How does our church life need to change to face the challenge of our times? (More resources for 'Facing the Challenge' appendix A)

A Church for the 21^st Century

Leith Anderson, Bethany House 1992
This is a practical guide to how to introduce change to your church. Tackles such questions as what the Church needs to look like in the new millennium, different kinds of Church, and what counts as success (and whether we would recognize it if we saw it).

Leith Anderson is the Senior Pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prarie, Minneapolis.
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Dying for Change

Leith Anderson, Bethany House 1998
Looks at the way the world is changing around the Church, and how the Church needs to respond. Gives an overview of how different generations ('boomers' and 'busters') think, and what this means for the Church's activities. Contains a set of diagnostic questions to help church leadership think through issues of change.

Leith Anderson is the Senior Pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prarie, Minneapolis.
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Christians in a Consumer Culture

John Benton, Christian Focus 1999
Consumerism and personal choice have become dominant forces in western culture. Followers of Christ are in danger of being sucked in by the appeal of consumerism. Benton explores the relationship between postmodernism and consumerism, the impact of the media, and the effect of consumerism on personal identity. He charts how consumerism affects ecology, justice, and spirituality, and and explores what it looks like to be an authentic follower of Christ in the middle of a consumer culture, particularly in the areas of contentment rather than acquisitiveness , and commitment rather than detachment in our approach to the Church.

John Benton is a pastor, author, and editor of 'Evangelicals Now'.
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The Tide is Running Out

What the English Church Attendance Survey reveals
Dr. Peter Brierley
Christian Research 2000
ISBN 1-85321-137-0
This book sets out in detail the results of the English Church Attendance survey of 1998.  A "must have" for every church leader in the UK.
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Steps to the Future

Issues facing the church in the new millennium
Dr. Peter Brierley
Christian Research / Scripture Union 2000
ISBN 1-85999-446-6
In this book, Peter Brierley examines the key issues that the church needs to address, especially in relation to work with young people, in the light of the results of the 1998 English Church Attendance survey.
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The Church of the Third Millennium

Phil Hill, OM Publishing 1999
Subtitled 'A Straight-talking guide to the Postmodern World and its Impact on the Church.'
Part one examines contemporary culture, especially the effect of postmodern thinking and values. In part two, Hill turns to look at how these things have affected the Church, while in part three he asks how the Church needs to change in the new millennium, in order to be the kind of Church that God wants and that will effect society.

Phil Hill is senior pastor of Hockliffe St. Baptist Church in Leighton Buzzard, UK
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Preaching to a Postmodern World

by Graham Johnston, InterVarsity 2001
This is an excellent book on contemporary communication. It sets out to answer the question how we can adapt our methods to be more effective at reaching people today, without watering down our message to suit the convenience of postmodern listeners. It will be invaluable to anyone who is involved in communicating the Bible's message on a regular basis - preachers, junior church leaders, home group leaders, Christian union leaders, teachers, and writers.

Graham Johnston is senior pastor of Subiaco Church of Christ, Western Australia, and an adjunct lecturer in homiletics at Perth Bible College.
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Chameleon or Tribe

(US Title: Chameleon Christianity)

by Richard Keyes, IVP 1999
In this book Dick Keyes argues that contemporary culture can push us in one of two different directions: The first is to compromise with the world, so that we become like it, changing our colour to fit, like a chameleon.  The second is to cut ourselves off from the world and retreat into our ghetto or "tribe". 

Keyes says that both of these tendencies are attractive, but both are also deadly dangerous.  Instead, we need to get back to being a genuine community of followers of Christ - a way of living that shows the reality of our God-given message to today's world.
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Gone but not Forgotten: church leaving and returning

by Philip Richter and Leslie J Francis

For every adult in church, four other adults used to attend regularly but have given up... the biggest challenge facing churches in England today is not how to recruit new members, but the problem of church leavers. (From the cover blurb)

Churches spend a lot of energy seeking to bring in new people. Yet while we encourage people to come in through the front door, a huge number are leaving by the back door. This book explores eight key reasons why people leave. The writers also looked at what kind of leaver is most likely to come back to church, and what kind is least likely to return. They also look at the practical implications for churches, and the value of finding ways to encourage people not to leave. This is a helpful book, based on some useful research. Every church leader should read it.

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Natural Church Development Handbook

A Practical Guide to a New Approach
Christian A. Schwarz
British Church Growth Association 1998
ISBN 0-948704-36-5
This is a practical and realistic new approach to church growth, relevant for anyone involved in church leadership at whatever level.
Go here to find out where you can order this book
Or visit the British Church Growth Association's web site.

Rethinking the Church

James E White, Baker 1997
Subtitled: 'A Challenge to creative design in an age of transition'
What does it mean to be the Church, and how can we develop innovative approaches that will increase the effectiveness of our church's mission? James White explores 'creative redesign' in the areas of evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship, structure and community.
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