Essential Church?

Description

Why do so many young adults (18 to 22) leave the church, and what will it take to bring them back? This important question is examined and duly answered in Essential Church?, a follow-up to Thom S. Rainer's best-selling Simple Church cowritten this time with his son, research expert Sam Rainer.

The book is based on a study of one-thousand so-called "church dropouts" who were interviewed about why they left. Their answers are quite surprising, having less to do with "losing their religion" and more about the desire for a community that isn't made stale by simply maintaining the status quo.

In turn, the Rainers offer churches four concrete solutions toward making their worship community an essential part these young people's lives again:

Simplify - develop a clear structure and process for making disciples.

Deepen - provide strong biblical teaching and preaching.

Expect - let members know the need for commitment to the congregation.

Multiply - emphasize evangelism, outward focus, and starting new churches.

About the Author

Thom S. Rainer is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies worldwide, and the best-selling coauthor of Simple Church. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons and live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sam S. Rainer is a senior pastor, writer, and the president and CEO of Rainer Research. He also blogs and writes a column for Outreach magazine and lives with his wife, Erin, in Floyds Knobs, Indiana.

From AudioFile
Erik Synnestvedt's precise delivery enhances the authors' examination of the relationship between young adults and the Christian church. Part One examines the reasons that more than two-thirds of young adults 18-22 years old nationwide leave the church. Part Two spells out how the church could be more relevant to young adults in today's world and includes suggestions on how to bring them back to the fold. With lightly accented enunciation and attention to detail Synnestvedt discusses how churches need to return to a clear, simple structure, preach sermons with strong biblical teaching, have an evangelistic outreach worldwide and within the community, and commit to and support their congregations. This call to church relevance should be required listening for all pastors. G.D.W. ' AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.