Giant Awakenings: Making the Most of 9 Surprising Trends That Can Benefit Your Church

by Thom S. Rainer

Book Overview

With all the attention non-traditional churches have received, Dr. Rainer reminds us that most churches in America today are still based on traditional models. He sees not only their survival, but... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805461736
• ISBN13: 9780805461732
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Help for those involved in traditional churches

Giant Awakenings; Nine Surprising Trends You Can Use to Benefit Your Church; by Thom S. RainerThom Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth, at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, has written an excellent book on the future of the traditional church. It will be a great encouragement to pastors of traditional churches.Pastors of traditional churches often labor under the pressure of multiple expatiations. Many have been made to think effective ministry is out of reach if they cannot persuade their leaders to implement sweeping and radical changes. Rainer says "the best days of the traditional church are just ahead. The use of hymnals, traditional 11:00 AM services, Sunday School programs, and in-depth expository preaching do nothing to detract from the effectiveness of a church's ministry. To the contrary.., they actually enhance effectiveness..." Though the non-traditional church is much studied and promoted and the non-traditional pastor is often given a high-profile, the average pastor leads a traditional church. Rainer has good news for him. He suggests; "The beleaguered and often-criticized traditional church may very well be making a comeback of major proportions in the twenty-first century."The book is marked by thoughtful balance, and hopefulness. Rainer makes observations about the seeker sensitive model and its critics, calling for a blending of approaches within the traditional church.Included in the book is a thought-provoking chapter dealing with the role of music in worship and examining the how the church has dealt with change in music through the centuries.In typical Southern Baptist fashion, Rainer places a heavy emphasis on the traditional Sunday School. He has some convincing arguments for its viability, suggesting the strengths of small groups are best maximized in the traditional Sunday School format. This is a book on future trends that will not call on pastors to be contortionists or leave them feeling frustrated and inadequate.