Biblical Church Revitalization: Solutions for Dying & Divided Churches

by Brian Croft

Overview

There is a unique and special power and testimony in not just a vibrant local church full of life, but an old historic one that had lost its way, was on life support, and into which God saw fit to breathe life once again. Biblical Church Revitalization calls us to an intentional commitment to church revitalization in the face of dying and divided churches.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781781917664
Publisher:	Christian Focus Publications
Publication date:	05/20/2016
Series:	Practical Shepherding
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Brian Croft is Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky and is the Founder of Practical Shepherding. He is also Senior Fellow of the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

Acknowledgements 13

Introduction 15

Section I Church Revitalization - Defined

Chapter 1 Power: How does God revitalize a dying church? 23

Chapter 2 Preparation: How does a pastor prepare to revitalize a church? 33

Chapter 3 Perseverance: How does a pastor persevere in revitalizing a church? 43

Chapter 4 Plan: How is church revitalization accomplished? 51

Section II Church Revitalization - Diagnosed

Chapter 5 Authority: Who is in charge? 63

Chapter 6 Leadership: Whom do I follow? 69

Chapter 7 Membership: To whom am I accountable? 77

Chapter 8 Unity: Who is my brother? 83

Chapter 9 Worship: Why do we gather together? 91

Section III Church Revitalization - Done

Chapter 10 History and Background 101

Chapter 11 The Storm: The first five years 105

Chapter 12 The Ship Turns: The next five years 113

Chapter 13 Important Lessons Learned 117

Conclusion: A final appeal 123

Appendix: Church Revitalization Internship Syllabus (SBTS) 127

Editorial Reviews

... an inspirational, instructive and insightful volume on how to minister effectively to churches that are dying, stagnant or declining.

((1948 – 2023) Senior Pastor

... outlines a simple, biblical guide for church revitalization that can benefit pastors in churches of any size, and lessons from his personal journey augment a thoroughly biblical approach to the task of church revitalization.

Thom S. Rainer(President of LifeWay Christian Resources and author of Autopsy of a Deceased Church)

... both biblical and balanced, practical and personal as Croft weaves together a rich blend of biblical exegesis and pastoral wisdom forged over many years of experience at the coal-face of ministry.

Edwin Ewart(Principal

This book is a gift to pastors and church leaders who are yearning to see God do a work of spiritual transformation in a dying church ... Read it prayerfully and humbly, put its precepts into practice, and see God do what He alone can do—give life to the dead!

Andrew Davis(Senior Pastor

... Brian Croft takes you along on a compelling journey that saw the Lord take a dead church and breathe new life into it by means of a faithful, biblical ministry.

Jeff Robinson(Pastor

Some books are written from ivory towers. Biblical Church Revitalization is not one of them. Brian Croft writes about church revitalization as one who has labored in the trenches of this work for several years ... this book is a "must read" on the topic of revitalizing churches.

Timothy K. Beougher(Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism

I loved this book. Immensely practical and completely realistic. This should be a must read for all pastors and church planters when it comes to handling expectations of the ministry. Very, very good. Get on it.

Mez McConnell(Pastor

If you only read one book on reclaiming dying churches, read this one. This is certain to become the definitive resource for rescuing dying churches in our generation.

Mark Clifton(Senior Director

Some books are written from ivory towers. Biblical Church Revitalization is not one of them. Brian Croft writes about church revitalization as one who has labored in the trenches of this work for several years ... this book is a "must read" on the topic of revitalizing churches.

Timothy K. Beougher

... Brian Croft takes you along on a compelling journey that saw the Lord take a dead church and breathe new life into it by means of a faithful, biblical ministry.

Jeff Robinson

If you only read one book on reclaiming dying churches, read this one. This is certain to become the definitive resource for rescuing dying churches in our generation.

Mark Clifton

This book is a gift to pastors and church leaders who are yearning to see God do a work of spiritual transformation in a dying church ... Read it prayerfully and humbly, put its precepts into practice, and see God do what He alone can do—give life to the dead!

Andrew Davis

... outlines a simple, biblical guide for church revitalization that can benefit pastors in churches of any size, and lessons from his personal journey augment a thoroughly biblical approach to the task of church revitalization.

Thom S. Rainer

... both biblical and balanced, practical and personal as Croft weaves together a rich blend of biblical exegesis and pastoral wisdom forged over many years of experience at the coal-face of ministry.

Edwin Ewart

I loved this book. Immensely practical and completely realistic. This should be a must read for all pastors and church planters when it comes to handling expectations of the ministry. Very, very good. Get on it.

Mez McConnell

I loved this book. Immensely practical and completely realistic. This should be a must read for all pastors and church planters when it comes to handling expectations of the ministry. Very, very good. Get on it.

Harry L. Reeder III

Some books are written from ivory towers. Biblical Church Revitalization is not one of them. Brian Croft writes about church revitalization as one who has labored in the trenches of this work for several years ... this book is a "must read" on the topic of revitalizing churches.

Timothy K. Beougher - Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth

Some books are written from ivory towers. Biblical Church Revitalization is not one of them. Brian Croft writes about church revitalization as one who has labored in the trenches of this work for several years ... this book is a "must read" on the topic of revitalizing churches.

Timothy K. Beougher - Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism

... outlines a simple, biblical guide for church revitalization that can benefit pastors in churches of any size, and lessons from his personal journey augment a thoroughly biblical approach to the task of church revitalization.

Thom S. Rainer - President of LifeWay Christian Resources and author of Autopsy of a Deceased C

I loved this book. Immensely practical and completely realistic. This should be a must read for all pastors and church planters when it comes to handling expectations of the ministry. Very, very good. Get on it.

Mez McConnell - Pastor

... Brian Croft takes you along on a compelling journey that saw the Lord take a dead church and breathe new life into it by means of a faithful, biblical ministry.

Jeff Robinson - Pastor

... an inspirational, instructive and insightful volume on how to minister effectively to churches that are dying, stagnant or declining.

Harry L. Reeder - Pastor of Preaching & Leadership

... both biblical and balanced, practical and personal as Croft weaves together a rich blend of biblical exegesis and pastoral wisdom forged over many years of experience at the coal-face of ministry.

Edwin Ewart - Principal

This book is a gift to pastors and church leaders who are yearning to see God do a work of spiritual transformation in a dying church ... Read it prayerfully and humbly, put its precepts into practice, and see God do what He alone can do—give life to the dead!

Andrew Davis - Senior Pastor

... outlines a simple, biblical guide for church revitalization that can benefit pastors in churches of any size, and lessons from his personal journey augment a thoroughly biblical approach to the task of church revitalization.

Thom S. Rainer ~ President of LifeWay Christian Resources and author of Autopsy of a Deceased C