Category Archives: Books & blogs

The final section of Church Inside Out

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Workbook CoverI’ve taken some time on Fridays to share with you about my soon-to-be-released book, Church Inside Out. Both the book and workbook are available for preorder on the 21st Century Christian website.

I’ve described the first three sections of the book. The fourth section, “Outsiders No More,” consists of two chapters:

  • Citizens of the Kingdom
  • Being The Church, Inside and Out

“Outsiders No More” looks at how we help new Christians grow in their faith and become mature disciples. Too many times our outreach efforts stop at the moment of conversion, spending little time with those who have been born again. We need to be intentional in our efforts to help these new believers mature and become more like Christ.

The book explains practical ways of helping disciples grow; the workbook goes even further, helping churches and Christians discover the steps they can take that will be the most appropriate to their situation.

The last chapter ends by encouraging Christians to dream big, echoing the words of Ephesians 3:20-21:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21)

Section 3 of Church Inside Out

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Back cover of Church Inside Out

Back cover of Church Inside Out

On Fridays I’m sharing some information about Church Inside Out, the book and workbook I’ve written that 21st Century Christian will be publishing in the next few weeks. I wrote the book as part of my work with Hope For Life (Herald of Truth) and will be doing seminars based on this material in local churches around the U.S.

The third section is called “The Church Goes Out” and includes these chapters:

  • A Life Like Lightning
  • Preparing For Harvest
  • A Son of Shalom
  • Good News Is For Sharing

This section is probably more of what people think about when they talk about evangelism. However, one point that I try to drive home is that conversion is a process. Evangelism takes many forms. Moving an agnostic toward belief is evangelism, even if the fruits of that work may not be seen for months or years. Focusing exclusively on the person that brings a new convert to the point of surrendering to God is short-sighted.

Christians need to be intentionally moving toward God and helping others do the same. As someone makes the journey from unbeliever to disciple, they are influenced by many people along the way. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)

As the title of the last chapter in this section says, good news is for sharing. That’s what we’re to do as Christians. Church Inside Out should give churches and individuals a better idea how to do just that.

A look at the second section of Church Inside Out

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CIOI’ve been traveling this week and haven’t had much time to write. But it’s Friday, and I want to share some more information about Church Inside Out, the book and workbook I’ve written that 21st Century Christian will be publishing in the next few weeks. I wrote the book as part of my work with Hope For Life (Herald of Truth) and will be doing seminars based on this material in local churches around the U.S.

Let me tell you about the second section of the book. It’s titled “The World Outside” and has three chapters:

  • Diplomatic Mission
  • Who Is My Neighbor?
  • Eating With Sinners

The previous section was very introspective; this section turns the focus outward. There’s an emphasis on looking at the world around us and considering our interaction with that world. The “Diplomatic Mission” chapter stresses the need for us to be intentional in our dealings with the world, to recognize our role as ambassadors for the Kingdom of Heaven. The chapter on “Who Is My Neighbor?” is intended to be very practical, looking at how to do community analysis and how to use that analysis to tailor our ministries to the needs of our city. It also includes a brief section on multicultural ministry.

The final chapter in this section discusses the need for Christians to develop relationships with outsiders. If people mainly come to the church through the influence of friends and neighbors, then a growing church must have members that have significant relationships with non-Christians.

Like I’ve said, my desire is that this book be used practically and not as another intellectual exercise. It includes a workbook for that very reason. Between the book and the workbook, churches and individual Christians should find tools that will help them more effectively impact the people around them.

A look at the first section of Church Inside Out

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CIOOK, I want to share some more information about Church Inside Out, the book and workbook I’ve prepared that will be published soon by 21st Century Christian. I wrote the book as part of my work with Hope For Life (Herald of Truth) and will be doing seminars based on this material in local churches around the U.S.

Let me tell you about the first section of the book. It’s titled “The Church Inside” and has four chapters:

  • Church Inside Out
  • The Inward-Focused Church
  • Members Only
  • Accentuating The Negative

It’s a section of self-examination, encouraging church members to look at attitudes and actions that hurt our outreach to the community around us. As I mention in the book, it’s a bit like a visit to the doctor; you want to hear good things, but you know that you really need to hear what could be improved to make you healthier. I want to affirm what’s right in each congregation while challenging them to improve in other areas.

This is one section where I think a church could benefit greatly from a group study of the workbook (and the book, of course). The workbook includes a lot of questions and charts that will aid in diagnosing the current strengths and weaknesses of a congregation; when member share their views on these subjects, they can come to greater understanding of what their church is doing well and what could be done better.

And that’s my goal in all of this. I don’t want to stop at informing or educating; the goal of this book is to help churches increase the positive impact they are having on their communities. It’s all about getting church members out to help bring outsiders in.

Church Inside Out goes to press

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printing pressOkay, I guess it’s close enough to start talking about it. Church Inside Out is laid out and ready for press. The workbook is soon to follow. Both should be out sometime this Spring, available from 21st Century Christian.

What’s Church Inside Out? Well, for one thing, it’s the first book I’ve published that I’m the sole author of. It’s also a book that has a lot of me in it. That is, it’s a mix of things I’ve read over the years, things I’ve observed over the years, and things I’ve lived over the years.

Specifically, Church Inside Out is a book about outreach. As the subtitle says, it’s about “Getting church insiders out to bring outsiders in.” It’s designed to be a practical book, with lots of lists and concrete suggestions on things that churches can do to have a greater impact on their communities.

The workbook takes that a step forward. It takes the ideas in the book and leads the reader to a time of analysis and planning for action.

Ideally, the books would be studied in a group setting. Since many churches still operate on a quarterly system, the material is presented in 13 chapters. Each chapter has a “For The Group” section at the end, with a proposed format for a group discussion time.

I’ve also begun presenting the material in seminar format (booked through Hope For Life, a Herald of Truth ministry), with four sessions mirroring the four sections of the book:

  • The Church Inside
  • The World Outside
  • The Church Goes Out
  • Outsiders No More

As time goes on, I’ll share the cover art and a bit more about the contents.

I’m excited. As I told a friend, I hope that this will help churches be more active in reaching out to their communities, even if only by sparking thought and discussion of the topic.

Above all, may God be glorified.