Can We Do That?: 24 Innovative Practices That Will Change the Way You Do Church

by Ed B. Young and Andy Stanley

Book Overview

No matter how you ask the questions, the answer is always the same. Yes you can You can incorporate innovative strategies into your church ministrystrategies that will affect not only the way you do... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582292388
• ISBN13: 9781582292380
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Howard Books
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

The Book Is What It Says It Is . . .

CAN WE DO THAT is a collection of 24 suggestions from Andy Stanley and Ed Young on how to do ministry. The value of the book will be determined by how many of the suggestions could be fit into the structures of the readers' local congregations. Of the 24 practices outlined 7 of them were worth further investigation in my particular congregational sitting at this time. I consider that worth the price of the book. One word of caution, this book is for pastors and if introduced to a local church should be introduced by the pastor, or at least with the pastor's approval. The ideas are eclectic enough that I foresee the possibility of a group of laity reading a collection of such books and randomly branching out in all directions at the same time. Ministry needs continuity, as this book highlights. The book is broken down into 4 sections. Section #1 contains 7 suggestions on reaching out to the unchurched. My favorite example from this section is the idea to video tape testimonies for use during baptismal services. Section #2 has 7 ideas on how to minister to persons who come in your doors. This section introduces the highly successful Kidstuf program. Section #3 has 4 ideas for leadership. The idea to begin staff meetings with personal ministry stories from staff members was beneficial to me. Section # 4 rounds out the quartet with 6 ideas on preaching. The discipline of watching yourself preach on tape each week was challenging and I am sure will sharpen my communication skills. Those are only 4 of the 24. Get the book and find out what works for you. I also liked the independence of Ed Young and Andy Stanley. They do not agree with each other on every point and plainly say so and why. This gives a broader approach. This is a highly pragmatic and useful book.

highly practical

I believe this book's greatest strenght is its practicality. The Bible gives us wide latitude in the logistics and style of doing ministry and for good reason. Out of that broad latitude flows creativity to meet the needs of a changing culture. The truth does not change, but we must be willing to look at new ideas for communicating that age-old truth. And these two pastors do a great job sharing some proven ideas of what has worked well in their respective churches. Too often the church is so resitant to change that by the time it does change its strategies, it is already a half a century behind. Young and Stanley challenge us to do a better job at staying at the cutting edge of cultural needs.