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the Radical Reformission Author - Mark Driscoll Publisher - Zondervan A Must Read Book

• Favorite Features -
• challenges the church to reach out without selling out while loving people, not traditions
• excellent use of humor to communicate truth
• emphasis on need for missions to begin at home and then move around the world
• each chapter ends with reformation questions/interview
• challenges us to have the right answers to the right questions and to understand and change with our culture to avoid becoming a dying church
• innovation must be connected to truth to be relevant
• emphasis on developing real, relationships with the lost
• calls us to understand our culture and embrace those in it to reach them for Jesus and gives Biblical principles for cultural decision making
• challenges us to reach our society as Jesus did - "from within the culture of His day, not from above it like the pharisees did."
• calls us to take sin seriously and keep being faithful to God as most important and to love God and our neighbor
• excellent presentation of Biblical truth about alcohol in moderation as perfectly acceptable for believers

    Anyone who is truly serious about reaching the people in their community for Christ, must read this book.  Tremendously well done, Mark and Zondervan!  Zondervan, please keep publishing books like this!
 

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An Hour on Sunday Author - Nancy Beach Publisher - Zondervan A Must Read Book

• Favorite Features -
• walks through why and how to have an effective arts ministry at your church
• stresses the essential need for making church intentional, excellent, creative so it transforms lives
• real-life examples and stories throughout
• whimsical drawings throughout

    This is a real resource - one that honestly, passionately opens the door to what church can and should be like.  The best affirmation for this book is shared in the end where Nancy tells how her children see church as relevant, fun, real and find it inconceivable that it would be boring or irrelevant.  We need churches where our children grow up with the believe church is real.  This book helps show how that can happen.  Tremendously well done Nancy and Zondervan!
 

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Selling Among Wolves - Without Joining the Pack  Author - Michael Q. Pink Publisher - Bridge-Logos Publishers   A Must Read Book

• Favorite Features -
• challenges reader to know their world vies
• walks through four cornerstones of sales success
• unique look at the ten commandments and how they connect to sales
• seven ways to create a climate of trust
• what makes a question a "good" question and how to ask it
• how to listen - 12 keys to compassionate listening
• how to know your purpose - 10 principles of destiny
• eight practical ways to increase your confidence

    Tremendous, must-read book on principle based, integrity oriented selling.  I was genuinely amazed at all the connections the author made between the Bible and selling - Noah & strategic planning, Paul/Onesimus & negotiating, the Parable of the Sower & high probability sales, the 10 commandments & motivation and more.  If you are in sales, business - you must read this book.  This book also has tremendous wisdom that applies in any setting - church, family as well as other lines of work.  Tremendously well done, Michael and Bridge-Logos Publishers!
 

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Breakout Churches Author - Thom Rainer Publisher - Zondervan

• Favorite Features -
• frank and honest look at 13 churches and how they moved from being stagnate to real growth
• walks through different levels of leadership
• each chapter ends with, InEssence/In Summary
• emphasizes breakout churches struggle and grow under the same pastor's leadership
• stresses long tenure should be normal for pastors and is essential  - short tenure is new in the last 50 years and contributes to struggles/stagnation
• six steps for breaking out -
• Biblical values/leadership - Acts 6/7
• ABC moment - wake up call
• Who/What similtrack - deal with problems
• VIP factor - vision = needs, passion, gifts
• culture of excellence
• Big Mo
• Appendix with FAQ, information on selecting churches, synopsis of churches and Church Readiness Inventory

    Great book for all in leadership to read.  Emphasizes making wise choices - not just following a fad.  Tremendously well done, Thom and Zondervan!
 

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Can We Do That? Authors - Andy Stanley & Ed Young Publisher - Howard Publishing

• Favorite Features -
• walks through 24 innovative practices that have completely transformed their church
• emphasizes what works in one church may not for another, but provides much to think about

    Easy to read and a wealth of much needed information and "how tos" - Tremendously well done, Andy, Ed and Howard Publishing!
 

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High Definition Living Author - Ed Young Publisher - Howard Publishing

• Favorite Features -
• looks at Nehemiah and shares 54 leadership high-definition principles based on Nehemiah
• walks through 19 additional High Definition Principles that emphasize CEO - Creativity, Enthusiasm & Organization

    Practical, easy to read truths for anyone wanting their life to fulfill God's mission for them as a genuine follower of Jesus.  Extremely well done, Ed and Howard Publishing!
 

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Shepherd Leadership Authors - Blain McCormick & David Davenport Publisher - Jossey-Bass

• Favorite Features -
• looks at Psalm 23 as the model for a leader to follow by being a Shepherd
• leaders meet needs by listening, identifying needs
• leaders lead immortals - people with all their failures
• leaders lead on the right paths - leading, communicating, connecting
• leaders know the valley - be willing to be with those in the valley
• leaders come alongside
• leaders use the right tools - core values and know where you are headed
• leaders transform conflict - identify conflicts and encourage reconciliation
• leaders remove irritants
• leaders create supply
• leaders share a positive vision
• leaders cultivate loyalty
• each chapter ends with, "Shepherd Thinking/Doing"

    Many of us have been in churches where the pastor was not a shepherd.  Some of us have been in churches where the pastor was a shepherd.  The difference is significant.  This book does a superb job of walking pastors through what it means to shepherd their people and be a shepherd leader.  Tremendously well done, Blain, David and Jossey-Bass!
 

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Nehemiah Author - James Montgomery Boice Publisher - Baker

• Favorite Features -
• walks through the Book of Nehemiah verse by verse and looks at how to be a real leader
• subject/Scripture index

    Sound, thorough walk through Nehemiah with a focus on what it has to teach us about being a true leader.  Tremendously well done James and Baker!
 

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The Externally Focused Church Authors - Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features -
• asks the question, who's life is different because of your church?
• gives four characteristics of an externally focused church
• each chapter ends with, "Something to think about", "Something to talk about", "Something to act upon" and sermon/lesson idea
• closer look - real life examples throughout

    Much needed book focuses on helping churches understand and see the need to place their focus where Jesus wanted it - on others - changing the church from the safe, club mind set it has, to a live, reflection of Jesus that touches and reaches it's community and world.  Tremendously well done, Rick, Eric and Group Publishing!
 

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Summoned to Lead Author - Leonard Sweet Publisher - Zondervan

• Favorite Features -
• walks through how to train people to hear the vision and lead
• explains how leaders are not born or made, they are summoned and called and those who step forward are leaders
• more than needing a vision, we need to hear and respond to the call
• explores Shackleton's leadership by listening to his men

Excellent book not only explains what leadership is, but shows it through the powerful example of Shackleton.  Extremely well done, Leonard and Zondervan!
 

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The Five Secrets to Becoming a Leader Authors - Alan Nelson & Stan Toler Publisher - Regal

• Favorite Features -
• written in a story/dialog format making it easier to understand the principles presented
• looks at five parts of leadership -
• the leaders mind - leadership process begins with how a leader thinks/attitude
• the leader's motivation - vision, goal, passion, enthusiasm
• the leader's method - leading with relationships
• the leader's model - their character
• the leader's mission - lean on God, pursue God, take care of your soul

• each chapter ends with, "shells from the mentor's basket" - questions and ideas to help you think through and apply

    Easy to read and understand, this is an excellent resource for the leaders in your church to read and work through.  Extremely well done, Alan, Stan and Regal Books!
 

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Refining Your Style Compiled by - Dave Stone Publisher - Group

• Favorite Features -
• gifted communicators share 13 skills and styles of effective communicators
• each style includes information on similar styles with an example so you can know if you fit that style, interview with a well known speaker, advice on refining this style, how Jesus used each style
• includes CD with exerpts from the people interviewed

    Must read, challenging book all pastors and teachers need to read.  Tremendously well done, Dave and Group!
 

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Library Resources Table of Contents
Pastor's Study Table of Contents

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Return to
'Round About the Church

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