Church Building

This collection of twenty-three essays by Duncan Stroik shows the development and consistency of his architectural vision. Packed with informative essays and over 170 photographs, this collection clearly articulates the Church’s architectural tradition.

Through personal stories, proven experience, and a thorough analysis of the biblical text, Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church illustrates both the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church and the seven core commitments required to bring it about. Mark DeYmaz, pastor of one of the most proven multi-ethnic churches in the country, writes from both his experience and his extensive study of how to plant, grow, and encourage more ethnically diverse churches. He argues that the "homogenous unit principle" will soon become irrelevant and that the most effective way to spread the gospel in an increasingly diverse world is through strong and vital multi-ethnic churches. Apart from ethnically and economically diverse relationships, we cannot understand others different from ourselves, develop trust for others who are different than us, and/or love others different than ourselves. Apart from understanding, trust, and love, we are less likely to get involved in the plight of others different than ourselves. Without involvement, nothing changes, and the disparaging consequences of systemic racism remain entrenched in our culture. Surely, it breaks the heart of God to see so many churches segregated ethnically or economically from one another, and that little has changed in the many years since it was first observed that eleven o'clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in the land.

"Christianity is the greatest rescue project the world has ever seen, yet many churches across America are shrinking instead of growing. After spending 18 years as a pastor in highly secularized Seattle, Verlon Fosner began to realize that the church had a sociological problem. While outreach efforts to find new wine were genuine, the church's old wineskin was brittle and leaking. In other words, the traditional ways of doing church were not capable of housing a new wine that would be necessary to compel a secular culture to Jesus. Somewhere in this struggle, Fosner and his leadership team began to consider the way church as done during the first three centuries, and the sociological implications of doing church around dinner tables. Inviting someone to a dinner with Jesus is a very different thing that inviting them to a worship/teaching event on a Sunday morning at a religious campus. In Dinner Church: Building Bridges by Breaking Bread, Verlon Fosner unveils how the ancient dinner church was rebirth in his Seattle community and how that vision changed his congregation forever. These pages also offer a compelling case for why many churches would do well to pause and see the pockets of lost people within the shadow of their steeples, and consider how a Jesus dinner table might open up a door to heaven for those neighbors. Revelation 3:20 makes it clear that Jesus still wants to have dinner with sinners. That likely means he wants his church to set the table."--Publisher.

Allan Doig explores the Christian Church through the lens of twelve particular churches, looking at their history, archaeology, and how the buildings changed over time in response to developing usage and beliefs.

Mittelberg presents a proven process for raising the value of evangelism in your heart and in your church. He spells out strategies for training all of a church's members to naturally communicate their faith and offers ideas for initiating outreach ministries and events. Includes inspiring stories of lives and churches that have been changed as a result of these practical, biblical approaches.

Zens takes apart traditions that have divided the body of Christ into groups, built walls under various guises, and separated people of faith by distinctions that Christ did not author.

New edition for congregations planning to build or renew their church facilities. Now includes elements, which have become prominent in recent times including the use of visuals, electronic instruments, and the need for flexible space to accommodate the various configurations and multiple uses to which church space is put.

The distillation of over 30 years experience of building local church Building Church contains the principles and lessons learned from repurposing church with passion and direction. But Stephen Matthew doesn't attempt to prescribe a work-anywhere, transferable model. Instead, he points to the timeless principles of Scripture that provide the building blocks of "the church that God wants you to build." CLIVE URQUHART, Senior Pastor, Kingdom Faith Church: "A thorough, step-by-step journey of how to take the seed of a vision to the realisation of a vibrant, dynamic and growing church. Without prescribing a model, Stephen gives the tools to equip you to translate them into the context you are in." DR SCOTT WILSON, President, Eurolead.net: "An honest, up-front, experience-based, practical tool ... Stephen clearly articulates the many facets of how to do church really well ... a must read." STUART BELL, Senior Pastor, New Life Lincoln and Leader, Ground Level Network: "A highly valuable resource for everyone who loves church." MAL FLETCHER, Chairman, 2020Plus: "Stephen's desire to equip leaders for greater effectiveness shines through the pages of this warm, well-constructed and enlightening book." REVD ROB WHITE, Fresh Streams Network Minister and Chairman, Hope for Justice: "An unmissable book ... advice like this is worth its weight in gold ... If you're a church leader, do yourself and your church a favour - read it " About the author STEPHEN MATTHEW is a gifted Bible teacher and committed church builder. He is Senior Associate Pastor of Abundant Life Ministries and Principal of the Abundant Life Leadership Academy.

Church was not always done the way we do it. There was a time when Christians gathered around tables, included the strangers and the poor, ate together, and talked about Jesus. This form of church occurred mostly during the first three hundred years of Christianity, and was highly effective in bringing lost people to Jesus. While the church of today is very meaningful to Christ-followers, it is failing to help our lost neighbors find their way to the Savior. That is no small concern for Jesus' churches, all of which are called to be in the rescue business. This little book examines what it might be like for a traditional church to plant a Dinner Church in a nearby hurting neighborhood.