In this article we compiled some of the best books on Church Growth we believe every pastor should read.
All living things have characteristics that make them “alive”, one of them being – their growth. If something isn’t growing, it’s dying. There are many advantages of assessing growth in your church, when you know where you are, you can more readily plan your future. It is God’s will that your church grows, it is His will that “His house may be filled” (Luke 14:23).
Every church leader should be intentional about positioning their church for growth. It is no small task to have a church, let alone embark on a mission for church growth. With these five books, anyone can join Jesus in fulfilling the prophecy – “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).
Successful Home Cell Groups by Dr David Yonggi Cho
Dr David Yonggi Cho founded the Pentecostal church, Yoido Full Gospel Church, in 1958, initially holding services under a tent before moving to a 10,000-seat sanctuary in 1993. The church would eventually claim the title of the world’s largest church according to Guinness World Records, with close to 800,000 members.
“Successful Home Cell Groups” is much more than a formula for church-based small groups. It is an insightful journey into God’s building one of the largest churches in the world. In one of the best books on church growth, Dr David Yonggi Cho describes his church as the smallest and the largest in the world. The plan of home cell groups developed by Dr Cho has brought about not only phenomenal growth but also intimate fellowship and involvement.
Home cell groups are becoming a necessity in the believer’s life, not only for the mega-churches but also for the small corner churches, as well. This book is a how-to resource that details everything you need to know to make home cell groups work in your church.
Church Growth by Dag Heward-Mills
Dag Heward-Mills is an Evangelist, pastor, author, and the founder and presiding bishop of the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC, formerly Lighthouse Chapel International).
The UD-OLGC denomination has a presence in 92 countries and on all habitable continents. Dag Heward-Mills has over three decades of experience in ministry. Dag Heward-Mills’ passion for God’s work has been characterized by building churches and training pastors.
Also helping the needy and invalid, authoring, producing music, and speaking at conferences. Furthermore, pastoring young people, and holding massive evangelistic campaigns in many nations. We know that church growth is elusive and difficult to achieve. All pastors wish their churches would grow. This book is the answer to your quest for church growth. You will understand how “many different things work together” to achieve church growth.
Dear Pastor, as the words and anointing of one of the best books on church growth find their way into your heart, you will experience the church growth you have been praying for.
Breakout Churches: Discover How to Make the Leap by Thom S. Rainer
Thom S. Rainer 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. Breakout Churches… Can Your Church Become One?
This is the story of thirteen churches and the leaders who moved them from stagnancy to growth and from mediocrity to greatness. Drawing on one of the most comprehensive studies ever on the church, this book reveals the process of becoming a “breakout” church and the factors that lead to this spiritual metamorphosis.
The real value of this book is the hope Rainer instils that even churches that appear moribund can see remarkable change—if their leaders are willing, in Rainer’s words, to “confront reality.”
The Mega Church by Dag Heward-Mills
Dag Heward-Mills is an Evangelist, pastor, author, and the founder and presiding bishop of the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC, formerly Lighthouse Chapel International). “Go into the highways and compel them to come in that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). The heart cry of God is for the whole world to be saved, and for His house – the church – to be filled!
From this revelation was born this book, “The Mega Church” by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, pastor of one of the largest churches in Ghana. Your church and ministry will never be the same after reading this stimulating book!
The Mega Church is easy to read and understand, it has become the favourite of many preachers around the world when it comes to step-by-step teaching on how to attain church growth. Many Pastors have used The Mega Church and other books by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills to successfully grow their churches.
The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren
Rick Warren is an American Southern Baptist Evangelical Christian pastor and author. He is the founder of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention in Lake Forest, California.
Rick Warren believes that for a church to be healthy it must become a purpose-driven church, built around the five New Testament purposes given to the church by Jesus. “The issue is church health, not church growth!” declares Warren. “If your church is healthy, growth will occur naturally. Healthy, consistent growth is the result of balancing the five biblical purposes of the church.”
The Purpose Driven Church shifts the focus away from church-building programs to emphasizing a people-building process. Warren says, “If you will concentrate on building people, God will build the church.”
Summary of Best Books on Church Growth
Many books have been written by various ministers around the world to teach and encourage Christians on how to make their churches grow.
The devil fights the building of churches, but with the grace of God and wisdom provided in these books, anyone can prevail in their quest to grow their church. “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail” (Matthew 16:18).
These five books on church growth will give you tactics that you can apply to get measurable results within weeks. Through the implementation of the strategies in these books, your ministry will grow, you’ll rise in the Kingdom of God, and the church will grow! What books on church growth have made the greatest impact on you?
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