Dying to Grow: Reclaiming the Heart for Evangelism in the Church

by Nathan Lorick, Ed Stetzer (Foreword by)

Overview

Never before have we seen the church degenerate at such a rapid pace. This is largely due to the church pursuing congregational growth instead of kingdom growth. The church is dying because our growth isn't based on strategies to reach the lost with the gospel. The time to change is now, we can't wait any longer. People's eternities are at stake.

What is your church's priority? Are you more concerned with filling your building or furthering the Kingdom? This book will challenge you to evaluate just how important gospel-based evangelism is to you and your church, and call on you to restore an intentional evangelism strategy within the body. Hell will tremble when churches once again make evangelism the central theme of their strategy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781622451074
Publisher:	Aneko Press
Publication date:	09/01/2013
Pages:	171
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Dr. Nathan Lorick is the Director of Evangelism for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. His passion is to see the church come alive through intentional evangelism and world missions. He currently serves as a trustee for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned both a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degree. He also holds an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Louisiana Baptist University. He and his wife Jenna have three sons and one daughter.

Table of Contents

Dedication xiii

Foreword Ed Stetzer xvii

Acknowledgements xix

Introduction xxi

Ch. 1 A Realistic Diagnosis 1

Ch. 2 An Unimpressed God 9

Ch. 3 Redeeming the Time 13

Ch. 4 A Fatal Attraction 19

Ch. 5 Dying to Grow 27

Ch. 6 Overcoming the Critic 35

Ch. 7 A Conversation with God 43

Ch. 8 The Rifle Factor 49

Ch. 9 The Compelling Gospel 57

Ch. 10 Reclaiming the Lost Burden 65

Ch. 11 Motivating and Mobilizing 73

Ch. 12 Developing the Strategy 83

Ch. 13 Keys to Implementing Your Strategy 95

Ch. 14 The Faith Test 103

Ch. 15 Kingdom Growth 109

Ch. 16 Conclusion 117

Appx. 1 Evangelism Models in the Modern Church 119

Appx. 2 Ideas for Evangelism in Your Church 129

About the Author 143

Endnotes 145

Bibliography 147

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Nathan Lorick abandons mere conjecture and focuses on reality! Dying to Grow is the work of a gifted writer who has hammered out the principles of effective evangelism on the anvil of his own life. In an era that calls for a renewed sense of urgency to reach others for Christ, this book will lay soul winning at the front door of your heart.

Tom Elliff

President, International Mission Board

Southern Baptist Convention

Church leaders are desperate for help – looking for clarity and vision. Reading this book will make you feel like you are talking with someone who understands this struggle. Nathan challenges you to see how a Kingdom focus can bring fresh life to your personal walk and church.

Al Gilbert

Vice President, Evangelism

North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention

I love what my friend Nathan Lorick is saying: “This book is a simple and concise challenge to abandon the desire for church growth and to embrace the heart of growing Christ’s Kingdom.” Such a shift demonstrates both a biblical reality and a present need. Such a shift will free pastors from the bondage of performance and yet lead to effective ministry. This helpful book will encourage, inspire, and convict!”

Alvin L. Reid, Ph.D.

Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry/Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

If your church is “Dying to Grow”, then you need to take this book seriously. Dr. Nathan Lorick writes from the heart of a Pastor, because that is where he cut his spiritual teeth in ministry. Trust me, the lessons in this book were not contrived in an ivory tower by an out-of-touch academician, rather they were learned (sometimes painfully!) in the day-to-day trenches of real ministry! I strongly encourage you to read carefully, then apply plentifully!

David A. Wheeler, Ph.D.

Professor of Evangelism, NAMB Field Missionary, &

Director of Center for Ministry Training

Liberty University

We are living in a time when the gospel has become the greatest story never told. A time when we are giving our first-class loyalties to third-class causes. A time when we fill our lives with good things to the exclusion of the best things. A time when evangelism is no longer the obsession of our lives. In a time like this, it is refreshing to hear the voice of one who exists for evangelism as fire exists for burning. Thank God for Nathan Lorick and this book Dying to Grow. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend that you read this work.

Charles Roesel

Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church of Leesburg, FL