Book simple church thom rainer

Rainer born july 16, 1955 is an american writer, researcher, speaker, and former president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, an entity of the southern baptist convention in nashville, tennessee. Simple church is a challenge to rethink all the good things we do in church. In simple church, rainer and geiger show us the results of a study performed on several churches, examining the differences between vibrant and declining congregations. With the plethora of mission, vision, and strategic statements, the church leadership as well as the average parishioner can easily get lost in various messages in the church. As with rick warrens purposedriven church, thom rainer and eric geiger present a strategy of determining the purposes of the church and building programs to serve those purposes. This study moves us to see that god has placed us in our local churches to serve others, care for them, pray together, learn together, and grow together all for the glory of god. I have already talked the book over with him and thought i would share my thoughts here, too. I initially bought the book simply because of the title.

While i am not a fan of institutional churches or of the church membership classes that go with them, i do understand that if a. Rainer and geiger go a few steps further, however, in arguing for the need for a. Prior to church answers, he served as president and ceo of lifeway christian resources. In the beginning of 2011 we announced that the church leadership was going to begin a yearlong process of evaluating how community bible church hereafter cbc functioned. Based on case studies of 400 american churches, authors thom rainer and eric geiger prove that the process for making disciples has quite often become too complex. One of the books i read this week was simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger. I am a new comer, functioning as associate pastor, at a church that fits the description of both the simple church and of a breakout church see rainers book on the subject. As in his other books simple church, breakout churches, surprising insights from the unchurched and proven ways to reach them, the unchurched next door, etc. But his most recent book, i am a church member, is severely misguided and misinformed. Thom rainer and eric geigers book attempts to persuade the reader to contemplate church as simple. Based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking the simple revolution is here. Rainer begins the book pointing out that nine out of ten american churches are declining in attendance p. Rainer facilitates the follow up conversation that every pastor would have, if they had the opportunity.

With insights based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer. Simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger can be summarized with the books tagline. May 07, 2014 simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger can be summarized with the books tagline. Thom rainer reveals seven findings of revived churches. With insights based on case studies of four hundred american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. More than 400 ministry leaders from around my state packed. Though i was excited to read it, and agree in principle with the simple church concept, that every church needs to drastically simplify what it is doing so that it can do a better job of making disciples, i was a tiny bit disappointed with some of the approaches used by the authors. In simple church, authors thom rainer and eric geiger share their conclusions based on the case studies of 400 north american churches that their discipleship processes are often far too complicated and show an easier, more effective way of making disciples. I finally had a chance to read the book simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger. Simple church looks at the process of discipleship in a church. His many years of pastoring and serving as the dean of the billy graham school of missions, evangelism and church growth at the southern baptist theological seminary in louisville, ky, has given him unique insights into church.

It points church leaders in the wrong directionstatistical research. With those three summarizing catch phrases thom rainer and eric geiger begin one of the latest offerings to church growth literature, the simple church. I am a church member appears to be intended for church membership classes in local churches. Rainer, 9780805447996, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. I have benefited greatly from his books and research. Rainer and his wife, nellie jo, have three grown sons, several grandchildren, and live in. Our pastor set this forth as a means to challenge each of us to think biblically, stretch ourselves theologically, and avoid the mind rut that many church staff members find themselves in postseminary. Simple church new edition ebook 9781433673535 by thom s. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Simple church clearly calls for christians to return to the simple gospelsharing methods of jesus. Based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading simple church. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Rainer is the president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, one of the largest christian resource companies in the world.

Rainer is the president and ceo of lifeway christian resources, one of. With insights based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. Having done extensive research of churches across the u. Simple churches thrive by taking four ideas to heart. It is to define one simple purpose statement not a purpose statement and vision statement and mission statement and values statement, then, align everything under that purpose. The authors point out four major things that growing and vibrant churches have in common, all of which lead to the churches being simple churches. Through new research, he figuratively dissects hundreds of churches that were on the path toward death. His many years of pastoring and serving as the dean of the billy graham school of missions, evangelism and church growth at the southern baptist theological seminary in louisville, ky, has given him unique insights into church growth. Simple church audiobook by thom rainer, eric geiger. Rainer publishing online christian book publishers. Returning to gods process for making disciples author. On todays rainer report, we look back at the book and discuss how it can help.

In it he outlines where the book shines, where it doesnt, and what it means for you. Thom rainer has created a tool for churches to become more hospitable through a brief, welcoming book that introduces the ministry of the local church to guests. Jun, 2008 in simple church, thom rainer and eric geiger seek to apply the simple revolution of the last few years to the way church is done in america. We want you here is a clear and instructive message to be given to church guests. Discovering the attitude that makes the difference, and simple church, and more on. May 31, 2006 thom rainer and eric geigers book attempts to persuade the reader to contemplate church as simple. With insights based on case studies of 400 american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger. His book is the proposed prescription to this problem. Book summary of simple church by thom rainer and eric.

Returning to gods process for making disciples kindle edition by rainer, thom s. If church leaders take this call seriously, then they are charged with a very important responsibility. To design a simple, stepby step process that moves people through various stages of spiritual growth. It is to define one simple purpose statement not a purpose statement and vision statement and mission statement and values statement, then, align everything under that purpose and ruthlessly eliminate everything that doesnt fit. He also served at the southern baptist theological seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of. Through a study of four hundred churches, thom rainer and eric geiger discovered that vibrant and growing churches have simple processes of discipleship. In simple church, thom rainer and eric geiger seek to apply the simple revolution of the last few years to the way church is done in america. Simple church examines each idea, clearly showing why it is time to simplify. Rainer and geiger discovered that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a. In the book, simple church, by thom rainer and eric geiger, we learn that leaders in the church are called to be designers, not programmers. Its been on my list for the last year or more, but i didnt prioritize it. Book summary of simple church by thom rainer and eric geiger. Rainer provides a biblical understanding of what it means to be a part of the body of christ through a study of the book of ephesians.

Rainer and his wife, nellie jo, have three grown sons, several grandchildren, and live in nashville, tennessee. The solution, according to thom rainer s new book simple church is to get simple. Recognizing that the healthiest churches in america tended to have a simple process for making disciples ix, rainer and geiger began a research project which confirmed that there is a highly significant correlation between the. Several weeks ago, i attended a conference based on the book simple church by eric geiger and thom rainer broadman and holman, 2006. Simple church and millions of other books are available for instant access. Rainer is the author of more than 23 books including becoming a welcoming church, i am a church member, autopsy of a deceased church, and many others. Simple church makes the compelling case, based on empirical evidence, that churches should simplify the way they approach ministry. Based on case studies of four hundred american churches, thom rainer and eric geiger prove the disciplemaking process is often too complex. Mar 06, 2018 becoming a welcoming church by thom s. I called it the year of the church and took our text from first timothy 3. Simple church by thom rainer, eric geiger jim erwin. They did so in the face of facts and naysayers who told them it could not be done. The solution, according to thom rainers new book simple church is to get simple. Also a respected pastor and researcher, he has written more than twenty books and coauthored the no.