Love Your Church

Discern your role in the church's mission to reach all people with the gospel, whether that's praying fervently, giving generously, or going boldly. God's heart to reach the nations is evident from Genesis to Revelation and we are all invited to join in. Whether it's local church planting or traveling to the furthest corners of the globe with the good news of Jesus, Jim Essian encourages us that involvement in missions is for all of us, not just for a chosen few. This book helps us to discern our role in the church's mission, whether that's praying fervently, giving generously, or going boldly. We will be reinvigorated by the reminder that our almighty God loves us, so we can take risks for the gospel without fear when we step out in faith for his glory. What is God calling you to do? Jim Essian planted The Paradox Church in 2011, an Acts 29 Network church in Downtown Fort Worth, and serves as Lead Pastor. Jim played eight years of professional baseball in the Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Detroit Tigers organizations, prior to planting. Jim and his wife Heather have been married for 14 years, and they have three girls: Harper Grace, Hollis Jane, and Hadden Faith.

Together with your church family, you can feel confident in reaching the community through effective Spirit-filled evangelism, underlined with confident, persistent prayer. "And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?" (Romans 10:14) Each one of us came to saving faith in Jesus and was brought into God's family because of faithful witnesses sharing the gospel message. And so, it's our privilege as the church to keep on telling others this amazing news! This book gives readers practical, biblical wisdom on how to share the gospel in a compassionate and winsome way. Using many real-life examples, Jonathan K. Dodson encourages readers to live in a manner that draws people to the truth and beauty of Christ. And to proclaim the gospel with a natural ease that speaks into the lives of the people we meet. Together with your church family, you can feel confident in reaching the community through effective Spirit-filled evangelism, underlined with confident, persistent prayer. Jonathan K. Dodson has served as the founding pastor of City Life Church, a Theologian in Residence, and the founder of the resource ministry, Gospel Centered Discipleship. He is married to his remarkable wife, Robie, with whom he has three wonderful children. Jonathan enjoys mentoring church leaders, playing tennis, going for walks, and listening to The War on Drugs. He is the author of numerous books including, Gospel-Centered Discipleship, Here in Spirit, The Unwavering Pastor, and Our Good Crisis.

Building deep community as a fellowship of believers. Author Barnabas Piper states in the first chapter of his book: "We are looking for something personal, something deeply meaningful, something with which we can identify. And this book is an invitation to find that in the church, because God wants us to …Part of God's perfect strategy is offering hurting, tired, worn out, needy sinners like you and me a place to belong in … A place in which to encounter the profound, transformative, healing, restoring grace of Jesus Christ." This book explores how you can help to create a church where everybody feels at home: a place where fellow believers build genuine, honest, meaningful Christian relationships and enjoy deep fellowship as a community of believers. You may be a new believer and wonder what it means to belong to a church; you may be reluctant to commit to your church because of past experiences; you may have recently relocated and want to find a church where you feel at home; or you may love your church and desire to commit to it more deeply and serve it more fully. Whatever the case, this book will help you to see that belonging to a church is a good gift from God, the outworking of our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ, and worth your time, love, and commitment. Barnabas Piper is on staff at Immanuel Nashville. He is also an author and speaker and the father of two daughters. He cohosts the Happy Rant podcast and blogs at BarnabasPiper.com.

How all church members can be like Jesus by caring for each other. Jesus commands his disciples to love one another and promises that "by this everyone will know that you are my disciples" (John 13:35). But what does genuine care for those in our church family look like? This warm, practical book by Dwayne Bond goes beyond specific pastoral-care roles and responsibilities and explores how all church members can love and care for one another in the rhythms of ordinary life. In response to Jesus' great love for us and the example he set, readers will explore how to honor one another, serve one another, and bear each other's burdens, as they seek to walk together as a family in the midst of a divided culture. They will see that following Jesus' command to love one another deeply and practically will bring great joy as well as commending the gospel to those around them, as people see lives changed from the inside out. This wonderful resource is not only a useful tool for church care teams but for every church member as each is encouraged to play his or her part in making people feel cared for and connected to the church family. There are discussion questions with action steps at the end of every chapter, making this ideal for small groups or even as a whole church. Dwayne is the founder and Lead Pastor of Wellspring Church in Charlotte, NC, which he planted in 2007. After graduating with a Ph.D. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, he started Proximus Group, LLC, which serves individuals, couples, families, pastors, executive leaders, and businesses. From 2020 to 2024, he served as Director of Pastoral Care with Acts 29 Network. He also has an M.A. in Christian Counseling and Discipleship, an M.A. in Religion, and a B.S. in Finance. He has been married for almost 33 years to his lovely wife, Leslie, and has three adult children. In his spare time, he enjoys health and wellness, reading to learn, laughing with friends, traveling the world, watching basketball, backyard gardening, and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures.

Let the gospel of Jesus and the example of Jesus motivate you to serve your church sacrificially. This book looks at the gospel of Jesus and the example of Jesus to motivate us to serve our church family sacrificially with our energy, time, and gifts. This is a great book for Christians who have grown weary over time, those who need help in identifying their gifts and gaining the confidence to offer them, and church members who are lacking the motivation to get started. As we look to the example of Jesus, who "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45), we will be excited and equipped to use what God has given us to serve others with a renewed sense of purpose and joy. We will also see that we do not need to have any particularly impressive gifts or emulate anyone else in order to answer Jesus' call to love one another.

As we have been welcomed by Jesus, Christians are called to welcome others. But what does this look like in practice? Walking into church can be intimidating, whether for the first time or after a period of absence, whether you are a non-believer or a believer. Wouldn't it be wonderful if your church was a place where everyone received a warm welcome? A place where newcomers can quickly feel at home and where non-believers receive the welcome of God's people alongside the welcome of Jesus? This warm, practical book by Jen Oshman explores what the Bible says to help readers discover how to make space for others, however different they are to them, in their church and in their lives. She also gives practical advice, drawing on good practice from churches around the world in a range of situations. In a world of division, individualism, and isolation, readers will see that their church can witness to Christ by being a place of welcome, community, and connection. Chapters include how Jesus welcomes us, the impact of welcoming in the early church, the effect of being siblings in Christ, how to welcome beyond Sunday, helpful systems and strategies, how our joy in Christ causes us to be outward-looking, and mirroring the glorious vision set out in Revelation. Whether you're a pastor looking to encourage your congregation to welcome others or a church member wanting to see unbelievers come to faith and help everyone feel part of the family, this book is for you. Jen Oshman is a wife, mom, and writer, and has served as a missionary and pastor's wife for over two decades on three continents. She currently resides in Colorado, where her family planted Redemption Parker, an Acts29 church.

Renew your understanding and enjoyment of gathering with your church and be excited by the ways that your presence can encourage others. Why do we meet on Sundays? Now that technology allows us to access services remotely, many see little need to meet face to face every week. Others think that because we have a personal relationship with Jesus as Christians, church is an optional add-on. For some, they know deep down that there is a reason why gathering on Sundays is important, but they are weary and don't feel excited about it. So what is the purpose of corporate worship, and what is our role in it? In this book, Tony Merida highlights how in-person Sunday gatherings are central to God's plans and to our faith and joy. He reminds believers of their privileges as citizens of heaven, members of God's family, and stones in God's temple. Readers will see how each part of a church service (preaching, praying, singing, baptism, Lord's Supper, and building each other up in conversations) are ways to enjoy and share God's grace, and are therefore essential for spiritual endurance. You'll also be reminded that your presence in corporate worship matters because you have a part to play in encouraging your brothers and sisters and spurring them to love and good deeds: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25) Tony Merida is Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Imago Dei Church, Raleigh, NC; Director of Theological Training for Acts 29; and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of a number of books, including Love Your Church, Ruth For You, The Christ-Centered Expositor, and Ordinary. He and his wife, Kimberly, have five adopted children.