Contents:

INTRODUCTION

What would an awesome church look like?
The conventional church
Studying the church
Theology and ethos
Sources of group ethos
Mission, vision, and ethos
Altering ethos
The Bible and ethos
Unhappiness with the church today

SECTION 1: GRASPING THE CORE ISSUES

CHAPTER 1. AN AWESOME CHURCH

Truth
Koinonia
Reflection and prayer
Supernatural
Generosity
Outward
What should we make of it?
What prevents us?
Only one way out
Consumer Christianity

CHAPTER 2. JESUS LAUNCHES HIS BODY

Our mystical union with Jesus
What does this have to do with the church?
John
Acts
1 Corinthians
Universal or local?
Practical outworking of the mystical union

CHAPTER 3. LIVING OUT OUR UNITY: KOINONIA

Two pillars of unity in practice
Relationship
Truth
Sharing
Equipping
Ministry
The fruit of ministry
Truth in love
Koinonia and church values

CHAPTER 4. RELATIONSHIPS: HOW DEEP?

The “one-another” passages
Honesty
The Growth of the Body
The Result
Barriers to body life
The big picture
Your next move

SECTION 2: 7 PICTURES OF THE CHURCH

CHAPTER 5. PICTURES: THE BODY OF CHRIST

Body principles
Spiritual gifts
The real point
The flow of life
Organism vs. Institution
Organic leadership
Rules
Organic growth
Relationships
The big picture

CHAPTER 6. PICTURES: GOD’S ARMY

Conquest
Discipline
Hardship and Struggle
The big picture

CHAPTER 7. PICTURES: GOD’S BUILDING

The Foundation or Cornerstone
The Other Stones
Building the temple correctly
The Dividing Wall
The point of the temple
The big picture

CHAPTER 8. PICTURES: GOD’S FAMILY

Elements of the picture
Belonging
Exception Passages
The big picture

CHAPTER 9. PICTURES: GOD’S FIELD

Results
Boundaries
Cooperation
Hard work
Consistency
Patience
Jesus on farming
The big picture

CHAPTER 10. PICTURES: JESUS’ BRIDE

The Old Testament
The New Testament
Paul
James
Accommodation to western time priorities
Intimidated leaders
Repentance
Preparation
The big picture

CHAPTER 11. PICTURES: GOD’S FLOCK

Jesus, the good shepherd
Protection
Personalized guidance
Loyalty and sacrifice
The “hireling”
Results of the modern system
The benefits of loyalty
Paul
Peter
The big picture

SECTION 3 LESSONS FROM STORIES AND LETTERS

CHAPTER 12. OF WINE AND WINESKINS

Applying New Testament structures

1. Precepts
2. Principles
3. Examples

Judgment calls
Extra-biblical structures
Non-organic structures
The big picture

CHAPTER 13. THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN OF MINISTRY

Tragic changes
Contemporary correction
Over-reaction
Full mobilization
The big picture

CHAPTER 14. EQUIPPING GOD’S PEOPLE

Goals
Raising the bar
Priority
Classes
The power of ethos
Personal Discipleship
The process
The harvest of discipleship
Leadership support
Equipping and church planning
The big picture

CHAPTER 15. THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN OF WORSHIP

A Change in Sacrifices
Different Ways to Worship
Self-sacrifice
Giving
Praise
Ministry
Lifestyle or meeting type?
Confusion
Worship service fixation
Formalism
Positive fruit

CHAPTER 16. THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

The public preaching of the word
The ministry of the word in smaller groups
A weakened ministry of the word
The big picture

CHAPTER 17. OTHER LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP

Indigenous
Chosen by God
Practical implications
Problems with the modern system
Advantages of indigenous leaders
Offices
Elders or Bishops
Character qualities
Invalid criteria
Functional capabilities
Relative, not absolute
Plurality
Deacons
The evidence
Why two offices?
Qualifications
Gender
The big picture

CHAPTER 18. OUTREACH IN THE CHURCH

The ingrown vs. outreaching church
Dynamic
Learning
Leadership development
An Important Distinction
Evangelistic Motivation
The wrong way
An Alternative to Guilt
The Role of Leaders
Vision
Prayer
Practical ideas
Equipping
Encouragement
The Evangelistic Community
The big picture

CHAPTER 19. CHURCH FINANCE

Giving through the church
Things the church does with money
Paying workers
Operational expenses
Facilities
Ministry to the poor
World missions
Accountability and transparency
Spiritual and financial leadership
The big picture

CHAPTER 20. CHURCH DISCIPLINE

Shock and awe
The stakes
Assumptions behind discipline
Dynamics of sin
Love
Community
Truth
Key passages

Jesus
Paul
John

Lesser types of discipline
Extreme discipline
When is it appropriate?
Everyone comes
Deciding
After discipline
Restoration
Criteria
Leaders and discipline
The big picture

CHAPTER 21. STUDENT MINISTRY

Positive vision
Mobilized Adults
Our crisis
Age Appropriateness
Purpose
Showing Respect
Discipleship
Cultural tolerance
Responding to materialistic values
Negative vision
Eleven suggestions for change

Initial leadership
Preach the word
Forget the church’s schedule
Get out of the church building
Make friends
Cast vision
Avoid picking
Teach discipleship
Keep the bar high
Extol models
Practice discipline
Plant home groups

The big picture

CHAPTER 22. MINISTRY TO THE POOR

Relief or community development?
Our story
Inner city school
Key themes
The big picture

CHAPTER 23. MISSIONS

Mobilizing
Supporting indigenous groups
Sending
Networking
The big picture

SECTION 4 PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR CHANGE

What position do you work from?

CHAPTER 24. PASTORS OR ELDERS SEEKING CHANGE

Defining Convictions
Apply your convictions
Assessing
Group type
Spiritual assessment
Leadership status
Time management
Build your case
Inadequacy of the status quo
The alternative vision you are suggesting
The correctness of the vision based on scripture
The tangible benefits people will see if the vision is realized
The urgency of the vision based on the dangers from not changing
Why this applies to us
The plausibility of the vision
Risk management
Take action
Build convictions
Write it down
Other reading
Discussion
Develop your core
Go public
A measured approach
A pilot group
Group DNA
Everyone else
Replication
Fast-tracking
Matching quantity and quality
Change tension
Feedback
Plan on years
Anticipate losses
The big picture

CHAPTER 25. HOME GROUP LEADERS AND AVERAGE MEMBERS SEEKING CHANGE

My group
Elements of change
Seeking change as an opinion leader
Seek out leaders
Model
The big picture

CHAPTER 26. PLANTING A NEW CHURCH

Establishing group DNA
Elements of a successful church plant
Positive elements
Biblical authority
Prayer ministry
Evangelism
Directive leadership
Christian love
Disciple making
Boundaries
Consistency
Youth
Negative elements

Traditionalism
Transfers
Divided counsel
Super-spirituality

The big picture

CHAPTER 27. THE KEY TO A QUALITY CHURCH

The most fatal error

APPENDIX 1 CHARACTER QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDERS

APPENDIX 2 QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS