movement of the gospel.
More than 400 ministry leaders from around my state packed. Based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking. And the people in your church are placed in the pathway of gods transforming power. Rainer and geiger go a few steps further, however, in arguing for the need for a. The great commission health, growing churches have a simple, intentional plan process for making disciples, i. Jan 20, 2016 thom rainer has written more in behalf of the local church than any scholar i know. The leadership in the simple church is clear about the process clarity and is committed to executing it. Pray that believers will learn to love god, love one another and love lost persons. Simple church thom rainer eric geiger dave krafts notes. The process design survey, as featured in the bestselling book simple church, is designed to help you evaluate your churchs process. May 31, 2006 simple church as a fairly lengthy book about a simple process for the church. The gates of hell are pushed back, dented, and damaged.
A process design is how you have structured and designed your church to move people towards spiritual maturity. Disciplemaking pastor, disciplemaking church, and jesus christ, disciplemaker. He has authored several books, including the book that complements this study. Review of simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger the. Rainer and his wife, nellie jo, have three grown sons, several grandchildren, and live in nashville, tennessee. Thom rainer has written more in behalf of the local church than any scholar i know. Many of the church leaders we talk to are seeking an escape from the notso simple life. An awardwinning national best seller, simple church guides christians back to the simple gospelsharing methods of jesus. Jun, 2008 rainer and geiger intend to provide church leaders with a framework for a simple ministry process 236. The simple revolution has begun the simple and notso simple church in action simple church. Rainer and geiger did excellent work at defining the necessary areas of emphasis for simple churches clarity, movement, alignment, and focus. Rainer is president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, one of the largest christian resource companies in the world.
Simple church 6 simple church process unite programs eliminate. Returning to gods process for making disciples rainer, thom s. Live stream sermon library download our app click here to find out. With insights based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. Simple church attention god in christianity scribd. Rainer and eric geiger about the book the simple revolution is here.
Based upon a careful study of over 400 evangelical churches, rainer and geiger. Returning to gods process for making disciples pdf feedback users have never yet quit his or her overview of the experience, or not make out the print yet. Thom rainer is the president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, a frequent speaker and church consultant and author of sixteen previous books, including the unchurched next door, eating the elephant, and breakout churches. Simple church notes rainier thom s eric geiger 2006. One of the books i read this week was simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger.
There is no shortage of books promoting a different model of church. Remove everything that does not lead to greater commitment and assimilationlove for god, love for. Simple church returning to gods process for making disciples by thom s. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Im not a big fan of the church growth movement, but i like what rainer, head of lifeway christian resources, sets before us in the pages of this work. Thom rainer and eric geiger seek to provide an equally simple solution for ministry leaders. Based on case studies of four hundred american churches, authors thom rainer and eric geiger prove that the process for. Rainer is the president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, one of the largest christian resource companies in the world.
Simple church, which is thicker than the title suggests, makes. The simple church offers a simple but not simplicstic way to follow that plan. 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. Simple essential church charts simple church gods process for making disciples clarity start with a mission statement for making disciples. Rainer i am a church member the millennials coauthor transformational church coauthor simple life coauthor essential church coauthor vibrant church coauthor raising dad coauthor simple church coauthor the unexpected journey the unchurched next door surprising insights from the unchurched. Simple church as a fairly lengthy book about a simple process for the church. Rainer and eric geiger, simple church returning to gods process for making disciples nashville, broadman and holman, 2006 257pp.
Happily, many pastors have accepted the challenge, but organizational development is not a strong point for many church. Create a mission statement ministry blueprint built around the worship service, small groups, and community ministry teams. 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. 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. With insights based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger. Clarify in your mission statement what kind of disciples you wish to produce in your church connected to god, to others, and to ministry. 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. Fun, perceptive, challenging, and steeped in scripture, i sincerely wish that every evangelical churchman would read and then practice this book. Includes bibliographical references pages 277280 the simple revolution has begun the simple and notso simple church in action simple church. Hull and rainer both map out a workable plan for moving a church community toward spiritual maturity. Also a respected pastor and researcher, he has written more than twenty books and coauthored the no. They achieve this aim by clearly describing the need for simplicity in church life chapter 1, defining the nature of a simple church part 1, and delineating the actual process of becoming this type of church part 2. On todays rainer report, we look back at the book and discuss how it can help you have an intentional plan for discipleship in your church.
Simple church is a challenge to rethink all the good things we do in church. It is not that rainer and geiger have come up with something new, but rather, they have pinpointed a methodology that has consistently produced positive results in churches. Simple churchclearly calls for christians to return to the simple gospelsharing methods of jesus. Jan 17, 2018 almost every church interviewed spoke of being influenced by reading simple church by eric geiger and thom rainer. A global network of truth seekers who journey together. Rainer and geiger discovered that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a simple process for making disciples. With insights based on case studies of four hundred american.
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. The upcoming generations are exposed to the gospel and goodness of our god. Simple church thom rainer, eric geiger the vision room. With insights based on case studies of four hundred american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. In the book, the authors define a simple church as one. An extreme makeover churches need a radical redesign in favor or designing for discipleship church leaders are designers, crafting opportunities for people to get into the movement what god is doing in their church, and their city. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading simple church.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Simple church looks at the process of discipleship in a church. Connecting with truth seekers secular andor unchurched, the nones and the dones, church refugees no matter what your faith or nofaith background has been. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference. He is also a bestselling author and leading expert in the field of church research. Returning to gods process for making disciples to date concerning the ebook we have simple church. Eric geiger serves as the vice president of the church resource division at lifeway christian resources. Simple church clearly calls for christians to return to the simple gospelsharing methods of jesus. 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.
Having done extensive research of churches across the u. Although a great book and i still use it as a reference 20 years on, that book was anything but simple. The book is a result of a comprehensive study of four hundred churches, and what distinguishes the healthier churches from. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read simple church. The book was easy to follow and did an impressive job of using real life examples of healthy, simple churches to give evidence to their points. Think of titles like missional church, purposedriven church, organic church, total church, deliberate church, vintage church, equipping church, not your grandfathers church, were cooler than our parents church, or, a recent favorite, we want to be faithful to the gospel and have the world love us church. Simple churches thrive by taking four ideas to heart. Reading it reminds me of the classic works by bill hull.
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